A citizen of the Dominican Republic admitted Monday to taking part in a 2023 armed kidnapping in Paterson, federal authorities said.

Joel Ramon Garcia, 33, of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty before a Newark federal court to a charge of kidnapping. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Garcia and another individual kidnapped two victims at gunpoint on or about Nov. 15, 2023, in Paterson. The victims were then driven to Massachusetts, where they were held for ransom.

Shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the father of one of the victims and threatened to cut off the victim’s fingers if ransom demands were not met. The victims were ultimately released on or about Nov. 17, 2023.

The kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.