NEEDVILLE — A 51-year-old Needville man has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison after Border Patrol agents discovered 10 undocumented migrants hidden inside his tractor-trailer during an inspection in South Texas.
The sentencing of Robert Martinez Jr. was announced Thursday, October 15, 2026, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Martinez will also serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
Migrants Found Hidden Inside Truck
The case began on March 9, 2026, when Martinez drove his tractor-trailer to a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita, Texas.
During the inspection, agents asked Martinez what he was hauling. He told them he was transporting onions and agreed to have the truck scanned.
The scan revealed something unusual inside the truck’s cab, prompting agents to conduct a closer inspection.
Authorities discovered 10 undocumented migrants concealed in several areas of the truck’s sleeping compartment, including the upper bunk, beneath a blanket on the lower bunk and inside a storage compartment underneath.
Federal prosecutors said two people were trapped inside a storage compartment beneath four others, leaving them unable to get out on their own.
Agents also observed that the people inside the compartment were sweating and had flushed faces.
The migrants identified Martinez as the driver of the truck.
Judge Considers Dangerous Conditions
Martinez pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026.
During sentencing, the court heard about his previous felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance.
Federal prosecutors said Judge Ramos considered the dangerous conditions in which the migrants were transported before handing down the 21-month prison sentence.
Martinez remains in federal custody while awaiting transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. The location of that facility has not yet been announced.
Federal Investigation
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Izaak Bruce prosecuted the case.
The Justice Department said the prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide federal initiative targeting immigration-related offenses and organized criminal activity.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas
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