Bureaus / Units
The Investigations Division is comprised of seven bureaus – Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, Major Economic Crimes Bureau, Financial Frauds Bureau, Public Corruption Bureau, Housing and Worker Protection, Human Trafficking Bureau, and Crime Strategies & Intelligence Bureau. These uniquely specialized Bureaus investigate and prosecute complex criminal activity throughout Queens in addition to helping residents avoid being victimized through 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 investigates and prosecutes complex financial crimes at a high level. The Financial Frauds Bureau seeks to hold offenders accountable for their crimes and protect 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 conducted utilizing traditional investigative methods combined with advanced technology and judicial warrants. The combined efforts of the Bureau have led to the arrest and prosecution of repeat 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 the 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.
Under the leadership of the Section Chief, CARU conducts thorough financial investigations, recovers lost tax revenue, secures meaningful restitution, and ensures accountability through fair and effective prosecution.
Since 2024, the Unit has recovered and secured more than $2 million in restitution and revenue for New York State through its financial crimes prosecutions and enforcement efforts.
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 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.
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, and gun trafficking. 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.
CSIB 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, and ballistic evidence. Additionally, CSIB’s work assists DA Katz’s crime-fighting and alternative sentencing initiatives.
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.
Major Economic Crimes Bureau
The Major Economic Crimes Bureau was formed as part of a restructured Investigations Division when Queens DA Melinda Katz took office in 2020. This bureau combines the former Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau with components of the former Economics Crimes Bureau.
The bureau investigates and prosecutes a broad array of large-scale financial crimes that often fuel dangerous criminal enterprises within Queens County. The bureau traces and recovers criminal proceeds so that they can be returned to crime victims, and stop the perpetrators from profiting from their crimes. The bureau works in collaboration with various local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to fight crime.
The Major Economic Crimes Bureau handles:
- Organized groups engaging in mail theft, check cashing and credit card fraud
- Fishing and identity theft schemes
- Cyber Crimes
- Auto theft and insurance fraud
- Airport Investigations
- Illegal gambling
- Extortion and loan sharking operations
- Money Laundering
- Asset Forfeiture
For more information, email MajorEcoCrimes@queensda.org or call 718.286.6673.
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.
Auto Crime Unit
Auto theft and scams have a large impact on the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit Queens. Whether it is the theft of cars and car parts from the streets of Queens, the use of stolen identities to obtain cars from Queens dealerships, or car scams which deprive Queens’ residents of their hard-earned money, these crimes are a burden on our community.
Through a variety of innovative legal and investigative techniques and the use of cutting-edge technology, the Auto Crime Unit combats these crimes at every level, from the thieves and scammers up to and including those running sophisticated criminal organizations.
For more information, call 718.286.6673.
Major Narcotics Unit
The Major Narcotics Unit investigates and prosecutes large-scale narcotics trafficking organizations employing confidential informants, undercover police officers and court-authorized electronic surveillance.
Housing and Worker 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 and Worker 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.
Human Trafficking Bureau
The Human Trafficking Bureau was established by Queens DA Melinda Katz during the first six months of her administration. This bureau aggressively investigates and prosecutes all sex and labor trafficking crimes while also connecting survivors with meaningful services, support, and tools to enable them to safely escape their situations.
The District Attorney’s Office is a safe haven for all victims of human trafficking regardless of their social, economic, or immigration status.
The Human Trafficking Bureau can help with:
- Psychological or physical coercion, violence, threats, forced drug use, or fear to compel adults and children to engage in prostitution acts
- Exploitation with threats of injury, or deportation
- Use of forced labor, domestic work, or servitude for little or no wages
- Any and all related crimes where trafficking may be a motive or otherwise related to trafficking, including but not limited to: kidnapping, rape, assault, criminal contempt, as well as all felony compelling, promoting, and felony patronizing a person for prostitution crimes
If you or anyone you know may be a victim of trafficking or commercial exploitation, or if you need information, or would like to be connected to social, legal, or immigration services, we want to help.
For more information, email HumanTrafficking@queensda.org or call 718.286.6548.
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.