A man from Los Angeles is facing serious charges for labor trafficking after allegedly manipulating a 14-year-old boy into photographing numerous clothing items, administering Adderall to him, and ultimately leaving him stranded on a highway.
Brandon Holguin, aged 26 and residing in Thousand Oaks, appeared in court on Wednesday to answer to six felony charges related to the exploitation of the teenager. Authorities allege that Holguin first encountered and targeted the boy at a thrift store in northern Los Angeles County several months prior.
Between May 2 and May 5, 2025, Holguin is accused of separating the boy from his family, seizing his cellphone to prevent his mother from tracking him, and subsequently selling the device.
Prosecutors further allege that Holguin used a fake ID to pawn jewelry given to the teen by his family, netting several hundred dollars from the transaction.
The boy was reportedly taken to multiple locations throughout Los Angeles County, where he was compelled to organize, prepare, and photograph second-hand clothing intended for online sale, often in a motel room.
Officials claim that Holguin provided the boy with Adderall, pressuring him to consume the stimulant to endure late-night work sessions, despite the drug making the boy feel unwell.
“Human labor traffickers frequently target vulnerable children, gaining their trust before isolating them and profiting from the child’s forced labor,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
“For three terrifying days, the victim’s parents and law enforcement desperately searched for this missing teen, fearing the worst had happened.”
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
After a plan to traffic the boy to Northern California reportedly fell through, Holguin is accused of leaving the boy alone on a Los Angeles freeway at night on May 5, before driving off with the money from the stolen phone and jewelry.
The teen managed to escape the freeway, reach a nearby location, and get help from staffers, who called 911. He was later found by LAPD officers and reunited with his family the same day.
Holguin was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on May 9, 2025, and has pleaded not guilty to charges including human trafficking, child stealing, child abuse, furnishing a minor with a controlled substance, employing a minor during unauthorized hours, and false personation.
He is being held on $650,000 bail and faces up to 14 years in state prison if convicted. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 3 at the Pasadena Courthouse.
Investigators believe there could be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
