LOS ANGELES – Four men from Southern California have been arrested and arraigned on a nine-count indictment charging them with kidnapping migrants to the United States and holding them for ransom, demanding cash from their families in exchange for their safe return.
The indictment, returned July 30, charges the following five defendants with 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:
- Miguel Angel Avila, a.k.a. “Fredo,” “Quavo,” “Marcos,” and “Papitas,” 22, of Hemet;
- Omar Avila Salmeron, a.k.a. Simón Hernández,” “Andres,” and “El Palatero,” 41, of South Los Angeles;
- Jose Jaime Garcia, a.k.a. “Pablo” and “Sneaky,” 20, of San Jacinto;
- Gabriel Michel Becerra, a.k.a. “Steven”, 22, of Palmdale; and
- Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez, 21, of Oak Hills.
Avila, Salmeron, Garcia, and Becerra also are charged with two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion and attempted interference with commerce by extortion (Hobbs Act).
Four defendants have been arraigned and have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Salmeron, Garcia, and Moreno are scheduled to go on trial on October 1. Avila has an October 29 trial date scheduled. A federal magistrate judge has ordered Avila and Salmeron jailed without bond. Garcia and Moreno are free on bond.
Becerra is currently a fugitive. Anyone with information pertaining to his whereabouts is encouraged to call law enforcement.
“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,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada of the Central District of California. “Our office is committed to ensuring that those who use violence to terrorize others face severe consequences for their actions.”
According to the indictment, on March 21, 2023, Avila instructed Moreno to drive to a Chevron gas station in Chandler, Arizona. Upon arrival, Moreno reportedly kidnapped four migrants and transported them to a restaurant in Burbank.
Avila, along with Garcia and Becerra, then held the hostages in a house. Using a victim’s cellphone, Avila demanded ransom money from the victim’s family member in exchange for their release. 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.
On March 22, 2023, Avila and Salmeron demanded ransom from another hostage’s family member for their release. Avila, Garcia, and Becerra allegedly moved the three of the hostages to a motel room, where one victim managed to escape through a second-story bathroom window.
Avila and a co-conspirator chased the victim to a nearby store in Koreatown. Inside the store, Avila body-slammed the victim, placed him in a chokehold, and punched him repeatedly in the face in an attempt to re-kidnap him.
Avila, Garcia, and Becerra then allegedly restrained one victim and another hostage by tying their hands, transported them to another house, and held them in a room, threatening them with violence if they attempted to escape.
On March 23, 2023, Avila, Garcia, and Becerra reportedly drove a victim to a gas station, where they took $11,000 in cash from the victim’s brother in exchange for the victim’s release.
“Human smuggling is a dangerous crime,” said United States Attorney Tara McGrath of the Southern District of California. “These defendants will face justice for abusing vulnerable migrants for profit.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted of all charges, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
Operation Safe Cities establishes strategic enforcement priorities with an emphasis on prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. Across this region, the most damaging and horrific crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic enforcement approach is expected to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of recidivists engaged in the most dangerous conduct. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, or robbery crews that cause havoc and extensive losses to retail establishments.
United States Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating this matter.
This case is being prosecuted jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and Southern District of California. Assistant United States Attorney Jena A. MacCabe of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is the lead counsel on this matter.
