Arrests made in home invasion; victims held at gunpoint
February 03, 2012 10:24 AM
Police have arrested three men accused of forcing their way into a Brownsville home in an aggressive robbery and kidnapping in which the suspects tied up house staff and forced the homeowner to withdraw money from his banks around the city.
The men invaded the home in December of 2010 wielding handguns and wearing masks and threatened the 63-year-old male homeowner and his housekeeping staff with death, Brownsville Police spokesman J.J. Trevino said.
Jorge Cervantes, 55, Epigmenio Ahumada, 28 and Jorge Ramirez, 28 were arrested in late January and face charges of aggravated kidnapping, robbery and engaging in organized criminal activity. Police are still searching for a four suspect, Gabriel Ahumada, believed to be hiding out in Mexico.
The suspects rang the door bell to the residence on the 500 block of Acacia Lake Drive on a Friday evening. When the housekeeper opened the door, the men, with bandanas covering their faces, threatened her with guns and a knife, Trevino said.
The homeowner had not yet arrived home from work.
The men bound the housekeeper and a gardener with duct tape and zip ties and forced them to the ground. They then ransacked the home, searching for valuables and communicating with each other via cell phone, Trevino said.
The homeowner called his home before 7 p.m., as was customary, to alert his housekeeper that he was on his way home. The suspects ordered her to pretend as if nothing was wrong, Trevino said.
He arrived at his home with a couple. The men forced the three people inside the home and bound the couple.
They told the homeowner they needed money, and they took some jewelry from several safes in the house.
Fearing for his life, the homeowner told the men he could supply them with money from the bank in the morning if they would not hurt anyone in the house, Trevino said.
The men agreed.
They took all phones form the house except that of the homeowner, as well as anything they believed might have recording capabilities. They told the staff to wait 20 minutes before freeing themselves. The men warned the staff against calling police, and said the house was being watched.
They said they would kill them if they didn't follow instructions.
The next morning, a Saturday, they called and told the homeowner to drive to his banks and make large withdrawals. The homeowner withdrew the money and left it on the side of the road, on FM 106, as per the men's instructions.
The homeowner did not call police for three days for fear of retaliation.
The yearlong investigation was conducted by Brownsville Police, HSI-ICE special agents the FBI and the U.S. Marshals.
Trevino said two of the suspects arrested have confessed.
The men invaded the home in December of 2010 wielding handguns and wearing masks and threatened the 63-year-old male homeowner and his housekeeping staff with death, Brownsville Police spokesman J.J. Trevino said.
Jorge Cervantes, 55, Epigmenio Ahumada, 28 and Jorge Ramirez, 28 were arrested in late January and face charges of aggravated kidnapping, robbery and engaging in organized criminal activity. Police are still searching for a four suspect, Gabriel Ahumada, believed to be hiding out in Mexico.
The suspects rang the door bell to the residence on the 500 block of Acacia Lake Drive on a Friday evening. When the housekeeper opened the door, the men, with bandanas covering their faces, threatened her with guns and a knife, Trevino said.
The homeowner had not yet arrived home from work.
The men bound the housekeeper and a gardener with duct tape and zip ties and forced them to the ground. They then ransacked the home, searching for valuables and communicating with each other via cell phone, Trevino said.
The homeowner called his home before 7 p.m., as was customary, to alert his housekeeper that he was on his way home. The suspects ordered her to pretend as if nothing was wrong, Trevino said.
He arrived at his home with a couple. The men forced the three people inside the home and bound the couple.
They told the homeowner they needed money, and they took some jewelry from several safes in the house.
Fearing for his life, the homeowner told the men he could supply them with money from the bank in the morning if they would not hurt anyone in the house, Trevino said.
The men agreed.
They took all phones form the house except that of the homeowner, as well as anything they believed might have recording capabilities. They told the staff to wait 20 minutes before freeing themselves. The men warned the staff against calling police, and said the house was being watched.
They said they would kill them if they didn't follow instructions.
The next morning, a Saturday, they called and told the homeowner to drive to his banks and make large withdrawals. The homeowner withdrew the money and left it on the side of the road, on FM 106, as per the men's instructions.
The homeowner did not call police for three days for fear of retaliation.
The yearlong investigation was conducted by Brownsville Police, HSI-ICE special agents the FBI and the U.S. Marshals.
Trevino said two of the suspects arrested have confessed.
Police would not disclose how much money was taken from the homeowner.
