A Central Islip man has been accused of raping a 22-year-old woman after posing a taxi cab driver to lure the victim into his vehicle in Patchogue, Suffolk County police said.
Adil Raja was charged with first-degree rape hours after the alleged attack occurred over the weekend.
Police said the 22-year-old suspect was driving a green Lincoln when he approached the victim, who was walking at the corner of Bay Avenue and Main Street, indicated that he was a taxi driver and offered her a ride at 4 a.m.
The woman accepted and asked the Raja to drive her to a nearby store, but Raja instead took the woman to a different location, flashed a bb gun and sexually assaulted her in the back of the vehicle, police said.
Afterward, the woman got out of the vehicle and called 911, police said. Officers stopped a vehicle matching the description shortly later and the victim identified the driver, Raja, as her alleged attacker, police said.
Suffolk County Judge Jennifer Henry set bail for Raja at $250,000 cash or $750,000 bond. He is due back in court on Thursday.
Fifth Squad detectives are continuing the investigation and ask anyone who may have been a victim to a similar incident to call them at 631-854-8552.
