Press Releases
SOUTH 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…
UNLICENSED 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…
TEEN 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…
UNCLE 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…
SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED RAPE, MISCONDUCT AFTER UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jared Jeridore was charged today with attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, attempted rape and other crimes following an undercover investigation during which the defendant, who was working as a school crossing guard in Jamaica, allegedly tried to lure an NYPD officer he believed to…
DRIVER 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…
QUEENS 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:…
MORE THAN 30 FIREARMS RECOVERED FROM ROCKAWAY BEACH HOME
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/l2t3OLl4Mco Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ryszard Materna has been arraigned on weapon possession charges after a search of his Rockaway Beach home uncovered ghost guns, including assault weapons, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition and other weapons-related paraphernalia. District Attorney Katz said: “For those who think they are…
MAN 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…
ALLEGED 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…
DRIVER IN FATAL SHOOTING OF NYPD OFFICER INDICTED ON WEAPON CHARGES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lindy Jones was arraigned on an indictment charging him with criminal possession of a weapon for a gun found in the car from which Jones’ codefendant is accused of fatally shooting NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller on March 25 in Far Rockaway. Jones was the driver of the vehicle…
TEEN 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…
NEW YORK CITY BUILDING INSPECTOR CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Zabihullah Ibrahimi, a city building inspector, was arraigned today on bribery and official misconduct charges for taking cash from homeowners in exchange for closing complaints about their property. In one case, he allegedly asked for $3,500 from a homeowner and, when she said she had no cash, directed…
JAMAICA 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…
QUEENS 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…
BELLEROSE 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…
FAR 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…
INDICTMENT 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…
AIRPORT 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…
WOODSIDE 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…
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