About Ernest Johnson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 28, 2016

 

Brownsville Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for
Stabbing Boyfriend Following Argument

Victim Died of Stab Wound to Heart

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brownsville woman has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison for fatally stabbing her live-in boyfriend in the heart after opening her apartment door for him while armed with a knife following an argument.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “A domestic dispute was needlessly escalated when this defendant chose to kill a man she once cared for. We, in Brooklyn, take seriously all forms of intimate partner violence and I am committed to holding all offenders accountable.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Latrina Crocker, 48, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. She was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Ruth Shillingford to 15 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision following her conviction on September 29, 2016 of first-degree manslaughter after a jury trial.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on February 23, 2014, at approximately 1:50 a.m., the defendant and the victim, Michael Artist, 52, were engaged in a verbal argument inside their shared apartment. As the dispute ended, the victim left the apartment returning a short while later requesting that the defendant open the apartment door. The defendant opened the door with a knife in her hand, continued to argue, and then stabbed the victim in the arm and chest. Afterwards, the defendant dragged the victim’s body into the hallway before calling 911.

The victim died as a result of a stab wound to the heart, according the Office of the Medical Examiner.

During the investigation, the defendant admitted to stabbing the victim and informed police officers that she threw the murder weapon out of her apartment window. The knife was recovered from that location and DNA analysis confirmed evidence of the victim’s blood on the recovered knife.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joan Erskine and Assistant District Attorney Jorge Sastoque, of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michelle Kaminsky, Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 27, 2016

Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office Announces Chess Program for
At-Risk Youth in Partnership with Police Athletic League

World Champion Chess Player Maurice Ashley to Lead Chess Clubs,
Teach Young People to Think Strategically About Their Next Move

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with Police Athletic League Executive Director Frederick Watts, today announced a new initiative in East New York and Bedford-Stuyvesant to provide high-quality chess programs to at-risk youth.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It is an honor for me to carry out DA Ken Thompson’s vision for a chess partnership with the Police Athletic League that will benefit hundreds of young people, teaching them not only to carefully consider their next move in chess, but will also help them think strategically about their next moves in life. We couldn’t have a better leader in this effort than Maurice Ashley, who is not only a chess grandmaster, but a native Brooklynite and wonderful role model.”

Executive Director Watts said, “We at PAL are thrilled to be able to offer a high quality educational program to our children. We are grateful to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their support, and to the world renowned chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley for his invaluable expertise. We also wish to recognize the contributions of the late Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson, whose vision and commitment were central to making this chess program a reality.”

Mr. Ashley said, “It’s a real pleasure to be partnering with the Brooklyn DA’s Office and the PAL to bring chess to kids in my hometown. As a child who was raised in Brownsville and who found chess at Brooklyn Technical High School, it feels like I have come full circle. Learning chess has many benefits to growing young minds, and the children of our great borough stand much to gain from this program.”

The chess program, created by Brooklyn native and International Hall of Fame chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley, will take place as two sessions per week over the course of 15 weeks on-site at PAL’s East New York and Bedford-Stuyvesant locations. The program kicked off last week and will continue through August 2017 – with two cycles during the school year and one summer cycle.

The program is open to third- and fourth-graders in Bedford-Stuyvesant and to grades five through eight in East New York. Approximately 300 students are expected to take part in the program, which is being funded by a grant from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.

The chess instruction will reinforce logic and critical thinking skills while promoting a love of the game. At the end of each cycle, participants will compete in a center-wide tournament, which will culminate in a Brooklyn-wide competition.

The idea for the program came from late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, whose son is an avid chess player, during a conversation between himself and PAL Vice Chairman John Catsimatidis. DA Thompson and Mr. Catsimatidis were discussing possible partnerships earlier this year when DA Thompson suggested a chess program which would teach participants to think about their next move, a quality that will serve them in their life choices as well.

Maurice Ashley is a native of Brownsville, Brooklyn, and the first African-American international grandmaster. He was recently inducted into the International Chess Hall of Fame. In addition, Mr. Ashley, the author of Chess for Success, will be teaching some of the classes.

New York City’s Police Athletic League is the first civilian-run PAL in the country. Founded in 1914, PAL has served the city’s young people for over 100 years. PAL provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 35,000 boys and girls annually. It is also the city’s largest, independent, non-profit youth organization. For more information, please visit www.palnyc.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 26, 2016

 

Defendant Who Targeted Chinese Women Pleads Guilty to
Robbery as a Hate Crime

To Be Sentenced to 12 Years in State Prison

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery as a hate crime for robbing five Chinese women and attempting to rob a sixth woman in separate incidents in Borough Park, targeting them because of their race.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant specifically robbed Chinese women because they walked alone and he believed they wouldn’t fight back or be able to identify him. Hate crimes based on a person’s race, gender, sexual identity or ethnicity destroy the fabric of our communities and will not be tolerated. This defendant has now been held accountable.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Manuel Israel, 21, of Manhattan. He pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of second-degree robbery as a hate crime before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, who indicated he would sentence the defendant to 12 years in prison on November 9, 2016.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on April 6, 2015, at approximately 12:20 a.m., in the vicinity of 55th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway, a 23-year-old woman of Chinese descent was walking alone when the defendant approached her from behind and repeatedly pulled on her purse, causing her to fall to the ground. He then stood over her and stated: “Give me all of your money.”

The Acting District Attorney added that, according to the investigation, a bystander happened upon the attempted robbery and saw the defendant with his arm around the victim’s neck in an apparent struggle and called 911. Police immediately responded to the scene and apprehended Israel about 20 minutes later approximately six blocks from the scene.

The defendant admitted that he committed five additional robberies of women of Chinese descent, ages 21 to 43, between March 21st and April 4, 2015, all in the vicinity of Fort Hamilton Parkway between 55th and 71st Streets, and was subsequently charged with those crimes. In each of the incidents, the defendant approached the victims from behind and pulled on their handbags, causing them to fall to the ground. He then grabbed the victims’ handbags and fled. Three of the victims suffered injuries, including lacerations, bruising and pain. The investigation revealed that Israel selected women of Chinese descent because he perceived them to be vulnerable to attack.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Prabhalya Pulim, of the District Attorney’s Civil Rights Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kelli M. Muse, Deputy Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney William E. Schaeffer, Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, and Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 25, 2016

 

Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office Announces Two
High School Internship Programs

Internship Program to Run in Mid-Winter and Spring Cycles; Program Provides Unique Learning Experience in Public Service and Law

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced the launch of a competitive mid-winter and spring internship program for current high school juniors and seniors who live and attend school in Brooklyn. Students with a strong interest in criminal justice or the public interest sector and who meet the requisite eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply and participate in one of two intensive one-week programs.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This expanded program builds upon our summer high school internship program and will offer participants unique and valuable exposure to the inner workings of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. We are committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our youth and I look forward to creating additional youth-focused programs in the upcoming year.”

Selected students will be assigned to a unit within the DA’s office and will support the work of Assistant District Attorneys and other members of the DA’s staff. They can expect to assist with legal research and analysis using the Internet, news articles and legal periodicals; assist attorneys on pretrial matters; work on case preparation, 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 sentencings.

The program is open to qualifying juniors and seniors who must be able to commit to the entire duration of either of two internship cycles. Cycle 1 will run from February 21, 2017 to February 24, 2017; Cycle 2 will run from April 10, 2017 to April 14, 2017. Each cycle runs from Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

This is an unpaid internship but students will receive a MetroCard to assist with transportation. Applicants are required to supply their most recent school transcripts, a one-page resume, two letters of recommendation including one from either a teacher, coach, or mentor, 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 personal and academic endeavors. All applications must be submitted with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office Application Cover Sheet available on the Brooklyn District Attorney’s website (brooklynda.org/internships/) beginning November 1, 2016.

Completed documents should be emailed to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office at hsinternships@brooklynda.org in pdf format, with the subject line: “Brooklyn DA Mid-Winter and Spring Internship Program,” no later than December 9, 2016.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 25, 2016

 

Brighton Beach Man Found Guilty for
Fatal Stabbing of Brooklyn Man

Victim Attempted to Flee; Incident Caught on Surveillance Video

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 26-year-old Brooklyn man has been convicted of second-degree murder for stabbing a man in the chest following an argument outside commercial establishments in Brighton Beach.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant provoked a fight and then stabbed the victim as he tried to escape. Senseless acts of violence will not be tolerated in Brooklyn and this defendant has now been held accountable for taking a young man’s life.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Jonathan Mansilla, 26, of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. He was convicted yesterday of second-degree murder following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent DelGuidice. The defendant will be sentenced on November 7, 2016 at which time he faces 25 years to life in prison.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on June 27, 2014, at approximately 2:20 a.m., the defendant engaged the victim, Alberto Munive-Torres, 27, in a physical altercation at the intersection of Brighton 5th Street and Brighton Beach Avenue. The victim then rode away on his bicycle in an effort to remove himself from the defendant. The defendant chased the victim on foot and retrieved a knife from his waistband before reaching around the victim, from behind, and stabbing him once in the chest.

The victim eventually collapsed, falling from his bicycle to the ground. The defendant then proceeded to kick the victim repeatedly about the head and face. Surveillance footage from surrounding buildings captured the incident.

The defendant was apprehended a few blocks away approximately 20 minutes later and found with blood stains on his shirt. The blood on the defendant’s shirt was later determined to be Munive-Torres’, according to trial testimony. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York determined the victim’s cause of death to be a single stab wound of the right chest.

The case was investigated by Detective Mitchell Eisenberg of the New York City Police Department’s 60th Precinct and Detective James McCafferty of the Brooklyn South Homicide Squad.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Olatokunbo Olaniyan of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Akosua Goode of the District Attorney’s School Advocacy Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Taub, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 21, 2016

 

Brooklyn Man Charged with Murder in Death of Williamsburg Landlord
During Botched Robbery and Kidnapping

Additionally, a Second Defendant Is Charged with Hindering Prosecution

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, today announced that a 38-year-old Brooklyn man has been charged for his participation in the kidnapping and murder of Williamsburg landlord Menachem Stark in January 2014.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant is alleged to be the mastermind whose plot to kidnap Menachem Stark and extort money from him ended with his death. This long-term, complex investigation leading to the arrest of this defendant and his co-defendant is testament to the commitment of this office and the New York City Police Department to get justice for the Stark family.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Erskin Felix, 38, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He is presently awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court on a criminal complaint in which he is charged with first-degree kidnapping and second-degree murder. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. Also charged in connection with the case is the defendant’s brother, Kendall Felix, 28, of Crown Heights. He is awaiting arraignment on a complaint in which he is charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, Stark was approached and accosted on the street by Erskin Felix and his cousin, Kendel Felix, as he left his office located at 331 Rutledge Street, in Williamsburg, on January 2, 2014 at approximately 11:30 p.m. After an extended physical struggle with those individuals, Stark was forced into a waiting vehicle and abducted from the location.

On January 3, 2014 at approximately 4 p.m., approximately 17 hours after the kidnapping, Stark’s body, which had been partially burned, was discovered by a Nassau County police officer in a garbage dumpster at a gas station located in Great Neck, Long Island.

According to the investigation, Erskin Felix knew Stark and did construction work for him. He allegedly enlisted his cousin, Kendel Felix, to help kidnap Stark in an effort to extort money from him. During the course of the kidnapping, however, Stark resisted and was asphyxiated when one of the kidnappers sat on his chest.

It is further alleged that Kendel and Erskin then picked up his brother, Kendall, to enlist his aid in getting rid of the body. They drove to Rutledge Street, but when Erskin got out of the vehicle, he saw the area was flooded with police. He then directed Kendel and Kendall to go elsewhere to dispose of the body. They then drove out to Nassau County, threw the body in a dumpster and set it on fire.

The Nassau County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Stark and determined the cause of death to be asphyxia by compression of the neck and chest.

Kendel Felix was convicted of first-degree kidnapping and second-degree murder last month following a jury trial. He was arrested in May 2014. He is expected to be sentenced on November 2, 2016. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Detective Christopher Scarry of the 90th Precinct Detective Squad, under the supervision of Lieutenant Seamus Doherty, and Detective Matthew Collins (retired) and Detective Albert Brust of the Brooklyn North Homicide Squad, under the supervision of Lieutenant John Tennant.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Howard Jackson and Senior Assistant District Attorney Emily Dean, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Kenneth Taub, Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and by Assistant District Attorney Christopher Blank, a Bureau Chief, in the District Attorney’s Investigations Division,

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A criminal complaint is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 21, 2016

 

Nineteen Defendants Charged in Three Indictments with
Gun Trafficking, Bank Larceny and Weapons Possession

Separate Indictments Stem from Long-Term Investigation that Exposed Multiple Criminal Schemes; Defendants Reside in New York, South Carolina, Connecticut and Elsewhere

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, today announced that 19 defendants have been variously charged in three separate indictments for allegedly selling 40 trafficked firearms, attempting to steal about $60,000 from bank accounts and possessing two illegal guns. The charges all stem from a long-term investigation that relied on electronic surveillance and revealed interconnected schemes and alliances between alleged gang members and their associates.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These indictments are a testament of our resolve to continue going after firearm traffickers, who endanger the safety of our communities for profit, and gang members, who often fund their crimes through larceny and fraud. Gun runners and those who aid them should be on notice that they are not safe from prosecution just because they live out of state – we will arrest them and bring them to Brooklyn to face justice.”

Commissioner O’Neill said, “At the heart of this long-term investigation is the trafficking of illegal firearms from South Carolina to New York City. Those guns—40 of them—would be on our streets if not for the hard work of investigators. I want to thank our law enforcement partners who continue to be focused, with us, on keeping this city safe and whose work led to these 19 arrests.”

The Acting District Attorney said that three defendants have been variously charged in a 140-count indictment with first- and second-degree criminal sale of a firearm, fourth-degree conspiracy and related counts; 15 defendants have been variously charged in a 63-count indictment with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, second-degree attempted grand larceny, third-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree conspiracy and related counts; and four defendants have been variously charged in a 10-count indictment with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree conspiracy and related counts. (Three of the defendants are named in two indictments; see defendant addendum). Fifteen defendants have been arraigned over the past week before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. Four defendants, who reside in Connecticut and Nassau County, are in custody in those jurisdictions and will be arraigned at a later date.

The initial target of the investigation was Colin (“Rum”) Toney, 27, of South Carolina. Between June 2015 and September 2016, on 19 occasions, Toney allegedly sold a total of 40 guns that were purchased in his home state to an undercover NYPD detective in Brooklyn and Manhattan, according to the indictment. On seven of these occasions, the defendant was accompanied by his girlfriend, Dedra Shantel Wheeler, 21, of South Carolina, who, at times, allegedly conducted the transactions with the undercover. On four occasions, Toney was joined by Donte Smith, 25, also of South Carolina. Toney and Wheeler face up to 25 years in prison and Smith faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top counts with which they are charged.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned of Toney’s past affiliation with a set of the Bloods gang based in New York City and started to monitor communications of two alleged gang leaders: Alixe (“Kash)” Charlot, 41, of Canarsie, Brooklyn, and Richard (“Gurilla”) Michel, 36, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. Through them, the investigation exposed an alleged larceny operation run by Julius (“Juju”) Salazar, 26, of Far Rockaway, Queens.

As part of the charged scheme, according to the evidence, between May and September of 2016, Salazar enlisted co-conspirators who paid individuals to open bank accounts or provide information about existing accounts. The account holders handed over all personal information associated with their accounts, including dates of birth, Social Security numbers and banking credentials. Salazar then allegedly arranged for either the deposit of fraudulent checks or the completion of fraudulent wire transfers into the accounts. The account holders were then instructed to quickly withdraw the funds (before the banks could discover the bogus transactions) and the co-conspirators split the proceeds.

The investigation found that the larceny operation used accounts at Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Capital One and TD Bank in four states: New York, Connecticut, Maryland and Georgia. The defendants allegedly tried to steal approximately $60,000 from the banks and succeeded in withdrawing at least $37,000. The defendants charged in this indictment face up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count with which they are charged.

In the course of the investigation, intercepted communications indicated that unidentified individuals contacted Charlot and Michel on two occasions for the purpose of obtaining firearms from them. The investigative team intervened both times and prevented the weapons from reaching the streets of Brooklyn, according to the indictment.

On June 28, 2016, Michel called Titus (“LS”) Haynes, 34, and Shyla (“Chyna”) Negron, 34, and told them that he needed to secure a gun that they had, so that Michel could deliver the gun to Charlot. The next day, Charlot drove to Harlem to meet Michel and pick up the gun. Around the same time, a vehicle containing Michel, Haynes, and Negron was stopped, and the loaded .380 caliber pistol was recovered from the vehicle. On August 9, 2016, Charlot texted Michel, telling him he needed to pick up a firearm referred to as “Becky.” On August 11, 2016, Charlot drove to Michel’s location in Flatbush to pick up the gun. Michel brought the loaded gun from an apartment in Flatbush to Charlot, whose vehicle was stopped a short time later. A loaded .357 caliber revolver was recovered from the car Charlot was driving. All four defendants face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count with which they are charged in this indictment.

The case was investigated by Detective Brian McSweeney, with the assistance of Detective Frank Kolanovic of the New York City Police Department’s Firearms Investigations Unit, under the supervision of Sergeant Donald Morgan, Sergeant Alex Lago, Lieutenant Michael Jennings, Captain Jonathan Korabel, Deputy Inspector Brian Gill and Captain Jonathan Korabel, Commanding Officer of Firearms Investigation Unit, and the overall supervision of Inspector Richard Green and Assistant Chief James Essig of the Gun Violence Suppression Division.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Owen Sucoff of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney James Slattery, also of VCE, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Tara Lenich, Deputy Chief for Special Investigations, and Assistant District Attorney Nicole Chavis, VCE Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney William E. Schaeffer, Chief of Investigations and Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief.

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

 

Defendant Addendum

Indictment One: Firearms Trafficking 

1. Colin (“Rum”) Toney, 27, of Lamar, SC
2. Dedra Shantel Wheeler, 21, of Hartsville, SC
3. Donte Smith, 25, of Myrtle Beach, SC

Indictment Two: Larceny Operation 

1. Julius (“Juju”) Salazar, 26, of Far Rockaway, Queens
2. Alixe (“Kash”) Charlot, 41, of Canarsie, Brooklyn
3. Isaiah (“Alpha”) South, 21, of West Haven, CT
4. Ricardo (“Los”) Brown, 27, of Jamaica, Queens
5. Titus (“LS”) Haynes, 34, of Bushwick, Brooklyn
6. Dylan (“Banger”) Cruz, 25, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
7. Adrea (“Asia”) Charlot, 41, of Canarsie, Brooklyn
8. Jesse Franco, 34, of the Lower East Side, Manhattan
9. Shyla (“Chyna”) Negron, 34, of Harlem, Manhattan
10. Jazmin Tillman, 23, of Atlanta, GA
11. Melinda Goldstone, 24, of Bridgeport, CT
12. Jannie Glenn, 24, of West Haven, CT
13. Mecca Forrest, 23, of Central Islip, NY
14. Claudia Sirca, 25, of Staten Island, NY
15. Yashira Santos, 33, of the East Village, Manhattan

Indictment Three: Weapons Possession 

1. Richard (“Gurrila”) Michel, 36, of Flatbush, Brooklyn
2. Alixe (“Kash”) Charlot, 41, of Canarsie, Brooklyn
3. Shyla (“Chyna”) Negron, 34, of Harlem, Manhattan
4. Titus (“LS”) Haynes, 34, of Bushwick, Brooklyn