Search Results for: queens
Richmond Hill man indicted for violent subway attack
Richmond Hill man indicted for violent subway attack
Queens, NY – Luis Pallchisaca faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and assault, following a violent knife attack on a subway passenger. The incident occurred on September 21 around 11:30 p.m. at the Mets-Willetts Point station on the 7 train.
According to the indictment, Pallchisaca approached a 25-year-old man as he boarded the subway. He allegedly slashed the victim’s throat and stabbed him in the back multiple times.
The victim received medical attention and required surgery for injuries sustained during the attack. He was treated for additional stab wounds to his back.
Pallchisaca, 21, was arraigned on charges of attempted murder in the second degree and assault in the first degree. A Supreme Court Justice ordered him to return to court on December 8.
The defendant was arrested at his residence the day after the attack. A search of his home revealed a knife and clothing reportedly worn during the violent encounter.
The investigation was conducted by the NYPD’s Queens Transit Crime Squad. The case is being prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau.
Flushing doctor charged with grand larceny for misusing state funds
Flushing doctor charged with grand larceny for misusing state funds
QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald have announced that Dr. QiLi Li faces charges for allegedly misusing nearly $300,000 in state grant money meant for expanding abortion services at her Flushing medical practice.
Dr. Li, 54, of Great Neck, was charged with grand larceny in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree, and falsifying business records in the first degree. She was arraigned on Wednesday and is set to return to court on January 12, 2026. If convicted, she could face five to 15 years in prison.
According to District Attorney Katz, Dr. Li applied for a state grant under the pretense of providing abortion care. Katz stated, “As alleged, this defendant applied for a state grant under the guise of using it for abortion care… The money went instead to expand her business by providing cosmetic procedures.”
Dr. Li filed an application for a grant from the New York State Department of Health on July 25, 2022, claiming she would offer abortion services for free at her practice located at 136-20 38th Avenue. The application included promises to extend her hours, purchase new equipment, and hire more staff.
Li received approval for $340,000 in grant funds and, in August 2023, submitted reimbursement vouchers for purported expenditures on surgical equipment and additional staff. She received two state payments totaling $287,941.
An investigation revealed that Dr. Li did not extend her practice hours and did not purchase surgical equipment. Despite claiming to employ two registered nurses, neither worked as an RN.
Investigators found that the office space, which was meant to serve the expanded practice, was actually operating as a medical spa, offering cosmetic procedures. Following the investigation, Dr. Li made restitution of $287,941 to the New York State Department of Health.
Dr. Li’s case was investigated by personnel from both the New York State Department of Health and the Queens District Attorney’s Office. The investigation and charges highlight ongoing efforts to ensure proper use of public funds designated for healthcare services.
Dr. Li’s alleged scheme raises serious questions about the integrity of funding meant to support abortion services in New York.
Bronx man charged with multiple murders, home invasion
Bronx man charged with multiple murders, home invasion
QUEENS, NY — A Bronx man has been arraigned on charges stemming from the violent home invasion and murder of a couple in Bellerose. Jamel McGriff, 42, faces serious allegations including 13 counts of first-degree murder, among other offenses.
On Monday morning, September 8, McGriff is accused of forcibly entering the home of Frank and Maureen Olton. He allegedly killed the couple and set their house on fire.
According to the District Attorney’s office, McGriff attempted to transfer money from the victims’ bank account before fleeing the scene. “He made multiple attempts to transfer money from their bank account, murdered them, and set the house ablaze,” District Attorney Melinda Katz stated.
McGriff is also charged with two counts of second-degree murder and numerous other crimes such as kidnapping and arson. He faces a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder presided over the arraignment and set McGriff’s return date for November 12. During the afternoon of September 8, he was seen leaving the Oltons’ residence carrying a duffel bag shortly before authorities were alerted to a fire at the location.
Firefighters discovered both victims deceased inside the home. They found Frank Olton, 76, in the basement and Maureen Olton, 77, in the living room.
After the alleged crime, McGriff reportedly used Frank Olton’s credit card for purchases totaling $796.10 at Macy’s later that day. He also disposed of the Oltons’ cell phones at a Bronx check cashing store the following morning.
The New York Police Department apprehended McGriff on Tuesday, September 10, in midtown Manhattan. Senior Assistant District Attorney John Esposito is handling the prosecution of the case.
This shocking case reveals gruesome details of a brutal crime that has shaken the community.
Illegal Alien indicted for murder after driving SUV into 16-year-old girl and her monther
Man indicted for murder after driving SUV into 16-year-old girl in Elmhurst
QUEENS, NY – Edwin Cruz Gomez was indicted on multiple charges including second-degree murder and attempted murder after a fatal incident involving a 16-year-old girl on Roosevelt Avenue. The charges stem from an event in which Gomez intentionally drove his vehicle into the victim and her family.
District Attorney Melinda Katz reported details of the case, stating that Gomez had sexually propositioned Jhoanny Saray Gomez-Alvarez and her mother shortly before the collision. “As alleged, the defendant crudely propositioned 16-year-old Jhoanny Saray Gomez-Alvarez and her mother for sex,” Katz noted.
Cruz Gomez, 38, was arraigned on a 15-count indictment that includes three counts of murder in the second degree, three counts of attempted murder, and aggravated vehicular homicide among other charges. He is currently remanded until his next court appearance on December 2, facing a potential sentence of up to 27 1/3 years to life in prison.
The incident reportedly occurred on September 13, at approximately 4:10 a.m., near the Prima Donna Restaurant. Following a confrontation with the victim’s stepfather, Gomez allegedly entered his vehicle and drove onto the sidewalk, targeting the family. The vehicle struck Gomez-Alvarez, killing her, and injured her mother.
Emergency responders confirmed that the 16-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother was subsequently taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the collision.
Gomez attempted to evade capture by reporting an assault to NYPD officers nearby. He led them back to the collision location where he had abandoned his vehicle.
A breath analysis conducted after the incident determined Gomez’s blood alcohol content was between .18 and .21 percent. The investigation was conducted by Detective Timothy Ziegler of the NYPD’s 110th Detective Squad.
Assistant District Attorney Gabriel J. Reale is leading the prosecution in the case, with the support of other assistant district attorneys under the supervision of the Homicide Bureau.
A man is facing serious charges for allegedly driving his SUV into a teenager, resulting in tragedy on a Queens street.
NYC woman charged in $2.1 million pig butchering scam
Bayside woman charged in $2.1 million pig butchering scam
QUEENS, NY – Tiffany Yang has been arraigned on charges of grand larceny in the first degree and other related crimes, accused of stealing approximately $2.1 million from 17 victims nationwide through a so-called “pig butchering scam.”
This type of scheme involves scammers establishing relationships with victims under false pretenses, persuading them to invest in fraudulent financial ventures. The FBI’s Internet Complaint Center recorded nearly $6.57 billion in losses from investment scams in the U.S. last year.
Victims were reportedly befriended online and enticed into putting money into fake investments showcased on fraudulent websites. These sites displayed artificial profits to encourage further deposits until victims were locked out as their funds were funneled into accounts associated with multiple shell companies controlled by Yang.
District Attorney Melinda Katz stated, “As alleged, the defendant was part of a scheme that gained the trust of victims across the United States and then lured them into a fraudulent investment opportunity.” Katz emphasized the calculated nature of such scams and noted her office’s Cybercrime Unit’s role in addressing large-scale financial fraud.
Yang, 35, of Bayside, faced a 27-count criminal complaint upon her arraignment on Wednesday. The charges include grand larceny in the first degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree, among others. She was remanded by Criminal Court Judge Maria T. Gonzalez and is scheduled to return to court on November 13.
According to the investigation, one victim interacted with someone claiming to be “Lily List” over Facebook Messenger starting in March 2023. The conversation transitioned to WhatsApp, where the victim was directed to a fraudulent trading platform known as Spread Ex Ltd. They ultimately wired $1,086,244 across 13 transactions, believing they were investing in a legitimate opportunity.
Investigators revealed that funds from the victim’s wire transfers were linked to a JP Morgan Chase account associated with an address in Flushing, New York. This address has been connected to numerous accounts allegedly involved in similar fraudulent activities.
In October, a court-authorized search warrant was executed at Yang’s residence in Bayside, resulting in her arrest for possession of a firearm after authorities found further evidence of fraudulent activity, including forged documentation. Yang was re-arrested for the grand larceny charges on October 7.
Yang’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys from the Cybercrime Unit, with support from the U.S. Department of State.
In a shocking twist, a woman has been charged with orchestrating a massive scheme that targeted victims across the nation.
