3rd convicted in reservoir bodies case

A third man was convicted Thursday for taking part in a kidnapping-for-ransom scheme that resulted in the killing of five people whose bodies were found in a Northern California reservoir.

Prosecutors argued Petro Krylov, 34, a Ukrainian, was part of a ring that sought to amass a fortune by kidnapping affluent business people, some of whom were Russian immigrants, from Los Angeles in late 2001 and early 2002 and extorting money from their families and friends. About $1.2 million was collected in ransom.

The victims were killed regardless of whether the ransoms were paid, prosecutors said. The bodies were tied to weights and dumped in the New Melones Reservoir near Yosemite National Park.

Two other men, Iouri Mikhel and Jurijus Kadamovas, were convicted and sentenced to death this year for their roles.

Defense attorneys said Mikhel and Kadamovas threatened to harm Krylov's family if he did not help them with the kidnapping and ransom scheme.

"They were animals that threatened to kill (Krylov's) wife and his infant daughter," as well as his family in Ukraine, attorney David Evans said.

Krylov was found guilty of three counts of hostage taking, one count of conspiracy to take hostages resulting in death and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. He was found not guilty of conspiracy to escape from custody.

Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Krylov. The penalty phase is scheduled to begin Thursday.

Three accomplices have pleaded guilty in the case, including Kadamovas' girlfriend, Natalya Solovyeva, and Ainar Altmanis, a Latvian who helped lead authorities to the site where the bodies were dumped.