Four men have been indicted on charges alleging they kidnapped a man at gunpoint in Bridgeport in 2023, stealing his vehicle and personal items and demanding he give them digital access to his bank account.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced in a news release Monday that an indictment came down against Samuel Branch, also known as “Sosa,” 27, Giovanni Hudson, 34, Dontae Scullark, 22, and William Hinton, 22, all of Norwalk.
According to federal officials, the four men allegedly packed into an SUV in the late hours of Aug. 2, 2023, and followed a man as he drove to a restaurant on Boston Avenue. Armed with a handgun with an extended magazine, Hudson allegedly got into the backseat of the victim’s Mercedes Benz after it had been parked and waited for the man to return.
When he did, Hudson allegedly put the gun to the victim’s head and told him to drive as the other three men followed in their SUV, federal officials said. At some point, Hudson told the victim to pull over so at least one of the accomplices could also enter the SUV.
According to officials, the victim’s cash, credit cards, jewelry and cell phone were then stolen. The kidnappers also allegedly forced the victim to give them digital access to his bank account, authorities said. After the robbery, the kidnappers allegedly let the victim out of the Mercedes and drove away with it, officials said.
On Sept. 4, a grand jury in Bridgeport returned a four-count indictment charging Branch, Hudson, Scullark and Hinton with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a maximum of life in prison.
The indictment also charges Branch, Hudson and Scullark with kidnapping — which also carries a maximum term of life in prison — and carjacking — which carries a maximum of 15 years behind bars. Hudson is also charged with carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of at least seven years, officials said.
Scullark and Hinton were arrested on Sept. 5 and remain detained, according to authorities. Branch and Hudson were being held in state custody and were expected to be arraigned on Monday in connection with the federal charges.
Branch has also been charged in an unrelated indictment connected to drug distribution and firearm possession charges, officials said. That indictment was returned in March. Branch has been detained since September 2023.
