Three San Diego residents have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to kidnap a former business associate. On February 10, 2023, Salam Razuki, Sylvia Gonzales, and Elizabeth Juarez were sentenced for their plan to intimidate or murder their former business associate.
The defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap with the intention to intimidate or murder the victim. They were sentenced to prison terms of 84 and 46 months for their involvement, respectively.
The intended victim had ongoing business disputes and civil litigation pending against Razuki and other defendants. These disputes could have resulted in significant monetary judgments. The defendants solicited an individual and eventually paid them to commit the crime. However, the person they solicited contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation immediately, at which point a federal investigation was initiated. Subsequent planning meetings were recorded, leading to the arrest of Razuki, Gonzales, and Juarez before the plan could be executed.
During the hearing, the Honorable Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo noted the “extremely egregious” nature of the defendants’ plan to intimidate or murder their former business associate in Mexico. Judge Bencivengo further stated that the plan involved bringing the victim to Mexico to disappear, intimidate, or kill him.
U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman praised the prosecution team and FBI agents for their excellent work on the case. He stated that the justice system has held all perpetrators accountable, and due to a tip from a conscientious citizen, this cold, calculated, and terrifying plan was thwarted.
Stacey Moy, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, said that these three defendants callously conspired to kidnap and use violence to resolve a business dispute. The tireless work of FBI personnel alongside the law enforcement partners in the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Diego Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department has held these defendants accountable for this bad business.
This case was the result of efforts by the Violent Crime and Human Trafficking (VCHT) Section, formed in 2019. The VCHT is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes, firearms and gang cases; sex trafficking and child exploitation; civil rights, and labor trafficking.
The defendants, Salam Razuki, Sylvia Gonzales, and Elizabeth Juarez, have been found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, a felony in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1201(c) with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
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