NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger has announced the arrest and charging of two men in a harrowing kidnapping case in Paterson, New Jersey.
Julio Cesar Paniagua, 27, and Joel Ramon Garcia, 33, face charges of kidnapping, with Paniagua recently appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen and Garcia appearing earlier before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court. Both suspects are currently detained.
On November 15, 2023, the accused allegedly abducted a Paterson resident and transported the victim to Massachusetts. During the ordeal, Paniagua and Garcia are said to have brandished firearms and demanded a ransom.
The kidnappers threatened the victim’s father, warning that the victim’s fingers would be cut off if the ransom was not paid. The victim was eventually released on November 17.
The kidnapping charge carries a severe penalty, with a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.