DETROIT — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Michigan, Eastern), published as received.

DETROIT – Roland Chatmon, 37, of Detroit, Michigan; Leica Lopez Martinez, 33, of Lake Orion, Michigan; Ieasha Stroman, 38, of Pontiac, Michigan; and Dneiqua Stroman, 43, of Pontiac, Michigan, have all pled guilty to kidnapping conspiracy and federal firearms offenses; and Kenneth Anderson, 54, of Pontiac, Michigan, previously pled guilty to money laundering for his role, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced today. 

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Detroit Field Division.

According to court filings and admissions by the defendants during the plea hearings, the conspiracy began in August 2025 after Chatmon’s uncle had gone “viral” on social media after offering to help someone in need. To reward him for his good deed, a social media influencer raised money for the uncle and gave him over $100,000, a new car, and other gifts, all of which were highly publicized. On August 24, 2025, Chatmon talked to his brother, who was in jail, and told him about the uncle. On a recorded jail call, Chatmon and his brother hatched a plan to take the money from the uncle and laughed about it. The plan included several other conspirators. 

On September 1, 2025, Chatmon and his co-conspirators put their plan into action. One conspirator lured the victim by pretending to need a ride. While the victim drove, Chatmon gave directions by cell phone. After the victim parked, Chatmon and the remaining conspirators carjacked the victim at gunpoint, hog-tied him, and kept him hostage in his own truck. They drove the victim around trying to get money out of his bank accounts, repeatedly pistol whipping and beating him. After successfully making cash withdrawals, the conspirators wanted more money, and the victim offered up a safe at his house with some cash. The conspirators drove to the victim’s house and, with the victim still tied up in his truck, Chatmon and Dneiqua Stroman broke into his house and stole the safe. They also tied up Chatmon’s aunt and left her in a bathtub. Then, the conspirators left the victim on the ground next to his truck and set his truck on fire before fleeing. Later, they met up with Anderson, who helped them move money from the victim’s Cash App account into their own.

The ATF and United States Attorney’s Office led the investigation. On September 25, 2025, the ATF executed search warrants at five residences in Detroit, Rochester Hills, and Pontiac, and arrested all the suspects.  

With their guilty pleas, Chatmon, Lopez Martinez, Ieasha Stroman, and Dneiqua Stroman all face a mandatory minimum sentences of 7 years in federal prison and maximum possible sentences of life imprisonment. Anderson was previously sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution. Sentencing for the rest are scheduled as follows:

Leica Lopez Martinez – February 3, 2027

Dneiqua Stroman – February 9, 2027

Roland Chatmon – February 25, 2027

Ieasha Stroman – March 15, 2027 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Picek and Diane N. Princ.