A Queens woman who federal prosecutors say helped her boyfriend abduct and brutalize two men in Southeast Queens has been convicted by a federal jury. Jurors found Iffat Lubna guilty on kidnapping and conspiracy charges tied to two violent 2023 abductions, and a judge allowed her to remain free on bond so she can care for her young son while she awaits sentencing.
Court filings show Lubna was charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of kidnapping conspiracy, according to a memorandum published on Leagle. Prosecutors accused Lubna and her then-boyfriend, identified in filings as Abu Chowdhury, of running a scheme that targeted members of the borough’s Bengali community. Jurors returned guilty verdicts after hearing testimony and reviewing recorded evidence, as reported by New York Daily News.
What Prosecutors Say
Federal prosecutors described two separate abductions: one on March 27, 2023, in Jamaica that lasted roughly 13 hours, and another beginning May 11, 2023, in Woodside that allegedly stretched several days, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York. The indictment alleges victims were beaten, filmed, given sedatives and, in one case, held for ransom. One man later woke up in a hospital the day after his abduction.
The government has pursued the case through EDNY’s General Crimes Section, led in court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Pak and Vincent Chiappini, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York.
At trial, one victim, described in coverage as a recent arrival to the United States, testified that he was held for 36 hours, forced to smoke and drink alcohol and given pills that made him drowsy before he escaped by chewing through tape and breaking a window. Jurors also heard audio in which Lubna allegedly warned, “You will die in front of me and only then will I find peace,” and urged accomplices to “tie his mouth up,” according to Yahoo News. Much of the government’s case relied on cellphone records and recordings detailed in court documents.
Legal Implications
Kidnapping under federal law carries a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment, though any sentence will ultimately be shaped by federal guidelines and the judge’s view of aggravating factors. The indictment and court filings outline the possibility of life sentences if defendants are convicted on all counts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York. Lubna remains free on bond pending sentencing, according to court records and reporting.
After the verdict, Lubna’s defense attorney, Noam Biale, said he was considering a motion to overturn the jury’s decision and argued that Lubna should not be held responsible for conduct carried out by her husband, as reported by New York Daily News. The conviction keeps attention on related co-defendants who still face federal charges and highlights ongoing outreach from prosecutors to anyone with additional information.
