5 Southern California men accused of kidnapping migrants, extorting ransom in brazen scheme

Five Southern California men are facing federal charges accusing them of kidnapping migrants and holding them hostage as they demanded ransom from their families last year, prosecutors announced this week.

Four of the men have been arrested and pleaded not guilty to a series of charges, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. A fifth was still being sought as a fugitive.

Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez, 21, of Oak Hills; Gabriel Michel Becerra, 22, of Palmdale; Miguel Angel Avila, 22, of Hemet; Omar Avila Salmeron, 41, of south Los Angeles; and Jose Jaime Garcia, 20, of San Jacinto; were all indicted on two counts of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking, two counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and two counts of transporting illegal aliens for private financial gain, DOJ spokesman Ciaran McEvoy said in a statement issued Monday.

Avila, Salmeron, Garcia and Becerra were additionally each charged with two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion and attempted interference with commerce by extortion, prosecutors added.

Becerra remained at large, and any with information was asked to contact law enforcement.

Migrant victims kidnapped from gas station

The alleged kidnappings took place on March 21, 2023, when Moreno and Avila kidnapped the four migrant victims from a Chevron gas station in Chandler, Arizona, according to McEvoy.

The victims were taken to a restaurant in Burbank, then moved to a house, where they were held captive by Avila, Garcia and Becerra, officials said.

"Using a victim’s cellphone, Avila demanded ransom money from the victim’s family member in exchange for their release," McEvoy said. "Avila then allegedly used another victim’s cellphone to demand ransom payments, partially to an account in Mexico and partially to an account in the United States, from that victim’s family member in exchange for the victim’s release."

Daring escape, new attack follows ransom call

The kidnappers placed a ransom call to a third victim's family on March 23 and moved the hostages to a motel in Los Angeles' Koreatown neighborhood, "where one victim managed to escape through a second-story bathroom window," according to McEvoy.

Prosecutors said Avila and an accomplice chased the victim to a nearby store, where Avila punched, choked and body-slammed the victim in an attempt to re-kidnap him.

The kidnappers then bound two of the victims' hands and took them to another house, "threatening them with violence if they attempted to escape," McEvoy said.

Avila, Garcia and Becerra also met a brother of one of the victim's at a gas station on March 23, where they collected an $11,000 ransom in ransom in exchange for the release of one of hostage, according to prosecutors.

U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada said the defendants "preyed upon victims who sought to emigrate to our country."

More: Man accused of assaulting, kidnapping girlfriend in Adelanto

"Our office is committed to ensuring that those who use violence to terrorize others face severe consequences for their actions," he said.

U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath of the Southern District of California also issued a warning.

"Human smuggling is a dangerous crime," she said. "These defendants will face justice for abusing vulnerable migrants for profit."

Garcia, Moreno and Salmeron were scheduled to go on trial Oct. 1 in federal court in Los Angeles. Trial was set to begin for Avila on Oct. 29.

Avila and Salmeron were being held without bond, while Garcia and Moreno were released on bond pending trial, officials said.

Each defendant could potentially face life in prison if convicted as charged.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: 5 Southern California men accused of kidnapping migrants, extorting ransom in brazen scheme