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Jury Convicts Texas Bakery Owners of Harboring Unauthorized Workers

It stands out as a rare criminal case targeting an employer instead of relying on civil fines or administrative penalties.

FILE - Customers visit Abby's Bakery after the owners reopened their doors following their arrest for allegedly harboring unauthorized workers in their building in Los Fresnos, Texas, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez, File)
Local supporters line up outside the closed doors of Abby's Bakery in Los Fresnos, Texas, Feb. 24, 2025, days after the owners were arrested and accused of harboring unauthorized workers.
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Overview

  • The Brownsville trial lasted three days and concluded August 13 with jurors finding Leonardo Baez-Lara and Alicia Avila-Guel guilty on charges of harboring and conspiracy.
  • ICE-HSI agents uncovered eight workers during a February enforcement action at the Los Fresnos bakery, including six B1/B2 visa holders without work authorization and two unlawfully present individuals.
  • Prosecutors presented evidence of improvised employee housing in a former office space, citing mattresses on the floor, electrical hazards and limited hot water.
  • Testimony showed that the bakery paid workers in cash without proper payroll filings, bolstering the prosecution’s assertion of a profit-driven scheme.
  • Sentencing is scheduled for November 18, when the couple faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and possible revocation of their permanent residency.