A 26-year-old California man is now behind bars after police say he kidnapped a middle schooler, forced him to work for days, drugged him to keep him awake — and then abandoned him alone on a Los Angeles freeway in the middle of the night.
Who Is the Suspect?
Brandon Holguin, 26, of Los Angeles County, faces multiple serious charges including:
- Human trafficking
- Child stealing
- Child abuse
- Furnishing a controlled substance to a minor
- Employing a minor during unauthorized hours
How Did It Start?
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Holguin allegedly targeted the 14-year-old victim at a thrift store months before the incident. He reportedly gained the boy’s trust before the trafficking began on May 2, 2025.
What Happened During Those 3 Days?
Holguin allegedly took the teen to a motel in Los Angeles County, where he forced him to sort and photograph hundreds of used clothing items for online resale — for hours at a time.
When the work stretched late into the night, Holguin allegedly forced the boy to take Adderall to stay awake — which made the victim sick.
To prevent the boy from contacting his family, Holguin allegedly took his cellphone. He later sold the phone and used a fake ID to pawn the victim’s jewelry, keeping the money for himself.
Abandoned on the Freeway
When a plan to traffic the boy to Northern California fell through, Holguin allegedly drove the teen to a Los Angeles freeway and left him there alone — in the middle of the night on May 5, 2025.
The boy managed to get off the freeway and found safety at a nearby business, where staff called 911. He was reunited with his family later that same day.
What Authorities Are Saying
“Human labor traffickers frequently target vulnerable children, gaining their trust before isolating them and profiting from the child’s forced labor,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman.
Current Status
Holguin was arrested on May 9, 2025, and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is currently being held on a $652,000 bond at North County Correctional Facility in Castaic, California.
— Coverage by thecmeaglet.com
