Colombian Man known as "Harry Potter" Sentenced to 48 Years for Kidnapping and Robbing US Soldiers in Bogota

Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, known as "Harry Potter," has been sentenced to 48 years in prison by a Miami federal court for his role in kidnapping and robbing two U.S. Army soldiers in Bogotá. The sentencing, delivered by U.S. District Judge Michael Moore, follows Arango's guilty plea to a six-count indictment, including conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person and related offenses.

Arango's harsher-than-expected sentence came after federal prosecutors sought 30 years, citing the severe impact on one soldier's mental health, leading to early retirement from the military. Arango, extradited to the United States in May 2023, acted with alleged accomplices Kenny Julieth Uribe Chiran, who remains at large, and Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, who has pleaded not guilty after extradition to Miami in April.

The incident occurred on March 5, 2020, at the Colombian Pub in Bogotá's upscale Zona T area, amidst the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Arango and Uribe incapacitated the soldiers with drugs, leading to their defenselessness. Toxicology screenings revealed benzodiazepines in the soldiers' systems, causing extreme drowsiness and impaired coordination.

After leaving the pub around 2:30 a.m., the soldiers were manipulated into Silva's car, where their belongings were stolen, including wallets, debit/credit cards, and cellphones. The trio drove the intoxicated soldiers around Bogotá, extracting cash from their accounts and using their credit cards for purchases. The victims were eventually dropped off in a neighborhood, where they were found by passersby and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Arango's sentencing highlights the severity of his actions and serves as a warning against such criminal behavior. The case underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating crimes against protected persons, ensuring justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators.