A Texas man has admitted guilt in a federal court for his involvement in a conspiracy related to kidnapping and transporting aliens, which led to a fatal incident in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ricardo Franco Ordaz, aged 26 from Cedar Creek, Texas, pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to kidnap and transporting an alien resulting in death. He could face life imprisonment at sentencing.
Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee stated, “Human trafficking and human smuggling generate violence and are real threats to our community and the Justice Department will take all appropriate steps to hold accountable those who attempt to profit off of others trying to enter the country illegally.” He emphasized the case as an example of the deadly outcomes when individuals exploit humans as currency.
Court documents reveal that Ordaz was involved with co-defendant Jordan Perez and other conspirators in kidnapping multiple victims for ransom after they entered the United States illegally. In January 2023, Ordaz orchestrated the transport of two victims from near the U.S.-Mexico border to Austin, Texas. The victims were held under armed guard while their families were contacted for ransom.
One victim was exchanged for $5,000 cash in Texas. On January 8, 2023, Perez transported another victim to Charlottesville for a $10,000 cash exchange. A shootout occurred during this exchange when it was discovered that not all ransom money was available. This resulted in the death of one kidnapper after firearms were brandished by Perez and another conspirator.
Perez is set for trial in December 2025.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). It combines resources from various task forces including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg with support from local police departments in Charlottesville and Albemarle County as well as HSI Austin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan is leading the prosecution.
