6 face federal charges connected to Indiana teens' kidnapping

DETROIT – Multiple people, all from Detroit, are now facing federal charges in connection to a kidnapping in Indiana that led to an issuance of an Amber Alert for 16-year-old Aaron Blackwell and his 13-year-old sister, Emma Blackwell.

The siblings were were abducted at gunpoint around 3 a.m. Monday in Indianapolis.

Police traced Aaron to Detroit, where he was found safe on Tuesday. Emma was returned to her family's home Tuesday morning in Indiana.

Local 4 is getting a better idea of why the kidnapping went down, and it apparent involves an exotic dancer, drugs and a whole lot of money.

While 10 were initially arrested, federal charges were filed against six people who are facing charges for conspiracy to commit kidnapping:

  • John Thomas (aka "Jay")
  • Bernando Reeves (aka "C-Note")
  • Ali Hussain Ashore
  • Mohammed Karkash (aka "Moe" or "MJ")
  • April Sandell
  • Alaa Al-Salehi (aka "Alex" or "Big Boi")
  • The alleged ringleader is the kidnapped teens' older sister's ex-boyfriend. Local 4 heard from that sister for the first time Wednesday.

    Wearing a prison jumpsuit, Whitney Blackwell tried to explain what life had been like leading up to the kidnapping of her younger siblings.

    The FBI traced Blackwell back to a Detroit home in the 8000 block of Bingham Street. Up until last month she'd lived there with her now ex-boyfriend, John Thomas, a man she met while working as a stripper on Detroit's west side.

    Thomas told police Blackwell stole $120,000, a kilo of cocaine and 4,000 OxyContin pills from the home.

    The affidavit alleges that Thomas and five other people conspired to kidnap Blackwell's younger siblings in return for the drugs and cash.

    Throughout the day of the kidnapping, eight ransom calls were made to the children's family. Police tracked the number back to a Detroit home near Gilroy and Annabell.

    During surveillance Monday evening police saw two men leave the home and get into an SUV. After a brief car chase, which ended when the vehicle plowed into a snowbank, both men were arrested, said police.

    Aaron was discovered in the trunk, blindfolded and his hands bound with zip-ties.

    Blackwell was arrested, charged with conspiracy to commit dealing cocaine. At one point the alleged kidnappers threatened to chop off the teen's finger, according to police. When doctors examined the boy they found cuts on his hands -- injuries he said he got when he didn't have answers to the kidnappers' questions.

    The kids were split up. The girl was allegedly first brought to Detroit but then taken to Kentucky. She was dropped off at a Taco Bell and given $200 to get a cab home. Police found her there.

    View/download: Federal complaint