New York Man Admits Role in Kidnapping

NEWARK, N.J. – A Queens, New York, man today admitted his role in a Paterson, New Jersey, kidnapping, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Reginald Law, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with kidnapping and Hobbs Act robbery.  

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Oct. 8, 2020, Law and his conspirator, Maurice Cottman, entered a retail store in Paterson, where they accosted the victim, who was working in the store. Law and Cottman dragged the victim from the store, threw him into the back of a U-Haul truck, and drove him from Paterson to New York. The victim suffered serious bodily injury from the kidnapping. Law admitted that during the kidnapping, he and Cottman called the victim’s family, told them that he had the victim, and demanded ransom for his return.

That afternoon, law enforcement officers saw the U-Haul parked in Harlem, New York.  When the officers approached, Law and Cottman fled in the U-Haul and a motor-vehicle pursuit ensued. Law and Cottman crashed the U-Haul and tried to flee on foot. Officers apprehended Cottman, but Law got away. Officers retrieved the victim from the back of the U-Haul. Law was a fugitive until his arrest on May 26, 2021.

The kidnapping charged in Count One is punishable by a maximum penalty of life in prison. The Hobbs Act robbery charged in Count Two is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Both are also punishable by a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss or gain, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025.

Cottman previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to an Information charging him with one count of kidnapping. On March 29, 2022, Judge Chesler sentenced Cottman to 15 years in prison with five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.  He also thanked the FBI New York Field Office and the Paterson Police Department for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae D. Gray of the Economic Crimes Unit.