Press Releases
TEN ALLEGED TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES INDICTED FOR GUN TRAFFICKING OPERATION IN QUEENS, THE BRONX AND MANHATTAN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced today that 10 people have been indicted and variously charged with criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, conspiracy and other crimes for their alleged roles in a gun trafficking operation that conducted firearm sales throughout New York City…
BRONX WOMAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR DEATH OF UBER PASSENGER IN HIGH-SPEED WHITESTONE EXPRESSWAY CRASH
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Melissa Rodriguez-Lopez was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for killing a 62-year-old Uber passenger in May 2023. Rodriguez-Lopez sped at 123 miles per hour while racing with others on the Whitestone Expressway, caused a fatal roadway crash then fled the scene with another racer and reported…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO RAPE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR DAYLIGHT ROOFTOP ATTACK ON WOMAN IN 2023
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jerson Vasquez pleaded guilty to rape, attempted murder and another charge for the violent sexual assault of a woman on a rooftop in August 2023. The defendant answered an online prostitution advertisement and lured the victim to the location. District Attorney Katz said: “This was a brazen and…
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 34 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR FIRING AT POLICE IN SOUTH OZONE PARK STANDOFF
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marco Mosquera was sentenced today to 34 years in prison for a terrifying incident at his South Ozone Park residence in September 2021. Mosquera was convicted by a jury in December of attempted murder and other charges for provoking an angry confrontation with his then wife, an off-duty…
SEVEN DEFENDANTS INDICTED FOR SHOOTING AT BABY SHOWER THAT KILLED ONE MAN AND INJURED THREE OTHERS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that seven men were indicted by a grand jury and variously charged with weapon possession, reckless endangerment other crimes in connection with a shooting at a baby shower in Richmond Hill in May. The gunfire, which was apparently gang related, erupted outside the party venue and then continued…
KETAMINE TRAFFICKING OPERATION DISMANTLED IN FLUSHING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today the indictment of four individuals charged with conspiracy, drug trafficking and other crimes following a long-term investigation into a narcotics organization based in Flushing. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Frostbite,” included a series of undercover drug buys and the use of electronic surveillance. District Attorney Katz said: “Those who…
SQUATTER PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING FLUSHING HOME; FACES TWO YEAR PRISON TERM AT SENTENCING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Brian Rodriguez has pleaded guilty to a felony for illegally occupying a single-family home in Flushing and renting out rooms to others early last year. When the homeowner regained access to the property and changed the locks, the defendant forced himself back inside the home and claimed…
QUEENS VILLAGE MAN CHARGED WITH WEAPON POSSESSION AFTER GHOST GUN CACHE FOUND AT HIS HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jonathan Diaz was charged with weapon possession and other crimes after an investigation led to the discovery of four ghost guns and ammunition at his Queens Village home. The guns were allegedly made on a 3D printer at the defendant’s residence. District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant,…
TENANT CHARGED WITH MURDER OF BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT WHO WAS TRYING TO COLLECT UNPAID RENT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Sandra Coto-Navarro has been charged with murder for allegedly killing her building’s superintendent, 55-year-old Jose Portillo, inside her apartment in Kew Gardens Hills. The victim reportedly entered the defendant’s apartment around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday to collect unpaid rent on behalf of the landlord. The super’s coworkers called the…
FORMER MANHATTAN MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR EXECUTION-STYLE MURDER IN 1990
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Kevin Smith was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison following a trial conviction for murder. The defendant killed a long-time acquaintance with a gunshot to the back of the head while seated in the back seat of a vehicle in February 1990. Smith was previously…
DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER FOR APRIL 2020 STRAY BULLET SHOOTING OF NYCHA WORKER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jerald Bethea has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree for the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Darrian Ramdial of Mount Vernon in April 2020. The victim was an innocent bystander at work in the Astoria Houses when he was hit by a bullet that the defendant…
TWO MEN CHARGED WITH PARTICIPATING IN INTERNATIONAL STOLEN MERCHANDISE RING AND DIVERTING PRODUCTS MEANT FOR LARGE BEAUTY RETAILERS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Leudy Marte and Wilton Pena de Dios were charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and conspiracy for their roles in a large-scale retail theft and fencing operation based in Kew Gardens Hills. The pair allegedly diverted more than $1 million in products from Sol…
DA KATZ, NYPD AND SHERIFF’S OFFICE SHUTTER ILLEGAL CANNABIS SHOP IN FOREST HILLS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the closure of an unlicensed cannabis shop that operated at 103-17 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, blocks away from a public park and a junior high school. More than 30 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of approximately $38,200, were confiscated, as well hundreds of packages of cannabis…
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING OF CHILD IN JULY 2021
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that James McGonagle was sentenced to seven years in prison for the attempted kidnapping of a 5-year-old boy, a stranger whom he grabbed off the sidewalk in Richmond Hill in July 2021. District Attorney Katz said, “James McGonagle attempted to abduct a 5-year-old child as the victim and…
BRONX WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER FOR HIGH-SPEED CRASH THAT KILLED UBER PASSENGER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Melissa Rodriguez-Lopez pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree for killing a 62-year-old Uber passenger in May 2023. The defendant sped at 123 miles per hour on the Whitestone Expressway, caused a fatal roadway crash and then fled the scene with other racers. She later reported her…
COUPLE PLEAD GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED MURDER OF NEIGHBOR IN SUNNYSIDE PARKING SPOT ATTACK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that married couple Arturo Cuevas and Daisy Barrera pleaded guilty yesterday to attempted murder in the second degree for stabbing and battering their neighbor, a 28-year-old man, during a March 2023 confrontation in Sunnyside over a parking space. The couple had previously fought with the victim over a parking…
FOUR MEN INDICTED FOR ATTACKING HOMELESS SUBWAY PASSENGER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that four men were indicted by a grand jury and variously charged with attempted gang assault, assault and robbery for allegedly stealing the belongings of a man who was asleep onboard a 7 subway train in December. The 69-year-old victim woke up as his bags were being stolen and…
FAR ROCKAWAY MAN INDICTED FOR DRIVING DRUNK WITH HIS CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND CRASHING INTO SCHOOL BUS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Junior Deslances was indicted for aggravated vehicular assault, aggravated driving while intoxicated, endangering the welfare of a child and other crimes for allegedly driving his three children to school while under the influence, speeding and then crossing a double yellow line and hitting a school bus head on….
ADVANCED DNA TESTING REVEALS IDENTITY OF VICTIM KILLED 33 YEARS AGO
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a female homicide victim, whose identity remained unknown for more than three decades, has now been identified as Judy Rodriguez by using advanced DNA testing. Rodriguez’s unidentified body, bound at the ankles with a cord and covered with a large wooden board, was discovered on August 25, 1991,…
FOUR MEN FACE FELONY CHARGES OF ASSAULT AND ROBBERY FOR ATTACKING HOMELESS SUBWAY PASSENGER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that four men were arraigned today and variously charged with felony robbery, attempted gang assault and assault for allegedly stealing the belongings of a man who was asleep onboard a 7 subway train. The victim woke up as five individuals were stealing and attempting to maintain his belongings and…
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