7 from Mass. charged in alleged kidnapping and torture plot

Five Massachusetts men were charged in an alleged gang-related kidnapping and torture conspiracy, while two suspects remain at large.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the masked kidnappers assaulted the victim outside of his Quincy home and forced him, at gunpoint, to enter the passenger seat of his car on Feb. 27. The suspects then drove the victim to a garage in Saugus where they allegedly beat, burned, and assaulted him.

The suspects also made video calls on the victim’s phone to his spouse and others demanding ransom, during which they allegedly tortured him. Some of those contacted picked up ransom funds from the victim’s spouse and an acquaintance.

The suspects collected $4,000 in cash from the victim and his credit and debit cards and $18,000 in cash and a Rolex watch from the victim’s spouse and acquaintance, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Early on Feb. 28, the suspects reportedly drove the victim back to Quincy and released him.

On Tuesday, four of the suspected kidnappers were arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of obstruction of justice by tampering with a witness, victim, or informant by physical force or threat.

Those arrested were Marcus “Skino” Castaldi, 29, of Revere; Melvin “Mel” Coleman, 34, of Roxbury; Anthony “YT” Lima, 37, of Quincy; and Samuel Alouidor, 27, of Dorchester.

“The conduct alleged in this case is nothing short of barbaric. These defendants allegedly inflicted unimaginable suffering, not only on the victim but on his loved ones. Such lawless depravity is an affront to every value we stand for and it will not be tolerated in our communities,” United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated in the report. “Today’s arrests make clear that the law — not violence and intimidation — will have the final word, and those who commit such savage crimes will face the full weight of the federal justice system.”

Brian “B” Cardoso, 33, of Dorchester was arrested on April 22 and was identified as a member or associated of the Dorchester-based NOB gang, which stands for Norton/Olney/Barry streets in Dorchester. The NOB gang is allegedly a violent group involved in murder, drug and sex trafficking, robberies, firearm offenses, and other violent crimes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Conspiracy to commit kidnapping provides a sentence of up to life in prison with five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Obstruction of justice by tampering provides a prison sentence of up to 20 years with three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 as well.

“What they’re accused of doing is nothing short of a terrifying nightmare brought to life: forcing a victim into their car at gunpoint and driving to a garage where the victim was beaten, burned, tortured, and used as a human bargaining chip for ransom,” Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, wrote in the report. “Our goal is to provide some measure of justice for the victim in this case, and work with our partners to eradicate the drivers of violent crime in our communities.”

The remaining two suspects remain unnamed and at large as of Tuesday, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office said.

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