Queens Man Found Guilty of Three Violent Kidnappings

Abu Chowdhury was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of three counts of kidnapping and three counts of conspiring to kidnap.  The convictions are in connection with the violent kidnappings of three victims (John Doe-1, John Doe-2 and John Doe-3) over a span of six weeks, from March 27, 2023 to mid-May 2023.  The verdict followed a two-week trial before United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison. Prior to this trial, two additional trials were held in March and June 2026 for co-conspirators of the defendant. Specifically, on April 9, 2026, Iffat Lubna, Chowdhury’s then-girlfriend and now wife, was found guilty by a jury of kidnapping and conspiring to kidnap John Doe-2 and John Doe-3.  On June 26, 2026, Syed Rubel Ahmed and Sultana Razia were found guilty by a jury of kidnapping John Doe-1.  When sentenced, Chowdhury, Lubna, Ahmed, and Razia each face a maximum of life imprisonment.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict.

“Today’s verdict holds the defendant accountable for the sadistic kidnappings and torture of three separate individuals,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “The acts committed by the defendant, along with his co-defendants and co-conspirators, were brutal, senseless, and cannot be tolerated in a civilized society.  Our Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting violent crime that endangers our community.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Joint Violent Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD, for their assistance with the investigation.

"Chowdhury’s role in three vicious kidnappings has come to light and the jury has found him guilty of barbaric crimes.  Along with our partners at the NYPD, the FBI will continue the fight to apprehend these individuals, and bring them to justice.  Americans deserve safe communities – not fear, violence, or lawlessness,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

The March 27, 2023 Kidnapping of John Doe-1 in Jamaica, Queens

As proven at trial, over the course of approximately 13 hours on March 27, 2023, Chowdhury, Ahmed, Shahed Alom, Razia, Ruhel Choudhury, and another co-conspirator abducted and assaulted John Doe-1 in Jamaica, Queens.  John Doe-1 had been walking in the vicinity of 181st Street and Hillside Avenue when Chowdhury forced him into a Honda SUV.  Inside the SUV, Chowdhury began beating John Doe-1 as Ruhel Choudhury drove them around Queens.  During the kidnapping, Chowdhury forced John Doe-1 to exit the SUV and filmed the victim standing naked in a residential neighborhood.  His criminal co-conspirators communicated with Chowdhury via cellular telephone during the kidnapping, met Chowdhury at different points throughout the night, and took part in further beating and threats to kill John Doe-1.  When John Doe-1 begged for water from the kidnappers, the kidnappers gave him water laced with a sedative.  John Doe-1 lost consciousness and woke up in a local hospital with multiple injuries the day after he had been abducted.  Ruhel and Alom pleaded guilty to their roles in the kidnapping and are awaiting sentencing.

The May 10, 2023 Kidnapping of John Doe-3 in Long Island City, Queens

As proven at trial, over the course of approximately three days, beginning on May 10, 2023, Chowdhury and Lubna lured and trapped John Doe-3 in Chowdhury’s car, tortured him, and shuttled him around various locations in Queens.  John Doe-3 and Lubna were college classmates in Bangladesh who reconnected in 2023, after both had moved to the United States.  Prior to his kidnapping, Chowdhury had asked John Doe-3 about Lubna’s reputation in college, and shared John Doe-3’s responses with Lubna. Chowdhury and Lubna were enraged by John Doe-3’s characterization of Lubna’s reputation and kidnapped him to punish him for the alleged smearing.  While Lubna and Chowdhury kicked and struck John Doe-3 in the car, Chowdhury also called his other criminal partners to join him and Lubna in beating John Doe-3 behind a public school.  They used weapons such as a rod and a knife to inflict pain on John Doe-3. They also tied him up and gagged his mouth.  Chowdhury forced John Doe-3 to take a pill, which caused him to lose consciousness. Later during the kidnapping, Chowdhury and Lubna took John Doe-2 (discussed below) and John Doe-3 to a hotel room, where they told John Doe-3 that if he did not beat John Doe-2, Chowdhury would beat John Doe-3 again. 

The May 11, 2023 Kidnapping of John Doe-2 in Jackson Heights, Queens

As proven at trial, over the course of approximately three days beginning on May 11, 2023, Chowdhury and Lubna abducted and assaulted John Doe-2.  John Doe-2 had been waiting to meet Lubna outside a restaurant in the vicinity of 72nd Street and Broadway in Jackson Heights, Queens, for what he thought was a date when Chowdhury forced John Doe-2 into a minivan and began beating him. During the kidnapping, Chowdhury, Lubna, and Ruhel Choudhury took John Doe-2 to a hotel, where Chowdhury sexually assaulted John Doe-2 with a rod.  Chowdhury also made a ransom call to John Doe-2’s father, demanding $20,000 for the victim’s safety.  On the third day of the kidnapping, Chowdhury tied up and blindfolded John Doe-2, leaving him at an abandoned house.  John Doe-2 was able to free himself by chewing through his restraints, breaking open a window and asking residents in the neighborhood to call 911.  John Doe-2 was hospitalized for one week from his injuries.

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The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section.  Assistant United States  Attorneys Stephanie Pak, Vincent Chiappini, Joshua Tannen, John Vagelatos, Andrew D. Grubin and Erik Paulsen are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Katrina Batista.

The Defendants:

ABU CHOWDHURY
Age: 36
Jamaica, Queens

IFFAT LUBNA
Age: 27
Jamaica, Queens

SYED RUBEL AHMED
Age: 46
Jamaica, Queens

SHAHED ALOM
Age: 32
Jamaica, Queens

RUHEL CHOUDHURY
Age: 36
Jamaica, Queens

SULTANA RAZIA
Age: 41
Woodside, Queens

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-278 (S-2) (NRM)