Six Men Accused in Florida Resort Kidnapping That Turned a Hollywood Beach Vacation Spot Into a Federal Crime Scene

A night at a Florida beach resort allegedly turned into a terrifying kidnapping case after two people were forced at gunpoint from the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort parking garage, driven to a remote boat ramp, robbed, threatened, stripped down, and tortured, according to federal court documents.

The case now moving through federal court reads less like a random beachside disturbance and more like a planned ambush that began in one of South Florida’s most recognizable vacation areas. Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort sits along the busy Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, a place usually associated with oceanfront dining, tourists, music, family trips, and warm-weather escape. But according to investigators, the resort became the starting point for an alleged kidnapping plot that pulled two victims from a public parking garage into a violent ordeal that stretched from Hollywood Beach to a remote area of Broward County.

Federal authorities say six young men were arrested and charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. The suspects named in court documents are Saul Alfonso Fajardo, 19; Justin Phihoang Le, 20; Amari Tamire Hill, 21; Anthony Teruel Hernandez, 18; Marikevies McNichols Jr., 19; and Weilen Hernandez, 20.

Florida Resort Kidnapping Allegations Begin at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort

According to the federal complaint, the alleged incident began on the night of May 29 at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. One suspect allegedly pressured a victim and a witness to go to what was described as a car show in a remote area of Broward County.

That detail matters because it suggests the victims were not simply grabbed at random in the middle of a street. Investigators allege there was a setup, a reason given, and a location used to move the victims away from the safety of the resort area.

The two victims, whose names were not released in the court documents, allegedly met with a person identified as “Saul” at the Margaritaville parking garage. A female suspect was also allegedly present. Once the victims arrived, investigators say the situation changed quickly.

Several people allegedly forced the victims into two vehicles at gunpoint. Federal authorities say the suspects were armed with semiautomatic weapons and wore masks and gloves. One victim was allegedly slammed against a car before being pushed into a passenger seat. Another victim was forced into a separate vehicle.

The resort parking garage, normally a place where visitors leave beach bags, luggage, and rental cars, allegedly became the first scene in a kidnapping case that would later involve threats, robbery, surveillance footage, burned clothing, and digital messages.

What Federal Court Documents Say Happened Inside the Cars

Once the victims were inside the vehicles, investigators say the threats became direct and personal. One suspect allegedly warned a victim not to try to escape and threatened both the victim and the victim’s family. The victim complied because he believed his life was in danger, according to the complaint.

The alleged motive appears to have involved money. Court documents say one victim was ordered to call friends in an attempt to get cash. One suspect allegedly threatened to remove the victim’s fingernails if money was not produced. The victim reportedly saw pliers inside the vehicle and believed the threat could be carried out.

This part of the case is especially chilling because it shows how psychological pressure can become part of an alleged kidnapping. The victim was not only physically controlled, according to investigators. He was allegedly forced to use fear as a tool to convince others to send money.

The second victim was allegedly held at gunpoint in another vehicle. The two victims were later taken to what one suspect reportedly called “the spot,” identified in court documents as the West Broward Boat Ramp.

West Broward Boat Ramp Becomes the Alleged Torture Location

The West Broward Boat Ramp is now central to the case. According to the FBI affidavit, both victims were taken there and forced to kneel at gunpoint.

At that location, investigators say the victims were robbed of personal belongings. Phones, jewelry, clothing, and other items were allegedly taken. One victim was reportedly forced to send $400 through Zelle.

Federal documents also say one suspect noticed a tattoo on one victim and allegedly threatened to burn it off. The victims were allegedly ordered to strip down to their underwear while the suspects continued demanding money.

At one point, investigators say one suspect fired a round into the air while on a video call to show the person on the other end that the threats were serious.

The boat ramp details move this case beyond a simple robbery allegation. Prosecutors are presenting it as a violent kidnapping in which the victims were transported, threatened, humiliated, robbed, and terrorized in a remote setting.

One Victim Had an Ankle Monitor, and That May Have Changed the Suspects’ Plan

One unusual detail in the federal complaint involves an ankle monitor. Investigators say the suspects became concerned that one victim’s ankle monitor could reveal their location to law enforcement. That fear allegedly led the suspects to drop the victim off in a Cooper City subdivision. The victim, wearing only underwear, reportedly walked to a relative’s home.

This moment may become important in the case because it suggests the suspects were worried about being tracked. It also shows how the alleged kidnapping began to break down once the suspects believed their location could be exposed.

The second victim remained in danger, according to the affidavit.

A Fake Seizure May Have Helped One Victim Escape

The second victim allegedly saw the suspects burning something at the boat ramp and heard someone say they needed to burn the evidence. At that point, according to court documents, the victim feared he could be killed. Investigators say the victim then faked a seizure. That decision may have saved his life. After the suspects placed him into a vehicle, one of the men allegedly panicked and threw him out of the car. The victim then made his way to safety.

In a case filled with fear, weapons, threats, and alleged torture, the fake seizure stands out as a desperate survival move. It also gives the story a human center. The victim was not simply waiting for help. He was trying to create a moment of confusion big enough to escape.

Evidence Recovered After the Alleged Kidnapping

Authorities say investigators later recovered burned clothing and other items belonging to the victims at the boat ramp. Surveillance videos were also allegedly obtained. The complaint also refers to messages between an unidentified female suspect and Fajardo. One message allegedly referenced injuries to one victim. Another allegedly urged someone to delete Instagram.

Those details may become key pieces of the prosecution’s case. Physical evidence, surveillance footage, digital messages, and victim statements can each help investigators build a timeline. In a kidnapping case, prosecutors often need to show more than fear. They need to show movement, control, threats, intent, and the connection between the suspects. The evidence described in the complaint appears aimed at tying those pieces together.