The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the sentencing of three individuals involved in a conspiracy to monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency industry in the Los Indios, Texas border region. The defendants were part of a scheme that used fear, monopolization, and extortion to control the industry and laundered proceeds from these activities.
Pedro Antonio Calvillo Hernandez, 50, from McAllen, Texas, received a sentence of 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $50,000 fine. He pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to fix prices illegally and monopolize the market for transmigrante forwarding agency services.
Jose de Jesus Tapia Fernandez, 47, from Brownsville, Texas was sentenced to time served—31 months—and will also serve three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy.
Mireya Miranda, 59, from San Antonio, Texas was sentenced to 10 months of home detention and fined $75,000 after pleading guilty to similar charges related to price-fixing and market allocation.
Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater stated: “The danger and the harm to the American people by the use of violence and extortion to fix prices and monopolize the market for an essential service in the Texas border region cannot be understated.” She emphasized that these sentences highlight their commitment against white-collar and violent crime exploiting free markets.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei added: “Price fixing is an attempt to distort the market in favor of the fixer... The Southern District of Texas will work tirelessly to prosecute such criminal syndicates.”
Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division expressed pride in their collaborative efforts leading up to these sentences. “We remain absolutely committed to thwarting criminal enterprises,” he said.
Transmigrantes are responsible for transporting used vehicles from the United States through Mexico into Central America. The conspirators fixed prices for services provided by transmigrante forwarding agencies and created a centralized entity known as "the Pool" which collected revenues among them while limiting competition.
Calvillo, Tapia, and Miranda are also required to pay restitution; a hearing on September 3 will determine final amounts owed. Four co-defendants have been previously sentenced; another awaits sentencing while three remain fugitives.
The investigation was conducted by multiple entities including the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and FBI. Trial Attorneys Anne Veldhuis among others prosecuted this case.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center or visit their website for more details.
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