Nicholas Vassallo | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson has sentenced Joseph Beecher, 51, from Craig, Colorado, to 264 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence is for the kidnapping of a woman from Michael Bloomberg’s ranch in February 2022.
Beecher faced charges including kidnapping, carjacking, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and transporting stolen firearms. He was found guilty after a three-day trial concluded on August 28.
Court documents and evidence presented at the trial revealed that Beecher lived and worked at an apartment complex in Craig, Colorado. On February 2, 2022, after being informed by his employer that his services were no longer required, Beecher broke into the employer's home and stole two firearms. He then drove to Michael Bloomberg's ranch with intentions to kill Bloomberg but instead found a female employee whom he took hostage.
The victim was forced at gunpoint to drive Beecher to various locations as he attempted to find another media mogul in Colorado. Failing to locate his target, Beecher coerced the woman into driving him to the Stage Coach Motel in Cheyenne. On February 3, SWAT officers from the Cheyenne Police Department rescued her unharmed and arrested Beecher.
Beecher was indicted on March 17, 2022, and pleaded not guilty on March 21. The investigation involved multiple agencies including the FBI and local law enforcement bodies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Vierbuchen led the prosecution.
This case is associated with Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime through collaborative efforts between law enforcement and communities. For further details about PSN initiatives visit Justice.gov/PSN.
