FBI and Local Authorities in California Announce Arrest of Eight Indian Americans in Gang-Related Kidnapping Case
- The suspects were identified as Pavittar Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Gurtaj Singh, Sarabjit Singh, Manpreet Randhawa and a man identified only as Vishal.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department, and the District Attorney’s Office jointly announced Friday the arrest of eight individuals in connection with a gang-related kidnapping and torture case that occurred near Stockton.
The arrests were part of the FBI’s Summer Heat initiative, a nationwide operation targeting violent gang members and offenders, according to KCRA News.
Sheriff Patrick Withrow revealed disturbing details about the June 19 incident during the press conference. “My office became aware of information indicating that a horrendous crime that occurred days prior on June 19 in the Manteca area of San Joaquin County,” Withrow said, as reported by KCRA. The victim informed authorities “he had been kidnapped, stripped naked and bound and tortured for an extended period of time.”
The coordinated operation on July 11 involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including SWAT teams from Stockton, Manteca, and Stanislaus County, who executed five search warrants across San Joaquin County, according to KCRA.
The suspects were identified as Pavittar Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Gurtaj Singh, Sarabjit Singh, Manpreet Randhawa and a man identified only as Vishal, who did not provide a last name. All eight individuals were booked into the San Joaquin County Jail, as reported by ABC10.
District Attorney Ron Freitas outlined the severity of the charges during the press conference. The eight suspects were booked into jail on various charges that include kidnapping, torture, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and other firearms-related charges, CBS Sacramento reported. The charges also include extortion and intimidation, according to KCRA.
“Based upon these charges, they are facing life in prison,” Freitas said, as quoted by KCRA.
The case has revealed international connections, with FBI Special Agent Sid Patel highlighting the global scope of the investigation. Pavittar Singh was being sought in India for activities connected to a militant Sikh group listed as a terrorist organization, according to Stocktonia News.
Law enforcement officials in San Joaquin County say they’ve uncovered a violent international crime ring with ties to India following the arrest of 8 suspected gang members accused of kidnapping and torture, Fox40 reported.
Agent Patel explained the legal process for suspects with international charges: “You’re prosecuted here, you serve your time here, and then you’re extradited to the foreign country and you do your time there,” as reported by KCRA.
Federal immigration authorities have been notified about the arrests, and the suspects could face deportation proceedings. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office indicated that the investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing to search for additional individuals believed to be connected to the criminal organization.
The investigation was part of the FBI’s Summer Heat initiative that targets violent offenders and gang members, demonstrating the collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement agencies to combat gang violence in California’s Central Valley.