U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero | U.S. Department of Justice
Cesar David Martinez-Gonzalez, a 39-year-old resident of Chester, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to charges related to a conspiracy aimed at smuggling migrants from South America into the United States. The plea was entered before United States District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh in Philadelphia.
The conspiracy involved smuggling individuals across the U.S.-Mexico border for personal financial gain. Martinez-Gonzalez reportedly provided funds to "coyotes" in Mexico who facilitated the illegal crossing of migrants into the United States. Once across the border, these individuals were given information to present to Customs and Border Protection to secure their release on parole.
After their arrival in Philadelphia, Martinez-Gonzalez transported the migrants to residences around Chester, Pennsylvania. He then imposed significant debts on them, requiring repayment through low-wage labor and forfeiting half of their earnings. Additionally, he assisted them in obtaining false identification and employment.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero stated, "Martinez-Gonzalez took advantage of vulnerable migrants for his own financial benefit," highlighting how he exploited them by imposing "thousands of dollars of so-called ‘debts,’ which they had to repay through weeks or months of labor."
Martinez-Gonzalez is set for sentencing on March 18, 2025, facing a potential maximum sentence of 120 years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. The prosecution team includes Assistant United States Attorneys Sara A. Solow, Louis D. Lappen, Eileen Castilla Geiger, and Andrew Jenemann.
