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Brooklyn Man Convicted of Kidnapping, Extortion Scheme
A federal jury in Brooklyn has convicted Akmal Narzikulov of all eight counts of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to unlawfully produce identification documents, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and Hobbs Act extortion relating to a scheme to assist cheating by applicants for commercial driver licenses administered by the New York DMV and licenses issued by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. Narzikulov was also convicted of using a firearm in connection with the charged extortion and conspiracy to commit witness tampering.
The verdict followed a two-week trial before United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan. Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, announced the verdict.
“With the defendant’s conviction, he is held accountable for a long list of crimes, including conspiring to engage in a brazen cheating scheme, kidnapping, extortion, witness tampering and threatening a co-conspirator at gunpoint,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. “I commend our prosecutors for laying out the detailed road map that led to today’s verdict and for bringing justice to the individuals who were harmed by the defendant’s greed and senseless violence.”
As proven at trial, Narzikulov and other co-conspirators assisted applicants for commercial driver licenses in cheating on tests administered by the DMV in exchange for cash. Using wireless communication devices hidden inside the applicants’ clothing, Narzikulov’s co-conspirators transmitted the correct answers to earbuds used by the applicants as they took written exams at various DMV locations.
The defendant and his co-conspirators used the same method to assist applicants in cheating on written tests required to obtain licenses from the TLC. On March 28, 2019, Narzikulov, co-defendant Sherzod Mukumov and an unapprehended co-conspirator kidnapped an individual who had withdrawn from the license cheating scheme. Surveillance video showed the Victim being shocked and subdued with a taser, and then being dragged to a waiting car by Narzikulov and the co-conspirator.
The same night, Narzikulov threatened another co-conspirator at gunpoint in an attempt to extort money from him and the Victim. Narzikulov offered thousands of dollars to key witnesses against him to travel overseas and remain there until after the defendant’s trial was over. When Narzikulov was arrested in April 2019, FBI special agents recovered a 9mm handgun, approximately $300,000 in cash and numerous identification documents belonging to other individuals from inside a closet in the defendant’s apartment.
In related cases, co-defendants Sherzod Mukumov, Jasur Kamolov, Murodjon Sultanov and Firuz Juraev have also pleaded guilty to various charges and are awaiting sentencing or have already been sentenced.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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