A Houston man is expected to be released after jurors cleared him of participating in the kidnapping and ransom of a McAllen business owner.
Sergio Arturo Arredondo has been in custody since November 2008 when FBI agents arrested him and two other men under federal hostage taking charges.
Arredondo has been on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Randy Crane in McAllen since Monday.
After four days of testimony, jurors are spent Friday deliberating on the case and returned on a not guilty verdict on both counts against Arredondo.
Defense Attorney Juan Luis Guerra Jr. said his client is still facing legal issues on state charges but expected to be released from custody in about two weeks.
Guerra said Arredondo's wife was present in the courtroom. The Houston attorney said the couple has a 3-and-a-half-year-old boy and are looking forward to a reunification.
"I think with this verdict, the Arredondo family can put this behind them and move forward," Guerra said.
Arredondo was accused of participating in the January 2008 kidnapping of McAllen business owner Jesus Garza.
Court records show that Garza was kidnapped at gunpoint outside his business Jesse’s Star Muffler and Truck Accessories off North McColl Road.
The kidnappers allegedly put a pillowcase on his head and whisked him away to a stash house.
Garza’s family received a $250,000 dollar ransom demand, which was later reduced to $125,000 dollars.
Court records show that the family agreed to pay the ransom and deliver it in a duffel bag to the parking lot of a Walgreens store in Houston.
Investigators watched as somebody in a white Ford F-150 truck came to pick up the money.
FBI agents tracked the license plate of the truck at the Walgreens to Arredondo's home in Houston where authorities found the duffel bag used to pick up the money.
Court records show that Garza's family was then told to pick up him up a house off Ware Road and Mile 7 North in McAllen.
Investigators alleged that Arredondo had $100 dollar bill with a serial number matching one used to pay the ransom.
Guerra said his client maintained that one of the co-defendants asked him to give him a ride to the Walgreens.
The Houston attorney said his client maintained that he had no knowledge as to why he was asked to give the ride.
Guerra said prosecutors could not prove without a reasonable doubt that his client had knowledge of the kidnapping or helped aid or abet the kidnappers.
Court records show that jurors sided with Arredondo.
"They ruled according to the law, which is all we can ask for," Guerra said.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT