5 California men indicted for kidnapping illegal immigrants, holding them for ransom: US attorney's office

Five men in Southern California, four of whom have been arrested, allegedly kidnapped illegal immigrants and held them for ransom, demanding cash payments from their families in order for the victims to be released.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California said in a press release that Miguel Angel Avila, 22, of Hemet; Omar Avila Salmeron, 41, of South Los Angeles; Jose Jaime Garcia, 20, of San Jacinto; and Jose Alfredo Moreno Gonzalez, 21, of Oak Hills have all been arrested, while 22-year-old Gabriel Michel Becerra of Palmdale is considered a fugitive.

All five were indicted July 30 on various counts, including “two counts of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking, two counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, and two counts of transporting illegal aliens for private financial gain,” according to the release.

Avila, Salmeron, Garcia and Becerra have also been charged with…