Federal Charges Brought in Alleged Kidnapping Case

On June 2, 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) placed Ruperto Moncillo Flores and Jacobo Feliciano-Francisco (aka Uriel Castillo-Ochoa) in federal custody, based on complaints and arrest warrants filed in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Mississippi and Northern District of Florida, respectively. Flores, age 57, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, is charged with violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2421 (Mann Act) and Francisco, age 31, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is charged with kidnapping (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1201). The Mann Act, 18 U.S.C. Section 2421, prohibits the transporting of any individual in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that such individual engage in prostitution or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense.

Both subjects have been detained without bond. The investigation by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations is ongoing.

The FBI would like to thank the Hattiesburg Police Department, Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of District Attorney Patricia Burchell for their ongoing cooperation and invaluable assistance in this matter.

A complaint is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, that charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.