Kidnapping leader from Detroit gets life in prison

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A Detroit man has been sentenced in federal court for leading an Indianapolis kidnapping conspiracy.

U.S. District Judge Richard Young sentenced John Thomas on Thursday to life in prison without parole.

Josh Minkler, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said the 40-year-old Thomas was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

Testimony indicated that in February 2015, the unnamed former girlfriend of Thomas — a Detroit drug dealer — stole narcotics and cash from drug sales and fled to Indianapolis with her minor child.

Days later, Thomas and other members of the conspiracy kidnapped the woman's minor siblings and took them to Detroit and Kentucky.

Five others have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and sent to prison from 18 months to 11 years.

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