Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Three alleged drug dealers have pleaded guilty to federal charges in the kidnapping of a Rhode Island man last July, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting.

Victor Abiles Gomez, 20, Omar Mendoza-Villegas, 19, and Gerardo "Gera" Solorio Reyes, 23, pleaded guilty Friday to hostage-taking and related charges. The U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Georgia has said the three are all illegal immigrants from Mexico.

The three allegedly lured Oscar Reynoso, 31, from Rhode Island to Georgia on the pretext of buying a car, then held him in the basement of a house. A news release from the U.S. Attorney's office in Georgia said the captors called Reynoso's wife in Rhode Island in an effort to collect a $300,000 drug debt he supposedly owed. On July 11, state and local authorities, surrounded the huse and rescued Reynoso, who was found bound, gagged and chained to a wall.

On March 10, the Atlanta paper reported, Reynoso pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine. His sentencing date has not been set.

The kidnappers face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Sentencing will be July 7.

The U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Georgia could not be reached for comment Sunday.

 Tags  Rhode Island

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