Search Results for: convict
Queens Plaza subway attacker convicted of brutal hammer assault on commuter
Queens Plaza Subway Attacker Convicted of Robbery and Assault
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the conviction of William Blount for robbery in the first degree, assault in the first degree, and other charges. Blount attacked a woman with a hammer as she entered the Queens Plaza subway station in Long Island City in 2022, stealing her tote bag.
Blount, 60, whose last known address was in Manhattan, was convicted of assault, robbery, and weapon possession. He was acquitted of attempted murder charges following a six-week trial that began on February 24, presided over by Supreme Court Justice John Zoll. Sentencing is set for May 7, with a possible sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison.
During the February 2022 incident, Blount attacked a 58-year-old woman, causing her multiple skull fractures. The victim received medical attention, including a bilateral craniectomy, and suffered a broken finger among other injuries.
Investigation led to Blount’s arrest and the recovery of a hammer and the victim’s belongings at a residence in Long Island City. Video surveillance tracked Blount’s movements, and DNA evidence linked him to the crime. The case
Queens Man Convicted in 2022 Triple Homicide
Queens Man Convicted in 2022 Triple Homicide
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the conviction of Travis Blake for murder in the first degree and other charges related to the deaths of his girlfriend and two of her family members. The victims were found with puncture and blunt force wounds in a decomposed state at their home in Jamaica in June 2022.
District Attorney Katz described the incident as a “stabbing rampage” that resulted in the deaths of Blake’s girlfriend, her son, and a visiting relative. The bodies were discovered when a resident of the home found one body and called the police, which led to the discovery of two additional victims. The defendant fled the state but was apprehended and brought back to New York, where he was found guilty by a jury.
Blake, 31, residing on 155th Street in Jamaica, was convicted following a trial that lasted three and a half weeks. He was found guilty of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Sentencing is scheduled for May 1, and Blake faces a possible life sentence without parole.
The trial proceedings began on March 12 and
Jury Convicts Mamadou Kallie of First-Degree Murder
Jury Convicts Mamadou Kallie of First-Degree Murder
**West Chester, PA** – Mamadou Kallie has been convicted by a jury on multiple charges, including three counts of First-Degree Murder. The conviction was announced by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. Kallie’s sentencing will be determined at a later date with a minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
The trial, lasting six days, presented evidence and testimony indicating that Kallie murdered his girlfriend, Tiara Rodriguez-Diaz, on May 29, 2022, in the presence of their one-year-old son. Additionally, he killed Kimberly Ortiz-Zayas, who was carrying his unborn child, through multiple gunshots.
District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe expressed that the violent act is hard to comprehend. He attributed the successful conviction to the cooperation of law enforcement, the prosecution team’s effort, and the jury’s dedication, ensuring Kallie’s life sentence.
Valley Township Police Chief Glenn Eckman offered thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims, expressing hope for some closure post-trial. Chester County Detectives led the investigation with support from local police departments. First Assistant District Attorney Erin O’Brien and Assistant District Attorney Annie
Two Men Convicted in San Antonio Mass Smuggling Incident
Title: Two Men Convicted in San Antonio Mass Smuggling Incident
**San Antonio, TX** – Two individuals were found guilty by a federal jury for their involvement in a 2022 alien smuggling event in San Antonio, which resulted in 53 fatalities and 11 injuries. A third individual implicated in this incident was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the United States.
Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega were convicted for their participation in an alien smuggling operation. The operation involved transporting 66 individuals in a non-air-conditioned trailer across the U.S.-Mexico border, resulting in multiple deaths. They allegedly charged each individual and their families between $12,000 and $15,000 for the journey.
Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were found guilty on charges including conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Their sentencing is set for June 27, with the possibility of life imprisonment for the charges leading to death.
Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco was extradited as part of a joint effort between U.S. and Guatemalan authorities. He faces various charges related to the smuggling incident. The coordinated efforts have been part of a broader initiative
New York Federal Jury Convicts Florida Man of Mail Fraud
Federal Jury Convicts Florida Man of Mail Fraud
**Central Islip, NY** – A federal jury in Central Islip, New York, has found Phillip Priolo, 61, a resident of Hallandale Beach, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and four counts of mail fraud. Priolo was charged in November 2021 for running a mass mailing fraud scheme that defrauded thousands, mostly elderly individuals, by promising them false prizes.
During the trial, evidence demonstrated that from March 2015 to December 2016, Priolo and his partners mailed millions of misleading prize notices. These notices falsely claimed recipients had been chosen for a significant cash prize, contingent upon paying a fee. Instead of the promised reward, payees received nothing, confirming that the mailings were mass-produced and not personalized.
Both the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service emphasized their commitment to protecting elderly citizens from such fraudulent schemes. Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth acknowledged the thorough investigation by the Postal Inspection Service, and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen stressed the vulnerability of older demographics to financial exploitation.
Priolo will face sentencing later this year before U.S. District Judge Nusrat Jahan Choudh
ICE removes convicted killer with extensive U.S. criminal record
ICE Deports Previously Convicted Manslaughter Offender
**Houston, TX** – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported Orbelin Benitez-Carbajal, a 49-year-old convicted of manslaughter, back to Mexico. He was removed on Sunday.
Benitez-Carbajal was transferred from the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, to the Laredo Port of Entry. ICE previously deported him on December 11, 2014.
His criminal history in the U.S. includes multiple offenses dating back to 2006. Notable convictions include assault, manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and illegal entry.
Bret Bradford, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation Houston Field Office Director, stated that Benitez-Carbajal repeatedly violated U.S. laws. He cited the alien’s actions as responsible for taking an innocent life.
