Archive for November 2025
BROOKLYN MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR KNIFING SUBWAY RIDER OVER PHONE CALL
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Johnny Wood was charged with attempted murder, assault and weapon possession for stabbing a subway rider onboard an E train on Saturday. The 54-year-old victim confronted Wood about a noisy cellphone conversation, an argument ensued and then Wood allegedly stabbed the man in the ribcage. District Attorney…
Read MoreQUEENS UNCLE WHO KILLED NEPHEW AT FAMILY BARBECUE CONVICTED OF MURDER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Durran Morgan was convicted of murder in the shooting death of his 25-year-old nephew during a family barbecue in St. Albans during Memorial Day weekend in 2023. Morgan argued with his nephew, 25-year-old Chevaughn Millings, over payment for the chicken served at the gathering. The defendant was also…
Read MoreMANHATTAN MAN CHARGED FOR UNPROVOKED ASSAULT OF TWO STRAPHANGERS ON SUBWAY PLATFORM IN KEW GARDENS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Tyquan Manassa was arraigned late last night on charges of assault and weapon possession for an unprovoked attack on two commuters inside the Union Turnpike-Kew Gardens train station on Wednesday. Both victims were slashed in the face while waiting for the train to arrive. District Attorney Katz said:…
Read MoreGLENDALE MAN SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MASPETH TAVERN KILLING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marcin Pieciak was sentenced to 24 years in prison for fatally stabbing his girlfriend, Sarah McNally, in March 2024. The defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month in satisfaction of the indictment against him. Pieciak cornered the victim while she worked at a Maspeth tavern, fatally attacked her,…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – November 21, 2025
This week, we announced the largest single gang takedown in the history of Queens County. We arraigned 32 defendants after filing a 97-count indictment…(continued)
Read MoreREPEAT OFFENDER EXTRADITED FROM CALIFORNIA ON BAIL JUMPING CHARGES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Freddy Arias Zapata was extradited and arraigned on an indictment charging him with bail jumping, an E felony, in regard to three separate grand larcenies and a burglary that took place between May and November 2024. Zapata is accused of stealing luxury items, cash and other valuables from…
Read More32 REPUTED GANG MEMBERS INDICTED ON MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER AND CONSPIRACY CHARGES FOR FOUR-YEAR TURF WAR IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced today that 32 reputed members of the Bad-Co Ballout gang have been indicted following a year-long investigation into multiple shootings and homicides in Southeast Queens dating back to 2021. It was the largest single gang takedown in the history…
Read MoreBRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STEALING VICTIM’S CAR AND RUNNING OVER THE MAN WITH HIS OWN VEHICLE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Zahir Williams was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the death of Francisco Ortega in October 2023. The 50-year-old victim was viciously beaten by Williams and his cohorts and left lying in an Astoria intersection. Williams then stole the victim’s car and deliberately drove over Ortega’s unconscious…
Read MoreJOHN DOE DEFENDANT SENTENCED FOR STEALING THREE QUEENS COUNTY HOMES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a John Doe defendant – who has used multiple aliases – was sentenced to 4 ½ years to nine years in prison for stealing three homes in Queens. The defendant was arrested in March under the name of Carl Avinger for his role in an ongoing deed fraud…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – November 7, 2025
We announced criminal charges against a Rosedale man after an investigation led to the recovery of eight guns, including seven ghost guns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition, at the defendant’s home. The guns were allegedly made on a 3D printer inside the defendant’s residence and include two assault weapons… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 31, 2025
We hosted the first Missing Persons Day in Queens recently, in partnership with the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 24, 2025
A train rider was indicted on charges of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession for a violent knife attack against another subway passenger on board the 7 train at the Mets-Willetts Point station in September… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 24, 2025
We announced criminal charges against a Bayside woman recently for allegedly stealing approximately $2.1 million from 17 victims across the country through what is known as a “pig butchering scam.” (continued)
Read MoreFAR ROCKAWAY WOMAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STRIKING MAN ON SIDEWALK IN FATAL HIT-AND-RUN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kiani Phoenix was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the death of 59-year-old Milton Storch in Far Rockaway in 2022. Phoenix, who had been arguing with another woman outside a deli, entered her car and accelerated toward the woman but instead hit…
Read MoreTRIO INDICTED FOR MORTGAGE FRAUD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Daniel Fama, his wife, Marjorie Fama, and Benedetto Cupo were indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on charges of grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and other crimes for falsifying employment verification documents to obtain a $550,000 mortgage for the Famas’ home on Staten Island. District…
Read MoreROSEDALE MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF GHOST GUN CACHE FOUND AT HIS HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lianu Luis Brown Delgado has been charged with weapons possession and other crimes after an investigation led to the recovery of eight guns, including seven ghost guns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition, at the defendant’s Rosedale home. The guns were allegedly made on a 3D printer…
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