Giovana Lozano Hernandez, a 26-year-old Mexican national residing unlawfully in Laredo, Texas, has been charged with conspiracy to smuggle and harbor undocumented immigrants, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced on March 18. Hernandez, initially charged by criminal complaint, is expected to appear for an arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge soon.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hernandez was involved in an ongoing human smuggling conspiracy and was arrested by law enforcement on February 19. She is accused of using multiple cellular devices to coordinate smuggling operations, helping facilitate the transportation and housing of undocumented immigrants.
One of the smuggling attempts occurred on October 28, 2024, but was reportedly unsuccessful. Authorities discovered digital images of paper ledgers and photographs linking Hernandez to the operation. Investigators also found several voice messages exchanged between Hernandez and her co-conspirators, which included discussions about financial transactions and details of smuggling operations.
Additionally, authorities recovered video footage depicting the transportation of undocumented immigrants, further linking Hernandez to the criminal activities.
If convicted, Hernandez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each of the two counts listed in the indictment.
A criminal complaint is a formal charge of criminal conduct, but the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
