A Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a human trafficking conspiracy, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas.
Michael Anthony Martinez, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. On December 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle sentenced him to 33 months in federal prison.
Court records show that Martinez used a social media account to offer substantial payments to individuals willing to drive illegal aliens to their destinations. Evidence presented included bank records and text messages between Martinez and those he recruited.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Tyler Resident Office and the Tyler Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak prosecuted the case.
