Arrest Of Hudson County Lawyer Matthew Nilo For Boston Rapes Is Stuff Of British Tabloids

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — It's a story worthy of a movie (probably starring Ben Affleck).

Earlier this year, while attorney Matthew Nilo, who lives in a luxury development on the Hudson County waterfront, was at a business function, FBI agents waited to nab DNA samples from his drinking glass.

They were hoping to connect him with the rapes and assaults of four women in the Boston area in 2007 and 2008, part of a "Cold Case initiative" meant to ensure that those who got away with crimes long ago don't have the chance to continue.

Apparently, the investigators' plan worked.

On May 30, the day after Memorial Day, a collection of 13 law enforcement officials headed to Nilo's lobby at the Estuary apartments in Weehawken, across the water from Manhattan. The group included six members of the Boston Police Department, two Boston FBI agents, three Newark-based FBI agents, an Atlantic City agent, and a Hudson County Sheriff's Officer, according to court documents.

The group asked a desk attendant to tell Nilo to come get a package.

(Other NJ Crimes News: 3 Men Posed As Amazon Drivers To Break Into Home)

Then, they took the 35-year-old attorney into custody in connection with assaults committed in Boston's Charlestown neighborhood over a decade earlier.

The contrast between the attorney's current life on paper and his past life as detailed in court papers — and the fact that he was ensnared by newer DNA technology — has sparked interest around the world, with headlines in the same British tabloids that often focus on the royal family.

"Attorney accused of raping four women after family members sent DNA to genealogy site," headlined the UK Mirror, whose website divides coverage into "News/Football/Celebs."

"NJ attorney's fiancée clutches rosary beads as she watches him plead not guilty to raping four women while a student in Boston 15 years ago after offering them a ride," blared the Daily Mail.

The fact that Nilo attended prestigious schools including Boston Latin, whose alums include Benjamin Franklin, Sam Adams, and John Hancock, further added to the intrigue.

According to various press reports (and information on Nilo's since-deleted LinkedIn page), Nilo lived in Boston's North End at the time of the crimes, and would have been on break from his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin. His LinkedIn page listed his major as psychology.

'Will Never Give Up'

For those who never got answers in the brutal cases, the news brought relief. Nilo is accused of picking up women in his car under false pretenses, then threatening them, sometimes displaying a weapon.

“While we know Matthew Nilo’s arrest cannot ease the harm he has allegedly inflicted upon his survivors, we believe we have removed a dangerous threat from our community,” said the FBI in a series of statements.

"The most important takeaway today is for victims of violent crimes and their families," they added, "despite the passage of time, the FBI, the Boston Police Department, and our law enforcement partners will never give up."

The crimes were committed in the Charlestown neighborhood, once depicted as crime-filled in Ben Affleck's thriller "The Town" (although locals say the depiction wasn't accurate).

What's Next

In a Hudson County courtroom two weeks ago, Nilo, 35, waived his right to extradition proceedings and was brought to Boston, where he pleaded not guilty.

He was charged with aggravated rape, kidnapping, and other charges linked to the 2007 and 2008 attacks, the Boston Globe reported.

“I do understand that the procedures used by law enforcement are somewhat suspect," said his attorney, according to reports.

Police are now looking to see if Nilo is connected to other crimes in places he lived. The LinkedIn profile for Nilo showed that he graduated from law school in San Francisco.

Nilo has been suspended from his job as a cyber attorney at Cowbell in New York City, the Boston Globe said.

Update: On Monday, Nilo's family posted $500,000 bail for him in Boston, allowing him to walk free for now, according to reports. One victim told the media she was outraged, and had to go on disability after her attack.