Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Viktoria Nasyrova was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for poisoning a woman who resembled her with sedative-laced cheesecake and then stealing her identification and other property.

District Attorney Katz said: “A ruthless and calculating con artist is going to prison for a long time for trying to murder her way to personal profit and gain. Thankfully, the victim survived the attack on her life and we were able to deliver justice to her.”

Nasyrova, 47, of Voorhies Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, was convicted in February by a jury of attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree and petit larceny. Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder sentenced Nasyrova to 21 years in prison to be followed by 5 years post release supervision.

According to the evidence, on August 28, 2016, Nasyrova visited the Forest Hills home of then-35-year-old Olga Tsvyk and brought her cheesecake. At that time, the victim and Nasyrova resembled one another—both had dark hair, the same complexion and other similar physical traits. Additionally, they were both Russian speakers.

After eating the cheesecake, Tsvyk felt sick and passed out. Her last memory was of seeing Nasyrova walking around her room. The following day, Tsvyk was discovered unconscious in her bed with pills scattered around her body — as if she had attempted to kill herself. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.

When Tsvyk returned home, she realized that her passport and employment authorization card were missing, along with a gold ring and other valuables. Law enforcement agents with the Department of Homeland Security discovered Phenazepam, a highly potent sedative, in cheesecake residue found on the dessert container. The Drug Enforcement Administration tested the pills found on the floor near the victim and identified the same drug.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in this case.

Assistant District Attorneys Konstantinos Litourgis and Nicole Rella, of District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Michael Whitney, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.