2 kidnappers plead guilty to holding 4 noncitizens hostage and at gunpoint, following ICE HSI investigation

LAREDO, Texas – Two men plead guilty Wednesday to kidnapping and holding victims at ransom for three days, following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Laredo Police Department is assisting ICE HSI in this investigation.

Jesus Ochoa, 26, of Laredo, and Luis Armando Garcia, 29, of Mexico, appeared before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to admit their guilt for the Feb. 28 criminal scheme.

According to court documents, on Nov. 19, 2020, Ochoa and Garcia went to the banks of the Rio Grande in Laredo where they encountered a group of individuals who had just crossed the river and offered them a ride to San Antonio in exchange for payment. Instead, they traveled to Garcia’s residence in Laredo where the group was told they were in San Antonio. The suspects allegedly forced the individuals to call their family members and ask them to send $4,000 for each person’s release. For three days, Ochoa and Garcia held the group hostage at the residence, threatening each person with a firearm. They repeatedly forced them to call family members and beg for ransom money. While they were held at gunpoint, the victims had to record videos and voice messages, make video calls, and send text messages to family. On several occasions, Ochoa and Garcia spoke to the family members directly, telling them if payment was not made, something would happen to the hostages.

Ultimately, family members contacted authorities who were able to obtain the general location where the phone calls were originating. Ochoa and Garcia saw law enforcement in the area and panicked. They loaded the group back into a vehicle and transported them to an industrial park, where they dropped them off and said they would return later. The victims borrowed a phone from a nearby truck driver and called for help. Authorities found all four and were transported to safety.

Judge Marmolejo has set sentencing for a later date. At that time, Ochoa and Garcia could face up to life in prison.

Both remain in custody pending the sentencing hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of ICE responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

HSI encourages you to report suspected human smuggling activity, please call 1-866-348-2423. It could save a life. For up-to-date information related to human smuggling in south Texas, follow HSI on Twitter @HSI_SanAntonio.