Five Charged with Kidnapping Wake Forest Man

RALEIGH—United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that today five defendants were charged with conspiracy to kidnap in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(c), in connection with the kidnapping of Frank Arthur Janssen of Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Jenna Paulin Martin, 21; Tiana Maynard, a/k/a Tiana Brooks, 30; Jevante Price, a/k/a Flame, 20; Michael Montreal Gooden, a/k/a Hot, 21; and Clifton James Roberts, 29, were all charged with kidnapping. These five individuals are in federal custody at this time.

According to the investigation, Mr. Janssen was taken from his home against his will on April 5, 2014. Through a coordinated effort involving many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team rescued Mr. Janssen at 11:55 p.m. on April 9, 2014, at a residence in Southeast Atlanta. If convicted of this charge, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

The case is being investigated by the FBI Charlotte, FBI Atlanta, the Wake Forest Police Department, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, with assistance by the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Raleigh Police Department, Durham Police Department, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Garner Police Department, North Carolina Highway Patrol, RDU Police, City County Bureau of Investigation, the Cobb County Police Department, Alpharetta Police Department, Atlanta Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina is handling the prosecution of these cases.