Two individuals from Honduras are facing charges for allegedly plotting to abduct a Guatemalan man who had entered the U.S. illegally, seeking ransom from the victim’s relatives in Southern California, as announced by the Justice Department on Monday.

Darwin Jeovany Palma Pastrana, aged 30, and Eduar Isrrael Sauceda Nuñez, aged 25, both residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are accused of conspiring to kidnap migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully. Upon entering the United States, federal authorities allege that the migrants were transported to hidden locations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, where their phones were seized.

Palma, arrested in New Mexico the previous month, faces charges that include one count of conspiracy, one count of kidnapping, one count of interstate communication with a ransom demand, and one count of making threats via interstate communication. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently held in custody without the option for bail.

Sauceda, who is still at large, faces similar charges, including conspiracy, kidnapping, interstate ransom demands, and transporting aliens within the U.S. for financial gain. If found guilty, both Palma and Sauceda could receive a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

“These suspects allegedly assisted in smuggling migrants and then exploited them by demanding ransom from their families for their release,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada stated. “We will wield our formidable resources to ensure that those who profit from violence against the defenseless are held accountable.”

Prosecutors allege deception by the suspects

The indictment reveals that Palma and Sauceda enlisted others to aid in the execution of their conspiracy and led the migrants and their families through various fraudulent reunions.

On April 1, Palma informed Sauceda that a Guatemalan man who entered the U.S. illegally needed to pay $1,500 for his release, according to federal prosecutors. Sauceda then instructed the victim to arrange a meeting with a family member in the parking lot of a Jack in the Box restaurant located in Norwalk, California.

During this meeting, prosecutors alleged that Sauceda locked the victim in a vehicle and requested a ransom of $1,500 from the victim’s relative before driving off with him. Believing that the ransom would be secured after Palma contacted the relative, Sauceda returned to the parking lot, where he was apprehended by law enforcement.

When the police stopped him, Sauceda reportedly hid about $9,290 in cash and money transfer receipts in the center console. Additionally, federal prosecutors disclosed that Palma sent a threatening message to the Guatemalan migrant’s family member the following day via WhatsApp.

“Victims of serious crimes are protected under U.S. laws, and this situation is no different,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The victimization of vulnerable individuals and their families will be thoroughly investigated by the FBI alongside its law enforcement partners.”

‘Virtual kidnapping extortion’ on the rise

The FBI has previously alerted the public that instances of “virtual kidnapping extortion” targeting immigrants in the U.S. have increased. This scheme involves “malicious individuals” who monitor social media for potential victims, according to FBI Special Agent Andrés Hernández, who oversees the Violent Crimes Task Force in El Paso, Texas.

Immigrants in the U.S. who post about missing family members become prime targets, Hernández noted. He emphasized that the FBI does not enforce immigration laws, and anyone facing threats, whether a U.S. citizen or not, should report them.

The FBI examines every situation as a possible real kidnapping, he added.

Contributing: Lauren Villagran, YSL News