Alex Rodriguez's nephew was reportedly kidnapped in a deal to sell a car that went bad, but the victim's ties to the former New York Yankees slugger are in question as are the details of the incident.
Two men were arrested Wednesday for allegedly kidnapping Norberto Susini, 29, a minor league baseball player, NBC New York reported.
Susini was initially described as Rodriguez's nephew, the station said, adding that a spokesman for Rodriguez later said Susini is the son of a late girlfriend of Rodriguez's half-brother Joe Dunand.
Susini and a friend who sells high-end cars reportedly met at a hotel with the two men who were prospective buyers of a Lamborghini, NBC New York said. The deal went bad, and the two men allegedly refused to let Susini go.
A native of Miami, Susini participated in rookie ball for the Seattle Mariners in 2011 before playing for various independent league teams, USA Today reported. Last year, he played in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. USA Today said he has a criminal record, including vehicle title fraud, auto theft, and dealing stolen property.
Lamin Vucetovic, 33, and Anthony Gilkes, 30, were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment, USA Today said. By Thursday, Vucetovic was only charged with attempted coercion, and prosecutors declined to charge Gilkes, the New York Daily News reported.
"It was all a misunderstanding," Vucetovic said, according to the Daily News. "I got robbed of $35,000. They sold me a car that was stolen. I was just trying to get my money back."
Vucetovic's lawyer, Steven Brill, described his client as the victim in the incident.
Dunand told the Daily News that Rodriguez has no ties to Susini.
"It's only a story because they want to attach Alex's name to him," Dunand said. "I don't know what that kid does with his nights. Alex is not responsible for him."
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