WASHINGTON — A high-ranking Colombian rebel has been charged with kidnapping Americans in 1999 and 2003.
The Justice Department said Carlos Marin Guarin was a top official for the National Liberation Army both times the leftist rebel group took Americans hostage.
An indictment released Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington says Guarin acted as a planner and chief ransom negotiator in the kidnapping of American citizen Matthew A. Burchell in 1999.
Burchell endured two mock executions, death threats and being blindfolded during the 15 months he was held. He could not be reached for comment Monday.
Guarin also was a commander of the rebels’ front that took Los Angeles Times journalists Scott A. Dalton and Alison Ruth Morris hostage in 2003. Dalton and Morris were released unharmed after 12 days.
Guarin, 40, is being held in Colombia on other charges.
