JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY — A Queens man and his mother have been indicted on multiple charges after allegedly targeting his ex-girlfriend in a series of violent and intimidating acts, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.
Brayahan Agudelo, 31, faces a 22-count indictment that includes charges of burglary, strangulation, stalking, menacing, criminal solicitation, and conspiracy. His mother, Maria Cruz, 52, was indicted on charges of burglary, conspiracy, witness tampering, and stalking.
“As alleged, Brayahan Agudelo subjected his former partner to multiple acts of domestic violence which escalated in severity. The defendant then approached an undercover officer and asked the officer to paralyze the woman,” Katz stated. “We will do everything in our power to protect survivors of intimate partner violence.”
The indictment details a pattern of abuse that began April 10, when Agudelo allegedly strangled his ex-girlfriend at her home, rendering her unconscious in front of their 2-year-old daughter. Over the following weeks, he repeatedly appeared outside her apartment and forcibly entered her home, threatening her with a knife, pulling her by the hair, and seizing her phone to prevent her from calling for help.
ATTEMPTED ASSAULT FOR HIRE AND JAILHOUSE PLOT
In a separate incident on April 24, Agudelo allegedly solicited an undercover NYPD officer to physically disable his ex-girlfriend, offering payment for the attack. The undercover officer was involved in an unrelated auto theft investigation when Agudelo made the solicitation.
After his arrest on April 25, Agudelo allegedly contacted his mother from jail and directed her to intimidate the victim into not testifying. Cruz reportedly entered the victim’s apartment building using a security code provided by her son and attempted to confront the victim, though the victim was not home at the time. Surveillance video allegedly captured Cruz inside the building on April 28 and 29.
Agudelo faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Cruz faces up to 20 years. Both defendants are scheduled to return to court on July 29 before Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky.
A Queens man and his mother face serious prison time after an alleged campaign of violence, threats, and intimidation targeting his former partner.
