LOS ANGELES – The grim tale of Mario Alex Medina, 55, and his sister María Alejandra Medina, 52, from Rosarito, Mexico, has reached its harrowing conclusion. Both have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a chilling kidnapping and ransom scheme that spanned the U.S.-Mexico border.
The siblings were found guilty of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and demanding a ransom payment after Mario Medina, also known as ‘Shyboy,’ directed an armed invasion of a neighbor’s home. The victim was pistol whipped and threatened with death if his family didn’t pay up. A video of the beating was sent via WhatsApp.
Mario, posing as an intermediary, met with the victim’s family at a San Ysidro McDonald’s to accept the ransom money. His son, José Salud Medina, and sister Maria collected $30,000, which they brought back to Mexico. The victim was later rescued by Mexican law enforcement in a narrow escape.
Mario received 25 years in federal prison and was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution. María Alejandra Medina, a U.S. citizen living in Mexico, was sentenced to eight years and also faces restitution orders.
José Salud Medina remains in Mexican custody on unrelated charges but is expected to face trial for his involvement in the crime. The FBI conducted the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. MacCabe, Derek R. Flores, and Michael J. Morse leading the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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