Officials were able to trace the victim’s location to the Fort Worth-Arlington area from cellphone pings. The affidavit said Fort Worth police found the victim in the back seat of the car and detained Cordova and Rascon who were in possession of firearms.

A search of the vehicle turned up a notebook indicating the victim owed him 11 kilograms of the drug as well as $80,000. Arrest documents said a search of the victim’s phone showed he was involved in the buying and selling of illegal narcotics.

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Documents said Rascon told detectives that a man, later identified as Jeffrey, told them where the victim lived.

In April, Rascon allegedly said the Juarez, Mexico-based La Linea cartel tasked him with finding the victim over a debt. According to the affidavit, that’s when Jeffrey’s contact information was shared with Rascon so he could find the victim.

Arrest documents said Jeffrey met Cordova and Rascon in Tyler and drove them to the victim’s residence before leaving. It was found that between 2020 and 2023, Jeffrey made seven border crossings and admitted to lifting four kilograms of cocaine from the Mexican border in 2018.

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Arrest documents said Jeffrey’s cell phone records showed he was in contact with people who were targeted in narcotics and firearms investigations and criminal records related to narcotics trafficking.

Jeffrey is being held at the Smith County Jail and has been charged with aggravated kidnapping.

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