5 Charged in U.S. for Holding Migrants Hostage to Demand Ransom

Authorities have arrested four men in connection with the kidnapping of migrants who entered the United States. The individuals allegedly demanded ransom from the victims’ relatives for their safe release.

All four men have pleaded not guilty after facing prosecution in Los Angeles. A fifth suspect is still on the run, according to the latest statements from the prosecutor’s office.

The suspects reportedly snatched four migrants from a gas station in Arizona last year and later detained them at a location in California. They allegedly utilized one of the hostages’ cellphones to contact a family member, demanding ransom for their release.

In a dramatic turn of events, three of the hostages were moved to a motel. It was there that one managed to escape by climbing out of a second-story bathroom window and fleeing to a nearby store for help. One of the kidnappers pursued him, tackling the victim, putting him in a chokehold, and assaulting him in an attempt to recapture him.

The individuals charged have been identified as Miguel Angel Avila, 22, of Hemet; Omar Avila Salmeron, 41, of South Los Angeles; Jose Jaime Garcia, 20, of San Jacinto; and Gabriel Michel Becerra, 22, of Palmdale. Another suspect, Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez, 21, from Oak Hills, is still wanted by the authorities.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “These defendants allegedly preyed upon victims who sought to emigrate to our country by demanding ransom from the victims’ families in exchange for their release.”

In a specific incident on March 23, 2023, it was reported that Avila, Garcia, and Becerra took one hostage to a gas station. There, they received $11,000 in cash from a relative in exchange for the release of the victim.

The issue of migrant kidnappings is increasingly prevalent, particularly as individuals seeking to cross into the United States face dangers from criminal gangs and drug cartels operating in Mexico. Many migrants are vulnerable to such violent tactics both during their journey and after they arrive in the U.S.