Posts by ASokol@queensda.org
Your Weekly Update – August 12, 2022
This week, I announced that a defendant has been indicted and arraigned on sex trafficking charges and other crimes for allegedly forcing his 17-year-old girlfriend to engage in prostitution activity for his own financial gain… (continued)
Read MoreQUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND OTHER CRIMES FOR SLASHING OVER 40 TIRES IN BAYSIDE
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Dee Lazersmith, 42, was arrested and charged with numerous counts of criminal mischief for allegedly slashing the tires of 27 separate vehicles along 42nd Avenue in Bayside. The incident took place between the hours of 1:00 AM and 7:00AM on Sunday, August 7th, 2022. District Attorney Katz…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – August 5, 2022
This week, members of my Office and I joined communities across the Borough to commemorate National Night Out Against Crime. Every year we gather with our friends and neighbors to reaffirm our commitment to keeping each other safe from crime in our streets… (continued)
Read MoreQUEENS MAN INDICTED ON SEX ABUSE CHARGES FOR ATTACK ON TEEN INSIDE BUILDING STAIRWELL
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jorge Alvarado, 27, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on sexual abuse and other charges for allegedly following a 15-year-old girl into her apartment building before groping her, knocking her to the ground, and attempting to pull down her…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOLLOWING JURY CONVICTION FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Michael Clark, 35, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing his former girlfriend’s young daughter over a period of four years. The defendant was convicted last month of course of sexual conduct against a child, a penal law statute authored by DA Katz…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO VEHICULAR HOMICIDE FOR CRASH THAT KILLED MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Tyrone Absolam, 42, has pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide for causing the death of a female motorist and her daughter during a July 24, 2021 vehicle collision on Rockaway Boulevard. District Attorney Katz said, “In pleading guilty, the defendant has taken responsibility for the vehicle collision…
Read MoreLONG ISLAND MAN INDICTED FOR STEALING QUEENS VILLAGE HOME FROM DECEASED BROTHER BY POSING AS HIS SOLE HEIR
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Wagner Recio, 51, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court for allegedly filing fraudulent paperwork to claim full ownership of a Queens Village home that he co-owned with his brother, valued at over $500,000. The brother’s young daughter became the…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – July 29, 2022
This week, I wrote an editorial for the New York Law Journal on the importance of strengthening our State’s animal cruelty laws to better defend our society’s most voiceless members (continued)
Read MoreGUN TRAFFICKING CREW DISMANTLED WITH 1,611-COUNT INDICTMENT OF TENNESSEE MAN AND FOUR NYC RESIDENTS FOLLOWING LONG-TERM INVESTIGATION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, joined by New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, today announced a 1,611-count indictment and the arrests of five individuals allegedly involved in a gun trafficking ring using the notorious Iron Pipeline to smuggle guns purchased in Knoxville, Tennessee, which were then sold illegally in Queens County. Law enforcement…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – July 15, 2022
Seeking justice on behalf of victims of crime is at the heart of our work. That mission is all the more important when victims are unable to properly advocate for themselves…(continued)
Read MoreTWO DEFENDANTS CHARGED IN SCHEME TO STEAL EAST ELMHURST HOME FROM DECEASED HOMEOWNER BY POSING AS HER SON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, along with New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, announced today that Jorge Vasquez Jr. and Andy V. Singh – as well as “23-41 100th Street Corp” – have been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court for allegedly filing fraudulent paperwork to claim ownership of…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update
Summer is in full swing and that means more time for outdoor adventures and swimming activities to beat the heat. However, I’d like to encourage everyone to practice caution whenever you are near the water… (continued)
Read MoreSTATEMENT FROM QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT’S DECISION TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE
A mere day after SCOTUS decided to put the lives of New Yorkers at risk by striking down our long-standing restrictions on guns, the majority of Supreme Court Justices have now decided to put the lives of millions of women across the entire nation at risk by overturning Roe v. Wade. This decision is beyond…
Read MoreSTATEMENT FROM QUEENS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MELINDA KATZ ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT’S DECISION IN NEW YORK STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASSOCIATION INC. V. BRUEN
The Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen significantly hinders our ongoing efforts to keep New Yorkers safe from gun violence. I am extremely disappointed in this decision by the highest court which creates undue burden on the commonsense gun laws in this State. We remain committed to…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update
This week, we commemorated World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a time dedicated to promoting a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons… (continued)
Read MoreDEFENDANT INDICTED BY GRAND JURY FOR SLAYING OF PAWN SHOP OWNER; VICTIM WAS REPEATEDLY STRUCK WITH BLUNT OBJECT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rodolfo Lopez-Portillo, 48, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on murder charges and other crimes. The defendant allegedly struck and killed a 60-year-old pawn shop owner in broad daylight inside the Jamaica Avenue store in March 2022. District Attorney…
Read MoreQUEENS MAN WHO BABYSAT SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL CONVICTED FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING VICTIM FOR THREE YEARS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jose Nivelo, 43, has been convicted of course of sexual conduct against a child for sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl over a three-year period starting in 2012. The defendant was babysitting the girl in his Queens home when the abuse occurred. DA Katz, when she was an…
Read MoreBROOKLYN MAN CHARGED IN SCHEME TO STEAL JAMAICA HOME FROM ELDERLY WIDOW BY CLAIMING SHE DIED AND HE WAS HER SON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, along with New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda and New York City Finance Commissioner Preston Niblick, announced today that Christopher Williams, 41, has been charged with grand larceny, falsifying business records, identity theft, scheme to defraud and other crimes. The defendant allegedly used forged paperwork to claim ownership of a…
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – June 10, 2022
Gun violence is a disease that has tragically affected every part of our country, leaving devastation and heartache in its wake. New York State, however, has lead the way when it comes to legislation that effectuates real change… (continued)
Read MoreYour Weekly Update – May 27, 2022
Throughout this weekend, we’ll be gathering at events all across Queens to pay tribute to the heroic men and women who have served, and continue to serve, in the Armed Forces. I never lose sight of the fact that their sacrifice makes it possible for me to safely put my children to bed every night……
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