SAN ANTONIO – A criminal complaint filed by a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations said 11 undocumented men found inside a west San Antonio home described as a "stash house" were only wearing underwear. Their clothes were taken from them to keep them from escaping.
Jesus Antonio Martinez-Cerda and Ismael Benavidez are charged with bringing in and harboring aliens.
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HSI and the Department of Homeland Security went to 115 Westhaven Place with a search warrant on July 23 -- the same day a tractor trailer was found in a Walmart parking lot, loaded with illegal immigrants. Ten of those immigrants died and more than two dozen suffered heat-related ailments. The warrant was not connected with that case.
The affidavit said Martinez was in the home with the immigrants. Like them, he was only wearing his underwear. Martinez said that was because "his clothes were in the washer." One immigrant told investigators Martinez did that "to blend in as an undocumented alien."
"Martinez stated that he is a citizen and national of Mexico having entered the United States illegally four years ago. Martinez stated he has been working at the residence on Westhaven for about three weeks. Martinez stated that he is responsible for feeding the UDAS (undocumented aliens) and arranging the payment of the smuggling fees," the affidavit said.
Martinez told investigators another man would call and tell him how many people to expect and the fees each owed and his job was to care for them.
Investigators arrested Benavidez at a gas station near the home. They said he admitted to feeding and caring for the immigrants at 115 Westhaven Place for the last two months.
"Benavidez further stated that Martinez paid him $200.00 per week to feed and look after the undocumented aliens while smuggling fee arrangements were made," the affidavit said.
Benavidez said Martinez also paid him $100 every time he picked up money orders for the job. He said the immigrants at the home were picked up July 21.
"Benavidez stated that Martinez instructed all the UDAS to strip down to their underwear. Benavidez stated this was done to prevent any of the 11 UDAS from escaping the residence," the affidavit said.
One immigrant told investigators he illegally entered the United States from Mexico around July 16. He said his family paid $3,500 in smuggling fees and that he still owed $2,500 in smuggling fees. He said Martinez picked him up, along with eight other immigrants, from a parking lot and drove them to the home.
Another immigrant from Honduras said he came illegally came into the U.S. on the same date after his family paid $3,500 in smuggling fees. He also said Martinez picked him up from an empty parking lot and drove all the immigrants to the home.
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