Press Releases
LITTLE NECK MAN CONVICTED FOR KIDNAPPING WIFE AND EVADING POLICE IN HIGH SPEED CHASE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that Yaspal Persaud, 28, has been convicted for kidnapping and other crimes by a jury for accosting his estranged wife at her job, forcing the 30-year-old woman into his vehicle and driving away with her in front on stunned onlookers. The defendant led police on a multi-county, high-speed…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO VEHICULAR HOMICIDE FOR CRASH THAT KILLED MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Tyrone Absolam, 42, has pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide for causing the death of a female motorist and her daughter during a July 24, 2021 vehicle collision on Rockaway Boulevard. District Attorney Katz said, “In pleading guilty, the defendant has taken responsibility for the vehicle collision…
LONG ISLAND MAN INDICTED FOR STEALING QUEENS VILLAGE HOME FROM DECEASED BROTHER BY POSING AS HIS SOLE HEIR
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Wagner Recio, 51, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court for allegedly filing fraudulent paperwork to claim full ownership of a Queens Village home that he co-owned with his brother, valued at over $500,000. The brother’s young daughter became the…
BROOKLYN MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN 2021 ST. ALBANS SHOOTING DEATH
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rayshawn Cherry, 28, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the shooting death of a man in St. Albans, Queens. The victim was gunned down following a foot chase upon leaving the home of the defendant’s girlfriend on June 11, 2021. District Attorney Katz said,…
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN SHOOTING DEATH OF FEMALE FRIEND
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Tariek Sykes, 34, has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly shooting his female friend in broad daylight on the street in Richmond Hill. The August 1, 2022 shooting took place following a verbal dispute between the defendant and the victim. District…
TEEN CHARGED WITH HATE ATTACK ON QUEENS BUS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that a 16-year-old girl has been charged with assault as a hate crime and other charges for allegedly assaulting a 57-year-old-woman on a public bus near the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard on July 9, 2022. An apprehended juvenile female has also been charged and a…
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL HE BABYSAT FOR THREE YEARS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jose Nivelo, 43, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl over a three-year period starting in 2012. The defendant was babysitting the girl in his Queens home when the abuse occurred. District Attorney Katz said, “Instead of providing safe care…
JURY CONVICTS ELMONT MAN OF MARCH 2020 ATTEMPTED MURDER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced today that Malcom White, 44, has been convicted by a jury of attempted murder for shooting his 34-year-old wife during a dispute at a hotel in Jamaica, Queens in March 2020. District Attorney Katz said, “I am committed to holding accountable those who perpetuate acts of brutal violence…
GUN TRAFFICKING CREW DISMANTLED WITH 1,611-COUNT INDICTMENT OF TENNESSEE MAN AND FOUR NYC RESIDENTS FOLLOWING LONG-TERM INVESTIGATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, today announced a 1,611-count indictment and the arrests of five individuals allegedly involved in a gun trafficking ring using the notorious Iron Pipeline to smuggle guns purchased in Knoxville, Tennessee, which were then sold illegally in Queens County. Law enforcement…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN STABBING DEATH OF HIS WIFE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Manuel Villar, 52, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the September 2020 fatal stabbing of his 43-year-old wife inside of their Arverne home. District Attorney Katz said, “This is a heartbreaking case of domestic violence, with three children left without a mother. As a result of his…
FATHER AND SON AMONG FIVE DEFENDANTS INDICTED BY QUEENS GRAND JURY FOR OPERATING OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKET [PHOTO]
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, announced today that a group of four defendants were indicted by a Queens County grand jury. The defendants, including Boris Ford of Roosevelt Island, Manhattan and his son Barshawn Ford of Jamaica, Queens, are variously charged with conspiracy and criminal sale…
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS-TO-LIFE IN PRISON FOR 2020 GANG-RELATED SHOOTING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that Otis Moore, 32, a reputed member of the Redfern Rowdy Gang and persistent felon, has been sentenced to a term of 22 years-to-life in prison. The defendant was convicted by a jury following a nine-day trial last month for a May 2020 gang-related shooting in the Dix…
BROOKLYN RESIDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN 2021 SHOOTING DEATH OF MAN IN ST. ALBANS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rayshawn Cherry, 28, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the shooting death of man in St. Albans, Queens. The victim was gunned down following a foot chase upon leaving the defendant’s girlfriend’s home on June 11, 2021. District Attorney Katz said, “My Office will not stand for…
BROOKLYN MAN SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STABBING MAN WITH BROKEN BOTTLE FOLLOWING MINOR CAR ACCIDENT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Robert Finley, 46, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for stabbing a man in the face with a broken glass bottle. According to court records, a minor traffic incident escalated into the near-deadly altercation when the victim stepped out of his vehicle to inspect the damage…
TWO DEFENDANTS CHARGED IN SCHEME TO STEAL EAST ELMHURST HOME FROM DECEASED HOMEOWNER BY POSING AS HER SON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, along with New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, announced today that Jorge Vasquez Jr. and Andy V. Singh – as well as “23-41 100th Street Corp” – have been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court for allegedly filing fraudulent paperwork to claim ownership of…
BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER BEATING WOMAN WITH NAIL-RIDDLED WOODEN PLANK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that James Fitzgerald, 55, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder for the May 16, 2020, vicious beating of his estranged girlfriend. The victim was attacked by the defendant on the sidewalk in front of a fish market in Jamaica, Queens….
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON AFTER GUILTY CONVICTION IN DEATH OF NYPD DETECTIVE BRIAN SIMONSEN AND FELONY ASSAULT AGAINST A SECOND POLICE OFFICER DURING BOTCHED ROBBERY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jagger Freeman, 28, has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison following a trial conviction of murder, robbery, assault and other crimes for directing the February 2019 cell phone store robbery that resulted in the death of New York City Police Detective Brian Simonsen. A…
BOYFRIEND OF WOMAN KILLED AND STUFFED IN CAR TRUNK INDICTED BY QUEENS GRAND JURY ON MURDER CHARGES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Kareem Flake, 30, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on charges of murder, kidnapping and other crimes following his extradition from Florida. The defendant is accused of killing a 26-year-old mother of two from Troy, NY in November 2020….
TRIO PLEADS GUILTY IN HOME FORECLOSURE SCAM; OVER $400,000 IN RESTITUTION SECURED FOR VICTIM
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jonathan Marcus, Vincent Longobardi and Edward Doran – as well as East Coast Money Finders, Inc. – pleaded guilty to criminal possession of stolen property and subsequently made restitution of more than $400,000 to the victim. The trio and the company were indicted by a grand jury…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENTS OF CHIEF INVESTIGATOR AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF CRIMINAL PRACTICE & POLICY DIVISION
District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced the appointments of two executives who will assist in streamlining inter-office processes and enhancing public safety protocols within Queens County. Retired NYPD Assistant Chief Thomas Conforti has been appointed as Chief Investigator and veteran prosecutor Theresa M. Shanahan has been appointed as Executive Assistant District Attorney for Criminal Practice…
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