Carlos Martinez, 39, of Mission, Texas, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined $2 million for leading a violent, multi-million-dollar conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency (TFA) industry at the Los Indios border crossing.
Martinez and his co-defendants extorted rival agencies, forcing them to pay into a centralized fund known as “The Pool” or face violence and financial ruin.
They enforced price-fixing and collected additional extortion fees, including a “piso” for every transaction and fines for noncompliance. Martinez oversaw enforcement through threats, kidnappings, firebombings, assaults, and even murder.
He personally collected over $9.5 million in extortion, laundering it through family-controlled accounts disguised to conceal its criminal origins. Martinez, the son-in-law of a former Gulf Cartel leader, used cartel-style tactics to dominate the border crossing, employing individuals to track payments and enforce obedience.
“Price fixing is not a victimless crime; it harms customers in the form of artificially high prices. Consumers need to have faith that the prices they pay are fairly determined by the market, rather than the product of illegal collusion,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. “The 11-year sentence Mr. Martinez received reflects the size and scope of his criminal operation, as well as his leadership role in organizing and facilitating the unlawful scheme.”
Martinez pleaded guilty in February to five federal crimes, including conspiracy to fix prices, monopolize the market, extort competitors, and launder money. The government is seeking forfeiture of his house, luxury vehicles, boat, and watches.
Co-Defendant Sentences:
- Carlos Yzaguirre, 66, McAllen, TX – 2 years in prison (extortion conspiracy)
- Sandra Guerra Medina, 70, Rancho Viejo, TX – 8 months home detention (price-fixing, monopolization)
- Juan Hector Ramirez Avila, 59, Mexico – time served (structuring financial transactions)
- Jose Tapia, Mireya Miranda, Pedro Calvillo, Roberto Garcia Villarreal – pleaded guilty, sentencing pending
- Rigoberto Brown, Miguel Hipolito Caballero Aupart, Diego Ceballos-Soto – fugitives
A restitution hearing for the victims is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2025.
The case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.