ERIE COUNTY, NY – On Monday, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced the sentencing of Abdiwahab Sabtow, a 21-year-old man from Buffalo. Sabtow received a 5-year prison sentence followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
The case harks back to November 20, 2020, when a female victim was abducted after entering a vehicle with Sabtow and two juvenile offenders. They moved her to several locations in Buffalo where she was held against her will. She eventually managed to escape.
After a six-day trial and more than two days of deliberation, a jury found Sabtow guilty of Kidnapping in the Second Degree on May 16. The victim now has a final order of protection against Sabtow until 2039.
Other co-defendants involved in the case have faced separate trials and sentencing. The juvenile offenders’ cases were handled differently due to their age.
Assistant Chief Cathleen M. Roemer of the Buffalo City Court Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Hilarie L. Henry of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau prosecuted the case.