Inmates Who Held Guards Captive Indicted on Kidnap Charges

A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment Friday against two inmates who took a guard at Metropolitan Correctional Center hostage for nearly 17 hours earlier this month.

The indictment charges Emilio Bravo, 32, also known as Ernesto Cruz, and Ramon Alvarez, 33, also known as Jose Rodriguez-Rodriguez, 33, both Cuban nationals, with kidnaping guard Donnie Houston.

They also are charged with the attempted kidnaping of a second guard, Robert Gibson, two conspiracy counts and a single count of taking a hostage to force the U.S. government to meet their demands.

Both men, who had been held on drug charges in a high-security area of the downtown prison, are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday and could be sentenced to life imprisonment.

The hostage standoff started when the inmates overpowered two guards at 9 p.m. Dec. 17. Gibson escaped, but Houston was bound hand and foot until nearly 2 p.m. the next day, when FBI and Bureau of Prisons SWAT team members stormed the cell. Houston suffered minor injuries.

The indictment alleges that the men wanted to make a bargain with the U.S. attorney in regard to Alvarez’ sentencing on narcotics charges, asked for the key to their cell, wanted immunity from prosecution regarding the hostage situation and wanted air travel to Cuba.

Both inmates captured Houston and Gibson by using two “shanks,” or knives made from their metal bunk beds, the indictment alleges.

“These defendants attempted to hold the American justice system hostage,” U.S. Atty. William Braniff said. “We are determined . . . to ensure that such attempts never succeed.”