Five men from Southern California, four of whom have been arrested, are accused of kidnapping illegal immigrants, holding them for ransom and demanding cash payments from their families in exchange for the victims' release.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Southern California announced in a press release that four suspects were arrested: Miguel Angel Avila, 22, of Hemet, Omar Avila Salmeron, 41, of South Los Angeles, Jose Jaime Garcia, 20, of San Jacinto, and Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez, 21, of Oak Hills. Gabriel Michel Becerra, 22, of Palmdale, is believed to be at large.
All five were indicted on July 30 on a variety of charges, including “two counts of conspiracy to commit hostage and hostage taking, two counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and abduction, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants, and two counts of transporting illegal immigrants for personal financial gain,” according to the release.
Avila, Salmeron, Garcia and Becerra are also charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion and attempted interference with commerce by extortion, violations of the Hobbs Act.
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According to a complaint filed by the US Attorney's Office for the District of Southern California, Miguel Angel Avila (center) chased the hostage as he fled into Koreatown, body slammed him, choked him and punched him several times. (U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California)
“These defendants, [emigrate] “By demanding a ransom in exchange for the release of our victims, we are holding the state accountable,” said Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. “Our department is committed to ensuring that those who use violence to terrorize others are severely punished for their actions.”
According to the indictment unsealed in July, Avila instructed Moreno to drive to a Chevron gas station in Chandler, Arizona, on March 21, 2023. Once there, Avila allegedly kidnapped four undocumented immigrants and drove them to a restaurant in Burbank, California.
Once in Burbank, Avila, Garcia and Becerra allegedly held the hostages captive in a house, with Avila allegedly using one of the victims' cellphone to demand a ransom from the victim's family in exchange for the victim's release.
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Migrants line up at the southern border in Lukeville, Arizona. (John Moore/Getty Images)
The indictment also alleges that Avila used another victim's cell phone to demand split ransom payments into an account in Mexico and another in the United States in exchange for the victim's release.
On March 22, Avila and Salmeron made additional demands, this time directed at the family of another hostage.
Avila, Garcia and Becerra then moved the three hostages into a motel room, where one of the victims escaped through a second-floor bathroom window, according to the indictment.
According to the indictment, Avila and a co-conspirator chased the victim to a store in nearby Koreatown, where they body-slammed the victim, choked him and punched him several times in the face before attempting to kidnap him again.
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A sign marking the entrance to Koreatown in Los Angeles. (Jason Almond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
After the incident, Avila, Garcia and Becerra allegedly tied the hands of one of the victims and another hostage, took them to another house, and confined them to a room, threatening violence if the hostages tried to escape.
Avila, Garcia and Becerra reportedly drove one of the victims to a gas station on March 23 and received $11,000 from the victim's brother in exchange for his release.
“Human trafficking is a dangerous crime,” said Tara McGrath, U.S. Attorney for the District of Southern California. “Defendants will be held accountable for abusing vulnerable immigrants for profit.”
All three victims were smuggled into the United States illegally, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Southern California told Fox News Digital, adding that the defendants allegedly “stole” the three from another human trafficking network.
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Four of the five suspects who kidnapped illegal immigrants and demanded ransoms have been arrested. (iStock)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Homeland Security Investigations and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for further comment.
All four arrested suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Avila and Salmeron were ordered held without bail, while Garcia and Moreno are free on bail.
U.S. prosecutors told Fox News Digital they had asked that Garcia and Moreno also be detained, but the judge did not agree with the prosecutors' reasoning.
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Moreno, Garcia and Salmeron are scheduled for trial on October 1, while Avila's trial is scheduled for October 29.
Becerra remains at large and the U.S. Attorney's Office is urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact police.
If convicted on all charges, each suspect could face up to life in prison.
