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An Escalade crashed into a Port Authority police vehicle at the Fort Lee toll plaza on June 6 during a chase over the George Washington Bridge, a spokesman said.
(Courtesy of Joe Gomez)
— A New York man accused of raping and kidnapping his ex-girlfriend in Pennsylvania, burning down a used car dealership in Paterson, and carjacking a federal employee at a rest stop during a three-state rampage that
ended in a violent crash on the George Washington Bridge
made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday.
Luis Figueroa, 33, of the Bronx, is charged by the New Jersey U.S. Attorney's Office with kidnapping, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated sexual abuse, assaulting an employee of the United States, and arson.
If convicted on all charges, he will likely face life in prison.
Federal prosecutors say Figueroa, a career criminal, began his crime spree by breaking into his ex-girlfriend's house in Hazelton, P.A. on the morning of June 6, armed with a shotgun. When his former lover opened the door, he struck her in the head with a double-barreled shotgun and told her he was going to kill her, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said. The ex-girlfriend and a female relative inside the apartment were both struck with the shotgun during the struggle, Fishman said.
Figueroa is alleged to have forced the ex-girlfriend into the back seat of her SUV as they made off on Route 80 towards New Jersey. They pulled over at the Kittatinny rest stop in Warren County where he allegedly climbed into the back seat and forcibly raped her, according to the criminal complaint.
Prosecutors say Figueroa then disposed of the shotgun rounds in a wooded area. Upon his return to the vehicle, he found that the alleged victim had escaped. In the parking lot, Figueroa found a U.S. National Parks Service employee, assaulted him and took his car keys, Fishman said.
Figueroa, according to Fishman, then drove to a used car dealership in Paterson and doused a small office area with gasoline.
"The employee managed to get the gas container out of Figueroa’s hands, but Figueroa lit a match and ignited the structure," Fishman said. "He then fled the scene in the white SUV."
Figueroa's reign of terror ended when police on the George Washington Bridge attempted to stop him, Fishman said. The felon struck two police vehicles before crashing into a wall during the high-speed chase, prosecutors said. He was tackled after a foot chase.
Figueroa was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following his Tuesday afternoon court appearance.