Carlos Martinez, a 39-year-old resident of Mission, Texas, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined $2 million for his role in a conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency (TFA) industry in the Los Indios, Texas border region. This sentence follows his involvement in price-fixing and extortion activities aimed at controlling the TFA industry.
Transmigrantes are responsible for transporting used vehicles and goods from the United States through Mexico for resale across Central America. Martinez and his co-defendants were found guilty of manipulating this market by fixing prices and creating "The Pool," a centralized entity that divided revenues among conspirators while limiting competition.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, commented on the case: “The defendants exploited hardworking professionals in the freight forwarding business using extortion and illegal price-fixing schemes to manipulate the market and inflate the cost of moving goods.” He added that Martinez's sentence reflects significant economic harm inflicted on businesses along the southern border.
Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater emphasized the danger posed by such actions: “Today’s sentence reflects the significant danger and harm the American people face from violent and extortive actions aimed at fixing prices and monopolizing the market for essential services in the Texas border region.”
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei highlighted how price fixing affects consumers: “Price fixing is not a victimless crime; it harms customers in the form of artificially high prices.”
FBI Assistant Director Jose A. Perez stated: “All of these defendants used their positions with the TFA to extort hardworking individuals who relied on these services to support their families and livelihood.”
Special Agent Craig Larrabee of HSI San Antonio noted: “Carlos Martinez and his co-conspirators orchestrated a violent scheme that extorted small businesses, fixed prices, and laundered millions of dollars — all while threatening the safety and integrity of lawful commerce.”
Martinez's criminal activities included collecting $9.5 million in extortion payments which were laundered through bank accounts under his control. His ties to organized crime were also noted as he is related to a former leader of Mexico's Gulf Cartel.
Martinez pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple charges including conspiracy to fix prices illegally, conspiracy to monopolize markets, interference with commerce by extortion, and money laundering conspiracy.
Several co-defendants have already been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing for their roles in this scheme. The court will decide on restitution amounts owed to victims at an upcoming hearing scheduled for September 3, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) alongside the FBI. Prosecution was handled by various attorneys from different divisions within the Justice Department.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to this investigation to contact relevant tip lines provided by HSI or FBI.
