Archive for February 2025
Your Weekly Update – February 28, 2025
I had the honor of speaking at the Citizens Crime Commission’s breakfast forum this week to discuss the work of my office to keep Queens safe. The CCC is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to preventing gun violence and violent extremism through programs, advocacy and policy reform… (continued)
Read MoreDRIVER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER AND DWI FOR PRE-DAWN COLLISION THAT KILLED MOTORIST IN CORONA
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Michael Pena was arraigned on charges of manslaughter and related charges for allegedly driving at a high rate of speed and slamming his Mercedes-Benz into another motorist at the intersection of 107th Street and Northern Boulevard in East Elmhurst on Wednesday. The victim, 23-year-old Justin Diaz, was driving…
Read MoreASTORIA RESIDENT SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STRAY BULLET SLAY OF NYCHA WORKER IN 2020
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jerald Bethea has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty last month to manslaughter in the first degree. The defendant killed a 25-year-old NYCHA employee who was working on the grounds of the Astoria Houses when he was hit by a stray bullet fired…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF WOMAN ON ROOFTOP IN 2023
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jerson Vasquez was sentenced to 15 years in prison for rape, attempted murder and another charge for the violent sexual assault of a woman on a Jamaica rooftop in August 2023. The defendant answered an online prostitution advertisement and lured the victim to the location. District Attorney…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 21, 2025
My office announced this week that a defendant faces 20 years in prison on kidnapping and robbery charges for three disturbing incidents that took place in July and August 2022… (continued)
Read MoreLONG ISLAND MAN WHO LURED TWO VICTIMS TO LOCATIONS FOR SEX FACES 20 YEARS IN PRISON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Gil Iphael pleaded guilty to kidnapping, robbery and promoting prostitution for three incidents in which he enticed victims to go to a location for sex, then detained, assaulted and robbed them with the help of a female co-defendant. In one instance, he beat a victim and threatened…
Read MoreDA KATZ APPEALS FOR INFORMATION IN COLD CASE MURDER OF NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today the release of surveillance video in connection with the death of 28-year-old John Jeff, an off-duty New York City Correction Officer, who was shot and killed four years ago at the corner of Defoe and Ridgedale Streets in Springfield Gardens. The August 15, 2020, incident was caught on…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 14, 2025
My office, in partnership with the NYPD, has been investigating the cold case murder of an off-duty New York City correction officer that took place on August 15, 2020. The victim, 28-year-old John Jeff, was shot and killed following a verbal altercation at the corner of Defoe and Ridgedale Streets in Springfield Gardens… (continued)
Read MoreQUEENS MAN INDICTED AND IN CUSTODY FOR 2021 FATAL GUNPOINT ROBBERY IN ASTORIA
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jordan Hannah, an FDNY EMT, was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on first-degree murder and other charges for the fatal gunpoint robbery of 22-year-old Kyle Griffin in April 2021. Griffin was seated in his white Range Rover near the corner of 41st Street and 30th…
Read MoreSUNNYSIDE COUPLE SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF NEIGHBOR AFTER FIGHT OVER PARKING SPOT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that married couple Arturo Cuevas and Daisy Barrera have been sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder for the stabbing and baseball bat attack of their neighbor, a 28-year-old man, in March 2023. The assault stemmed from a previous dispute between the couple…
Read MoreQUEENS GANG LEADER CONVICTED OF MURDER FOR SHOOTING DEATH OF BRONX MAN AT RUFUS KING PARK IN 2020
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Chance Goode has been found guilty of murder in the second degree for the death of a 22-year-old Bronx man during a broad daylight shooting in Rufus King Park in Jamaica in October 2020. The murder stemmed from a marijuana deal gone wrong. District Attorney Katz said:…
Read MoreBROOKLYN MAN CHARGED IN BURGLARY PATTERN FOR BREAKING INTO HOMES THROUGHOUT QUEENS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Zengguo Chen has been charged with burglary, grand larceny, assault and other crimes in connection with a pattern of home burglaries that took place between October and February. Chen is alleged to have entered homes through windows and taken jewelry and other items. District Attorney Katz said:…
Read MoreDRIVER OF U-HAUL TRUCK INDICTED FOR HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED PEDESTRIAN ON SIDEWALK IN AUGUST 2024
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jamie Ferreira and Jennifer Sablan have been indicted for various crimes related to the August 2024 hit-and-run death of 56-year-old David Opiela. Ferreira is alleged to have been speeding in a U-Haul truck on Horace Harding Expressway when she struck the victim, who was standing on the sidewalk,…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 7, 2025
My office filed criminal charges of assault, unauthorized practice and reckless endangerment this week against a cosmetologist accused of providing beauty treatments without a license, injuring a woman… (continued)
Read MoreFLUSHING COSMETOLOGIST CHARGED WITH ASSAULT FOR PROVIDING PURPORTED BEAUTY TREATMENTS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Fei Min has been charged with assault, unauthorized practice and reckless endangerment for repeatedly injecting unknown substances during multiple visits into the face, neck and breasts of a client and purported that she was providing Botox, collagen and other treatments. Min lacked a license to provide such treatments.…
Read More