By: Richard L. Smith
Four men from New York received significant prison sentences on Wednesday for their involvement in a kidnapping and ransom scheme targeting a resident of Fort Lee, New Jersey.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger made the announcement.
According to federal officials, Fa Deng, 44, from Staten Island, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and fined $200,000.
Chiahao Lee, 32, from Queens, received a 15-year prison sentence and three years of supervised release.
Albert Ferrelli, 52, also from Queens, was sentenced to over 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
Gabriel Anthony, from Queens, was sentenced to 14 years in prison and three years of supervised release.
All four had previously admitted to conspiring to commit interstate kidnapping.
Court documents and statements revealed that on April 5, 2022, the conspirators drove to the victim's home in Fort Lee.
Anthony and Ferrelli, wearing masks, forcibly entered the home, bound the victim's hands, covered his eyes and mouth with duct tape, and forced him into a vehicle where Deng and Lee awaited.
The kidnappers sent the victim's wife a photograph showing the victim bound and duct-taped, demanding a ransom of approximately $680,000.
Law enforcement discovered duct tape with pieces of latex gloves at the victim's home and, through surveillance footage, identified a gray minivan used in the abduction.
The minivan was tracked crossing the George Washington Bridge, into the Bronx, and then into Queens.
The next day, NYPD officers responded to Prince Street in Queens, where they found Ferrelli guarding a building.
Upon hearing a man screaming for help inside, officers entered and rescued the victim, who was still bound and gagged.
The successful resolution of this case highlights the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts in combating violent crimes and ensuring justice for victims.