Weekly Newsletter – June 12, 2026

On Gun Violence Awareness Day, I joined my fellow district attorneys and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch to announce the removal of 2,109 firearms from…(continued).

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QUEENS MAN CONVICTED FOR A SECOND TIME IN 1993 MURDER OF PREGNANT ESTRANGED WIFE

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Michael Robinson was convicted of murder after being retried for the 1993 stabbing death of his estranged wife, 29-year-old Gwendolyn Samuels. Samuels was killed a year after she and Robinson separated. At the time she was two months pregnant with her new boyfriend’s child and was working…

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FAR ROCKAWAY MAN SENTENCED TO 43 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF STEPSON

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a 43-year-old defendant was sentenced to 43 years in prison after being convicted at trial of sexually abusing his stepson. The abuse occurred over a period of seven years beginning when the youngster was 9 years old until he was 15 years old. District Attorney Katz said: “Instead…

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LONG ISLAND TEEN EXTRADITED FROM VIRGINIA TO FACE ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES FOR SHOOTING 15-YEAR-OLD BOY INSIDE A TRAIN IN APRIL

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Matthew Rodriguez was arraigned and remanded today on indictment charges of attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon for shooting a 15-year-old victim aboard a Manhattan-bound A train on April 27. The victim was in a physical fight with Rodriguez’ co-defendant stemming from an earlier shooting…

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SUSPENDED ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH GRAND LARCENY FOR STEALING MORE THAN $1 MILLION FROM BORROWERS, DIME COMMUNITY BANK

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jose Polanco was indicted for grand larceny and other crimes for collectively stealing more than $1 million from two borrowers at mortgage refinancings and from Dime Community Bank by writing bad checks. During this fraudulent scheme, Polanco, a former attorney who has been suspended since 2018, allegedly…

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