Press Releases
BROOKLYN MAN CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN DEADLY CRASH THAT KILLED LYFT DRIVER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Erik Chimborazo, 22, has been charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and other crimes for allegedly driving while intoxicated, running a red light and crashing into a Lyft driver. District Attorney Katz said, “The rules of the road exist to save lives. As alleged, this defendant ignored them…
79 GUNS TAKEN OFF THE STREETS AT BUY-BACK EVENT CO-HOSTED BY QUEENS DA MELINDA KATZ, NYS AG LETITIA JAMES AND NYPD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, New York State Attorney General Letitia James and the New York City Police Department announced that 79 guns were collected today at St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church in Springfield Gardens, Queens. The gun buyback comes as the city has experienced an increase in gun violence and sought to curb…
QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION FOR STASH OF FIREARMS FOUND IN HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Ashram Lochan, who resides next door to the house where 10-year-old Justin Wallace was shot and killed June 5, has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon. As alleged, police found several illegal firearms in his Edgemere, Queens, home after the execution of a search warrant….
QUEENS MAN INDICTED BY GRAND JURY IN BEATING DEATH OF HOMELESS ACQUIANTANCE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Piotr Wilk, 35, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court for manslaughter in the death of a homeless man. The defendant allegedly beat the victim to death on April 29, 2021. District Attorney Katz said, “This was a brutal crime…
WOODHAVEN MAN INDICTED ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES IN DEATH OF SEVEN-WEEK-OLD SON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that Luis Sanchez, 30, has been indicted by a Queens grand jury on manslaughter and other charges in the death of his infant son inside the family’s 88th Street residence in August 2019. District Attorney Katz said, “A baby was left in his father’s care, where he should…
QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN SHOOTING DEATH OF 10-YEAR-OLD BOY IN FAR ROCKAWAY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jovan Young, 29, has been charged with murder, attempted murder and other crimes for the deadly shooting last Saturday that killed a 10-year-old boy and injured another male inside a home in Edgemere, Queens. District Attorney Katz said, “There isn’t a parent alive who doesn’t mourn this…
QUEENS RESIDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN 2018 SHOOTING DEATH OF MAN SEATED IN VAN IN CAMBRIA HEIGHTS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that John Jahlik Hines, 27, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of a Rosedale, Queens, resident. The victim was seated inside a van in Cambria Heights when the defendant fired multiple shots, killing him on June 3, 2018. District Attorney Katz said, “The defendant in…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY CO-HOSTS GUN BUY BACK EVENT WITH NYS ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES AND NYPD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, along with New York Attorney General Letitia James and the New York City Police Department will sponsor a Gun Buy Back event this Saturday, June 12th, at St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church in Springfield Gardens, Queens. District Attorney Katz said, “In these difficult days, it is important that we…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ AND THE NYPD ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF NEW PROGRAM TO HELP JAMAICA BUSINESSES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Police Department officials, members of the Jamaica business community and elected officials, today announced a new initiative to discourage disruptive, unwanted activity inside, and in front of, local shops and stores. District Attorney Katz said, “This program, conceived in partnership with my Office, the police…
STATEMENT OF QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ ON RECENT GUN VIOLENCE
After a weekend of bloodshed that included the senseless death of a young child, it is more important than ever for our communities to come together. Our grief cannot weaken our resolve to stop gun violence. Justin Wallace’s death – indeed, every shooting – underscores the urgent need to stand together with our communities, clergy…
QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME FOR PAINTING SWASTIKAS IN ELMHURST NEIGHBORHOOD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Kristoffer Bahamonde has been charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime, harassment and other charges for allegedly defacing several locations in Elmhurst, Queens, with swastikas and other graffiti in late May 2021. District Attorney Katz said, “The defendant allegedly used symbols of hate to deface property…
STATEMENT BY QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ AND PEOPLE’S DISMISSAL MOTION – BELL, BOLT & JOHNSON
Today, my office moved to dismiss indictments against George Bell, Gary Johnson and Rohan Bolt, who were convicted of the December 21, 1996, murders of Ira “Mike” Epstein and NYPD Police Officer Charles Davis during a robbery attempt of Mr. Epstein’s check cashing business. This follows a thorough, three-month investigation by Executive Assistant District Attorney…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MOVES TO DISMISS CHARGES IN 1996 DOUBLE MURDER CASE
Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that her office will move to dismiss charges against George Bell, Gary Johnson, and Rohan Bolt, who were convicted of the December 21, 1996, murders of Ira “Mike” Epstein and NYPD Police Officer Charles Davis during a robbery attempt of Mr. Epstein’s check cashing business. DA Katz…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ ON VANDALISM AT THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL IN ELMHURST PARK
The attack on this memorial, in this park, is a foul, criminal act. This is the only Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Queens that pays homage to all the fallen service men and women from this borough. It exists as a place where we can all reflect and pay tribute. I am proud to…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING OVER $50,000 IN APARTMENT RENTAL SCAM
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that Cesar Fernandez-Loor, 38, has pleaded guilty to grand larceny for stealing over $50,000 from numerous apartment-hunters. The defendant promised housing to applicants, then collected rental deposits without actually permitting anyone to move in. Many of the victims were immigrants living in Jackson Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. District…
LIVERY DRIVER CHARGED WITH 1996 RAPE OF PASSENGER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Danny Stewart, 58, has been indicted by a grand jury and arraigned in Queens Supreme Court for the 1996 rape of a female passenger. The defendant – a livery driver at the time – picked up the victim from her workplace in Jamaica and allegedly sexually assaulted…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES IN STABBING DEATH OF MOTHER’S HUSBAND
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Andrew Hinton, 31, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on murder charges. District Attorney Katz said, “Domestic disputes can escalate all-too-quickly into violence. This one erupted into tragedy after the defendant allegedly stabbed his mother’s husband to…
QUEENS RESIDENT CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR STABBING MAN WITH KITCHEN KNIFE OVER PARKING SPACE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Anthony Thomas, 58, has been charged with attempted murder and assault in the stabbing of a motorist who was parking his car on the block. The defendant allegedly pulled out a kitchen knife and attacked the victim, stabbing him multiple times Sunday, May 23, 2021. District…
ARRAIGNMENT UPDATE: LONG ISLAND WOMAN INDICTED IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED NYPD POLICE OFFICER IN APRIL
Defendant Jessica Beauvais, 32, of Myrtle Avenue, in Hempstead, Long Island, was arraigned today before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise on a 13-count indictment charging her with aggravated manslaughter in the second degree, manslaughter in the second degree, aggravated criminally negligent homicide, vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, leaving the scene of an incident…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN HIGH-SPEED HIT AND RUN THAT KILLED 56-YEAR-OLD WORKER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that David Garcia, 28, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the July 2019 hit and run death of a Dunkin’ Donuts employee. District Attorney Katz said, “The destination for this defendant – who selfishly chose to disobey the rules of the road with fatal, tragic consequences – is…
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