A Bronx, Ny., man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for his role in a kidnapping in Paterson, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
According to U.S. Attorney Sellinger, Maurice Cottman, 42, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with kidnapping.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On October 8, 2020, Cottman and his conspirator, Reginald Law, entered a retail store in Paterson and assaulted the victim, who was working in the store.
Cottman and Law dragged the victim from the store, threw him into the back of a U-Haul truck and drove to New York.
Cottman and Law pistol-whipped the victim in the head and face. Later that morning, Cottman called the victim’s family, told them that he had the victim and demanded amounts as high as $200,000 for his return.
That afternoon, law enforcement officers went to Harlem, Ny., where they saw the U-Haul parked on the street.
When the officers approached, Cottman and Law fled in the U-Haul and were pursued. After some distance, the U-Haul crashed, and a foot pursuit ensued. Ultimately, the officers apprehended Cottman.
The officers found the victim in the rear of the U-Haul. Law was arrested on May 26, 2021.