Laredoan Who Fled To Mexico Indicted For Kidnapping

LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has indicted Raul Ochoa-Perez, 42, of Laredo, on charges of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. 

A criminal complaint was filed Jan. 15, 2014, but Ochoa-Perez had allegedly fled to Mexico. Ochoa-Perez turned himself in to federal authorities April 15, 2014, and was subsequently detained pending further proceedings. He is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Song Quiroga in the coming days for his initial appearance.

The indictment, returned today, alleges that on Jan. 13, 2014, Ochoa-Perez forced a male victim into a vehicle and took him into Mexico at gunpoint. There, he was allegedly bound and beaten. According to the charges, Ochoa-Perez supervised as others put a gun in the victim's mouth and a knife to his throat. They allegedly demanded money and threatened to cut the victim into pieces if he did not comply. The indictment also alleges Ochoa-Perez called the victim’s girlfriend and threatened her life, the lives of her children and parents as well as the life of the victim if she did not give Ochoa-Perez $55,000.

If convicted, Ochoa-Perez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge.

The case is the result of an investigation led by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Hepburn is handling the case.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.