SE Texas Times

An Orange, Texas man has entered a guilty plea in a federal case concerning a kidnapping incident. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Putnam Darwin Richardson, aged 79, admitted to charges of kidnapping and brandishing a firearm during proceedings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on November 20, 2024.

Court documents revealed that the incident occurred on July 15, 2024, when an attorney from Beaumont was abducted at gunpoint upon arriving at his office. The victim's spouse received a call demanding $1 million for the attorney's release, with threats of harm if the ransom was not paid. Richardson, who had previously been convicted of kidnapping in 1984 and sentenced to 50 years in prison, emerged as a suspect in this case. He was apprehended on July 17, 2024, at a gas station where law enforcement successfully rescued the victim.

Richardson could face life imprisonment following sentencing procedures. Although Congress prescribes the maximum sentence for such offenses, the final decision will be influenced by advisory guidelines and statutory considerations after a presentence investigation conducted by the U.S. Probation Office.

The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative under the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through collaborative efforts between federal, state, and local agencies. PSN employs evidence-based strategies to tackle pressing crime issues by focusing on violent offenders while supporting prevention and reentry programs.

The FBI is leading the investigation alongside the Beaumont Police Department, Orange Police Department, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin is prosecuting the case.