FBI details the actions of alleged kidnappers

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

MILAN — It began as an agreement for $2,200 to take a young man from Arizona to Alabama.

But the price rose to $3,000, then escalated to $6,000, coupled with a threat to kill the passenger if the ransom wasn't paid.

This is part of what emerges from a sworn statement by an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Alabama used to obtain an arrest warrant and criminal complaint so that charges could be filed in Albuquerque against the two alleged kidnappers of an 18-year-old Guatemala man who had sneaked into the U.S. in mid-February.

FBI Agent Tyler McCurdy of the Montgomery office obtained the warrant and complaint from U.S. Magistrate Delores R. Boyd of the Middle Alabama Federal District Court on Thursday.

Around 7:30 p.m. (MST) Wednesday near Mile Marker 76 on Interstate 40, officers of the Laguna Pueblo Police and New Mexico State Police Departments stopped a gray Ford Windstar minivan with three men inside. Identified as the alleged kidnappers were Benjamin Leyva, 29, and Irbin Luna Ortiz, 25, no home towns given.

The victim was identified Wednesday by FBI press officer Bill Elwell in Albuquerque as Lorenzo Perez Lopez. McCurdy refers to him as "F.P.L" and said Perez Lopez "was found to be extremely dirty and un-bathed. (He) appeared fearful of the other two individuals... (He) advised that he crossed illegally into the United States approximately 15 days ago. (He) arranged with Leyva and Ortiz to take him to Montgomery for $2,200. Lopez and Leyva then took him out of Montgomery and the State of Alabama against his will."

The victim's brother Telesforo Perez Lopez and his roommate, Alejandro Sales Hernandez, received a telephone call on Feb. 18 from the younger Perez Lopez about the ride for $2,200, with "a Latino male known as David," McCurdy said.

Hernandez agreed to substitute for Telesforo and meet David at a Montgomery gas station on Feb. 28 to make the payment and pick up the younger Perez Lopez. At the station, Hernandez was told to pay $3,000. Since he didn't have the extra $800, David, who was riding in the shotgun position while another unidentified man drove, with Perez Lopez in the back, left.

McCurdy said later telephone calls to Telesforo from David demanded $6,000 "to return the victim the next day. David then stated that if he was not paid the $6,000 he would kill the victim."

On March 1, Telesforo received a cellular telephone call, later determined to be the central Phoenix area code, with his brother talking to him "in his native indigenous dialect," McCurdy said. Telesforo said his brother was crying and scared. Telesforo "then spoke with one of the kidnappers, who advised that they had not hurt his brother and were not going to hurt him," McCurdy added.

Telesforo was told his brother would be kept in Phoenix until a payment was made via Western Union, "after which he would bring (Lorenzo) back for an additional sum to be paid upon delivery. The individual would not give Telesforo Lopez an exact amount that he would be required to pay," the agent said.

Around 4:25 p.m. Wednesday, Telesforo received a call from a second cellular telephone, also later identified as being from the central Phoenix (602) area code, with instructions to wire the money to Mexico "and they would return his brother the next day. The above telephone conversations were recorded, but have not yet been officially translated," McCurdy said.

About four hours later, according to McCurdy, officers made the traffic stop. On Wednesday, Elwell credited the Laguna Pueblo Police Department with the main stop. Other roadblock crews were on station through the east side of Albuquerque, Elwell said, because it was not known how fast the minivan would be traveling. McCurdy credits his agency and the state police with the stop.

McCurdy said that within plain sight inside the van were a map, "a large stack of U.S. currency, calling cards, two cellular telephones, and a black bag containing duct tape and scissors ... Both Leyva and Ortiz were found with large amounts of U.S. currency in their shoes."

Meanwhile, back in Alabama, Hernandez and Telesforo identified pictures of one of the alleged kidnappers and the victim, McCurdy said.

The complaint against Leyva and Ortiz charges that on Feb. 28 they did "unlawfully seize, confine, inveigle, decoy, kidnap, abduct and carry away and hold for ransom and reward a person and did willfully transport that person in interstate and foreign commerce in violation of Title 18 United State Code Section 1201(a)(1)."

— To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).