In a disturbing incident at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort in Florida, six men are accused of kidnapping and torturing two individuals. Authorities have released details of the alleged crime, which reportedly began on the night of May 29.
The situation unfolded when one of the suspects allegedly coerced a victim and a witness to attend a car show in an isolated area of Broward County, Florida. This information comes from a court document that has recently been made public. Those charged in connection with the crime include Saul Alfonso Fajardo, 19, Justin Phihoang Le, 20, Amari Tamire Hill, 21, Anthony Teruel Hernandez, 18, Marikevies McNichols Jr., 19, and Weilen Hernandez, 20. They face charges of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
The two victims, whose identities remain undisclosed, reportedly arranged to meet someone named “Saul” at the resort’s parking garage, accompanied by a female suspect. Upon arriving, the victims were allegedly forced into two vehicles at gunpoint by multiple people, as outlined in the court documents.
Officials have stated that Amari Tamire Hill violently shoved one of the victims against a car before forcing him into the passenger seat. Following this, Justin Phihoang Le allegedly issued a chilling threat: “If you try to get out, I’m going to end your life. I am going to kill you and your family.” Intimidated and fearing for his safety, the victim complied with the demands.
The suspects involved in this brazen act are now in custody, with their arrests confirmed by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the severity of the charges and the ongoing investigation into the events that transpired at the popular resort.
An FBI agent wrote in an affidavit that all people were armed with semiautomatic weapons and were wearing “shiesty” masks with latex gloves on.
The other victim was forced into a separate car, according to the documents.
The complaint states that Phihoang allegedly demanded that one of the victims give him money if he wanted to live, then forced him to call friends to try to get the money.
“If I don’t get my money, every 10 minutes I’m going to take one of your fingernails,” Phihoang allegedly told the victim.
The victim “observed a pair of pliers inside the car and believed they were going to pull his fingernails off, so he continued calling people in an attempt to get money,” according to the criminal complaint. The victim in the other car was allegedly held at gunpoint.
Both victims would be taken to a location one of the suspects referred to as “the spot,” which was the West Broward Boat Ramp.
Once they were there, the FBI agent said both victims were “forced to kneel at gunpoint,” adding that one of the suspects saw a tattoo on a victim. The two were allegedly robbed of their personal belongings, including phones, jewelry, clothing and other personal items. One of the victims was allegedly forced to send $400 through Zelle.
“I’m gonna burn the tattoo off of you, you don’t deserve to have it. I’m going to torture you,” Phihoang allegedly said.
The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is a famous 2.5 mile promenade that runs along the Atlantic Ocean. The Floridays airstream café of Margarativille resort is visible. (Getty Images/PaulMcKinnon)
“Don’t cry,” he allegedly said. “I will kill your family if you go to the police. We are not done.”
The suspects even forced the two victims to strip in their underwear while demanding money, according to the complaint, which added that Hill fired a round into the air while he was on a video call “in an attempt to let the person on the phone know they were serious.”
The suspects at one point became concerned that the second victim’s ankle monitor could disclose their location to police, and allegedly dropped him off within a subdivision of Cooper City, where the victim walked to a relative’s home in nothing but underwear.
The other victim allegedly observed the suspects “burning something” at the boat ramp, then heard someone say “We have to burn the evidence,” according to the FBI agent. That’s when the victim, “in fear for his life,” began faking a seizure.
The incident allegedly happened at Margaritaville Beach Resort on Hollywood Beach Boardwalk on May 29. (Getty Images)
After the suspects put the victim into a car, one of the men “began to panic” and threw the victim out of the car, where he made his way to safety.
Authorities allegedly recovered burned clothing and more of the victims’ items at the boat ramp, as well as surveillance videos.
Messages between the unidentified female suspect and Fajardo allegedly confirm that the first victim was assaulted.
“He got jump injuries,” one of the messages read. “DELETE INSTA.”
News Media reached out to lawyers for all suspects named for comment.
