Two siblings were convicted for their role in kidnapping a man in Mexico and threatening his family in Los Angeles County for a ransom.
Mario Alex Medina, 54, a.k.a. “Shyboy,” and Maria Alejandra Medina, 51, residents of Rosarito, Mexico, were found guilty by a jury on Friday for their involvement in a kidnapping and ransom scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A third person involved, Jose Salud Medina, 31, a.k.a. “Gordo,” who is also Mario’s son, is in Mexican custody and will be tried separately in this case.
On Nov. 5, 2022, under Mario’s direction, his accomplices broke into a neighbor’s house and kidnapped a man at gunpoint, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The victim, identified only as “R.V.,” was pistol-whipped while the kidnappers fired a gun near his head.
Mario’s accomplice called the victim’s family who lives in Los Angeles County. They demanded $70,000 for the man’s release and sent a video through WhatsApp showing him being beaten, court documents said.
Days later, Jose allegedly called the victim’s relative and threatened to kill the man if they did not pay at least $30,000.
Mario pretended to be an intermediary between the victim’s family and the hostage takers. He told the victim’s family to pay the ransom at a meetup that was scheduled at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, located just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The victim’s family arrived at McDonald’s and handed over the $30,000 ransom payment to Jose and Maria which they reportedly took back with them to Mexico.
The victim was left tied up and abandoned in a small, subterranean trench where Mexican law enforcement rescued him later that day.
“These defendants subjected their victim and his family to a terrifying ordeal in order to illegally profit,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Such callous disregard for others and cavalier use of violence cannot and will not be tolerated. These defendants will now appropriately face justice for their crimes.”
Mario and Maria were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and conspiracy to demand a ransom payment. Mario was also found guilty of making a foreign communication with intent to extort.
Jose remains in Mexican custody on unrelated charges. He is expected to be tried separately in this case, in which he is charged with conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, conspiracy to demand a ransom payment, and making a foreign communication with intent to extort.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2025, in which Mario and Maria could face life in federal prison.
