FBI accuses 6 of armed Margaritaville kidnapping involving blowtorch torture, extortion

Six men are facing federal charges in connection with an armed kidnapping and robbery that began in the parking garage of the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, involving torture with a blowtorch, a gunshot and extortion, according to court documents made public on Wednesday.

One of the two victims ended up dumped off the side of the road in the Weston area after faking a seizure in a successful attempt to spook the kidnappers, authorities said in a newly-unsealed federal criminal complaint.

Authorities said they were joined by a 17-year-old girl, not identified in court documents, in committing the crime. Court documents do not outline a specific motive, though they state the victims knew at least some of the men.

According to investigators, the series of events began the night of May 26, with Fajardo, known to the victims as “Gordo,” “pressuring” one of the victims and a witness to meet them at a car show at the West Broward Boat Ramp, off U.S. 27 in a remote part of the county.

Authorities said after the second victim got off work at a hotel on Hollywood Beach, the victims and the witness began walking on the Broadwalk towards Margaritaville. Fajardo and the teenage girl approached them and asked if they wanted to go to his car in the Margaritaville garage, at 1111 N. Ocean Drive, “to smoke weed;” they agreed.

Read more: WPLG