Archive for March 2026
WOODHAVEN MAN ARRAIGNED ON ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES FOR STRETCHING FORMER GIRLFRIEND’S CAT TO DEATH
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jalen Gonzalez has been indicted on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, criminal mischief and other related crimes for killing his girlfriend...
DEFENDANT INDICTED ON HATE CRIME CHARGES FOR UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON RABBI IN FOREST HILLS
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Eric Zafra Grosso was indicted on charges of assault as a hate crime and related crimes for allegedly attacking a rabbi, who was wearing a visible ...
Your Weekly Update - March 27, 2026
Public transportation is the lifeblood of our city. It connects millions of people to their jobs, schools, entertainment and healthcare. The public transit system -- including subway platforms and bus...
DA KATZ ANNOUNCES PADLOCKING OF ILLEGAL CANNABIS STOREFRONT IN LAURELTON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the closure of an unlicensed storefront cannabis dispensary operating out of two locations on Merrick Boulevard in Laurelton. A court-authorized se...
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SENIOR CITIZEN ON SUBWAY PLATFORM
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Brandon Harris was sentenced to 15 years in prison for pushing an 82-year-old woman from the Flushing-Main Street subway platform onto the train tr...
JACKSON HEIGHTS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO KIDNAPPING, RAPING AND ASSAULTING THREE YOUNG WOMEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Andres Portilla pleaded guilty to kidnapping, rape, assault and criminal sex act charges for holding captive three young women in his car where he ...
FLUSHING MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR KILLING BAR PATRON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jason Schuler was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the stabbing death of Elliott Christopher Ortiz, a stranger the defendant encountered...
Your Weekly Update - March 20, 2026
This past week we announced murder charges against a 74-year-old South Ozone Park man who allegedly dismembered his 33-year-old wife…(continue).
18-YEAR-OLD CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR UNPROVOKED STABBING OF 30-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF THREE IN EAST ELMHURST
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Luis Emmanuel Valencia Ponce was arraigned on charges of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession for the unprovoked stabbing of a 30-year-o...
BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER FOR SHOOTING NEAR QUEENS COURTHOUSE ON NEW YEAR’S DAY IN 2021
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Richard Swygert was convicted of murder and other crimes for a deadly shooting incident outside the former Umbrella Hotel in Kew Gardens in 2...
FATHER INDICTED FOR MURDERING 2-YEAR-OLD SON
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Dayvon Morrison was indicted for murder and child endangerment for causing fatal injuries to his 2-year-old son, Maliek, inside their residen...
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATZ HOSTS 11TH ANNUAL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION
The Queens District Attorney's Office hosted its 11th Annual Mock Trial Competition this weekend at Queens Criminal Court. The event attracted students from 18 nationally ranked law schools, who compe...
SEX TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 44 ½ TO 52 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ABUSING THREE WOMEN
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Cleveland Sterling was sentenced to 44 ½
to 52 years in prison after being convicted at trial of sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, robbery ...
Your Weekly Update - March 13, 2026
This week, we announced the indictment of four reputed members and associates of the 007 gang on charges of murder, conspiracy and criminal possession of a weapon for their alleged roles in the fatal ...
HUSBAND CHARGED WITH MURDER AND DISMEMBERMENT OF WIFE WHOSE REMAINS WERE FOUND IN SEPARATE LOCATIONS ALONG BROOKVILLE BLVD AND CROSS BAY BLVD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Rupchand Simboo has been charged with murder, concealment of a human corpse, tampering with evidence and other crimes for the homicide of his 33-ye...
FARMINGDALE MAN INDICTED FOR AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR HOMICIDE, DRUNK DRIVING AND OTHER CHARGES AFTER COLLISION THAT KILLED MAN NEAR LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that John Ankelman was indicted by a grand jury on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated and other crimes for a December 2...
FOUR REPUTED GANG MEMBERS INDICTED ON MURDER AND CONSPIRACY CHARGES FOR SHOOTING DEATH OF 16-YEAR-OLD INNOCENT BYSTANDER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Messiah Randall, Jomar Pointdujour, Nicolson Pierrimas and Zaire Rolley, reputed members and associates of the 007 gang, have been indicted on char...
MASPETH MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER AT WOODSIDE BUS STOP
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Olmedo Osorio was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for fatally stabbing 55-year-old Freddy Jimenez during an argument at a Woodside bus stop...
Your Weekly Update - March 6, 2026
This week, a Glendale resident was sentenced to 17 years in prison for an unprovoked attack on a 9-year-old girl, who was playing outside in her neighborhood in May 2025. The defendant struck the chil...
ASTORIA MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR STABBING DEATH OF 75-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dimitrios Manessis was charged with murder and weapon possession for the stabbing death of 75-year-old George Dourdounas in Astoria on Tuesday. The...
WOODSIDE MAN CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF ASSAULT FOR SLASHING TWO VICTIMS ON BROADWAY IN ASTORIA
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Antonio Quinones was arraigned on two counts of assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon and other crimes for attacking two vic...
AMITYVILLE MAN INDICTED ON MANSLAUGHTER, DRUNK DRIVING AND OTHER CHARGES AFTER COLLISION THAT KILLED FEMALE PASSENGER
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kenyatta Weston Jr. was indicted by a grand jury on charges of manslaughter, driving under the influence, criminal possession of a weapon and other...
GLENDALE RESIDENT SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTACK ON 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND OFF-DUTY POLICE SERGEANT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Feliz Enrique was sentenced to 17 years in prison for attacking a 9-year-old girl who was playing on a Glendale street. The defendant forcefully hi...
QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO UP TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR TRAFFICKING TEEN GIRL AND WEAPON POSSESSION
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Troy Siddons was sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty in April 2025 to sex trafficking and weapon possession charge...