Sentences handed to “Cobra” human smuggling members responsible for fatality and sexual assault

McALLEN, Texas – The leader of a smuggling organization and five others have been sentenced for conspiring to smuggle undocumented individuals, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Saul Torres-Martinez aka Cobra, 42, Houston; Ernesto Mata Pioquinto, 32, Mexico; Marcelino Navarro Sanchez, 31, Mexico; Robert Hernandez, 26, Fresno; Noemi Silva, 39, Wimauma, Florida; and Luis Esteban Martinez, 41, Alamo, pleaded guilty July 6, 2021.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane found Torres-Martinez to be a leader or organizer of the smuggling operation and imposed a 110-month sentence. Pioquinto and Sanchez received 52 months, while Hernandez, Silva and Martinez received 39, 87 and 87 months in federal prison, respectively. Hernandez, Silva, and Martinez will serve three years of supervised release following their terms of imprisonment. Not U.S. citizens, Torres-Martinez, Pioquinto and Sanchez are expected to face removal proceedings following the completion of their respective sentences. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane noted the seriousness of the offense and expressed concern regarding the harm Torres-Martinez caused to the community.

“Human smuggling organizations simply don’t care,” said Hamdani. “They do not see the migrants they transport as human beings but rather as currency. As a result, when you put yourselves in these criminals’ hands you risk exposing yourself to extreme danger or even death.”

As a part of an approximately two-year investigation into human smuggling in the Rio Grande Valley, law enforcement identified and apprehended six members of the “Cobra” human smuggling organization.

According to law enforcement, the smuggling network was responsible for more 100 undocumented individuals from the Mexican border to Houston from 2018 to 2019.

During the investigation, further evidence revealed that members of the human smuggling organization were responsible for a smuggling fatality as well as an alleged sexual assault of another smuggled individual.

Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps prosecuted the case.