Four men from Southern California were recently arraigned on a nine-count indictment for allegedly kidnapping migrants and holding them for ransom, a statement from the United States Attorney's Office announced. The defendants stand accused of demanding cash from the victims' families in exchange for their safe return, according to the indictment returned on July 30.

The case involves Miguel Angel Avila, Omar Avila Salmeron, Jose Jaime Garcia, Gabriel Michel Becerra, and Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez who face charges including conspiracy to commit hostage taking, kidnapping, transport of illegal aliens for private financial gain, and interference with commerce by extortion under the Hobbs Act. While four of the accused have entered not-guilty pleas, Becerra remains a fugitive. It is reported that a federal magistrate judge has ordered Avila and Salmeron jailed without bond, whereas Garcia and Moreno are free on bond.

"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 in a statement. One incident detailed in the indictment involved Avila instructing Moreno to drive to a Chevron gas station in Chandler, Arizona, where Moreno allegedly kidnapped four migrants and then transported them to a Burbank restaurant. From there, the victims were moved to various locations, experiencing threats and violence, including an escape attempt in Koreatown that ended with one victim being violently subdued.

Further emphasizing the gravity of the crimes, United States Attorney Tara McGrath stated, "Human smuggling is a dangerous crime." McGrath highlighted the commitment to bringing justice to those who abuse vulnerable migrants for profit. Should the defendants be found guilty on all charges, they each could face the statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. This aggressive prosecutorial stance falls within the strategic enforcement priorities known as Operation Safe Cities which targets the most significant drivers of violent crime in the region.

Investigations into the allegations are ongoing, spearheaded by United States Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Los Angeles Police Department. The case receives a joint effort in prosecution by both the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and the Southern District of California. For those with information, especially regarding the whereabouts of fugitive Becerra, law enforcement encourages any leads. Contact details for Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy have been provided for further inquiries on this matter.