Press Release
Contact:
MICHAEL L. SCHIPPER
ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (616) 456-2406
SIX SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR BRANDISHING
A FIREARM DURING A KIDNAPPING AND TORTURE
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009 -
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Six Chicago men, Adalfo Favela, Jesus Matrinez, Jose
Flores, Leonardo Orozco, Venancio Valencia-Vargas and Jonathan Eads were sentenced to
federal prison for using a firearm to threaten and beat a West Michigan man whom they had
kidnapped and tortured to recover an alleged drug debt, U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis
announced today. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell sentenced Favela, Martinez and
Orozco to 9 years each in prison, Flores and Valencia-Vargas to 7 years each in prison, and Eads
to 2 1/2 years in prison. Additionally, each will serve a period of supervised release after
incarceration and were ordered to pay the victim $3,320.00 in restitution for his injuries.
On April 22, 2008, the six defendants drove from the Chicago, Illinois area to Grand Rapids to collect an alleged drug debt from a Grand Rapids area man. On April 23, 2008, the six defendants forcibly abducted the man from his home and took him to a Coopersville ranch where he was repeatedly beaten, tortured, and threatened. After convincing the defendants to bring him back to his Grand Rapids home under the guise that he had some money hidden in his house, the victim escaped. Local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were able to apprehend Orozco and Valencia-Vargas before they fled Grand Rapids. ICE agents later arrested Eads, Martinez, Flores and Favela in Chicago.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the collaborative efforts of ICE, and the local and Chicago area agencies that participated in the investigation and apprehension of these defendants, particularly the Howard City Police Department, Grand Rapids Police Department, Michigan State Police and the Central Michigan Enforcement Team. U.S. Attorney Davis said,“drug dealing and gun violence are both Department of Justice priorities and are being aggressively targeted by law enforcement efforts here in the Western District of Michigan. This prosecution reflects what this collaborative effort can accomplish.”
ICE is committed to the vigilant pursuit and ultimate prosecution of individuals involved with drugs and violence. These sentences are testament to that effort,” said Brian Moskowitz, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations for Michigan and Ohio. “We are determined to make our communities safer for everyone. We will continue to partner with other law enforcement agencies to realize this goal.”
The charges against these defendants were brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) initiative. PSN links Federal, state, and local law enforcement in a coordinated effort to deter gun violence and prosecute serious gun crimes in federal court. Citizens with information concerning illegal guns, gangs with guns, armed drug trafficking or the trafficking of illegal guns are encouraged to call 1-800-ATF-GUNS. Callers can remain anonymous. This number is managed and answered by federal law enforcement officials who work directly with local police departments.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Schipper.
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