Gulf Cartel Leader's Son-in-Law Pleads Guilty to Violent Border Price-Fixing Scheme

Carlos Favian Martinez, the son-in-law of former Gulf Cartel leader Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, pleaded guilty in a Houston federal court to orchestrating a violent scheme that manipulated prices and extorted businesses in the used-car market at the U.S.-Mexico border. The scheme, which began in 2011, involved intimidation and violence to control forwarding agency services at the Los Indios port of entry, ultimately extorting over $27 million from 2014 to 2022. Testimonies revealed a pattern of brutal tactics including beatings and kidnappings used against those who resisted their demands. Martinez’s plea agreement includes an 11-year prison term, with sentencing scheduled for May. His familial ties to the Gulf Cartel's legacy were highlighted during the proceedings, emphasizing the deep-rooted connections to organized crime. His father-in-law, Guillén, has a notorious history in the cartel world, further complicating Martinez's case.