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Third Man Pleads Guilty in Hostage Taking that Resulted in Death of U.S. Citizen
Luis Armando Dorantes Rivera Jr. pleaded guilty in federal court for his role in the kidnapping of Miguel Anthony Rendon, a U.S. citizen, which resulted in Rendon’s death.
Dorantes pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew G. Schopler to Hostage Taking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1203.
In his plea agreement, Dorantes admitted that on May 29, 2020, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Dorantes and others forcibly removed Rendon from his hotel room in Tijuana, Mexico. Dorantes and others punched, kicked, and pistol-whipped Rendon. Once subdued, Dorantes and others placed Rendon in a waiting car and drove away.
Dorantes’ co-conspirators then took Rendon to another hotel in Tijuana, Mexico. There, while Rendon was held and detained, Dorantes’ co-conspirators called Rendon’s family and made ransom demands for Rendon’s release. Specifically, Dorantes’ co-conspirators demanded $2,000 to $3,000 or methamphetamine in exchange for Rendon’s release.
Dorantes is the third defendant to plead guilty in connection with this crime, after Alan Lomeli-Luna and Wyatt Valencia-Pacheco. His co-conspirators intentionally killed Rendon on or about May 30, 2020.
“This is a tragic case where a young man paid the ultimate price for getting involved with the wrong people, and his family is forever devastated,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Drug traffickers don’t hesitate to use extreme violence. We will not hesitate to seek justice for victims.”
Dorantes is scheduled to be sentenced October 31, 2022, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge William Q. Hayes. Valencia-Pacheco is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, 2022 at 9 a.m. and Lomeli-Luna is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2022 at 9 a.m., also before Judge Hayes.
Defendant: Luis Armando Dorantes Rivera Jr., age 26, Tijuana
Criminal Charges: Hostage Taking, 18 U.S.C. § 1203
Maximum Penalty: Life in prison
City and State: San Diego, California
Exact Date: May 29, 2020
Sentence or Outcome: Scheduled to be sentenced October 31, 2022
Dollar Amounts: $2,000 to $3,000
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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