Story by Ethan
On October 23rd, 2025, the arrest of Rippon Uddin, age 39, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Rippon Uddin was charged with first and second-degree Scheme to Defraud, third-degree Coercion, third-degree Grand Larceny, and Labor Trafficking. The arrest and charges against Rippon Uddin were a result of an investigation handled by [Officers/Detectives].
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the 21-year-old victim had entered the US under a student visa in 2021. The victim originally was supposed to attend college in Missouri, however he pivoted towards going to school in Manhattan where he arrived. The victim had met Rippon Uddin shortly after getting to New York City, shortly after the victim proceeded to apply for an online management program the defendant ran. In 2022 the victim moved to Florida to live with a family member while completing his education and attending Rippon Uddin’s program virtually. Rippon Uddin claimed that he could help with the victim’s immigration status and requested that he was sent money to hire an attorney. The victim sent an approximate total of $18,942 to Rippon Uddin in order to hire the attorney.
In September 2023 Rippon Uddin had urged the victim to go back to New York City in order to complete an immigration review and submit fingerprinting and documentation. On September 21st the victim arrived at Rippon Uddin’s residence, where the defendant allegedly told the victim that he was required to housesit while waiting at the house while Rippon Uddin was traveling abroad. The victim was allegedly threatened with deportation and was told by Rippon Uddin that he would have to redo his immigration application if he ever left the house. Allegedly Rippon Uddin forced the victim to do housework and cleaning, care for his cat, and sleep in the basement which the defendant was able to lock using a remote system installed in the residence. The victim remained trapped for 33 days, allegedly even being slapped by Rippon Uddin on one occasion when his cleaning didn’t meet the defendant’s standards. During this period the victim had no internet access to attend classes which threatened his student visa. When the victim was able to get in contact with the attorney Rippon Uddin claimed to have gotten for him, the lawyer told that he never heard of the victim and that he was never hired by him nor have worked with him.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Rippon Uddin are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
