Investigation leads to indictment of Laredo man in large-scale human smuggling case involving unaccompanied children
Laredo, Texas – A federal grand jury has indicted 49-year-old Juan Manuel Aguirre of Laredo on multiple charges related to smuggling and transportation of over 100 undocumented migrants in a tractor trailer, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The three-count indictment charges Aguirre with conspiracy to transport undocumented migrants and transporting undocumented migrants for financial gain. Aguirre is expected to appear for arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the coming days.
Details of the Incident
The case stems from a December 2 incident when law enforcement observed individuals being loaded into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot. After the truck hauling the trailer left the site, authorities conducted a traffic stop and searched the vehicle. Inside the trailer, 101 non-U.S. citizens, including 12 unaccompanied children, were found locked in cramped conditions. According to the criminal complaint, two individuals reported struggling to breathe and fearing for their lives due to the hazardous conditions.
If convicted, Aguirre faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count in the indictment, along with potential fines of up to $250,000 per count.
Collaborative Investigation
The case was part of an operation conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which works to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations. The operation involved multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Border Patrol, with support from Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Webb County Sheriff’s Office.
The OCDETF program employs a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, and multi-agency approach to address organized crime threats. More details about OCDETF’s efforts can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Prosecution and Legal Proceedings
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is leading the prosecution of the case. The indictment underscores federal authorities’ commitment to combating human smuggling operations and ensuring the safety of migrants subjected to life-threatening conditions during illicit transport.
Aguirre’s case highlights the dangers and complexities of addressing human smuggling crimes and the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts to dismantle these operations.
