MIAMI – A Colombian national was extradited from Chile to Miami this month where authorities say he will face a slew of charges related to the kidnapping and assault of two U.S. Army soldiers who were on temporary duty in Bogota, the Department of Justice confirmed in a news release Thursday.
According to court records, 47-year-old Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, of Bogota, also known as “Tata,” along with his accomplices, targeted, incapacitated and abducted two U.S. soldiers in Bogota with the intent to rob them of their possessions.
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On the evening of March 5, 2020, authorities say the two victims ventured to an entertainment district in Bogota to watch a soccer game.
While there, the victims visited a pub, where one of Silva Ochoa’s accomplices incapacitated them by administering drugs, including benzodiazepines, into their drinks, the news release stated.
Subsequently, Silva Ochoa’s accomplices escorted the victims into a waiting vehicle driven by Silva Ochoa, kidnapped them, and seized their wallets, debit cards, credit cards and cellphones, the news release stated.
Silva Ochoa and his accomplices utilized one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card for purchases and withdrawals, according to investigators. The victims, who had been separated, regained consciousness the following day.
Court records show Silva Ochoa faces charges, including kidnapping an internationally protected person, conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person, assaulting an internationally protected person and conspiracy to assault an internationally protected person.
If found guilty, he could receive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Authorities confirmed one of Silva Ochoa’s co-defendants, Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, was extradited from Colombia to the United States in April 2023 and pleaded guilty in January to the charges outlined in the indictment.
According to the DOJ, Silva Ochoa is set to appear in Miami federal court Thursday at 1 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.