Executive Summary
- Manuel Valenzuela, 35, of El Paso, pleaded guilty to federal charges in a human smuggling conspiracy.
- The scheme involved smuggling children aged 2-13 from Mexico into the U.S., sometimes sedating them with THC-laced candies.
- Valenzuela’s role was to collect the children and pay the drivers approximately $900 per child.
- Three other co-defendants have been charged in connection with the case, and their legal proceedings are ongoing.
An El Paso man pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in a human smuggling conspiracy that involved sedating children with THC-laced candies to bring them into the United States from Mexico. Manuel Valenzuela, 35, entered the plea on Thursday for his part in the operation which smuggled children as young as two years old.
Details of the Plea
According to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Valenzuela pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens and three counts of aiding and abetting in the smuggling of aliens for profit. The plea was entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura Enriquez. Valenzuela now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 11 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for January 29 before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone.
The Smuggling Operation
The scheme, which operated between May and October 2024, focused on smuggling unaccompanied children aged two to 13 into the U.S. Court documents state that smugglers, posing as the children’s parents, would use false documents at El Paso ports of entry. To keep the children quiet during the crossing, they were sometimes given THC-laced candies. One child was reportedly hospitalized and diagnosed with THC poisoning as a result.
Valenzuela’s specific role was to retrieve the children after they successfully crossed the border and to pay the drivers involved in the transport. Federal authorities stated he paid approximately $900 per child.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Valenzuela was one of four individuals arrested in connection with the smuggling ring in August. The other three co-defendants, Susana Guadian, Daniel Guadian, and Dianne Guadian, face similar charges. Their cases remain pending in federal court. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.