U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada | U.S. Department of Justice
A brother and sister from Rosarito, Mexico, have been found guilty in a U.S. court for their involvement in a kidnapping and ransom scheme. The jury convicted Mario Alex Medina, also known as "Shyboy," aged 54, and his sister María Alejandra Medina, aged 51, of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and demanding a ransom payment. Additionally, Mario Medina was found guilty of making a foreign communication with intent to extort.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada commented on the case: "These defendants subjected their victim and his family to a terrifying ordeal in order to illegally profit. Such callous disregard for others and cavalier use of violence cannot and will not be tolerated. These defendants will now appropriately face justice for their crimes."
José Salud Medina, known as "Gordo," who is the son of Mario Medina and nephew of María Medina, is currently held in Mexican custody on unrelated charges. He faces separate charges related to this case, including conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and demanding a ransom payment.
The trial revealed that on November 5, 2022, Mario Medina orchestrated the kidnapping of his neighbor identified as "R.V." by directing accomplices to break into R.V.'s home at gunpoint. The kidnappers demanded $70,000 from R.V.'s family through WhatsApp while sending them a video showing R.V. being beaten.
On November 10, an accomplice threatened R.V.'s family with harm unless they paid $30,000. Posing as an intermediary between the family and kidnappers, Mario Medina instructed them to meet at a McDonald's restaurant in San Ysidro for the payment.
José and María Medina collected the ransom at the meeting point and returned with it to Mexico. The following day Mexican law enforcement rescued R.V., who had been left tied up in a trench.
The sentencing hearing for Mario and María Medina is scheduled for February 3, 2025. They face up to life imprisonment under federal law.
This case was investigated by the FBI as part of Operation Safe Cities which targets significant drivers of violent crime through strategic enforcement priorities.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. MacCabe and Derek R. Flores from the Violent and Organized Crime Section along with Michael J. Morse from the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.
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