Laredo man sentenced for cartel-linked human smuggling conspiracy—
LAREDO, Texas — A 35-year-old man from Laredo has been sentenced to 132 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle over 1,900 illegal aliens, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas. Danny Nunez, who pleaded guilty in February 2025, was involved in a large-scale operation linked to Cartel del Noreste.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed the sentence, which includes a 120-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release, and an additional 12 months for a supervised release violation from a prior conviction. The court highlighted the sophistication and scale of Nunez’s operation, describing it as the largest she had encountered.
The investigation revealed Nunez’s involvement in multiple smuggling events since March 2023, including a December incident where 101 aliens were found in a trailer, some struggling to breathe. Authorities discovered cellphones, ledgers, over $36,000, and two illegal aliens at Nunez’s home during his arrest.
