Edinburg couple sentenced after holding a woman against her will

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Two Edinburg residents were sentenced for holding a woman against her will and forcing her to work for them, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

On March 1, 2023, 32-year-old Eduardo Javier Gomez and 42-year-old Margarita Alvarez pleaded guilty to charges of forced labor.

A release from the U.S. Attorney's Office stated that from June 24 to July 8, 2021, the couple benefitted from the victim's free labor. Authorities said Gomez forced the woman to work for free at a firework stand he managed.

Authorities revealed the victim had been brought to the U.S. illegally, and was held against her will by Gomez.

According to the release, Gomez requested more money from her family members to take the woman further north. When the family was unable to make the payments, the couple took the victim's phone and forced her to work as a nanny and housekeeper for them.

The couple never paid her, the release stated.

"Two days after learning of the victim, authorities were able to locate and rescue her," said Alamdar S. Hamdani, U.S. Attorney.

U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane sentenced Gomez to nearly six years in federal prison and Alvarez to two years of probation.

Additionally, Gomez is to serve three years of supervised release following his sentence.

Gomez is pending a transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons Facility.