NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Three United States Postal Workers were indicted on charges connected with the kidnapping and attempted rape of their coworker in the back of a postal truck in Manhattan, District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Wednesday.
Daniel Jean and Kirt Acala, both 38, and 40-year-old Edward Chou are accused of kidnapping an incapacitated colleague in June 2023 by dragging her body from a post office loading dock into the back of a parked truck. Once in the vehicle, Jean allegedly attempted to rape her.
In the late afternoon on June 8, 2023, the survivor attended an after-work birthday party for a friend at the East 14th Street post office, where she worked with the three men.
Later in the evening she began feeling strange, could not control her body and eventually lost consciousness.
Jean allegedly slapped and squeezed the survivor’s buttocks while she was unable to stand or hold her head up, before dragging her out of the post office and putting her into the back of a truck with the help of Acala and Chou, prosecutors said.
NYPD officers responded to a 911 call at the location and found Acala and Chou sitting in the front seats of the truck, where officials said they initially refused to open the back.
Police heard banging sounds and calls for help, and Jean eventually stepped out of the back of the truck with his pants unzipped.
Prosecutors said that the survivor was in the back with her pants undone.
An investigation by the NYPD, district attorney’s office and USPS Inspector General’s Office led to the men’s arrest.
All three men are charged with kidnapping and kidnapping as a sexually motivated felony, while Jean is also charged with attempted rape, sexual abuse, attempted sexual abuse and forcible touching.
“We take investigations and prosecutions of sexual violence extremely seriously and have the survivor-centered services and resources to help those who have been sexually assaulted,” Bragg said. “Please call us at 212-335-9373.”
If you are a victim of sexual assault, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or online.rainn.org. New York State residents may call the New York State Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline at 800-942-6906. New Jersey residents may call the Statewide Sexual Violence Hotline at 800-601-7200.