MLB agent Bart Hernandez was arrested on Friday after a federal grand injury indicted him on human-trafficking charges related to the smuggling of Seattle Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin into the U.S. from Cuba.
Hernandez has represented a number of Cuban players, including Martin; Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox; Adeiny Hechavarria of the Miami Marlins; and Jorge Soler of the Chicago Cubs. He also represents several current free agents, including Cuban defectors Luis Yander La O and Guillermo Heredia.
According to the indictment, Hernandez worked with Cuban alien-smugglers Eliezer Lazo and Joel Martinez Hernandez to bring Martin into the U. S. illegally in August 2010, according to ESPN. Martin is listed in the indictment as “L.M.T.,” which stands for Leonys Martin Tapanes, his full Spanish name.
Abreu’s initials, along with and Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguer Dalier Hinojosa’s, appear in the indictment along with Martin. The indictment says that Hernandez "did willingly … and knowingly conspire, confederate, and agree with Eliezer Lazo, Joel Martinez Hernandez, and other persons … to commit an offense against the United States."
If convicted on conspiracy and financial-gain charges, Hernandez would face up to 20 years in prison with a minimum sentence of three years, according to Yahoo Sports. He would also have to forfeit proceeds from the contracts of Martin, Abreu, and Hinojosa and an additional $1.5 million and a 2001 Honda motorcycle.
Lazo has pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy and was sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison. Martinez Hernandez has been jailed for Medicare fraud, as well as Lazo.
Martin filed a lawsuit saying that Martinez Hernandez and Lazo held him and his family hostage while Hernandez negotiated his five-year, $15.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers. According to the lawsuit, Martin paid $1.2 million to Estrellas del Baseball, which was a front for the smuggling operation. Martin who is now with the Mariners is a career .255 hitter, the New York Daily News notes.
Hernandez is expected to appear at the U.S. District Court in Miami on Friday.