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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, November 19, 2024

New York City Employee Indicted for Stealing Approximately $624,000

Defendant Worked as Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner at NYCERS,

Allegedly Stole Pension Checks from Two Retired Individuals

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, today announced that a Brooklyn man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with corrupting the government, grand larceny, identity theft, and offering a false instrument for filing for allegedly stealing $624,000 from two retired New York City employees’ pensions.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant is accused of exploiting his trusted position to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the New York City Employee Retirement System, betraying retirees’ dignity and the public trust. The financial security of more than 350,000 current and former city employees who rely on NYCERS is vital to their well-being and peace of mind. These are our neighbors—people who have dedicated their lives to serving New Yorkers—and we will not tolerate anyone preying on them. By pursuing this prosecution, we are sending a strong message that those who abuse their positions for personal gain will face serious consequences. I want to thank DOI for their thorough investigation and NYCERS for their cooperation in safeguarding the retirement funds of city employees.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “This defendant used his access and knowledge of NYCERS’ systems to illegally divert pension checks from the rightful recipients to himself, bypassing internal controls, as alleged. As a result of vulnerabilities identified during our investigation, DOI will make recommendations to strengthen NYCERS’ systems, including increased oversight of changes to pensioners’ account information.  I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for working with DOI to protect City pensioner funds.”

NYCERS’ Executive Director Melanie Whinnery said, “NYCERS strongly condemns the alleged actions of the employee. Their conduct, if proven true in a court of law, is a breach of trust and does not reflect NYCERS’ values nor our commitment to serving our clients with integrity and excellence. We take the safety and security of our clients’ pension accounts very seriously and we are cooperating fully with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and the NYC Department of Investigation in this matter.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Gregory Mathieu, 40, of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a nine-count indictment in which he is charged with first-degree corrupting the government, two counts of second-degree grand larceny, two counts of first-degree identity theft, and four counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He was released without bail and ordered to return to court on February 5, 2025.

It is alleged that between February 8, 2021 and January 2, 2024, the defendant stole approximately $624,000 from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), where he worked as an Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner.

It is alleged that the defendant reactivated suspended pension payments of a retired Department of Sanitation supervisor who had not been reported as deceased after he died at age 63, stealing retroactive payments of approximately $242,000 and monthly payments between May 2021 and January 2024 of approximately $5,700.

Furthermore, it is alleged, the defendant stole approximately $199,000 from a 75-year-old retired Associated Railroad Signal Specialist employed by the MTA/NYC Transit whose account was suspended because he failed to cash his pension checks. He did not take steps to reactive his account until January 2024, which led to the discovery of the alleged thefts by the defendant.

Mathieu has been employed by NYCERS for approximately 15 years. He is currently suspended with pay.

The case was investigated by DOI Confidential Investigator Farhana Begum with DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for NYCERS and supervised by Assistant Inspector General Shakina Griffith, Assistant Inspector General Jeffrey Freeman, Deputy Inspector General Aleksandro Tilka, Inspector General Ann Petterson, Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives Christopher Ryan and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella.

Kings County Detective Investigators further assisted in the investigation.

The District Attorney thanked NYCERS’ Fraud Unit for their assistance on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Theresa Robitaille, of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

 

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 20 Years to Life
in Prison for Fatally Stabbing Teen in Prospect Park South

Defendant Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in October

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Flatbush man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison following his conviction for killing a teenager in Prospect Park South in 2020. The defendant and the 19-year-old victim were hanging out when the defendant pulled out a knife and fatally stabbed him in the chest.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The life of Mamadou Bah was senselessly cut short at the hands of this defendant whose horrific actions left an entire community devastated. Hopefully, today’s lengthy sentence allows for some closure for the victim’s family and friends as they continue to grieve the young man’s tragic death.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Mamadou Barry, 35, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Tomlinson to 20 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder on October 16, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 18, 2020, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the defendant and the victim, Mamadou Bah, 19, both immigrants from Senegal, were hanging out with friends in front of 591 Ocean Avenue in Prospect Park South. The defendant, who goes by the nickname “Zion,” pulled out a knife and approached the victim, who was backpedaling into the street. The defendant then swung and plunged the knife approximately four inches into the victim’s chest, perforating his left lung and heart.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, the defendant continued to chase the victim who ran to the corner of Ocean and Church Avenues, where he stumbled into a barbershop. Inside, the teen asked employees to call his mother before being rushed to Kings County Hospital. He died during emergency surgery.

Police were subsequently able to identify the defendant through surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, and social media.

The defendant was arrested in Secaucus, New Jersey, on December 1, 2020.

The District Attorney thanked the KCDA Detective Investigators, the Digital Evidence Lab, and Homicide Paralegal Andy Wang for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Gianna Del Grippo, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Daphney Gachette, Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 29, 2024

Former Executive Director of Brooklyn Non-Profit Indicted for
Allegedly Stealing Nearly $100,000 of Funds Meant for Indigent Bail Program

 Led the OKRA Project, Which Aids Black Trans Individuals Across the U.S.;

When Questioned, She Allegedly Provided Fraudulent Bail Receipts 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that the former executive director of a Brooklyn-based non-profit aimed at supporting Black Trans people, has been indicted for grand larceny and falsifying business records for allegedly siphoning money purportedly meant to bail individuals out of jail and used it instead for personal expenses. When asked for proof of payment, the defendant allegedly submitted bail receipts for individuals who had not been arrested at that time.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The theft of nonprofit funds deprives communities of critical resources, erodes public trust, and cheats donors who give in good faith. The defendant in this case allegedly stole bail funds meant to secure pre-trial release of indigent defendants, instead using the money for personal benefit. We will continue to investigate and prosecute all types of fraud to ensure that funds are not misappropriated or stolen.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Dominique Morgan, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment charging her with one count of second-degree grand larceny and 23 counts of first-degree falsifying business records. She was released without bail and ordered to return to court on December 18, 2024. The defendant is facing a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that the defendant served as the Executive Director of the OKRA Project, a Brooklyn-based not-for-profit that provides mutual aid and other resources to the Black Trans community throughout the country. Her annual salary was over $200,000. While not an official program, the defendant, in her role as director, announced that OKRA would start bailing people out of jail, although she allegedly did not take any steps to get the initiative up and running.

It is alleged that between July 14, 2022, and July 27, 2022, the defendant had approximately $99,000 transferred to her personal account in order to purportedly use those funds to pay for bail. Instead, she used the money on a $19,000 California Closet renovation, car payments for a Mercedes Benz, purchases at apparel stores and other expenses including meals.

When asked by OKRA for proof of the payments toward bail, she allegedly submitted purported bail receipts for 23 individuals who were supposedly arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, and Douglas County, Nebraska. An audit by OKRA revealed that those receipts were fraudulent and that no such persons were arrested in those counties at the time.

The District Attorney thanked Supervising Financial Investigator Susan Ryan, of the District Attorney’s Asset Forfeiture and Crimes Against Revenue Bureau, and Intelligence Analyst Yacelys Corona, of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Tamara Edelstein of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Frank Ungerer of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of Investigations.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 22, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for
Killing 48-Year-Old Man at Bedford-Stuyvesant House Party

Victim Was Shot Twice During Attempted Robbery of Dice Game;

Defendant and Co-Defendant Pleaded Guilty to First-Degree Manslaughter

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an Bedford-Stuyvesant man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for fatally shooting a 48-year-old man at a house party in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The defendant and a co-defendant both pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for their role in the killing.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s actions demonstrate the callousness and disregard for life that too often accompanies gun violence, and today’s sentence sends a strong message that those who terrorize our communities will be held fully accountable. My office will continue to pursue justice for every victim and family shattered by senseless acts of gun violence, and we remain steadfast in our resolve to keep Brooklyn safe.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ahmed Morrison, 22, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 18 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on September 4, 2024. A co-defendant, Unique Howell, 20, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, was sentenced to 17 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision by Justice Tully. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on February 23, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 6, 2020, the defendant and co-defendant, who were both armed with handguns, shot Kenneth Mark, 48, inside his home at 32 Pulaski Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The victim was hosting a party for about 15 people who were using a pool table to play dice. The defendant and co-defendant attended the party and left. At approximately 2 a.m., according to the evidence, they returned to the victim’s apartment wearing ski masks and armed with guns. The pair then forced their way into the apartment. They robbed one person of a wallet and proceeded to hold several others at gunpoint while attempting to take money off the pool table. When the victim put up a struggle, two shots were fired. The victim was struck in abdomen and chest. He was taken to Kings County Hospital where he died.

The defendant and co-defendant then fled together in a vehicle belonging to the defendant’s mother. Police located the vehicle a few days later, and the defendant’s name was on a traffic summons inside the car. Police also found the defendant’s fingerprints at the scene.

The defendant was arrested on May 2, 2020.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Suleimy Santos, of the Homicide Bureau, for her assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Mirabella, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Simpson, of the District Attorney’s Special Victim’s Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 22, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison Following
Guilty Plea in Connection with Shooting Near Midwood High School

16-year-old Girl Struck by Stray Bullet

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a broad daylight shooting near a high school in Midwood. A 16-year-old student was struck by a stray bullet on her way home.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s unlawful decision to open fire near a school not only injured an innocent 16-year-old girl but shattered the sense of safety that every student, parent, and community member deserves. No young person should ever have to fear gunfire while walking home from school, and no community should bear the trauma of such senseless violence. Brooklyn recently experienced its safest summer from gun violence on record, and we remain committed to building on that progress. My office will continue to hold violent offenders fully accountable as we work to ensure every neighborhood remains a safe place to live, learn, and grow.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Javan Johnson, 22, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. The defendant was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Joanne Quinones to nine years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted assault on September 5, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on October 6, 2023, at approximately 12 p.m., at East 16th Street and Avenue M, just around the corner from Edward R. Murrow High School, in Midwood, the defendant fired a handgun at a rival across the street. At least 10 shots were fired. The defendant missed his intended target and instead struck a 16-year-old girl in the right ankle as she walked down the street. The defendant then handed the gun off to another individual before fleeing the scene. He was arrested a few hours later.

            The victim was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for substantial bleeding and a fractured foot.

           The case was prosecuted Assistant District Attorney Bianca Kushner, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Michael Boykin and Lana Schlesinger, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 5, 2024

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez Warns Against Smishing Scam

That Uses Official-Looking NYC Website, After Shutting Down 11 Domains

Text Messages Ask Users for Nominal Fee to Settle Outstanding Parking or Toll Balance;

Clicking on Accompanied Link Lets Scammers Harvest Personal and Financial Information

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, today announced that his Virtual Currency Unit shut down 11 internet domains associated with a smishing scam in which people receive a text message regarding a purported unpaid parking ticket balance or toll fee. Clicking on the attached link takes potential victims to an official-looking website, where they’re asked to enter their identifying information, which can then be used for identity theft or sold on the Dark Web.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Swift response by our Virtual Currency Unit allowed us to dismantle 11 domains that were used to scam New Yorkers by using credible-looking websites. People should be very suspicious of any unsolicited text message or email requesting money or personal information, and to never click on link without knowing the sender. Even as we continue to shut down these fraudulent sites, education and prevention remain the best defense.”

Mayor Adams said, “This administration will not sit idly by while bad actors attempt to take advantage of unsuspecting New Yorkers. When we were informed of this scam, we immediately alerted New Yorkers and reminded them that the Department of Finance and NYC City Pay will never require payment from anyone via text message. We remain committed to keeping New Yorkers informed and commend District Attorney Gonzalez for moving quickly to shut down 11 websites involved in this devious text message phishing scam. We will not tolerate these attempts to exploit our community’s trust. As always, we urge New Yorkers to stay vigilant and stay informed, and NYC Cyber Command will continue to partner with the DA’s Office to ensure all New Yorkers are aware of similar campaigns and have all the information needed to protect themselves from identity theft.”

The District Attorney said that this week, his office became aware of this scam after a detective received a text message requesting $2.50 to settle a $25 balance and providing a link. Dozens of complaints describing the same text were additionally received by the Cyber Currency Unit. The operation was identified as a smishing scam, which is a type of phishing scam that uses text messages and websites to solicit users’ personal information, and often starts with an alarming, and legitimate-looking text message.

The investigation revealed that, when users clicked on the link, they were taken to a realistic-looking website, purportedly from “NYC Citypay,” where they were asked for their name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and credit or debit card number. That information could then be sold online and used for identity theft, to open credit cards accounts, and for other illegal activities. Twenty-four hours after initiating an investigation, the DA’s Office identified 11 domains connected to the scam and took them offline pursuant to a court order. The dismantled domains are: nycitypay.com, newyorktollbymail.com, tollsnewyorkbymail.com, tollwebmail518ny.com, nytoll585.com, nyaccounttoll.com, mailny8291.com, nytollbymail.com, nytolls2229.com, nybymail.com, ny1ezpassexpress.com, newyorktollbymail.com.

People who responded to the text and entered their information, should freeze the account they used to pay the small fee, activate a credit card freeze, notify their bank and credit card provider, and closely monitor their finances for a few months to look for unusual activity.

The investigation into this case was handled by Assistant District Attorney Alona Katz, Chief of the Virtual Currency Unit with assistance from Virtual Currency Analyst Sam Weaver and Senior Detective Investigator Gerard Caffrey.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

For Unprovoked Acid Attack in Brooklyn Subway Station

Victim Suffered Serious Burns and Permanent Facial Scarring

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a woman has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a random attack inside a Brooklyn subway station in which she threw sulfuric acid in a stranger’s face, causing serious second- and third-degree burns to the victim as well as significant scarring. The defendant was convicted of assault in May.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentence holds this defendant accountable for a frightening and random attack on an innocent woman. Brooklyn residents deserve to feel safe when taking the subway and those who jeopardize their safety will be held accountable. My heart goes out to the young victim of this attack as she continues to heal from her injuries.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Rodlin Gravesande, 34, formerly of Brownsville, Brooklyn. The defendant was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Joanne Quinones to 12 years in prison. The defendant was convicted of first- and second-degree assault on May 14, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on December 2, 2022, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the victim, a 21-year-old woman, was riding a southbound 2 train to work at Kings County Hospital when the defendant began to yell and threatened to push passengers on the train. The defendant did this for several minutes before turning her attention to the victim.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, when the train arrived at the Winthrop Street Station, in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, the victim exited the train. The defendant followed the victim off the train and onto the platform. The two exchanged words. The victim continued to walk away. The defendant then punched the victim in the head. When the victim walked toward the stairs, the defendant followed her. The defendant then opened a vial of sulfuric acid and threw it in the victim’s face, before fleeing the station.

The acid burned a hole through the victim’s clothing and caused second- and third-degree burns to the left side of her face.

The victim ran out of the subway station and around the corner to Kings County Hospital. She was transferred to the burn unit at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. Since the attack, the victim has received a nose and lip reconstruction as well as multiple skin grafts.

The defendant fled to Atlanta, Georgia. She was extradited back to Brooklyn in January 2023.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Conlon and Assistant District Attorney Bianca Kushner, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Michael Boykin and Lana Schlesinger, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Man Sentenced to 17 Years to Life in Prison for Sexual Assault

Defendant Grabbed the 62-Year-Old Victim as She Walked to Work

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 17 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in Stuyvesant Heights. The victim was walking to work when the defendant grabbed her by the hair, pushed her into an alley and assaulted her.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This horrific and violent attack on an innocent woman shocks the conscience, and the depravity of the crime warrants today’s lengthy prison sentence. We are steadfast in our commitment to seeking justice for all victims of sexual violence and continuing the progress we have made making Brooklyn safer for everyone.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Leroy Hatcher, 44, of Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 17 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted criminal sexual act and first-degree sexual abuse on May 30, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on February 6, 2021, at approximately 5:45 a.m., the victim, who was 62 years old at the time of the attack, was walking to work in the vicinity of 482 Kosciuszko Street, in Stuyvesant Heights, when the defendant approached her, grabbed her by the hair and put his hand over her mouth. She struggled to get away. He told her to be quiet, pushed her toward an alley, and put a knife to her throat.

Furthermore, the District Attorney said, he pushed her toward the ground, grabbed her about the body, removed her pants and underwear, and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint, according to the investigation. He then left the area.

Surveillance video recovered from multiple locations captured the defendant in the area and he was identified by a detective and by his parole officer. A condom recovered from the alley had the defendant’s DNA as well as the victim’s DNA. The defendant was apprehended on February 24, 2021.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez Announces Seizure of 70 Domains

That Targeted the Russian Community in Cryptocurrency Scams

Victims Targeted Through Facebook Ads, Including One Promising Investment

Advice from Elon Musk; More Than 20 Brooklyn Residents Lost Over $1 Million

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that his Virtual Currency Unit successfully disrupted a cryptocurrency scam operation that targeted members of the Russian community. The victims were lured into making what turned out to be bogus investments by responding to Facebook ads about investment opportunities then getting a call from a purported investment advisor, who spoke in Russian and guided them into making cryptocurrency transactions on what were actually bogus websites. The investigation identified over 20 Brooklyn investors who lost over $1 million and additional victims from across the United States who lost an additional $4 million combined. The cluster of 70 linked domains have now been taken offline.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “My office continues to respond to complaints from Brooklyn residents who fall victim to the growing problem of cryptocurrency scams. This particular operation targeted members of the Russian community through Facebook advertising, by speaking their language, gaining their trust, and convincing them into making investments that were ultimately stolen. We have now severely disrupted this long running scam and will continue this work on taking fake investment websites offline to protect the public while raising awareness, so our neighbors can protect themselves.”

The District Attorney said that starting in October 2023, his Virtual Currency Unit started to regularly receive complaints about thousands of dollars in losses from residents of Russian speaking communities who were convinced into investing in what they believed to be legitimate cryptocurrency investment platforms.

The investigation identified a shared narrative under which victims were lured into the scam by clicking on a Facebook advertisement promising impressive returns. Many of the ads they described featured a “deepfake” video of Elon Musk, encouraging people to invest in cryptocurrency (see attached image). Victims then received a follow up call from an “investment advisor” who spoke to them in Russian and coached them into creating an account on an investment website. With the help of the “advisor,” victims purchased cryptocurrency and transferred it to addresses linked websites. After “investing” for several weeks or months, the victims attempted to make a withdrawal but were locked out of their account or told they had to pay additional fees and taxes. This type of scam is commonly known as “Pig Butchering.”

An analysis of the websites reported by this cluster of victims revealed similarities in their appearance, HTML structure, IP addresses, hosting provider, and domain registrar. Most obvious of the similarities was an identical looking login page that served as a portal for the victims to create an account and begin their “investments” (see attached image). It is believed that the sites originated from Russia and the scammers were speaking in Russian as a way to ingratiate themselves to the victims and build trust. Because Russia is outside U.S. jurisdiction, recovering any stolen funds is extremely difficult and therefore, the DA’s Office strategy has been to disrupt the scam by taking control of the fake websites.

This week, the Virtual Currency Unit, pursuant to a court order, seized a network of 70 linked scam domains, all associated with the investment scam targeting Russian victims in Brooklyn and elsewhere. It identified over 20 Brooklyn victims from Brighton Beach, Borough Park, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Ocean Parkway, Manhattan Beach, Kensington, and other neighborhoods. There were three additional victims from Manhattan. The victims ranged in age from 35 to 75 with the majority older than 50. They reported individual loss amounts ranging from $18,000 to over $117,000. In total, the New York victims lost over $1 million.

In addition, the investigation found other Russian speaking victims from across the country (California, Maryland, Washington, Nebraska, Florida, Illinois, South Carolina and Pennsylvania). The combined victims across the country reported a total of $4 million in losses, believed to be just a fraction of the total financial damage caused in this scam.

Since seizing the domains, which now redirect to a warning message from law enforcement, the DA’s Office received multiple calls from victims who had been in the midst of sending more money to the fake investment companies but were alerted to the scam by the DA’s seizure notice.

The District Attorney shared the following warning signs of someone trying to lure a victim into a cryptocurrency scam:

• You get a “wrong message” text from a stranger who attempts to start a friendship and talks about how much money they’ve made by investing in cryptocurrency.
• You are added to a group chat on WhatsApp or Telegram that offers advice on how to invest in cryptocurrency with promises of getting rich quickly.
• Someone on Facebook brags about how much money they have made in cryptocurrency and tells you they can help you get rich.
• Someone you’ve never met in-person starts giving you cryptocurrency investment advice and promises returns on investments that seem too good to be true.
• You are directed to download an app to track your investments from a cryptocurrency website for a company you’ve never heard of before, not from an official mobile app store.
• The financial advisor or customer support for a cryptocurrency website communicates with you through Telegram or WhatsApp.
• You are asked to make cryptocurrency investments by giving large amounts of cash to couriers and company representatives in-person.
• You can make small withdrawals at the start but can’t withdraw any large amounts without having to pay a tax or additional fee.

The District Attorney also shared the following tips on how to protect people from these cryptocurrency scams:

• Don’t trust cryptocurrency investment opportunities that seem too good to be true.
• Do not make cryptocurrency investments based on the advice of someone you’ve never met in person.
• Don’t download investment apps from unverified cryptocurrency investment websites.
• Don’t install apps that force you to override your phone’s security features.
• Verify the legitimacy of a company. Ask a friend, family member, or contact the KCDA Command center if you are unsure if something is legitimate.
• Never allow download programs such as AnyDesk that allows remote access to your computer.

• Do not pay more money in order to try and recover your investment from a cryptocurrency website.
• Check whether a cryptocurrency exchange is licensed to operate in New York State by going to https://www.dfs.ny.gov/who_we_supervise or calling the New York State Department of Financial Services hotline at 800-342-3736.

The investigation into this case was handled by Assistant District Attorney Alona Katz, Chief of the Virtual Currency Unit with assistance from Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Mauricio Suarez-Marquez, under the supervision of Chief of the Digital Evidence Lab Unit Jingu Chong. Virtual Currency Analysts Sam Weaver and Lindiwe Mangondo, Assistant District Attorney Brian Umana of the Virtual Currency Unit, and Senior Detective Investigator Gerard Caffrey of the KCDA Detective Bureau also assisted in the investigation.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison in Death of Child

Cause of Death was Battered Child Syndrome, Blunt Force Injury to Torso

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for striking and causing the death of his girlfriend’s four-year-old son, Jayce Eubanks. An autopsy determined that the child had numerous old and new injuries about his body and suffered from battered child syndrome.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The autopsy of this innocent child revealed that he suffered unthinkable and repeated abuse in his short life and ultimately died at the hands of this defendant. I am committed to protecting children in our communities from child abusers and today’s sentence holds this defendant accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jerimiah Johnson, 30, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 15 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on April 17, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on September 12, 2021, at approximately 5:30 a.m., inside the child’s home, located on Baltic Street in the Gowanus Houses, in Brooklyn, his mother, Rickia Delvalle, was awakened by the defendant, who was holding Jayce in his arms and who stated that the child said he could not breathe and had collapsed to the floor. The mother observed that the child was not breathing and appeared completely unresponsive.

Jayce was taken to Brooklyn Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 6:54 a.m.

An autopsy performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Jayce had numerous old and new injuries, including multiple bruises and abrasions to his body, limbs, back, chest and abdomen; a healing skull fracture, multiple healing and recent rib fractures on both sides of the chest, trauma to the stomach causing it to perforate, causing bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract and abdominal cavity, and that the cause of death was battered child syndrome with recent blunt force injuries of the torso.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Perry Cerrato, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Newcombe, also of the Special Victims Bureau, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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