A superseding indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Georgia charges five defendants for their roles in a scheme to exploit the H-2A nonimmigrant visa worker program to fraudulently obtain worker visas and smuggle aliens into the United States, the Justice Department announced.

Charged are Martha Aquino, also known as “Martha Patricia Resendez Sanchez,” or “Marta,” 61; Evangelina Aquino De Galvan, 49; and Julio Cervantes, 38, all of Alma, Georgia; Marco Cervantes, also known as “Chiquilin,” 41, of Rowlett, Georgia; and Juan Felipe Romero-Lopez, 31, an illegal alien from Mexico.

According to court documents, the defendants conspired to exploit the H-2A visa program by fraudulently obtaining temporary visas to bring workers into the United States. They lied about where the workers would work and reside and did not comply with the laws and rules governing the visa program, specifically by demanding and receiving improper payments from the workers before the workers could seek H-2A visas or begin working in the United States.

The conspirators confiscated and withheld the workers’ identification documents, including passports, and at times threatened or used violence against the workers to deter them from leaving or failing to work, according to the indictment. After the workers’ visas had expired, the conspirators enabled them to remain in the United States and even offered to transport them elsewhere in the United States in exchange for additional improper payments.

Aquino, Julio Cervantes and Marco Cervantes were arrested this week. Aquino De Galvan remains at large. Romero-Lopez has been detained after being originally charged in May 2026 for unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.

Aquino, Aquino De Galvan and Julio Cervantes are charged with conspiring to commit visa fraud, visa fraud, and encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the United States illegally for commercial advantage and private gain. Marco Cervantes is charged with conspiring to commit visa fraud and visa fraud. Romero-Lopez is charged with conspiring to commit visa fraud and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

If convicted, all five defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for visa fraud conspiracy. Aquino, Aquino De Galvan, Julio Cervantes and Marco Cervantes each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for visa fraud. Aquino, Aquino De Galvan and Julio Cervantes each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for encouraging and inducing illegal entry. Romero-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

“The H-2A is specifically designed to help farmers fill temporary or seasonal jobs when there is a shortage of domestic labor,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Instead of helping American farmers, these defendants allegedly concocted a scheme to enrich themselves by manipulating the program and smuggling aliens into the country for profit.”

U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap for the Southern District of Georgia said those who exploit immigrant workers and abuse the H-2A visa program for financial gain will be held accountable.

“We will continue to partner with our federal, state and local agencies to protect these workers, safeguard the integrity of the H-2A program and prosecute those who turn a lawful employment program into a vehicle for profit and abuse,” Heap said.

Acting Special Agent in Charge Ellen Johnson of Homeland Security Investigations Georgia and Alabama said exploiting a lawful worker visa program to profit from vulnerable individuals undermines the immigration system, harms legitimate employers and puts workers at risk.

“HSI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to identify and dismantle criminal networks that use fraud, coercion, and violence to facilitate human smuggling and trafficking,” Johnson said.

Deputy Assistant Director William Ferrari of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Office of Investigations said the H-2A program exists to meet critical U.S. labor needs through lawful employment, not to facilitate fraud or exploitation. He said DSS jointly investigated the case with HSI, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General said the defendants allegedly used fraud and intimidation to exploit vulnerable workers and undermine the H-2A visa program.

“Their egregious conduct included demanding improper payments, confiscating workers’ identification documents, and using threats or violence to maintain control,” D’Esposito said. “The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General will aggressively investigate those who exploit labor programs and workers for profit.”

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.