Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
A Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a kidnapping and ransom scheme that resulted in a fatal shooting in Charlottesville, Virginia. Jordan Perez, 21, of Lockhart, Texas, admitted to one count of conspiracy to kidnap and one count of transporting an alien resulting in death as part of Operation Take Back America.
“Over the last four years, we have seen millions of people illegally cross the southern border, leading to chaos, heartache and tangential crimes like human trafficking, human smuggling, and kidnapping,” United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert said today. “Far too often, as in this case, individuals take advantage of those who illegally enter the country, and the results are tragic. Through Operation Take Back America, this Department of Justice aims to bring the rule of law back to our country.”
According to court documents, Perez conspired with Ricardo Ordaz and others in early January 2023 to kidnap several victims who had entered the United States without authorization. The group held these individuals for ransom.
Ordaz picked up two victims near the U.S.-Mexico border and transported them to a residence outside Austin, Texas. There, Perez and others guarded them at gunpoint while Ordaz contacted their families and friends seeking cash for their release.
One victim was exchanged for $5,000 in Texas. On January 8, 2023, Perez and another co-conspirator took another victim to Charlottesville with plans for a $10,000 exchange.
During the transaction in Charlottesville, an argument broke out when it became clear that the full ransom amount was not available. A shootout followed; firearms were drawn by Perez and another co-conspirator. The confrontation led to the death of one of the kidnappers.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America—an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration issues by targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts involving Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Harrisonburg led the investigation with support from local law enforcement agencies in Charlottesville and Albemarle County as well as HSI Austin.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan is prosecuting.
