The FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Ruhel Choudhury, a used car salesman wanted for his alleged involvement in violent kidnappings in Woodside and Jamaica last year.
Choudhury and others allegedly abducted the victims off the street and then robbed, tortured and drugged them. One victim was held for ransom and sexually assaulted.
Authorities say that Choudhury provided and drove the vehicles used to confine and transport the victims to various locations in Queens during the kidnappings. He also allegedly assaulted and threatened the victims.
Choudhury, 34, who was born in Bangladesh, is described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 150 pounds with brown eyes. He speaks English and Bengali and is considered to be armed and dangerous.
The kidnapping ring allegedly abducted their first victim on March 27, 2023 on 181st Street near Hillside Avenue in Jamaica in a Honda SUV provided and driven by Choudhury.
On May 11, 2023, the gang abducted a man outside a restaurant near Broadway and 72nd Street in Woodside in a minivan provided and driven by Choudhury. The victim in that case was beaten in the minivan and driven to a hotel where he was sodomized. A ransom call was later made to the victim’s father demanding $20,000 for the victim’s safety. On the third day of his kidnapping, the crew left the victim tied up and blindfolded in an abandoned house.
The victim was able to free himself by chewing through his restraints, break open a window and asking residents in the neighborhood to call 911, according to federal prosecutors.
Choudhury was indicted in Brooklyn federal court in January along with six co-defendants, all from Bangladesh. A federal warrant was issued for his arrest on Jan. 9, after he was charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of kidnapping conspiracy, according to federal prosecutors.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI New York Field Office at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
