About omar morhbi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Deliberately Chasing Down and Crashing His Car into Cyclist, Killing Him

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to First-Degree Manslaughter

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for intentionally running over a cyclist in Bushwick who he allegedly observed breaking into his car.

          District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s extreme reaction when he allegedly witnessed a relatively minor, non-violent crime cost a man his life. Rather than reporting the incident to police, the defendant deliberately chased the victim in his car, striking and killing him, while endangering everyone else on the road. He has now been brought to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Korey Johnson, 45, of Ocean Hill, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin to 14 years in prison following his guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter on February 9, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on September 3, 2019, at approximately 6 a.m., the defendant allegedly saw Donald Roberts, 47, breaking into the defendant’s 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked on Broadway near Ellery Street in Bushwick. The defendant then entered his car and chased after the victim as he biked off, deliberately speeding down Broadway and entering oncoming traffic during the pursuit. The defendant intentionally drove his Jeep into the victim, striking him from behind and crashing his SUV into a row of parked cars before the car flipped onto its side.

The victim was taken to Woodhull Hospital where he died from severe blunt force trauma. Police arrested the defendant at the scene of the accident after he was extracted from his vehicle.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Chow Xie, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Chief of the Homicide Bureau.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison

For Shooting Death of His Neighbor

Defendant Entered Victim’s Apartment and Shot Him in His Bedroom

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison following his guilty plea to manslaughter for killing his 62-year-old neighbor, in his New York City Housing Authority apartment in Brownsville.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant committed a heinous crime by killing his neighbor. He has now accepted responsibility for this senseless shooting and been sentenced to a lenghthy prison term.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Gregory Spears, 43, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 17 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on January 29, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on May 19, 2020, at approximately 2:40 p.m., the defendant knocked on the door of the victim’s apartment in the Langston Hughes Houses at 301 Sutter Avenue in Brownsville. Both the defendant and the victim lived in apartments on the 14^th floor.

The victim’s wife opened the door and recognized the defendant, even though he was wearing a Halloween mask. The defendant’s wife happened to be visiting with the victim’s wife inside of the apartment at the time.

The victim’s wife went to the bedroom and told the victim, Angel Medina, 62, that the defendant wanted to speak to him. He then went into the bedroom, took off the mask, shot the victim multiple times, and fled the apartment.

The victim died of multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. The defendant was arrested on May 20,2020, at approximately 7 a.m., when he exited the elevator on the 14^th floor and was met by police securing the crime scene.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph Mancino, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Bureau Chief.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Canarsie Man Who Allegedly Struck and Killed Pedestrian While

Driving Drunk Indicted for Vehicular Manslaughter

Defendant’s Blood Alcohol Level Above the Legal Limit

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Canarsie man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with vehicular manslaughter after he allegedly drove drunk and struck a 68-year-old pedestrian crossing the street, killing him.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s alleged recklessness in drinking and driving cost an innocent man his life. Brooklyn residents deserve safe streets, and I am committed to holding the defendant accountable for his illegal conduct.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Gary Turner, 47, of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dale Fong-Frederick on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree vehicle manslaughter, second-degree vehicular assault and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. Bail was set at $150,00 cash or $300,00 bond. The defendant was ordered to return to court on April 16, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on January 31, 2024, at approximately 6:45 p.m., the defendant was driving a 2017 Dodge Caravan westbound on Glenwood Road when he struck Luis Garcia, 68, in the crosswalk at the intersection of East 105^th Street, throwing him onto the ground.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, when police officers arrived at the scene, they allegedly observed that the defendant had slurred speech, red eyes, and an odor of alcohol on his breath. The defendant was administered a breathalyzer test, which showed the defendant had a blood alcohol level of .132, greater than the legal limit of .08.

Paramedics transported Garcia to Brooklyn University Hospital where he was pronounced dead due to severe blunt trauma to the chest and head.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher C. Rainwater and Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Velez of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Karla Watson, Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Velez, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Street Safety Bureau.

#

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Brooklyn Husband and Wife Indicted for Sex Trafficking of a Child

Fifteen-Year-Old Victim was Allegedly Approached on Harlem Street, Lured to Brooklyn

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn couple has been arraigned on a 22-count indictment in which they are charged with sex trafficking of a child, promoting prostitution and related charges for the alleged sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “I am committed to rescuing and protecting our at-risk teens from those who seek to harm and exploit them. Luckily, this victim was located by police after reaching out to her foster mother. We will now seek to bring these defendants to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Daryl Hicks, 38, and Michelle Wicks, 31, of East New York, Brooklyn. Hicks was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking of a child, second-, third- and fourth-degree promoting prostitution, third-degree rape, use of a child in a sexual performance, endangering the welfare of a child, possessing a sexual performance by a child and promoting a sexual performance by a child. He was ordered held without bail and to return to court on March 13, 2024. Wicks, who was indicted for sex trafficking of a child and related charges, was arraigned before Justice Chun on December 7, 2023, and released without bail.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between November 20, 2022 and December 30, 2022, the defendants allegedly met the 15-year-old victim and induced her to engage in acts of prostitution. The victim was allegedly approached by Hicks in Harlem and told by him “you could be working for me” and “I could put money in your pocket.”

It is alleged that the defendants actively posted the victim’s photo on escort websites and arranged “dates” for her at various locations in Brooklyn. They allegedly instructed her on what sexual services to offer, how much to charge, and how to communicate with customers.

Hicks allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim on December 25, 2022, according to the investigation. Photos and videos of the victim, including videos of sexual acts with Hicks, were allegedly discovered on the defendant’s cell phone.

On December 30, 2022, detectives from the Human Trafficking Squad went to the Imperial Hotel in East New York and recovered the victim inside a room registered to Hicks. She had been reported missing days earlier after reaching out to her foster mother and sending her photos.

The case was investigated by Detective Paul Mastronardi of the New York City Police Department’s Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh, Lieutenant Amy Capogna, and Captain Thomas Milano, and the overall supervision of Chief Carlos Ortiz.

The District Attorney thanked Human Trafficking Unit Paralegal Aurora Martinez and Digital Forensic Analyst Taylor Mumley of the Digital Evidence Lab for their assistance on the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Mary E. Monahan, of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau.

#

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 9 ½ Years in Prison

Following Guilty Plea in Connection with Brownsville Shooting

Defendant Opened Fire in Broad Daylight and Struck Police Officer’s Vehicle, Causing Injury

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to nine and a half years in prison for opening fire in Brownsville and striking a marked police car that was on patrol in the vicinity. A detective was injured by broken glass when a bullet shattered the driver’s side window. Two fired bullets were recovered inside the vehicle.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Thankfully, this NYPD detective was spared more serious injuries when this defendant fired a barrage of approximately nine rounds in broad daylight. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his actions and will help to make the streets of Brooklyn safer.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jah-Mike Woolridge, 28, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. The defendant was sentenced yesterday by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Miriam Cyrulnik to nine and a half years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted assault on January 10, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 23, 2022, at approximately 4:30 p.m., in the vicinity of Legion Street and Pitkin Avenue, following an earlier argument with a 23-year-old man, the defendant fired at a car that the man was driving which was stopped at a red light. The defendant fired multiple shots at the man’s car and into the intersection of Legion Street and Pitkin Avenue.

The victim’s car was struck multiple times and two rounds were recovered from inside his vehicle. The victim was not injured.

Furthermore, New York City Police Detective Sunjay Verma was driving west on Pitkin when he and his partner saw the defendant holding a black semi-automatic pistol and firing at the other vehicle. Detective Verma’s driver’s side window was hit by a bullet and shattered. The detective, who suffered injuries to his arm from the shattered glass, chased after the defendant, who fled into the nearby Brooklyn Gardens Housing Development, where a loaded black pistol was later recovered. Two rounds were recovered from inside the police car.

The defendant fled the scene. He was apprehended in Maryland by the Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshals in November 2022 and returned to New York.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Barg, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Michael Trabulsi and Assistant District Attorney Iris Das, Deputy Chiefs of the Orange Zone, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Bureau Chief.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Illegal Cannabis Shop Employee Indicted for Felony Assault for

Allegedly Injuring Investigator Who Came to Shut Down the Store

Defendant Allegedly Pushed Victim Out and Closed Door on his Arm

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been indicted for felony assault and other charges for allegedly assaulting a Finance Supervising Investigator, working for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, who came to shut down the illegal cannabis store where the defendant worked.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant didn’t just defy the law by working in a shop that sold unlicensed cannabis products, but also allegedly violently attacked an investigator as he tried to lawfully shut down the illegal business. In Brooklyn, we have no tolerance for attacks on law enforcement personnel and will now seek to hold the defendant fully accountable.”

John Harford, Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, said, “Tax Department Criminal Investigators are engaged in vital work. Anyone who assaults them or otherwise interferes with their law enforcement duties should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. On behalf of the CID team and the entire Department, I want to thank Brooklyn DA Gonzalez and his office for their efforts in this case.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Arjante Moss, 27, of Downtown Brooklyn. He was arraigned yesterday before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment charging him with second-degree assault, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and second-degree harassment. The defendant is facing a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted of the top count. He remained out on bail and was ordered to return to court on March 20, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, the defendant was an employee at Big Chief Exotics Smoke Shop, located at 7323 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. On December 18, 2023, at approximately 12:40 p.m., a Finance Supervising Investigator from NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, came to shut down the store pursuant to a closure order obtained in Supreme Court by the Attorney General’s Office.

When the defendant realized the visitor was a law enforcement agent, he allegedly pushed him out and closed the door on his arm. The victim managed to extricate his arm from the doorframe, sustaining bruising to the left arm. He was treated at New York University Langone Hospital and released.

Agents proceeded to permanently close down the store, which has been the subject of two previous inspections by the Office of Cannabis Management, during which unlicensed marijuana products were seized and notices of violation and orders to cease unlicensed activity were issued.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joel Greenwald of the District Attorney’s Asset Forfeiture and Crimes Against Revenue Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Diana Villanueva, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

#

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Park Slope Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

For Repeatedly Sexually Assaulting Young Girl

Child was Abused by Defendant During Piano Lessons and Other Occasions

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man who sexually abused a child repeatedly for almost two years has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant exploited his position of trust to prey on a young child, which is an unconscionable betrayal. After starting a friendship with this family, he sexually abused the child beginning when she was just 9 years old. I hope today’s sentence brings some closure to the victim and her family and I remain steadfast in my commitment to protecting our children.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as John Stewart Russell, 62, of Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht to seven years in prison and 10 years’ post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted on January 11, 2024 of second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and endangering the welfare of a child, following a bench trial. He must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, the defendant started a friendship with the victim’s family in the summer of 2016. During that period, he began a pattern of grooming that preceded the sexual abuse to which he subjected the child. In November 2016, the defendant began giving the child piano lessons and started abusing her when he was alone with her.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, from November 2016 to June 2018, when she was 9 to 11 years old, the defendant regularly subjected the victim to sexual contact including groping her and subjecting her to various sexual acts. The sexual abuse continued after the piano lessons ended.

The defendant was arrested on July 30, 2020, after the victim disclosed the abuse to her parents.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Newcombe, Senior Assistant District Attorney Gabriela Sinisi, and Paralegal Supervisor Jennifer Hernandez, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Stuyvesant Heights Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Shooting

NYPD Officer Responding to Domestic Violence Call

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder in September

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Stuyvesant Heights man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for shooting a New York City Police Officer who was responding to a domestic violence call. The officer was wearing a bulletproof vest that stopped the bullet.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It’s a miracle Officer Boalick wasn’t more seriously injured or killed when he was shot by this defendant while answering a domestic violence call. Today’s lengthy prison sentence holds the defendant accountable for his violent actions while underscoring the dangers our police officers face every day to keep us all safe.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as William Moss, 23, of Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 20 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on September 7, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, throughout the afternoon and evening of December 24, 2020, the defendant and his girlfriend were engaged in an argument on the phone. At one point, the defendant threatened to come over to the young woman’s home on Bergen Street in Crown Heights and shoot at the window. As a result of this threat, the young woman’s mother called police.

At approximately 9:05 p.m., according to the evidence, six uniformed officers from the 77^th Precinct arrived at the address. While they were interviewing the young woman outside of the building, the defendant showed up and fired two shots at her. The first shot missed. The second shot struck one of the officers, Connor Boalick, then 27, in the back. The bullet lodged in a bulletproof vest that the officer was wearing.

Immediately after the shooting, the defendant fled on foot with two of the officers chasing after him. The officers shot at the defendant, missing him. Police apprehended the defendant two blocks away and located his 9-millimeter pistol where he had tossed it.

Police Officer Boalick was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was treated for bruising and abrasions to his back and released.

The District Attorney thanked Office Manager Jannette Ayala of the Homicide Bureau and Alexandra Aber, Chief Analyst of the Digital Evidence Lab, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Chow Yun Xie, Deputy Chief of District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Salvador Reynozo, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Chief of the Orange Zone Trial Bureau.

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Brooklyn District Attorney Moves to Vacate Conviction of

Man who served 14 Years for Homicide Committed by Someone Else

Jury Didn’t Hear Evidence that Supported Defense’s Theory of

Different Gunman, Who Was Never Investigated; Defendant Paroled in 2010

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that following a thorough reinvestigation by his Conviction Review Unit (CRU), he will move to vacate the conviction of Steven Ruffin, 45, who was 18 when convicted of the 1996 killing of a 16-year-old in a case of mistaken identity. The reinvestigation concluded that his defense lawyer failed to present evidence to bolster his claim that another person was the actual killer and that police and prosecutors failed to investigate that potential suspect. The defendant served 14 years in prison before he was released on parole in 2010. The full CRU report is available here.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “After a full investigation by my Conviction Review Unit, we can no longer stand by this old conviction and will move to give Mr. Ruffin his good name back. A confluence of factors, including errors by defense counsel and tunnel vision by law enforcement, produced a tragic result in this case – Mr. Ruffin was convicted for the actions of a different person whom he claimed to be the killer all along. We will continue to correct miscarriages of justice and to learn from the mistakes we uncover to ensure that they never happen again.”

The defendant will appear in court today at 2:30 p.m. before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic at 320 Jay Street, 15th Floor.

The District Attorney said that on February 5, 1996, at about 9:10 p.m., 16-year-old James Deligny was shot and killed in Crown Heights after he was mistaken to be the person who had just robbed the defendant’s sister of her earrings. According to credible testimony, the victim was approached by a group of young men, one stated, “It’s not him,” when the victim reached into his coat pocket as if he had a gun – and was then fatally shot.

The defendant was convicted based in part on the testimony of the victim’s sister, who described the shooter as a man with a cracked tooth. He was also interrogated by now-retired Detective Louis Scarcella and twice denied being involved in the shooting. The defendant’s estranged father, who was a police officer, was then called to the precinct and convinced the defendant to confess, which he did in his third statement.

At trial, the defense argued that the boyfriend of the defendant’s sister and the person who gave the murder weapon to the detective was the real culprit. The defendant, his sister and two eyewitnesses testified that the defendant was with his sister down the block at the time of the shooting and it was the boyfriend who committed the murder. The defense also called the boyfriend to the stand, where he repeatedly took the fifth. The jury acquitted the defendant of murder but convicted him of first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison and the sentence was reduced on appeal to 12½ to 25 years.

In reinvestigating the case, CRU reviewed the case files and conducted interviews with most of the witnesses and others involved in the case. It concluded that serious errors by the defense attorney compromised the defendant’s right to a fair trial. Specifically: he failed to have the boyfriend display to the jury that he had a cracked tooth, just like the defendant; failed to bring up the fact that the sole witness never viewed an identification procedure where the boyfriend was the subject; and failed to question witnesses about the fact that the boyfriend confessed to multiple people and even went at some point to get a Legal Aid lawyer with the intention of turning himself in (which he ultimately did not do).

CRU also concluded that the identification of the defendant and his confession were unreliable and that his alibi was plausible. It found that the police and prosecution investigation was inadequate, likely due to tunnel vision and confirmation bias, in that it failed to investigate the boyfriend, who possessed the murder weapon, had a cracked tooth like the defendant as well as a similar motive – to avenge his girlfriend’s robbery. Accordingly, CRU recommended to vacate the conviction and dismiss the underlying indictment.

To date, the work of the Conviction Review Unit has resulted in 37 convictions being vacated since 2014. Currently, CRU has approximately 40 open investigations.

This case was investigated by Assistant District Attorney Bruce Alderman, formerly of the District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit, with assistance from Lori Glachman, CRU Editor-in-Chief, under the supervision of Charles Linehan, Unit Chief

#

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Brooklyn Landlord Indicted on Attempted Murder and Arson Charges

For Allegedly Setting Fire to Rental Property With 8 People Inside

Defendant Allegedly Threatened Family of Tenants Over Unpaid Rent at Cypress Hills Home

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn landlord has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with attempted murder, arson and related charges for allegedly setting fire to a Cypress Hills rental property he owned while a family of eight tenants, including six young children, slept inside. It is alleged the defendant had previously threatened to burn the building down as part of an ongoing dispute over unpaid rent. During the dispute, the defendant allegedly left a dead cat outside the family’s apartment.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly set fire to an occupied home, forcing an entire family, including six small children, to climb onto the roof and escape from the blaze in fear of their lives. It’s a miracle no one was killed or more seriously hurt. We will now seek to hold the defendant accountable for this allegedly deliberate and unconscionable act of arson.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Rafiqul Islam, 66, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 59-count indictment in which he is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree attempted assault, second-degree attempted arson, third- and fourth-degree arson, first- and second-degree reckless endangerment, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was ordered held without bail and to return to court on January 31, 2024. The defendant faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant is the owner of 212 Forbell Street, a two-story, two-family home in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn. Built in 1920, the building has a single entrance and no fire escape.

On September 26, 2023, at approximately 5:17 a.m., a tenant on the second floor noticed a burning smell from outside his family’s apartment. The tenant exited the apartment and saw smoke and flames coming up from the interior stairwell – the only point of egress within the building. As the fire spread, the entire family, including six children, ages 1 to 8, were forced to climb out of a back window and onto the roof. From there, two adult tenants were able to drop the children into the arms of neighbors waiting approximately 20 feet below. The two tenants then jumped off the roof the ground. One of the tenants called 911.

 Firefighters arrived to find the building fully engulfed. Approximately 55 firefighters were needed to extinguish the blaze while family members were taken to Brookdale Hospital and treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation.

Video surveillance obtained by FDNY Fire Marshals allegedly shows the defendant enter the building wearing a mask and carrying a bucket and a garbage bag. Additionally, video surveillance captured immediately before the tenant’s 911 call shows the defendant leaving the building. Witnesses were subsequently able to identify the defendant from the surveillance footage.

Police arrested the defendant on October 25, 2023.  The defendant was allegedly angry that the tenants had stopped paying rent and refused to move out of the building, according to the investigation. Three prior complaints were lodged between the defendant and the tenants dating back to February 2023. They include accusations from the tenants that the defendant threatened to cut off the family’s power and, later, set fire to the building. The defendant also allegedly placed a dead cat in the hallway outside the family’s apartment.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Miguel Rodriguez, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Andrea Orlando, Deputy Chief of the Red Zone, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Karla Watson, Bureau Chief.

#

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