LA Man Pleads Not Guilty To Exploiting 14-year-old Boy And Planning To Traffick Him

A Los Angeles man has been charged with trafficking after he allegedly groomed a minor and exploited him. According to the New York Post, the man forced the 14-year-old boy to take photographs in hundreds of outfits. He also allegedly drugged him with Adderall before abandoning him on a freeway.

Authorities say that the man targeted the teen months earlier at a thrift store in northern LA County. The man has been identified as Brandon Holguin, 26. On May 6, he was arraigned on six felony counts.

According to authorities, Holguin took the teen from his family between May 2 and May 5, 2025. He also confiscated the boy’s cellphone and sold it so his family could not track him. The man traveled to various locations across Los Angeles County with the teen.

He also forced the boy to go to a motel room, where he photographed him to resell the images online. According to prosecutors, he also sold jewelry the teen was wearing. He pocketed hundreds of dollars under the pretense of being another person.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said, “Human labor traffickers frequently target vulnerable children, gaining their trust before isolating them and profiting from the child’s forced labor.”

He added, “For three terrifying days, the victim’s parents and law enforcement desperately searched for this missing teen, fearing the worst had happened."

According to authorities, Holguin also provided the minor with Adderall to work long hours under the influence of the stimulant. He planned to traffic the 14-year-old to Northern California. However, when the plan fell through, he left him alone on a Los Angeles freeway at night on May 5. He then drove off with the money he pocketed from the stolen phone and jewelry.

The juvenile managed to escape the freeway. He then finally found some good Samaritans who came to his rescue, dialing 911. LAPD officers then found him and reunited him with his family.

On May 9, Holguin was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He is facing the charges of human trafficking, child abuse, child stealing, employing a minor during unauthorized hours, false personation, and furnishing a minor with a controlled substance.

Holguin has pleaded not guilty. He is being held on $650,000 bail. If convicted, he could face up to 14 years in state prison. His pre-trial hearing is set for June 3 at the Pasadena Courthouse.