A brother and sister from Rosarito, Mexico, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a kidnapping and ransom plot that targeted a neighbor. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Mario Alex Medina, 55, also known as “Shyboy,” received a 25-year sentence and was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution. His sister, María Alejandra Medina, 52, a U.S. citizen residing in Mexico, was sentenced to eight years and must also pay $30,000 in restitution.
The sentencing followed an October 2024 trial where both siblings were convicted of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and conspiracy to demand a ransom payment. Additionally, Mario Medina was found guilty of making a foreign communication with intent to extort.
Court documents state that on November 5, 2022, Mario Medina helped orchestrate the abduction of his neighbor “R.V.” at gunpoint. The victim was pistol-whipped and threatened with gunfire during the incident. The next day, the kidnappers contacted R.V.’s family in Los Angeles County demanding $70,000 for his release and sent video evidence of abuse via WhatsApp.
On November 10, an accomplice reduced the ransom demand to $30,000 and threatened R.V.’s life if payment was not made. That same day Mario Medina acted as an intermediary by instructing the victim’s family to meet at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro near the U.S.-Mexico border for the exchange.
The following day José Salud Medina (“Gordo”), son of Mario Medina and nephew of María Alejandra Medina, along with María herself met R.V.’s family at the designated location and collected the ransom before returning to Mexico.
Mexican law enforcement rescued R.V. later on November 11 after finding him tied up in a small underground trench.
José Salud Medina is currently held by Mexican authorities on unrelated charges but faces similar charges related to this case including conspiracy to commit hostage taking and making extortion-related communications.
The FBI led the investigation into this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. MacCabe and Derek R. Flores from the Major Crimes Section as well as Michael J. Morse from Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted the case.
