Two Bronx Men Sentenced To Prison For Throwing Molotov Cocktails At Neighbors’ Cars And Houses

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that NAYEEM AHMED CHOWDHURY and DAVID MENDEZ were sentenced by U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan to six years and 27 months in prison, respectively, in connection with using glass bottles with ignitable liquid and lit wicks, commonly known as “Molotov cocktails,” in an attempt to set a car and an apartment building on fire in the Bronx, New York.  CHOWDHURY previously pled guilty to possession of unregistered Molotov cocktails and was sentenced on June 15, 2023.  MENDEZ previously pled guilty to conspiracy to possess unregistered Molotov cocktails and was sentenced today.

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and court filings:

Just after 2:00 a.m. on June 8, 2022, after circling the block for at least an hour, CHOWDHURY and MENDEZ approached a vehicle that was parked in the front yard of an apartment building in the defendants’ neighborhood in the Bronx, New York.  CHOWDHURY lit a Molotov cocktail and placed it underneath the vehicle as MENDEZ looked on.  The defendants drove off to let the fire burn.  Approximately 30 minutes later, CHOWDHURY and MENDEZ returned to the vehicle.  MENDEZ lit a second Molotov cocktail and placed it under the vehicle as CHOWDHURY looked on.  Approximately 30 minutes after the defendants drove away from the vehicle the second time, the owner of the vehicle observed the fire and, together with other individuals from the neighborhood, threw buckets of water on and around the vehicle to put out the flames.  Photographs of the June 2022 incident are below, with the defendants circled in green and the victims’ buckets of water circled in red:       

Around 7:00 a.m. on July 24, 2022, CHOWDHURY approached another residence in his neighborhood, lit a third Molotov cocktail, and hurled it at the residence.  The Molotov cocktail hit a window and fell onto the front porch, where it burst into flames.  The family that was sleeping inside the residence, including a husband, his pregnant wife, and their toddler, woke up from the loud crash against the window and immediately poured buckets of water onto the Molotov cocktail to put out the flames.  Photographs of CHOWDHURY throwing the third Molotov cocktail at the residence in July 2022 are below: 

In addition to their prison terms, CHOWDHURY, 36, and MENDEZ, 40, both of the Bronx, New York, were sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Fire Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING HIS WIFE IN FRONT OF THEIR 9-YEAR-OLD SON IN 2010

Defendant Was Convicted of Manslaughter After Jury Trial 

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of fatally stabbing his wife in front of their 9-year-old son in 2010. The defendant had fled the state for several years and was apprehended in Las Vegas in 2022. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant killed his wife in front of their son and thought he could get away with it. He was tracked down, indicted, and found guilty by a Bronx jury. The victim’s son, now 22, bravely testified at the trial and was determined to see that justice was done. Now, the defendant will go to prison to pay for his heinous act.”

 District Attorney Clark said Hector Ramirez, 42, formerly of Webb Avenue, in the Bronx, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Marsha Michael to 18 years in prison. He was found guilty of first-degree Manslaughter on June 5, 2023, after a jury trial.

 According to the investigation, on August 29, 2010, at approximately 5:00 a.m., the defendant stabbed his wife Ella Zamora in the chest with a knife in front of their 9-year-old son inside their Kingsbridge Heights home after the victim attempted to kick the defendant out of the apartment after an argument. Zamora died from a stab wound to the chest at New York Presbyterian Hospital. The boy was taken into care by the victim’s sister.

 Ramirez was apprehended in Las Vegas in February 2022.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Detective Charlie Venticinque of the NYPD Cold Case Squad and Detective Cristofer Schiavone of the NYPD-FBI Joint Bank Robbery Task for their work on the investigation.

Representative Adriano Espaillat to Host Community Coffee Event, Saturday in the District!

 

 SAVE the Date: 

Representative Adriano Espaillat to Host Community Coffee Event, Saturday in the District
10:00AM: Saturday, July 15th 

La Casa del Mofongo - 10 W. Burnside Ave. (between Davidson and Jerome Avenue), Bronx, NY 10453

RSVP Today!

Join Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) on Saturday, July 15th at 10:00 a.m. for his signature "Coffee With Your Congressman" event series at La Casa del Mofongo located at 10 W. Burnside Avenue (between Davidson and Jerome Avenue), Bronx, NY 10453.

These informal events provide residents the opportunity to discuss their concerns and share ideas on how to make improvements throughout New York’s 13th congressional district.

All events are public and residents are required to RSVP prior to attendance to RSVP.Espaillat@mail.house.gov or by calling (212) 663-3900.

WHO: Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

Special Guests to be announced soon!

WHAT: 'Coffee With Your Congressman' Community Event

WHEN: Saturday, July 15th at 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 

WHERE: La Casa del Mofongo

10 W. Burnside Ave. (between Davidson and Jerome Avenue)

Bronx, NY 10453