A Ventura County man was charged with trafficking a 14-year-old boy who had been reported missing by his family.
Brandon Holguin, 26, of Thousand Oaks, allegedly targeted the youngster in a thrift store four to six months prior to the event, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Between May 2 and 5, 2025, Holguin is suspected of trafficking the youngster from a place near his house in north Los Angeles County to numerous other locations. He allegedly stole the boy’s phone and jewelry and sold them for hundreds of dollars in cash. He then drove the youngster to a motel and assigned him to sort and photograph worn clothing for online resale, according to authorities.
He allegedly forced the child to take Adderall so that he could work late into the night to complete his tasks.
Holguin had intended to move the youngster to Northern California, but when those arrangements fell through, authorities said he abandoned him on the side of a Los Angeles freeway in the middle of the night.
The suspect drove away with the entire earnings from selling the victim’s items. The child was able to safely exit the freeway and call police for assistance.
His family and local police had been looking for the young boy since he vanished.
“The efforts undertaken to find the minor included canvassing the community, investigative interviews, wireless emergency alerts, and the utilization of technology,” the sheriff’s office said. “Additionally, the use of scent dogs and the cooperation of business entities were helpful in the investigative efforts.”
On May 9, 2025, Holguin was apprehended and detained after an inquiry.
He was charged with six felonies, including one count each of child stealing, human trafficking, child abuse under circumstances likely to result in great bodily harm or death, providing a minor with a controlled substance, employing a minor during unauthorized hours, and false personation for a written instrument.
“For three terrifying days, the victim’s parents and law enforcement desperately searched for this missing teen, fearing the worst had happened,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. “Human exploitation remains common in our county in 2026, and our Labor Justice Unit will hold anyone involved in this criminal action accountable. I urge anyone with information regarding the defendant to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, as this is an ongoing investigation and we believe there may be more victims.”
The warrant application was filed on June 2, 2025. On November 6, 2025, Holguin was arraigned on the first amended complaint and pled not guilty.
Following a hearing on April 22, 2026, Holguin was ordered to answer all charges. On May 6, 2026, he was charged and pled not guilty. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 3 at the Pasadena Courthouse.
If convicted as charged, he may face up to 14 years in prison. He is still in detention on $650,000 bail.
Anyone who may have been a victim or has more information regarding Holguin should contact Detective Salvador Ponce at 818-236-4015.
To provide anonymous information, contact L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org. Those who may be victims of human trafficking or know someone who is can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233-733 (Be Free).
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