San Diego

A federal grand jury Friday indicted three suspected alien smugglers in connection with an incident last month in which four aliens were held captive at an East San Diego residence until payments could be secured from relatives, the U. S. attorney’s office said.

Authorities say a woman alien was raped during the ordeal.

The federal indictment charges Luis Manuel Medrano Esparza, 25, of San Diego; Jose Hurtado Esparza, 27, of Tijuana, and Juan Rodriguez Ramirez, 22, of Santa Maria, Calif.--with aiding in the transportation of four Mexican nationals and concealing them in a house on Dwight Street.

Medrano is being held without bail in state custody and awaits trial on rape and false-imprisonment charges. The other two are in custody on the federal charges in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The three allegedly held the aliens captive at gunpoint at the residence until money could be obtained from relatives for their release and transportation to the Los Angeles area.

San Diego police have said that the three suspects sought $300 for the woman, whom they allegedly held five days. Her husband, who was initially held but later released, informed police, who surrounded the house and arrested the suspects April 6 without incident.

On the federal charges, each could be sentenced to five years in jail and a $250,000 fine on each count in the nine-count indictment.