Officials: 2 charged with kidnapping, holding Paterson man for $30,000 ransom

Officials say the suspects threatened the victim with a gun and then contacted that person's father, threatening to cut off the victim's fingers if a $30,000 ransom was not paid.

Lanette Espy

Dec 22, 2023, 12:28 PM

Updated 356 days ago

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Two men are accused of kidnapping a man from Paterson and holding him for ransom.
Julio Cesar Paniagua, 27, and Joel Ramon Garcia, 33, kidnapped the victim last month and drove him to Massachusetts, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Thursday.
Officials say Paniagua and Garcia threatened the victim with a gun and then contacted that person's father, threatening to cut off the victim's fingers if a $30,000 ransom was not paid.
The victim was released two days later on Nov. 17. It is not clear if the ransom was paid.
Paniagua and Garcia were both detained following initial court appearances. Both men face life in prison if convicted. The charge of kidnapping also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.