A Texas woman was charged with conspiring to transport, attempting to transport and transporting two illegal alien minors illegally in the United States for financial gain following an investigation conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Laredo Office.
ICE worked on this case in coordination with the U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector.
Jovanna Netzay Diaz, 31, from Dallas, is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver in Dallas. She will then be expected in Laredo federal court shortly thereafter.
A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment on February 19, which was unsealed upon her arrest on February 27.
According to court documents, the charges allege that on October 26, 2024, Diaz arrived at the Border Patrol checkpoint in Laredo. Upon initial inspection, authorities allegedly observed a blanket moving between the second and third rows of the vehicle.
Law enforcement soon found one minor underneath the blanket and another concealed on the floorboard of the vehicle’s front passenger seat, according to the charges.
The minors were allegedly determined to be nine-year-old twins who were nationals and citizens of Mexico with no familial connection to Diaz.
If convicted, Diaz faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a $250,000 maximum possible fine.
