About Ernest Johnson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Building Superintendent Charged with Posing as Management Agent,
Stealing Over $18,000 from Eight People Seeking Apartments

Defendant had No Authority to Rent Apartments but Still Accepted Payments;
Victims Never Gained Possession of the Apartments; Defendant Never Returned Money

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Cypress Hills man has been charged with grand larceny and scheme to defraud for posing as an employee of his building’s management company and stealing over $18,000 from eight people, fraudulently collecting deposits and fees for vacant apartments which he had no authority to rent.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The defendant’s alleged theft and deception in this case is particularly reprehensible in light of the many challenges renters already face as they look for affordable housing in this city. We will continue to work to ensure that there is no room in Brooklyn for schemes such as this.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Ruben Almeidas, 58, of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with third-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, and seven counts of fourth-degree grand larceny. He was ordered held on $5,000 bail and to return to court on August 9, 2017. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, the defendant, a superintendent for a building located at 233 Jamaica Avenue in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, showed vacant apartments in that building to would-be tenants, from approximately April 1, 2016, to October 30, 2016. The defendant allegedly indicated that he worked for the management company that owned the building and that he could accept deposits for the apartments.

According to the investigation, after showing a vacant apartment, the defendant would collect a deposit and “finder’s fee” from a prospective tenant, even issuing receipts. The would-be tenants, however, found it impossible to move into the building, with the defendant offering a litany of excuses and reasons that the tenant could not yet move. While the tenants were unable to move in to the apartments they had paid for, the defendant is charged with keeping the fees he had already collected.

According to the investigation, the defendant allegedly carried out the scheme even though he had acknowledged that he did not have permission or authority to take any money from prospective tenants, in writing, to his employer.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant allegedly stole a total of $18,500 from eight prospective tenants, in amounts ranging from $1,850 to $3,600. The defendant was arrested in February 2017.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Detective Ernest Kenner of the Brooklyn North Grand Larceny Division.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Fayola Charlet of the District Attorney’s Immigrant Fraud Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney José Interiano, Deputy Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 10 Years in State Prison
For Assaulting 3-Year-old Son

Struck Toddler with Cord, Wire and Belt, Had him Kneel on Legos;
Child Left with Limited Use of his Hand

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brownsville man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for brutally assaulting his 3-year-old son by violently striking him, holding his hands and feet under hot water and making him kneel on Legos for hours at a time.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This horrific violence against a helpless child by his own father is disturbing and completely unimaginable. Instead of caring for him, this defendant subjected his innocent little boy to repeated assaults. We will continue to seek lengthy prison sentences for those who harm our children.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Leonardo DeCouite, 24, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Miriam Cyrulnik to 10 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree assault earlier this month.

The child’s mother, Kiana Mohansingh, 21, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to six months in jail and five years’ post-release supervision on May 19, 2017.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between September 1, 2015 and March 4, 2016, DeCouite assaulted his son repeatedly – beating him with wire, cord, a belt, making him kneel on Legos and holding his hands and feet under hot water. The child’s mother, Mohansingh, admitted striking him in the face with a hard plastic toy causing bruising and swelling to his left cheek.

The defendants were arrested after Mohansingh’s mother noticed bruising on the child and called police. The child has limited use of his hand due to his parents’ failure to seek immediate medical attention.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gwen Barnes of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Miss Gregory, Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 22, 2017

Three Inmates Indicted for Assaulting Correction Officers

Punched and Dragged an Officer, Pepper Sprayed Two of his Colleagues

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that three inmates have been indicted for allegedly attacking a New York City correction officer inside the Brooklyn Detention Center, punching and dragging him down a flight of stairs. One of the defendants is additionally charged for allegedly spraying two other correction officers with pepper spray.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Correction officers work under some of the most difficult and dangerous conditions, as this unprovoked and infuriating alleged assault demonstrates. They must be protected and those who attack them should expect severe consequences. We will do everything in our power to vigorously prosecute those who put our dedicated correction officers in danger.”

Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association President Elias Husamudeen said, “For too long, inmates who assault New York City Correction Officers have remained immune from prosecution for their crimes committed behind bars. The COBA has vigorously urged the District Attorneys to act swiftly to ensure that the frequent attacks on our members do not go unpunished. That is why we applaud Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and his team of Assistant District Attorneys for indicting the three inmates who brutally assaulted three correction officers at the Brooklyn Detention Center several weeks ago. With today’s indictments, the Brooklyn DA’s Office has sent a very clear message to every inmate in our jail system that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if they assault a New York City Correction Officer.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendants as Koron Bailey, 30, Johnny Williams, 23, and Gilbert Marcano, 33. Bailey and Marcano were arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Foley on an indictment in which they are variously charged with second-degree assault, second-degree attempted assault, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and related counts. Williams will be arraigned at a later date. The defendants face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, the incident took place on April 19, 2017, at about 12:10 p.m. inside the Brooklyn Detention Center, located on 275 Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn. It is alleged that Bailey repeatedly punched a correction officer in the face and body. Marcano then held the officer’s arms as Bailey continued to punch him. Bailey proceeded to drag the victim down metal stairs with Williams walking behind him, according to the investigation.

Another correction officer responded and assisted his colleague. He observed that Williams was holding pepper spray, a knife and keys that fell from the officer’s duty belt during the assault. Williams refused to hand over the pepper spray and, after a third officer came to help, that defendant allegedly sprayed both officers in the eyes with the pepper spray, according to the evidence.

At the time of the incident, the defendants were jailed pending the resolution of cases they have been charged with: Bailey for a murder in Manhattan, Williams for a Brooklyn robbery and Marcano for criminal contempt in the Bronx.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Chow Xie, of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Bureau Chief.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Woman Sentenced to up to 4½ Years in Prison for Hate Crime Theft of
$140,000 Cash and Gold Jewelry from Bensonhurst Woman

Defendant Pledged to Remove Curses in Elaborate “Chinese Blessing Scam”

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 44-year-old woman was sentenced to 1½ to 4½ years in prison, following her earlier guilty plea to second-degree grand larceny as a hate crime. The defendant admitted to stealing about $140,000 in cash and gold jewelry from the victim, a Chinese woman, during an elaborate scam, convincing her she needed to remove a curse that threatened her family.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “After targeting vulnerable immigrant women, this defendant stole the victim’s life savings by exploiting the fears and beliefs of the culture they shared. Her deplorable conduct more than merits the prison sentence imposed today. I will aggressively prosecute those who seek to profit from our immigrant communities, and we will continue my Office’s efforts to educate everybody about common illegal schemes like this Chinese blessing scam, as we do in our monthly Immigration Forums.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Xuekun Su, 44, of China. She was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to an indeterminate term of 1½ to 4½ years in state prison, following her guilty plea last month to one count of second-degree grand larceny as a hate crime.

The Acting District Attorney said that the defendant, acting with other unapprehended individuals, approached the victim, a 61-year-old Chinese immigrant, on April 27, 2016, in the vicinity of Bay 22nd Street and 86th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The defendant and the other individuals engaged the victim in conversation and, after gaining her trust, claimed to be clairvoyants. They warned the victim that she or a member of her family would die because of a curse.

They convinced her that she could rid herself of the curse by gathering large sums of cash and jewelry to be blessed. The defendant and the others assured the victim that after the blessing removed the evil spirits surrounding her family, the items would be returned to her. The victim proceeded to gather approximately $140,000 in cash and various pieces of gold jewelry.

The victim then returned to the defendant and the others who, according to the investigation, instructed the victim to place the cash and jewels into a bag for the “blessing.” Manipulating the bag, the defendant and others removed the victim’s valuables and returned a closed one to the victim. They told the victim that the blessing would only work if she did not open the bag for many days. Later that evening, however, after the defendant and the others had gone, the victim opened the bag and found that her property was gone. She then contacted the police.

The defendant admitted that she had selected the victim based on her age and national origin, making her larceny conviction a hate crime under New York State law.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Dimitrij Prokopez and Sergeant Sean O’Hara, of the NYPD’s Grand Larceny Division, under the supervision of Sergeant Gregory Marotta, Lieutenant Robert Rattigan, Inspector John M. Denesopolis, and Assistant Chief Brian McCarthy of the Criminal Enterprise Investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jose Interiano, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Immigrant Fraud Unit, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Brownsville Woman Convicted of Manslaughter for
Beating Her 4-Year-Old Nephew to Death with a Belt

Defendant Struck Child Numerous Times, Claiming
He Wouldn’t Focus During Spelling Lessons

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 24-year-old Brownsville woman has been convicted of first-degree manslaughter for beating her 4-year-old nephew to death with a belt and its buckle while she was babysitting him.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The defendant’s crime is made even more atrocious by the excuse she offered for beating her nephew to death: that he wouldn’t focus on his spelling lessons. Little Ethan should have had many, many years to grow and thrive, but instead he was robbed of his life by this defendant’s vicious attack. I remain committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting those who seek to harm our children.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Christen Dale, 24, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. She was convicted today of first-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Miriam Cyrulnik, who set sentencing for June 1, 2017, at which time the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on February 25, 2015, inside of 287 Rockaway Parkway, where the defendant lived with her sister and her nephew, Ethan Ali, 4, the defendant was watching the child while her sister was at work.

At some point, according to testimony, the defendant began to beat him with a belt, striking him repeatedly with both the strap and the metal buckle. The defendant told police she had been trying to teach the 4-year-old to spell and became enraged when the child failed to focus on the lesson.

According to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Ethan suffered blunt impact trauma resulting in internal bleeding causing multi-system organ failure, and was left with extensive bruising on his torso, back, buttocks, thighs, arms and scalp.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Brooklyn Man Convicted of 1998 Rape in Park Slope Subway Station Following Cold Case DNA Hit

Faces up to 25 Years in State Prison when he is Sentenced Next Month

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 45-year-old Brooklyn man has been convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman on a subway platform in 1998. The defendant was charged with the rape as a result of a “cold hit” in which a DNA sample obtained from the victim’s rape kit was positively matched to the defendant’s DNA profile in the New York DNA databank.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Thanks to the DNA evidence collected at the time of this attack the defendant has now been held accountable for this brutal rape. This case once again underscores the importance of DNA evidence in proving guilt or innocence. I’d also like to commend the victim for having the courage to testify at trial and bring this defendant to justice.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Johnny Jacob, 45, of Brooklyn. He was convicted yesterday of first-degree rape following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo, who set sentencing for June 2, 2017, at which time he faces up to 25 years in prison.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on March 2, 1998, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the victim, who was 19 at the time and going to her first day of work, had just exited the M train at the 9th Street and Fourth Avenue stop. She was approached by the defendant, who ordered her to the back of the platform, while threatening to shoot her and placing what she believed to be a gun to her back. He forcibly raped her, then brought her outside of the train station and told her that he would kill her if she called the police.

The defendant, who was not known to the victim, then fled the scene. The victim ran to work, and her employer called 911 to report the rape. She was treated at Lutheran Hospital, where a rape kit was administered.

The defendant was arrested on October 4, 2013, after there was a DNA hit connecting the defendant to the semen found in the complainant’s rape kit. His DNA had been entered into the database following a conviction on federal money laundering charges.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Lisa Nugent and Assistant District Attorney Tamara Marshall, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 12, 2017

North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty in Connection With
Trafficking 33 Guns to Sell on the Streets of Brooklyn

To be Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 24-year-old man from North Carolina has pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sale of a firearm in connection with trafficking 33 firearms from his home state into Brooklyn.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s guilty plea and promised lengthy sentence is further evidence of our commitment to fight the scourge of gun trafficking, particularly from southern states with lax gun laws, in an effort to keep these deadly weapons off of the streets of Brooklyn. This defendant has now been held accountable and faces 10 years in a New York State prison for his actions.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Marcus Gamble, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina. He pleaded guilty today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Foley to the top count in the indictment, first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, in exchange for 10 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision when he is sentenced on June 26, 2017.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on December 5, 2016, the defendant sold 10 loaded firearms to an undercover police officer and, on December 13, 2016, the defendant sold the undercover 15 loaded firearms for a total of about $27,000. The sales took place inside a car in the vicinity of Flatbush Avenue and Maple Street in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn.

On December 20, 2016, as the defendant was waiting for a third sale to commence, he was arrested inside a Golden Krust restaurant located at 568 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. Eight guns and parts of an assault rifle were recovered from his backpack, according to the indictment.

The 33 guns the defendant transported to Brooklyn were mostly pistols and revolvers, including Smith & Wessons, Colts and Rugers. Some of the weapons were purchased legally in North Carolina and others were reported stolen, the investigation found. The defendant grew up in New York City, has extensive family ties to Brooklyn, but has been living in North Carolina for the past couple of years, according to the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Katie Lee Wright, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision Assistant District Attorney Jonathan R. Sennett, Deputy Chief of VCE, and Assistant District Attorney Nicole Chavis, Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division.

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