Two women from Conroe, Texas, have been indicted on charges related to the kidnapping and forced labor of a minor, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Tania Evette Garcia, 37, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m. Brenda Mariana Garcia, 39, has already appeared in court and remains in custody as criminal proceedings continue.
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment on January 14. The indictment alleges that between March and September 2025, both women kidnapped and abused a minor child. The sisters are accused of physically abusing the victim and restraining the child with zip ties. The indictment also states they repeatedly beat the child and forced them to provide labor and services through force, threats of force, physical restraint, and physical abuse.
If convicted, each woman could face up to life in federal prison along with a possible maximum fine of $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations together with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse is prosecuting the case.
"An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law," according to the statement.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas is part of the U.S. Department of Justice and operates under the direction of the Attorney General according to its official website. This office focuses on prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil cases for the government as described online. It employs more than 200 attorneys across six offices located in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, and Brownsville serving over nine million people in 43 counties. Notable former leaders include Alamdar Hamdani (2022-2025) and Ryan Patrick as listed on its history page.
