Two men are behind bars after a raid on Chabelita’s Restaurant and Market in Smithville, Tennessee. Investigators say the business was at the center of a smuggling operation where four minors were forced to work to pay off debts to a Mexican drug cartel. The investigation began when a young girl managed to escape her captors and alert the Smithville Police Department. That tip led local police, the TBI, and federal agents to discover three other boys living in a separate home. Joshua Hernandez-Morales is now charged with trafficking for forced labor, and Marcelino Diaz-Decena faces weapons charges. Both are being held on bond with a court date set for January 8th. Authorities say more arrests are expected.
Allegations of Human Trafficking Have Rocked the Town of Smithville, Tennessee
Dec 23, 2025 | 10:54 AM