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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Gravesend Bookkeeper, Two Accomplices, Indicted for Stealing More than $1.1 Million Through Fake Payroll and Check-Cashing Scheme

Defendants Allegedly Created Fake Jobs and Inflated

Salaries to Cash Fraudulent Paychecks

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a bookkeeper and two accomplices have been arraigned on an indictment charging them with stealing more than $1.1 Million through a long-running fraud involving fake jobs, inflated salaries and business checks. The defendants allegedly used a former Brooklyn realty company to generate fraudulent payroll checks, which they deposited into accounts they controlled. They then used the stolen funds to pay personal expenses and debts.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant, along with two accomplices, allegedly carried out and coordinated an extended scheme to steal over a million dollars through lies and manipulation. By exploiting trust and fabricating work arrangements, they were able to siphon off money to cover personal expenses and business debts. We will now seek to hold them accountable for their alleged actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Maya Roytlender, 44, Ihor Dubno, 61, and Michael James, 33. The defendants were arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu on an indictment in which Roytlender is charged with one count of first-degree grand larceny. Dubno and James are each charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny. The defendants were released without bail and ordered to return to court on August 13, 2025.

According to the investigation, between 2015 and 2020, Maya Roytlender, while working as an office manager for D. Malek Realty, LLC, allegedly orchestrated a scheme in which fraudulent payroll checks were issued to her co-defendants Michael James and Ihor Dubno, among others. James was placed on the company’s payroll despite never having worked there, and received salary payments to which he was not entitled. Dubno, who did work for the company, allegedly received inflated paychecks in excess of his actual compensation.

The checks were drawn from the company’s business accounts and deposited into accounts controlled by the defendants or their associates. The stolen funds were allegedly used to pay credit cards, auto lenders and other creditors — including Roytlender’s Capital One and Chase accounts, and toward Michael James’ personal debts.

The District Attorney thanked Supervising Financial Investigator Vincent Jones, Chief Financial Investigator Ludwig Sanchez and Intelligence Analyst Veranika Basak for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph DiBenedetto, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gregory Pavlides, Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division and the overall supervision of 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

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Monday, May 19, 2025

Woman Sentenced to 23 Years to Life in Prison for Execution-Style Murder

Of Another Woman on Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights

Defendant Approached Victim from Behind and Shot Her in the Head,

Then Shot Her Several More Times as She Lay Dying on the Sidewalk

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a woman has been sentenced to 23 years to life in prison for fatally shooting Delia Johnson in the head at point blank range during a candle-lighting ceremony for mourners in the hours after a funeral for a mutual friend of the victim and the defendant.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This shooting was a cold-blooded execution of a woman who was attending a ceremony to honor a late friend. It is especially shocking that the defendant was so brazen as to carry out this murder among a crowd of mourners, causing chaos and fear as they ran from the gunfire. My thoughts are with Delia Johnson’s friends and family who are heartbroken by this senseless loss of life.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Claudia Banton, 46, of Allenwood, Georgia. She was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Margaret Martin to 23 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on April 3, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 4, 2021, at approximately 9:40 p.m., the defendant approached Delia Johnson, 42, a former friend, from behind as she chatted with a group of people in the vicinity of Franklin Avenue and Prospect Place in Crown Heights. The group was attending a candle-lighting ceremony in the hours after a funeral for a mutual friend.

The defendant shot Johnson in the head, and then shot her again after she fell to the ground. The defendant fired at least five shots at the victim. She then fled in a vehicle that was double parked nearby.

The defendant was apprehended in Jacksonville, Florida, on November 8, 2021, by United States Marshals.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Diamond, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Zachary Safrin, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

For Shooting Man Twice in Chest at Point Blank Range

Defendant Shot Unarmed Victim in Broad Daylight on Labor Day Weekend

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a 2022 shooting in broad daylight in Sunset Park that left a man seriously injured.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant shot an unarmed 20-year-old man in the chest, leaving him with serious long-term injuries. His life will never be the same. We have no tolerance for violence and this sentence sends a clear message that gun violence in Brooklyn will be met with serious consequences.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as John Carter, 56, of Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter to 12 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted of second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, first- and second-degree criminal use of a firearm, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on November 14, 2024, following a jury trial.

His co-defendants were identified as Lamount Barrott, 37, Walter Lindsay, 49, and William Parez, 42. Barrott pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery and second-degree attempted assault and was sentenced to 3.5 to seven years in prison. Lindsay pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery and was sentenced to one to three years in prison. Parez pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and was sentenced to six months in jail.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on September 4, 2022, at approximately 3 p.m., on Third Avenue, between 19^th and 20^th Street, the defendant and three accomplices were searching for an individual with whom they had a dispute when they came across his car. But that individual was not in the car. The person seated in the car, who was watching YouTube videos on his cell phone, was another individual, a 20-year-old man.

The three accomplices surrounded the car and one of them punched the victim. Carter then approached and joined the assault. He pistol-whipped the victim, they grabbed his phone, and ordered him out of the car. The victim exited the car to retrieve his phone and the defendant shot him twice in the chest.

The victim was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he remained for a week. His gallbladder had to be removed and he sustained injuries to other vital organs, according to trial testimony. He has bullet fragments and shrapnel lodged in his body and is unable to work.

The defendant and his accomplices were arrested following an investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Supervising Paralegal Andy Mata and Paralegal Elizabeth Torres, as well as Discovery Support Director Lisa Santapaul for their assistance on this case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Boykin, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Tielman-Fenelus, also of the Green Zone, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Bureau Chief.

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Thursday, May 1, 2025

Staten Island Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Shooting

Pregnant Woman on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

Defendant Opened Fire from Moving Vehicle in Broad Daylight, Striking Victim in the Head

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Staten Island man has been sentenced to ­­15 years in prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder for firing multiple shots at a taxi traveling along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, striking a pregnant woman riding in the backseat in the head.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying and calculated act of violence carried out in the middle of the day on one of the city’s busiest highways. The defendant showed a complete disregard for human life when he opened fire on a moving vehicle, striking a young pregnant woman and endangering countless others. We will continue to pursue justice for victims and hold accountable those who threaten the safety of our communities.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Mark Munoz, 37, of Staten Island. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to ­­15 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on March 3, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 26, 2023, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the victims, a 21-year-old woman and 30-year-old man, were picked up by a taxi at the corner of 58^th Street and Third Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The defendant, who had a prior dispute with the male victim earlier that day, followed the cab in a dark blue Jeep onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

While driving alongside the taxi, the defendant fired multiple shots into the backseat, striking the woman, who was two months pregnant, in the head. Another bullet lodged in the door where the male victim was seated.

The taxi driver immediately drove to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where doctors in the trauma unit were able to save both the woman and her unborn child.

The NYPD, working in coordination with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, determined that after the shooting, the defendant fled to Staten Island, where he spent several hours at a car wash. He was arrested on Staten Island on May 24, 2024.

The Brooklyn District Attorney thanked Intelligence Analyst Anna Kharitanova and Intelligence Analyst Kelly Crawford, of the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab, working under the supervision of Chief Analyst Alexandra Aber and Unit Chief Jingu Chong, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Andrea and Senior Assistant District Attorney Natalie Riether, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Douglas Marquez, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for Making and Selling Fake OSHA and Buildings Department Safety Cards

Sold Counterfeit Safety and Training Certifications to New York Construction Workers Who Never Received the Required Training

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with the New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, today announced that the owner of a Brooklyn company that is supposed to provide jobsite safety training and certification has been sentenced to six months in jail for making and selling dozens of fake safety cards to New York construction workers who never received the required training.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Safety regulations exist because lives depend on them. When employers or trainers cut corners, the results can be tragic — we’ve seen fatal falls, collapsed scaffolds, and preventable injuries on construction sites across the city. This case sends a strong message: we will not tolerate fraud that undermines worker safety. Faking safety credentials is not just paperwork fraud, it’s a direct threat to the lives of workers and the public. I thank DOI and NYCHA for their partnership to ensure that safety standards are upheld and enforced at every level.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “By creating and distributing fraudulent safety certifications, this defendant allowed workers in this City to perform difficult and dangerous work without the benefit of rigorous safety training intended to protect them and the public. Safety training is required by law, and we and our law enforcement partners will hold accountable those who flout this requirement. I thank the NYCHA employee who prompted this investigation by diligently reporting concerns about a contractor’s safety card. And I thank District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and his staff for their partnership in upholding safety standards in New York City.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Benedetto Bonello, 37, of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. On January 8, 2025, Bonello pleaded guilty to second-degree falsifying business records and his company, National Site Safety LLC, pleaded guilty to a violation, before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, in exchange for a promised sentence of six months in jail.

Bonello was an authorized OSHA trainer but, according to the investigation, did not provide the required trainings.

The District Attorney said the investigation began in November 2021 after NYCHA reported to DOI that it had identified construction safety cards with discrepancies as part of a routine check.

Workers on larger and more complex construction projects requiring permits by the City’s Department of Buildings (DOB) are required to take safety courses approved by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and are required to carry a card reflecting that certification. OSHA provides for the issuance of a 10-hour training certification for entry-level workers and a 30-hour training certification for safety managers and coordinators.

Additionally, DOB has comprehensive rules and regulations governing supported scaffolds to ensure the safety of workers and the public. Individuals who use a supported scaffold, including supervisors, are required to have completed a DOB-approved training program or course that is at least four hours long and, every four years thereafter, retake the four-hour training program or course.

As part of the investigation, DOI made an undercover purchase of a fraudulent OSHA-30 card from Bonello at his company, National Site Safety. The undercover had not completed the OSHA training or the scaffold training. Furthermore, the scaffold user card included the name and insignia of a training organization that had not authorized the defendant to give the scaffold training or use its name or insignia.

At DOI, the investigation was conducted by Deputy Inspector General Gregory Deboer, under the supervision of Inspector General for NYCHA Ralph M. Iannuzzi and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

New York City Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing $624,000

Defendant Worked as Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner at NYCERS,

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 pleaded guilty to corrupting the government for stealing $624,000 from two retired New York City employees’ pensions.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant shamelessly exploited his position of public trust to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for retired City workers, using his insider access to enrich himself at their expense. His guilty plea is a clear admission of that betrayal, and a reminder that we will not tolerate abuse of government positions for personal gain. I thank DOI and NYCERS for their work on this case.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “The defendant used his employment with the New York City Employees’ Retirement System to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from City retirees and the City’s pension system.  Through his guilty plea today, he has acknowledged that he abused his position of public trust for his own financial gain. I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for its partnership in this investigation and its commitment to protect the City’s pension funds.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Gregory Mathieu, 41, of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He pleaded guilty today to first-degree corrupting the government before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun in exchange for a promised sentence of one to three years in prison and a judgment order of restitution for $511,115.61 against the defendant. NYCERS was previously able to get back approximately $113,000 from the defendant. Sentencing was set for September 17, 2025.

The District Attorney said 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.

The defendant reactivated suspended pension payments of a deceased Department of Sanitation supervisor, stealing retroactive payments of approximately $242,000 and monthly payments between May 2021 and January 2024 of approximately $5,700.

In addition, the defendant stole approximately $199,000 from a 75-year-old retired Associated Railroad Signal Specialist employed by the MTA/NYC Transit Authority.

According to the investigation, the defendant spent the stolen funds on luxury items including $2,500 for a pair of sneakers and a shirt at a Louis Vuitton store, $1,500 for a pair of sneakers at a Chanel store, $19,000 for vacation, and $429,000 in cash withdrawals.

Mathieu was employed by NYCERS for approximately 15 years. He agreed to resign effective May 30, 2025.

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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Friday, April 25, 2025

Queens Man Indicted for Alleged $7 Million Deed Fraud Theft

Defendant Allegedly Sold Sunset Park Property by Forging Documents

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Queens resident has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records for allegedly creating false documents to cheat his fellow shareholders by selling a joint property without their knowledge or consent. 

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly attempted to steal approximately $7 million using forged documents and false filings. As real estate values continue to rise dramatically in Brooklyn, I remain committed to protecting property owners across the borough from fraudsters who would steal their security and investment in the future.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Wing Fung Chau, 53, of Bayside, Queens. The defendant was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin on an indictment in which he is charged with two counts of first-degree grand larceny and three counts of first-degree falsifying business records. The defendant was ordered held on bail of $10,000 cash or $100,000 bond and to return to court on June 4, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, 37-19 Realty Inc. is a corporation which owns a 25% interest in 6208 8^th Avenue, a large parcel of land in Sunset Park. The defendant is one of three shareholders in the corporation. Another shareholder, a 56-year-old woman is the President of the corporation. The defendant and the President are entitled to 36% of the corporation’s income. A third shareholder is entitled to the balance.

It is alleged that, according to the investigation, on September 28, 2021, the defendant signed a memorandum of contract to sell 37-19 Realty’s interest in 6208 8^th Avenue to a different 56-year-old woman and filed the contract with the City Register.

Shortly thereafter, it is alleged, the defendant negotiated with a 53-year-old man to sell 37-19 Realty’s interest in the property for approximately $7.2 million cash, with the buyer and his associates assuming various existing mortgage obligations. Before closing, the buyer required, among other things, proof from the defendant that the President of the corporation agreed to sell her interest and that the 56-year-old woman no longer had a contract to buy 37-19 Realty’s interest in the property. The buyer also requested a letter from the corporation’s accountant regarding its tax filings.

At the closing on November 18, 2021, only the defendant appeared on behalf of 37-19 Realty. He allegedly provided several forged documents: one with the President’s forged signature agreeing to the sale, one with the 56-year-old woman’s forged signature stating she was terminating her contract, and one with the forged signature of the accountant falsely claiming the corporation did not file taxes in 2019 and 2020.

The defendant allegedly had the proceeds of the sale transferred to bank accounts that only he controlled, withdrawing almost all of it within eight months of the closing. None of the funds went to the President of the corporation. The investigation began after the President’s attorney contacted the District Attorney’s office.

The District Attorney thanked KCDA Detective Investigators for their assistance on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Zhen, of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Richard Farrell, Chief of the Real Estate Frauds Unit, Assistant District Attorney Gregory Pavlides,  Chief of the Frauds Bureau, Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division and the overall supervision of 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

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Rapper and Gang Leader Will Be Sentenced to Five Years in

Prison for Directing and Participating in Shootings

Michael Williams, a.k.a. Rapper Sheff G, Accepted a Court Offer

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a successful rapper and gang member known as Sheff G pleaded guilty to attempted murder and conspiracy in exchange for a five-year prison sentence. The defendant is one of 32 alleged members of the 8 Trey Crips and its affiliate, the 9 Ways gang, who were named in a 140-count indictment for allegedly committing shootings, possessing guns, and using stolen cars during shootings against gang rivals.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Notoriety could not shield this defendant from justice. He used his fame to fund and direct violence, terrorizing our streets, and though we sought a much longer sentence, he will now be held to account. Brooklyn will not tolerate gangs that endanger our communities, and we remain committed to dismantling these criminal networks and holding those responsible fully accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Michael Williams, 26, known as Sheff G. He pleaded guilty today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to multiple top counts of second-degree attempted murder and second- and fourth-degree conspiracy in exchange for a Court offer of five years in prison and five years’ post release supervision over the People’s objection (prosecutors offered 20 years in prison). Sentencing was scheduled for August 13, 2025.

Seventeen of the defendants in the indictment have previously pleaded guilty and 14 cases are pending against other defendants, including Tegan Chambers, a rapper known as Sleepy Hollow.

The District Attorney said that the indictment in this case was the result of a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division into shootings and gun possession incidents allegedly committed by members of the 8 Trey Crips and its affiliates, the 9 Ways gang, primarily in the 67^th and 71^st Precincts.

It is alleged that many of the acts of violence were captured on surveillance videos. Furthermore, it is alleged that the defendants boasted about their criminal activities on social media and in text messages, discussing acts of violence and taking credit for shootings and an assault.

The most egregious incident charged in the indictment was a mass shooting on Hawthorne Street in Folk Nation territory on October 21, 2020, at approximately 10:15 p.m. It is alleged that defendant Kamondre Dekattu was captured on surveillance video emerging from the sunroof of a white Infiniti and opening fire while other individuals fired guns from the driver’s side and rear driver’s side windows. An alleged Folk Nation rival, Theodore Senior, 23, was killed and five other alleged Folk Nation members were shot and injured. Dekattu was charged with the murder; his co-conspirators, including Michael Williams, were charged with being part of the conspiracy to commit murder for this incident and others.

In particular, approximately an hour after the mass shooting, Williams sent a text message seeking confirmation that the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways had scored against rivals. In separate messages, he sent pictures of the victim and a news article about the incident and shootings that preceded it that day.

Two days after the homicide, Williams hosted a lavish dinner with his fellow 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways members, including Tegan Chambers, at a Manhattan steakhouse to celebrate the death of Theodore Senior and the injuries of the five other shooting victims.

Furthermore, it is alleged that Williams, who rented a large house in Short Hills, New Jersey during the conspiracy period, used the earnings from his music career to fuel gun violence in Brooklyn, by offering money and giving expensive jewelry to those who committed acts of violence. Williams’ involvement went beyond merely offering money to commit acts of violence. It is alleged that in one shooting incident, Williams coordinated a group of three shooters, drove those shooters to the crime scene, and then acted as the getaway driver.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Tania Lopez, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, for her assistance with the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sapna Kishnani of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, VCE Deputy Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, VCE First Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Former Brooklyn Teacher Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison Following

Guilty Plea to Use of a Child in Sexual Performance and Endangering the Welfare of Children for Coaxing Teens to Send Him Sexual Images

Solicited Photos and Videos and Engaged in

Graphic Conversations with Six Young Victims Attending Elite Schools

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a former math teacher who pleaded guilty to use of a child in a sexual performance as a sexually motivated felony and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child was sentenced to seven years in prison and must register as a sex offender upon his release. The defendant admitted to enticing or trying to entice teenage students from four Brooklyn independent schools to send him images of nudity and sexual performances. A former teacher at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights, he pretended to be a young teen and fellow student when engaging in conversations of a sexual nature over the messaging application Snapchat.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a sickening betrayal of trust by a schoolteacher who solicited students into sending him graphic and nude photos. Today’s sentencing holds him accountable for his actions while sparing the young and vulnerable victims from having to relive this emotional abuse in court. I commend the prosecutors and investigators who brought this defendant to justice, and the young survivors who bravely stepped forward.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Winston Nguyen, 38, of Harlem, New York. He was sentenced by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phillip Tisne to seven years in prison and 10 years’ post-release supervision. He pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of use of a child in a sexual performance as a sexually motivated felony and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant presented himself as a young teen while having conversations with children on Snapchat. He was charged with crimes against six children who went to various elite independent schools in Brooklyn.

The charged incidents took place between October 2022 and May 2024, when the victims were between the ages of 13 and 15 years old. The defendant used two Snapchat accounts, hunterkristoff and haircutbongos, to contact the victims, pretending to be a teenage boy. The defendant sent nude images and videos that depicted a teenage boy masturbating to the victims.  The defendant also used the accounts to engage in prolonged conversations that described and depicted various sexual acts and got the victims to send images and videos of the victims engaged in sexual performance to him through the Snapchat accounts.

According to the investigation, the two Snapchat accounts mentioned above were connected to IP addresses associated with the defendant, including his Harlem residence, other evidence includes digital communications and images, and accounts from victims.

The case was investigated by KCDA Detective Investigators, with the assistance of Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Sourov Talukder and Digital Forensic Analyst Richard Rojas, of the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Brian Newcombe, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kevin O’Donnell, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Olatokunbo Olaniyan, First Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Mother Indicted for Assault in Connection with Daughter’s Drowning

Six-Year-Old Girl Died After Defendant Allegedly Held Her Underwater in Bathtub

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman has been indicted for assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly holding her daughter’s head under water in a bathtub.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This innocent child had her whole life ahead of her when the person she depended on allegedly drowned her in a bathtub. This is a distressing and unspeakable case, which we continue to investigate to ensure that this defendant is held fully accountable. My thoughts are with the child’s heartbroken father and other family members at this time.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Karla Espinal, 26, of East New York, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo on an indictment charging her with second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. She was ordered held without bail and to return to court on May 15, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on February 7, 2025, at 165 Elton Street, in East New York, Brooklyn, the defendant allegedly submerged her six-year-old daughter, Madeline Tavarez, underwater in a bathtub.

When the child’s father arrived home, shortly thereafter, he found his daughter in the bathtub with the defendant and unresponsive. The girl was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where she was declared dead at 2:42 p.m. The case may be superseded when the Medical Examiner finishes its investigation and makes a final determination of a cause and manner of death.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Brian Newcombe, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Olatokunbo Olaniyan, First Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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