A man from Orange, Texas, has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to kidnapping his former attorney and holding him for ransom.
Putnam Darwin Richardson, 79, admitted to kidnapping and brandishing a firearm on Nov. 20.
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According to information presented during the trial, the situation was reported to the FBI on July 15. That morning, a local attorney from Beaumont was kidnapped at gunpoint after arriving to his law office. The victim’s wife then received a phone call from his cell phone, and the kidnapper told her that he was being held in exchange for $1 million ransom. The speaker indicated that the attorney would be killed if the money was not paid.
After the situation was reported to authorities, Richardson was identified as a suspect. He was a former client of the victim and was previously convicted of kidnapping in 1984 and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Just two days after the kidnapping took place, Richardson was arrested at a gas station. From there, the victim was rescued by authorities.
If convicted, Richardson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.