A Texas man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for leading a human smuggling operation that resulted in at least one death.
Federal prosecutors announced that Pedro Luis Martínez-Jáquez, 36, a resident of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, was sentenced to 365 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Alia Moses. In addition to his prison term, the judge ordered Martínez-Jáquez to pay $500,000 in restitution.
Leader of human smuggling ring
Martínez-Jáquez reportedly led a migrant smuggling organization operating in southwest Texas from January 2021 to July 2022. According to court documents, he and a co-conspirator, identified as Miguel Ángel Rivera, organized makeshift camps to move undocumented migrants into the United States.
At one point, Martínez-Jáquez called Rivera to report that a migrant had “fainted” and said he would “take care of it.” During the investigation, authorities reviewed Rivera’s phone, which contained photos of the deceased migrant. Martínez-Jáquez’s phone was also linked to the operation through WhatsApp messages with Rivera, his sister Luz Rivera, and another accomplice, Erica Aracely Carmona.
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A later search of Martínez-Jáquez’s residence uncovered 74 phones, 14 of which were confiscated. Investigators believe the remaining devices belonged to migrants being transported.
Charging fees and generating millions
ICE investigations revealed that the group charged $9,500 per migrant, with half of the proceeds going to Martínez-Jáquez. The organization is believed to have smuggled more than 500 undocumented migrants, generating over $4.7 million in revenue between January 2021 and July 2022.
The smugglers used customized trailers for transport. Initially, an 18-wheeler with a hidden compartment capable of holding up to 40 people was intercepted by federal authorities.
Arrests and sentencing
Martínez-Jáquez was arrested on March 8, 2024, and pled guilty on November 26 to conspiracy to transport undocumented migrants resulting in death.
His co-conspirators, Evan John Herrera and Miguel Rivera, were sentenced in May 2025 to 151 months and 216 months in federal prison, respectively, with credit for time served. Erica Aracely Carmona received 132 months in January, and the final accused, José Eduardo Rodríguez Moreno, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 25.
