Posts by ASokol@queensda.org
Your Weekly Update – November 1, 2024
Since May, at least six children in Queens between the ages of 12 and 15 have been injured or tragically lost their lives while “subway surfing.” As a mother of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about our youth who continue to engage in this perilous activity in pursuit of fleeting social media fame…
Read MoreFORMER PTA PRESIDENT ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING MORE THAN $41,000 FROM ASTORIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Athena Gonzalez, the former parent teacher association president at P.S. 166 in Astoria, has been charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for allegedly stealing more than $41,000 from the school’s PTA. District Attorney Katz said: District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant, as PTA president…
Read MoreFOURTH PERSON INDICTED FOR DOUGLASTON HOME INVASION BURGLARY AND KIDNAPPING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a fourth person has been indicted and arraigned on charges of kidnapping, robbery and burglary following a violent home invasion in Douglaston in August. The defendant, Oneil Thompson, is alleged to have acted as a getaway driver for three men – Jone Smith and brothers Ryan and Brandon…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 25, 2024
During the month of October – National Domestic Violence Awareness Month – we have been keenly focused on extending support to those suffering at the hands of their loved ones. Most recently, my office partnered with Safe Horizon and the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York to host an empowerment luncheon for survivors of domestic…
Read MoreLONG ISLAND MAN INDICTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN FATAL ROAD RAGE CRASH ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Shaqeem Douglas was arraigned on an indictment charging him with manslaughter and related crimes for the death of 41-year-old Pradeppa Desai, who was a passenger in a for-hire Lyft SUV that Douglas cut off while both cars were traveling on the Long Island Expressway on August 14.…
Read MoreTEENAGE ALLEGED GANG MEMBER INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE FOR SHOOTING DEATH OF QUEENS MOTORIST IN ST. ALBANS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a 15-year-old male has been indicted on charges of murder, criminal possession of a weapon and other crimes for allegedly shooting and killing a motorist in St. Albans on September 16. The defendant, an alleged gang member, is accused of discharging a 9 mm handgun multiple times following…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 18, 2024
I authored an op-ed for the New York Daily News recently on the importance of curbing the production of lethal weapons in our communities. As the lead law enforcement officer for Queens County, I have seen an alarming trend emerge — the building of personally manufactured firearms or “ghost guns” in residents’ homes… (continued)
Read MoreALLEGED SQUATTER INDICTED FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING HOWARD BEACH HOME
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Laurel Bay has been indicted on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and other crimes for illegally occupying a single-family home in Howard Beach. The property had been vacant since 2012, with the homeowner managing the property from out of state. Observant neighbors spotted the defendant allegedly moving items…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 11, 2024
My office recently secured a murder conviction against a defendant for the 2010 killing of a transgender woman inside the victim’s apartment in Glendale… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – October 7, 2024
I was proud to announce a new addition to the office, appointing Kimi as our official facility dog to help provide comfort and companionship to crime victims and witnesses… (continued)
Read MoreDA KATZ INTRODUCES FACILITY DOG NAMED KIMI TO ASSIST IN SPECIAL VICTIM AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Kimi, a 2-year-old golden retriever/Labrador retriever mix, has been appointed to the District Attorney’s Office as a facility dog to provide comfort and companionship to crime victims and witnesses. The service animal was provided free of charge by Canine Companions and is the only facility dog working…
Read MoreSQUATTER WHO ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED JAMAICA HOME AND PROVIDED FORGED DOCUMENTS TO AUTHORITIES PLEADS GUILTY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lance White-Hunt has pleaded guilty to identity theft, offering a false instrument for filing and tampering with physical evidence after illegally occupying a home in Jamaica and forging leasing documents to stake his claim to the property as a legal tenant. As part of the plea, the defendant…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – September 27, 2024
Gun buybacks are an incredibly effective way to get firearms off our streets. These initiatives allow residents to surrender firearms anonymously, no questions asked, in exchange for compensation… (continued)
Read MoreTHREE MEN INDICTED FOR DOUGLASTON HOME INVASION BURGLARY AND KIDNAPPING
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that three men – Jone Smith and brothers Ryan and Brandon Dash – have been indicted by a Queens grand jury on 41 charges including kidnapping, robbery and burglary. The trio allegedly strong-armed their way into a Douglaston residence last month and held a family – including children and…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN INDICTED ON PREDATORY SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, KIDNAPPING AND OTHER CHARGES FOR HORRIFIC ATTACK ON 13-YEAR-OLD IN KISSENA PARK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Christian Inga has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and is now charged with predatory sexual assault, rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree and numerous other crimes for a June attack on a 13-year-old girl and her friend. District…
Read MoreHUSBAND INDICTED FOR FATALLY STABBING WIFE INSIDE FLUSHING SPA WHERE SHE WORKED
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jiahai Ma has been indicted by a grand jury on murder and weapon charges for allegedly stabbing his wife to death inside of her place of employment at a Flushing spa on Kissena Boulevard on September 3. District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant carried out a…
Read MoreDA KATZ AND NYPD TAKE 76 GUNS OFF THE STREETS AT JAMAICA BUYBACK EVENT
Photo courtesy of the NYPD Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that 76 guns were collected Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica during a gun buyback event. The weapons were exchanged for bank cards and Food Bazaar gift cards, no questions asked. The buyback is the 10th of DA Katz’s administration and a…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – September 20, 2024
The proliferation of illegal cannabis shops in our neighborhoods are supplied by large warehouse operations without any oversight or regulations in place. We are targeting these locations to prevent dangerous, unregulated and untaxed products from being sold in our communities… (continued)
Read MoreAPPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION WORTH OF ILLEGAL CANNABIS PRODUCT SEIZED FROM WAREHOUSE IN FLORAL PARK; TWO DEFENDANTS ARRAIGNED ON DRUG CHARGES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the seizure of approximately four tons of illegal cannabis and cannabis product from a storage facility in Floral Park following the execution of a search warrant at the location on Tuesday, September 17, in partnership with the NYPD and the NYC Sheriff’s Office. A smaller quantity of crystal meth…
Read MoreTEENAGE GANG MEMBER CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR SHOOTING DEATH OF QUEENS MOTORIST
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that a 15-year-old male has been charged with murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly shooting and killing a motorist on Farmers Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon. The defendant, an alleged gang member, allegedly discharged a 9mm handgun multiple times near a Popeyes…
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