Press Releases
MAN EXTRADITED AND CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR FATAL STABBING
Faces 50 Years to Life in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Nathaniel Johnson was extradited to Queens where he was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on murder and other charges in the stabbing death of a 37-year-old man – and assault on the victim’s sister – after Johnson’s wife…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED ON ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Paul Verite was indicted and arraigned today on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and other crimes for allegedly repeatedly injuring his female Boston Terrier to the point the puppy could neither walk nor stand. A necropsy and review of medical records revealed that the puppy, named Espy,…
MAN CHARGED WITH RAPE AND ASSAULT IN ATTACK ON WOMAN
Allegedly Took Victim on Motorcycle Ride, Then Attacked Her Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Tony Kempsey was arraigned for allegedly raping a 49-year-old woman on an Elmhurst street after giving her a ride on his motorcycle and then beating her. District Attorney Katz said: “This kind…
QUEENS MAN ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER IN FAR ROCKAWAY STREET SHOOTOUT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jeffrey Morel was arraigned on attempted murder and other charges in connection with a shooting in Far Rockaway that sent bullets flying into a nearby yeshiva and parked cars. District Attorney Katz said: “It is extremely fortunate that this brazen shooting did not lead to any injuries to…
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ HOSTS AAPI HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION AT ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, in partnership with her Asian American and Pacific Islander Advisory Council, hosted an annual celebration in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at St. John’s University in Jamaica. The program included awards honoring notable community members of Asian and Pacific Island descent and a keynote address by…
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 18 TO LIFE IN STABBING DEATH OF WIFE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Carmelo Mendoza was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of his wife during an argument inside their Jackson Heights apartment in July 2020. District Attorney Katz said: “This man was responsible for a brutal murder, which he carried out in front of…
QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING ARSENAL OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS, INCLUDING GHOST GUNS AND AMMUNITION
Faces up to 15 Years in Prison Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Zhili Song of Flushing was arraigned on weapons possession and other charges after a search warrant executed at his basement apartment in his parent’s home uncovered a cache of firearms, including ghost guns, and ammunition. District Attorney Katz said: “The arsenal…
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED IN STABBING DEATH OF ACQUAINTANCE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marcos Anzurez was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for manslaughter in the stabbing death of an acquaintance in 2018. District Attorney Katz said: “A simple argument escalated into the brutal killing of a young man. Unfortunately, we cannot reverse that tragedy, but we have succeeded in…
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ, NYPD ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO ASTORIA
Rollout Follows Successful Program Launches in Jamaica and Flushing Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, together with NYPD officials and members of the western Queens business community, today announced the launch of the Astoria Merchants Business Improvement Program, designed to enhance safety in and around local shops. The program focuses on the small number of individuals…
SECOND ADOLESCENT CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME IN FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK ATTACK OF JEWISH MAN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a second individual, a 17-year-old male, has been charged with assault as a hate crime for an attack in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The defendant, along with others, repeatedly kicked a Jewish man knocking him to the ground and taking his money, his credit cards, his phone and…
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ CHARGES OPERATORS OF UNLICENSED MOBILE CANNABIS DISPENSARIES IN ASTORIA AND OZONE PARK
Vehicles Impounded and Products Seized Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the takedown of three illegal cannabis operations resulting in the arrest of five individuals who were charged in connection with their roles in allegedly operating illegal mobile marijuana dispensaries from two trucks in Astoria, and an illegal smoke shop in Ozone Park located directly…
QUEENS MAN INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER IN SHOOTING OF NYPD OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Devin Spraggins was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on two counts of attempted murder in the first degree and other charges in connection with the April 5 confrontation with NYPD officers in which rookie Officer Brett Boller was shot. District Attorney Katz said: “The brazen…
FLUSHING MAN SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS FOR DEALING FENTANYL AND SELLING LOADED FIREARM
Defendant Must Forfeit $18,210 Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Justin Echeverry was sentenced today to eight years in prison for selling more than 1,100 fentanyl pills and a loaded gun to an undercover officer last year. He was also sentenced to a concurrent sentence of one to three years in prison for shooting…
VIRGINIA MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE IN 31-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE KILLING OF FAR ROCKAWAY TEEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jerry Lewis was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on a charge of murder in the second degree for the 1992 death of 15-year-old Nadine Slade, who was found naked and strangled with her own bra in her Far Rockaway home. District Attorney Katz said: “Any…
QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER IN STABBING DEATH OF WIFE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Carmelo Mendoza pleaded guilty to murder in the fatal stabbing of his wife during an argument inside their Jackson Heights apartment in July 2020. District Attorney Katz said: “This argument, which turned deadly, was a horrific ordeal unfortunately witnessed by the victim’s 19-year-old daughter, who tried in vain…
QUEENS DA MELINDA KATZ AND THE NYPD ANNOUNCE PROGRAM TO HELP FLUSHING MERCHANTS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz joined by NYPD officials, members of the Flushing business community and elected officials today announced the Flushing Merchants Business Improvement Program to enhance safety for retailers and shoppers by discouraging unwanted activity in and around local stores. The initiative is based on a successful launch of the Jamaica Merchants Business…
QUEENS MEN SENTENCED FOR DEADLY RICHMOND HILL SHOOTING
Defendants Killed Guyanese Man and Shot Brother During Richmond Hill Robbery Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Shakim Allen and Dreshaun Smith were sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for killing a man visiting from Guyana and shooting his brother during a Richmond Hill robbery in January 2017. District Attorney Katz said:…
MAN SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS IN PRISON IN SHOOTING DEATH OF DELI WORKER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Steven Cohen has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for the shooting death of a 26-year-old deli worker after a brief verbal altercation. District Attorney Katz said: “The callous actions of this defendant cost the life of an innocent man who was simply doing his job. I…
BRONX MAN SENTENCED FOR SHOOTING INTO MTA BUS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Melvin Adams was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for opening fire on a busy thoroughfare intending to hit a stranger and instead shooting at an MTA bus and striking two passengers. District Attorney Katz said: “A dangerous man is now off our streets and will serve…
BROOKLYN MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR 2021 SHOOTING AT QUEENS MOTEL
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Rawle Washington was sentenced to 12 years in prison for injuring a man he shot at the Surfside Motel in Howard Beach in September 2021. District Attorney Katz said, “DNA evidence was instrumental in identifying the defendant after he callously shot a man and fled. Today he faces…
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