3 L.A. Residents Held in the Abduction of 2 Israelis

Three Los Angeles residents have been arrested in connection with the disappearance last year of two Israeli citizens, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday.

Shane Ronald Huang, 34, of Canoga Park was arrested Friday in Encino on suspicion of kidnapping Benjamin Wertzberger and Adar Neeman, said FBI spokesman Cheryl Mimura. Kidnapping charges were also filed against Benjamin Frandsen, 29, of Los Angeles, who was taken into custody Sunday in the Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., restaurant where he worked. Ora Vossen, 38, of Hollywood is being held on suspicion of providing false information to federal authorities.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Wertzberger was staying rent-free at Huang’s Canoga Park residence in exchange for watching over an indoor marijuana crop. Huang suspected his housemate stole drugs from him, the complaint said, and on Dec. 2, 2002, Wertzberger and Neeman were taken captive.

Two days later, Wertzberger’s 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier was found in Las Vegas, Mimura said. The keys were in the ignition, and Wertzberger’s and Neeman’s belongings were scattered inside. The two men have yet to be found.

Huang, Frandsen and Vossen are being held without bail in federal detention facilities. If convicted, Huang and Frandsen face life in prison, while Vossen faces five years, Mimura said.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.