The five people accused of abducting a North Carolina man as part of a twisted revenge plot against his family were denied bond Tuesday in federal court.
The suspects were arrested April 9 after FBI agents tracked the missing hostage, Frank Arthur Janssen, from his home in Wake Forest, N.C., to an apartment complex in Atlanta.
Authorities say inmate Kelvin Melton, 49, used a cellphone from his North Carolina prison to instruct his cohorts to kidnap Janssen from his home April 5, take him to Georgia, and demand a ransom from his family.
Janssen’s daughter is an assistant district attorney in Wake County, N.C., and helped to put Melton away in 2011 for attempted murder and being a "habitually violent felon." He’s described as a high-ranking member of the Bloods street gang.
The five charged were: Jenna Paulin Martin, 21; Tiana Maynard, 30; Jevante Price, 20; Michael Montreal Gooden, 21; and Clifton James Roberts, 29.
The group allegedly threatened to kill Janssen and told his wife via text messages that they would dismember him if she contacted cops. Janssen was rescued and reunited with his family.
The suspects could see up to life in prison without parole if found guilty.
Melton, who’s already serving a life sentence, was charged with conspiring to kidnap, and faces additional prison time and a fine if convicted.
