
Quebec man sentenced to 13 years in kidnapping of American couple
MONTREAL — A judge sentenced a Quebec man to 13 years in prison on Monday for helping to kidnap a couple in their 70s from Upstate New York and hold them for ransom in connection with a botched multimillion-dollar cocaine deal.
Superior Court Justice Michel Pennou delivered his decision in a Montreal courtroom, adding that when time served is considered, Gary Arnold will have nine years, two months and six days remaining in his sentence.
“Considering the evidence as a whole, the court is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt Mr. Arnold was involved from beginning to end in the planning and execution of the carried out kidnapping and extortion,” Pennou said.
The Crown sought a 17-year sentence for Arnold, who was arrested on Oct. 1, 2020, and found guilty by a jury in February of five charges, including kidnapping, extortion and conspiracy to kidnap.