Press Releases
QUEENS RESIDENT INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES IN BROAD DAYLIGHT SHOOTING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Waturi Johnson, 51, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on murder charges and other crimes for allegedly shooting a young man in front of a car service on October 4, 2021, in Far Rockaway, Queens. District Attorney Katz said,…
THREE MEN CHARGED WITH ROBBING WAREHOUSE ON LONG ISLAND AFTER PLANNING AND REHEARSING HEIST IN QUEENS LOCATIONS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that three defendants have been indicted by a Queens County grand jury following a complex surveillance investigation that uncovered a warehouse break-in scheme that was planned in Queens County over a two-week period in early July 2021. As alleged, four workers at the facility were restrained and property…
NYPD OFFICER CAUGHT SELLING STEROIDS IN UNDERCOVER STING; DEFENDANT CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL SALE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, announced today that Maurice Lemelin, 33, who is an officer with the New York City Police Department, has been charged with possessing and sale of a controlled substance. On two occasions, the defendant allegedly sold anabolic steroids to an undercover detective…
JUST-RETIRED POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH RUNNING RENT SCAM; OFFERED APARTMENT HE LEASED TO RAKE IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, announced today that Burbran Pierre, a former NYPD police officer, has been charged with grand larceny and scheme to defraud for allegedly conning nearly a dozen would-be renters out of thousands of dollars. The defendant is accused running a scam offering…
ACCESS-A-RIDE DRIVER CHARGED WITH E-HAIL APP SCAM FOR FAKING TRIPS, RAKING IN NEARLY $70,000
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by Office of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny, announced today that James Laverty, 72, has been charged with grand larceny and other crimes for allegedly bilking the MTA out of nearly $70,000. The Access-a-Ride driver allegedly submitted bogus claims for rides requested using a mobile phone…
QUEENS MAN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ASSAULT IN STABBING OF TWO MEN IN 2017
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced today that Terrence Harry, 40, has been convicted of attempted murder and other crimes in the September 23, 2017, stabbing of two men inside a garage near the Van Wyck Expressway in South Ozone Park, Queens. District Attorney Katz said, “This defendant resorted to violence with a weapon…
DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS-TO-LIFE IN PRISON FOLLOWING MURDER CONVICTION FOR KILLING FRIEND’S BROTHER IN 2014
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Sharif Brown, 37, has been sentenced to 25 years-to-life in prison for the shooting death of a Jamaica, Queens man. The defendant was convicted last month of gunning down the 22-year-old victim in December 2014. District Attorney Katz said, “A jury weighed all the evidence at trial…
BROOKLYN MAN SENTENCED TO 33 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER IN 2019 DEATH OF DETECTIVE BRIAN SIMONSEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Christopher Ransom, 30, has been sentenced to 33 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter and robbery for his role in the February 2019 hold up of a mobile phone store, which resulted in the death of New York City Police Department Detective Brian Simonsen….
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ ANNOUNCES GRANTS AWARDED TO 28 RECIPIENTS FOR THE QUEENS COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced grant funding to 28 community-based organizations for the implementation of her Office’s Community Youth Development and Crime Prevention Project (CYDCPP). The District Attorney’s initiative aims to provide youth activities and wrap around services to help prevent crime and keep young people out of the criminal justice system. District…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER FOR SHOOTING WOMAN TO DEATH IN 2017
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jonel Lattore, 38, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree for shooting and killing a 21-year-old camp counselor in August 2017. The victim was walking home from a nearby store when the defendant fired multiple shots, striking the young woman once in the head. District…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER FOR 2020 SHOOTING THAT KILLED ONE AND INJURED TWO OTHERS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Lawayne Smalls, of Far Rockaway, Queens, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree for a September 8, 2020, shooting that killed one man and injured two others. District Attorney Katz said, “The defendant in this case has now admitted to a senseless shooting that took…
BRONX MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES FOR SHOOTING QUEENS RESIDENT FOLLOWING DISPUTE ON STREET
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Hector Crespo, 26, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on murder charges and other crimes for allegedly shooting a young man on the street on September 3, 2020, in Long Island City, Queens. District Attorney Katz said, “This was…
QUEENS MAN ARRAIGNED ON MURDER CHARGES FOR DEADLY SHOOTING OF MOTHER’S BOYFRIEND
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Desean McCain, 22, has been arraigned and charged with murder in the November 2 shooting death of a 47-year-old man, who was the boyfriend of the defendant’s disabled mother, in an apartment of the Pomonok Houses. District Attorney Katz said, “A domestic dispute erupted into chaos and tragedy…
BROOKLYN RESIDENT INDICTED IN CRASH THAT KILLED MAN ON BELT PARKWAY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that Jason Bical, 35, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter and other charges. The defendant was allegedly driving his vehicle at 92 mph while under the influence of both alcohol and drugs when he hit…
MANHATTAN MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ROLE IN JFK CARGO HEIST OF LUXURY DESIGNER GOODS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, with the Port Authority Chief Security Officer John Bilich, announced today that David Lacarriere, 34, has been sentenced to up to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty in September to holding more than $2.5 million in stolen Gucci and Chanel designer merchandise. The luxury items were part of a…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MOVES TO DISMISS 60 CASES THAT RELIED ON CONVICTED NYPD DETECTIVES
Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz will ask the Court today to vacate the cases of 60 defendants which were based on the police work of three former New York City Police Department detectives who were later convicted of various crimes. This motion is being filed jointly with defense attorneys who earlier this year raised…
DOZENS OF GUNS TAKEN OFF STREETS IN LATEST GUN BUY BACK EVENT CO-HOSTED BY QUEENS DA MELINDA KATZ WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and the New York City Police Department announced that 40 guns were collected today at First Baptist Church in East Elmhurst, Queens. The gun buy-back event was co-sponsored by The New York City Police Foundation, The New York City Police Department, First Baptist Church of East Elmhurst, New York State…
QUEENS RESIDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN SHOOTING DEATH OF MAN GUNNED DOWN IN RAVENSWOOD HOUSES IN 2018
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Shahid Burton, 21, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of a 29-year-old man, who was gunned down as he walked through the Ravenswood Houses in March 2018. The defendant – on the run since the shooting – was apprehended by transit police after he…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES IN KILLING OF WWI VETERAN MISSING SINCE 1976
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced today that Martin Motta, 74, has been indicted by a Queens grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court, charging him with murder in the second degree for the 1976 killing of an 81-year-old World War I Veteran. District Attorney Katz said, “After 45…
QUEENS COUPLE CHARGED WITH STEALING COVID RENTAL RELIEF FUNDS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Simon Holder and Shellon Gill, both of Jamaica, Queens, have been charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and other crimes. The pair, who are tenants, allegedly filed for and received Covid-19 Residential Rent Relief funds that are earmarked to help those negatively impacted by…