TWO CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING

 

   LAREDO, TX – Jose A. Garza-Robles, 18, and Hector Herrera-Sifuentes, 26, both permanent resident aliens from Mexico, were indicted for kidnapping a United States citizen in September 2006, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

A three count indictment, returned on Wednesday, October 11, 2006, by a Laredo federal grand jury, charges Garza-Robles and Herrera-Sifuentes with conspiring to kidnap and kidnapping a United States citizen. Each of the two counts carry a punishment of any term of years up to life imprisonment upon conviction. Garza-Robles is also charged with a third count of receiving ransom money, which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment. Each of the three counts also carry a maximum fine of $250,000 upon conviction. Garza-Robles and Herrera-Sifuentes have been ordered held in federal custody without bond pending trial. They are expected to appear in federal court for arraignment on the charges on a date in the near future to be set by the court.

Garza-Robles and Herrera-Sifuentes were first arrested in Laredo, Texas, on September 20, 2006, and charged with the kidnapping offense on September 21 by criminal complaint. The affidavit in support of that complaint alleged that Garza-Robles told the United States citizen to travel with him to Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas, Mexico, from Houston, Texas, in order to work out an arrangement to pay a Mexican citizen called “Lalo” for a 650 pound load of marijuana the United States citizen had apparently lost in Houston, Texas. Once the United States citizen arrived at Lalo’s home in Miguel Aleman, he was told he was not free to leave until all of the money for the lost load of marijuana was paid. The United States citizen was then allegedly held against his will by Lalo, Garza-Robles, Herrera-Sifuentes, and others as yet unknown. Meanwhile, the United States citizen made calls to family members to raise money for his release.

After the family raised $57,500 in U.S. currency, less than the full amount demanded, Garza-Robles is then alleged to have picked up the partial ransom payment from a family member in Roma, Texas, traveled back across the border to Miguel Aleman and to having delivered the ransom money to Lalo. The complaint also alleges that while the United States citizen was held in Mexico, he was guarded by the two defendants and received numerous beatings.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roberto Ramirez.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.