25-Year Prison Sentence for Venezuelan in Dominican Republic Hostage Scheme
Deivy Jose Rodriguez Delgado, 30, a Venezuelan national, was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison for his role in the 2022 armed kidnapping of three U.S. citizens in the Dominican Republic. The sentencing was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg also imposed a five-year term of supervised release after Delgado serves his prison sentence, and he will face deportation proceedings once his sentence is completed.
Delgado, who also goes by the name “Sebastian,” kidnapped three men in separate incidents between July 5 and July 30, 2022. In each case, Delgado lured his victims via online connections, promising casual meetings. Upon meeting in person, he drove the victims to a secluded area, where he would stop the car to allow an accomplice to enter. Delgado and his accomplice then held the victims at knifepoint, restrained them, and demanded ransom payments via online banking services such as CashApp.
Under duress, the victims were forced to contact family members or friends to arrange for ransom payments. The kidnappers held the victims for up to an hour before releasing them after receiving what they deemed to be payment, also robbing the victims of their personal belongings before letting them go in the streets of the Dominican Republic.
Following reports from the victims, Dominican authorities launched an investigation, which eventually traced one of the vehicles involved back to Delgado. He was arrested on September 14, 2022, and a search of his property uncovered two serrated knives, similar to those used during the kidnappings.
Delgado was transferred into U.S. custody on October 4, 2022, after his arrest.
