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A Honduran illegal immigrant who was twice deported from the United States has been sentenced to 37 years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in organized criminal activity in North Texas.
Collin County, Texas, District Attorney Greg Willis’ office announced Thursday the sentencing of Sergio Cardenas Salinas, 30, of Houston, for leading an organized crime operation that involved a series of high-profile residential burglaries. .
A Collin County jury previously convicted Cardenas-Salinas of a first-degree felony.
Between July 16, 2023 and September 5, 2023, 10 Plano, Prosper, and McKinney residents had their homes broken into by burglars looking for gold, jewelry, and cash.
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Sergio Cárdenas Salinas pleaded guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity in North Texas. (Collin County District Attorney’s Office)
An investigation into the robbery led by the Plano Police Department identified the vehicle involved in the robbery, and on September 5, 2023, officers tracked the vehicle and arrested nine people involved in the crime.
During the investigation, detectives learned that the Houston-based robbery ring was comprised of individuals from Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela. The suspects targeted people of Middle Eastern, South Asian and Asian descent, and believed the robbers had large amounts of cash and valuables stored in their homes.
Investigators collected phone records, surveillance footage and other evidence that ultimately identified Crews and Cárdenas Salinas as the ringleaders. Investigators said Cárdenas-Salinas acted as a leader, instructing his crew on which homes to target and how to distribute the stolen gold.
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Sergio Cárdenas Salinas, 30, was sentenced to 37 years in prison. (St. Petersburg)
Willis’ office said Cárdenas-Salinas had been twice deported from the United States for illegally entering the country, but had re-entered the country and was the “mastermind” of the crimes.
Cárdenas Salinas pleaded guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity and faces up to life in prison.
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His previous criminal history includes a conviction for attempted murder, and he served six months in state prison before being released.
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He was facing a life sentence for his involvement in organized crime, but the jury decided to sentence him to 37 years in prison.
“Collin County will not tolerate criminal illegal aliens targeting law-abiding citizens,” Willis said. “Cárdenas Salinas had no right to be in this county, let alone this country. This lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message that we will protect our communities from those who come to commit crimes. ”
