Posts by ASokol@queensda.org
QUEENS HUSBAND AND WIFE CHARGED WITH OPERATING INTERNATIONAL STOLEN MERCHANDISE RING OUT OF KEW GARDENS HILLS HOME AND STOREFRONT IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that married couple Cristopher Guzman and Yvelisse Guzman Batista, as well as three co-defendants, were charged with operating a large-scale retail theft and fencing operation. The pair sold stolen merchandise including high-end makeup, perfume, beauty products, designer clothing and accessories, locally and abroad under…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – November 22, 2024
My office secured a grand jury indictment against three individuals accused of illegally occupying a single-family home in St. Albans. The rightful owner’s family noticed unauthorized activity in the home this spring after the property was vacated in early 2024… (continued)
Read MoreQUEENS WOMAN INDICTED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING TRANSGENDER VICTIM ON ROOSEVELT AVENUE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Valezka Echeverrias was arraigned on an indictment charging her with sex trafficking and other crimes for allegedly forcing a transgender woman to engage in prostitution on Roosevelt Avenue and to pay the defendant a weekly sum of money. After the victim stated that she wanted to stop engaging…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM OF MORE THAN $240,000 WITH BOGUS CLAIMS OF ECONOMIC HARM DUE TO COVID-19
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Humayun Kabir has been charged with grand larceny and other crimes for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in pandemic relief funds intended to help workers and small business owners suffering hardship due to COVID-19. The defendant allegedly applied for a federal Payroll Protection Program loan and an Economic…
Read MoreTHREE ALLEGED SQUATTERS INDICTED FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING ST. ALBANS HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that True Jackson, Saliam Sudler, and Shania Outar have been indicted on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and other crimes for illegally occupying a single-family home in St. Albans. The rightful owner’s family noticed unauthorized activity in the home this spring after the property was vacated in early 2024.…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN ARSON FIRE THAT SERIOUSLY INJURED TWO OCCUPANTS OF SOUTH OZONE PARK HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Evan Person pleaded guilty to arson in the second degree for setting fire to cars in South Ozone Park and entering a home where he set a blaze that critically injured two of its occupants. District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant is a serial arsonist who set fire…
Read MoreDA KATZ ANNOUNCES TAKEDOWN OF MAJOR NETWORK CABLE THEFT OPERATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kong Gao has been charged with fraudulent making of an electronic access device and criminal possession of forgery devices in connection to a large-scale theft of network cable streaming and Wi-Fi services in Flushing and Whitestone. Gao is accused of manufacturing approximately 200 fraudulent modem devices embedded with…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – November 15, 2024
My office secured a jury trial conviction this week for attempted murder in the first degree against a man who shot NYPD Detective Brett Boller in April 2023… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – November 8, 2024
Each year, I reflect on the debt that we owe to the heroic men and women who have served and sacrificed for our freedoms. My office will host a special Veterans Day Ceremony today, starting at 11:00 a.m., at the Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Elmhurst Park. We take this opportunity each year to express…
Read MoreDA KATZ, NYPD AND SHERIFF’S OFFICE SHUTTER UNLICENSED CANNABIS SHOP IN SUNNYSIDE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the closure of an unlicensed cannabis shop that operated near the Thomas A. Noonan Playground on Greenpoint Avenue in Sunnyside. A woman working at the shop was charged with criminal sale of cannabis and criminal possession of a controlled substance. District Attorney Katz said: “This shop, which was located…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – November 1, 2024
Since May, at least six children in Queens between the ages of 12 and 15 have been injured or tragically lost their lives while “subway surfing.” As a mother of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about our youth who continue to engage in this perilous activity in pursuit of fleeting social media fame…
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 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)
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