William Barger, 51, pleaded guilty on May 28, 2014 to first-degree accomplice liability to the kidnapping of Jeffrey Muller, New Jersey Herald reported.
William Barger NEWTON -- The Missouri man who served as the ringleader in the mistaken-identity kidnapping of a Newton businessman in 2010 was sentenced on Friday to 12 years in state prison, New Jersey Herald reported.
William Barger, 51, pleaded guilty on May 28, 2014 to first-degree accomplice liability to the kidnapping of Jeffrey Muller, the newspaper reported.
As previously reported by NJ Advance Media, authorities say Barger enlisted Andrew Wadel, Douglas Strangeland and Wadel's uncle, Lonnie Swarnes, to kidnap Muller by telling them they would be considered for membership in a new Hells Angels motorcycle chapter he was forming, if they kidnapped Muller. Barger falsely claimed he was the son of Hells Angel motorcycle club founder Ralph "Sonny" Barger, authorities have said.
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Barger sought to recoup some of the $500,000 that was lost by Missouri businessman Roy Slates to Jeffrey Muller, a money broker from Mahwah, in a business deal. Barger and the kidnappers would get a portion of the proceeds.
Instead, the trio abducted the wrong Jeffrey Muller and, during a 1,200-mile trip to Nevada, their car broke down in Lake Ozark, Mo., allowing the Newton Muller to escape.
Earlier this year, Stangeland was convicted on all charges -- including conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit a kidnapping -- but his sentencing has been postponed after he was hospitalized and placed on life support at Morristown Medical Center following his conviction.
MORE: Last trial in mistaken-identity kidnapping could be this fall
The case against Swarnes, who faces several charges including conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and robbery, is expected to go to trial this fall. Wadel, who is Swarnes' nephew, has also entered a guilty plea and is serving two concurrent 18-year sentences.
Sentencing for Slates, who has already pleaded guilty to his role in the kidnapping, will occur after the trial for Swarnes.
Reporting by Joe Moszczynski and Kimberly Redmond was used in this article.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
