brooklyn

Brooklyn Launches Gun Buyback Event

Brooklyn Launches Gun Buyback Event

**Brooklyn, NY** – Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, in collaboration with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, has announced a Gun Buyback event. The event is scheduled for Saturday at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants turning in operable handguns and assault rifles will receive a $500 bank card. The initiative aims to continue the progress Brooklyn made in reducing gun violence last year, with more than 500 firearms having been surrendered in previous buyback events.

NYPD Commissioner Tisch confirmed that shootings have decreased by 23 percent this year, highlighting the efficacy of such programs in removing over 1,300 illegal firearms from the streets. Pastor Lawrence E. Aker III of Cornerstone Baptist Church expressed the church’s commitment to working with local authorities to enhance community safety.

The buyback accepts various types of firearms, with different compensation amounts based on the type of weapon surrendered. All transactions will remain anonymous, with no identification required, and law enforcement officers and licensed gun dealers are excluded from participation.

Brooklyn Man Sentenced in Child Sex Trafficking Case

Brooklyn Man Sentenced in Child Sex Trafficking Case

**Brooklyn, NY** – A man from East Flatbush has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment for the rape and sex trafficking of a minor he met via social media. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the sentence for Kal Kirby, age 45, handed down by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun.

Kirby entered a guilty plea on January 22 to charges of second-degree rape and child sex trafficking. Following his release from prison, he will be subject to five years of post-release supervision and will be required to register as a sex offender.

The case is linked to crimes committed between February and December 2022, when Kirby initially connected with the 13-year-old victim through social networking platforms. During this period, the victim visited Kirby’s residence, where he engaged in sexual acts with the victim and facilitated meetings with other men.

Kirby’s co-defendant, Jordan Shepard Burnham, based in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, faces charges of rape and child endangerment, with his case still in progress. The investigation led by NYPD’s Human Trafficking Squad highlighted communication with Burnham, during which explicit photos and videos were allegedly shared.

Brooklyn Teacher Sentenced for Child Exploitation

Former Brooklyn Teacher Sentenced for Child Exploitation

**Brooklyn, NY** – A former Brooklyn math teacher has been sentenced to seven years in prison following a guilty plea to charges of using a child in a sexual performance and endangering the welfare of children. Winston Nguyen, 38, admitted to persuading teenage students from four independent schools in Brooklyn to send him sexually explicit images. He assumed the persona of a young teen and used Snapchat to engage in sexual conversations with his victims.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the sentence on Wednesday. The defendant, previously employed at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights, must register as a sex offender upon his release. The victims, aged 13 to 15, attended elite schools and were targeted between October 2022 and May 2024.

Nguyen used two Snapchat accounts under the aliases “hunterkristoff” and “haircutbongos” to interact with six children, pretending to be a teenage boy. He sent nude images and videos to his victims and compelled them to send back content of themselves engaged in sexual acts. These accounts were traced to IP addresses linked to Nguyen’s Harlem residence.

The case was investigated by KCDA Detective Investigators along with the District Attorney

Brooklyn Resident Arrested on Terrorism and Immigration Fraud Charges

Brooklyn Resident Arrested on Terrorism and Immigration Fraud Charges

**Brooklyn, NY** – Mansuri Manuchekhri, a 33-year-old resident of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly conspiring to support ISIS and ISIS-K, unlawful possession of firearms, and immigration fraud. The arrest was made the same day, and his initial court appearance took place in the Eastern District of New York in the afternoon.

Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the Department of Justice’s zero-tolerance policy for terrorism, stating they are committed to prosecuting those who threaten American citizens. FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the efforts to prevent terrorism, noting Manuchekhri allegedly sent funds to ISIS affiliates. The Justice Department, led by Sue Bai, is focused on preventing the exploitation of immigration and financial systems.

Allegedly, Manuchekhri entered the United States from Tajikistan on a tourist visa in June 2016 but overstayed after the visa expired in December 2016. In a bid to gain legal status, he allegedly entered into a sham marriage in March 2017, which was never approved due to his failure to provide necessary documentation.

From December 2021 to April 2023, Man