Six people have been charged with kidnapping in South Florida after two victims were abducted in a dispute over money, in a case that has now reached the courts. According to investigators, the two men were taken away in two separate cars.
One of the suspects, identified as Justin Le, is alleged to have threatened one of the victims while demanding that he hand over money. According to the account given to investigators, Le told the man that if he tried to get out, he would end his life and kill him and his family.
The victim said he saw a pair of pliers in the car. He alleges that Le warned him that, if the money was not produced, one of his fingernails would be removed every ten minutes, raising the level of intimidation as the ordeal went on.
After the group reached a location on U.S. 27, both victims say they were ordered to their knees. It is alleged that Le then used a blow torch to burn a victim's racing flag tattoo, telling him that he was going to torture him.
Le, another suspect named Fajardo and four other people have all been charged with kidnapping in connection with the case. The allegations describe a coordinated abduction rather than an isolated confrontation.
An attorney for Justin Le said he would prefer the state to bring the charges rather than the federal system. He argued that the defendants are young, and that while the allegations are egregious, the case could potentially be resolved with a youthful offender status.
All six suspects remain in custody at a detention center in North Broward. Court dates have already been set for at least two of them, with Justin Le due to be arraigned on June 22 and Fajardo scheduled to appear on June 16.