QUEENS, NY – Kristof Williams, 27, of Forest Hills, Queens, was the fourth defendant charged in the death of 20 year old Eddie Ventura, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today. Williams has been convicted at his trial of murder in the second degree, and two counts of burglary in the first degree, for the role he played in the botched home invasion. Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise, presided at the trial, set the defendant’s sentencing for May 6, 2022. Williams will face up to 25 years to life in prison at that time.
According to trial records, at approximately 2 a.m. on November 30, 2016, Kristof Williams along with Khalil Moses, John Pichardo, and Jose Pichardo entered a home on 110th Street in South Richmond Hill, Queens with the intent to find Xanax pills, marijuana and cash inside. Instead, they found Ventura and 2 of his friends playing video games in a bedroom. Ventura fought with one of the intruders and was stabbed numerous times in the back and thigh which caused his death.
In July 2020, defendant John Pichardo pleaded guilty to burglary in the first degree and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. In September 2020, Khalil Moses pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree and was sentenced to 21 years in prison. in October 2021, Jose Pichardo was found guilty at trial of murder in the second degree and was sentenced to 18 years-to-life in prison .
Deputy Bureau Chief Timothy J. Regan, of Felony Trial Bureau IV, prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Karen Rankin, Bureau Chief, and Robert Ferino, Deputy Bureau Chief and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Pishoy Yacoub of the Trial Division.