Texas Bakery Owners Convicted of Harboring Illegal Aliens

A recent immigration raid at a bakery in Texas resulted in the conviction of the owners for harboring illegal aliens. The proprietors of Abby’s Bakery, located in Los Fresnos, as well as Dulce’s Cafe, now face potential federal prison sentences of up to ten years and may even lose their residency status following sentencing.

After deliberating for around three hours, a jury found Leonardo Baez Lara, age 56, and Alicia Avila Guell, 46, guilty of multiple counts of conspiring to harbor illegal aliens. Despite being legal permanent residents themselves, the couple has operated their bakeries since 2012.

This operation was executed by the Homeland Security Investigations division of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, according to a statement from the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

Investigators gathered information indicating that while the couple held visas, they employed several individuals who were not authorized to work in the U.S. Evidence revealed that five to six workers were forced to live in cramped, unsafe conditions nearby, with one baker reportedly residing in those conditions for over two years.

Cesar de Leon, the couple’s defense attorney, noted that they are contemplating their legal options moving forward. “We believe these are hardworking individuals who hired diligent employees,” he mentioned, emphasizing that the laws in question are intended to target significant criminal organizations involved in human trafficking and illegal activities.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 18, and aside from prison time, the couple could also face fines of up to $250,000.

Moreover, the Department of Justice described this case as part of a larger initiative to combat human smuggling. A spokesperson for HSI stated that the verdict demonstrates that those conspiring to unlawfully harbor individuals in the country for personal gain will face serious legal consequences.