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The victim was abducted in front of this Roosevelt Avenue boutique in Jackson Heights.
By Forum Staff
A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the abduction of a Woodside, Queens resident, who was held hostage in a Long Island City warehouse for more than a month in April 2013. The kidnapper demanded a $3 million ransom from the victim’s family living in Ecuador.
District Attorney Brown said, “This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim. The businessman was forcibly abducted from the streets of Queens County and held against his will in a vacant warehouse for 32 days. The victim’s fingers were burned with acid, he was struck so hard in the mouth several teeth were knocked out and even after being rescued, the victim was deeply traumatized. The sentence imposed today was more than warranted.”
Eduardo Moncayo, 42, of New York Avenue in Lyndhurst, New Jersey was found guiltyearlier this month of first- degree kidnapping sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Moncayo’s co-defendants Dennis Alves, 35, and Christian Acuna, 38, are awaiting trial.
Trial testimony revealed that the victim, Pedro Portugal, 52 at the time, was approached on April 18, 2013, in front of 88-06 Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights by the defendant Moncayo, who called him by name. The defendant then displayed what appeared to be a New York City State Police badge and with a co-defendant, grabbed Mr. Portugal by his shoulders and forced him into a sports utility vehicle. Once inside the vehicle, Moncayo punched the victim in the face and body and threw a mask over his face to obstruct his vision.
The victim was driven to a warehouse on 43rd Avenue in Long Island City where he was taken upstairs to a small room and forced to sit in a chair. He was bound at the arms and legs and further pummeled by punches. The victim was ordered to call his mother in Ecuador and request a $3 million ransom in exchange for his freedom.
Mr. Portugal was physically held captive at the location from April 18, 2013, until May 20, 2013. The victim’s hand was burned with acid, he was also threatened with having his fingers sliced off as well as being told he’d be killed. His tooth was knocked out by a punch and he suffered multiple bruising, swelling and substantial pain.
The victim was rescued when a detective assigned to the New York City Police Department’s Major Case Squad entered the location and observed Mr. Portugal with his hands bound with cloth and duct tape.
