Four men charged with kidnapping an Albany woman last month were arraigned Monday in Linn County Circuit Court.

The men, all from Monmouth, face felony charges of burglary, kidnapping and robbery and were being held in the Linn County Jail. The men, who were all born in Mexico, had immigration holds placed on them, suggesting they are illegal immigrants.

The “kidnapping for money,” as police have called it, resembles other kidnappings involving illegal immigrants in southwest United States. However, the victim in this case is a legal resident, police said.

Officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI say that these types of kidnappings are uncommon in the Northwest.

Linn County District Attorney Jason Carlile said that there may have been a few ransom kidnappings over the years but none that he could specifically remember.

Police Capt. Eric Carter said he was not aware of other similar kidnappings happening in Albany and said that “any kidnaping for ransom is alarming.”

Police still are not releasing all of the details of the case, citing an ongoing investigation and the possibility of more arrests.

On the evening of April 7, Leticia Villa-Perez, 42, was taken from her apartment in the 700 block of 24th Avenue S.E. The kidnappers tied up her family and left them behind. (The family has since moved out.)

Villa-Perez was held captive for nearly 24 hours in the “Polk County area,” said police, who would not be any more specific.

On April 8, Villa-Perez was dropped off in Dallas and picked up by her family.

A ransom was paid, but police are not saying how much money was involved.

Investigators said Villa-Perez was a target because it was believed that she had accessible money and that she was acquainted with someone involved in the kidnapping but not one of the men who was arrested last weekend.

The four suspects being held in Linn County are Ausli Vazquez-Perez, 18; Arnulfo Lopez-Perez, 28; Gilberto Vazquez-Perez, 26; and Dayver Vazquez-Perez, 23.

A fifth suspect, Ignacio Mendoza-Baltazar, 42, of Salem, was also arrested and faces conspiracy charges. He was lodged in the Marion County jail.

The names are what they gave police, but officers said they have no way of verifying them. Detectives don’t believe any of them are related to each other or the kidnap victim.

GT Reader Comments

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Barefoot wrote on May 6, 2008 5:33 PM: " Gosh- I certainly hope from now on the GT identifies the country of origin on all criminal cases. " CarpeDM wrote on May 6, 2008 5:52 PM: " Secure the freaken border, d*mnit !!! "

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