More Men Sought in Kidnap Plot

Santa Ana police on Monday continued to search for as many as three additional men in the kidnapping and robbery of a man believed to be smuggling illegal immigrants from Mexico into the U.S.

According to Police Sgt. Carlos Rojas, the incident began Sunday when six men met with the alleged coyote supposedly to pay him for bringing in the immigrants.

Instead, Rojas said, they kidnapped the smuggler and robbed him.

“It’s somewhat unusual,� he said. “Most people will pay in order to get their loved ones because they think they’re paying for a service.�

On Monday, police said they had arrested three suspects and were searching for as many as three others.

Aaron Chavarin, 25, of Hesperia and Jesus Echeverria, 22, and Gregorio Corona, 20, both of Bell Gardens, were being held at Orange County Jail on suspicion of robbery, kidnapping, burglary and conspiracy. They were each being held on $100,000 bail.

Details of the incident are sketchy because those involved have conflicting stories, Rojas said.

Authorities said the alleged coyote and two illegal immigrants met the six men in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant on Harbor Boulevard. The men pulled out guns, demanded money and forced the alleged coyote to drive to his home in the 3000 block of Edinger Avenue, where they searched for valuables. A woman inside the home called police.

Authorities arrived to find Chavarin, Echeverria and Corona wielding guns and leaving the home with money and jewelry, Rojas said.

Police evacuated residents and conducted a search of the area for the remaining suspects. None were found during a 10-hour search that ended Sunday.

An illegal immigrant was discovered hiding inside the garage, and a second was missing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are handling the investigation into the alleged smuggling.

Santa Ana police, who are investigating the robbery, said one of the undocumented migrants may have been involved in planning the crime.