Posts by ASokol@queensda.org
Your Weekly Update – March 21, 2025
My office secured an indictment against four individuals and three companies on charges of grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and other crimes for allegedly stealing three homes from their rightful owners in the neighborhoods of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens Village and Jamaica Estates… (continued)
Read MoreDEFENDANT SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 2021 AMBUSH MURDER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Isaiah Stokes was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison today after being convicted of murder for the fatal shooting of Tyrone Jones in St. Albans on February 7, 2021. The victim was sitting in a parked Jeep Cherokee and waiting for a friend to arrive for…
Read MoreTEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR STABBING DEATH AT SUNNYSIDE MCDONALD’S RESTAURANT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that a 16-year-old was indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the first degree, gang assault in the first degree and other crimes for the stabbing death of 14-year-old Julian Corniell during a melee at a McDonald’s in Sunnyside on…
Read MoreFOUR INDIVIDUALS INDICTED IN DEED FRAUD SCHEME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that four individuals and three companies were indicted on charges of grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, conspiracy and other crimes for allegedly stealing three homes from their rightful owners in the neighborhoods of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens Village and Jamaica Estates. Carl Avinger, Autumn Valeri, Lawrence T.…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – March 14, 2025
My office charged a Kew Gardens Hills woman with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for scamming senior citizens out of more than $500,000 in a nationwide elder fraud scheme… (continued)
Read MoreDEFENDANT CONVICTED OF MURDER FOR 2021 AMBUSH SHOOTING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Isaiah Stokes was convicted of murder following a jury trial for the fatal shooting of Tyrone Jones in St. Albans on February 7, 2021. The victim was sitting in a parked Jeep Cherokee and waiting for a friend to arrive to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. The…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – March 7, 2025
I announced criminal charges this week against two individuals for their alleged role in the cybercrime theft of more than 900 concert tickets, including for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 28, 2025
I had the honor of speaking at the Citizens Crime Commission’s breakfast forum this week to discuss the work of my office to keep Queens safe. The CCC is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to preventing gun violence and violent extremism through programs, advocacy and policy reform… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 21, 2025
My office announced this week that a defendant faces 20 years in prison on kidnapping and robbery charges for three disturbing incidents that took place in July and August 2022… (continued)
Read MoreDA KATZ APPEALS FOR INFORMATION IN COLD CASE MURDER OF NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today the release of surveillance video in connection with the death of 28-year-old John Jeff, an off-duty New York City Correction Officer, who was shot and killed four years ago at the corner of Defoe and Ridgedale Streets in Springfield Gardens. The August 15, 2020, incident was caught on…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 14, 2025
My office, in partnership with the NYPD, has been investigating the cold case murder of an off-duty New York City correction officer that took place on August 15, 2020. The victim, 28-year-old John Jeff, was shot and killed following a verbal altercation at the corner of Defoe and Ridgedale Streets in Springfield Gardens… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – February 7, 2025
My office filed criminal charges of assault, unauthorized practice and reckless endangerment this week against a cosmetologist accused of providing beauty treatments without a license, injuring a woman… (continued)
Read MoreDAY CARE OWNERS INDICTED FOR ABUSE OF NINE INFANTS AND TODDLERS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that married couple Ilya Davydov and Ksenia Davydov have been indicted and charged with multiple crimes for allegedly abusing nine infants and toddlers at the day care center they operated from their Jamaica Estates home. The abuse is alleged to have included grabbing and kicking babies, shoving an…
Read MoreTEN ALLEGED TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES INDICTED FOR GUN TRAFFICKING OPERATION IN QUEENS, THE BRONX AND MANHATTAN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced today that 10 people have been indicted and variously charged with criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, conspiracy and other crimes for their alleged roles in a gun trafficking operation that conducted firearm sales throughout New York City…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 34 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR FIRING AT POLICE IN SOUTH OZONE PARK STANDOFF
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marco Mosquera was sentenced today to 34 years in prison for a terrifying incident at his South Ozone Park residence in September 2021. Mosquera was convicted by a jury in December of attempted murder and other charges for provoking an angry confrontation with his then wife, an off-duty…
Read MoreSEVEN DEFENDANTS INDICTED FOR SHOOTING AT BABY SHOWER THAT KILLED ONE MAN AND INJURED THREE OTHERS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that seven men were indicted by a grand jury and variously charged with weapon possession, reckless endangerment other crimes in connection with a shooting at a baby shower in Richmond Hill in May. The gunfire, which was apparently gang related, erupted outside the party venue and then continued…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – January 24, 2025
Following a stand-off between a homeowner and a squatter in February 2024, my office successfully returned the property to the rightful owner and prosecuted the defendant for the illegal occupation. This week, that defendant pleaded guilty to a felony and is expected to be sentenced to two years in prison and five years’ post release supervision……
Read MoreKETAMINE TRAFFICKING OPERATION DISMANTLED IN FLUSHING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today the indictment of four individuals charged with conspiracy, drug trafficking and other crimes following a long-term investigation into a narcotics organization based in Flushing. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Frostbite,” included a series of undercover drug buys and the use of electronic surveillance. District Attorney Katz said: “Those who…
Read MoreSQUATTER PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING FLUSHING HOME; FACES TWO YEAR PRISON TERM AT SENTENCING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Brian Rodriguez has pleaded guilty to a felony for illegally occupying a single-family home in Flushing and renting out rooms to others early last year. When the homeowner regained access to the property and changed the locks, the defendant forced himself back inside the home and claimed…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – January 17, 2024
Working in partnership with the NYPD and the New York City Sheriff, we shut down an unlicensed cannabis shop this week that operated at 103-17 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, blocks away from Yellowstone Park and Russell Sage Junior High School… (continued)
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