Thread: San Diego: Kidnap-For-Ransom Ring Busted

Officials: Kidnap-For-Ransom Ring Busted

SAN DIEGO -- Five men pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnap and torture Wednesday in what prosecutors are calling a sophisticated kidnap-for-ransom ring operating in San Diego.

The men, ranging in age from 20 to 46 were arrested during an FBI raid Saturday night in Chula Vista, officials said.

Prosecutor Mark Amador told the judge that the defendants kidnapped the victim, 32-year old Eduardo Gonzalez-Tostado, on June 8, tortured him and forced his family to pay $200,000 ransom.

Investigators found assault weapons, handguns, chains and "other bindings the victim and possibly others could have been bound by," Amador said.

"The defendants are members of a sophisticated murder crew that has been operating in San Diego for past couple of years," Amador told Superior Court Judge David Szumowski.

Szumowski ordered the defendants held without bail.

The men -- Ruben Flores, Juan Gonzalez Estrada, Raul Gamez Rojas, Carlos Pena and Jose Oliveras -- each face one count of kidnap for ransom and reward, with a special circumstance of holding their victims in a manner likely to cause great bodily harm or likelihood of death.

Their next court date will be June 27.

All face the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

NOTE: Although per policy with most all San Diego news outlets, of course no mention that these thugs are illegal aliens, but on the radio I did hear that the prosecutor in the case did ask the judge for them to be held without bail and that ICE now has immigration holds on these criminals as they are all illegals and too likely to flee the country if given bail. And Bush wants to give these people amnesty, even felons. So does this mean if they are convicted they can apply for amnesty while in prison?

Any doubt we are turning into an murderous, corrupt third world?