GUILTY CA - Ruochen “Tony” Liao, 28, San Gabriel, 16 July 2018 *Kidnapped* *found deceased*

[doodles1211]

"FBI agents are trying to return a Santa Ana man to his family after he was kidnapped from a San Gabriel shopping center last month and held for $2 million ransom, they announced at a Los Angeles press conference on Monday.

Investigators said Ruochen “Tony” Liao, a 28-year-old Chinese national who co-owned a Costa Mesa luxury-car dealership, was kidnapped by three men from San Gabriel Square on July 16.

At around 7:30 p.m. that day, a witness saw Liao at the shopping center entering a black minivan, most likely a Toyota Sienna, with one of the men. The two other men got into a black SUV believed to be a Range Rover.

Both of the vehicles were then seen leaving the shopping center at 140 W. Valley Blvd. FBI agents provided images from security cameras that captured footage of both vehicles...."

One suspect: "David"

FBI agents trying to get California man, who they say was kidnapped, back home

 

[flute4peace]

Yikes!

 

[doodles1211]

Right! People are being kidnapped left and right these days. It's like kidnapping came back into "style" again!

 

[Whiskers16]

Car dealer still missing weeks after abduction, $2M ransom demand

Apparently family was contacted for a $2 million ransom but never given instructions on how to deliver the money.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Liao's relatives in China are offering a $150,000 reward, in addition to a $25,000 reward offered by the FBI, for information that could lead to Liao's location.

Car dealer still missing weeks after abduction, $2M ransom demand

 

[swanniee11]

is this supposed to be him? Chinese national kidnapped in US, held for US$2 million ransom

 

[doodles1211]

is this supposed to be him? Chinese national kidnapped in US, held for US$2 million ransom

Yes, I don't think the top pic had anything to do with this case. That one appears to be someone that had been arrested for kidnapping at some point.

 

[HayLouise]

Hetty Chang‏Verified account @HettyNBCLA
Friends tell us “they’re not giving up hope.” The FBI believes Ruochen Tony Liao, a 28 yr old Chinese national, working as a luxury car dealer, was kidnapped in San Gabriel. FBI & Family offering $175K Reward.

Hetty Chang on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

FBI‏Verified account @FBI
.@FBILosAngeles is offering a reward of up to $25K for information leading to the recovery of Ruochen "Tony" Liao, who was kidnapped on July 16, 2018, in San Gabriel, California. If you have info, please contact your local #FBI or embassy. https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/ruochen-liao …

FBI on Twitter

 

[doodles1211]

Sounds like he had some shady business deals...

"She said Liao’s abduction may be linked to a business deal gone sour, as he often worked with "people not often reputable."

Chinese national kidnapped in US, held for US$2 million ransom

 

[Timekeeper65]

I cannot see a good ending to this. Call for ransom but then no follow up calls??

 

[cvaldez1975]

ok so is this news just coming out? Like did the family in China not report it as instructed for awhile? I don't think things look good for him.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Reward:
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the recovery, alive or deceased, of Ruochen Liao.

Details:
On July 16, 2018, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Ruochen "Tony" Liao was kidnapped in San Gabriel, California, by three men. He was last seen entering a dark-colored minivan in San Gabriel.

Liao was last seen wearing a dark-colored t-shirt with two camouflage horizontal stripes and a camouflage star across the front (pictured above).

RUOCHEN LIAO — FBI

 

[John Galt]

Located Deceased. In the news today:

"The coroner’s office says the skeletal remains of Rouchen Liao were found June 12 at Cache Creek Road and Highway 58. Manner of death is undetermined, and it’s unknown when he died."

Human remains found in Mojave have been identified, name and age match San Gabriel Valley kidnapping victim

 

[Darling136]

Human remains found by a person hiking near Mojave in June have been identified as those of a missing luxury car dealer from Santa Ana.

The Kern County coroner's office identified the remains as belonging to Rouchen Liao, 29.

Skeletal remains found near Mojave have link to missing Santa Ana man

 

[Rikissa]

28 February 2019:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/two-chinese-nationals-indicted-federal-kidnapping-and-extortion-charges-scheme

Two Chinese nationals have been indicted on federal charges that allege they kidnapped another Chinese national and attempted to collect $2 million in ransom from the victim’s family in exchange for the victim’s life.
Shen and Yang currently are believed to be in China.

15 July 2020:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/two-new-defendants-charged-violent-kidnapping-chinese-national-whose-remains-were-found

On 29 October 2021 Anthony Valladares, 29, was sentenced to 16 years and 3 months in prison for the kidnapping and murder of Ruochen “Tony” Liao in 2018.

Pasadena man sentenced to more than 16 years in kidnapping of luxury car dealer

Anthony Valladares will spend more than 16 years in federal prison for his role in a 2018 plot to kidnap a Chinese national and hold him at ransom. The victim eventually died of his injuries.

www.latimes.com

Alexis Ivan Romero Velez, 25, of Azusa, the driver of the minivan. He pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to kidnap and awaits sentencing. (On 21 December 2021 sentenced to nearly eight and a half years in federal prison, from info in the link below.)

Ex-Azusa Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Kidnapping of Luxury Car Dealer – Pasadena Now

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