By Emma Hinchliffe Updated 4:59 pm, Monday, October 26, 2015

A Guatemalan man who ran a stash house for undocumented immigrants where he took their clothes and refused to let them leave until their family members made required payments pleaded guilty Monday to harboring illegal immigrants .

Alberto Martinez-Vasquez, 26, who had previously been deported himself, was convicted in federal court before U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Law enforcement first responded in September to a noise complaint on the 9800 block of Gillman Street in northeast Houston, where they found 16 undocumented immigrants in their underwear, including three women and one minor.

The charges brought against Martinez-Vasquez followed an investigation by Homeland Security and the Houston Police Department.

Martinez-Vasquez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25.

http://www.chron.com/houston/article...or-6591615.php