GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT IN INTERNATIONAL KIDNAPING INCIDENT
United States Attorney Johnny Sutton and FBI Special Agent in Charge Ralph G. Diaz
announced that a federal grand jury in San Antonio has returned an indictment in connection
with an international kidnaping incident in January 2007.
The indictment charges Crystal City residents Heriberto Macias Diaz, David Perez, and William Davalos along with San Antonio residents Leroy Guerra Garcia and Mark Anthony Jimenez with conspiracy to kidnap. Upon conviction, each defendant faces up to life in federal prison.
The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to kidnap a tow truck driver in order to collect a missing payment for the delivery of illegal controlled substances. According to the indictment, a vehicle used to transport drug proceeds was involved in an accident on I-35 near Pearsall, Texas, on January 9, 2007. After recovering the vehicle from a Pearsall wrecker service, the defendants removed the spare tire and discovered that the money was missing. On January 14, 2007, Garcia and Jimenez–recruited by Davalos to help with the kidnaping–along with Macias, Perez and Davalos traveled to Pearsall where Diaz places a call requesting that a tow truck be sent to the Frio County Regional Park. When the wrecker driver arrived on the scene, the defendants kidnaped him, transported him against his will to Piedras Negras, Mexico, then tortured and interrogated him about the missing drug proceeds. The indictment further states that owner of the wrecker service was contacted and told that the victim would die unless he cooperated with the defendants. On January 20, 2007, the victim was released at the Port of Entry in Del Rio, Texas.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Texas Rangers. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Sepeda is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
|
