- A federal jury in South Dakota has convicted 29-year-old Davin Morales and 25-year-old Juan Alvarez-Soto of charges related to the 2022 kidnapping of an FBI agent.
- The incident occurred during a “drug trip” in a Ford Expedition from Greeley, Colorado, to South Dakota.
- After being chased by South Dakota state troopers on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and nearly running out of gas, Morales offered to “take over” a new vehicle.
A federal jury in South Dakota has convicted two men on charges related to the 2022 kidnapping of an FBI agent.
A Rapid City jury on Tuesday found 29-year-old Davin Morales and 25-year-old Juan Alvarez-Soto guilty of kidnapping, carjacking and other charges, the Rapid City Journal reported. Alvarez-Soto, a native of El Salvador, was also found guilty of illegally entering the United States after being deported.
Both men are expected to be sentenced on April 12 and could face up to life in prison.
Menendez's lawyer claims the FBI “illegally” raided his home, searched his home and seized $500,000 in gold and cash.
Prosecutors say the men and a third suspect, 29-year-old Carla Lopez-Gutierrez, left Greeley, Colorado, on May 5, 2022, and drove a Ford Expedition to South Dakota on a drug drive. He was said to have been on a “smuggling trip.''
A federal jury in South Dakota has convicted two men on charges related to the 2022 kidnapping of an FBI agent. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
The expedition was briefly pursued by South Dakota state troopers, but they managed to escape. Lopez-Gutierrez testified that Morales, who was on the verge of running out of gas on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, told others he needed to “claim” a new car.
A short time later, FBI agents spotted the Expeditions as they were speeding in a Dodge Durango and, believing them to be tribal agents, pulled over. Prosecutors said the suspects pointed a gun at Durango and forced the victim to accompany them.
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The victim was able to flee when the group stopped to buy gas and zip ties in the town of Hermosa, South Dakota, about 35 miles from Red Shirt.
Morales and Alvarez-Soto were arrested a week later in Greeley. Lopez-Gutierrez was arrested in Loveland, Colorado in August 2022. She pleaded guilty in August and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8th.
Alvarez-Soto's attorney, Alecia Fuller, said there are “many questions” about the government's case. Fuller said he did not intend to harm the victim.
Morales' attorney, Jonathan McCoy, said there was no evidence that Morales was even at the crime scene.
