3 Arrested in Kidnaping, Ransom of Anaheim Man

Three Los Angeles men were arrested on suspicion of kidnaping, assault with a deadly weapon and robbery after they allegedly tried to extort money from an Anaheim family as payment for smuggling a relative across the Mexican border, Anaheim police said Thursday.

Police said the men had helped a cousin of Carlos Moreno, 21, of Anaheim, to cross the border illegally, but the cousin could not pay them. They said that after Moreno told the men he could not raise the fee they demanded, he was kidnaped at gunpoint and a ransom was demanded of other family members.

A Los Angeles location for the ransom was arranged, and Moreno’s relatives then contacted the Anaheim police. Sgt. John Harridan said undercover officers surrounded the meeting place and surprised the men, who arrived unarmed with Moreno. Police would not disclose the amount of the ransom.

Eduardo Cortez, 29, and Ignacio Garcia, 25, were arrested in the 300 block of South Broadway in Los Angeles, police said. The third man, Milton G. Sanchez, was arrested nearby. All three were booked into Anaheim City Jail, and bail of $100,000 was set for each.

Police said Moreno suffered minor injuries. Harridan said the Immigration and Naturalization Service is investigating the case.