Executive Summary
- Sealed Proceedings: A federal judge sealed the sentencing hearing and transcript for Leslie Matla without public explanation.
- Criminal Role: Matla admitted to collecting ransom money in the U.S. for a kidnapping ring operating out of Tijuana, Mexico.
- Deadly Consequences: The scheme resulted in the murders of two victims, while a third was rescued by law enforcement.
- Co-Defendant Sentenced: Matla’s former boyfriend received a 10-year prison sentence in January 2025 for his role in the conspiracy.
A federal sentencing hearing for a woman who admitted to collecting ransom payments as part of a deadly kidnapping scheme was sealed from the public on Thursday. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the proceedings and transcript regarding Leslie Matla, 25, were closed by the court, with no specific reason provided for the secrecy.
Matla, formerly of Colton, California, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to five federal charges, including conspiracy to commit hostage taking and extortion. Prosecutors stated that Matla facilitated a criminal ring that targeted victims visiting Tijuana, Mexico, from Southern California. While the victims were held hostage across the border, Matla crossed into the United States to collect ransom payments at various locations.
Court documents reveal the violent nature of the operation, noting that two of the kidnapping victims were murdered. One victim from San Diego was found dead on March 29, 2020, one day after a $25,000 ransom was left at a McDonald’s in San Ysidro. A second victim from Norwalk was discovered dead in Mexico on April 14, 2020, following a failed ransom drop at a Lowe’s parking lot. A third victim from Pasadena was rescued by law enforcement from a Tijuana hotel where the previous victims had been held.
Authorities identified Matla through a review of U.S.-Mexico border crossing records and security camera footage from the designated pickup locations in San Ysidro, Norwalk, and Lynwood. Her co-defendant and former boyfriend, Juan Carlos Montoya-Sanchez, was sentenced in January 2025 to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to related charges. The wider investigation led to the arrest of nine other suspects by Mexican authorities.
Judicial Procedural Context
The sealing of a sentencing hearing in federal court is a significant procedural measure, typically reserved for cases involving sensitive ongoing investigations, cooperation with prosecutors, or safety risks to the defendant or witnesses. In matters involving transnational organized crime, such as cross-border kidnapping rings, judicial discretion is often exercised to protect the integrity of broader law enforcement efforts. While Matla and Montoya-Sanchez have entered guilty pleas, it is important to note that all other individuals arrested or implicated in this investigation are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
