Archive for June 2023

Four Women and Baby Held Hostage at Gunpoint Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Tex Ortiz pleaded guilty today to a kidnapping in which five people – including a 9-month-old – were held at gunpoint during a botched home invasion that turned into a hostage standoff in Richmond Hill in November 2020. The case…

Defendant and Two Others Robbed Stores at Gunpoint Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Reginald Williams was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for a robbery spree that hit 10 locations, including gas stations and convenience stores — with 15 people held up at gunpoint — in November 2022. His two co-defendants have…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that James Villarruel was arraigned on a charge of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child and other crimes after allegedly paying a 14-year-old girl to perform a sex act and take lewd photos and videos of him, and trying to pay a 12-year-old girl to take photos…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Raymond Jackson and his mother, Avita Campbell, were sentenced today on manslaughter and gun possession charges in the September 2020 shooting death of a 27-year-old man in Far Rockaway. Jackson was sentenced to 24 years in prison. His mother received a 22-year sentence. District Attorney Katz said: “A…

20 Ghost Guns Recovered, Including Semi-Automatic Pistols and Assault Weapons Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Chaz McMillan was sentenced today to five and one-half years in prison for possessing a stockpile of illegal weapons, including ghost guns and large-capacity magazines and ammunition, in his Fresh Meadows home. District Attorney Katz said: “We will…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that attorney and former FBI agent John Magri was arraigned on charges of promoting a sexual performance by a child for allegedly sending child sexual abuse materials from a computer in his Forest Hills home. District Attorney Katz said: “The horrific allegations against the defendant are all the more…

Defendant Was Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Marijuana Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Victor Mitchell pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide for a Far Rockaway single-car crash that killed his 8-year-old son in August 2020. Sobriety tests showed the defendant was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. District Attorney Katz…

Victim Sexually Assaulted in Street and Found Naked From Waist Down; Sentencing Scheduled for July 6 Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Reeaz Khan pleaded guilty today to murder and other charges in the heinous attack of a 92-year-old woman walking near her Richmond Hill home on a frigid January night in 2020. The…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that James Fraley was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for attempted murder and drug and weapons possession charges in the 2021 shooting of a deli owner in Briarwood and the subsequent discovery of a large quantity of heroin in his home. Fraley was on lifetime parole for…

Charges Based on Dozens of Undercover Buys of Cocaine, Ecstasy and Guns Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that an investigation in collaboration with the NYPD has led to drug and gun trafficking charges being filed against eight men and the seizure of narcotics with a street value of more than $1 million. Three of…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Saber Abuhamra and Jorge Hernandez are charged with assault and strangulation after they allegedly came out from behind the counter at a Rockaway Park deli and attacked a customer who complained about his food and now is fighting for his life. District Attorney Katz said: “This is yet…

Faces Up to 25 Years to Life in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Charles Rowe was arraigned for allegedly raping a 69-year-old woman, attacking another woman, and committing other crimes including robbery and burglary at a Jamaica storage facility. District Attorney Katz said: “We allege this man is a stone-cold predator who…

Faces up to 5 to 15 Years in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Yaser Ibrahim was indicted today by a Queens grand jury and arraigned on manslaughter and other charges in connection with a car crash in Astoria that left a 16-year-old bicyclist dead. DA Katz said: “The rules of the road…

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Shemecca Wise was arraigned on charges of attempted murder and attempted assault for allegedly shoving a commuter onto the tracks Monday at a Woodhaven subway station. District Attorney Katz said: “New Yorkers depend on public transportation to get safely to and from work and school. We cannot allow…

Two Men Killed Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Tamir Khan was arraigned today on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and other crimes for a collision Monday morning in Richmond Hill that left two men dead. DA Katz said: “This was a horrific collision that we allege was caused by…