Convicted smuggler heads to prison after second alien smuggling attempt

LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old has been sentenced following another conviction for transporting undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

David Alberto Martinez, Laredo, pleaded guilty Oct. 12, 2023, to transporting and conspiring to transport undocumented non-citizens.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Martinez to serve a total of 42 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about Martinez’s previous convictions for human smuggling.

On Aug. 4, 2023, Martinez drove a personal vehicle to the primary inspection lane at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35 north of Laredo. The vehicle contained eight occupants including Martinez, an undocumented citizen of Guatemala and five juvenile children not related to either Martinez or the others.

Martinez lied to authorities, stating the vehicle’s occupants were “all family,” attempting to pose as a familial unit to deceive law enforcement. One of the smuggled persons reported they had paid $8,500 to a human smuggling organization to be transported further into the United States.

Martinez’ prior conviction arose after law enforcement responded to a major accident in Duval County, during which the vehicle he used to transport 10 individuals had overturned. The crash ejected two of the occupants and an additional six others required emergency medical treatment and transportation to the hospital.

Martinez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S.  Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

BP conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Terence A. Check Jr. and AUSA Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.