3 Florida men torture and waterboard the WRONG guy in Airbnb, then take him to strip club, in Cartel-style kidnapping

A group of three South Florida men have been slapped with federal kidnapping charges after they were accused of mistakingly kidnapping the wrong target and proceeding to torture him even after they had realized the error. Charges include kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap, with a maximum sentence of life in prison.  

Miami New Times reports that Raymond Gomez along with brothers Jeffry and Jonathan Arista abducted the man as he was leaving his Fort Lauderdale residence on the night of Oct. 13, according to federal prosecutors. Details of the arrest affidavit say that the man was forced into a white Dodge Charger with fake police lights before being blindfolded and taken to a Plantation Airbnb rental. Over there, Gomez and the Arista brothers were said to have shaken the man down for cash they claimed to be owed.  

Prosecutors charged that one of the kidnappers had dressed in a phony police officer disguise that included both a gold badge and tactical vest.

According to an affidavit, the abductors realized they had the wrong man shortly after their arrival at the rental. Instead of letting him go, it says they proceeded to torture the man. Alleged actions from them included flashing guns at his head, putting a power drill on his skin, waterboarding the man, and threatening to kill him. 

"The victim thought he was going to drown," reads the affidavit.

Gomez has not yet shown up for his initial appearance on the charges, according to a Department of Justice release. 

Pat Diaz, a former Miami-Dade homicide detective involved in the "Cocaine Cowboys" case, the entire situation reflects the standard behavior observed in Colombian cartel operations.

In remarks provided to Fox News Digital, Diaz said "You would think that when they put out a hit, they hire a professional. They don't. … It sounds like he owed money, they hired some guys off the street who had no clue and, boom, it's a case the 'Keystone Cops' could crack."

While the kidnapping victim was misidentified, New York Daily News reported that he may have been a co-worker of the targeted man, which prompted his abductors to force him into setting up a meeting at a strip club in Pompano Beach called Booby Trap. Police say the kidnappers were hoping the victim would lead them to their desired target.

Eventually, the victim was allowed to go into the building and promptly called a bomb threat to 911 in order to bring a response from law enforcement, according to the outlet. The Arista brothers were arrested soon thereafter, with Jonathan crashing a vehicle before he was detained. Gomez was then reportedly apprehended hours later.