The five men accused of kidnapping Salt Lake businessman Carl W. Martin, taking him to Las Vegas and holding him hostage for $3.5 million ransom, were arraigned in Utah and Nevada federal courts Thursday.
David Paul Siwiec, 28, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Ronald Boyce at noon Thursday. Co-defendants Reginald Martin Perrett, Joseph Lawrence Kleiman, Sammie Lee Rucker and Byron Murphy were scheduled for arraignment in U.S. District Court of Nevada.Siwiec asked for a court-appointed attorney. Boyce told Siwiec his financial position was almost too good to qualify for a public defender but noted, "The government wants you detained, so you obviously aren't going back to work. Therefore, the government will appoint an attorney for you."
The five men are accused of kidnapping Martin, 61, from his business, Allied International, Tuesday morning. The men are accused of taking Martin to Las Vegas, where he escaped Tuesday night. Martin's accounting of the event was contained in the charges filed in Utah's federal court Thursday.
Martin arrived at work 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. He was reading facsimiles in his office at 4931 S. 900 East when two men wearing ski masks burst in.
One of the men sprayed Martin with mace while the other handcuffed him. The two men forced Martin into a Jeep Wagoneer and put a pillow case over his head.
The two men drove for an hour, then met someone in a second vehicle. Martin heard brief conversation, then the two men drove him for another 21/2 to three hours, Martin told investigators.
When the Jeep stopped again, Martin asked if he could tell his story. "Yeah, you'll get your chance. You ripped my boss off," one of the men said, according to the complaint.
The two men drove for several more hours, making short stops, until they arrived at a motel in Las Vegas. Martin was taken into the motel room, his hands were freed and he was forced to sign an electronic funds transfer.
The men threatened to kill Martin. "On two occasions, Martin was told, `You're as valuable to me dead as you are alive.' " Once, one of the men kicked and beat Martin, the complaint says.
Martin was finally handcuffed to the pipes under the bathroom sink. Tape was placed over his eyes. One of the men said, "We're leaving. Don't yell or scream or try anything. We'll be back in an hour."
Martin waited 20 minutes, then disassembled the plumbing and escaped. He flagged down a police car and was taken to the North Las Vegas police station around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Police put the motel under surveillance. Four men returned in the Jeep Wagoneer described by Martin. One of the men got out of the Wagoneer, went into the motel room and discovered Martin missing. He told the other three and all four sped away in the Wagoneer. Police pursued.
All four men were arrested.
Martin's family notified the FBI of his disappearance at 9 p.m. Tuesday after Martin's son, Gregory, received a fax demanding $3.5 million for his father's life.
Someone contacted Gregory Martin's home at 6 p.m. and spoke to baby-sitter Brooke Robinson. The man asked for Gregory Martin. When she said he wasn't home, the man played a tape recorded message that said, "I'm sending you a fax. If the money is not in the account, Martin will be killed." The caller then hung up.
The baby sitter called Gregory Martin and told him of the call. Gregory Martin went back to his office and found a fax that instructed Martin to send $3.5 million to an account in Liech-ten-stein.
While Gregory Martin was on the phone to his brother Scott at 8 p.m., the kidnappers called again. Gregory Martin took the call. A man said, "The money better be in the account. You've got 36 hours if you want to see Carl again. Don't alert the authorities . . ."
The four men arrested in Las Vegas implicated Siwiec in the kidnapping. Siwiec was arrested Wednesday evening at a local health club where he works.