Evergreen Reporter

The leader of a human smuggling organization based in San Antonio has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Roberto Galeas-Mejia, a 48-year-old from Honduras, was found guilty by a federal jury on July 27, 2022, of conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal migrants and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Court documents revealed that Galeas-Mejia led the organization responsible for transporting and hiding undocumented noncitizens. The group also coordinated payments through conspirators' bank accounts to pay drivers and operators of stash houses. Additionally, funds were used for personal expenses like vehicle purchases. Homeland Security Investigations disrupted several smuggling attempts during their investigation, leading to multiple arrests.

Galeas-Mejia's wife, Eva Maria Galeas, his stepdaughter Lisa Marie Ortega, both from San Antonio, along with his sisters Sandra and Norma Galeas-Mejia from Honduras were also involved as co-conspirators. While Eva Maria and Lisa Marie Ortega were found guilty alongside him, Sandra and Norma pleaded guilty earlier. The four women received their sentences in March.

In March, Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered the forfeiture of $603,593 discovered in a safe at the home shared by Roberto Galeas-Mejia with Eva Maria Galeas and Lisa Marie Ortega. On Wednesday, an additional money judgment of $1,008,000 was imposed on Roberto Galeas-Mejia.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with support from several agencies including the U.S. Border Patrol and various sheriff's offices across Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Holly Pavlinski, Antonio Franco, and Rex Beasley handled the prosecution.