Metro

Fake drowner on trial in kidnap

Hours after pleading guilty to faking his own drowning, a Long Island man tried to abduct a woman and force her into his van, claiming to be a cop busting a prostitute, a prosecutor said.

Raymond Roth, 49, of Long Beach, went on trial Thursday in Mineola on criminal-impersonation, attempted-kidnapping and other charges — the latest bizarre setback for Roth since he faked his drowning at Jones Beach in July 2012.

The same day prosecutors accepted a plea bargain in the fake-drowning case last March, Roth allegedly went to a Freeport neighborhood where he identified himself as a police officer and demanded his alleged kidnap victim get into his van.

“I am the police. You’re under arrest,” Roth said, according to Assistant District Attorney Everett Witherall.

The woman ran into a check-cashing facility. Roth followed but fled before police arrived.

Roth was promised a 90-day jail sentence for pleading guilty to the fake-drowning scheme to collect about $400,000 in life insurance. But that deal was negated following his arrest on the latest charges. He now faces up to four years in prison.

Roth’s attorney Brian Davis said Roth thought the kidnap victim was a prostitute and added that Roth may be guilty of disorderly conduct, harassment, stalking and other charges, but not attempted kidnapping.

“A good portion of it was alcohol-induced,” Davis maintained.