2 extortive kidnappers face life in prison

Two men convicted in a 2005 human trafficking incident that resulted in a police showdown at the Travelodge in Costa Mesa face life in prison, while the woman and child held at the motel may be able to remain in the United States.

Reynaldo Junior Eid, 48, of New York and Alaor Docarmo Oliveira Jr., 54, of Danbury, Conn., were found guilty Wednesday of two felony counts of kidnapping for ransom. The pair was arrested in November 2005 when, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office, they held a Brazilian woman and child at the motel near John Wayne Airport and demanded money from their husband and father who paid to have them brought into America illegally.

Deputy District Atty. Andre Manssourian said the woman and child were reunited with the father in Florida and may be able to stay here permanently. The ongoing case has kept them in the country for more than two years.

“They were intentionally not deported during the pendency of the case because the government is not allowed to deport witnesses to a case,” Manssourian said. “The defendants have a right to have their witnesses in the country and not be deported. There is a possibility that they [the wife and son] will be able to stay permanently because of a U.S. law that allows victims of human trafficking crimes to be able to stay in the country as legal residents.”