Posts by ASokol@queensda.org
NEW JERSEY MAN ARRESTED FOR THREATENING TO ‘SHOOT UP’ JFK AIRPORT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Darnell King was arraigned on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, making terroristic threats and other related crimes after he sent a video to his estranged wife in which a gun is visible and threatened a mass shooting at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where she had…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 3, 2024
My office obtained justice in two separate cases this week dealing with the pervasive issue of deed fraud… (continued)
Read MoreMORE THAN 30 FIREARMS RECOVERED FROM ROCKAWAY BEACH HOME
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/l2t3OLl4Mco Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ryszard Materna has been arraigned on weapon possession charges after a search of his Rockaway Beach home uncovered ghost guns, including assault weapons, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition and other weapons-related paraphernalia. District Attorney Katz said: “For those who think they are…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – April 19, 2024
My office secured an indictment this week against an alleged squatter accused of illegally occupying a single-family home in Flushing and renting out rooms to others. The defendant was arraigned yesterday on a five-count indictment charging him with burglary, grand larceny, and other crimes… (continued)
Read MoreDRIVER IN FATAL SHOOTING OF NYPD OFFICER INDICTED ON WEAPON CHARGES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lindy Jones was arraigned on an indictment charging him with criminal possession of a weapon for a gun found in the car from which Jones’ codefendant is accused of fatally shooting NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller on March 25 in Far Rockaway. Jones was the driver of the vehicle…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – April 12, 2024
My office secured a 30-year prison sentence this week for a gang member responsible for the shooting death of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin at a Baisley Park Houses playground. The defendant mistook the teenager, who was simply outside playing basketball near his home, for a rival gang member in the 2019 shooting… (continued)
Read MoreNEW YORK CITY BUILDING INSPECTOR CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Zabihullah Ibrahimi, a city building inspector, was arraigned today on bribery and official misconduct charges for taking cash from homeowners in exchange for closing complaints about their property. In one case, he allegedly asked for $3,500 from a homeowner and, when she said she had no cash, directed…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – April 5, 2024
I announced bribery charges against nine taxi dispatchers this week for allegedly accepting cash in exchange for letting some cab drivers bypass often long lines to pick up passengers at Kennedy International Airport… (continued)
Read MoreINDICTMENT SECURED BY DA’S OFFICE IN POLICE OFFICER HOMICIDE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Guy Rivera and Lindy Jones have been indicted on charges connected to the shooting death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller in Far Rockway last week. Rivera was indicted for first-degree murder for the homicide and first-degree attempted murder for attempting to fire his weapon at an NYPD sergeant…
Read MoreAIRPORT TAXI DISPATCHERS CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that nine taxi dispatchers were arraigned today on bribery charges for taking cash in exchange for letting drivers pick up passengers at Kennedy International Airport without waiting behind fellow cabbies in often long lines at the central dispatch lot. Four of the defendants are accused of accepting more than…
Read MoreWOODSIDE MAN INDICTED FOR WHEELCHAIR STABBING ATTACK
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kareem Phillips was indicted for attempted murder after launching a knife attack on three people, including an elderly woman, from his wheelchair at a Woodside intersection. The woman sustained serious injuries. District Attorney Katz said: “Within the span of just a few minutes, the defendant is alleged to…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – March 29, 2024
Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, a young officer and father, was ruthlessly gunned down this week in the line of duty while protecting and serving the city of New York… (continued)
Read MoreFIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGES FILED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF POLICE OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that criminal charges were filed today against Guy Rivera in Queens Criminal Court for first-degree murder in the shooting death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller and first-degree attempted murder for attempting to fire his weapon at an NYPD sergeant in Far Rockaway Monday after the officers approached a car…
Read MoreWEAPONS CHARGES FILED AGAINST DRIVER OF CAR INVOLVED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF POLICE OFFICER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Lindy Jones was arraigned today on weapons charges after a court-ordered search warrant executed on his vehicle found an illegal firearm. Jones was behind the wheel of the car from which the shot that killed NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller was fired on Monday. Jones’ passenger in the car…
Read MoreTWO VIRGINIA MEN INDICTED FOR FATAL SHOOTING IN SOUTH JAMAICA
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Marquise Brown and Joseph Woods were arraigned this week on an indictment charging them with murder in the fatal shooting of 48-year-old Yaw Pabi in South Jamaica in April 2022. Both defendants fled to their home state of Virginia following the shooting and were extradited last week to…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN INDICTED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING OF A CHILD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Alfredo Morocho was arraigned today on an indictment accusing him of recruiting a 17-year-old girl to have sex with strangers for his own profit, advertising her availability using semi-nude photos, and driving the victim to dates with customers. District Attorney Katz said: “No child should ever be exploited.…
Read MoreMILLION-DOLLAR AUTOMOTIVE TRADEMARK COUNTERFEITING OPERATION BUSTED AFTER LONG-TERM PROBE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Fei Wu and several corporations linked to him were charged with trademark counterfeiting and money laundering stemming from the trafficking of phony custom automobile accessories for luxury brand vehicles, such as Mercedes Benz and BMW. Wu and his companies are alleged to have provided the counterfeit custom items…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – March 22, 2024
My office secured a guilty plea in connection with the 2019 slaying of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin, who was gunned down in a South Jamaica playground when the defendant mistook him for a rival gang member… (continued)
Read MoreBROOKLYN MAN SENTENCED FOR SHOOTING DEATH AT CROWDED HOUSE PARTY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Devante Richards was sentenced today to 23 years to life in prison for the shooting death of 25-year-old Jonathan Distant at a crowded Springfield Gardens house party in August 2020. The gunfire erupted after a man with Richards bumped into Distant and a staredown ensued. District Attorney Katz…
Read MoreGUILTY PLEA IN MISTAKEN-IDENTITY SHOOTING DEATH OF 14-YEAR-OLD IN PLAYGROUND
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Sean Brown pleaded guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the 2019 slaying of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin, who was gunned down in a South Jamaica playground when Brown mistook him for a rival gang member. Brown also pleaded guilty to a weapon possession charge…
Read More