DEL RIO, Texas — The leader of a human smuggling organization (HSO) was sentenced in a federal court to 30 years for human smuggling and money following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office, the Eagle Pass Police Department, the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Roberto Galeas-Mejia, 48, from Honduras, was sentenced Oct. 31 by Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses to 360 months in prison for human smuggling and money laundering.
“This lengthy sentence serves as our promise to use every tool in HSI’s arsenal to investigate and dismantle human smuggling networks,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “Human smuggling is dangerous, and HSI will not stop investigating and bringing smugglers to court to face justice. There can be no safe haven for smugglers who evade our nation's laws, are senselessly greedy, and are recklessly dangerous. HSI is dedicated to disrupting and dismantling these networks to protect vulnerable individuals and uphold the safety and security of our communities.”
According to court documents, Galeas-Mejia led a San Antonio-based HSO, overseeing activities that included the transportation and harboring of undocumented noncitizens and the coordination of payments. Funds were funneled through conspirators’ bank accounts and used to pay load drivers and stash house operators, as well as to rent stash houses and further aid the HSO. Funds were also used for personal expenses such as vehicle purchases. Over the course of the investigation, Homeland Security Investigations thwarted multiple smuggling loads and arrested numerous co-conspirators and undocumented noncitizens.
On July 27, 2022, a federal jury found Galeas-Mejia guilty of all three counts in a superseding indictment: conspiracy to transport illegal migrants, conspiracy to harbor illegal migrants, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. His wife Eva Maria Galeas and stepdaughter Lisa Marie Ortega, both of San Antonio, were also found guilty as co-conspirators. His sisters Sandra and Norma Galeas-Mejia, of Honduras, were also co-conspirators but pleaded guilty. The four women were sentenced in March.
During the March sentence hearing, Judge Moses ordered the forfeiture of $603,593.00, which was discovered in a safe during a search of Roberto’s home that he shared with Eva and Lisa Marie Ortega. On Wednesday, Roberto Galeas was also ordered to pay a money judgment of $1,008,000.
Assistant U.S. attorneys from the Western District of Texas, Holly Pavlinski, Antonio Franco, and Rex Beasley, prosecuted the case.
HSI San Antonio continues to address the serious public safety threat posed by human smuggling organizations and their reckless disregard for the health and safety of the people they exploit. To report suspicious smuggling activity, you are urged to call 866-348-2423.