Drug related kidnap, torture becomes federal case

Three Kansas City men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged roles in a conspiracy to kidnap and torture an Independence man in September 2016. Gerald Holmes, 25, also known as “Jerry” or “Joker”; his father Randal Holmes, 53, also known as “Peckerwood” or “Wood”; and 75-year-old Richard Phoenix, also known as “Snake,” were charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal Aug. 30 by a Kansas City federal grand jury. The indictment was unsealed following the arrests and initial court appearances of Gerald and Randal Holmes, who remained in federal custody pending Friday’s detention hearing. Phoenix is a fugitive. The state charges issued last year in the case – kidnapping and armed criminal action for all three and assault for both Holmes men – will be dismissed in lieu of federal prosecution. According to court documents, the three men kidnapped and threatened to kill a 23-year-old man, identified as “C.H.,” on Sept. 12-13, 2016. On first day, Randal and Gerald Holmes arrived at the residence of the victim’s father, wanting to speak with C.H. about money intended for purchasing marijuana that C.H. instead stole from Gerald Holmes.

According to court documents from the state charges, the victim had been given money and a car by the Galloping Goose Motorcycle Club to drive to Colorado and purchase marijuana. He later told police he had made similar runs before, but this time he instead parked the car at Kansas City International Airport and flew to Denver and then Las Vegas, where he spent the money.

During the conversation with the victim’s father, the indictment says, Gerald Holmes placed a gun on the table and his father instructed the victim’s father to call his son and say he was being held at gunpoint and C.H. need to come to the residence right away. When C.H. arrived near the residence, Randal Holmes pointed a gun at him and told him to get into his vehicle. Gerald then struck, punched and choked C.H. as they drove to Randal’s residence, where Phoenix met them.

C.H. was assaulted with fists, a ball peen hammer and tin snips and asked where a duffel bag containing the money was located. When the Holmes’ left to retrieve the bag, Phoenix kept C.H. in the house at gunpoint. Randal and Gerald Holmes later drove C.H. to a rural residence in Benton County, which according to state charges was occupied by a member of a support biker gang. Gerald Holmes continued to beat C.H. with fists and a firearm butt. When they arrived at the residence, C.H. was told to call his father and to tell him he was OK, that he had taken his beating, that he would be home in a couple days and that he deserved what happened.

In addition to the conspiracy, Gerald and Randal Holmes and Phoenix are charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of brandishing firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence. Randal and Gerald Holmes are each charged separately with one count of being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms. Both allegedly possessed multiple guns.


USA - CT.

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