A Texas woman has been charged with conspiring to transport, attempting to transport, and transporting two minors illegally in the United States for financial gain. The charges followed an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Laredo Office, in collaboration with the U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector.

Jovanna Netzay Diaz, 31, from Dallas, is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver in Dallas. Her subsequent court appearance will be held in a federal court in Laredo.

The charges stem from an incident on October 26, 2024, when Diaz arrived at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Laredo. Court documents state that authorities noticed movement under a blanket between the second and third row of her vehicle. They discovered one minor under the blanket and another on the floorboard of the front passenger seat. The children were identified as nine-year-old twins from Mexico with no familial ties to Diaz.

Diaz was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 19, and the indictment was unsealed upon her arrest on February 27.

If convicted, she could face up to ten years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez from the Southern District of Texas is handling the prosecution.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation of criminal conduct; it does not constitute evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.