San Antonio – A chilling sentence was handed down in the federal court of San Antonio as Joshua Lee Balderas, 33, of La Pryor, Texas, was sentenced to 120 years in prison for his role in a despicable scheme that involved kidnapping illegal aliens. The sentence includes 20 years for each harboring count and 80 years for conspiracy to kidnap, all to be served consecutively.
According to court documents, Balderas, along with other conspirators, transported and harbored a group of seven aliens, including a woman suffering from severe injuries, following their crossing of the U.S.-Mexico border in March 2022. The group was held captive in hotel rooms in San Antonio, where they were ransomed to their families for thousands of dollars. One victim was forced to pay $7,000 for release.
Balderas and his co-conspirator, Kaylen Alexander Brondo, 26, brandished firearms during the scheme. During a ransom call, Balderas reportedly pointed a firearm directly at a victim to ensure her compliance. The horror did not end there; while in captivity, one of the migrants was sexually assaulted by Balderas.
Balderas was arrested on October 28, 2022, and found guilty on all counts by a federal jury on October 11, 2024. Brondo, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kidnap on September 30, 2024, is scheduled for sentencing on August 26.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons emphasized the severity of Balderas’ crimes and noted that the sentence serves as a stern warning against such exploitation. ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee commended law enforcement for their hard work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.
This harrowing case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protecting communities from violent crime. The investigation was conducted by HSI and the San Antonio Police Department, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Brown and Adrian Rosales.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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