About Ernest Johnson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office Extends Deadline for Applications for
2019 High School Mid-Winter and Spring Break Internships

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that the deadline for filing applications for KCDA’s mid-winter and spring break internship programs has been extended to November 25, 2018. The internships are open to students who live and /or attend high school in Brooklyn and are interested in learning about the different careers and responsibilities within the criminal justice system.

The mid-winter internship runs from Tuesday, February 19, 2019 to Friday, February 22, 2019. The spring internship runs from Monday, April 22, 2019 to Friday, April 26, 2019.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “We are proud to offer week-long internships during the mid-winter and spring breaks for Brooklyn’s high school students. During the week, students will receive exposure to the criminal justice system and gain an understanding and appreciation of a professional work setting.”

Selected students will be assigned to one of the many specialized units within the DA’s office, while also getting an overview of the criminal justice system. They can expect to assist with legal research and analysis; assist prosecutors preparing for trial; work on discovery; file maintenance and organizing court documents; participate in Trial Zone workshops; participate in judicial, legal and law enforcement-related field trips; and observe criminal proceedings including trials, guilty pleas and alternatives to incarceration.

During the week-long internship, participants will receive a MetroCard to cover transportation expenses. Internship hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Interns selected are expected to commit for the entire duration of the program.

Applicants are required to provide their most recent school transcript, a one-page resume, one letter of recommendation and must submit a 300-word typed essay (12 pt. font and double-spaced) on why they are interested in interning with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and what impact they think it will have on their future career goals and aspirations.

To apply, please visit: http://apply.brooklynda.org to upload transcript, essay and resume. Only the recommendation letter should be emailed as an attachment to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office at hsinternships@brooklynda.org, with the subject line: Recommendation Letter (Applicant’s First and Last Name). All application materials must be received no later than Sunday, November 25, 2018. For questions or assistance, please contact the High School Internship and Youth Initiatives Program Coordinator at (718) 250-4873.

To learn more about the program visit: http://www.brooklynda.org/careers/internship.   

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 7, 2018

East New York Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of Philadelphia Teen

Received 4 ½ to 9 Years in State Prison

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an East New York man who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking last month was sentenced to 4 ½ to 9 years in prison for the sex trafficking of a Philadelphia teen. He also promoted the prostitution of eight other victims ranging in age from 15 to 21 years old.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant preyed on vulnerable young women, luring them to New York City to work as prostitutes, drugging and using physical violence against those who refused. I will continue to seek justice for sex trafficking victims.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Tariq Washington, a.k.a., Ricky, 23, of East New York. Washington pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking last month before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun who today sentenced him to 4 ½ to 9 years in prison. He is required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. Charges are still pending against a co-defendant, Jonathan Harris, a.k.a., Jayo, 26, of East New York.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between March 2015 and December 2016, the defendants prostituted nine young women, the majority of whom were ages 15 and 16, in Brooklyn, after luring most of them to the city from out of state, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Cleveland. The defendants located the women on Backpage.com and it is alleged that they then texted them and invited them to come to New York to be prostituted, sending them bus tickets and then posting their photos on Backpage.com.

It is alleged that the defendants rented several rooms at various motels in Brooklyn and elsewhere, and drove the women to the locations where men paid to have sex with them.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, it is alleged that the defendants gave the girls drugs and physically assaulted them if they refused to work as prostitutes.

The 18-year-old sex trafficking victim had come to Brooklyn with a 17-year-old friend after that girl was allegedly contacted by Washington and lured to Brooklyn. The younger girl left after a few days and returned to Philadelphia. The 18-year-old, who had allegedly been beaten and raped by Harris, escaped and went to the police for help two months later.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective David Mills and Detective James Rufle of the Human Trafficking Team, Vice Enforcement Division, under the supervision of Sergeant Faoud Zahirudin, Lieutenant Christopher Sharpe and Captain Thomas Milano, and the overall supervision of Inspector James Klein.

Senior Intelligence Analyst Brooke Middleton of the District Attorney’s Crime Strategies Unit and KCDA Digital Forensic Analyst Thomas Woodburn assisted in the investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore field offices for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the Special Victims Bureau.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Coney Island Dad Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for Beating Death
Of His 16-Month-Old Daughter and Assaulting her Mother on Father’s Day

Mother Found Baby Unresponsive with Bruises to Head and Body

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for severely beating his 16-month-old daughter Nylah Lewis during a visit to his Coney Island apartment on Father’s Day, causing her death. The defendant was also convicted of assaulting the child’s mother.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “A helpless and innocent child was beaten to death, sadly, at the hands of the person responsible for nurturing and protecting her. With today’s sentence, he has been held accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Shaquan Taylor, 20, of Coney Island, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 20 years to life in prison for second-degree murder, five years for second-degree assault and 1 ½ to 3 for aggravated harassment by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice, who ordered the assault and aggravated harassment to run consecutively to the murder. The defendant was convicted last month following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on June 18, 2017, shortly before 2:30 p.m., the defendant texted Tammy Lewis, 18, from his apartment on West 32nd Street, in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to inform her that their daughter was having trouble breathing. When Lewis arrived at the apartment, she found Nylah on the couch, unconscious, with bruises, swelling and lacerations on her face.

According to trial testimony, Lewis left the apartment carrying her daughter to call 911 for medical assistance. The defendant followed Lewis to the lobby, where he began hitting her in the neck and face while she was still holding Nylah. Taylor then grabbed Nylah, gave her to a passerby and continued assaulting Lewis before running away. The defendant was arrested a short time later hiding in the bushes in a lot near his building.

Nylah was admitted to Coney Island Hospital with a fractured skull, loss of oxygen to the brain and bruises all over her body. She was later transferred to Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, where she remained in a coma for five days. Nylah died from her injuries on June 23, 2017.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, First Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau (SVB) and Senior Assistant District Attorney Victoria Nunez, also of SVB, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 2, 2018

Brooklyn Man Convicted of Breaking into Apartment and Sexually Assaulting Bushwick Woman Who Previously Hired Him to Clean Her Apartment

Defendant Faces Up To Life in Prison at Sentencing

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 22-year-old Brooklyn man has been convicted of predatory sexual assault and related charges for a 2016 attack on a woman after breaking into her Bushwick apartment while she was sleeping.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This is an incredibly disturbing incident in which the defendant broke into a woman’s home and committed a horrific assault. He’s now been held accountable. I am committed to fighting for justice for all sexual assault victims.”

The District Attorney said that the defendant, Romaric Guiebre, 22, of Brooklyn, was convicted yesterday of one count of predatory sexual assault, one count of first-degree sexual abuse, one count of first-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony, second-degree robbery as a sexually motivated felony, and other charges, following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dena Douglas. Justice Douglas set sentencing for December 13, 2018, at which time the defendant faces 25 years to life in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on July 25, 2016, at approximately 1:30 a.m., on DeKalb Avenue in Bushwick, the victim, a 29-year-old woman, was sleeping in her apartment when she heard a key in her front door. When she went to investigate, she saw the defendant in the apartment. She screamed, and the defendant grabbed her around the neck and pushed her into the apartment bedroom; he then pulled out a gun and stated: “I’m going to kill you.”

A struggle ensued, according to trial testimony, and the victim bit the defendant on the nose, causing him to bleed profusely. He then tied her up and blindfolded her with a bedsheet, sexually assaulted her and made her take a shower. During the assault he demanded money, taking her debit card and PIN number. Before leaving the apartment, he gathered the bedding and other items that had blood on them and put them in a garbage bag and left the apartment at approximately 4 a.m. Blood was recovered from the scene.

The defendant told the woman not to call police or he would kill her. He left and withdrew $400 from her bank account. The woman called her boyfriend, who called police.

The defendant, who worked as a house cleaner, cleaned the woman’s apartment on July 17, 2016 and it is believed he used a spare key to break into her apartment the night of the attack.

Investigators questioned the defendant because he had been in the apartment prior to the attack to provide a cleaning service. Following an investigation, he was arrested on August 23, 2016. The defendant admitted being in the woman’s apartment the night of the attack, tying her up and using her ATM card to withdraw money from her account, the evidence showed. Blood found in the apartment was a match to his DNA.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Lauren Silver and Gwen Barnes of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, First Deputy Chief and Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Former Public Administrator Employee Indicted for Stealing
Over $78,000 From Estates of Eight Decedents

Allegedly Used Stolen Funds on a Cruise, Bills, Shopping and More

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters, today announced that a former case manager at the Office of the Kings County Public Administrator has been indicted on grand larceny and other charges for allegedly stealing over $78,000 from the estates of eight deceased individuals whose estates his agency was administering.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant abused his position and betrayed the public trust by allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars that he then used for his personal expenses. A thorough investigation uncovered the extent of his alleged theft and we will now seek to hold him accountable. Public corruption and abuse of power will not be tolerated in Brooklyn.”

Commissioner Peters said, “This public servant misused his position in the Kings County Public Administrator’s Office to allegedly access the debit and credit card accounts of several deceased persons, stealing tens of thousands of dollars from their estates and using the money for lavish purchases, according to the charges. DOI’s report issued today details the alleged criminal conduct and makes recommendations to KCPA to address vulnerabilities in its policies and procedures to prevent future crimes. DOI thanks the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this investigation.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Fitzroy Thompson, 36, of Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree grand larceny, third-degree corrupting the government, first-degree scheme to defraud and first- and third-degree identity theft. The defendant was ordered to return to court on January 9, 2019. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant was employed as a case manager at the Office of the Kings County Public Administrator, which administers estates of those who die without a last will and testament or without family members who are able to administer their estates. Between July 2017 and April 2018, the defendant allegedly stole a total of $78,325 in funds from estates being administered by the Public Administrator.

It is alleged that the defendant used credit cards and checking accounts belonging to estates of eight decedents whose cases he handled or could access to make various purchases and payments. In January 2018, he booked a cruise with Carnival Cruise Line, using one of the decedent’s credit cards to pay a $2,741 fee, the investigation found. He also allegedly used estate funds unlawfully to make ATM withdrawals exceeding $35,000, to make lease payments on a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder and a 2016 Nissan Altima, to make rent payments in connection with two properties, to pay phone and cable bills, to buy JetBlue airline tickets to Nassau, Bahamas and to make purchases at Walmart, Fingerhut and other companies.

The defendant was arrested in March 2018 after the executor of one estate noticed charges on his deceased relative’s account, including the cruise payment, and filed a police report. A subsequent investigation discovered the additional alleged larcenies. The defendant was suspended upon his arrest and resigned from the Office of the Public Administrator in July.

District Attorney Gonzalez thanked the Kings County Public Administrator’s Office, its staff and Public Administrator Richard Buckheit for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

The case was investigated by Senior Investigative Auditor Helen Gromadsky and Deputy Inspector General and Special Counsel Spector of the New York City Department of Investigation, under the supervision of Inspector General Eleonora Rivkin, Associate Commissioner Andrew Brunsden, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Susan Lambiase, and First Deputy Commissioner Lesley Brovner. The case was also investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Mitchell Eisenberg of the 60th Precinct Detective Squad.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit with the assistance of Investigative Paralegal Zachary Gitman, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division and Mark Feldman, Senior Executive Assistant District Attorney for Crime Strategies and Investigations

#

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 29, 2018

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Scheme Where He Allegedly Used
Counterfeit Bills When Buying Smartphones and Laptop from Online Sellers

Replied to Advertisements on Craigslist; Forgery Equipment Found at his Home

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 27-year-old man from Ditmas Park, Brooklyn has been indicted on charges of criminal possession of a forged instrument, grand larceny and related charges for allegedly using counterfeit money when buying iPhones, a MacBook, and other electronics, from sellers who advertised on Craigslist.com and other websites.

District Attorney Gonzalez said “It is alleged that this defendant schemed to effectively steal high-end electronics from unsuspecting individuals by paying them with counterfeit cash. He has been charged following a meticulous investigation by my Office because we are committed to protecting the people of Brooklyn from any and all types of fraud.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Sajaad Prince, 27, of Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, criminal possession of a forgery device, fourth-degree grand larceny and related charges. He was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond and to return to court on December 12, 2018. The defendant faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between February 12, 2018 and June 19, 2018, the defendant used counterfeit bills to buy electronics from sellers who advertised them for sale on Craigslist.com and other marketplace platforms like Letgo.com.

Specifically, he is charged with purchasing two iPhone Xs from a man in Ditmas Park for $1,850, an Android Note 8 from an East Flatbush couple for $650, a Samsung Galaxy S9 from a man in East Midwood for $850 and a MacBook Pro, purchased in DUMBO for $1,700. All sellers subsequently realized that the cash the defendant handed to them was counterfeit, according to the investigation.

It is believed that the defendant committed additional crimes in a similar manner.

The investigation revealed that the phone numbers the defendant used to contact the sellers were purchased via Pinger, developer of the Textfree app that provides internet-based phone numbers. The defendant was identified by tracing the IP addresses used to access those phone numbers, and then painstakingly cross-referencing the IP addresses and associated email addresses against cell site and utilities records. In addition, a thorough analysis of the defendant’s social media accounts revealed that the defendant was frequently selling electronics and clothing for much lower than the retail price.

In June 2018, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence. Several scanners and printers, counterfeit currency, templates used to copy counterfeit currency, and sheets of blank paper as well as the MacBook Pro were recovered from his bedroom.

During the time period of the charged crimes, the defendant was on work release from Lincoln Correctional Facility, where he was required to stay two nights a week in connection with a previous conviction of possessing counterfeit bills.

The District Attorney thanked the United States Secret Service for their assistance with the investigation.

The case was investigated by Detective Thomas Jurewicz and Detective Gerard Amato, under the supervision of Sergeant Dominic Longo of the NYPD Kings County District Attorney Detective Squad, and the overall supervision of Captain Matthew Zuss, Commanding Officer of the KCDA Detective Squad.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Dovid Wolosow of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gavin Miles, Counsel to the Frauds Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division.

#

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 26, 2018

Brownsville Man Convicted of Murder in Death of Staten Island Mom
Found Naked in East Williamsburg Hotel

Victim was Discovered with Bruises to Neck and Head

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brownsville man has been convicted of second-degree murder in the 2015 death of a 34-year-old mother of four from Staten Island who was found dead in a hotel in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant befriended a vulnerable woman and then heartlessly and violently ended her life, leaving her friends and family, including her four children, heartbroken. Such violence will not be tolerated in Brooklyn. Hopefully, today’s verdict brings some comfort to those suffering from this tremendous loss.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Joseph Danclair, 39, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was convicted today of second-degree murder following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo. The defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on November 14, 2018.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 23, 2015, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the victim, Chrissy Bevelaqua, 34, was discovered naked with bruises to her neck and head in a hotel room at the Bushwick Hotel located at 171 Bushwick Avenue in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The victim was found on a bed by hotel staff, who notified the police. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the investigation, the police recovered the defendant’s DNA and fingerprints from the hotel room. Danclair was also captured on surveillance video entering the hotel with the victim and later leaving alone. Police later learned that Danclair was picked up at the hotel by a livery driver and was dropped off in Brownsville.

The defendant was arrested on September 17, 2015, near Second Avenue in Kips Bay in Manhattan. In a video statement recorded by the police, the defendant admitted to being in the hotel room.

The District Attorney thanked Michel Dilone, of the DA’s Victim Services Unit, for his assistance in this case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Olatokunbo Olaniyan, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Payne, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Timothy Gough, Homicide Bureau Chief.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 25, 2018

Coney Island Dad Convicted of Murder for Beating His 16-Month Old Daughter and Fracturing Her Skull on Father’s Day

Mother Found Baby Unresponsive with Bruises to Head and Body

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 20-year-old man has been convicted of murder after he severely beat his 16-month-of daughter Nylah Lewis during a visit to his Coney Island apartment on Father’s Day, causing her death.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “On a day when the importance of fathers is celebrated, this defendant committed an unforgivable crime against his own child. Instead of protecting and nurturing his daughter, the defendant caused the injuries that tragically ended her short life.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Shaquan Taylor, 20, of Coney Island, Brooklyn. He was convicted yesterday of second-degree murder following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on November 7, 2018.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on June 18, 2017, at some time shortly before 2:30 p.m., the defendant texted Tammy Lewis, 18, from his apartment on West 32nd Street, in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to inform her that their daughter was having trouble breathing. When Lewis arrived at the apartment, she found Nylah on the couch unconscious, with bruising, swelling and lacerations on her face.

According to trial testimony, Lewis left the apartment carrying her daughter to call 911 for medical assistance. The defendant followed Lewis to the lobby, where he began beating her in the neck and face while she was still holding Nylah. Taylor then grabbed Nylah, gave her to a nearby passerby and continued beating Lewis before running away. The defendant was arrested a short time later hiding in the bushes in a lot near his building.

Nylah was admitted to Coney Island Hospital with a fractured skull, loss of oxygen to the brain and bruising all over her body. She was later transferred to Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, where she remained in a coma for five days. Nylah died from her injuries on June 23, 2017.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, First Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau and Senior Assistant District Attorney Victoria Nunez, also of SVB, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 24, 2018

East New York Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for
Three Gunpoint Robberies of Delivery Men

Displayed Firearm and Took Property on Different Occasions in Three-Week Span

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 22-year-old Brooklyn man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for committing three gunpoint robberies of delivery men over a three-week span. In each incident, the defendant pointed a silver gun and took the victim’s property.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant repeatedly targeted vulnerable individuals and violently robbed them of their hard-earned money. Keeping the people of Brooklyn safe is my highest priority and today’s sentence ensures that this defendant will not be able to victimize others in our community.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Edward Franklin, 22, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Miriam Cyrulnik to 16 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision following his conviction this month of three counts of first-degree robbery after a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on January 24, 2017, at about 2 p.m., a restaurant delivery man was making a delivery at 807 Schenck Avenue in East New York, which is part of the Boulevard Houses. He called the number on the receipt and was informed by a man that he would come down to get the food. Moments later, the defendant put a silver firearm to the victim’s back and took his belongings, including about $250 in cash.

On February 12, 2017, at about 11:20 a.m., the same delivery man was making a delivery at 756 Stanley Avenue, which is located at the same housing development. He met the customer outside the building, gave him the food and was waiting for the customer to return with a tip. The evidence showed that the defendant then approached the victim, brandished the silver firearm, forced the victim inside the building, pushed him to the ground and fled with his wallet, which contained various forms of identification and approximately $30. The victim then reported both incidents. He recognized the defendant from making multiple deliveries to his apartment and from seeing him at the restaurant where the victim worked.

On February 9, 2017, at about 3 p.m., another delivery man, who works for a local supermarket, made a delivery at 807 Schenck Avenue. When he entered the building, he noticed the defendant in the lobby, according to testimony. When the victim returned to the lobby after delivering the groceries, the defendant held a silver firearm to his stomach and demanded his belongings. He took the victim’s wallet, with about $260 inside, and fled.

The victim called 911 and a detective connected the robbery to the other two. Both victims identified the defendant in court as the man who robbed them.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Elaine Albenda and Assistant District Attorney Elliot Wertheim of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 24, 2018

East New York Woman Indicted for Stealing
Deceased Father’s Social Security Benefits

Allegedly Withdrew More than $235,000 from Joint Bank Account Over Span of 13 Years

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General Special Agent in Charge John F. Grasso, today announced that a 58-year-old Brooklyn woman has been arraigned on an indictment in which she is charged with second-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing Social Security benefits totaling more than $235,000 that were intended for her father, who had been deceased since 2002. The defendant allegedly withdrew the money every month for 13 years from a joint savings account that they shared.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “We allege that the defendant knowingly withdrew Social Security benefits from this joint bank account that she was not entitled to after her father passed away. Her alleged actions were criminal and self-serving. We intend to hold her accountable for allegedly stealing taxpayer money.”

SSA-OIG Special Agent in Charge John F. Grasso said: “Today’s arrest should serve as a warning to those who choose to selfishly defraud the Social Security Trust Fund. These cases are vigorously pursued, and we will continue to work jointly with the Brooklyn DA’s Office, and other law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute fraud perpetrators in the future. I strongly encourage the public to report suspected instances of Social Security fraud to the SSA OIG’s Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or http://oig.ssa.gov/report.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jacquelyn Anderson Wideman, 58, of East New York, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which she is charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny. She was released without bail and ordered to return to court on January 9, 2019.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant’s deceased father Willie Simmons, aka “George Anderson” was receiving retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration before he died. The benefits were deposited to an HSBC joint account that was shared with the defendant. It is alleged that after the defendant’s father died on May 7, 2002, she continued to withdraw Social Security benefits intended for her father from various automated teller machines in Brooklyn until May 2015 when the Social Security Administration discovered that her father died in 2002.

The defendant admitted in a written statement that her father passed away on May 7, 2002 and that the two shared a joint HSBC bank account that she continued to withdraw his Social Security benefits.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), specifically Special Agent Neisha Samaroo, under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge John F. Grasso.

The District Attorney thanked the United States Secret Service for their assistance in the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Vivian Young Joo, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Christopher Blank, Chief of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Unit, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

#

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.