FLORIDA – Three men are accused of kidnapping, waterboarding, and threatening to kill a victim at a Plantation Airbnb.
On Oct. 16, Jeffry Arista, 32, and his brother, Jonathan Arista, 29, had their initial appearances in federal court on federal kidnapping charges. The brothers and Raymond Gomez, 33, were arrested on October 13.
The three men are accused of kidnapping the victim outside their apartment and transporting them to an Airbnb in Plantation, Florida.
According to the allegations contained in the criminal complaint, after forcefully transporting the victim to the Airbnb, the kidnappers realized that they had abducted the wrong person.
Rather than releasing the victim, the kidnappers reportedly waterboarded and threatened to kill the victim while pointing firearms, tasers, and an electric drill at the kidnapped victim.
Upon learning that the intended target was at a business in Pompano Beach, the kidnappers are alleged to have forcefully brought the victim to the business and ordered the victim to enter the business and lure out the intended target.
Instead, upon entering the business, the victim called law enforcement, and the three suspects were arrested.
A criminal complaint charges the three defendants with kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Raymond Gomez has not yet had his initial appearance on the charges.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the pending criminal complaint charges.
FBI Miami investigated the case with assistance from the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ajay Alexander is prosecuting this case.
A criminal complaint contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
