Five men in Southern California, including Miguel Angel Avila, Omar Avila Salmeron, Jose Jaime Garcia, Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez, and Gabriel Michel Becerra, were charged with various offenses related to kidnapping and holding illegal immigrants for ransom. The indictment alleged that the men kidnapped four illegal immigrants from Arizona and held them in a home in Burbank, California, demanding ransom payments from their families in exchange for their release. Avila used the victim’s phones to make ransom demands and collected payments split between accounts in Mexico and the U.S.
The suspects moved the victims to a motel room, where one victim was able to escape through a bathroom window. Avila and a co-conspirator chased the victim to a store in Koreatown, where Avila physically assaulted the victim in an attempt to kidnap him again. The suspects then moved three of the victims to another house, where they were restrained and threatened with violence if they tried to escape. One victim was eventually released after a ransom payment of $11,000 was made by his brother at a gas station.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California emphasized the danger of human smuggling and the exploitation of vulnerable migrants for profit. The suspects faced charges related to hostage taking, kidnapping, and interference with commerce by extortion. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, with Avila and Salmeron being held without bond while Garcia and Moreno were released on bond. Becerra remains a fugitive, and law enforcement is seeking information on his whereabouts. If convicted, the suspects could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The indictment detailed a series of events in which the suspects kidnapped and held illegal immigrants for ransom, demanding payments from their families in exchange for their release. The victims were moved from Arizona to California and held in various locations, with Avila using the victims’ phones to make ransom demands and collect payments from their families. The suspects resorted to physical violence in attempts to recapture victims who had escaped and threatened them with further harm if they tried to escape.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the severity of the charges and the commitment to ensuring that those who use violence to terrorize others face severe consequences. The suspects faced multiple charges related to the unlawful transportation and extortion of illegal immigrants for financial gain. Despite the defendants pleading not guilty, they faced the possibility of a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of all charges. The indictment highlighted the dangerous nature of human smuggling and the need for justice for those who exploit vulnerable migrants for profit.
The suspects’ actions were characterized as preying upon victims seeking to emigrate to the U.S. by demanding ransom payments from their families in exchange for their release. The suspects were accused of stealing the victims from another human trafficking network and using violence and restraint to control and extort them. The suspects’ arrest and subsequent legal proceedings underscored the serious implications of their actions and the necessity of holding them accountable for their crimes. If convicted, the suspects could face significant prison sentences for their involvement in the exploitation and ransom of illegal immigrants in Southern California.
