About Ernest Johnson

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 9, 2016

 

Brooklyn Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Fatally Shooting Rival in the Head

Captured on High Definition Video Surveillance; Will Be Sentenced to 20 Years to Life

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a 24-year-old Brooklyn man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for fatally shooting a man in Flatbush, Brooklyn, killing him. The defendant will be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison as a result of the plea.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This defendant was caught on tape shooting and killing another man in broad daylight.  He will now go to prison for a long time because we will not allow gang members like this to commit senseless violence on our streets.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Avon Simmons, 24, of 2505 Bedford Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn. He pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Martin Murphy, who indicated he will sentence the defendant to 20 years to life in prison on March 2, 2016.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on August 13, 2014 at 8:30 a.m., the defendant fired multiple shots at Prinso Ulysse, 26, who was standing outside of 2149 Cortelyou Road in Flatbush, Brooklyn. A bullet struck the side of the victim’s head and he suffered extensive hemorrhaging and swelling to the brain. He died in Kings County Hospital on September 3, 2014.

The shooting was captured on high definition surveillance video that clearly showed the defendant stepping into the roadway, firing a gun at the victim, who was on the sidewalk, and then walking away. The defendant is a member of the G-Stone Crips gang and likely targeted the victim in retaliation for a past incident in which the defendant’s brother was shot.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick O’Connor of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Nicole Chavis, Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney William E. Schaeffer, Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 8, 2016

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Robbing Two Subway Riders after Attacking Them with a Hammer

Defendant Struck Victims From Behind and Took Their Cash

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a 30-year-old Brooklyn man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for two separate robberies of subway commuters. In each incident, the defendant approached from behind, struck the victim’s head with a hammer as the victim purchased a MetroCard, demanded money and fled the scene.

District Attorney Thompson said, “In order for our city to be a place of law and order, people must be able to enter our subways without fear of being violently attacked.  This defendant caused such fear by ambushing subway riders from behind, smashing them over their heads with a hammer and running off with their money.  Without question, he now deserves to spend many years locked up in prison due to the extremely violent nature of his attacks.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Anthony Coward, 30, of 159 Hull Street, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice to 12 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision following a guilty plea on January 25, 2016 to two counts of first-degree robbery, which represent the top counts of the indictment.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, both incidents took place inside the Rockaway Avenue subway station, which serves the A and C subway lines and is located at the corner of Rockaway Avenue and Fulton Street in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

On May 4, 2014, at approximately 11 a.m., Cory Healy was purchasing a MetroCard from a vending machine when he was approached from behind and hit on the side of the head with a hammer by the defendant. The victim fell to the ground and the defendant demanded his property and continued to strike him with the hammer. The defendant then fled with the victim’s wallet, MetroCard, debit card and $58 in cash.

On May 7, 2014, at approximately 9:20 a.m., Brijanand Rishianand was purchasing a MetroCard when he was hit in the side of the head with a hammer by the defendant. The victim, bleeding, gave the defendant $140 and the defendant fled.

Both victims suffered pain, bruising and swelling to the head. The first victim also suffered bruising to the arm, while the second also suffered a concussion.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kori Medow, of the District Attorney’s Trial Bureau, Orange Zone, under the supervision of Janet Gleeson, Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 5, 2016

 

Brooklyn Gang Member Sentenced to 20 Years to Life in Prison for
Killing 13-Year-Old Boy in Brownsville Shooting

Fired Three Times at Group on Street Corner, Bragged about it in Prison Calls

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a 21-year-old Brooklyn man was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for killing a 13-year-old boy when he opened fire at a group of people on a Brownsville street corner in 2012.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This violent gang member senselessly murdered a 13-year old boy because he simply has no regard for human life – and even laughed about how he shot and killed that young child.  He will now spend many years behind bars, where one day he may come to truly regret the innocent life that he took.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Akbar Johns, 21, of 500 Thatford Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Neil Firetog to 20 years to life in prison following his conviction on January 20, 2016 on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon after a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on August 24, 2012 at 12:30 a.m., the defendant fired a .38-caliber revolver three times, killing Ronald Wallace Jr., 13, who was standing with a group of young people at the corner of Tapscott Street and Blake Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

The victim’s older brother and another eyewitness testified that they saw the defendant approach. He said, “What’s crackin?” then fired a gun at the group and tossed the weapon into bushes, according to testimony.

The defendant, a member of the Bully Crip set, was arrested on September 2, 2012 in Cumberland, Maryland, and subsequently gave oral and written statements admitting to committing the shooting. He later bragged about his involvement in recorded conversations from Rikers Island, the evidence showed.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Yaniris Urraca of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patrick O’Connor and Assistant District Attorney Nicole Chavis, Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney William E. Schaeffer, Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 3, 2016

 

Fake Lawyer Who Falsely Claimed Brooklyn Bar Association as his Office
Pleads Guilty in Connection with Offering Bogus Immigration Services for a Fee

Faces 2 to 4 Years in State Prison at Sentencing

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson announced today that a Sunset Park man has pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree grand larceny and one count of first-degree immigrant assistance services fraud for posing as an attorney and charging thousands of dollars for immigration services which he failed to deliver.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This fake lawyer targeted and preyed on immigrants in need and who went to him for help. In Brooklyn, we must protect our immigrant communities from such con artists, and today’s conviction shows our commitment to do so.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Howard Seidler, 70, of 336 51st Street, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Seidler today pleaded guilty before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to third-degree grand larceny and first-degree immigrant assistance services fraud. The last felony count went into effect in February 2015 and today’s guilty plea marks the first conviction since it was enacted. Seidler is expected to be sentenced to an indeterminate term of two to four years in prison on the grand larceny count and one-and-a-half to three years on the immigrant assistance services fraud count, to run concurrently.

Between November 2014 and May 2015, the defendant posted advertisements in Sunset Park, identifying himself as an attorney who provides immigration services. The ads and his business card included the titles “Esq.,” PhD” and “J.D.”

A detective investigator from the District Attorney’s Office, working undercover, met with Seidler in the library of the Brooklyn Bar Association at 123 Remsen Street in Downtown Brooklyn, which he claimed to be his office. On April 8, 2015, the detective paid Seidler $3,085 to act as his attorney and help him obtain a green card and a Social Security card. The undercover was then provided with a written retainer contract.

The District Attorney said that on April 24, 2015, the undercover had another meeting with Seidler, who gave him a Social Security card and immigration paperwork purportedly filed on his behalf with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. The investigation found that the Social Security card was forged, that the Social Security number did not belong to the name used by the detective and that no application was filed on his behalf with United States immigration authorities.

The investigation also revealed that the defendant is neither licensed nor registered to practice law in New York and that he is not licensed or accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals to provide any services with immigration authorities.

The District Attorney thanked Special Agent Matthew Macchiaroli of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) New York and Neisha Samaroo, a Special Agent with the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, who assisted in the investigation.

The case was supervised by Detective Investigator Rommie Woolcock, under the supervision of Supervising Detective Investigator Thomas Farley and the overall supervision of Richard Bellucci, Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jose Interiano, of the District Attorney’s Immigrant Fraud Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Chief of the Immigrant Fraud Unit, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney William E. Schaeffer, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 3, 2016

 

Eighteen Alleged Members of Violent Folk Nation Street Gang
Indicted for Terrorizing and Shooting Up the Streets of Brooklyn
During Hunting Expeditions

Defendants Allegedly Plotted to Shoot and Murder Rivals in Canarsie, Flatbush and DUMBO,
Killing one rival, paralyzing an innocent woman and shooting many others;
Planned and Shared Their Exploits on Social Media

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, together with New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton and Mayor Bill de Blasio, today announced that 18 alleged members of No Love City, a subset of the violent Folk Nation street gang, have been variously charged in a 76-count indictment with conspiracy to commit murder, weapons possession and other charges for multiple shootings throughout Brooklyn, including one that left a 25-year-old man dead and another that left a 60-year-old innocent woman paralyzed.

District Attorney Thompson said, “We must never allow violent street gangs to take over and terrorize our communities by going on hunting expeditions and roaming our streets shooting and killing people at will. This indictment makes clear that we will not cede our streets to armed criminals but will do everything in our power to keep our streets safe for all.”

Commissioner Bratton said, “These defendants are not just crew members but part of a criminal enterprise that has been responsible for a significant amount of the violence which has plagued the Flatbush and Canarsie sections of Brooklyn over the last two years. I commend the investigators and prosecutors who developed a substantial case against this group.”

Mayor de Blasio said, “The Gun Violence Suppression Division is using state-of-the-art policing to successfully investigate, arrest and prosecute violent criminals who attempt to wreak havoc on our city’s streets. I want to thank Commissioner Bratton, District Attorney Ken Thompson and the brave NYPD members who worked tirelessly together to secure these charges and keep our streets safe. NYPD will continue to quickly apprehend anyone responsible for gun violence in our city – and take every step to make sure they remain off our streets.”

The District Attorney said that 15 of the defendants were arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Martin P. Murphy and Justice Miriam Cyrulnik last week and this week and ordered held without bail. Another defendant is awaiting extradition from New Jersey and two others are being sought. The defendants who were arraigned were ordered to return to court on March 22, 2016. They face various penalties ranging from 25 years to life for second-degree murder and up to 25 years for second-degree attempted murder. All of the defendants are charged with second-degree conspiracy for which they face up to 25 years. (See defendant addendum).

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendants, whose ages range from 18 to 27 years old, are members of No Love City (NLC), a subset of Folk Nation, and operate primarily within the confines of the 63rd, 67th, 69th and 70th precincts, mostly in the vicinity of Flatbush Avenue, Newkirk Avenue and Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn. During the course of the conspiracy the defendants variously allegedly agreed to commit crimes, including murder and assault, in order to maintain their dominance over that geographic area, particularly Flatbush.

Furthermore, the defendants also allegedly directed their acts of violence toward rival gang members living in and around Canarsie, Brooklyn, including members of the Crips subsets 100 Cloccs and GS9, as well as HQ Monopoly and the 1090s, in retaliation for the murder of NLC member Malik Bhola, 17, aka, Reckless, on January 1, 2014, in Bushwick. Bhola was shot in the chest following a fight over a girl at a party he had attended. Before he was shot he sent out a call for help – noting that there were “opps” in the area, referring to opposition members of gangs from Canarsie, also known as the “Flossy” in gang parlance.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, following the murder of Bhola, members of NLC, including some of the defendants, would go “riding out” in Canarsie, by which they meant going on hunting expeditions in vehicles and shooting individuals they suspected of being 100 Cloccs or HQ Monopoly, or merely being from the “Flossy.”

During the escalating violence, it is alleged, NLC members frequently discussed their intentions and efforts to engage in additional attacks and took credit for past attacks using social media. The violent attacks on their Canarsie rivals escalated further following the October 14, 2015, murder of NLC member Richard James, aka, “Money Bags.” James was shot to death outside the Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California.
It is alleged that during the conspiracy charged in the indictment, which is from September 27, 2013 until January 25, 2016, to further the criminal activities of the gang, NLC members committed various other crimes including selling prison contraband and robberies. They also communicated their intentions on social media, including Facebook, and during inmate calls made from Rikers Island, including ordering acts of retribution such as beatings and shootings of members of rival gangs. Many of the phone calls were allegedly made by or with Kwyme Waddell, aka, “K,” who is considered the “Big Homie,” or leader of NLC.

Among the acts of violence charged in the indictment are the following:

• On February 9, 2014, it is alleged, defendant Christian Williams shot and injured a rival on a commercial street, an instance of NLC members engaging in a “riding out” hunting expedition in Canarsie.
• On May 24, 2014, defendant Jerome Myrie fired from his vehicle at two individuals in another car whom he believed were rival gang members. The targets, who were on a residential street in Canarsie, attempted to flee in reverse. The victims’ car was shot up and at least one stray bullet went through the window of a home of an individual having nothing to do with the gang rivalry. No injuries were reported.
• On May 26, 2014, after Jerome Myrie allegedly discussed a plan to shoot up a party in Canarsie on Facebook, three individuals were shot and received non-fatal injuries while in the vicinity of a barbecue in Canarsie on Memorial Day. Myrie then took credit for the shooting on Facebook.
• On May 30, 2014, defendant Kenny Dorcean exchanged gunfire with a rival gang member in Flatbush, then a few minutes later Dorcean opened fire again, striking 60-year-old Deleta Crawford, who was grocery shopping on Flatbush Avenue. The shooting left her paralyzed from the waist down.
• On June 17, 2014, Jerome Myrie and Deleon Hutchinson, again “riding out” in the “Flossy,” shot a rival gang member from a car, then got out and shot him several more times.
• On November 12, 2014, after using a young woman as bait to set up a meeting on Facebook with a rival gang member, defendants (and brothers) Tyreek Hayes and Shaquille Hayes plotted to trap and execute him on the street in Canarsie. Instead of a date, the victim received a gunshot wound to the face that left him with a broken jaw.
• On April 17, 2015, defendant Oshane Fyffe shot and injured a rival gang member on Bedford Avenue, in Flatbush.
• On May 14, 2015, defendants Tyreek and Shaquille Hayes were arrested after a search warrant executed at their home led to the recovery of a handgun, which subsequently proved to have Tyreek’s DNA on it.
• On July 13, 2015, defendant Corey Roberts entered a courtyard at 866 Coney Island Avenue filled with people, including children playing on scooters, and opened fire, striking two innocent bystanders and narrowly missing two others. Before firing, Roberts allegedly declared his presence by announcing: “I’m Fresh, Corey is my name, from Ditmas, Newkirk.”
• On July 15, 2015, defendant Oshane Fyffe shot and killed an individual, Adetunji Ajakaye, believed to be a rival gang member from Rugby Road a day after defendants Fremont and Dorcean were overheard discussing a growing dispute with the gang on Rugby Road and declaring that Oshane must take care of that.
• On October 18, 2015, following the shooting death of Richard James in California defendants Javanni Moise, Jean Fremont, Jarmel Blake and others drove down to the DUMBO section of Brooklyn and engaged in a gun battle with rival gang members. After the gun battle, a black Cadillac was seen fleeing at a high rate of speed through Carroll Gardens. It was abandoned by Prospect Park and found to have multiple bullet holes, as well as Fremont’s fingerprints and Moise’s blood. Two weapons were discarded en route: a Glock 26 9mm had Moise’s DNA and matched shell casings at DUMBO and in the car; a Smith & Wesson 9mm matched Moise’s fingerprint on the magazine. Moise, whose DNA appeared in the Cadillac, was taken to Kings County Medical Center.
• On December 30, 2015, Rahim Vincent was observed using his phone to access Facebook, while driving, and instead of submitting to a vehicle stop, led officers on a brief high speed chase that ended in a three-car accident. Vincent and his passenger fled, leaving behind a pistol with a 30-round clip, containing 19 bullets, under the passenger seat.

The investigation was conducted by New York City Police Department Detective Kevin Muirhead, under the supervision of Sergeant Edward Deighan and Lieutenant Richard Zacarese of the Gun Violence Suppression Division.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Jane C. Kim of the District Attorney’s Crime Strategies Unit, assisted in the investigation under the supervision of Edward J. Carroll, Chief, and the overall supervision of Senior Executive Assistant District Attorney Mark E. Feldman, Crime Strategies and Investigations. Assistant District Attorney Lisa Berk, formerly of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, also assisted in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan R. Sennett, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Nicole Chavis, Bureau 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.

An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

DEFENDANT ADDENDUM:
1. Alfaro-Barber, Paolo, dob: 7-28-91, Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
2. Blake, Jarmel, dob: 1-30-92, St. Marks Place, Brooklyn. Being sought by police.
3. Dorcean, Kenny, dob: 12-26-91, Rogers Avenue, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
4. Fraser, Jaquan, dob: 10-23-97, Sheffield Avenue, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
5. Fremont, Jean, dob: 6-25-91, East 25th Street, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
6. Fyffe, Oshane, dob: 11-4-96, East 21st Street, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
7. Hayes, Shaquille, dob: 7-30-96, Christopher Avenue, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
8. Hayes, Tyreek, dob: 1-4-89, Christopher Avenue, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
9. Hutchinson, Deleon, dob: 11-10-95, Hook Creek Boulevard, Valley Stream, N.Y. Bail status: remanded.
10. Julien, Marvin, dob:12-12-92, Rogers Avenue, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
11. Marcellus, Denzel, dob: 5-18-95, Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
12. Moise, Javanni, dob: 3-24-94, East 25th Street, Brooklyn. Awaiting extradition from Essex County, New Jersey.
13. Myrie, Jerome, dob: unknown, East 104th Street, Brooklyn. Being sought by police.
14. Roberts, Corey, dob: 5-22-92, Newkirk Avenue, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
15. Simonise, Dave, dob: 12-25-95, East 84th Street, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
16. Vincent, Rahim, dob: 2-16-95, 286 East 45th Street, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
17. Waddell, Kwyme, dob: 12-25-91, East 25th Street, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.
18. Williams, Christian, dob: 7-7-95, East 21st Street, Brooklyn. Bail status: remanded.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 1, 2016

 

Teen Gunman Convicted of Murder for Shooting Innocent Man On Crowded Bus in Bedford-Stuyvesant During Rush Hour

Victim Shot in Head and Killed by Gang Member

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a Bedford-Stuyvesant teenager has been convicted of second-degree murder for pulling out a .357 Magnum revolver on a crowded city bus during rush hour and shooting an innocent 39-year-old man in the back of the head, killing him. The defendant opened fire on three rival gang members who were also on the bus.

District Attorney Thompson said, “Angel Rojas was an innocent and hardworking man who came to our country to pursue the American Dream. All of that was tragically and brutally taken away from him in an instant by a teenager caught up in the gang culture and the random and senseless gun violence that it spawns. Hopefully, this conviction will bring his shattered family some solace.”

​The District Attorney identified the defendant as Kahton Anderson, 15, of 660 Gates Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The defendant was today convicted of one count of second-degree murder, one count of second-degree attempted murder, one count of first-degree attempted assault, one count of first-degree reckless endangerment and one count of first-degree criminal use of a firearm following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo. The judge set sentencing for February 18, 2016, at which time the defendant, as a juvenile offender, faces up to 15 years to life in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on the afternoon of March 20, 2014, Anderson – a Stack Money Goons gang member – was on a southbound B15 bus when three members of the rival Twan Family gang boarded. Anderson, who was 14-years-old at the time, pulled out a .357 revolver from his backpack and opened fire.

Angel Rojas, 39, who was married and the father of an 8-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son, was sitting in a forward facing seat on the bus, talking on a cell phone. He was struck in the back of the head. After shooting Mr. Rojas, the defendant ran off the bus after his rivals and continued to shoot, emptying his gun. Mr. Rojas was pronounced dead shortly thereafter at Woodhull Hospital.

Anderson was convicted of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment at an earlier trial last year and is awaiting sentencing on that conviction.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicole Chavis, Chief of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Iris Das, of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney William E. Schaeffer, Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 1, 2016

 

Bookkeeper Indicted For Stealing Approximately $755,000
From Brooklyn Property Management Company

Allegedly Used Funds to Pay for Investment Properties in Syracuse

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced a 34-count indictment charging a former employee with stealing almost $755,000 from a family-owned company that managed residential buildings in Brooklyn.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This defendant allegedly used her employer here in Brooklyn as a personal piggy bank by stealing a staggering amount of money from several company bank accounts and then investing the stolen money into her own properties upstate.  She will now be held accountable for this elaborate scheme to defraud.”

The District Attorney said that the defendant, Jennifer De Coteau Ulanov, 44, of Syracuse, New York (formerly of Brighton Beach) 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, 21 counts of second-degree forgery and 12 counts of first-degree falsifying business records. She was ordered held on bail of $750,000 bond or $250,000 cash and to return to court on March 30, 2016.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, Ulanov was the sole employee of Guardian Property Management, a property management company based in Park Slope and owned by husband and wife partners. Guardian managed small to mid-size rentals, cooperatives and condominiums located in Park Slope, Williamsburg, Sunset Park and other Brooklyn neighborhoods. Its duties included maintaining clients’ funds, collecting rents, common charges and maintenance fees, hiring and paying contractors, and managing the purchase and sale of condominium units and cooperative apartments.

Guardian maintained separate accounts at Citibank for each of its clients, and a master account into which Guardian’s fees were deposited and from which it paid its operating costs, including rent, payroll and office supplies. Only the owners were authorized to sign checks from all of the accounts.

Furthermore, according to the indictment, Ulanov’s duties included opening mail, making bank deposits, preparing checks to pay contractors and vendors on behalf of clients, downloading Guardian’s clients’ bank statements and making entries into Guardian’s QuickBooks software.

It is alleged that between January 3, 2010 and December 31, 2014, Ulanov stole over $755,000 from Guardian in a number of ways, including:

• Depositing checks for rent, maintenance and common charges into her personal accounts instead of into client accounts by forging the clients’ signatures for endorsement.
• Forging the signature of her employers on scores of Guardian client accounts and depositing the forged checks into her personal account, then covering up the shortfalls by doctoring the Citibank statements to include false entries and false calculations.
• Forging her employers’ signatures on checks from the Guardian master account and making them payable to herself, as well as diverting client fees that should have been deposited into the Guardian master account into her accounts, as well as diverting client fees from the master account into her personal accounts.
• Illegally obtaining unrestricted access to Guardian’s accounts which allowed her to alter the monthly statements for Guardian client accounts so they appeared to have balances in excess of their true balances.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, among other things, the defendant used the money to pay down mortgages on and to maintain six investment properties in Syracuse, New York.

The case was investigated by Brooklyn District Attorney Supervising Financial Investigator Deborah Wey. It was additionally investigated by Detective Investigator Andrew Choi of the District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau, under the supervision of Supervising Detective Investigator Michael Seminara, Deputy Chief Edwin Murphy and the overall supervision of Chief Richard Bellucci.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dana Roth, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Felice Sontupe, Bureau 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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           An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 28, 2016

 

Brooklyn Man Convicted of Killing 79-Year-Old  Bystander
Outside Bedford-Stuyvesant Barbershop

Fired Gun at Two Rivals and Struck Innocent Man

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a 22-year-old Brooklyn man has been convicted of second-degree murder for a 2011 shooting that left an innocent bystander, age 79, dead of a gunshot wound to the neck.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This is another tragic example of the devastation gang violence wreaks in our communities. An innocent elderly man who did nothing wrong is dead because this defendant showed utter disregard for human life. We will now move to put this defendant away for a long time.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Breeze King, 22, of 465 Lexington Avenue in Bedford-Stuvesant, Brooklyn. He was convicted today of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Guy Mangano. The defendant will be sentenced on February 26, 2016 at which time he faces a maximum sentence of 40 years to life in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on September 28, 2011, the defendant, who is a gang member, encountered two rivals on the street and opened fire on them. One of the targets ran into a barbershop at 358 Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Andrew Burke, 79, who was standing in front of the barbershop, was struck in the neck and died from the gunshot wound.

A witness who came forward about a year after the incident identified the defendant as the shooter, according to the investigation. Another witness testified that the defendant admitted his role to him when they were both jailed in Rikers Island.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Leila Rosini and Adam Uris of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Nicole Chavis, Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney William E. Schaeffer, Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 25, 2016

 

Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Fatally Choking Brooklyn Woman, Disposing of Her Body

Cut off Victim’s Fingertips, Placed Body in Laundry Bag and Dumped it in Canarsie Pier

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a 35-year-old Bronx man has pleaded guilty to murder and grand larceny for choking a Brooklyn woman to death. The defendant then cut off the victim’s fingertips, threw the body off of the Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn and used the victim’s banking cards to withdraw cash and make purchases in stores and fast food restaurants. He faces a prison sentence of 18 years to life as part of the plea.

District Attorney Thompson said, “By sadistically killing, cutting up and dumping the victim’s body in the water, this defendant showed absolutely no mercy towards the victim. With his guilty plea, we will now show no mercy towards him and seek a long prison sentence for this ruthless and cold-blooded killer.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Charles Wright, 35, of 1627 Fulton Avenue in the Bronx. He pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder and two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Gary, who indicated he will sentence the defendant to 18 years to life in prison. The defendant will be sentenced on February 10, 2016.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 25, 2014, the defendant got into an argument with Shaniqua Davis, 32, inside an apartment at 775 Blake Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn. He strangled the victim, used a knife to cut off her fingertips, tied her hands and feet, stuffed the body inside a large brown laundry bag, put her in the back of her car, drove her to the Canarsie Pier and threw her in the water. The body was found on a tidal island in Jamaica Bay inside the laundry bag on August 4, 2014.

The evidence showed that after killing the victim, the defendant used her ATM card to withdraw $141.50 from a grocery store across the street from her home. He also used her credit card to make purchases at a gas station, a Family Dollar store and Wendy’s and Burger King restaurants.

The defendant’s girlfriend Tamanika Evens, 39, who helped him dispose of the body, pleaded guilty to first-degree hindering prosecution and fourth-degree grand larceny on December 3, 2015, and is expected to be sentenced to two to six years in prison.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sara Kurtzberg, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Taub, Chief.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 20, 2016

 

Brooklyn Gang Member Convicted of Killing
13-Year-Old Boy in Brownsville Shooting

Fired Three Times at Group in Street Corner

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a 21-year-old Brooklyn man has been convicted of second-degree murder for a fatal shooting in Brownsville, Brooklyn that killed a 13-year-old boy in 2012.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This defendant callously murdered a young boy and then bragged about it. Today’s conviction ensures that he will spend many years in prison and be kept off of our streets.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Akbar Johns, 21, of 500 Thatford Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was convicted today of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Neil Firetog. The defendant will be sentenced on February 5, 2016 at which time he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on August 24, 2012 at 12:30 a.m., the defendant fired a .38-caliber revolver three times, killing Ronald Wallace Jr., 13, who was standing with a group of young people at the corner of Tapscott Street and Blake Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

The victim’s older brother and another eyewitness testified that they saw the defendant approach. He said, “What’s crackin?” then fired a gun at the group and tossed the weapon into bushes, according to testimony.

The defendant, a member of the Bully Crip set, was arrested on September 2, 2012 in Cumberland, Maryland and subsequently gave oral and written statements, admitting to committing the shooting. He later bragged about his involvement in recorded conversations from Rikers Island, the evidence showed.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Yaniris Urraca and Patrick O’Connor of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Nicole Chavis, Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney William E. Schaeffer, Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

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