A 26-year-old man has been held to answer and arraigned in Los Angeles County in connection with alleged labor trafficking of a 14-year-old middle school student between May 2 and May 5, 2025, according to prosecutors.
Brandon Holguin is accused of taking the victim’s cell phone, allegedly telling him it was needed so the victim could not be tracked by his mother. Prosecutors say Holguin later sold the phone and used a false ID to pawn jewelry belonging to the victim, which were described as gifts from the victim’s family.
He is also accused of transporting the victim to multiple locations, including a motel room where the teen was allegedly directed to sort and photograph used clothing for online resale.
Authorities allege Holguin furnished the minor with a controlled substance containing amphetamine, commonly known as Adderall, and instructed the victim to ingest it while working, which made the victim sick.
Prosecutors say Holguin later abandoned the teen on a Los Angeles freeway in the middle of the night on May 5, 2025, after an alleged plan to transport the victim to Northern California did not occur. The victim later walked to a nearby location, where staff contacted 911. Los Angeles Police Department officers recovered the teen and reunited him with family that same day.
Holguin is charged with six felonies, including child stealing, human trafficking, child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death, furnishing a minor a controlled substance, employing a minor during unauthorized hours, and false personation for a written instrument.
He was arrested on May 9, 2025, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment on the first amended complaint on Nov. 6, 2025, and again pleaded not guilty on the Information.
On April 22, 2026, following a preliminary hearing, the court held Holguin to answer on all charges. He is being held on $650,000 bail.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said, “Human labor traffickers frequently target vulnerable children… Human exploitation is unfortunately still widespread in our county in 2026, and our Labor Justice Unit will ensure that anyone who participates in this criminal activity is held accountable.”
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 3 in Department C of the Pasadena Courthouse, and the investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department remains ongoing.
Authorities ask anyone with information or possible victims to contact Detective Salvador Ponce at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 818-236-4015. Anonymous tips can be submitted to LA Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or LA Crime Stoppers.