**Six Men Charged in Disturbing Kidnapping Case at Florida Resort**
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Federal authorities have charged six men in connection with a shocking alleged kidnapping and extortion case that took place at a resort parking garage in Florida. The incident, which reportedly involved extreme violence and torture, occurred on May 26 at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida.
The defendants have been identified as Saul Alfonso Fajardo, 19, Justin Phihoang Le, 20, Amari Tamire Hill, 21, Anthony Teruel Hernandez, 18, Marikevies McNichols Jr., 19, and Weilen Hernandez, 20. They face serious federal charges, including kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
According to a federal complaint and supporting affidavit from the FBI, the harrowing episode began when two alleged victims were approached by Fajardo, known by the nickname “Gordo.” The victims, along with a 17-year-old girl, were invited to smoke marijuana in Fajardo’s Hyundai Elantra, which was parked in the resort’s garage.
As the group engaged in smoking, the atmosphere quickly shifted. Witnesses reported that a blue Cadillac containing four masked men armed with semi-automatic weapons arrived at the scene. The situation escalated rapidly as one of the assailants, Hill, reportedly slammed Victim 1 onto the hood of Fajardo’s car and pistol-whipped him. Amid the chaos, Fajardo attempted to downplay the violence, telling his accomplices, “Chill out, not on my car.”
Victim 1 recounted that he was dragged into a vehicle at gunpoint and transported to a secluded area. During the journey, he was ordered to contact friends and family for ransom funds. Le allegedly threatened him with gruesome torture, declaring, “If I don’t get my money, every ten minutes I’m going to take one of your fingernails.”
The situation took a horrifying turn when the group arrived at a remote location. Victim 1 was forced to kneel at gunpoint while the suspects demanded money. Disturbingly, he was gagged with a cloth, and as two assailants restrained him, Le approached wielding a blowtorch. He allegedly threatened to burn off Victim 1’s racing-flag tattoo, stating, “I’m gonna torture you.” The affidavit describes how Le then used the blowtorch to inflict burns on Victim 1’s arm.
Victim 2 later arrived at the scene, intensifying the ordeal for both victims. The suspects reportedly ordered them to strip down to their underwear while continuing to demand money. The affidavit states that Hill fired a shot into the air during a video call with another individual. The victims were stripped of cash, jewellery, clothing, mobile phones, and other valuables, with Victim 2 reportedly forced to send $400 through the digital payment service Zelle.
In a moment of desperation, Victim 1 pretended to have a seizure, prompting concern among the suspects. Their alarm led them to check his pulse repeatedly. In a panic, they ultimately abandoned him, tossing him from their vehicle at the side of the road. Fortunately, he was able to flag down passing motorists who called the police.
Upon arrival, the authorities transported Victim 1 to Broward Health Medical Center, where he received treatment for various injuries, including a head laceration that required staples and burns to his arm. Investigators later uncovered burned clothing, keys, and personal belongings belonging to both victims at the scene, supporting their accounts of the violent kidnapping.
As the case unfolds, no legal representation for the defendants has been promptly identified in court documents. Investigators have relied on surveillance footage, GPS data, and eyewitness accounts to piece together the events leading to these serious charges.
Given the nature of the alleged crimes, the federal authorities are likely to pursue the matter vigorously, as the disturbing incident raises questions about safety and security in tourist hotspots. The inquiry is ongoing, and further developments are highly anticipated as the judicial process moves forward.