HOUSTON, Texas – A Texas man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in a long-running and violent conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency (TFA) industry in the Los Indios border region.
CARLOS MARTINEZ, a 39-year-old Mission resident, pleaded guilty on February 6 and his co-conspirators controlled the transmigrante industry through monopolization and extortion of competitors.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. ordered Martinez to serve 132 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and pay a $2 million fine.
Martinez and his co-conspirators used fear to control pricing, eliminate competition, and keep the transmigrante industry profitable through “pool” allocations and piso payments.
Transmigrantes transport used vehicles and goods from the United States through Mexico for resale in Central America. Only a few U.S. border crossings, including the Los Indios Bridge, allow transmigrantes to enter Mexico.
“Price fixing is not a victimless crime; it harms customers in the form of artificially high prices,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Consumers need to have faith that the prices they pay are fairly determined by the market, rather than the product of illegal collusion.”
Martinez and his co-conspirators fixed prices for forwarding services and created a centralized entity, known as the “pool,” to collect and divide revenue among conspirators.
The 11-year sentence reflects the size and scope of Martinez’s criminal operation, as well as his leadership role in organizing and facilitating the unlawful scheme.
Defendant: CARLOS MARTINEZ
Criminal Charges: Monopolizing Transmigrante Forwarding Agency
City and State: HOUSTON, TEXAS
Date: FEBRUARY 6, 2024
Sentence: 132 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release, $2 million fine
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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