Monroe man pleads guilty to smuggling woman into U.S., forcing her into unpaid labor

A 57-year-old Monroe man pleaded guilty Thursday to harboring an alien for financial gain after he smuggled a woman across the border and forced her to do unpaid hard labor in his landscaping business.

Rangel Ramirez-Manzano was initially charged with four federal felonies, but after years of delays concerning whether Ramirez-Manzano was mentally competent to go to trial, the case was resolved with a guilty plea, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed.

Ramirez-Manzano knew the victim from his hometown in Mexico when she was younger. He entered into a long-distance relationship with her and urged her to move to the U.S. to be his girlfriend.

He paid $17,000 for the victim to be smuggled across the border into southern California, where she was picked up. Almost immediately after she arrived in Washington, he forced the victim to begin hard labor for his landscaping company, according to records filed in the case.

Monroe man assaults, threatens family of woman he smuggled into U.S.

Ramirez-Manzano threatened and assaulted her, while also threatening the children she left behind in Mexico. Additionally, he isolated the victim from others, restricted her food, and failed to compensate her for at least $16,000 of strenuous landscaping work.

The victim was kept at Ramirez-Manzaro’s home from February 2022 until April 24, 2022. The victim eventually escaped from the house and asked a neighbor to call 911.

The Monroe Police Department (MPD) responded to the report and treated the victim for multiple injuries. The FBI then joined MPD in the investigation.

Ramirez-Manzano was charged by criminal complaint and arrested in September 2022. The DOJ noted he has remained in federal custody since his arrest, with various mental evaluations and treatments.

Ramirez-Manzano agreed to pay the victim $16,000 in restitution and to forfeit $16,000 to the U.S. government.

Harboring an alien for financial gain is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors recommended a five-year prison term, though Judge Robert S. Lasnik can impose any sentence allowed by law.

The DOJ noted that Ramirez-Manzano is a legal permanent resident, but that status can be revoked due to his conviction. He would likely be deported following his prison term.

Ramirez-Manzano is scheduled for sentencing on March 5, 2026.

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