FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Six men are facing federal charges in connection with an armed kidnapping and robbery that began in the parking garage of the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, involving torture with a blowtorch, a gunshot and extortion, according to court documents made public on Wednesday.
One of the two victims ended up dumped off the side of the road in the Weston area after faking a seizure in a successful attempt to spook the kidnappers, authorities said in a newly-unsealed federal criminal complaint.
Authorities identified the suspects, all facing charges in Fort Lauderdale federal court of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, as:
- Saul Alfonso Fajardo, 19, of Hollywood
- Anthony Teruel Hernandez, 18, of Miami
- Weilen Hernandez, 20, of Miami
- Amari Tamire Hill, 21, of Sunrise
- Justin Phihoang Le, 20, of Miramar
- Marikevies McNichols Jr., 19, of Homestead
Authorities said they were joined by a 17-year-old girl, not identified in court documents, in committing the crime. Court documents do not outline a specific motive, though they state the victims knew at least some of the men.
Margaritaville encounter
According to investigators, the series of events began the night of May 26, with Fajardo, known to the victims as “Gordo,” “pressuring” one of the victims and a witness to meet them at a car show at the West Broward Boat Ramp, off U.S. 27 in a remote part of the county…