LI Man Who Kidnapped, Attacked Laborers Pleads Guilty To Hate Crimes

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Long Island man pleaded guilty to hate crime charges Thursday in connection with three incidents in which he lured three Latino men with the promise of work and then assaulted them, even going as far as to strangle one, prosecutors said.

Christopher Cella, 20, of Medford, pleaded guilty to several hate crimes, including second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault.

Cella also pleaded guilty to two counts each of second-degree unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime and aggravated harassment, and criminal obstruction of breathing, as well as a count of second-degree reckless endangerment as a hate crime.

On Sept. 17, 2021, Cella picked up a day laborer at a Farmingville deli with promises of work. He brought the laborer to a remote location, had him get out of the car and then attacked him, prosecutors said, forcibly kissing him and putting him in a chokehold, according to court documents and Cella’s plea.

The man broke free and escaped, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney's office said.

Cella returned home, switched cars and later told police he didn't want to be recognized because, “all those Spanish people know each other,” according to Tierney's office.

Cella then headed to a 7-Eleven in Medford, where a second man was waiting for work. Cella picked him up and also promisd work, but instead drove him to an isolated location, locked him in his car, and began strangling him, prosecutors said.

After about five minutes, the man struggled to breathe, losing his vision and consciousness, Tierney's office said. Cella fled when a civilian came to the man's rescue.

The very next day, Cella returned to the same 7-Eleven and picked up a third day laborer, again with promises of work. When the man got inside Cella's car, he sped off, driving erratically, according to Tierney's office. Despite the man's pleas for Cella to stop, he increased his speed until the man grabbed the gear shift, threw the car into park, and jumped out as it was still moving, Tierney's office said.

Cella then tried to hit the man with his car, before getting out and chasing him on foot — all of which was caught on surveillance video, according to Tierney's office.

"This video evidence, which features the vehicles the defendant used for these crimes, and matched the descriptions of that same vehicle provided by the victims, ultimately led to [Cella's] arrest, Tierney's office said. "In addition to video, [Cella] was identified in photo arrays by all three victims."

Cella voluntarily supplied a written confession in which he detailed his crimes, according to Tierney's office.

Cella is due back in court for sentencing Sept. 21.