Nayeem Ahmed Chowdhury, Possession of Unregistered Molotov Cocktails, New York 2023

BRONX, NY – Two Bronx men are headed to federal prison after a reign of terror involving homemade Molotov cocktails, targeting their neighbors’ property and putting lives at risk. NAYEEM AHMED CHOWDHURY, 36, and DAVID MENDEZ, 40, both of the Bronx, were sentenced this week for their roles in a series of arson attempts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced.

The pair’s first attack occurred just after 2:00 a.m. on June 8, 2022. According to court filings, CHOWDHURY and MENDEZ spent at least an hour circling a block before approaching a vehicle parked in front of an apartment building. CHOWDHURY ignited a Molotov cocktail – a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid and a wick – and placed it under the car while MENDEZ watched. They then drove off, leaving the device to ignite. They returned approximately 30 minutes later, and MENDEZ threw a second Molotov cocktail under the same vehicle, again with CHOWDHURY observing. Neighbors ultimately extinguished the flames with buckets of water before the car was fully engulfed.

But the attacks didn’t stop there. Around 7:00 a.m. on July 24, 2022, CHOWDHURY upped the ante, approaching another residence and hurling a third Molotov cocktail directly at the home. The bottle shattered against a window and landed on the front porch, erupting in flames. Inside, a family – including a pregnant woman and a toddler – were jolted awake by the crash and frantically used buckets of water to douse the fire before it could spread. The recklessness of the act is staggering; a tragedy was narrowly avoided.

CHOWDHURY previously pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered Molotov cocktails and was sentenced on June 15, 2023. MENDEZ pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess unregistered Molotov cocktails and received his sentence today. U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan handed down a six-year prison sentence to CHOWDHURY and 27 months to MENDEZ. Both men will also serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms.

“These defendants engaged in dangerous and reckless behavior that put lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the New York City Fire Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The ATF took the lead on identifying and tracing the components used in the construction of the firebombs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda C. Weingarten is prosecuting the case. While the motive behind these attacks remains unclear, the swift and decisive action by federal and local law enforcement sends a clear message: the manufacture and use of incendiary devices will not be tolerated, and those who endanger communities will face the full force of the law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on further developments.

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