Putnam Darwin Richardson, 79, of Orange, Texas, has been sentenced to 294 months (24.5 years) in federal prison for kidnapping and brandishing a firearm. The sentence was handed down on April 9, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone in the Eastern District of Texas. Richardson pleaded guilty to the charges.
Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. commended the swift action of the FBI, working with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Orange Police Department, for rescuing the victim and apprehending Richardson. He emphasized that the case serves as a reminder that violent offenders can come from any background and stressed the importance of vigilance.
FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams noted Richardson's failure to learn from a previous kidnapping conviction in 1984, for which he served 50 years. He praised the FBI Beaumont investigators, crisis negotiators, and special surveillance teams for their tireless efforts in rescuing the victim and reuniting him with his family.
According to court information, on July 15, 2024, a report was filed with the FBI concerning the kidnapping of a local attorney in Beaumont. The victim was abducted at gunpoint after arriving at his law office that morning. His wife received a call from his cell phone where the kidnapper demanded a $1 million ransom and threatened to kill the victim if the demand was not met.
The investigation identified Richardson, a former client of the victim with a prior kidnapping conviction from 1984, as the suspect. On July 17, 2024, Richardson was apprehended at a gas station, and the victim was successfully rescued by law enforcement.
The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime through collaborative efforts between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and community-based prevention and reentry programs.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Beaumont Police Department, the Orange Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin prosecuted the case.
