FL Kidnappers Abducted, Waterboarded Wrong Person: U.S. DOJ

PLANTATION, FL — Three south Florida men kidnapped the wrong victim, holding him captive at an Airbnb rental in Plantation, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Jeffry Arista, 32, and Jonathan Arista, 29, made their initial appearances in federal court on kidnapping charges on Monday.

The brothers and Raymond Gomez, who were armed, kidnapped the victim outside his Fort Lauderdale apartment Friday morning before forcefully bringing him to the rental property, according to NBC Miami.

After realizing they abducted the wrong person, rather than releasing him, they waterboarded him and threatened to kill him while pointing guns, tasers and an electric drill at him, the DOJ said.

The trio meant to kidnap the man’s coworker at a Pompano Beach strip club, reports said.

After they learned their intended target was at the strip club, they brought their victim there and ordered him to go inside and lure out his coworker, the DOJ said.

When he went into the building, the victim called law enforcement and all three kidnappers were arrested.

All three were charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap. If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Gomez hasn’t made his initially court appearance, yet.