MOTORIST CHARGED IN DEADLY COLLISION WITH MOTORCYCLIST

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jairo Ortiz has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving while under the influence and other crimes for allegedly hitting an unidentified motorcyclist while driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle in Elmhurst on Saturday morning. District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant was driving a car while under…

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Your Weekly Update – November 25, 2022

When I created the Human Trafficking Bureau upon taking office in 2020, I was determined to thwart sex and labor trafficking crimes in this borough. Queens County is, unfortunately, uniquely vulnerable to this illegal industry because of our proximity to two international airports and a large immigration population… (continued)

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DEFENDANT SENTENCED FOR THREATENING TO SHOOT MOTORIST OVER PARKING SPOT

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jaquan Adams was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for criminal possession of a weapon. Adams used a gun to threaten a motorist to surrender an open street parking spot in Bayside that he wanted for himself. District Attorney Katz said: “An argument over nothing more than…

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QUEENS FATHER CHARGED WITH MURDER IN DEATH OF 3-YEAR-OLD SON

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Shaquan Butler was arraigned yesterday on murder charges in the death of his 3-year-old son. District Attorney Katz said: “A defenseless young child’s life was brutally snatched from him before it even began in most ways; a case that is equal parts heartbreaking and disturbing. As alleged, the…

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DA KATZ AND NYPD TAKE 32 GUNS OFF THE STREETS AT BUYBACK EVENT

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and the New York Police Department announced that 32 guns were collected today at the Church of God Christian Academy in Far Rockaway, Queens. The gun buyback events seek to curb gun violence and the destruction it causes by accepting working unloaded firearms – with no questions asked – in…

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AFTER EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATIONS, DA KATZ CONSENTS TO VACATING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz today filed motions with defense attorneys to vacate two wrongful convictions. In both cases, new evidence came to light: In Capers, the physical evidence indicated one gun was fired and eyewitness testimony singles out Kevin McClinton as the lone shooter. McClinton, who is solely culpable for the crime, is…

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NETWORK OF DRUG DEALERS DISMANTLED FOLLOWING LONG-TERM INVESTIGATION

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, announced that three individuals have been arrested and charged for allegedly operating as a network of dealers who supplied a variety of drugs to buyers in Far Rockaway, Queens, and other boroughs over the last year. An additional crew member…

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BUS HIJACKER INDICTED ON KIDNAPPING AND OTHER CHARGES

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dwayne Gaddy was indicted and arraigned today on charges of kidnapping, robbery and other crimes for the hijacking of a crowded MTA bus in Cambria Heights last month using what appeared to be a handgun. The approximately 30 passengers on board the bus were able to escape. The…

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DEFENDANT CONVICTED OF MURDER FOR FATAL STABBING FOLLOWING BABY CHRISTENING PARTY

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the conviction of Antonio Martinez for stabbing to death a fellow guest at a 2019 celebration of a baby’s christening in Corona.  Martinez argued with the victim before repeatedly stabbing him in the chest. District Attorney Katz said: “From celebrating a life, to mourning a death, this violent attack…

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CO-DEFENDANTS PLEAD GUILTY IN SHOOTING DEATHS

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Richard Davenport and Neville Brown each pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter for the shooting deaths of two men in South Richmond Hill in late 2017 and early 2018. The judge in the case said he would sentence Davenport to 29 years in prison and Brown to…

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Today, on Veterans Day, I reflect on the debt that we owe to all the heroic men and women who have sacrificed for our freedoms… (continued)

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DA KATZ SECURES MANSLAUGHTER INDICTMENT IN SUBWAY SYSTEM DEATH

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Carlos Garcia was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today in Supreme Court on manslaughter and other charges for the death of a fellow commuter last month at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue subway station as a result of a physical altercation. District Attorney Katz said: “Our subway…

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ALLEGED DRUG DEALER INDICTED ON NARCOTICS, WEAPONS CHARGES

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Alejandro Rodriguez was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon and other crimes. Rodriguez is accused of supplying a large quantity of narcotics to an undercover officer over the course of…

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QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING WWI VET

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Martin Motta was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 1976 killing of an 81-year-old World War I Veteran. The Queens District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit solved the 46-year-old homicide case with the NYPD using forensic genetic genealogy for the first time in New York…

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DEFENDANT CHARGED WITH POSSESSING AND PROMOTING CHILD SEX ABUSE MATERIAL

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, announced today that Andre Hyman has been charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child and other crimes for allegedly purchasing, downloading, and possessing child sex abuse materials on his computer inside his Jamaica residence between May 2021 and November 2022. District…

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Your Weekly Update – November 4, 2022

We have one of the most intricate criminal justice systems in the world, and a standard for excellence that we have upheld in Queens County through diligent prosecutorial work… (continued)

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