Man force-fed 14-year-old Adderall and made him prepare hundreds of items of clothing to be sold online, then abandoned him on the side of the freeway, police say – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Los Angeles County – Early last May, a 14-year-old boy vanished from his family for three days while authorities searched desperately across the region. What began as an encounter at a thrift store escalated into allegations of forced labor, drugging, and abandonment on a busy freeway, according to prosecutors. The case has drawn renewed attention to how traffickers prey on vulnerable minors in everyday settings.
Targeting and Initial Confinement
Prosecutors say Brandon Holguin, now 26, first approached the middle schooler several months earlier at a thrift store in Los Angeles County. By May 2, 2025, the boy was at a local motel under Holguin’s control, sorting and photographing hundreds of used clothing items for online resale. The work stretched late into the night, with the defendant allegedly keeping the victim’s cellphone to prevent any contact with his family. Holguin reportedly told the boy the device had to be discarded so his…..