Bureaus / Units
The mission of the Investigations Division of the Queens County District Attorney’s Office is to conduct evidence based, intelligence driven investigations that identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal activity affecting the safety and security of Queens. Through disciplined investigative practice, proactive intelligence development, ethical practices, and sustained interagency cooperation, the Investigations Division upholds public safety, equally applies justice, and strengthens the rule of law in Queens County.
The Investigations Division is comprised of the following bureaus – Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, Financial Frauds Bureau, Public Corruption Bureau, Housing, Worker, and Consumer Protection Bureau, Crime Strategies & Intelligence Bureau, and Strategic Investigations Bureau. These uniquely specialized bureaus investigate and prosecute complex criminal activity throughout Queens County while also helping residents avoid being victimized by complex schemes.
Financial Frauds Bureau
The Financial Frauds Bureau is a team of Assistant District Attorneys, financial accountants/analysts, detective investigators, and support staff that investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The Financial Frauds Bureau seeks to hold offenders accountable for their crimes while protecting the community.
The Financial Frauds Bureau focuses on financial based crimes including high-value investment scams, government fraud, identity theft, bank and credit card fraud, tax fraud, elder fraud and cybercrime.
The cases in the Financial Frauds Bureau are investigated utilizing traditional methods combined with advanced technology and judicial warrants. The combined efforts of the Bureau have led to the arrest and prosecution of offenders and the seizure or recoupment of millions of dollars.
The Financial Frauds Bureau is at the forefront of community-based initiatives: our team routinely speaks to the community to alert them to scams and burgeoning financial threats with the aim of preventing victimization.
To fulfill its mission, the Financial Frauds Bureau has three specialized units run by veteran prosecutors.
For more information, email Frauds@queensda.org or call 718.286.6673.
Crimes Against Revenue Unit
The Crimes Against Revenue Unit (CARU) is dedicated to safeguarding the financial interests of New Yorkers and protecting the integrity of government revenue systems through aggressive investigation, prosecution, and deterrence of complex financial crimes, tax evasion schemes, and illicit trafficking operations that deprive the public of critical resources.
Through strategic partnerships with law enforcement and regulatory agencies, CARU targets individuals, corporations, and organized criminal enterprises seeking to evade legal financial obligations. CARU conducts thorough financial investigations, recovering lost tax revenue, securing meaningful restitution for governmental agencies, and ensuring accountability through fair and effective prosecution.
Working with our governmental partners, CARU has recovered tens of millions of dollars in restitution and revenue for New York State. CARU is committed to upholding public trust by promoting integrity, collaboration, and excellence in enforcement.
Cyber Crime Unit
The Cyber Crime Unit investigates and prosecutes technology-facilitated crimes in an increasingly digital world.
The Unit handles complex investigations involving account hacking, identity theft, SIM swap schemes, crimes on the dark web, cryptocurrency-related offenses, and other cyber-enabled criminal activity.
Using advanced digital investigative techniques alongside traditional prosecutorial methods, experienced prosecutors work collaboratively with law enforcement and industry partners to identify offenders, trace victim funds, and hold perpetrators accountable.
The Cyber Crime Unit is committed to protecting the public, preserving the integrity of digital systems and financial assets, and ensuring justice for victims of crime.
For more information, email CyberCrimes@queensda.org or call 718.286.6673.
Elder Fraud Unit
The Elder Fraud Unit is dedicated to safeguarding the elderly community from financial crimes, scams, and exploitation.
Elder financial fraud is an urgent threat to public safety, and combatting these crimes is not only essential to personal security, but the well-being of the entire community.
Schemes involving identity theft, online scams, and the theft of life savings and retirement assets continue to become increasingly prevalent, complex, and driven by rapidly changing technology.
The Unit works aggressively to counter these trends by investigating and prosecuting those who target Queens seniors.
Through partnerships with law enforcement, financial institutions, and community organizations, the Unit supports victims, works to recover stolen funds, and helps prevent future fraud from occurring.
The Unit also provides extensive community outreach and educational programming to empower seniors and their families with the tools and information they need to recognize scams, avoid exploitation, and protect their financial futures.
Our mission is to hold those causing harm accountable, strengthen public trust, and ensure that Queens seniors feel informed and protected.
For more information, email ElderFraud@queensda.org or call 718.286.6578.
Further information and resources for the elderly can be found by visiting the NYC Adult Protective Services site or calling 212.630.1853. Information for the NYC Department for the Aging Elderly Crime Victims' Program can be found by visiting their site or calling 212.442.3103.
Additional resources can also be found in our directory page.
Crime Strategies & Intelligence Bureau
In 2021, District Attorney Katz formed the Crime Strategies and Intelligence Bureau (CSIB) comprised of a team of dedicated Assistant District Attorneys, Intelligence Analysts, Detective Investigators, and support staff. DA Katz tasked CSIB with improving public safety in Queens County by focusing resources on reducing and preventing criminal activity, particularly violent criminal offenses, gun trafficking, and emerging public safety threats. By reimagining the intelligence-driven prosecution model, CSIB utilizes cutting-edge technology and innovative law enforcement techniques to analyze data and intelligence generated by the Office as well as from outside law enforcement partners.
In addition to tackling gun violence, illegal cannabis dispensaries, multifaceted fraudulent schemes, and organized retail theft, CSIB’s proactive investigative model also includes counterterrorism investigations, online threat assessment, and the illicit use of artificial intelligence.
CSIB also assists with individual prosecutions and investigations by supplying analytical context and actionable intelligence. The CSIB team supports prosecutors and investigators within the Office by analyzing social media, complex digital evidence, ballistic evidence, expert testimony, and the analysis of statistical data. Additionally, CSIB’s work assists DA Katz’s crime-fighting and alternative sentencing initiatives.
Through CSIB’s cutting-edge work, District Attorney Katz continues to prosecute individuals purchasing, building and 3D printing illegal firearms in Queens County. Since its creation, CSIB’s successful investigation and prosecution of numerous ghost gun manufacturers and traffickers has made the Queens District Attorney’s Office a national leader in combating the proliferation of personally manufactured firearms.
To fulfill its mission, CSIB has two specialized units run by veteran prosecutors.
Airport Investigations Unit
The Airport Investigations Unit handles the investigation and prosecution of major crimes at both JFK International and LaGuardia Airports.
Queen County’s airports are critical to our national and regional economies and essential to our way of life. In 2019, 62 million passengers, over 1.4 million tons of freight, and 90 thousand tons of mail passed through JFK Airport. The very things about airports that attract travelers, workers, and businesses—their vast size, the scope of their facilities, the volume of passenger and cargo traffic—also attract thieves, smugglers, internal conspiracies, traffickers, and terrorists. Crime at our airports is of paramount concern.
Asset Tracing and Recovery Unit
Through the work of specialized Assistant District Attorneys and Financial Analysts, CSIB also works to ensure that criminals cannot financially benefit from their illegal activities. The Asset Tracking and Recovery Unit works to seize money, property, and other assets tied to criminal conduct. This group targets the proceeds of crimes such as fraud, money laundering, and other financial offenses, disrupting the economic infrastructure that enables criminal enterprises to operate. By removing ill-gotten gains from the hands of bad actors and cutting off their access to the financial system, the unit serves as a powerful deterrent and a critical tool in the broader fight against organized and financially motivated crime.
Strategic Investigations Bureau
In 2026, DA Katz established the Strategic Investigations Bureau to conduct long-term investigations focusing on multi-defendant, conspiracy-based schemes that target criminal networks and illicit revenue streams.
To fulfill its mission, the Strategic Investigations Bureau has two specialized units run by veteran prosecutors.
Major Narcotics Unit
The Major Narcotics Unit investigates and prosecutes complex narcotics conspiracies. Working with local and federal law enforcement partners, the unit employs various investigative techniques including the use of court-authorized electronic surveillance and undercover police officers to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations, airport smuggling rings, money laundering operations, and prescription diversion schemes. The unit also handles firearm possession and distribution as well as other criminal conduct associated with narcotics trafficking. Additionally, the unit works to seize the profits of drug dealers; a portion of those seized assets are used to fund drug treatment programs throughout the state.
Auto Crime Unit
Vehicle-related offenses and insurance fraud scams directly impact the quality of life for those living, working, and visiting Queens County. The mission of the Auto Crime Unit is to identify, disrupt, and prosecute organized criminal networks engaged in vehicle theft, fraud, trafficking, and other vehicle-related criminal activity through intelligence-driven investigations, interagency collaborative enforcement, and a commitment to public safety.
For more information, call 718.286.6673.
Housing, Worker, and Consumer Protection Bureau
The Housing and Worker Protection Bureau (HWPB) was established by Queens DA Melinda Katz during her first year in office. HWPB investigates and prosecutes crimes related to deed fraud, mortgage fraud, construction fraud, wage theft, and workplace safety.
The bureau is uniquely positioned to investigate and prosecute criminals who prey on people who live and work in Queens with fraudulent real estate schemes, unsafe workplace conditions, and other forms of illegal exploitation. Some people are more vulnerable than others, but anyone can be victimized by unscrupulous fraudsters. The bureau investigates, and where appropriate, prosecutes crimes involving theft, fraud, and exploitation of workers.
The Housing, Worker, and Consumer Protection Bureau investigates:
- Illegal, unsafe working conditions that can lead to injury, bodily harm, or death
- Dishonest employers illegally shortchanging workers or demanding kickbacks
- Contractor fraud, rental schemes, and other crimes
- Deed/mortgage fraud - forged documents, misleading transfers, identity theft, falsified or altered records; dishonestly obtained signatures
- Price gouging – illegally charging excessive prices to vulnerable customers on staples like food, emergency cleanup and supplies, medical supplies, gasoline/fuel, and other necessities.
For more information, email HousingWorkerProtection@queensda.org or call 718.286.6673.
Public Corruption Bureau
The Public Corruption Bureau investigates and prosecutes crimes committed by public servants and other public officials. It also investigates allegations against civilians who attempt to subvert the integrity of public servants by offering bribes.
The bureau investigates complaints from the public and works hand-in-hand with the New York City Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau, the State Grievance Committees, Appellate Division, the City Department of Investigation, and a host of other agencies on a state and federal level to safeguard the public from corruption allegations.
The Public Corruption Bureau can help with allegations of:
- Wrongdoing by licensed attorneys
- Unauthorized practice of law
- Criminal impersonation of public officers
- Use of excessive force by police officers
- Election fraud
- Perjury
For more information, email PublicCorruption@queensda.org or call 718.286.6560.
Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau
The Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau (VCE) was created by DA Melinda Katz to combat violent criminal activity in Queens County by identifying and prosecuting drivers of violence, including members of violent street gangs and firearms dealers.
The bureau has a dedicated staff of Assistant District Attorneys, investigators, and analysts who possess a combination of experience in trial practice, investigative work, and surveillance techniques. They aggressively pursue evidence through traditional coordinated information gathering from law enforcement agents, witnesses, and members of the community. The bureau also collects, analyzes, and retains digital data through court-authorized electronic monitoring of sources that help the bureau zero in on criminals and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
The Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau uses every resource available to ensure criminal networks, gang activity, and other organized operations run by drivers of crime are dismantled and that the weapons they peddle are taken off the streets.
For more information, email VCEB@queensda.org or call 718.286.7045.