Local felon sentenced for sexual exploitation of pregnant minor and conspiracies for drug trafficking and alien smuggling

LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to prison for sexual exploitation of a pregnant 16-year-old while in custody for other crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Luis Andres Serna pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor Sept. 23, 2024, and to the human transportation and drug conspiracies June 23, 2023. 

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Serna to serve a total of 15 years in federal prison. Serna must also register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. At the hearing, the court heard additional information that the minor victim had had given birth to a child which she claimed Serna fathered. Serna disputed that claim. 

“The defendant’s conduct in this case was absolutely reprehensible, and that the fact that it continued even while he was in custody underscores just how dangerous he is,” said Ganjei. “From alien smuggling, to drug trafficking, to sexual exploitation of a minor, the defendant took every opportunity to harm his community. Fortunately for the people of Laredo, he is now behind bars for a long while.”

“Today’s sentencing should serve as a deterrent to those involved in sexual exploitation, alien smuggling and drug trafficking,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “ICE-HSI remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice criminals which harm individuals and communities. Through our dedicated efforts and strong partnerships with law enforcement, we will continue to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable victims from exploitation and abuse.”

On April 5, 2022, law enforcement encountered Serna after he picked up an illegal alien from downtown Laredo and transported him to an apartment building. At that time, a 16-year-old pregnant minor was his passenger.

Later that day, authorities discovered 37 illegal aliens and approximately 1,032 kilograms of marijuana within several apartments linked to Serna and others and eventually arrested him for drug trafficking and conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens.  

While in federal custody for the pending charges, he gained access to a tablet video system and contacted the same pregnant girl. The investigation revealed Serna provided the minor’s name and a phone number to initiate video calls but did not disclose she was a minor.

The facility’s communication system automatically records the displays of both parties during every video call. Law enforcement reviewed several hundred telephone calls and tablet video visits Serna initiated while detained.

The investigation revealed he was in regular video communication with the minor victim. 

On June 24, 2022, he had her perform sexual acts while he watched. The minor victim used her personal cellphone to record herself performing the acts and played the video for Serna over the course of several days.

Serna will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol and other private companies.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case along with the assistance of former Special AUSA Terence A. Check Jr. and former AUSA April Ayers-Perez, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.