Palacio Valdes Farley, who is already serving a 34-year prison sentence, has been indicted on new federal charges tied to crimes committed in 2016 in Oakland Park and Lauderhill, Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Justice release, Farley and four co-defendants are accused of participating in a kidnapping and murder scheme connected to drug trafficking and the attempted robbery of a narcotics stash apartment.
Court records allege that on Aug. 18, 2016, the suspects, wearing clothing marked with “DEA,” kidnapped two individuals in Lauderhill using force and deception. Investigators say the group used GPS tracking to locate the victims. One victim was taken to an apartment in Oakland Park targeted for robbery, where another individual was fatally shot during a confrontation. Authorities allege that the suspects later decided to kill the second kidnapping victim to prevent her from serving as a witness, as per the same release.
The defendants face charges including kidnapping resulting in death and, for some, killing a witness. If convicted, the kidnapping charges carry mandatory life sentences, and the case may also be eligible for the death penalty under federal law.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and Lauderhill Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne E. Williams. Federal officials emphasized that the indictment is an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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