Eighth co-conspirator convicted for role in botched human smuggling attempt that resulted in 2 aliens being shot

HOUSTON – Mailon Almendares-Martinez, a 21-year-old resident of New Orleans, was convicted of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens April 30 for his role in a botched human smuggling attempt that resulted in two of the aliens being shot by suspected rival smugglers. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation that has now resulted in the conviction of eight human smugglers.  

“This is another unfortunate example of the dangers of relying on human smugglers to circumvent U.S. immigration law,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Driven exclusively by greed and their own personal safety, these human smugglers recklessly put the lives of two aliens in jeopardy to avoid being caught and keep their smuggling operation from being discovered. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the HSI special agents and HPD officers who investigated this case, eight of the human smugglers involved have now been convicted and their alien smuggling organization has been dismantled.”

The investigation revealed that Almendares-Martinez conspired with others from Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2022, to transport aliens from the South Texas border to Houston. During the hearing, the jury heard testimony that Almendares-Martinez recruited friends and conspirators from New Orleans to carry out the scheme and that he and his co-conspirators offered to pay the smugglers $1,000 to $2,000 per alien that they transported.

Evidence revealed he had directed them through WhatsApp messages and phone calls on where to pick up the aliens. After picking up the aliens near the border, the conspirators headed back to Houston. En route, individuals believed to be a part of a rival human smuggling organization fired several shots at them and two of the aliens being smuggled suffered gunshot wounds to the arm and leg.

After the shooting, Almendares-Martinez told the co-conspirators to return to Houston and not seek medical attention for the two wounded aliens. Co-conspirators then brought the aliens to a motel in Houston Nov. 1, 2022. The next day, the illegal aliens escaped. Law enforcement arrived at the scene and took four people in custody, to include Jonathan Melendez-Merino, Oscar Melendez-Sosa, Cristian Mencias-Padilla and Cesar Monge-Milla.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Almendares-Martinez was not part of the conspiracy and that someone else was using his WhatsApp account to communicate with co-conspirators. They did not believe those claims and found Almendares-Martinez guilty as charged.

Almendares-Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 11. At that time, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines.  

Previously released on bond, Almendares-Martinez was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending that hearing.

Seven others, all from New Orleans, Louisiana, previously pleaded guilty in the case - Melendez-Merino, 32, Melendez-Sosa, 22, Mencias-Padilla, 21, and Monge-Milla, 25, along with Yunior Sorto-Ramirez, 23, Bayron Pineda-Alvarado, and Alan Galvez-Baquedano, 22.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case.