4 Suspects Indicted In Bridgeport Kidnapping And Carjacking Case: Feds

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Four Norwalk men have been federally indicted in connection with an alleged kidnapping and carjacking in Bridgeport in August 2023, federal and local law enforcement officials announced.

A grand jury in Bridgeport returned a four-count indictment earlier this month against Samuel Branch, 27, also known as “Sosa”; Giovanni Hudson, 34; Dontae Scullark, 22; and William Hinton, 22. Branch is not related to the reporter on this story.

Prosecutors allege the four conspired to kidnap a man on Aug. 2–3, 2023. According to the indictment, the defendants followed the victim to a restaurant on Boston Avenue in Bridgeport. Hudson, armed with a handgun with an extended magazine, allegedly entered the victim’s Mercedes-Benz and waited for him. When the victim returned, Hudson is accused of holding the gun to the victim’s head and ordering him to drive while the others followed in an SUV.

Authorities say the assailants robbed the victim of cash, credit cards, jewelry, a cellphone and other items, and demanded access to his digital bank account. They then allegedly released the victim and drove off with his car.

Branch, Hudson, Scullark and Hinton are charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a possible life sentence. Branch, Hudson and Scullark also face kidnapping and carjacking charges. Hudson faces an additional count of carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory minimum seven-year consecutive sentence.

Scullark and Hinton were arrested Sept. 5 and remain detained. Branch and Hudson, who are in state custody on other matters, were scheduled for arraignment Monday. Branch is also charged in a separate federal indictment with drug and firearm offenses.

U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan emphasized that an indictment is not evidence of guilt and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation involves the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bridgeport and Norwalk police departments and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Michael A. DeJoseph, serving as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, are prosecuting the case.

The matter is part of Operation Take Back America, a Justice Department initiative combining resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods to address violent crime and transnational criminal organizations.