Two charges dismissed in Saba trial

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A federal judge has acquitted Rami Saba, one of the men accused of conspiring to kidnap and kill missing Saranac man Donald Dietz, of two major charges.

But Saba still faces significant charges of fraud, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. It appears, based upon a review of the federal law in question, that he still could face life in prison.

If convicted on either of the charges now dismissed -- interstate murder-for-hire or kidnapping resulting in death -- life in prison would appear to have been automatic.

Dietz's brother, Marv Dietz, told 24 Hour News 8 he's "not pleased" by the decision. U.S. District Judge Janet Neff ruled that prosecutors failed to prove the charges to the level needed for the jury to review them.

Dietz said Saba and alleged co-conspirator Raogo Ouedraogo did things "they weren't supposed to do and my brother -- our brother -- is missing. And we'll never get to see him again. So, we were hoping for a much better outcome."

The Lowell man said as he watched the trial, he was convinced prosecutors made their case.

"They did an excellent job," he said. "We were very comfortable. We figured that it was a slam dunk and everything was going to be fine at the end. But now, all of a sudden, the rules have been changed."

Still, Dietz said he believed there will be justice in the case.

"I just want to thank West Michigan for all the prayers that we've had for our family and for the prayers that justice be served in this case. And I think at the end, everything is going to be okay," he said.

A jury convicted Saba's alleged co-conspirator, Raogo Ouedraogo, of conspiracy to kidnap and one of the charges thrown out in the Saba case: kidnapping resulting in death.

But the jury found him not guilty of interstate murder for hire.

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan declined to comment Tuesday night, noting that the case is ongoing. The remaining charges are set to be reviewed by the jury.

Saba is representing himself with help from a lawyer, Sharon Turek. She says no one knows what happened to Donald Dietz, the Associated Press reports, because he's still missing.