Mexican Pair Convicted of Kidnapping and Traveling to US to Collect Ransom

A man crosses into the United States from Mexico in San Ysidro, Calif., on Feb. 2, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

A federal jury in Los Angeles found a brother and sister from Mexico guilty of kidnapping a neighbor at gunpoint in 2022, then driving across the border to the U.S. to collect a ransom payment from his family.

Mario Alex Medina, 54, and María Alejandra Medina, 51, both of Rosarito, were each found guilty of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and conspiracy to demand a ransom payment, according to an Oct. 25 announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

Mario Medina was also found guilty of one count of making a foreign communication with the intention to extort money.

“These defendants subjected their victim and his family to a terrifying ordeal in order to illegally profit,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in the statement. “Such callous disregard for others and cavalier use of violence cannot and will not be tolerated.”

According to court documents, Mario Medina and accomplices broke into the house of a neighbor, identified in court as “R.V.,” on Nov. 5, 2022.

Prosecutors say Mario Medina kidnapped the victim at gunpoint, pistol-whipped him, and fired the gun near his head.

The next day, authorities say one of the co-conspirators called the victim’s family in Los Angeles County and demanded $70,000 for his release. The kidnappers also sent a video to the family on WhatsApp showing the victim being beaten.

Five days later, authorities say one of Mario Medina’s accomplices called the family and threatened to kill the victim if they did not pay $30,000.

Later that day, Mario Medina pretended to be an intermediary and told the family to meet him at a McDonald’s in San Ysidro, located north of the Mexico border about 21 miles from Rosarito, to make a ransom payment.

On Nov. 11, María and her nephew José Salud Medina, 31, Mario’s son, met the victim’s family at the restaurant, collected $30,000, and took the money back to Mexico, according to prosecutors.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada speaks to reporters in front of the U.S. Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on May 2, 2024.  Richard Vogel/AP Photo

The victim was left alone in a small trench while the defendants were collecting the ransom. Mexican law enforcement rescued him later that day, according to federal officials.

José Medina is in custody in Mexico on unrelated charges. Federal prosecutors expect to try him separately in the kidnapping case. He has been charged with conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, conspiracy to demand a ransom payment, and making a foreign communication with the intent of extortion.

The three defendants were indicted by a grand jury on April 9.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson has scheduled a sentencing hearing for Mario and María Medina on Feb. 3, 2025. Both face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.