Press Releases
OZONE PARK WOMAN INDICTED ON VEHICULAR ASSAULT, DRUNK DRIVING CHARGES AFTER COLLISION SERIOUSLY INJURED HER YOUNG CHILDREN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Mariam Alli was indicted by a grand jury for aggravated vehicular assault, aggravated driving while intoxicated, endangering the welfare of a child and other crimes for speeding through a red light and slamming into another vehicle, seriously injuring her 3-year-old son, 2-year-old daughter and another passenger in her…
QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER, ARSON IN DOUBLE STABBING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Wei Sheng Chen was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, arson and weapon possession for killing his 50-year-old mother-in-law and stabbing his 17-year-old brother-in-law multiple times in a violent attack at their family home in Flushing on Thursday. DA Katz said: “As alleged,…
UNIONDALE MAN INDICTED FOR MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR INTENTIONALLY DRIVING INTO TEEN AND FAMILY ON ROOSEVELT AVENUE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Edwin Cruz Gomez was indicted for murder, attempted murder, assault, driving under the influence and other crimes for intentionally aiming his vehicle at a 16-year-old girl and her family on Roosevelt Avenue in Elmhurst and killing the teen. The defendant sexually propositioned the girl and her mother just…
SOUTH OZONE PARK MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR CAR THEFT THAT LED TO VICTIM’S DEATH
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Mahindra Hansraj was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a February 2023 collision that severely injured and eventually killed Tauree Thompson of Richmond Hill. Thompson jumped onto the roof of his car as Hansraj stole the vehicle, sped off on Lefferts Boulevard then crashed into a fire…
TWO DEFENDANTS INDICTED FOR STEALING MORE THAN $800,000 IN UNEMPLOYMENT AND COVID-19 BENEFITS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kareem Reeves and Michael Robertson were indicted on charges of grand larceny in the second degree, identity theft and criminal possession of stolen property for allegedly stealing approximately $835,000 in unemployment insurance funds meant to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Robertson was also separately charged in a…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY AND ARSON FOR KILLING DOG
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Isaiah Gurley was indicted for animal cruelty, arson, criminal mischief and other crimes for allegedly killing a male pit bull before burning the body on a public street in South Ozone Park on July 24. The dog, named Square K, was a relative’s service animal. District Attorney Katz…
THREE DEFENDANTS INDICTED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIM IN FLUSHING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kwai Ling Chan and Bobby Chen, a married couple, and Tashi Chimchu were indicted on sex trafficking charges for forcing a Colombian woman to engage in sex for money inside an alleged brothel on Union Street in Flushing. The woman was told she had to work off a…
QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ APPOINTS 45 NEW ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced the appointment of 45 new Assistant District Attorneys representing 22 different law schools from across the country. DA Katz said: “I am proud to welcome this diverse group of talented professionals into the Queens District Attorney’s Office. I look forward to working with them in support of this…
ELMHURST MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING MOTHER AND BROTHER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Roscoe Danielson was convicted of murder in the second degree, concealment of a human body and multiple other charges for killing both his mother and brother in the East Elmhurst home they shared in July 2023. The defendant dragged a garbage bag concealing the body of his brother…
SUBWAY RIDER CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR UNPROVOKED STABBING OF FELLOW STRAPHANGER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Luis Pallchisaca was arraigned on charges of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession for the unprovoked stabbing of a 25-year-old man inside a 7 train at the Mets-Willets Point station in Corona Sunday night. Pallchisaca, who was already inside the train, allegedly approached the victim as he entered…
QUEENS FATHER SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER OF 3-YEAR-OLD SON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Shaquan Butler was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison today for killing his 3-year-old son in an Elmhurst shelter. A jury convicted Butler of murder, assault and other charges for the death of his son and the physical abuse of the boy’s younger sibling. District Attorney…
TEXAS MAN CHARGED WITH MAKING TERRORISTIC THREATS AS A HATE CRIME AGAINST NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND MAYORAL CANDIDATE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jeremy Fistel was indicted by a grand jury on September 4 and arraigned today on charges of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime and related crimes for voicemail and written messages left for New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. The messages began in June 2025 and…
THREE ARRESTED AT CORONA BOUTIQUE FOR POSSESSING STOLEN MERCHANDISE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the recovery of more than $50,000 in merchandise allegedly stolen from major retailers including Macy’s, Lululemon, Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle that was offered for sale at a steep discount at the Elegant Fashion boutique in Corona. Three defendants were charged with criminal possession of stolen property for…
ASTORIA MAN CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR ASSAULT FOR STRIKING PEDESTRIANS WITH CAR ON SIDEWALK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Luis Saula Quindi was arraigned on charges of aggravated vehicular assault, driving while under the influence and related traffic violations for pinning two pedestrians under his Honda sedan on Sunday night. Quindi allegedly struck a 72-year-old man and 13-year-old girl at the intersection of 102nd Street and Martense…
UNIONDALE MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR INTENTIONALLY DRIVING INTO TEEN ON ROOSEVELT AVENUE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Edwin Cruz Gomez was arraigned on charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, vehicular manslaughter and other crimes for intentionally driving his vehicle at four people, including a teenager and her mother whom he sexually propositioned just minutes earlier. The collision, which occurred on Roosevelt Avenue in Elmhurst early…
TWO ALLEGED GUN TRAFFICKERS INDICTED ON WEAPONS AND DRUGS CHARGES; GUNS TRANSPORTED FROM GEORGIA TO SOUTHEAST QUEENS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Jessica L. Tisch and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel announced the arraignment of Teddy Gaston “JD Yikes” and Jezerel Huston on a 194-count grand jury indictment charging them with possession and sale of illegal firearms and narcotics. A six-month joint…
BRONX MAN CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND ARSON FOR KILLING ELDERLY BELLEROSE COUPLE IN THEIR HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jamel McGriff was arraigned on 12 counts of murder in the first degree, two counts of murder in the second degree, robbery, burglary, arson and other crimes for the deaths of a husband and wife in their Bellerose home on Monday. McGriff allegedly restrained 76-year-old Frank Olton in…
TEEN CHARGED WITH KILLING 17-YEAR-OLD, INJURING OTHERS IN HIGH-SPEED CRASH ON CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Mohammad Sk was indicted on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, driving under the influence, assault and other crimes for an October 2024 crash that killed 17-year-old Mohammad Rafid and injured four other teenagers, all passengers in the car he was operating. Sk allegedly drank alcohol and smoked…
QUEENS WOMAN INDICTED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING WOMAN, EXTORTING ANOTHER ON ROOSEVELT AVENUE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Valezka Echeverrias was indicted by a grand jury on charges of sex trafficking, grand larceny, and other charges for allegedly forcing a woman to engage in prostitution on Roosevelt Avenue and to pay the defendant a daily sum of money. The defendant is additionally indicted on charges of…
TWELVE REPUTED GANG MEMBERS INDICTED ON ATTEMPTED MURDER AND CONSPIRACY CHARGES FOR YEAR-LONG SHOOTING SPREE IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced today the indictment of 12 reputed members of the Floss Money Ballers gang following a year-long investigation into multiple shootings in Southeast Queens. As alleged, violence between Floss Money Ballers and rival Blitz Gang 4 escalated…
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