A California family was reportedly targeted with a $70,000 ransom demand and the threat of harm to a loved one after a family of three individuals in Mexico kidnapped their neighbor. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California revealed that Mario Alex 'Shyboy' Medina, 53, along with his son, Jose Salud 'Gordo' Medina, 31, and his sister, Maria Alejandra Medina, 50, were involved in the abduction of the victim identified as 'R.V.'
The victim was forcibly taken at gunpoint from his residence in Mexico, where he was pistol-whipped and threatened with a firearm. The kidnappers even fired a gun near the victim's head to instill fear.
Following the kidnapping, the perpetrators contacted the victim's family in Los Angeles County, California, demanding a ransom of $70,000 for his safe release. They also sent a distressing video of the victim being physically assaulted to the family via WhatsApp.
Jose Medina further escalated the situation by threatening to kill the victim if the family did not immediately pay $30,000. Mario Medina then acted as an intermediary, instructing the victim's family to meet at a McDonald's restaurant near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California, to hand over the ransom.
Subsequently, Jose and Maria Medina met the victim's family at the designated location and collected the $30,000 ransom payment before returning to Mexico. Meanwhile, the victim was left tied up in a trench until Mexican law enforcement rescued him later that day.
The family of three individuals is now facing charges of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and conspiracy to demand ransom. Additionally, Mario and Jose Medina are charged with making foreign communications with the intent to extort.
Maria Medina is currently in federal custody awaiting arraignment on April 16, while Mario Medina appeared in court in Bakersfield and is awaiting a detention hearing scheduled for April 11. Jose Medina is incarcerated in Mexico at present.
If convicted, the defendants could potentially receive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The FBI is actively investigating this disturbing case.
