Rhode Island man accused of faking his own death sentenced for 2008 rape

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (WLNE) — The Rhode Island man accused of faking his own death was sentenced in court on Monday for raping a woman in Salt Lake County in 2008, according to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

Nicholas Rossi, who goes by several other names, including Nicholas Alahverdian and Arthur Knight, was sentenced to five years to life.

According to Gill, Rossi and the victim dated between November and December of 2008 after meeting online.

During the relationship, the two got engaged.

The victim said Rossi became emotionally and verbally abusive, and when Rossi was being “rude” at the mall in December of 2008, the victim took off her wedding ring and walked to her car, according to Gill.

Rossi then began to scream outside the car and hit the locked vehicle.

Eventually, Rossi got inside the car and was driven home by the victim.

When the two got inside the house, they began to argue about breaking up, which is when Rossi threw the victim on the bed and raped her.   

Rossi was charged with first-degree felony rape on July 13, 2022 and found guilty on Aug. 13, 2025.

“While justice may have been slow, the defendant was convicted and now sentenced to prison, consistent with the harm he caused to our survivor. She can rest assured he did not escape punishment,” Gill said.