(Santa Ana, CA) — A federal grand jury hands down an indictment for six Mexican nationals accused of operating a kidnapping ring in Southern California. The U.S. attorney’s office for the Central District of California says four men and two women ran the ring from January to April of 2020. They face multiple hostage and extortion charges in connection with the kidnapping nine people and killing six of them.
Authorities say members of the ring would arrange to meet the victims under false pretenses, then hold them at gunpoint, tie them up, and beat them. The alleged kidnapers would then contact family members of the victims to arrange for ransom payments. In at least two cases, the ring members killed the victims despite receiving money from the victims’ families. Those victims were said to be from San Diego and Norwalk. The alleged kidnapers were arrested in Mexico and may also face separate charges by authorities there.