Omaha Food Truck Owner Arrested in Federal Immigration Case, Accused of Hiring and Smuggling Workers

OMAHA, Nebraska — Federal investigators say an Omaha food truck owner was part of a decades-long scheme to smuggle workers from Mexico to staff his family-run business. The suspect, Manuel Garcia, 54, has been charged with encouraging or inducing illegal entry after an extensive labor trafficking investigation uncovered a network stretching back 25 years.

Federal Raid and Arrest

According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, a joint task force involving Homeland Security, local law enforcement, and federal agencies executed nine search warrants tied to the case. The operation included assistance from the Omaha Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, the DEA, ATF, IRS, and FBI.

Garcia, owner of the Dos de Oros taco truck, appeared in federal court on Thursday. His business operates near 24th Street and Dee Park Boulevard and has long been a well-known fixture in the area.

Scheme Spanning Two Decades

An affidavit filed in federal court alleges that Garcia and several family members — including his wife, Guadalupe Acosta-Muñoz, his parents Jesus and Guadalupe Garcia, and his son Angel Garcia — recruited workers in Mexico and paid smugglers to bring them into the U.S. for employment at Dos de Oros and affiliated businesses.

The investigation began in 2019 after the FBI in Minneapolis received a tip from a former employee who claimed he was lured to the U.S. at age 16 by Garcia’s father. He told investigators he was one of 25 workers living in a Bellevue warehouse known as “La Bodega,” where they were housed after entering the U.S. illegally.

The employee said he was charged a $7,500 smuggling fee and paid just $100 a week to send back to his family in Mexico.

Illegal Workforce and “Smuggling Pipeline”

Court documents show that as recently as August 2025, at least 13 undocumented workers were employed by Dos de Oros. Garcia allegedly fired half of them when Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity increased in the area.

Another worker said they were transported from Laredo, Texas, to Omaha in March 2023, where Garcia personally picked them up from a McDonald’s parking lot.

The Nebraska Department of Labor found that Dos de Oros reported wages for only two employees — Guadalupe and Angel Garcia — since 2017, despite employing numerous others.

“Labor trafficking is both a state and federal offense, and it is something we take extremely seriously in Douglas County,” said Sheriff Aaron Hanson. “Trafficking humans is morally reprehensible, and we will use every resource to eliminate it.”

Immigration Violations and Prior Deportations

Court records show Acosta-Muñoz was previously deported in 2000 after falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. She later attempted to re-enter the country through marriage to Manuel Garcia but failed to disclose her prior removal, resulting in a reinstated deportation order.

Two other men — Felipe Maldonado-Perez and Jose Guadalupe Muñoz-Torres — were also arrested in connection with the operation. Both were previously deported and found to be working at the food truck.

Garcia’s father, Jesus Garcia, who was also in the country illegally, had been deported in 1997 for drug convictions in New Mexico but reportedly returned in 2019.

Federal Investigation Continues

Authorities believe the Garcias’ operation extended beyond the food truck, possibly involving housing arrangements and labor distribution for other local businesses. The Department of Homeland Security is continuing to investigate financial transactions tied to Garcia’s companies.

Garcia remains in federal custody, and prosecutors say additional charges may follow as more evidence is reviewed.

For ongoing Nebraska law enforcement updates and regional investigations, visit NapervilleLocal.com.