Chicago man to plead guilty to kidnapping E.C. man

HAMMOND | A Chicago man has agreed to plead guilty to kidnapping an East Chicago man and demanding up to $75,000 in ransom, federal court records filed Friday show.

Jesus Ramirez, of Chicago, and Jose Montoya, 38, of Summit, Ill., were charged last year in the kidnapping, beating and holding for ransom of an East Chicago resident.

Ramirez has agreed to plead guilty to kidnapping in Hammond federal court, seeking a recommendation from prosecutors for a lighter sentence, court records state.

Ramirez could be sentenced to life in prison for the offense. A formal plea hearing date was not available Friday afternoon.

Charges remain pending against Montoya.

According to the indictment, the two men were part of a group that kidnapped the unidentified victim from his home on Jan. 14, 2011.

Over a few days, the suspects made phone calls to family members of the victim, court records allege.

Relatives of the victim were quoted various ransom amounts over the next few days, the highest of which was $75,000 to save the life of the victim, court records allege.

Relatives ended up paying an undisclosed sum to the suspects and were told to pick up the victim at an Illinois restaurant, court records allege.

An FBI investigation led to the charges.