Archive for May 2025
BROOKLYN TEENAGER CHARGED WITH MURDER IN SHOOTING DEATH OF 19-YEAR-OLD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that a 16-year-old male was indicted for murder in the second degree and other crimes in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Kevin Hernandez in Ridgewood on April 22. The shooting took place on the same street as Joseph F. Quinn Intermediate School 77. District Attorney Katz said: “As…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 30, 2025
The summer months, particularly the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, are the most dangerous of the year for teen drivers. Traffic fatalities increase at this time every year, and it is particularly tragic because so many of those killed are young drivers and their passengers… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 23, 2025
A defendant was convicted at trial of murder in the second degree and weapon possession this week for the vicious knife attack that claimed the life of Lieutenant Alison Russo, a 24-year veteran of the FDNY EMS… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 16, 2025
I announced criminal charges this week against nine individuals for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in government relief funds intended to help small business owners suffering hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic… (continued)
Read MoreBROTHERS PLEAD GUILTY TO POSSESSING BOMBS, ASSAULT WEAPONS AND 3D-PRINTED GUNS IN THEIR ASTORIA APARTMENT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Andrew and Angelo Hatziagelis pleaded guilty to possession of explosive substances, assault weapons and other charges after an arsenal of improvised explosive devices, ghost guns and 3D-printed weapons was found inside an Astoria apartment they shared with their mother and another brother. Instructions for making a variety of…
Read MoreBROOKLYN MAN INDICTED FOR STABBING DEATH OF FLUSHING WOMAN IN 2022
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Shao Tong Lian was indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder in the second degree for the August 2022 death of 55-year-old Fang Chen, who was discovered fatally stabbed after the defendant visited her Flushing apartment for sex. District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this…
Read MoreNINE DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS: ALLEGEDLY STOLE MORE THAN $2.2 MILLION WITH BOGUS CLAIMS OF ECONOMIC HARM DUE TO COVID-19
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced that nine individuals have been charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and other crimes for allegedly separately stealing thousands of dollars in pandemic relief funds intended to help small business owners suffering hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 9, 2025
My office secured grand jury indictments against 20 defendants charged in a sprawling auto-theft enterprise operation in New York City and its suburbs. The indictments are the result of a long-term investigation by my office, the NYPD and New York State Police. The defendants are variously charged with enterprise corruption, grand larceny and criminal possession of 126…
Read MoreJACKSON HEIGHTS MAN SENTENCED TO UP TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MONTHS-LONG BURGLARY SPREE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Juan Morales was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison after being convicted in a jury trial of burglary, attempted burglary and other charges for a three-month crime spree spanning 2022 and 2023. The defendant broke into homes across Queens County and stole tens of thousands…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR TRIPLE STABBING OF GIRLFRIEND, HER SON AND A COUSIN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Travis Blake was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2022 murders of his girlfriend, Karlene Barnett, and two of her family members, Dervon Brightly and Vashawna Malcolm. Blake was convicted by a jury last month of murder in the first degree and…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 2, 2025
My office secured a grand jury indictment against a fake plastic surgeon on charges of manslaughter, assault and unauthorized practice of a profession for allegedly performing cosmetic surgery without a license in his Astoria home… (continued)
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