Your Weekly Update – December 30, 2022

In my three years as your District Attorney, I have worked tirelessly to keep the people of this Borough safe, while implementing effective strategies to empower our communities…. (continued)

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HUSBAND CHARGED WITH MOWING DOWN WIFE WITH SUV AND STABBING HER

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Stephen Giraldo was charged today with attempted murder, assault and other crimes for allegedly hitting his wife with his SUV and then stabbing her with a knife. The couple’s three children were in the vehicle at the time of the incident in front of her Flushing residence. District…

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Your Weekly Update – December 23, 2022

As we prepare to visit our loved ones for the holidays, it is incumbent upon me to stress the importance of safe driving. Each of us bears the individual responsibility to remain alert and cautious while driving on our city roadways… (continued)

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QUEENS FATHER INDICTED FOR ALLEGED MURDER OF 3-YEAR-OLD SON

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Shaquan Butler has been indicted for murder, endangering the welfare of a child and other crimes in connection with the death of his 3-year-old son and physical abuse to a second child in an Elmhurst shelter last month. District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this parent failed his…

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Your Weekly Update – December 16, 2022

Currently, legal cannabis sales in New York are only available to patients at 38 state-authorized medical dispensaries. State regulators recently awarded 36 of the state’s first retail dispensary licenses last month, indicating that legal sales of recreational cannabis would begin soon… (continued)

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BROOKLYN MEN INDICTED IN SERIES OF CONVENIENCE STORE ROBBERIES

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Reginald Williams, Calvin Scantlebury and Dewkwan Cooper were indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on robbery and other charges for allegedly holding up at gunpoint two people at two different retail establishments in Queens on November 20. Defendant Williams was also indicted and arraigned on robbery and…

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QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS FOR SEX TRAFFICKING HOMELESS WOMAN

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Adam “Damian” Lee was sentenced to eight years in prison for sex trafficking and other crimes for forcing a homeless woman into prostitution and threatening to physically harm another. District Attorney Katz said: “The defendant used violence to cruelly exploit a victim at her lowest point,  forcing her…

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DA KATZ CHARGES OPERATORS OF UNLICENSED CANNABIS DISPENSARY IN ROCKAWAY PARK

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that two men were charged with unlawful sale and criminal possession of cannabis for allegedly operating an illegal marijuana dispensary from a converted school bus in Rockaway Park, across from the Rockaway Ferry Dock, less than two blocks from nearby schools. The seizure of the truck comes on the…

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BROOKLYN RESIDENT SENTENCED IN DEADLY BELT PARKWAY CRASH

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jason Bical was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for aggravated vehicular manslaughter after pleading guilty last month to striking and killing a 63-year-old motorist on the Belt Parkway while under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and alcohol in December 2020. District Attorney Katz said: “This…

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DA KATZ SECURES INDICTMENT ON ATTEMPTED RAPE, BURGLARY FOR VIOLENT HOME INVASION

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Michael Rispers was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on attempted rape, burglary, assault and other charges stemming from an armed home invasion. Rispers allegedly unlawfully entered a home in Jamaica, Queens, and violently attacked a female resident. Upon hearing her screams, a male family member interrupted…

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TWO MEN INDICTED FOR DEADLY EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IN BROOKVILLE

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dariel Herrera and Zandrae Ennis have been indicted and arraigned on murder and attempted murder charges, respectively, in the deadly exchange of gunfire that killed a 19-year-old Springfield Gardens man. District Attorney Katz said: “The only way to describe this incident is to say that it was as…

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BROOKLYN MAN CHARGED IN TRIPLE HOMICIDE

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment of Jabari Burrell who was arraigned today on murder charges in the stabbing deaths of his grandmother and two other relatives in their Springfield Gardens home last month. District Attorney Katz said: “This is a heartbreaking tragedy. The defendant is alleged to have turned on three family…

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DA KATZ SECURES INDICTMENT OF ALLEGED DRUG DEALER IN POSSESION OF DEADLY FENTANYL

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dennis Carrol was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance. After U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents stopped Carrol’s car in Hollis on November 28, they found two kilos of fentanyl in the trunk. Carrol is accused of…

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Your Weekly Update – December 9, 2022

Tomorrow is International Animal Rights Day, a time to celebrate and recommit ourselves to protecting the rights of our furry friends. The campaign is shared with Human Rights Day because animals are voiceless members of our community deserving of care and respect as much as humans…. (continued)

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DA KATZ SECURES INDICTMENT FOR SUBWAY ATTACK ON WOMAN

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Abel Pita Aviles was indicted and arraigned today for allegedly robbing and then groping a woman at knifepoint inside an “M” train subway car in Dutch Kills. District Attorney Katz said: “This shameful attack inside our subway system will not go unanswered. My Office will use all tools…

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MAN INDICTED FOR FATALLY STABBING BROTHER

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Henrry Gutierrez was indicted by a Queens grand jury and arraigned on murder and other charges for the fatal stabbing in July of his 25-year-old brother during an argument in the multi-unit Jamaica residence where the two men lived on separate floors. District Attorney Katz said: “This is…

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BROOKLYN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN ROCK ATTACK ON WOMAN IN CORONA

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Elisaul Perez pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in the November 2021 Thanksgiving weekend attack of 61-year-old Guiying Ma. Ma was struck in the head with a large rock while sweeping the sidewalk and street on the block of a friends’ home. District Attorney Katz said: “Her family, friends…

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DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR FATAL STABBING FOLLOWING BABY CHRISTENING PARTY

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the sentencing 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: “A celebration of life resulted in a violent death because of…

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DA KATZ SECURES GUILTY PLEA AND RESTITUTION IN UNION MEMBERSHIP CASH CON

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jofre Ortega pleaded guilty today to grand larceny and other crimes for conning people eager to join the Mason Tenders Local 79 Union by offering memberships for cash. As part of the plea, the defendant is required to pay restitution in the amount of $18,000 to the 14…

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