Baltimore, Maryland -A federal grand jury indicted Martir Jandres a/k/a “Tono", age 42, of Frederick, Maryland, on a charge of conspiracy to commit human smuggling related to a years long operation to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States through Texas and then transport them throughout the country. The indictment was returned on March 16, 2018, and unsealed today upon the arrest of Jandres and the execution of a search warrant at his residence.
The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning, Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Sheriff Charles A. Jenkins of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the one-count indictment, between October 2016 and February 2017, Jandres allegedly conspired with numerous people in Central America, Mexico and the United States to facilitate illegal aliens entry to the United States without inspection by bypassing United States Border Patrol checkpoints. Once in the country, the aliens were placed in stash houses until transportation could be arranged with local “load drivers" to enable the aliens to leave the border area and travel to their interior destinations. On two occasions, undercover HSI agents posed as “load drivers" to transport aliens smuggled by Jandres.
Jandres faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended HSI for their work in the investigation along with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Schenning thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Fish and Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who are prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
