Criminal Complaints Charge Two with Kidnapping, Carjacking

PROVIDENCE, RI—Two men were charged by way of criminal complaints in federal court in Providence, R.I., on Monday with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping, and one count of carjacking in connection with an incident which occurred in Providence on Saturday, April 2, 2011.

Zhenpeng Hu, a/k/a Todd, 25, of Malden, Mass., made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Providence on Monday and was ordered detained by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David L. Martin. Hu was arrested on Saturday by Malden Police on an unrelated charge. Following an appearance in a state court in Massachusetts on Monday morning, Hu was arrested by agents from the FBI and transported to Rhode Island. Hu, a Chinese national, was visiting the United States on a student visa. A preliminary immigration check has determined that Hu has overstayed his student visa.

A federal arrest warrant has also been issued for Shengfeng Cui, a/k/a Alex, 27, of East Providence, R.I., a Chinese national, who is believed to have fled the country shortly after the incident occurred.

The federal criminal complaints and arrest of Hu were announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; and Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office, and Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare noted the exceptional assistance of Malden Police, Massachusetts State Police and administrators at Johnson and Wales University in Providence in the investigation of this matter.

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.