Press Releases
TEEN DRIVER SENTENCED ON MANSLAUGHTER AND ASSAULT CHARGES FOR KILLING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN GRUESOME COLLISION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that an 18-year-old was sentenced to 1 1/3 to four years in prison for causing the death of Fortune Williams, a 14-year-old passenger in the BMW he was driving in 2023 when he was 16 years old. The teen’s parents were previously sentenced on endangering the welfare of a…
DA KATZ ANNOUNCES TAKEDOWN OF INTERSTATE ILLEGAL CANNABIS OPERATION [PHOTOS]
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the interception of an unlicensed interstate cannabis operation that transported thousands of pounds of illegal cannabis product from California into Queens. Six people were charged and more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of approximately $2.5 million, was confiscated as well hundreds of packages of cannabis…
DRIVER CONVICTED OF MURDER FOR DEADLY MOTHER’S DAY HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED MOM
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Roosevelt Rose was convicted by a jury of murder, assault and other charges for the fatal hit-and-run crash that resulted in the death of 49-year-old Florence Ngwu, who was struck outside of her home on Mother’s Day in 2022. The victim’s daughter witnessed the fatal collision. District Attorney…
REPUTED GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO 21 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING TEEN OUTSIDE SPRINGFIELD GARDENS FAST FOOD RESTAURANT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rayvon Phillip was sentenced to 21 years in prison for killing 18-year-old Akim Cisse in September 2024. Phillip, reputedly a BG4 gang member known as “Ray-G,” fired multiple gunshots at a vehicle with four people inside including Cisse. Phillip pleaded guilty earlier this month to manslaughter in…
TWO MEN CHARGED WITH STAGING CAR CRASHES ON NEW YORK CITY HIGHWAYS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jaime Huiracocha and Victor Murillo are charged with staging a motor vehicle accident, reckless endangerment, conspiracy, insurance fraud and other crimes for deliberately causing three car crashes and then seeking insurance payouts for damages and purported injuries. Huiracocha allegedly planned the collisions by luring participants with promises…
QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY, ARSON FOR KILLING DOG AND BURNING THE BODY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Isaiah Gurley has been charged with animal cruelty, arson, petit larceny and reckless endangerment after allegedly killing a male pit bull before burning the body on a public street in South Ozone Park on July 24. District Attorney Katz said: “Animals are not punching bags. They are not…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED IN STABBING DEATH OF WIFE AND TODDLER IN FAMILY’S RIDGEWOOD HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Ernesto Cruz was arraigned on an indictment charging him with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and weapon possession for the stabbing deaths of his wife, Ana Alexandra Pilatagsi Moposita, and the couple’s 2-year-old daughter. The victim and her daughter were each stabbed numerous times in the torso inside…
MANHATTAN MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED RAPE OF WOMAN EXITING ELMHURST SUBWAY STATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Drew Musa was indicted by a grand jury for attempted rape, sexual abuse and forcible touching for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman who had just exited a subway station on Woodhaven Boulevard in Elmhurst on June 27. Approximately 48 hours later, Musa was arrested in Manhattan where…
BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED ASSAULT FOR SHOOTING AT OFF-DUTY POLICE DETECTIVE IN FIT OF ROAD RAGE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Alexis Morillo was convicted by a jury of attempted assault, weapon possession and other crimes for shooting at another motorist, an off-duty NYPD detective, in an apparent fit of road rage while driving on the Long Island Expressway in September 2023. District Attorney Katz said: “Gun violence will…
DRIVER SENTENCED FOR FATAL LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY COLLISION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Reginald Nash was sentenced today to seven to 21 years in prison for a collision on the Long Island Expressway in November 2023 that left one of his passengers dead. The defendant was driving approximately 89 mph and under the influence of alcohol, when he slammed into an…
MASSACHUSETTS MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER SHOOTING WOMAN OVER FAMILY DEBT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Minliang Zheng was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of assault and criminal possession of a weapon. In March 2023, Zheng approached a 45-year-old woman outside her home and shot her in the upper thigh over her relative’s alleged unpaid financial debt. The victim had…
FORMER AMAZON EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH THE THEFT OF NEARLY 2,000 PAIRS OF WORK BOOTS AND SNEAKERS WORTH $224,000
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Asraf Mohamed was charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property for allegedly stealing 1,838 pairs of work boots and sneakers through a program meant to provide free safety footwear to new employees of Amazon, where he worked. Mohamed allegedly created accounts in the names of new…
HUSBAND INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES IN BEATING DEATH OF WIFE INSIDE THEIR JACKSON HEIGHTS APARTMENT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jose Lequerica was indicted on two counts of murder in the second degree for the death of his 48-year-old wife, Asli Ak. The defendant allegedly struck the victim repeatedly on her face, head and body and later found her unconscious in November 2024. He allegedly waited more than…
QUEENS MAN CHARGED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF ESTRANGED WIFE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Audwin Caines was arraigned on charges of murder, attempted murder and other crimes for the shooting death of his estranged wife on the street in St. Albans in June. The defendant was also charged with assault for stabbing the victim in the chest with a broken bottle…
WOMAN SENTENCED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marilyn Roque was sentenced today to 7 ½ years in prison for the sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking by force, labor trafficking and endangering the welfare of a child. Roque forced a 14-year-old girl to have sex for money with a 49-year-old man. The defendant also…
MANHATTAN MAN SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING AT TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN 2011
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Antonio Olmeda was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison after a jury conviction for attempted murder and other crimes. The defendant shot at two New York City police officers, who were attempting to question him after spotting the man on a Jackson Heights corner wearing…
MANHATTAN RESIDENT SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STABBING DEATHS OF TWO MEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Raymond Kenner was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the stabbing deaths of two men, one killed in Hollis on December 21, 2021, and the second man killed near Rufus King Park two days later. Kenner’s codefendant, Alexander Stephens, was sentenced to seven years in prison for…
SUBWAY ATTACKER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR ROBBERY AND ASSAULT CONVICTION IN 2022 HAMMER ATTACK ON WOMAN IN QUEENS PLAZA SUBWAY STATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that William Blount was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for an unprovoked attack on a commuter as she entered the Queens Plaza subway station in Long Island City in 2022. Blount approached the 57-year-old woman from behind, kicked her down the stairs and repeatedly hit…
SIX DEFENDANTS WHO SURROUNDED AND ATTACKED POLICE AT LONG ISLAND CITY HOTEL SENTENCED
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that the last of the six defendants who attacked police in the early hours of June 17, 2024, outside a hotel on 12th Street in Long Island City has been sentenced. All six defendants pleaded guilty. NYPD officers on patrol spotted young children riding bikes at 4:20 a.m….
MANHATTAN MAN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN JACKSON HEIGHTS IN 2011
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Antonio Olmeda was convicted of two counts attempted murder and other related charges for shooting at two New York City police officers, who had attempted to question him after spotting him on a Jackson Heights corner wearing a disguise, including a fake mustache. District Attorney Katz said:…
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