Press Releases
73-YEAR-OLD CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER IN DELI SHOOTING
Faces up to 55 years in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that James Fraley was convicted of attempted murder and drug and weapon possession charges in the 2021 shooting of a deli owner in Briarwood and the subsequent discovery of a large quantity of heroin in his home. Fraley was on lifetime parole…
GROOMER CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY AFTER DOG DIES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lee Yat Sing was arraigned on animal cruelty charges in connection with the death of a 4-year-old Maltese dog that died after being abused during a grooming session. District Attorney Katz said: “When we entrust our beloved pets to caretakers, they should be returned to us in the…
COLD MURDER CASE ENDS IN BROOKLYN MAN’S CONVICTION
Faces up to Life in Prison for 2011 Murder in Ridgewood Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Gerald Griffin was convicted of murder in the cold case killing of a 31-year-old man found naked and bludgeoned in his Ridgewood home in 2011. District Attorney Katz said: “This cold-blooded killer thought he could get away…
LONG ISLAND MOTHER AND SON PLEAD GUILTY IN FAR ROCKAWAY SHOOTING DEATH
Each Faces More than 20 Years in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Avita Campbell and her son, Raymond Jackson, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges in the September 2020 shooting death of a 27-year-old man in Far Rockaway. District Attorney Katz said: “This diabolical mother and son duo teamed up to…
MAN EXTRADITED AND CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR FATAL STABBING
Faces 50 Years to Life in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Nathaniel Johnson was extradited to Queens where he was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on murder and other charges in the stabbing death of a 37-year-old man – and assault on the victim’s sister – after Johnson’s wife…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED ON ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Paul Verite was indicted and arraigned today on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and other crimes for allegedly repeatedly injuring his female Boston Terrier to the point the puppy could neither walk nor stand. A necropsy and review of medical records revealed that the puppy, named Espy,…
MAN CHARGED WITH RAPE AND ASSAULT IN ATTACK ON WOMAN
Allegedly Took Victim on Motorcycle Ride, Then Attacked Her Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Tony Kempsey was arraigned for allegedly raping a 49-year-old woman on an Elmhurst street after giving her a ride on his motorcycle and then beating her. District Attorney Katz said: “This kind…
QUEENS MAN ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER IN FAR ROCKAWAY STREET SHOOTOUT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jeffrey Morel was arraigned on attempted murder and other charges in connection with a shooting in Far Rockaway that sent bullets flying into a nearby yeshiva and parked cars. District Attorney Katz said: “It is extremely fortunate that this brazen shooting did not lead to any injuries to…
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ HOSTS AAPI HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION AT ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, in partnership with her Asian American and Pacific Islander Advisory Council, hosted an annual celebration in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at St. John’s University in Jamaica. The program included awards honoring notable community members of Asian and Pacific Island descent and a keynote address by…
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 18 TO LIFE IN STABBING DEATH OF WIFE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Carmelo Mendoza was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of his wife during an argument inside their Jackson Heights apartment in July 2020. District Attorney Katz said: “This man was responsible for a brutal murder, which he carried out in front of…
QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING ARSENAL OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS, INCLUDING GHOST GUNS AND AMMUNITION
Faces up to 15 Years in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Zhili Song of Flushing was arraigned on weapons possession and other charges after a search warrant executed at his basement apartment in his parent’s home uncovered a cache of firearms, including ghost guns, and ammunition. District Attorney Katz said: “The arsenal…
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED IN STABBING DEATH OF ACQUAINTANCE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marcos Anzurez was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for manslaughter in the stabbing death of an acquaintance in 2018. District Attorney Katz said: “A simple argument escalated into the brutal killing of a young man. Unfortunately, we cannot reverse that tragedy, but we have succeeded in…
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ, NYPD ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO ASTORIA
Rollout Follows Successful Program Launches in Jamaica and Flushing Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, together with NYPD officials and members of the western Queens business community, today announced the launch of the Astoria Merchants Business Improvement Program, designed to enhance safety in and around local shops. The program focuses on the small number of individuals…
SECOND ADOLESCENT CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME IN FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK ATTACK OF JEWISH MAN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a second individual, a 17-year-old male, has been charged with assault as a hate crime for an attack in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The defendant, along with others, repeatedly kicked a Jewish man knocking him to the ground and taking his money, his credit cards, his phone and…
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ CHARGES OPERATORS OF UNLICENSED MOBILE CANNABIS DISPENSARIES IN ASTORIA AND OZONE PARK
Vehicles Impounded and Products Seized Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the takedown of three illegal cannabis operations resulting in the arrest of five individuals who were charged in connection with their roles in allegedly operating illegal mobile marijuana dispensaries from two trucks in Astoria, and an illegal smoke shop in Ozone Park located directly…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER IN SHOOTING OF NYPD OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Devin Spraggins was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on two counts of attempted murder in the first degree and other charges in connection with the April 5 confrontation with NYPD officers in which rookie Officer Brett Boller was shot. District Attorney Katz said: “The brazen…
FLUSHING MAN SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS FOR DEALING FENTANYL AND SELLING LOADED FIREARM
Defendant Must Forfeit $18,210 Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Justin Echeverry was sentenced today to eight years in prison for selling more than 1,100 fentanyl pills and a loaded gun to an undercover officer last year. He was also sentenced to a concurrent sentence of one to three years in prison for shooting…
VIRGINIA MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE IN 31-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE KILLING OF FAR ROCKAWAY TEEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jerry Lewis was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on a charge of murder in the second degree for the 1992 death of 15-year-old Nadine Slade, who was found naked and strangled with her own bra in her Far Rockaway home. District Attorney Katz said: “Any…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER IN STABBING DEATH OF WIFE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Carmelo Mendoza pleaded guilty to murder in the fatal stabbing of his wife during an argument inside their Jackson Heights apartment in July 2020. District Attorney Katz said: “This argument, which turned deadly, was a horrific ordeal unfortunately witnessed by the victim’s 19-year-old daughter, who tried in vain…
QUEENS DA MELINDA KATZ AND THE NYPD ANNOUNCE PROGRAM TO HELP FLUSHING MERCHANTS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz joined by NYPD officials, members of the Flushing business community and elected officials today announced the Flushing Merchants Business Improvement Program to enhance safety for retailers and shoppers by discouraging unwanted activity in and around local stores. The initiative is based on a successful launch of the Jamaica Merchants Business…
