NEWARK, N.J. – Three people from Brooklyn, New York, had been charged in the present day in reference to a kidnapping for ransom that left an adolescent with stab wounds after a dispute over a drug transaction, U.S. Lawyer Philip R. Sellinger introduced.
Dennis Reyes Mora, 37, Alexander Cruz, 26, and Cindy Aleman Fernandez, 27, all of Brownsville, Brooklyn, are every charged by grievance with one rely of conspiracy to commit kidnapping. They appeared earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court docket and had been detained.
In line with paperwork filed on this case and statements made in court docket:
On March 17, 2023, after a failed drug deal in Delaware, Cruz, Reyes, Aleman, and one other particular person kidnapped the 18-year-old sufferer, who they drove via New Jersey and held for ransom within the basement of a home in Queens, New York. In the course of the drive, the abductors certain the sufferer with tape and stabbed the sufferer a number of instances. As soon as they reached the home in Queens, the abductors coated the sufferer’s eyes and certain the sufferer’s wrists and ankles with tape. Whereas holding the sufferer captive, the abductors tortured the sufferer, together with by working a knife on the sufferer’s neck, holding a gasoline-soaked rag in opposition to the sufferer’s eyes, burning the sufferer with cigarettes, and beating the sufferer. One of many kidnappers additionally threatened the sufferer with a gun and rounds of ammunition. Aleman regarded on and laughed whereas the sufferer was tortured.
The abductors in the end launched the sufferer after the sufferer’s household, aided by legislation enforcement, paid a ransom. Earlier than their arrest, the abductors tried to cowl up their crimes by, amongst different issues, eradicating and cleansing the seats of the automotive used within the kidnapping.
The cost of conspiracy to commit kidnapping carries a most potential penalty of life in jail and a most effective of $250,000.
U.S. Lawyer Sellinger credited particular brokers of the FBI, below the path of Particular Agent in Cost James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Hackensack Police Division, below the path of Police Director Raymond Guidetti; the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Workplace, below the path of Prosecutor Mark Musella; the Paterson Police Division, below the path of the New Jersey Division of Legislation and Public Security; the Clifton Police Division, below the path of Chief Thomas Rinaldi; the Passaic County Sheriff’s Workplace, below the path of Sheriff Richard Berdnik; and the New York Police Division, below the path of Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, with the investigation resulting in the fees.
The federal government is represented by Assistant U.S. Lawyer Carolyn Silane of the Financial Crimes Unit in Newark.
The cost and allegations contained within the grievance are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible.
