HOUSTON, TX – Mailon Almendares-Martinez, 22, of New Orleans, will spend the next 51 months in federal prison for orchestrating a ruthless alien smuggling ring. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Kenneth P. Hoyt, comes after a three-day trial in April where a jury found Almendares-Martinez guilty of transporting illegal aliens from the South Texas border to Houston. He is not a U.S. citizen and will face removal proceedings after completing his sentence.
The operation, active between October 30 and November 2, 2022, wasn’t just about moving people – it was about profit. Almendares-Martinez recruited friends from New Orleans, dangling payments of $1,000 to $2,000 per person transported. He directed the entire operation remotely, using WhatsApp and phone calls to coordinate drivers and logistics. But the operation wasn’t without violence. During one run to Houston, the group was ambushed by rival smugglers, leaving two of the aliens wounded with gunshot wounds to the arm and leg.
The callous disregard for human life didn’t end there. Despite the injuries, Almendares-Martinez reportedly ordered the drivers to continue to Houston and *not* seek medical attention for the wounded aliens. The following day, November 2, 2022, the smuggled individuals escaped from a Houston motel. Police arrived to find Jonathan Melendez-Merino, 22, Oscar Melendez-Sosa, 22, Cristian Mencias-Padilla, 22, and Cesar Monge-Milla, 25, in custody.
Almendares-Martinez isn’t the only one facing consequences. Seven others from New Orleans have already pleaded guilty to their involvement, including Melendez-Merino, Melendez-Sosa, Mencias-Padilla, Monge-Milla, Yunior Sorto-Ramirez, 23, Bayron Pineda-Alvarado, 23, and Alan Galvez-Baquedano, 22. They will be sentenced at a later date. The investigation was a joint effort between Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and the Houston Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case, framing it as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and protecting communities. This operation leverages resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood, signaling a federal commitment to aggressively pursue those involved in these criminal enterprises.
The government delayed publishing this information due to the recent federal shutdown, but the case is now public record. Almendares-Martinez remains in custody pending transfer to a yet-to-be-determined Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in human smuggling and the lengths to which criminals will go for profit, often at the expense of vulnerable individuals.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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