Archive for February 2026
Your Weekly Update – February 27, 2026
We announced an indictment charging a Jamaica resident with vehicular manslaughter for killing a woman in Astoria in January 2026. The victim was operating a standing scooter when…(continued)
Read MoreMARRIED COUPLE PLEADS GUILTY IN WAGE THEFT CASE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that married couple Christian Perez and Ines Perez Miranda, along with their two cleaning companies, pleaded guilty to failing to pay wages for company employees. The defendants were ordered to make restitution to 30 victims totaling over $28,000. District Attorney Katz said: “These defendants failed to pay their…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 22 ½ YEARS IN PRISON FOR STRANGLING LANDLADY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Davi Vidal was sentenced to 22 ½ years in prison for killing his 55-year-old landlady, Zoraida Leo, by strangulation in December 2023. Vidal, also known as Deiby Vidal, leased an attic unit in the victim’s multi-unit residence in East Elmhurst for two years before the deadly confrontation over…
Read MoreJAMAICA RESIDENT INDICTED ON VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE FOR EARLY MORNING COLLISION THAT KILLED SCOOTER OPERATOR
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ryan Rampersaud was indicted on charges of vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and driving under the influence for a January 2026 collision that killed Blanca Arias-Miranda in Astoria, who was operating a scooter. District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant was driving while intoxicated, barreled into a…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 20, 2026
My office announced the indictment of a 22-year-old Briarwood man on charges of attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon after he allegedly tried to attack a police officer…(continued)
Read MoreASTORIA MAN WHO SHOVED HIS MOTHER OUT OF THIRD FLOOR WINDOW SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that George Tsintzelis was sentenced to 25 years in prison following a jury conviction on charges of attempted murder, assault and other crimes. The defendant defenestrated his 64-year-old mother¸ Paraskevi Tsintzelis, out of their third-floor apartment window in 2024. District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant committed an unthinkable…
Read MoreVIRGINIA MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 1992 COLD CASE MURDER OF FAR ROCKAWAY TEEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jerry Lewis was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after being convicted at trial for the murder of 15-year-old Nadine Slade, who was strangled to death in May 1992. The victim was found dead inside a bathroom her family shared with an adjacent unit at…
Read MoreBRIARWOOD MAN INDICTED BY GRAND JURY FOR ATTEMPTED ASSAULT ON NYPD OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jabez Chakraborty was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on charges of attempted assault and weapon possession for advancing on an NYPD officer while holding a large kitchen knife. District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant tried to attack a police officer while holding a large…
Read MoreDEFENDANT EXTRADITED FROM SOUTH KOREA TO FACE CHARGES FOR 2002 MURDER IN FLUSHING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ho “Alex” Shin was extradited from South Korea and arraigned on indictment charges of murder and related crimes for fatally stabbing 22-year-old Hyun Dae Kim in January 2002 inside an apartment in Flushing. The defendant is also charged with attempted murder for stabbing another 22-year-old victim in the…
Read MoreNINE DEFENDANTS PLEAD GUILTY IN DISASTER RELIEF SCHEME; ORDERED TO MAKE RESTITUTION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced that nine defendants pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars in pandemic relief funds intended to help small business owners suffering hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the plea, the defendants have been ordered to make restitution payments…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 13, 2026
This past week, we welcomed elected officials from across the borough of Queens for our annual Legislative Breakfast to talk about our accomplishments in 2025 and legislative priorities…(continued)
Read MoreDEFENDANT EXTRADITED FROM GERMANY TO FACE MANSLAUGHTER INDICTMENT FOR ROLE IN FATAL COLLISION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Florin Stoian, AKA Slaco Razmias, AKA Slavco Rostas, was extradited from Germany and arraigned on indictment charges of manslaughter, arson, tampering with evidence and related crimes for hitting a pedestrian with a rented BMW X6 while the victim was crossing the street at Myrtle Avenue and Hancock Street…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 6, 2026
My office hosted another successful gun buyback event this past weekend with our partners at the NYPD and the office of Attorney General Letitia James. This event was held at the Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Jamaica with the help of the church’s pastor, the Rev. Dr. Frankco J. Harris… (continued)
Read MoreDA’S OFFICE SECURES COURT ORDER TO RETURN TWO HOMES TO RIGHTFUL OWNERS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that two homes were returned on January 28 to their rightful owners after a judge voided fraudulent deeds for the properties. The homes were stolen as part of a deed fraud scheme and the defendants then sold the properties to third parties. Four people were ultimately convicted for the…
Read MoreDA KATZ, NYPD & ATTORNEY GENERAL REMOVE MORE THAN 100 GUNS, INCLUDING 10 ASSAULT WEAPONS, AS PART OF GUN BUYBACK EVENT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that 124 guns were collected Saturday at the Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Southeast Queens during a gun buyback event. The weapons were exchanged for bank cards pre-loaded with cash. The event was completely anonymous, with no identification required and no questions asked. The buyback served as the 12th…
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