|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Virginia
Norfolk, Va. – A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for kidnapping a woman in Norfolk, Virginia, and transporting her across multiple states before abandoning her at a hospital in South Carolina.
According to court records and trial evidence, on March 17, 2022, Troy Edwin Leitner, 61, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, abducted a woman identified as Jane Doe from a Norfolk residence where she was renting a room and struggling with heroin addiction.
Leitner approached a neighbor at the residence, presented a photograph of Jane Doe, and falsely claimed to have an arrest warrant for her. He was dressed in tactical clothing, including a jacket labeled “Fugitive Recovery Agent,” and carried a badge and a holstered pistol. Trusting Leitner’s apparent law enforcement affiliation, the neighbor agreed to assist him.
Later that day, after being informed that Jane Doe had returned home, Leitner entered the residence, handcuffed her, and told her she was under arrest. He claimed he was taking her to answer questions and would return her shortly. Believing he was a legitimate officer, Jane Doe complied.
Leitner took Jane Doe to the Ocean View Inn in Norfolk, where he handcuffed her to a table and threatened to shoot her if she tried to escape. After about an hour, he told her they were headed to his “office” in Richmond. En route and upon arrival in Richmond, Jane Doe was allowed to use heroin.
Over the next two days, Leitner drove Jane Doe south through several states, staying in hotels along the way. He instructed her to act like his girlfriend in public to avoid handcuffing her, reinforcing her fear and compliance. During the trip, Leitner called Jane Doe’s mother and falsely claimed he was taking her to a rehabilitation facility in Florida.
While staying at a hotel in Hamer, South Carolina, on March 18, 2022, Leitner received a call from a law enforcement officer. He falsely claimed to be affiliated with “Federal Fugitive Recovery” and told the officer that Jane Doe was cooperating with authorities in a drug investigation and being transported for treatment.
On March 19, after Jane Doe became ill, Leitner left her at a hospital in Manning, South Carolina. A hospital security guard observed Leitner acting nervously and claiming to be a bounty hunter who had picked up a woman “on drugs” from the side of the road. Suspicious, the guard photographed Leitner’s Pennsylvania license plate. Leitner was later arrested in Pennsylvania.
Sentencing and Prosecutors
Leitner was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. to 15 years in federal prison. He had pleaded guilty to kidnapping and related charges.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan M. Montoya and Anthony C. Marek.
Law Enforcement Response
“This defendant exploited the trust people place in law enforcement by impersonating an officer to carry out a brazen and terrifying kidnapping,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert. “Thanks to coordinated efforts across jurisdictions, he was brought to justice.”
“This case underscores the importance of public vigilance and the strength of interagency cooperation,” said Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “Impersonating law enforcement is not only illegal, it undermines the credibility of real officers who work to keep our communities safe.”
Public Safety Initiative
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies and community organizations to reduce violent crime and build safer neighborhoods. In May 2021, the Department of Justice enhanced PSN with a strategic focus on community trust, targeted enforcement, and results-driven crime prevention.
For more information about this case, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia website. Case documents can also be accessed via PACER using Case No. 2:24-cr-57.
