2 Men Convicted in Kidnapping of S. Pasadena Girl

Two men face possible life sentences after a Pasadena jury Wednesday convicted them of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl almost a year ago from her South Pasadena home and collecting $200,000 for her release.

Peng Giao, 26, was convicted of nine felony counts, including kidnapping, conspiracy, false imprisonment by violence and use of a handgun related to the Dec. 22, 1998, abduction.

Chi Ming “Jimmy” Szeto, 27, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, but jurors rejected an array of other charges against him.

A Pasadena Superior Court judge could sentence the Chinese nationals to life in prison Jan. 14, a district attorney’s spokeswoman said.

The girl was abducted when three gunmen invaded the Brunswick Avenue home after one pretended to be a friend of her father with Christmas presents. They initially demanded $800,000 in ransom, but settled for $200,000 and released the child unharmed at a restaurant in Rosemead 28 hours later.

Six people were arrested later by FBI agents who had tracked them to a location in Monterey Park, where the father dropped off the ransom money.

Charges were later dropped against three of those arrested. But a fourth, Danny Chuo Wong, agreed to plead guilty to a kidnapping charge and testify against his co-defendants in exchange for a lesser prison term.