WICHITA, KAN. - A Wichita man was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Wichita with kidnapping a teenage girl from St. Louis, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Johnny Angel Vallejo, 49, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of kidnapping a minor born in 1999, and one count of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in sexual activities.
An affidavit filed in the case alleges the investigation began Aug. 19 when the Kansas Highway Patrol was notified that a teenager had been taken from the St. Louis area and the kidnapper was traveling south on the Kansas Turnpike. Investigators tracked the teenager’s phone to Wichita. They interviewed Vallejo at his residence in the 1200 block of South Washington, but did not find the teenager.
Later, the KHP responded to a call about a distraught teenager. They found the victim at the Bionic Burger restaurant at 3257 E. Harry. They learned Vallejo had first contacted the teenager on Facebook and had traveled to St. Louis to visit the teenager. On Aug. 19, Vallejo picked up the teenager at school. Vallejo made threats and forced the teenager to accompany him to Kansas.
If convicted, Vallejo faces up to life in federal prison on the kidnapping charge, and not less than 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the transportation charge. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
