Posts by ASokol@queensda.org
Your Weekly Update – June 21, 2024
We charged a man this week with first-degree rape, two counts of kidnapping, predatory sexual assault and other crimes for attacking two 13-year-olds in Kissena Park in the middle of the afternoon on June 13… (continued)
Read MoreCORONA MAN CHARGED WITH RAPE AND KIDNAPPING FOR ATTACK ON 13-YEAR-OLD IN KISSENA PARK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Christian Inga was charged today with first-degree rape, two counts of kidnapping in the second degree, predatory sexual assault and other crimes for attacking two 13-year-olds who were in Kissena Park in the middle of the afternoon on June 13. He is alleged to have held them at…
Read MoreFOUR PEOPLE CHARGED FOR ATTEMPTED GANG ASSAULT OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE CHECKING ON WELFARE OF UNATTENDED CHILDREN OUTSIDE LONG ISLAND CITY HOTEL
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that two NYPD officers, who were checking on the welfare of three unattended children on bikes outside a Long Island City hotel, were attacked by a group of adults at approximately 4:20 a.m. on June 17. Four defendants were arraigned today, accused of attempted gang assault and related charges,…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – June 14, 2024
My office seized an unlicensed mobile cannabis dispensary, known as “The Green Empress,” on the corner of 43rd Street and Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside this week… (continued)
Read MoreNEARLY 100 ILLEGALLY PARKED SCOOTERS SEIZED BY DA’S OFFICE AND NYPD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the seizure of 99 scooters parked illegally on the sidewalk and in the street in South Jamaica, South Ozone Park, South Richmond Hill, Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. One unregistered motorcycle and one unregistered dirt bike parked on a sidewalk were also confiscated. The vast majority of the parked…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – June 7, 2024
My office filed two counts of attempted murder in the first degree against a man who allegedly shot two NYPD officers in East Elmhurst on Monday… (continued)
Read MoreSUBWAY ATTACKER PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR BRUTAL ASSAULT THAT LEFT WOMAN BLIND IN ONE EYE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Waheed Foster has pleaded guilty to attempted murder for the violent, unprovoked assault of a subway rider in September 2022 at the Howard Beach/JFK station. The victim, who was on her way to work at the time of the attack, underwent emergency surgery for her injuries which resulted…
Read MoreMOTORCYCLE RIDER CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE FOR SHOOTING TWO POLICE OFFICERS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Bernardo Raul Castro Mata has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in the first and second degrees and other related crimes for allegedly shooting two NYPD officers who tried to pull him over early Monday morning for driving the wrong way on an unregistered motorcycle in…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 31, 2024
My office secured an indictment on a murder charge against a Florida man for the 2009 stabbing death of his 64-year-old uncle, Rosario Prestigiacomo… (continued)
Read MoreFLORIDA MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE IN 2009 COLD CASE KILLING OF HIS UNCLE IN RIDGEWOOD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Anthony Scalici was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on a charge of second-degree murder in the 2009 stabbing death of his 64-year-old uncle, Rosario Prestigiacomo, inside the victim’s Ridgewood home. The 15-year-old case was solved through forensic genetic genealogy, making it the first time a…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 24, 2024
Memorial Day allows the entire nation an opportunity to pause and reflect on the brave service members whose immense sacrifice helps ensure that the freedoms we cherish today are preserved… (continued)
Read MoreTWO MEN INDICTED FOR FATAL SHOOTING IN MIDDLE VILLAGE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dante Hunter and Shamel Capers were arraigned on an indictment charging Hunter with murder and Capers with attempted murder in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Joshua Taylor in Middle Village on July 23, 2023. Evidence uncovered during the investigation of the incident indicated that the round which struck…
Read MoreCAB DRIVER INDICTED FOR CRASH THAT KILLED ASTORIA MAN ON SCOOTER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Mohammad Bhuiyan was arraigned today on grand jury indictment charges for allegedly driving the wrong way on Northern Boulevard and striking and killing a 59-year-old Astoria man riding a scooter in November 2023. District Attorney Katz said: “It is the moral obligation of every single driver to ensure…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 17, 2024
I announced an indictment secured by my office this week against an alleged squatter for illegally occupying a home in Jamaica and forging leasing documents in an effort to stake his claim as a legal tenant. It was the second such case we brought in a month. According to the charges, the defendant went as far as filing a…
Read MoreALLEGED SQUATTER INDICTED FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING JAMAICA HOME, PROVIDING FORGED DOCUMENTS TO AUTHORITIES INCLUDING CIVIL COURT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lance White-Hunt was arraigned on an indictment charging him with burglary, identity theft, attempted grand larceny and other crimes for illegally occupying a home in Jamaica and forging leasing documents in an effort to stake his claim as a legal tenant. The defendant went as far as filing…
Read MoreSERIAL SHOPLIFTER CHARGED WITH STEALING $170,000 WORTH OF JEWELRY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Aaron Smalls was arraigned on charges of grand larceny and other crimes for stealing expensive pieces of jewelry from stores throughout Queens. The defendant allegedly hit six shops between December 2023 and February 2024, stealing merchandise valued at more than $50,000. DNA evidence tied Smalls to another theft…
Read MoreMORE THAN 90 ILLEGAL SCOOTERS SEIZED BY DA’S OFFICE AND NYPD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the seizure of 95 scooters from the streets of Corona, Elmhurst and Long Island City. The crackdown is part of an ongoing joint operation involving the District Attorney’s office and local police precincts to address the persistent use of scooters in crimes such as drive-by shootings and robberies. A…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 10, 2024
I joined Bronx DA Darcel Clark, Suffolk DA Ray Tierney, legislators and community members this week in support of the Deadly Driving bill (S. 3135/A174), which aims to close a dangerous loophole in relation to the arrest and prosecution of drugged drivers… (continued)
Read MoreRIDGEWOOD BOUTIQUE RAIDED IN FENCING OPERATION; TWO ARRESTED FOR POSSESSING STOLEN MERCHANDISE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the recovery of more than $500,000 in stolen items from Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, Lululemon and other major retailers that were openly displayed and re-sold at less than half their retail value inside the McKlain Collection Boutique in Ridgewood. Two defendants are charged with criminal possession of stolen property for…
Read MoreWOODSIDE MAN INDICTED ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES FOR FATAL SHOOTING OF NYPD DETECTIVE JONATHAN DILLER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Guy Rivera was arraigned today on an indictment secured by her office charging him with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller and first-degree attempted murder for attempting to fire at an NYPD sergeant in Far Rockaway on March 25. Rivera, along with codefendant…
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