DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE ANNOUNCES SENTENCING OF RAJEEV KUMAR IN 2000 RAPE CASE

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announces the sentencing of RAJEEV KUMAR, 31, to at least 15 years in state prison for the 2000 rape of a Manhattan resident. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. On June 7, 2011, the defendant pled guilty to the all of the charges against him: Rape in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, and Conspiracy in the Second Degree.

According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court, in 2000, the victim reported to the police that she was raped. A rape kit was collected from the victim, and although DNA was recovered, no matches were found. In 2009, KUMAR was convicted of arson after setting a limousine on fire in Queens. His DNA, which was collected upon his conviction, matched the 2000 rape.

Following his initial indictment on Rape and Sodomy charges in August 17, 2010, the defendant was also indicted on November 1, 2010, on one charge of Conspiracy in the Second Degree. According to documents filed in court, while in custody at the Rikers Island prison complex between August 2010 and October 2010, KUMAR attempted to hire an individual to murder the victim in his rape case. However, the individual to whom he agreed to pay $5,000 to perform this act was actually an undercover police officer. KUMAR’s sentence in the conspiracy case will run consecutively with prison time for the separately indicted rape and sodomy case.

District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorney Martha Bashford, Co-Chief of the Forensic Science and Cold Cases Unit, for prosecuting the sexual assault case, and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy, Deputy Chief of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau, for prosecuting the conspiracy case.


Defendant Information:

RAJEEV KUMAR, D.O.B. 3/26/1980
Queens, NY

Convicted:
• Rape in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Sodomy in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count

Sentence:
• At least 15 years in state prison
• Mandatory registry as a sex offender

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