Three men have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a kidnapping conspiracy that resulted in death. James Edward Daniels, 59, and Frederick Eugene Rudolph, 69, both from Miami, Florida, received life sentences followed by five years of supervised release. Herbert Barr, 56, also from Miami, was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison with an additional five years of supervised release.
The sentencing follows the convictions of Daniels and Rudolph on all charges at a trial held on December 17, 2024. Barr had previously pleaded guilty to kidnapping on November 26, 2024.
The crimes occurred on December 5, 2020. Daniels, Rudolph, Barr, and other co-conspirators kidnapped three individuals from a truck yard in Opa-locka, Florida. The victims were bound and tortured before being transported in the back of a rented van after having their drugs stolen. They were taken to an abandoned house where the assailants attempted to execute them by shooting. Two victims died while one survived.
Daniels reportedly stole jewelry from one of the deceased victims. The defendants gained drugs or money as compensation for their roles in the conspiracy.
The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI's Miami Field Office; Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office; and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Miami Field Division.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the FBI Miami Division Homestead Resident Agency, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Homicide Bureau and DEA Homestead Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yara Dodin and Katie Guthrie prosecuted the case.
This case was part of efforts by members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force which targets drug-trafficking and money laundering organizations in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Further information can be accessed through related court documents available at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20431.