Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a human smuggling operation, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Manuel Capetillo, 27, from Poteet, and Michael Diaz, 31, from Laredo, had previously pleaded guilty on February 4 and March 4.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen sentenced Capetillo to 85 months in prison and Diaz to 70 months. Both will also serve three years of supervised release after their imprisonment. Additionally, Diaz was ordered to pay a $10,000 special assessment. During sentencing, the court highlighted the harsh conditions under which the aliens were transported and noted that Capetillo and Diaz treated them as commodities: “You thought of these people as cattle,” said Judge Kazen. He further commented on Capetillo’s significant role in the operation, describing him as one of the highest-level players in the region.
The two men were responsible for smuggling over 65 individuals, including adults and children as young as six years old, from countries ranging from Guatemala to Mexico. They received more than $50,000 in cash payments during their activities.
Investigations revealed that both men managed stash houses in Laredo while Capetillo operated an additional one in Poteet. Over several months, Capetillo recruited personnel such as drivers and scouts to facilitate the transportation of aliens from Central America throughout Texas.
Capetillo also engaged with Mexican smugglers to negotiate payments for illegal crossings into the United States and collaborated with Mexican nationals to provide weapons for conflicts in Monterrey, Mexico, while importing drugs into the U.S.
Diaz collaborated closely with Capetillo by renting a yard in Laredo where they loaded aliens into non-operational vehicles placed on tow trucks for transport to Capetillo’s stash house in Poteet amid high temperatures. For his participation in this conspiracy, Diaz was compensated by Capetillo.
Following his sentencing, Capetillo was taken into custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined. Diaz remains in custody.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations along with Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection agencies assisted by police departments from Laredo and Poteet. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tory Sailer prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration through comprehensive efforts involving various Department of Justice resources focused on dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations while safeguarding communities against violent crime perpetrators.
