PHOENIX (LAWFUEL) – Conrado Garcia-Medina, 25, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg to 25 years in prison for his role in holding illegal aliens hostage in a Phoenix apartment. Garcia-Medina, the leader of a criminal gang that kidnapped aliens from other smuggling organizations for ransom, pleaded guilty on April 14, 2008, to the charge of Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence.
“The horrible facts of this case are a prime example of why the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting persons who viciously prey upon other human beings,” stated U.S. Attorney Diane J. Humetewa. “I appreciate the efforts of ICE and the Phoenix Police Department in bringing violent criminals to justice.”
“ICE is committed to putting away the violent criminals who so ruthlessly exploit their human cargo in Arizona,” said Matt Allen, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Arizona. “This sentence removes a dangerous criminal from our streets and demonstrates the resolve we share with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to see that justice is served”
On October 28, 2007, Garcia-Medina and his co-conspirators kidnapped four victims at gunpoint from a drop house in Phoenix. The victims were forcibly detained at a Phoenix apartment for six days until they were rescued by officers of the Phoenix Police Department. While at the apartment, the victims were physically beaten, threatened with death, and tortured by electric shock. The victims suffered multiple electric burn marks on their bodies by being forced to stand or lay in a bathtub of water while Garcia-Medina and his gang shocked them with exposed wires that were plugged into a wall outlet. In addition, a female victim was sexually assaulted on several occasions by Garcia-Medina’s co-conspirators. The investigation against other alleged co-conspirators is on-going.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raymond K. Woo, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR07-1279-001-PHX-JAT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2008-193(Garcia-Medina)
