A Yemeni man is charged with extortion after threatening to harm and kidnap a minor, according to U.S. Attorney James Kennedy.
According to officials, a mother took her minor child and other siblings to Yemen in September 2013. For a period of time, the group lived with Yousef Goba, 43, but when the mother wanted to move from Goba's residence he refused to let the child go.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Goba threatened to have the child marry a Yemeni man if money was not paid to him.
During a call recorded by the FBI on April 8, 2015, Goba demanded the victim pay him $11,000 plus money for other expenses to release the child.
Goba was arrested on an arrest warrant on June 2, 2017 at JFK Airport when he entered the United States on a commercial flight.
Goba will be arraigned Monday afternoon. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
