F.B.I. Employee Kidnapped and Carjacked in South Dakota Drug Trafficking Incident
In a shocking turn of events, Curt Lauinger, an F.B.I. employee, found himself at the center of a harrowing ordeal in May 2022. Lauinger had just left a crime scene and was driving toward Rapid City, S.D., when he was pulled over by a man who pointed a rifle at him, according to court documents.
The man, identified as Juan Alvarez-Sorto, along with two others, forced Lauinger into the back seat of his vehicle and drove off, attempting to evade law enforcement officers after a high-speed chase during a drug trafficking trip from Colorado, prosecutors said.
Despite being a crime victim specialist for the F.B.I., Lauinger was held captive by the trio, who planned to distribute drugs in South Dakota. Fortunately, Lauinger managed to escape when they stopped at a gas station in Hermosa, S.D.
Alvarez-Sorto, 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for charges including kidnapping, carjacking, and use of a firearm. Morales and Lopez-Gutierrez, both 29, are awaiting sentencing for their roles in the incident.
The trio’s drug trafficking trip took a dangerous turn when they targeted Lauinger, unaware of his affiliation with the F.B.I. The case serves as a reminder of the risks law enforcement personnel face in the line of duty.
The F.B.I. has made it clear that they will not tolerate violence against their personnel, and justice will be pursued against those who seek to harm or intimidate their workforce. The incident highlights the dangers of drug trafficking and the importance of supporting law enforcement in their efforts to combat crime.
