A federal inmate serving a 34-year sentence and four others have been charged in connection with the 2016 kidnappings and murders of two victims in Oakland Park and Lauderhill, authorities announced Friday.
Palacio Valdes Farley, 45, made his initial appearance in federal court on Jan. 27 to face the new charges. Farley, already serving consecutive sentences for conspiracy to commit drug-trafficking, money laundering, and robbery of narcotics traffickers, allegedly orchestrated the crimes with co-defendants Frederic Wayne Mordon, Jr., 44; Emmanuel Xavier White, 51; Walter James Tillman, 37; Andrew Francois Martin, 33; and Joassaint Josiah Aristil, Jr., 30.
Court records indicate the group allegedly planned and carried out the robbery of an Oakland Park apartment used to store narcotics and drug-trafficking proceeds. The defendants reportedly purchased GPS tracking devices, DEA-style clothing, masks, holsters, and flashlights, and rented vehicles to carry out the scheme.
On Aug. 18, 2016, Farley, Mordon, and White allegedly approached “John Doe” and Tiara Jeanne Register at a Lauderhill apartment complex, claiming to be DEA agents and forcing them from their vehicle at gunpoint. Doe was taken to the Oakland Park apartment, where Farley allegedly fatally shot Eric Orlando McNair, who was at the location. Meanwhile, Register was held captive before being driven to a cul-de-sac and shot by Martin, acting on Farley’s instructions.
The defendants are charged with two counts of kidnapping resulting in death, causing death in furtherance of a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime, and killing a witness. If convicted, they face mandatory life sentences on the kidnapping counts, with the possibility of the death penalty on other charges.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones, FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles, Broward Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony, and Lauderhill Police Chief Constance Stanley announced the charges. The FBI, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and Lauderhill Police Department are jointly investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne E. Williams is prosecuting.
