| For Immediate Release Case # 02WF0793
December 17, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
WARRANT ISSUED FOR FUGITIVE CHARGED WITH ORCHESTRATING KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM OF VICTIM AND HOLDING HIM IN MOTEL FOR
TWO WEEKS IN EXCHANGE FOR $10,000
*Defendant fled after bail was increased to $1 million as a result of new illegal marijuana cultivation charges against him
SANTA ANA – A warrant has been issued for a fugitive charged with orchestrating the kidnapping for ransom of a homeowner, whose house he was remodeling, and holding him for $10,000 while the victim was bound, blindfolded, and gagged for two weeks. Nasir Kamaruddin Shamsi, 48, Placentia, is charged with one felony count of kidnapping for ransom and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. A no-bail warrant was issued for his arrest Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, after the defendant fled and failed to appear for a scheduled court date (details below).
Co-defendants Esau Abrajan, 26, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Eric Anthony Velasquez, 28, Rancho Santa Margarita, pleaded guilty Oct. 15, 2009, to one felony count each of kidnapping with the use of a dangerous weapon, grand theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of stolen property. They are expected to be sentenced Jan. 22, 2010, to 11 years in state prison. They will not receive credit for the nine years they have been in custody, and will serve a total of 20 years each in this case.
Co-defendant Brian David Good, 35, Huntington Beach, pleaded guilty to one felony count of kidnapping on Feb. 28, 2006, and was sentenced to five years in state prison. Scott Douglass Burns, 50, Huntington Beach, pleaded guilty to one felony count each of kidnapping and residential burglary. He is expected to be sentenced to nine years and four months in state prison at his sentencing on Feb. 26, 2010.
Kidnapping Case
In 2002, victim Sohiel D. hired a contractor to remodel a home he owned in Orange, which he used as a rental property. The contractor had several employees, including his brother Shamsi, who worked on the house. While working on the property, Shamsi is accused of developing a plan to kidnap the homeowner, Sohiel D., and hold him for ransom. Shamsi is accused of enlisting the help of two brothers, Velasquez and Abrajan, to kidnap the victim.
On March 18, 2002, Velasquez and Abrajan kidnapped Sohiel D. from the house, tied him up, blindfolded him, and gagged his mouth with duct tape. They kept the victim upstairs in the semi-renovated home for two days. After two days, Velasquez and Abrajan moved the victim, who was still bound and gagged, to a motel in Long Beach. Shamsi is accused of choosing the motel. Burns drove the U-Haul truck used to move the victim.
For 13 days, Shamsi is accused of holding the victim against his will and leaving him tied, blindfolded and gagged with the help of Velasquez and Abrajan. Shamsi is accused of using the victim’s credit cards for those two weeks. After 13 days of holding the victim, Shamsi is accused of making a $10,000 ransom demand to Sohiel D.’s girlfriend. The girlfriend contacted the police, who had been looking for the missing victim for the two weeks since his disappearance.