LAREDO WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR HER ROLE IN KIDNAPPING SCHEME

(LAREDO, Texas) - Maria Christina Rodriguez, 31, a legal permanent resident alien, was sentenced this morning to 168 months by U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen for her role in conspiring to hold two U.S. nationals hostage in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, until payments were made for their release, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. Rodriguez will also serve five years of supervised release following completion of her prison term and pay restitution to the victimized husband and wife.

The case against Rodriguez arose from the kidnapping of two U.S. nationals last summer in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. On 16 July 2006, sometime after 1:00 a.m., two U.S. nationals were kidnapped by at least four men wearing masks and pointing pistols, as the victims were leaving the wedding reception of a co-worker from a noted local Laredo restaurant. The masked captors forced the victims into the victims' vehicle and forced them to wear hoods. The victims were taken to and detained at an unknown residence in Nuevo Laredo for two days until the captors' ransom demands of $20,000 and the victims' two vehicles were satisfied.

During their confinement, the captors told the victims they had an employee at the restaurant providing them with current information about what actions were being taken to secure their release. The kidnappers told the victims they knew about the wedding reception they attended in Nuevo Laredo and that they were targeted because of their vehicle.

After several months of investigation and cooperation from Mexican law enforcement, FBI agents identified Christina Rodriguez, an employee at the restaurant where one of the victims worked at the time, as the person who provided the captors with information about the wedding date, location and targets and real time information about investigative efforts during the detention of the victims.

Judge Kazen also ordered $25,357 restitution for the victims - $20,000 for the cash paid as ransom and $5,357 in damages to the two vehicles demanded as additional ransom. Rodriguez waived appeal of her case, and there is no possibility of parole. She will remain in federal custody where she has been since Jan. 9, 2007.

This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diana Song.