| For Immediate Release November 14, 2005 |
Contact: | Mark Macaulay Media Relations Spokesperson (714) 347-8405 Office (714) 323-4486 Cell |
FOUR “COYOTES” CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING AND EXTORTION FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF HUSBAND AND WIFE AND A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM MEXICO
SANTA ANA – Three men and a woman were charged today with extortion by threat and three counts of kidnapping for ransom for demanding money for human trafficking. Jose Mandujano, 35, of Orange, Christian Lopez, 19, of Santa Ana, Diego Elenez, 22, of Orange, and Erika Olivas, 30, of Orange, will face 21 years in state prison to life if convicted of all charges.
A husband and wife and a cousin from Mexico had paid to come to the United States. From November 5th to November 9th, the victim’s brother in Santa Ana started receiving implied phone threats that unless he paid another $5,400, his relatives would be held and harmed. The brother contacted Santa Ana police who help set up a meeting in a parking lot. Mandujano and Lopez arrived to the location in a white SUV and Olivas and Elenez drove up in a blue Honda. The defendants were paid $5,400 in exchange for the victims. The defendants quickly left in different directions on the 22-Freeway.
When the Santa Ana police officers who had been watching the defendants tried to stop the blue Honda using emergency lights, the defendants threw out the bundle of money and two cell phones from the moving car. The police found another $26,000 and another extortion victim at Olivas’ house. The victims were kept in a crowded room and were not allowed to leave. One of the victims was in fear for his life.
The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in Central Justice Center at 1:30 p.m. today. District Attorney Mike Pear of the Felony Projects Unit will be prosecuting the case.
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