Posts by ASokol@queensda.org
Your Weekly Update – May 31, 2024
My office secured an indictment on a murder charge against a Florida man for the 2009 stabbing death of his 64-year-old uncle, Rosario Prestigiacomo… (continued)
Read MoreFLORIDA MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE IN 2009 COLD CASE KILLING OF HIS UNCLE IN RIDGEWOOD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Anthony Scalici was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on a charge of second-degree murder in the 2009 stabbing death of his 64-year-old uncle, Rosario Prestigiacomo, inside the victim’s Ridgewood home. The 15-year-old case was solved through forensic genetic genealogy, making it the first time a…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 24, 2024
Memorial Day allows the entire nation an opportunity to pause and reflect on the brave service members whose immense sacrifice helps ensure that the freedoms we cherish today are preserved… (continued)
Read MoreCHARGES FOR BOTH LIQUOR STORE OWNER AND TWO ALLEGED SHOPLIFTERS AFTER INCIDENTS ON WYCKOFF AVENUE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Edwin Poaquiza and Kevin Pullatasi are charged with petit larceny for allegedly stealing two bottles of liquor from Franja Wine and Liquors on Wyckoff Avenue. Separately, store owner Franscisco Valerio is charged with assault for allegedly discharging his weapon when attempting to pistol-whip a man on the sidewalk…
Read MoreTWO MEN INDICTED FOR FATAL SHOOTING IN MIDDLE VILLAGE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dante Hunter and Shamel Capers were arraigned on an indictment charging Hunter with murder and Capers with attempted murder in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Joshua Taylor in Middle Village on July 23, 2023. Evidence uncovered during the investigation of the incident indicated that the round which struck…
Read MoreCAB DRIVER INDICTED FOR CRASH THAT KILLED ASTORIA MAN ON SCOOTER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Mohammad Bhuiyan was arraigned today on grand jury indictment charges for allegedly driving the wrong way on Northern Boulevard and striking and killing a 59-year-old Astoria man riding a scooter in November 2023. District Attorney Katz said: “It is the moral obligation of every single driver to ensure…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 17, 2024
I announced an indictment secured by my office this week against an alleged squatter for illegally occupying a home in Jamaica and forging leasing documents in an effort to stake his claim as a legal tenant. It was the second such case we brought in a month. According to the charges, the defendant went as far as filing a…
Read MoreALLEGED SQUATTER INDICTED FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING JAMAICA HOME, PROVIDING FORGED DOCUMENTS TO AUTHORITIES INCLUDING CIVIL COURT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lance White-Hunt was arraigned on an indictment charging him with burglary, identity theft, attempted grand larceny and other crimes for illegally occupying a home in Jamaica and forging leasing documents in an effort to stake his claim as a legal tenant. The defendant went as far as filing…
Read MoreSERIAL SHOPLIFTER CHARGED WITH STEALING $170,000 WORTH OF JEWELRY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Aaron Smalls was arraigned on charges of grand larceny and other crimes for stealing expensive pieces of jewelry from stores throughout Queens. The defendant allegedly hit six shops between December 2023 and February 2024, stealing merchandise valued at more than $50,000. DNA evidence tied Smalls to another theft…
Read MoreMORE THAN 90 ILLEGAL SCOOTERS SEIZED BY DA’S OFFICE AND NYPD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the seizure of 95 scooters from the streets of Corona, Elmhurst and Long Island City. The crackdown is part of an ongoing joint operation involving the District Attorney’s office and local police precincts to address the persistent use of scooters in crimes such as drive-by shootings and robberies. A…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 10, 2024
I joined Bronx DA Darcel Clark, Suffolk DA Ray Tierney, legislators and community members this week in support of the Deadly Driving bill (S. 3135/A174), which aims to close a dangerous loophole in relation to the arrest and prosecution of drugged drivers… (continued)
Read MoreRIDGEWOOD BOUTIQUE RAIDED IN FENCING OPERATION; TWO ARRESTED FOR POSSESSING STOLEN MERCHANDISE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the recovery of more than $500,000 in stolen items from Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, Lululemon and other major retailers that were openly displayed and re-sold at less than half their retail value inside the McKlain Collection Boutique in Ridgewood. Two defendants are charged with criminal possession of stolen property for…
Read MoreWOODSIDE MAN INDICTED ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES FOR FATAL SHOOTING OF NYPD DETECTIVE JONATHAN DILLER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Guy Rivera was arraigned today on an indictment secured by her office charging him with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller and first-degree attempted murder for attempting to fire at an NYPD sergeant in Far Rockaway on March 25. Rivera, along with codefendant…
Read MoreNEW JERSEY MAN ARRESTED FOR THREATENING TO ‘SHOOT UP’ JFK AIRPORT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Darnell King was arraigned on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, making terroristic threats and other related crimes after he sent a video to his estranged wife in which a gun is visible and threatened a mass shooting at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where she had…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 3, 2024
My office obtained justice in two separate cases this week dealing with the pervasive issue of deed fraud… (continued)
Read MoreMORE THAN 30 FIREARMS RECOVERED FROM ROCKAWAY BEACH HOME
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/l2t3OLl4Mco Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ryszard Materna has been arraigned on weapon possession charges after a search of his Rockaway Beach home uncovered ghost guns, including assault weapons, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition and other weapons-related paraphernalia. District Attorney Katz said: “For those who think they are…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – April 19, 2024
My office secured an indictment this week against an alleged squatter accused of illegally occupying a single-family home in Flushing and renting out rooms to others. The defendant was arraigned yesterday on a five-count indictment charging him with burglary, grand larceny, and other crimes… (continued)
Read MoreDRIVER IN FATAL SHOOTING OF NYPD OFFICER INDICTED ON WEAPON CHARGES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lindy Jones was arraigned on an indictment charging him with criminal possession of a weapon for a gun found in the car from which Jones’ codefendant is accused of fatally shooting NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller on March 25 in Far Rockaway. Jones was the driver of the vehicle…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – April 12, 2024
My office secured a 30-year prison sentence this week for a gang member responsible for the shooting death of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin at a Baisley Park Houses playground. The defendant mistook the teenager, who was simply outside playing basketball near his home, for a rival gang member in the 2019 shooting… (continued)
Read MoreNEW YORK CITY BUILDING INSPECTOR CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Zabihullah Ibrahimi, a city building inspector, was arraigned today on bribery and official misconduct charges for taking cash from homeowners in exchange for closing complaints about their property. In one case, he allegedly asked for $3,500 from a homeowner and, when she said she had no cash, directed…
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