Markenzy Lapointe U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
A Colombian national received a prison sentence, and another pleaded guilty in separate hearings for their involvement in the kidnapping and assault of two U.S. Army soldiers stationed temporarily in Bogotá, Colombia. The proceedings took place in the Southern District of Florida.
Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, 47, was sentenced to 27 years and three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person last December. Meanwhile, Kenny Julieth Uribe Chiran, 35, admitted guilt to the same charge but awaits sentencing. A federal district court judge will decide on Uribe Chiran's sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
"Members of our military, whether serving here or abroad, can count on this Department of Justice’s respect, support, and protection," stated United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. "Kidnappings and assaults against United States service members will not be tolerated."
Antoinette Bacon from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division emphasized the importance of protecting Americans globally: "In particular, kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. military service members will not go unanswered."
Brett D. Skiles from the FBI Miami Field Office highlighted their commitment to investigating crimes against U.S. military personnel overseas: "Our close cooperation with Colombian and Chilean law enforcement authorities was essential to this international investigation’s success."
Court documents reveal that Silva Ochoa and Uribe Chiran conspired with Jeffersson Arango Castellanos to target two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá by incapacitating them with drugs before kidnapping them for valuables and financial information.
Silva Ochoa was extradited from Chile in April 2024; Uribe Chiran followed from Colombia in September 2024. Arango Castellanos was extradited earlier from Colombia in May 2023; he pleaded guilty in January 2024 and received a sentence of 48 years and nine months last May.
The FBI Miami Field Office led the investigation with substantial assistance from various international offices within the Justice Department. Cooperation with Colombian and Chilean authorities proved crucial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez alongside Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen are prosecuting this case.
For more details on related court documents, visit www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20173.
