Five Plead Guilty in Michigan Kidnapping Plot Targeting Viral Good Samaritan's Relative
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced on November 4 that five defendants have been convicted in a kidnapping conspiracy targeting a family member who had gone viral for a good deed. Roland Chatmon, 37, of Detroit; Leica Lopez Martinez, 33, of Lake Orion; Ieasha Stroman, 38, of Pontiac; and Dneiqua Stroman, 43, of Pontiac, have all pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and federal firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. Kenneth Anderson, 54, of Pontiac, previously pleaded guilty to money laundering for his role. Gorgon was joined by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Detroit Field Division.
According to court filings and admissions at the plea hearings, the conspiracy began in August 2025 after Chatmon's uncle went viral on social media for offering to help someone in need. A social media influencer raised money for the uncle and gave him over $100,000, a new car, and other gifts, all highly publicized. On August 24, 2025, Chatmon told his jailed brother about the uncle on a recorded jail call, and the two hatched a plan to take the money, laughing about it. Several other conspirators joined the plan.
On September 1, 2025, the group acted. One conspirator lured the victim by pretending to need a ride. While the victim drove, Chatmon gave directions by cell phone. After the victim parked, Chatmon and the remaining conspirators carjacked him at gunpoint, hog-tied him, and held him hostage in his own truck. They drove him around trying to get money out of his bank accounts, repeatedly pistol-whipping and beating him. After making cash withdrawals, they wanted more, and the victim offered a safe at his house. The conspirators drove there with the victim still tied up in the truck; Chatmon and Dneiqua Stroman broke in and stole the safe, and also tied up Chatmon's aunt and left her in a bathtub. They then left the victim on the ground next to his truck and set the truck on fire before fleeing. Later they met Anderson, who helped move money from the victim's Cash App account into their own.
The ATF executed search warrants at five residences in Detroit, Rochester Hills, and Pontiac on September 25, 2025, and arrested all the suspects. With their guilty pleas, the four kidnapping defendants each face a mandatory minimum of 7 years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. Anderson was previously sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for Lopez Martinez on February 3, 2027; Dneiqua Stroman on February 9; Chatmon on February 25; and Ieasha Stroman on March 15. The case was investigated by the ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Picek and Diane N. Princ. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国司法部总部大楼（固定图库）。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Justice headquarters (file photo from GSM fixed library).
