5 California men accused of kidnapping migrants; some were taken from Chandler gas station
PHOENIX/LOS ANGELES (AZFamily/AP) — Authorities say four men have been arrested and charged with kidnapping migrants who had been smuggled into the United States and demanding their relatives pay ransom for their release.
Prosecutors say the men were involved in kidnapping and holding hostage four migrants last year.
Federal authorities say in that case, the men picked up the migrants from a Chevron gas station in Chandler, Arizona, before taking them to a restaurant in Burbank, California, and afterward having them held hostage in a house.
The suspects would then demand cash from their families for their safe return. In a separate case, the suspects charged the victim’s brother $11,000 for the victim’s release, according to an indictment.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said Monday that the men have pleaded not guilty after they were arraigned on an indictment. A fifth man has been charged but remains a fugitive.
Who are the suspects?
Federal prosecutors are all men from Southern California, and most live in the outskirts of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
- Miguel Angel Avila, a.k.a. “Fredo,” “Quavo,” “Marcos,” and “Papitas,” 22, of Hemet;
- Omar Avila Salmeron, a.k.a. Simón Hernández,” “Andres,” and “El Palatero,” 41, of South Los Angeles;
- Jose Jaime Garcia, a.k.a. “Pablo” and “Sneaky,” 20, of San Jacinto;
- Gabriel Michel Becerra, a.k.a. “Steven,” 22, of Palmdale; and
- Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez, 21, of Oak Hills.
Becerra is still on the run. Anyone with information or who sees him is asked to call police immediately.
“These defendants allegedly preyed upon victims who sought to emigrate to our country by demanding ransom from the victims’ families in exchange for their release,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada of the Central District of California. “Our office is committed to ensuring that those who use violence to terrorize others face severe consequences for their actions.”
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