LOS FRESNOS, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Just a day after Abby’s Bakery reopened to the public, its owners were indicted for harboring undocumented immigrants, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
On Feb. 12, Leonardo Baez and Nora Alicia Avila-Guel were arrested and charged after eight illegal immigrants were found living near their restaurant.
A federal grand jury returned a three count indictment against the couple, who are both legal residents, and charged them with harboring illegal aliens.
According to the charges, Baez and Avila-Guel have owned and operated Abby’s Bakery and Dulce’s Café in Los Fresnos since 2012.
Law enforcement officers raided the business last month.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by ValleyCentral, law enforcement found a room in the same shopping center where the restaurant is located. The room was reportedly used to house the illegal immigrants. They say the room had six mattresses on the floor and at the time of raid there were two people staying there.
Both are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya III on March 13. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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