Yellowhammer Times

A Texas man has been sentenced to over 17 years in prison for his role in the kidnapping of a toddler from Birmingham, Alabama. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

Steven Andrew Holguin, 42, of El Paso, Texas, received a sentence of 210 months in prison and a life term of supervised release from U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco. Holguin had pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

According to court documents, on November 4, 2021, Birmingham Police responded to a report that a three-year-old girl had been kidnapped from her home. Holguin and his co-conspirator, Elis Salgado-Galindo, took the child with the intention of transporting her to Honduras to her father. Salgado-Galindo physically removed the toddler from the residence while Holguin assisted.

Authorities issued an Amber Alert and provided information about the suspects and vehicle to law enforcement along the Alabama/Mississippi border. Later that evening, deputies from the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department in Mississippi stopped a vehicle matching the description given in the alert. Holguin was driving the car; officers also found Salgado-Galindo and the missing child inside.

A deputy identified the child based on information from the Amber Alert and sent a photo to Birmingham Police detectives. The girl’s mother confirmed her identity when shown the picture. Both suspects were taken into custody at that time, and the child was safely returned home.

Holguin has a prior conviction for conspiracy to transport aliens in 2020 in federal court in Texas, where he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release.

Salgado-Galindo is a Mexican citizen who was unlawfully present in the United States. He was turned over to ICE custody on December 14, 2021, and deported before being indicted on federal charges.

The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations in Birmingham as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices across Alabama and Mississippi. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.

"U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Steven Andrew Holguin, 42, of El Paso, Texas, to 210 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release."

"In April, Holguin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping."

"According to the plea agreement...Holguin and his co-conspirator...kidnapped the toddler with the intent of taking her to her father..."

"Both men were immediately taken into custody, and the toddler was safely returned to her mother."