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Half-Brother of Argentine World Cup Star Convicted in Miami Child Kidnapping Attempt

13/06/2026 12:03 - Actualidad

Martillo de juez sobre madera de tribunal con balanza de justicia al fondo, iluminación dramática, ambiente serio

A Verdict That Shook Miami

Leonardo Venegas, 34 years old and half-brother of Argentine national team defender Marcos Senesi, was found guilty by a Miami jury after just two hours of deliberation. The charges: attempted kidnapping and child abuse against a six-year-old girl. The maximum sentence he faces is life in prison.

The verdict was delivered on June 12, 2026. The court will now determine the exact sentence. Venegas denied the charges and called the victim "a liar" during the hearing.

The Incident

The events took place in July 2023, during the Independence Day celebrations in the United States. According to the prosecution:

  • July 4: Venegas first approached the girl while she played with other children.
  • July 6: He returned in a white Range Rover and approached her when she was alone.
  • He grabbed her arm to take her away.
  • The girl bit him, broke free, and ran home.
  • Venegas slapped her before she escaped.

The Victim and Her Mother

Teshia McGill, the victim's mother, told the press that her daughter "was very brave, she fought against him". The girl provided physical details that helped identify and capture Venegas.

Security cameras at the apartment complex captured the accused loitering in the area on the dates in question, which strengthened the prosecution's case.

Who is "Ácido MC"?

Leonardo Venegas is a former YouTuber and rapper known as "Ácido MC", with nearly 150,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. Like Marcos Senesi, he is originally from Concordia, Entre Ríos—a city in northeastern Argentina known for its citrus production and hot springs. They share the same mother but have different fathers.

His channel, created in 2010, featured recipe videos, viral challenges, and his lifestyle content in Miami. He also ventured into music with several music videos.

Venegas lived in Miami Shores, an upscale apartment complex facing the ocean, and worked as a real estate agent.

Arguments from Both Sides

Prosecution

Prosecutor Jared Lorenz stated during closing arguments: "Leonardo Venegas kidnapped the girl but, unfortunately for the accused, he chose the wrong child".

Assistant Prosecutor Alejandra De Lafuente noted that Venegas "chose low-income neighborhoods where there are unsupervised young children to take advantage of them", despite living in an affluent area.

Defense

Attorney David Donet acknowledged that Venegas was captured on camera, but argued his presence was due to his work as a real estate agent.

He also criticized the police investigation, claiming the case "would have been better handled if the victim had been white and lived in wealthier areas".

Context: Marcos Senesi and the 2026 World Cup

The news broke at a crucial moment for Marcos Senesi, 29 years old, who was called up to the Argentine National Team (known as "La Albiceleste" for their iconic white and sky-blue striped jerseys) for the 2026 World Cup. He replaced Leonardo Balerdi, who was ruled out due to a torn soleus muscle. The left-footed defender, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League and previously played for Bournemouth and Argentine club San Lorenzo, is set to debut with the national team on June 16 against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium.

Senesi made headlines days earlier when his girlfriend Kelci-Rose Bowers (22, a footballer for Bournemouth Women's team in England) shared a viral video of the moment he received his national team call-up while they were vacationing in Ibiza, Spain.

Sources: This information was confirmed by outlets such as TN and Infobae.

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