A Dallas woman has been charged with attempting to smuggle two undocumented minors into the United States, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Jovanna Netzay Diaz, 31, is accused of conspiring to transport and transporting the minors for financial gain.
Diaz is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver in Dallas at 10 a.m., followed by an appearance in Laredo federal court. The charges stem from a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on February 19 and unsealed upon her arrest on February 27.
The allegations indicate that on October 26, 2024, Diaz arrived at the Border Patrol checkpoint in Laredo where authorities reportedly noticed movement under a blanket between the second and third row of her vehicle. Law enforcement officers discovered one minor hidden beneath the blanket and another concealed on the floorboard of the front passenger seat. The minors were identified as nine-year-old twins from Mexico with no familial ties to Diaz.
If found guilty, Diaz could face up to ten years in federal prison along with a maximum fine of $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez is handling the prosecution.
It is important to note that an indictment serves as a formal accusation of criminal conduct but does not constitute evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.