James Edward Daniels, 59, and Frederick Eugene Rudolph, 69, of Miami, were convicted on December 17 of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, multiple counts of kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping. The verdict was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Roy K. Altman.
The charges pertain to an incident on December 5, 2020, when Daniels, Rudolph, and others abducted three individuals from a truck yard in Opa Locka, Florida. The victims were restrained, blindfolded with duct tape, and placed in the back of a rented van after drugs were taken from them. The individuals were transported around the city before being brought to an abandoned house in Opa-Locka, where two victims were fatally shot, and one survived.
Daniels reportedly took jewelry from one of the deceased victims. The participants in the conspiracy received drugs, money, or both for their roles.
Herbert Barr, 56, pleaded guilty to kidnapping on November 26.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Miami Division Homestead Resident Agency, the Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Bureau, and the DEA Homestead Office. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office, Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department, and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA Miami Field Division.