http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/16455376.htm

Sat, Jan. 13, 2007

Mexican woman charged in kidnapping of U.S. citizens
The Associated Press

LAREDO - A Mexican woman has been charged in the kidnapping of two U.S. citizens held captive for one day last year before a $20,000 ransom was paid.

Christina Rodriguez, 31, was arrested Thursday on charges of conspiracy to kidnap U.S. citizens in a foreign country, the FBI said in a statement.

According to court documents, the victims were taken by five black-clad gunmen July 16 in Nuevo Laredo, the violence-plagued border city where those who were kidnapped had gone to attend a wedding.

Rodriguez worked at a Laredo restaurant with the victims and tipped off the kidnappers in Mexico about their whereabouts, according to a criminal complaint. The documents state that the kidnappers later admitted to their victims that they weren't the intended targets.

Mexican authorities arrested four men who admitted to the kidnapping about two weeks after it took place, according to court papers.

In November, a prominent Laredo businessman and four others, including his son, were kidnapped in Nuevo Laredo. All returned safely.