A Texas man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a federal judge sentenced him to 120 years for kidnapping, ransoming, and sexually assaulting illegal aliens trying to enter America.
Joshua Lee Balderas, 33, of La Pryor, Texas, received the maximum possible sentence on Wednesday in a San Antonio federal courtroom. Baldera’s charges consist of one count of conspiracy to kidnap and two counts of harboring illegal aliens that caused serious bodily injury and put lives at risk, according to the U.S Attorney’s Office.
District Judge Fred Biery threw the book at Balderas, stacking the sentences to ensure he never breathes free air again.
According to prosecutors, Balderas and his accomplices rounded up a group of 7 illegal aliens, including a woman in serious medical distress, after they crossed the Southern border illegally in March of 2022. Rather than providing help, Balderas’ group of criminals transported the group to San Antonio and held them hostage in hotel rooms, forcing family members to cough up thousands of dollars for their release.
One victim’s family allegedly had to pay Balderas $7,000 to secure freedom, with extreme threats of torture or death.
Prosecutors say Balderas and co-conspirator Kaylen Alexander Brondo routinely waved guns in the faces of the illegal aliens to keep them compliant. The attorney’s office states that Balderas sexually assaulted a woman while threatening her at gunpoint.
While Brondo awaits his sentencing next month, Balderas was found guilty by a federal jury last October. His sentencing now stands as one of the most severe punishments handed down in a human smuggling case in state history.
Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations celebrated the sentence as a victory against human smuggling networks that continue to try to exploit America’s southern border.
“This sentence, undoubtedly keeping Balderas confined for the remainder of his life, reflects the egregious nature of these human smuggling crimes. It should send a clear message throughout the nation and across our borders that we take these prosecutions very seriously and will aggressively seek to deliver justice,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
Special Agent Craig Larrabee with HSI in San Antonio echoed that idea, calling the punishment a “warning” to those who dare to profit off the suffering of others, or the fractures in America’s southern border.
“His severe penalty reflects the gravity of the crimes committed and serves as a stern warning to those who exploit vulnerable individuals for profit,” Larrabee said.