Two Texas men have been charged in an extortion scheme that ended with a shootout in Charlottesville’s Belmont neighborhood in January 2023.
An argument allegedly arose among multiple kidnappers after a $10,000 ransom fell through, and one of the kidnappers was shot and killed.
Ricardo Franco-Ordaz, 26, of Cedar Creek, Texas, and Jordan Joseph Perez, 20, of Lockhart, Texas, were arrested this week in Texas, following a federal grand jury indictment charging the two men with conspiracy and kidnapping charges.
Each is charged with one count of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, conspiracy to transport an alien resulting in death, transporting an alien resulting in death and conspiracy to receive money in connection with a kidnapping.
According to court documents, Franco-Ordaz and others picked up two victims from an area near the U.S.-Mexico border and held both victims against their will with an armed guard. The conspirators allegedly contacted family and friends of the undocumented people demanding cash in exchange for their release.
Franco-Ordaz exchanged one of the victims in Texas for $5,000 cash.
On Jan. 8, 2023, Perez and another co-conspirator transported a victim to Charlottesville, where they arranged to exchange the victim for $10,000 in cash. However, when the exchange was set to occur, it was revealed that the full $10,000 was not available.
An argument and shootout arose that resulted in the death of one of the kidnappers.
Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg is investigating the case with assistance from the Charlottesville Police Department, Albemarle County Police Department and HSI Austin, Texas.
The investigation, extradition, and conviction of these defendants is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation.
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Crystal Graham
