MIAMI, Fla. — Two Miami men, James Edward Daniels, 59, and Frederick Eugene Rudolph, 69, were found guilty on Dec. 17 of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, multiple counts of kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping in a federal trial presided over by U.S. District Court Judge Roy K. Altman.
The convictions stem from a harrowing incident on Dec. 5, 2020, when Daniels, Rudolph, and others abducted three victims from a truck yard in Opa-locka, Fla. The victims were bound, tortured, and blindfolded with duct tape before being thrown into the back of a rented van. After hours of driving around Miami, the assailants transported the victims to an abandoned house, where they attempted to execute them by gunfire. Two victims died, while a third survived the ordeal.
Prosecutors revealed that Daniels also stole jewelry from one of the deceased victims, and the conspirators divided drugs, money, or both as part of their involvement in the crime. A third accomplice, Herbert Barr, 56, pled guilty to kidnapping charges on Nov. 26.
The case was investigated by the FBI Miami Division, the Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Bureau, and the DEA Homestead Office. “This case highlights the critical importance of inter-agency collaboration to bring justice to victims and hold criminals accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe.
Daniels and Rudolph, who face up to life in prison, are scheduled for sentencing on March 10, 2025.