Texas Border Business
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
LAREDO, Texas – A 26-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Laredo has been charged with conspiracy to smuggle and harbor illegal aliens.
Originally charged by criminal complaint, Giovana Lozano Hernandez is expected to appear for her arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
The charges allege she was an alien smuggler in an ongoing conspiracy. Law enforcement took her into custody Feb. 19.
Hernandez allegedly used multiple cellular devices to facilitate the smuggling conspiracy. One such failed event allegedly occurred Oct. 28, 2024. Authorities identified numerous digital images of paper ledgers and illegal aliens in relation to that event on the devices, according to the charges. There were also numerous voice messages allegedly exchanged between Hernandez and coconspirators detailing the human smuggling activity including numerous illegal aliens who had already been transported and housed for whom there needed to be financial accountability. Law enforcement also found video messages depicting the transportation of illegal aliens, according to the allegations.
If convicted, Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine on each of the two counts in the indictment.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Updated March 18, 2025
