U.S. District Judge Dickran Tevrizian sentenced to death Jurijus Kadamovas...

U.S. District Judge Dickran Tevrizian sentenced to death Jurijus Kadamovas, 40, a Lithuanian immigrant, for abducting and killing 5 Los Angeles-area business people in a money-making ransom scheme targeting victims in the Russian emigre community. Kadamovas and his co-defendant, Iouri Mikhel, 41, were convicted of federal charges including conspiracy and hostage-taking resulting in death. Jurors had previously ordered the death penalty for both men. The jury's verdict appears to mark the first time since 1950 that death has been ordered in a federal case in the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles, Orange and 5 other counties. Another defendant in the case, 34-year-old Ukrainian Petro Krylov, is currently on trial. If convicted, he could also receive a death sentence.