Queens woman, 78, vanishes after leaving home in striped robe
QUEENS, NY — The NYPD is searching for 78-year-old Valentina Tane, who was last seen leaving her Queens residence on Friday afternoon and has not been heard from since. Last…
QUEENS, NY — The NYPD is searching for 78-year-old Valentina Tane, who was last seen leaving her Queens residence on Friday afternoon and has not been heard from since. Last…
QUEENS, NY — A 17-year-old and a 28-year-old man were shot and killed Saturday night in a double homicide on a quiet Queens street, according to police. Key Points Authorities…
NEWARK, NJ — A Queens resident has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for kidnapping a store employee in Paterson, New Jersey, and transporting the victim across state…
QUEENS, NY — A 53-year-old employee of the New York City Department of Education was arrested Friday afternoon on multiple sex crime charges involving a minor while on duty, police…
QUEENS, NY — A 50-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in the early hours of Friday morning in Jamaica, Queens, by a man who remains at large, police said. Key…
QUEENS, N.Y. — Two men have been indicted on sex trafficking and prostitution charges after a woman was allegedly forced to engage in sex acts at an East Flushing brothel,…
QUEENS, N.Y. — An off-duty NYPD traffic agent was arrested Wednesday night in Queens and hit with child endangerment and assault charges, according to police. Key Points Stephann John, 35,…
FLUSHING, N.Y. — A pair of lucky Powerball players in Queens struck third-prize gold this week, each snagging $50,000 in Monday night’s drawing. Key Points The winning tickets were sold…
MINEOLA, NY — A Queens man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly attempting to swindle an elderly Nassau County couple out of $129,000 by drastically inflating a roofing repair…
QUEENS, NY — A man who illegally took over a single-family home in Flushing and rented out rooms to others has been sentenced to two years in prison, Queens District…
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
Three Indicted for 2019 Stabbing Death of 17-Year-Old in Queens
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the indictment of Tianna Benjamin, Charles Gillespie, and Kyra Tyrell by a grand jury in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Talasia Cuffie in November 2019. The charges include murder, weapon possession, and conspiracy. Cuffie was attacked following a memorial basketball game for another victim, Aamir Griffin, unrelated to her death. The attack was driven by a mistaken belief that Cuffie was pregnant with Gillespie’s child.
According to the DA’s statements, Cuffie was persuaded to visit a residential block by the defendants and then stabbed in the abdomen and groin. She was left severely injured on the sidewalk and later died in the hospital. The Queens District Attorney’s Office emphasized its dedication to seeking justice for Cuffie and her family.
The individuals charged are Benjamin, aged 29, from Jamaica; Gillespie, aged 24, from Jamaica; and Tyrell, aged 22, from Brooklyn. They face charges of murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon, and conspiracy. Benjamin and Tyrell
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
QUEENS, N.Y. — Two unidentified men are being sought by police after allegedly hanging a noose from a water tower on Northern Boulevard Tuesday night, prompting an investigation by the…
QUEENS, NY — The NYPD is searching for two individuals wanted in connection with a commercial robbery that took place Wednesday evening in Richmond Hill, within the confines of the…
QUEENS, N.Y. — An off-duty NYPD school safety agent was arrested Tuesday night in Queens and charged with assault, police said. Shafkath Tabassum, 30, was taken into custody at 10:17…
QUEENS, N.Y. — The NYPD is seeking the public’s help in identifying six individuals wanted in connection to a high-value robbery that took place last Wednesday in Richmond Hill, where…
ALBANY, N.Y. — Two New York Lottery players scored identical top prizes in Sunday’s TAKE 5 MIDDAY drawing, each pocketing $8,510.50 after purchasing tickets in Buffalo and East Elmhurst. The…
Isaiah Stokes Receives 25-Year Sentence for 2021 Murder
**Queens, NY** – On Wednesday, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the sentencing of Isaiah Stokes, who received 25 years to life imprisonment following his conviction for the murder of Tyrone Jones. The murder occurred on February 7, 2021, when Jones, seated in his parked Jeep Cherokee in St. Albans, was fatally shot. This act of violence was allegedly in retaliation for a dispute that transpired during Jones’ birthday celebration in October 2020.
According to District Attorney Katz, the defendant sought revenge after being ejected from the party. Stokes placed a GPS device on Jones’ vehicle weeks prior to the shooting, tracking his movements. On February 7, Stokes located Jones, discharged his firearm into the vehicle 11 times, and struck the victim in the head and chest, leading to Jones’ immediate death.
A jury found the 45-year-old Stokes guilty of second-degree murder and weapon possession charges on March 7, following a trial that began on February 13. Justice Kenneth Holder delivered the sentence on Wednesday.
The investigation revealed that Stokes’ motive stemmed from a confrontation at Jones’ birthday
QUEENS, N.Y. — A 16-year-old has been indicted by a Queens grand jury on murder and other charges in the stabbing death of 14-year-old Julian Corniell during a violent altercation…
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A Queens man has been charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, and impersonating a federal law enforcement officer after allegedly deceiving a woman into giving him $500,000…
QUEENS, N.Y. — An off-duty NYPD detective was arrested late Thursday night in southeast Queens and hit with a slew of criminal charges, including official misconduct and driving violations, police…
Four Indicted for Allegedly Stealing Homes in Queens
**Queens, NY** – Four men and three companies have been charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, conspiracy, and other crimes related to the alleged theft of three homes in Queens neighborhoods. Carl Avinger, Autumn Valeri, Lawrence T. Ray, and Torey Guice surrendered on Tuesday and were arraigned for their alleged roles in a fraud scheme involving falsified documents and false deeds recorded from March to July 2023.
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the defendants targeted properties to commit theft, forged documents, and filed false instruments with the city to illegally obtain homes. Avinger, Valeri, and Ray were arraigned on a 47-count indictment involving multiple charges, while Guice faced charges on the same indictment with slightly fewer accusations.
Supreme Court Justice Leigh Cheng has ordered the defendants to appear in court again on April 29. If convicted, Ray and Valeri could face up to 25 years in prison, Avinger faces up to 25 years as well, and Guice could see a sentence ranging from five to 15 years.
The fraudulent activities in question include filing false deed transfers for properties in
QUEENS, N.Y. — A Richmond Hill man has been indicted on attempted murder and other charges for allegedly beating his 8-year-old stepson so severely that the child suffered fractures, internal…
QUEENS, N.Y. — A Queens man has been convicted of murder for the 2021 ambush shooting of Tyrone Jones, who was gunned down while sitting in his parked car in…