A Los Angeles man was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint throughout a go to to Mexico, and the suspected captors despatched his household graphic movies and a threatening picture.
Their liked one was blindfolded and tied up in an oblong concrete trench with weapons pointed at his head, based on courtroom paperwork reviewed by Fox Information Digital.
The suspects – a Mexican household – allegedly pistol whipped their sufferer and fired a shot close to his head.
The violent confrontation was recorded and despatched to his household in L.A. with ransom calls for of $70,000, federal prosecutors mentioned.
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The sufferer, who was recognized as “R.V.” in courtroom filings, was in Mexico’s fashionable browsing vacation spot of Playas de Rosarito in Baja California, the place the suspects allegedly kidnapped him in 2022. Prosecutors just lately shared particulars of the scheme after the three suspects have been arrested this spring.
They have been recognized as Mario Alex Medina (aka “Shyboy”), his son, Jose Salud Medina (aka “Gordo”), and Mario’s sister, Maria Alejandra Medina.
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On Nov. 5, 2022, R.V., who has household in L.A. however has Mexican citizenship, was kidnapped by three members of the Medina household, federal prosecutors mentioned.
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Over the following two days, R.V.’s household obtained unnerving photographs and movies of their liked one in captivity, together with one wherein R.V. was blindfolded and tied up in a concrete rectangular trench with weapons pointed at his head.
On Nov. 7, 2022, R.V.’s household obtained a video “of hostage takers beating Sufferer R.V. with their fists, toes, and a hammer,” the legal grievance says.
They initially demanded a $70,000 ransom. By Nov. 10, 2022, Jose Medina, 31, allegedly threatened to kill R.V. if the household did not instantly pay $30,000, based on the legal grievance.
The identical day, the alleged kidnappers crossed the border to gather the ransom cash in San Ysidro, California, which is a brief distance from Tijuana.
They met at a McDonald’s, the place R.V.’s household paid $30,000.
Maria Medina, 50, mentioned they “just about” assured R.V.’s security earlier than retreating again into Mexico, the federal grievance says.
Mexican legislation enforcement discovered the sufferer “tied up and alone in a small subterranean trench” on Nov. 11, 2022, courtroom paperwork say.
The suspects evaded seize for about two years till they have been arrested in March and April.
They have been every indicted by a federal grand jury on April 9 on a cost of creating international communication with intent to extort, which carries a most life sentence.
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Maria and Mario have been in federal custody within the U.S. since March and April, respectively, based on courtroom paperwork.
Jose is at present being held in a Mexican jail. He has suffered medical issues which have prevented his transport from Mexico to the U.S., courtroom paperwork say.
The alleged 2022 abduction occurred in the identical space the place an American, who was engaged to be married in August, and two Australians have been killed throughout a botched carjacking in Might.
Every suspect in R.V.’s kidnapping is represented by a distinct federal defender within the Central District of California.
Fox Information Digital reached out to the attorneys for remark and extra details about the timeline of the circumstances however did not get an instantaneous response.