Texas Woman Sentenced for Role in Human Smuggling Operation

A 27-year-old woman residing in Texas without legal status has been sentenced to over five years in prison for her involvement as a bookkeeper in a human smuggling operation linked to the pro-Los Zetas cartel. This group is believed to have facilitated the movement of more than 1,900 migrants in Laredo.

This week, Giovana Lozano Hernandez appeared before a federal judge in Laredo and received a 70-month prison sentence. Due to her illegal status, she will also face deportation upon completing her term. Lozano entered a guilty plea in September 2025 as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors.

The case initially focused on her husband, Danny Nuñez, who led a human smuggling ring associated with the Cartel del Norest faction of Los Zetas. Nuñez also accepted a plea deal in 2025 and was sentenced to ten years in federal prison.

According to court documents, the investigation into this smuggling operation began in 2024 due to its large-scale activities.

The group reportedly brought over 1,900 migrants into Texas from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Lozano’s role involved managing the finances of the operation, which included keeping meticulous ledgers and records detailing the immigrants’ costs and payments.

Additionally, she maintained documentation regarding transportation, housing, and food expenses for each migrant. Federal prosecutors indicated that the smuggling ring was connected to a 2023 incident where authorities discovered 101 migrants trapped in a tractor-trailer.