New York Man Charged With Kidnapping And Assaulting A Victim In Essex County, New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man will appear in federal court today to face allegations that he assaulted and kidnapped an individual who had a protection order against him, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Rudolf Szoradi, 50, is charged by four-count criminal complaint with kidnapping, transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines, interstate domestic violence and interstate violation of a protection order. He is expected to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court. Szoradi was originally arrested in December 2017 and was in state custody.

According to the complaint:

In 2017, a state court issued a protection order requiring Szoradi to stay away from the victim, an individual with whom Szoradi previously had a romantic relationship. In violation of that order, Szoradi took the victim to his relative’s residence in Essex County, New Jersey, in December 2017.

On Dec. 15, 2017, in the basement of that residence, Szoradi allegedly assaulted the victim, including choking, punching, and kicking the victim while the victim was on the ground. Szoradi also attacked the victim with a knife. The victim made numerous attempts to escape, but each time Szoradi allegedly placed himself on top of the victim and continued the assault, accusing the victim of cheating on him and threatening to kill the victim.

Later that day, Szoradi allegedly put the victim into the back seat of a vehicle that belonged to another relative of Szoradi. Using a string of Christmas tree lights, Szoradi allegedly tied up the victim’s arms and feet so that the victim could not escape. Szoradi did not have permission to take the vehicle, and the owner reported it stolen. With the victim restrained in the back seat, Szoradi drove the vehicle toward Florida.

While driving through North Carolina, the victim convinced Szoradi to take the victim to a hospital. Szoradi drove the victim to a hotel in Garner, North Carolina, allegedly to conceal the extent of the victim’s injuries before visiting the hospital.

On Dec. 16, 2017, Szoradi drove the victim to a hospital in Clayton, North Carolina. Surveillance video allegedly shows him drop an object into a trash can near the entrance of the emergency room, where law enforcement later recovered a knife. The victim was treated for serious injuries, including multiple knife punctures and hand lacerations, facial and neck trauma, multiple contusions, and blackened eyes. Szoradi was arrested at the hospital.

The kidnapping charge carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison. The transportation of a stolen vehicle, interstate domestic violence, and interstate violation of a protective order charges are each punishable by 10 years in prison.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen in Newark, with the investigation. He also thanked the Newark Police Division and Clayton police departments for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Feldman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Protection Unit in Newark.