Archive for October 2024
BROOKLYN MAN CHARGED WITH RUNNING A LARGE-SCALE POSTAL THEFT OPERATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jamil Brown has been charged with criminal possession of stolen property, identity theft and other crimes after a court-authorized search warrant revealed a slew of stolen bank checks, credits cards, debit cards and driver’s licenses in open view inside the defendant’s home in Brooklyn. Brown’s girlfriend, Kadija Corke,…
Read MoreFORMER PTA PRESIDENT ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING MORE THAN $41,000 FROM ASTORIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Athena Gonzalez, the former parent teacher association president at P.S. 166 in Astoria, has been charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for allegedly stealing more than $41,000 from the school’s PTA. District Attorney Katz said: District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant, as PTA president…
Read MoreFOURTH PERSON INDICTED FOR DOUGLASTON HOME INVASION BURGLARY AND KIDNAPPING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a fourth person has been indicted and arraigned on charges of kidnapping, robbery and burglary following a violent home invasion in Douglaston in August. The defendant, Oneil Thompson, is alleged to have acted as a getaway driver for three men – Jone Smith and brothers Ryan and Brandon…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 25, 2024
During the month of October – National Domestic Violence Awareness Month – we have been keenly focused on extending support to those suffering at the hands of their loved ones. Most recently, my office partnered with Safe Horizon and the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York to host an empowerment luncheon for survivors of domestic…
Read MoreLONG ISLAND MAN INDICTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN FATAL ROAD RAGE CRASH ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Shaqeem Douglas was arraigned on an indictment charging him with manslaughter and related crimes for the death of 41-year-old Pradeppa Desai, who was a passenger in a for-hire Lyft SUV that Douglas cut off while both cars were traveling on the Long Island Expressway on August 14.…
Read MoreTEENAGE ALLEGED GANG MEMBER INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE FOR SHOOTING DEATH OF QUEENS MOTORIST IN ST. ALBANS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a 15-year-old male has been indicted on charges of murder, criminal possession of a weapon and other crimes for allegedly shooting and killing a motorist in St. Albans on September 16. The defendant, an alleged gang member, is accused of discharging a 9 mm handgun multiple times following…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 18, 2024
I authored an op-ed for the New York Daily News recently on the importance of curbing the production of lethal weapons in our communities. As the lead law enforcement officer for Queens County, I have seen an alarming trend emerge — the building of personally manufactured firearms or “ghost guns” in residents’ homes… (continued)
Read MoreALLEGED SQUATTER INDICTED FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING HOWARD BEACH HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Laurel Bay has been indicted on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and other crimes for illegally occupying a single-family home in Howard Beach. The property had been vacant since 2012, with the homeowner managing the property from out of state. Observant neighbors spotted the defendant allegedly moving items…
Read MoreQUEENS WOMAN SENTENCED TO 27 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MANSLAUGHTER AND BURGLARY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Haiyan Deng was sentenced to 27 years in prison for killing a man in her Flushing apartment and a related burglary in September 2021. First responders found 26-year-old Justin Li in the defendant’s bed, dead from a single gunshot wound to the head. The fatality followed an incident…
Read MoreFORMER FBI AGENT CHARGED WITH POSSESSING ARSENAL OF ILLEGAL GHOST GUNS AND STOCKPILE OF AMMUNITION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Scott Chiang has been charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon after search warrants executed at his home in Queens Village and a storage unit in Port Washington, Long Island, uncovered 18 illegal firearms, including eight ghost guns and six assault weapons, as well as…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 11, 2024
My office recently secured a murder conviction against a defendant for the 2010 killing of a transgender woman inside the victim’s apartment in Glendale… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 7, 2024
I was proud to announce a new addition to the office, appointing Kimi as our official facility dog to help provide comfort and companionship to crime victims and witnesses… (continued)
Read MoreDEFENDANT SENTENCED FOR STABBING MAN AFTER VICTIM’S GIRLFRIEND REFUSED HIS ADVANCES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Rahlik Pinnock was sentenced to 10 years in prison for stabbing a man in the backyard of the victim’s home in Jamaica in February 2022. Responding officers found the disoriented victim with stab wounds to his chest and arm, which required extensive medical intervention. The altercation took place…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER FOR KILLING 29-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN HIS FLUSHING APARTMENT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Quiming Wan has been convicted by a jury of murder, sexual abuse and related charges for the November 2021 death of 29-year-old Jiaomei Zhou, whose body he carried from his apartment to the building lobby before being interrupted by other residents. District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant brutally…
Read MoreCORONA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SEX TRAFFICKING OF MIGRANT TEENAGER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Alfredo Morocho pleaded guilty yesterday to sex trafficking charges for targeting and exploiting a migrant teenager into prostitution and paying her for sex. For months, Morocho brokered sex encounters between customers and the teen at locations around Queens, then pocketed money from the encounters. District Attorney Katz said:…
Read MoreREPUTED GANG MEMBER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF TEEN OUTSIDE FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT IN SPRINGFIELD GARDENS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rayvon Phillip, 18, has been charged with murder for allegedly firing multiple gunshots at a car, killing 18-year-old Akim Cisse, outside a fast-food restaurant on September 27 along South Conduit Avenue in Springfield Gardens. District Attorney Katz said, “My office is committed to the prosecution and conviction…
Read MoreMANHATTAN MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN STRANGULATION DEATH OF TRANSGENDER WOMAN IN 2010
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rasheen Everett has been convicted of murder and tampering with physical evidence for the 2010 killing of a transgender woman inside the victim’s apartment in Glendale. Everett strangled the victim and proceeded to pour bleach over her body in an attempt to hide evidence before stealing her…
Read MoreFIVE INDICTED FOR SELLING NARCOTICS IN ASTORIA HOUSES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that five defendants have been variously indicted on conspiracy, criminal sale of a controlled substance and gun sale charges following an 18-month-long undercover operation that resulted in the seizure of more than 750 Percocet and ecstasy pills – most laced with either fentanyl or methamphetamine – and a large…
Read MoreQUEENS WOMAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR FATALLY STABBING IMMIGRATION LAWYER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Xiaoning Zhang was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison for the stabbing death of 66-year-old immigration lawyer Jim Li, who dropped the woman as a client days before the killing. The victim was well known for his legal work and activism during the Tiananmen…
Read MoreDA KATZ INTRODUCES FACILITY DOG NAMED KIMI TO ASSIST IN SPECIAL VICTIM AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Kimi, a 2-year-old golden retriever/Labrador retriever mix, has been appointed to the District Attorney’s Office as a facility dog to provide comfort and companionship to crime victims and witnesses. The service animal was provided free of charge by Canine Companions and is the only facility dog working…
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