Search Results for: queens
Queens Man Receives Seven-Year Sentence for Brooklyn Robberies
Queens Man Receives Seven-Year Sentence for Brooklyn Robberies
**Brooklyn, NY** – A Queens man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for committing three violent robberies in Brooklyn. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that the defendant, Dupreme Williams, aged 43 from Far Rockaway, pleaded guilty to robbery last month.
Williams was handed the seven-year prison sentence by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully, along with five years of post-release supervision. The plea followed his admission to second-degree robbery charges on October 29.
The incidents, as detailed in the investigation, commenced on February 13, 2014. At approximately 8:15 a.m., Williams attacked a 50-year-old woman at Flatbush Avenue Extension and Fleet Street, taking her AirPods after assaulting her. Subsequently, at around 9:45 a.m., he assaulted a 73-year-old man on a southbound F train at the York Street subway, taking the victim’s cell phone.
On March 8, at approximately 1:55 p.m., Williams further assaulted a man outside 2135 Pitkin Avenue. His arrest followed on March 28, with prosecution led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Natalie Riether
Queens Pimp Charged for Forcing Transgender into Prostitution
Queens Resident Faces Multiple Charges in Human Trafficking Case
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Valezka Echeverrias has been arraigned on charges of sex trafficking and other crimes for allegedly coercing a transgender woman into prostitution on Roosevelt Avenue and demanding weekly payments. When the victim wished to cease these activities, Echeverrias reportedly threatened her with a knife to extort money. Additional charges in the indictment include grand larceny, robbery, and extortion involving two victims, during which Echeverrias allegedly used a knife to further intimidate them and steal their phones.
District Attorney Katz emphasized the severity of the allegations, noting the use of threats to exploit one victim and terrorize another for personal gain. She highlighted the creation of the Human Trafficking Bureau as part of the ongoing effort to combat such abuses. Echeverrias, a 30-year-old resident of Jackson Heights, is charged with 24 crimes, including four counts of sex trafficking, grand larceny, coercion, promoting prostitution, robbery, menacing, criminal mischief, and criminal contempt.
Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone has remanded Echeverrias and ordered her to appear in court on December
Queens DA Lodges Charges in Home Squatter Case
Queens DA Announce Indictments for Squatting Case
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has confirmed the indictment of True Jackson, Saliam Sudler, and Shania Outar for charges including burglary and criminal trespass. The charges stem from their illegal occupation of a single-family home in St. Albans. The rightful owner’s family first observed unauthorized activity at the property earlier this year after it had been vacated.
The defendants, aged 41, 35, and 24 respectively, were arraigned on a five-count indictment. Charges include burglary in the second degree, theft of services, petit larceny, criminal trespass in the second degree, and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree. They have been ordered to return to court on January 9, 2025.
The defendants reportedly moved into the vacant home illegally in the spring. DA Katz stated that they used the residence unlawfully for an indefinite period and maintained pit bulls on the premises. A domestic dispute at the home on July 31 led to police intervention and their subsequent arrest today.
The District Attorney’s Detectives Bureau executed an indictment warrant, leading to the defendants’ apprehension. Assistant District Attorney William Jorg
Queens Man Charged in Network Cable and Wi-Fi Theft
Queens Man Charged in Network Cable and Wi-Fi Theft
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced that Kong Gao has been charged with fraudulent making of an electronic access device and criminal possession of forgery devices. This is in relation to a large-scale theft of network cable streaming and Wi-Fi services in Flushing and Whitestone.
Gao, aged 35, allegedly manufactured approximately 200 modem devices embedded with malware that mimics legitimate services like Spectrum, operated by Charter Communications. On Friday, Gao was arraigned, and he faces a potential maximum sentence of seven years if convicted of the top count. Judge Marty Lentz has ordered Gao to return to court on January 16, 2025.
In April, Charter Communications launched an investigation into widespread unauthorized use of their services, identifying about 6,000 cloned accounts. The investigation, assisted by a private investigative firm, linked Gao to advertisements offering fraudulent Wi-Fi services and modem installations. Authorities executed a search warrant at Gao’s residence on November 14.
The search at Gao’s Whitestone residence uncovered 200 modems intended for sale, along with tools and malware programs used to infiltrate Charter’s services. The scheme’s estimated impact exceeds $1 million in
Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Arson
Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Arson
**Queens, NY** – Evan Person has pleaded guilty to second-degree arson after setting fire to cars and a home in South Ozone Park, critically injuring two people. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the plea, noting Person’s actions over a span of less than an hour which endangered lives and resulted in significant injuries to the home’s occupants.
District Attorney Katz expressed gratitude to the FDNY Fire Marshals for their role in the case. FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker highlighted the danger posed to New Yorkers and FDNY members by Person’s acts, commending the efforts of all involved for ensuring public safety.
Person, a resident of Linden Boulevard aged 35, was indicted on multiple charges. These included two counts each of first-degree arson and criminal mischief, along with burglary and endangering the welfare of a child. He pleaded guilty before Justice Toni Cimino on Tuesday and faces a 15-year prison sentence starting early January.
The incident, occurring on July 4, involved video evidence of Person lighting a BMW on fire, which subsequently damaged another vehicle, followed by an attack on a nearby home. The ensuing fire injured two individuals who were asleep in the basement
Queens Man Sentenced for 2021 Fatal Shooting
Queens Man Sentenced for 2021 Fatal Shooting
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the sentencing of Waturi Johnson to 24 years to life in prison for the 2021 shooting death of Uriah Richardson. Richardson, a father of three, was shot midday outside the Mott Avenue A train station in Far Rockaway. The men were strangers.
District Attorney Katz stated that Johnson shot Richardson in broad daylight on a public street before fleeing to another state, where he was later apprehended. Katz emphasized that the sentence serves as justice for Richardson and his family.
Johnson, aged 54, residing on Beach 30th Street in Far Rockaway, was convicted by a jury in June. He faced charges of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a two-week trial, after a jury deliberation of approximately four hours.
Justice Kenneth Holder sentenced Johnson to 24 years to life for the murder charge, with additional concurrent sentences of 15 years for each weapon possession charge. The incident, captured on surveillance video, occurred on October 4, 2021, at around 1 p.m. near a taxi stand close to the Mott Avenue A train station. Johnson
