Posts by Renea Henry
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO FOUR TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RICHMOND HILL DWI CRASH THAT KILLED CITY WORKER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Errick Persaud was sentenced today to four to 12 years in prison on a charge of manslaughter for a drunken collision in which he killed a 36-year-old worker in a New York City Department of Environmental Protection truck in Richmond Hill in July 2023. The defendant pleaded guilty…
Read MoreDA KATZ SEIZES UNLICENSED MOBILE CANNABIS DISPENSARY IN SUNNYSIDE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the takedown of an illegal cannabis dispensary operating out of a converted school bus in Sunnyside. The seized product was determined to have been overtly marketed toward children, with names such as “Skittles,” “Gummy Sharks,” “Jolly Ranchers,” and packaging nearly identically to snacks popular with kids. The vehicle’s owner…
Read MoreHOLLIS MAN CHARGED WITH WEAPON POSSESSION AFTER GUN, AMMUNITION, KNIVES FOUND IN CAR AFTER TRAFFIC STOP
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Judd Sanson was arraigned on charges of criminal possession of a weapon and other crimes after he was stopped by police in East Elmhurst for having a covering over his license plate. Police officers allegedly discovered an arsenal of weapons in the car including a loaded 9 mm…
Read MoreDISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ WELCOMES SUMMER INTERNS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz welcomed 64 law school and college students for the start of an enriching nine-week summer internship program. District Attorney Melinda Katz said: “We are happy to bring on board this bright and diverse group of interns to spend the summer gaining invaluable experience learning about the inner workings of the…
Read MoreALABAMA MAN CHARGED AFTER ELDERLY WOMAN KILLED IN 2021 HIT-AND-RUN NEAR THE SHOPS AT ATLAS PARK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Edward Garzon was arraigned on charges of leaving the scene of a deadly December 2021 hit-and-run near the Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale that killed an elderly woman. The charges were brought after District Attorney Katz formed a Vehicular Homicide Unit to not only investigate current cases…
Read MoreSOUTH OZONE PARK COUPLE PLEAD GUILTY IN DEED FRAUD SCHEME TO STEAL HOMES IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Justin Joseph pleaded guilty to a deed fraud scheme that resulted in five properties being stolen from their rightful owners. His wife, Latoya Hewitt, pleaded guilty in connection with the theft of one of the homes. As part of the plea, Joseph and Hewitt agreed to pay restitution…
Read MoreUNLICENSED DRIVER INDICTED ON MANSLAUGHTER, DWI CHARGES IN DEADLY ASTORIA CRASH
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ray Perez was indicted on charges of manslaughter, drunk driving and other crimes for a deadly collision in February that killed his long-time girlfriend who was the mother of his child. Perez allegedly sped through a stop sign, collided with another vehicle and several parked cars, then drove…
Read MoreTEEN INDICTED FOR SHOVING ELDERLY WOMAN DOWN CHURCH STEPS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a 16-year-old has been indicted for first-degree assault and first-degree robbery for shoving a 68-year-old woman down the steps of a Briarwood church on April 7, leaving the seriously injured victim on the sidewalk and then stealing her purse and car. He was also indicted for a separate…
Read MoreUNCLE ORDERED TO PAY RESTITUTION FOR STEALING SHARE OF FAMILY HOME WILLED TO NIECE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Wagner Recio was sentenced today for filing fraudulent paperwork to claim he fully owned a Queens Village home when his niece had actually inherited half of it from her father, Recio’s brother. In 2021, Recio obtained a mortgage against the value of the property and kept the financial…
Read MoreDRIVER INDICTED IN FATAL COLLISION INVOLVING 8-YEAR-OLD BOY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jose Barcia has been indicted on criminal charges for allegedly speeding through a crosswalk while making a left turn, killing an 8-year-old boy and injuring his 10-year-old brother in East Elmhurst on March 13. Arraignment on the indictment is pending. District Attorney Katz said: “Both victims in this…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN INDICTED FOR DEADLY STABBING AT MASPETH TAVERN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marcin Pieciak was indicted for murder and criminal possession of a weapon for the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend, Sarah McNally, at a Maspeth tavern in March. McNally was working as a bartender when Pieciak allegedly stabbed her and then slit his own throat. District Attorney Katz said:…
Read MoreMAN SENTENCED FOR SHOOTING AT KEW GARDENS MOTOR INN [VIDEO]
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Leo Daley was sentenced to 19 years in prison for attempted murder for shooting 25-year-old Terrell Chery inside the Kew Motor Inn in September 2022 and firing at another man who managed to escape. District Attorney Katz said: “We are thankful we did not see the mass casualties…
Read MoreALLEGED SQUATTER CHARGED FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING FLUSHING HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Brian Rodriguez has been indicted on charges of burglary, grand larceny and other crimes for illegally occupying a single-family home in Flushing and renting out rooms to others. When the homeowner regained access to the property and changed the locks, the defendant forced himself back inside the home…
Read MoreTEEN CHARGED FOR SHOVING ELDERLY WOMAN DOWN CHURCH STEPS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that her office has charged a 16-year-old with first-degree assault, first-degree robbery and grand larceny for attacking an elderly woman on the steps of Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Briarwood on April 7. The teen is accused of shoving the 68-year-old victim down a flight of cement stairs…
Read MoreJAMAICA MAN SENTENCED FOR DEATH OF 14-YEAR-OLD AAMIR GRIFFIN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Sean Brown was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the mistaken-identity shooting death of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin in a South Jamaica playground and for an unrelated weapon possession charge. Brown mistook the teenager for a rival gang member in the 2019 shooting. District Attorney Katz said: “Aamir…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN CHARGED IN DEADLY STABBING AT MASPETH TAVERN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marcin Pieciak was arraigned today on charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon for the fatal stabbing of Sarah McNally, his 41-year-old girlfriend. The woman was working as a bartender at a Maspeth tavern when Pieciak allegedly stabbed her then slit his own throat. District Attorney…
Read MoreBELLEROSE MAN WHO DEPOSITED STOLEN CHECKS INTO HIS BANK ACCOUNT CHARGED WITH GRAND LARCENY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Eduardo Soto is charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument and other crimes for depositing stolen and bogus checks totaling more than $40,000 into his bank account. In July 2023, a Forest Hills resident noticed unauthorized transactions on his credit card account and discovered checks…
Read MoreFAR ROCKAWAY WOMAN CHARGED AFTER EMACIATED, SICKLY DOG FOUND IN HER APARTMENT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Evadne Harrington was arraigned on animal abuse charges after police discovered a dog chained to a small box without food or water inside her Far Rockaway apartment. The malnourished animal, whose coat was damp from urine and covered in filth, was rushed to a veterinary hospital and has…
Read MoreMAN SENTENCED FOR ATTACKING BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMONSTRATORS [VIDEO]
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Frank Cavalluzzi was sentenced today to 14 years in prison following his conviction on nine counts of attempted murder for attacking Black Lives Matter demonstrators. The 2020 assault in Whitestone began with Cavalluzzi yelling racial slurs at the BLM supporters and escalated to him charging at the demonstrators…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN SENTENCED IN FATAL FAR ROCKAWAY SHOOTING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Tyrell Dennis was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 35-year-old man at point-blank range in a Far Rockaway apartment building in August 2020. District Attorney Katz said: “Senseless gun violence has tragically cut short too many lives including that of this…
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