A New York man pleaded guilty in federal court for his role in the kidnapping of a Paterson store owner.

Reginald Law, 38, of Queens, New York, pleaded at the Newark federal court to charges of kidnapping and Hobbs Act robbery.

On Oct. 8, 2020, Law and his conspirator, Maurice Cottman, entered Easter Grocery and Food Market located at 462 10th Avenue 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. 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 charge is punishable by a maximum penalty of life in prison. The Hobbs Act robbery charge 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 to one count of kidnapping. On March 29, 2022, Cottman was sentenced to 15 years in prison with five years of supervised release.