Posts by ASokol@queensda.org
Your Weekly Update – April 5, 2024
I announced bribery charges against nine taxi dispatchers this week for allegedly accepting cash in exchange for letting some cab drivers bypass often long lines to pick up passengers at Kennedy International Airport… (continued)
Read MoreINDICTMENT SECURED BY DA’S OFFICE IN POLICE OFFICER HOMICIDE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Guy Rivera and Lindy Jones have been indicted on charges connected to the shooting death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller in Far Rockway last week. Rivera was indicted for first-degree murder for the homicide and first-degree attempted murder for attempting to fire his weapon at an NYPD sergeant…
Read MoreAIRPORT TAXI DISPATCHERS CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that nine taxi dispatchers were arraigned today on bribery charges for taking cash in exchange for letting drivers pick up passengers at Kennedy International Airport without waiting behind fellow cabbies in often long lines at the central dispatch lot. Four of the defendants are accused of accepting more than…
Read MoreWOODSIDE MAN INDICTED FOR WHEELCHAIR STABBING ATTACK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kareem Phillips was indicted for attempted murder after launching a knife attack on three people, including an elderly woman, from his wheelchair at a Woodside intersection. The woman sustained serious injuries. District Attorney Katz said: “Within the span of just a few minutes, the defendant is alleged to…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – March 29, 2024
Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, a young officer and father, was ruthlessly gunned down this week in the line of duty while protecting and serving the city of New York… (continued)
Read MoreFIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGES FILED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF POLICE OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that criminal charges were filed today against Guy Rivera in Queens Criminal Court for first-degree murder in the shooting death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller and first-degree attempted murder for attempting to fire his weapon at an NYPD sergeant in Far Rockaway Monday after the officers approached a car…
Read MoreWEAPONS CHARGES FILED AGAINST DRIVER OF CAR INVOLVED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF POLICE OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lindy Jones was arraigned today on weapons charges after a court-ordered search warrant executed on his vehicle found an illegal firearm. Jones was behind the wheel of the car from which the shot that killed NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller was fired on Monday. Jones’ passenger in the car…
Read MoreTWO VIRGINIA MEN INDICTED FOR FATAL SHOOTING IN SOUTH JAMAICA
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marquise Brown and Joseph Woods were arraigned this week on an indictment charging them with murder in the fatal shooting of 48-year-old Yaw Pabi in South Jamaica in April 2022. Both defendants fled to their home state of Virginia following the shooting and were extradited last week to…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN INDICTED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING OF A CHILD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Alfredo Morocho was arraigned today on an indictment accusing him of recruiting a 17-year-old girl to have sex with strangers for his own profit, advertising her availability using semi-nude photos, and driving the victim to dates with customers. District Attorney Katz said: “No child should ever be exploited.…
Read MoreMILLION-DOLLAR AUTOMOTIVE TRADEMARK COUNTERFEITING OPERATION BUSTED AFTER LONG-TERM PROBE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Fei Wu and several corporations linked to him were charged with trademark counterfeiting and money laundering stemming from the trafficking of phony custom automobile accessories for luxury brand vehicles, such as Mercedes Benz and BMW. Wu and his companies are alleged to have provided the counterfeit custom items…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – March 22, 2024
My office secured a guilty plea in connection with the 2019 slaying of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin, who was gunned down in a South Jamaica playground when the defendant mistook him for a rival gang member… (continued)
Read MoreBROOKLYN MAN SENTENCED FOR SHOOTING DEATH AT CROWDED HOUSE PARTY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Devante Richards was sentenced today to 23 years to life in prison for the shooting death of 25-year-old Jonathan Distant at a crowded Springfield Gardens house party in August 2020. The gunfire erupted after a man with Richards bumped into Distant and a staredown ensued. District Attorney Katz…
Read MoreGUILTY PLEA IN MISTAKEN-IDENTITY SHOOTING DEATH OF 14-YEAR-OLD IN PLAYGROUND
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Sean Brown pleaded guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the 2019 slaying of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin, who was gunned down in a South Jamaica playground when Brown mistook him for a rival gang member. Brown also pleaded guilty to a weapon possession charge…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – March 15, 2024
My office brought criminal charges recently against Fei Liang in connection with a scheme that defrauded $628,278 from senior citizens across the country. Liang is alleged to have worked with a co-conspirator who called seniors and claimed to be from the Social Security Administration, their bank, or a vendor. He told the victims their accounts had been…
Read MoreDRIVER CHARGED IN FATAL COLLISION INVOLVING 8-YEAR-OLD BOY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jose Barcia was arraigned today on charges of criminally negligent homicide and other crimes for speeding across traffic and through a crosswalk while making a left turn, killing an 8-year-old boy and injuring his 10-year-old brother in East Elmhurst. The boys and their mother were crossing the street…
Read MoreDOCTOR INDICTED ON NEW SEXUAL ABUSE CHARGES AFTER ANOTHER PATIENT COMES FORWARD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with sexually abusing a patient at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital. Cheng was previously indicted in August 2023, accused of sexually abusing three patients in the hospital and drugging and raping three other women in his Queens home,…
Read MoreDISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ HOSTS ANNUAL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION
Photo (from left to right): Stetson winners Juliana McCabe, Carmela Brazzale, Kristen Ballard, Marjorie Kammerlohr, Judge Michael Yavinsky, Chief Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Naiburg, Assistant District Attorney Courtney Finnerty (Director of Litigation Training), Executive Assistant District Attorneys Pishoy Yacoub (Supreme Trial Division), Shawn Clark (Major Crimes Division), Theresa Shanahan (Criminal Practice & Policy Division) The Queens…
Read MoreEMACIATED DOGS AND CATS FOUND IN HOME OF MAN CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY
Photo credit: ASCPA Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Cory Elder was arraigned on animal cruelty charges after a search of his Edgemere home on Monday revealed he was housing 11 dogs and two cats that were malnourished and kept in undersized cages. Heroin, fentanyl and ammunition for a revolver were also found in…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH SCAMMING MORE THAN $600,000 FROM SENIORS ACROSS U.S.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Fei Liang was charged with possession of stolen property in connection with a scheme that defrauded $628,278 from senior citizens across the country. Liang is alleged to have worked with a co-conspirator who called seniors and claimed to be from the Social Security Administration, their bank, or a…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – March 8, 2024
My office secured an indictment on charges of criminally negligent homicide against a woman in connection with a high-speed collision on the Cross Island Parkway that killed her cousin and left her aunt gravely injured… (continued)
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