Press Releases
QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING ARSENAL OF ILLEGAL “GHOST” GUNS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by NYPD Chief of Intelligence Thomas Galati, announced today that Jonathan Santos, 36, has been charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon, criminal sale of a firearm and numerous other charges for allegedly having a stockpile of illegal weapons, including “ghost” guns, magazines and ammo, in…
QUEENS JURY FIND DEFENDANT GUILTY OF MURDER FOR SHOOTING MAN IN THE HEAD IN 2014
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Sharif Brown, 37, has been convicted at trial of murder and other crimes in the shooting death of a Jamaica, Queens man. The victim was gunned down in broad daylight just steps from his home in December 2014. District Attorney Katz said, “After listening to all the evidence,…
TWO QUEENS RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH STEALING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTENDED FOR NYC’S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett, today announced that Rahmello Poole and Mariah Moore, have been charged with grand larceny, defrauding the government and other crimes for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars intended for youth summer employees. The pair – who worked at the Central…
DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN DEATH OF NYPD DETECTIVE BRIAN SIMONSEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Christopher Ransom, 30, has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for the February 2019 death of New York City Police Detective Brian Simonsen. The defendant has also pleaded guilty to robbery for holding up the mobile phone store that brought police to the Richmond Hill location and culminated…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY FILES JOINT MOTION TO VACATE CONVICTION CITING IMPROPER DISCRIMINATION DURING JURY SELECTION
Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz and defense counsel at the law firm Covington & Burling, LLP today filed a joint motion to vacate the conviction of Lawrence Scott based on evidence of improper discrimination during jury selection. A jury found Mr. Scott guilty of robbery at a 1995 trial, but today the Honorable Michelle…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES FOR DEADLY SHOOTING OF ELMONT MAN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Edson Giron-Figueroa, 19, has been indicted by a Queens grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on murder, criminal possession of a weapon charges in the shooting death of a 25-year-old man from Elmont, Queens, on July 24, 2021. District Attorney Katz said, “This defendant first attempted to…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ APPOINTS 48 NEW ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced the appointment of 48 new Assistant District Attorneys – which is the largest class ever – to join the Queens District Attorney’s Office. Of the 48 new prosecutors, 27 are women and 21 are men. “I am proud to welcome this diverse group of talented, dedicated professionals and…
NEW JERSEY MOTHER AND SON ARRESTED ON BURGLARY AND RELATED CHARGES FOR DEED FRAUD/SQUATTING SCHEME TO STEAL FAR ROCKAWAY HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that Tanya M. Howard, 47, and her son Trevon Howard, 26, have been charged with burglary, grand larceny and other crimes for allegedly assuming a prior owner’s identity in order to obtain false title papers and take possession of a home in Far Rockaway. The pair allegedly occupied…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY FILES JOINT MOTION TO VACATE CONVICTION IN 1995 ROBBERY
Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz filed today a joint motion with the defense to vacate defendant Chad Breland’s conviction and 15-year sentence for a November 27, 1995, armed robbery in the Far Rockaway section of Queens. Breland is represented by defense attorney Justin Bonus. The Hon. Michelle Johnson granted the joint motion and dismissed…
QUEENS DRIVER SENTENCED TO PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO VEHICULAR HOMICIDE CHARGES IN CRASH THAT KILLED PASSENGER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Nicholas Thompson, 36, has been sentenced to up to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide charges. The defendant hit speeds up to 97 mph while driving drunk. A 32-year-old woman riding with Thompson was killed when the car crashed through a metal…
DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ HOSTS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION WITH SPECIAL ACCOLADES TO LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS [PHOTOS]
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, in partnership with her Latino Advisory Council, hosted an annual celebration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month last night during an in-person event at a local venue, La Boom, in Woodside. The program included special awards honoring notable community members of Hispanic and Latin descent and included songs and musical…
LONG ISLAND MAN INDICTED FOR COLD CASE MURDER IN SHOOTING DEATH OF 34-YEAR-OLD FATHER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Michael Brown, 37, has been indicted by a Queens grand jury, charging him with murder and other crimes in the fatal shooting of a 34-year-old man. The defendant allegedly shot the victim from a passing vehicle in St. Albans in September 2018. District Attorney Katz said, “Securing…
MANHATTAN MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER IN STABBING OF MAN IN ELMHURST NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Daniel Deloir, 37, has been charged with attempted murder, assault and other crimes for allegedly attacking a man in Hoffman Park in Elmhurst, Queens last month. District Attorney Katz said, “Violence is never an acceptable way to resolve a dispute. The defendant in this case argued with…
QUEENS DRIVER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR KILLING PEDESTRIAN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jorge Samaniego, 52, has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide. The defendant caused the death of a pedestrian in December 2019 during a string of car crashes in Woodside, Queens. District Attorney Katz said, “The sentence imposed…
BRONX MAN CONVICTED AT TRIAL OF MURDER IN BOTCHED SOUTH RICHMOND HILL HOME INVASION IN 2016
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jose Pichardo, 27, has been convicted at trial of murder and other crimes for his participation in a botched home invasion that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man. The victim was stabbed to death when the defendant and others allegedly broke into a South Richmond…
TWENTY-YEAR-OLD MAN INDICTED IN DEATH OF GOLF COURSE WORKER; DEFENDANT ALLEGEDLY THREW ELDERLY VICTIM TO THE GROUND
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that David Mangaran, 20, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on assault and criminally negligent homicide charges. The defendant allegedly threw an elderly golf course employee to the ground at the Forest Park Golf Course in September 2020. The 79-year-old…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED FOR TRANSPORTING GUNS AND AMMO INTO NEW YORK AFTER PENNSYLVANIA GUN SHOW PURCHASE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Richard McCormick, 42, has been indicted by a Queens grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on a 120-count indictment charging him with attempted criminal possession of a weapon and other crimes. The defendant allegedly purchased a cache of high-capacity magazines, firearm components and ammunition at a…
GRAND JURY INDICTS BROOKLYN RESIDENT IN HIT AND RUN CRASH THAT KILLED WOMAN ON CHRISTMAS EVE LAST YEAR
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jason Liriano, 23, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on criminally negligent homicide charges and other crimes for allegedly crashing into a vehicle and running away on foot. The crash killed the female passenger in a ride-share car and the…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO SIX GROUPS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE QUEENS COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROJECT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced grants have been awarded to six community organizations for the implementation of her office’s Queens Community Violence Prevention Project (QCVPP). The District Attorney’s initiative aims to improve public safety and promote the fair administration of justice through the implementation of community-based violence prevention strategies. District Attorney Katz said,…
BROOKLYN MAN INDICTED FOR DEADLY SHOOTING OF CORONA TEEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Dennis Vassilenko, 18, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on murder charges. A female co-defendant is charged in the indictment with hindering prosecution. On July 7, 2021, Vassilenko allegedly shot a 17-year-old across the street from a Corona restaurant…
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