McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A South Texas man on Wednesday was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a pregnant 16-year-old immigrant who officials say he was trafficking, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei said Wednesday.
Luis Andres Serna, 30, of Laredo pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor, as well as to human transportation and drug conspiracy charges.
Officials say Serna was arrested on April 5, 2022, accompanied by an undocumented immigrant they say he picked up from downtown Laredo and took to his apartment building. At the time, a 16-year-old pregnant minor was his passenger.
Law enforcement that day raided Serna’s apartment building and found 37 undocumented immigrants and over 1,000 kilos of marijuana in several apartments linked to Serna. He was arrested for drug trafficking and conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens.
During court testimony, the teen girl said she had given birth to a child who she claimed Serna had fathered.
While in federal custody on the drug and immigration charges, officials say Serna contacted the minor but did not tell officials she was under age. He conducted video calls with her that were sexual in nature.
“The defendant’s conduct in this case was absolutely reprehensible, and that the fact that it continued even while he was in custody underscores just how dangerous he is,” Ganjei said. “From alien smuggling, to drug trafficking, to sexual exploitation of a minor, the defendant took every opportunity to harm his community. Fortunately for the people of Laredo, he is now behind bars for a long while.”
The “sentencing should serve as a deterrent to those involved in sexual exploitation, alien smuggling and drug trafficking,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “ICE-HSI remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice criminals which harm individuals and communities. Through our dedicated efforts and strong partnerships with law enforcement, we will continue to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable victims from exploitation and abuse.”
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.