The Second Transitional Collegiate Criminal Court of the Lima North Superior Court of Justice sentenced Erick Moreno, alias "El Monstruo" (The Monster), to 35 years in prison for planning and directing the kidnapping of two businesspeople and their family members in Lima's Comas district.
According to the Lima North Superior Court of Justice, Moreno Hernandez received the sentence after being found guilty as a co-perpetrator of the crime of extortion against Erick Trujillo Torres, Gabriela Trujillo Torres, Milton Corrales Calla, and Roxana Infantes Contreras.
During the sentencing hearing, which was attended virtually by alias "El Monstruo" from the Callao Naval Base, he was also ordered to pay S/91,400 (about US$26,874) in civil damages to the victims.
The Public Ministry (Prosecutor's Office) reported that Provincial Prosecutor Porfirio Capcha, who was in charge of the case, proved during trial that the criminal acts were carried out on March 12, 2020.
One of the victims was intercepted by Manuel Azpilcueta, Eduardo Torres, and other individuals who are still being identified.
Wearing police vests, they deprived him of his liberty and took him to a property in Lima's Ancon district, where he was received and threatened by Erick Moreno and Yen Atalaya.
The following day, the second victim was intercepted while heading to San Felipe Avenue by individuals traveling in a vehicle and wearing police vests.
The men forcibly placed him inside the vehicle and kidnapped him, after which he was guarded by Azpilcueta and Torres during the transfer.
It should be noted that Erick Moreno, who has now been sentenced, ordered that the victims be assaulted and recorded while demanding up to US$300,000 for their release.
As a result, on March 15, 2020, the family of the first businessman delivered part of the cash payment, which they had agreed to leave inside a box at El Tambo Bridge in Lima's Comas district.
The victims were eventually rescued by the Peruvian National Police during the operation, in which agent William Rios was killed.
Following these events, the Public Ministry ordered immediate investigative measures, which led to the identification of Moreno as the person responsible for planning and directing the kidnapping of the businessmen.
Subsequently, Prosecutor Capcha requested and obtained an international arrest warrant for Moreno, leading to his extradition from Paraguay to Peru to stand trial.
Among the evidence presented were law enforcement reports, police intervention and property search records, and testimony from the businessmen, the agents involved in the operation, and witnesses.
Additional proof included forensic medical reports, security camera footage, and data obtained from Azpilcueta's cell phones, among other items.
It should also be noted that Jose P. was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Meanwhile, Manuel Azpilcueta, Eduardo Torres, Yen Atalaya, Rosa E., and Anderson R. each received 30-year prison sentences for their involvement in the crimes.