MISSION, Texas (Border Report) — A Mexican national has been sentenced to life in prison for holding multiple men hostage at a border stash house and demanding ransom for their release, U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani said Tuesday.
Edgardo Hernandez-Zamora, 27, has been ordered by a federal judge in Laredo to serve the rest of his life in a U.S. federal prison. He pleaded guilty in June to hostage taking, Hamdani said.
Police say they arrived at a residence in Laredo in February 2023 where they heard loud banging from a window and men were crying and screaming, “They were kidnapping us” in Spanish.
Officials say Hernandez-Zamora and two others were holding the men for ransom while asking money from their families for their release. Hernandez-Zamora threatened to tie the victims up and cause them physical harm. He said that they would not see their families again if they did not comply, Hamdani said.
The two co-conspirators — Adrian Ramirez, 20, and Adrian Ramirez-Vasquez, 39, both from Mexico — also pleaded guilty to their roles and previously received 48 and 60 months in prison, respectively. Not U.S. citizens, both men are expected to face removal proceedings following their terms of imprisonment.
At least one family testified they paid $3,500 as a partial payment for the ramson for their family member.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
