User:Jamesallain85/sandbox1

Harvey J. Weinstein (14 February 1925- 13 May 2007), was an American businessman and industrialist who was kidnapped and held for ransom for 12 days before being discovered and rescued by law enforcement.

Kidnapping
Weinstein was abducted August 4th, 1993, at knifepoint by Antonio Rodriguez from the Mark Twain Diner in Queens after having breakfast. He was held captive in a camouflaged pit covered by a heavy sheet of iron and heavy wooden planks with minimal food and water. The kidnappers later telephoned Weinstein's apartment requested three million dollars in cash. Twice the family attempted to pay the kidnappers, but they did not show. On August 16th, they received the ransom from Weinstein's son near Highbridge Park. The kidnapper was then tailed by police and later arrested and questioned. The kidnapper, Fermin Rodriguez, an employee of Weinstein, provided police with information on the location of Weinstein. Police found and rescued Weinstein and arrested accomplices of Rodriguez, including is brother Antonio Rodriguez. Antonio and Fermin Rodriguez were convicted of the kidnapping as well as Aurelina Leonor, Fermin's girlfriend, who placed telephone calls to the Weinstein residence.