Three men accused of kidnapping two women from a Vicksburg Waffle House Sunday morning and robbing them were held this morning awaiting their initial appearance in court.

Felix Howard, 28, 825 Boston Road, Apt. 40, Pearl; Perry McAbee, 25, 2317 Breckinridge Road, Jackson; and Cedric Akiti, 26, 5416 Mimosa Drive, Jackson, were arrested by the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force Wednesday morning, Vicksburg police Lt. Sandra Williams said.

All three were charged with two counts of kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery and auto burglary.

Howard and McAbee were arrested at their homes, and Akiti surrendered to U.S. Marshals, Williams said.

The Mississippi Gaming Commission and Attorney General’s Office assisted Sgt. Doug King and Investigator Daniel Thomas in identifying and apprehending the suspects, Williams said.

The three men are accused of kidnapping two Monroe, La., women outside the Waffle House on Warrenton Road at 12:45 a.m. Sunday. One of the men forced the women into a blue and silver Dodge Magnum at gunpoint, but it was unclear this morning which man had the gun, police Capt. Bobby Stewart said.

The women went to the restaurant to meet two men with whom they had exchanged phone numbers while at Ameristar Casino, Williams said. The women were released uninjured on Rifle Range Road after the women’s cell phones were stolen, Williams said.

The women walked to a home on Rifle Range, and the homeowner called 911, Williams said.

Following the kidnapping, the men returned to Waffle House and burglarized the women’s car, stealing two purses, Williams said. A credit card from one of the purses had been used in Jackson, Williams said.

The three men were in the Warren County Jail this morning awaiting their initial appearance in municipal court at 8:45 a.m. Friday.

Akiti also is being held for the Mississippi Department of Corrections because he is on parole for auto burglary, Stewart said.