South Texas man sentenced to 20 years for hostage taking during human smuggling event, following ICE HSI investigation

MCALLEN, Texas – A south Texas man was sentenced 240 months after holding two men against their will and demanding ransom following an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Donna, Texas, Police Department.

Miguel Angel Castillo, 23, from Donna, Texas, was sentenced March 31 in federal court to 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted this was Castillo’s third time in federal court following two prior convictions for smuggling noncitizens. Further, the offense occurred while Castillo was on federal probation. Castillo pleaded guilty Jan. 29, 2021.

According to court documents, in August 2019, two men illegally entered the United States in hopes to reunite with their families in New Jersey and California. As part of the smuggling attempt, they stayed at Castillo’s stash house in Donna. From Aug. 1-15, 2019, Castillo held the men against their will and forced them to call their family members to request ransom monies. Castillo threatened both men with a firearm and said he would kill them if they did not comply. One victim’s family member paid over $6,000 ransom for his release. On Aug. 15, 2019, the two men were transported to a motel in Donna. There, they were eventually able to obtain a phone and call for help.

Castillo remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Mitchell, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.

HSI San Antonio is committed to investigating human smuggling organizations that prey on the vulnerable and place profit over life. HSI encourages you to report suspicious activity, you are urged to call 1-866-348-2423. It could save a life.

HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.