Ten Charged With Violent Kidnapping Of A Minor In The Bronx And Related Firearm Offenses

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging ADONYS CASTILLO, a/k/a “Candela,” GERARD VALENTINE FRIAS, a/k/a “Monkey,” JADEL ARAUJO, a/k/a “Negro,” a/k/a “Negromoneymaker,” HENRY MARCANO, a/k/a “KC,” JOSHUA TORRES, EDWIN RAMIREZ, RANDY BAUTISTA, JARYLIZ ORTEGA, ELVIO TORIBIO, and CLAUDY BRATINI, a/k/a “Cilantro,” with conspiring to kidnap a minor in the Bronx, New York.  The defendants have been charged in the violent abduction of a 16-year-old victim (the “Victim”).  The Indictment is assigned to United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.

CASTILLO, FRIAS, MARCANO, TORRES, BAUTISTA, ORTEGA, AND TORIBIO were arrested last night and this morning and are expected to be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.  ARAUJO, who is currently in federal custody in connection with a separate firearms offense, and BRATINI, who was previously in state custody and has been transferred to federal custody, will also be presented later today.  RAMIREZ is a fugitive.   

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, a 16-year-old child was beaten and kidnapped over the course of 19 hours before he was dumped on a desolate street under an overpass.  The charges announced today hold the perpetrators responsible for their reprehensible crimes.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today and statements previously made on the record in this case and related matters:[1]

In the early morning hours of April 26, 2022, the Victim, along with two others, robbed a location where marijuana was sold.  The defendants immediately gave chase, including EDWIN RAMIREZ and JOSHUA TORRES, who discharged a firearm as they pursued the Victim and his friends who had just stolen bags of marijuana from the drug-selling location.  The defendants were able to capture the Victim.  The defendants then held the Victim against his will for approximately 19 hours.  During this time, the Victim was severely beaten and transported from one building in the Bronx to another before being dropped off under an overpass.  The Victim was found by a bystander the next morning on April 27, 2022, after having been left on the street, hog-tied and drifting in and out of consciousness, the night before.  According to a doctor who treated the 16-year-old Victim, the Victim suffered from lacerations to his brain.

All 10 defendants have been charged with conspiracy to kidnap a minor, and RAMIREZ and TORRES have been charged with the use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

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A chart containing the names and ages of the defendants who were charged today, the charges, and the minimum and maximum penalties they face is attached.  All of the defendants are residents of the Bronx, New York. 

The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ni Qian and Jim Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.