Instead of smuggling Cubans into the U.S., feds say, two men did far worse to them

Cuban migrants boarded a boat in hopes of making it to America to lead new lives, but the two men who were transporting them had other nefarious plans for them, authorities said.

The migrants were kidnapped, beaten, tortured and used for ransom by the two men charged in the case, federal authorities said.

Reynaldo Marquez Crespo, 41, and Jancer Sergio Ramos Valdes, 33, made their first appearance in Miami federal court on charges that they participated in an alien smuggling ring that involved kidnapping and torturing Cuban nationals and extorting victims’ family members for money, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Authorities say Crespo and Valdes tricked their victims into thinking they were going to smuggle them into the United States from Cuba. In reality, they would take them to Merida, Mexico, where the victims would be locked in a home and held captive for ransom.

Crespo, Valdes and others would force the victims to hand over contact information for their families, whom the kidnappers would then call and demand a $10,000 ransom in order to see their loved one again, authorities said. Some of the families lived in Miami.

If the ransom was paid the victim would be sent by bus to the Mexico-United States border with instructions to seek political asylum.

If they couldn’t pay the migrants were beaten, shocked with stun guns and threatened with knives and firearms, authorities said.

Valdes was arrested in Connecticut and Crespo was arrested in Texas. Crespo’s pretrial detention hearing is set for Sept. 28 in federal magistrate court in Miami.

If you or someone you know may be a victim of migrant coercion or extortion, authorities say to call 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324). You may also call 1-866-347-2423 or visit https://www.ice.gov/tipline. Help is available in English, Spanish, and additional languages.