Mariah Ferry and Jose Torrez, Kidnapping and Conspiracy, New Mexico 2017

In a shocking case of brutality, Mariah Ferry and Jose Torrez, two residents of Albuquerque, New Mexico, have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the kidnapping and brutal beating of two victims suspected of stealing drugs and money.

Defendant: Mariah Ferry, 21, and Jose Torrez, 47

Criminal Charges: Kidnapping, Conspiracy to Kidnap, resulting in the death of J.S.

City and State: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Crime Date: August 8, 2017

Sentence: Ferry faces up to life in prison, while Torrez will receive a sentence of 14 years under the terms of their plea agreements, which could be reduced to between 30 to 40 years for Ferry and between 40 to 60 years for Smothermon.

The scheme, which involved co-conspirators, was aimed at retaliating against two victims who were believed to have stolen marijuana from Chase Smothermon's home where he resided with Ferry. On August 8, 2017, Torrez alerted Smothermon that one of the victims, J.S., was present at Torrez's home.

Smothermon went to Torrez's home to retaliate against J.S. and try to get his drugs and money back. Ferry drove Smothermon to Torrez's home where Smothermon and co-conspirators brutally beat J.S. with a baseball bat and the butt of a gun.

Smothermon and co-conspirators then put J.S. in the trunk of Ferry's car and bound J.S.'s hands, ankles, and mouth with tape. Ferry drove Smothermon and J.S. to another co-conspirator's home where J.S. died shortly thereafter. Ferry and Smothermon then mutilated J.S.'s body in a shed.

Later the same day, Smothermon contacted M.T. under a ruse that Smothermon wanted to buy marijuana from M.T. When M.T. arrived at Smothermon's home, Smothermon, Ferry, and others bound, gagged, and assaulted M.T. for hours. After several hours, two other co-conspirators escorted a bound and badly beaten M.T. out of Smothermon's home and drove him to another location where M.T. was held overnight before M.T. was released.

The DEA and FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and Second Judicial District Attorney's Office. The Narcotics section of the U.S. Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.

Ferry, Torrez, and Smothermon are in custody awaiting sentencing. They face up to life in prison for each offense.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/mariah-ferry-and-jose-torrez-plead-guilty-federal-charges-related-kidnapping-and-brutal