EL PASO, Texas - An El Paso man was sentenced in federal court to 292 months in prison for harboring migrants and taking them hostage, as well as conspiracy with intent to distribute fentanyl after a prior felony drug conviction.

According to court documents, Simon Roberto Alvarado, 39, conspired with Juan Carlos Calzada, 30, and Mexican national Janeth Nicole Magallanes, 26, to detain six citizens of Guatemala and Honduras. The co-conspirators held the migrants hostage in an apartment and threatened them with injury or death if their families did not pay ransoms.

FBI agents detained Magallanes while conducting surveillance at the residence Jan. 5, 2021, and further discovered the six hostages along with several weapons. The investigation revealed Alvarado was the owner of the residence, and a search of Alvarado's phone indicated he and others had also trafficked more than 400 grams of fentanyl through the Western District of Texas.

The Court sentenced Calzada on Feb. 14 to 78 months in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking. Magallanes was sentenced on Feb. 20 to 120 months for one count of hostage taking.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge John S. Morales for FBI El Paso made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Valenzuela, Kyle Myers, and Adam Hines prosecuted the case.

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