El Paso Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Kidnapping Case

In El Paso today, a federal judge sentenced 36–year-old Norma Juarez Taha to 151 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for her role in connection with the kidnapping of a 20-year-old female in El Paso in February 2017, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, Jr.

On March 16, 2018, a federal jury convicted Taha on one count of kidnapping and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.  Evidence presented during trial revealed that on February 13, 2017, the defendant, known to her victim as Sister Norma, went into the victim’s house at approximately 3:30 A.M. and lured the victim out of the house by telling her that her family was in danger and that immigration authorities were attempting to deport them.  The defendant drove the victim to a remote residence on the east side of El Paso that belonged to Taha’s mother.  At the residence, the victim saw that Taha was in possession of a firearm.  Subsequently, Taha placed the victim in her mother’s truck and injected her with a mixture of drugs.    Taha’s mother then drove the victim across the border to a residence in Juarez.  Taha and her mother left the victim at that residence and never returned.  At approximately 10:30 P.M. on February 13, 2017, two individuals at the residence transported the victim to the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry.  The victim was then transported to an El Paso hospital where she received medical attention.

Further investigation by FBI agents revealed that Taha agreed to kidnap the victim on the ground that her lifestyle brought embarrassment to her family.  During a search of the defendant’s vehicle and residence, authorities discovered the firearm possessed by Taha, as well as the medication used by Taha to inject the victim during the kidnapping.

Based on a recent legal precedent, U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo granted the defendant’s request to dismiss the firearm charge prior to sentencing.  Judge Montalvo will determine restitution in this case at a later date.

The FBI investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Acosta and Shane Wagman prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.