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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking of Teenage Girl

Defendant Allegedly Paid for Teen to Travel to New York

From Kansas City to Engage in Prostitution

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking of a child and other charges for allegedly luring a 16-year-old girl from Kansas City, Missouri to come to New York and engage in prostitution.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly exploited a vulnerable teenager to engage in prostitution over several days before she called her mother seeking help. We are grateful for the police who brought her to safety, and deeply committed to seeking justice for this victim and all those impacted by this abhorrent crime.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Diamond Stewart, 28, of Los Angeles, California.  He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking of a child, attempted sex trafficking of a child, second-, third- and fourth-degree promoting prostitution, third-degree rape, third-degree criminal sexual act, sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child. The defendant was ordered held on bail of $250,000 cash or $1 million bond and to return to court on March 22, 2023. He faces up to 25 years in prison and would be required to register as a sex offender if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant messaged the 16-year-old victim, who was living in Kansas City, on Instagram, and they messaged back and forth for a period of time. The defendant then allegedly offered to pay for the defendant to fly to New York and told her she would be engaging in prostitution in exchange for money.

The victim arrived in New York City on December 22, 2022, and the defendant allegedly called an Uber for her that took her to the Thatford Hotel in Brownsville, according to the investigation. The victim then checked into a room that the defendant had allegedly paid for in advance of her arrival. The defendant then allegedly went to the hotel and met with the victim, telling her she would be walking the “track” in East New York and telling her what prices to charge for various sexual acts.

The defendant allegedly drove around the track and took the money the victim earned while engaging in prostitution on the track, in freezing temperatures, including 9-degree temperatures over the holiday weekend. The victim called her mother on December 25, 2022 and told her mother what was happening and asked for help. Her mother was able to get in contact with the 75^th Precinct and police officers from the precinct found the victim at the track and she was taken to the police station and then to the hospital.

It is alleged that in addition to the teen victim, the defendant was also promoting prostitution of a 21-year-old woman from California.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Antonio Pagan of the joint NYPD/FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the supervision of Lieutenant Joseph Picarello and Captain Thomas Milano.

The District Attorney thanked Special Agents assigned to the Los Angeles field office on the FBI Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force for their assistance in the investigation.

Senior Intelligence Analyst Kayleigh Homer of the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab Intelligence Unit assisted in the investigation.

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

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 30, 2022

Homicides and Shootings Continued to Drop in Brooklyn in 2022,

Driving Citywide Decline in Gun Violence During Past Two Years

Shootings in Brooklyn Decreased by 31% and Homicides Went Down by 21%,

Since the 2020 Peak, Accounting for About 88% of the Decline in Murders and 83% of the Declines in

Shootings and Shooting Victims Across New York City Over that Time Period

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that Brooklyn continued to make gains in public safety during 2022, with homicides declining by 8% and shootings decreasing by 13% compared to 2021. These encouraging trends amount to a reversal of the spike in gun violence during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 – shootings in Brooklyn dropped by 31% over the past two years, representing over 83% of the citywide decline during that period. Similarly, the number of shooting victims declined by 33%, accounting for over 83% of the citywide decrease, and murders went down by 21%, making up a whopping 88% of the citywide decline in the past two years. However, index crimes in Brooklyn rose by about 21% in 2022. The Brooklyn DA’s Office continued to focus on reducing gun violence by targeting violent street gangs, partnering with community-based organizations to prevent at-risk youth from becoming either perpetrators or victims of gun violence, and enhancing efforts to better prosecute gun crimes and to take firearms off the streets.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “I am happy to report that public safety in Brooklyn continued to improve over the past year, as we rebound from the spike in violence that we experienced during 2020. The significant declines in murders and shootings in our borough are driving the citywide gains against gun violence and are a testament to the hard work and focused approach by my Office, the NYPD and all of our partners. We still have work to do as we pledge to drive down gun crimes even further and contend with upticks in other crime categories, but I am confident that we are on the right track. I remain committed to targeting the most violent individuals and to growing our partnerships with community-based groups, violence interrupters and others who are engaged in preventative strategies.”

The District Attorney said that 138 homicides (nine of which were reclassified from incidents that happened in previous years) were recorded in Brooklyn during 2022 – 12 fewer or down 8% compared to the previous year. Shooting incidents dipped by 67 (13%) for a total of 448, and shooting victims decreased by 76 (12%) for a total of 543. These numbers are comparable to statistics from the mid-2010s.

Taking a two-year view to analyze the long-term recovery from the spike in gun violence during 2020 – which was likely caused by a global pandemic, social and economic upheavals, and other factors – shows that Brooklyn is the driving force behind public safety improvements in New York City. Murders went down by over 21% with the 37 fewer homicides making up about 88% of the citywide decline (from 468 in 2020 to 426 to 2022 citywide). Shootings in Brooklyn dropped by 31% during that timeframe and the 204 fewer shootings represent 83% of the citywide decline. Similarly, the number of shooting victims declined by 265, or 33%, accounting for 83% of the citywide decline.

The most notable drops in homicide in Brooklyn over the past year took place in Coney Island, East Flatbush, Midwood, Bushwick and Fort Greene, with all of those neighborhoods experiencing a 50% decrease or more. Some of the more historically violent precincts saw homicides numbers remain the same as in 2021 but shootings declined in most of them: by 42% in Bedford-Stuyvesant, 18% in Brownsville and 14% in Crown Heights, while East New York had a 12% increase.

The seven major index crimes (murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand theft auto) increased in Brooklyn by 20.5% last year compared to 2021. But in that aspect too, Brooklyn has seen better trends that New York City as a whole: while the most populous borough, it wasn’t the leading contributor in any of those crime categories when compared to the four other boroughs, and the percentage increase was the second smallest among the five boroughs. It also had the smallest percentage increase than any other borough when compared to 2020.

[All stats are based on the New York City Police Department’s preliminary CompStat reports as of December 30, 2022.]

The District Attorney said that his Office, together with the NYPD, continued to target the most violent individuals in our communities who are responsible for the majority of gun violence. In November, 32 alleged members of two rival Brownsville gangs were indicted in connection with 19 shootings, two of them fatal, which wounded several innocent bystanders, including a 3-year-old girl. Another component of DA Gonzalez’s multi-pronged strategy to reduce violence involves community participation, such as Gun Buyback events. A total of 315 firearms were surrendered during three events in 2022: a record 206 weapons this month in Bed-Stuy, 69 in Clinton Hill, as reported by the New Yorker, and 40 in Flatbush. The DA’s Office also hosted a number of preventative educational programs, including youth summits and workshops, and issued a Stop Violence report that summarized its comprehensive approach to driving down shootings, which includes a $2 million investment in a new Digital Evidence Lab, a new Ghost Gun Unit and an executive position focusing on gun violence reduction.

In other groundbreaking moves, DA Gonzalez announced a restructuring of his Office in October with the creation of a new Gender-Based Violence Division that placed the Domestic Violence and Sex Crimes Bureaus, the Human Trafficking, Crimes Against Children and Victim Services Units, Family Justice Center operations and the U-Visa practice under a single umbrella. In September, the DA moved to dismiss 378 convictions that relied on 13 police officers who were later convicted of misconduct – one of the largest mass exonerations in U.S. history.

Over the past year, the Brooklyn DA’s Office also extended and expanded its engagement efforts across Brooklyn communities – an important part of the District Attorney’s goal of strengthening community trust in the legal system. Some highlights of these wide-ranging efforts included a deed fraud prevention forum, a resource fair for newly-arrived asylum seekers, an immigration clinic for people from the Ukraine, a successful back-to-school Summerfest in Coney Island, and much more.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Former Williamsburg Man Indicted for Operating a Ponzi Scheme,

Stealing Over $1.3 Million from More Than 20 Victims

Defendant Allegedly Spent Stolen Funds on Rent, Restaurants and Travel;

Victims Include Church in Queens and Numerous Churchgoers

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a former Williamsburg man has been arraigned on a 56-count indictment in which he is charged with stealing over $1.3 million from over 20 people in a Ponzi scheme in which he allegedly posed as a securities broker and wooed investors with promises of high rates of return. It is alleged the defendant did not invest the victims’ funds in the stock market as promised, but instead spent the money on rent, restaurants, travel, and leasing luxury cars.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly defrauded over 20 hardworking people out of their savings in what amounted to an elaborate Ponzi scheme. Our investigation revealed that he targeted many churchgoers whose trust he allegedly betrayed.  Financial fraud will be investigated and prosecuted vigorously by my Office with the goal of making victims whole and holding alleged swindlers accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Mark Ramkishun, 28, of Orlando, Florida. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu on a 56-count indictment in which he is charged with second-, third-, and fourth-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, issuing false financial statements, and violations of the Martin Act. He was ordered released without bail and to return to court on February 15, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, between March 2019 and September 2022, the defendant allegedly operated a fraudulent investment scheme in which he told his victims he was a securities broker and solicited them to invest $20,000 or more in his company, Leo Growl LLC. The defendant claimed to be able to achieve monthly returns of $2,000 to $3,000 for every $20,000 invested and had his victims sign bogus contracts with him. After obtaining the money, the defendant allegedly provided his victims with false brokerage statements from E*TRADE Securities that purported to show monthly trading profits, which did not, in fact, exist.

According to the investigation, the defendant did not invest the victims’ funds in the stock market as promised, nor did the defendant open brokerage accounts on behalf of the victims at a broker-dealer. Instead, the defendant allegedly embezzled the funds, paying for rent in Brooklyn, and living a lavish lifestyle that included leasing luxury cars and paying for restaurants and travel. The defendant purportedly diverted some of the money obtained from new investors to pay previous investors. Approximately $360,000 of his victims’ money was allegedly dispersed this way.

            According to the investigation, many of the defendant’s victims were members of the Healing Center Church in Ozone Park, Queens, where the defendant’s parents are former members and served as church elders before moving to Florida in 2021. The church itself invested with the defendant, making it the largest known victim of the alleged Ponzi scheme.

The case was investigated following a tip to the District Attorney’s Action Center.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Counsel for Complex Investigations Michael Choi, of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicole Lauterbach, under the supervision of 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

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to up to 21 Years in Prison for

East Flatbush Shooting That Killed an Innocent Teen

Defendant Was Looking for Rival Gang Members When He Shot 15-year-old Victim

            Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a member of a violent Brooklyn street gang has been sentenced to up to 21 years in prison for a February 2017 shooting in East Flatbush that left one teenager dead and another injured. The defendant was looking for rival gang members to shoot when he came across the victim, an innocent bystander, and shot him.

            District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant took the life of an innocent teen in a cold-blooded act of gun violence that left a family forever traumatized. We will not allow this type of gang activity on the streets of Brooklyn. Today’s sentence ensures that the defendant is no longer a danger to our community.”

            The District Attorney identified the defendant as Zidon Clarke, 23, of, Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to a determinate term of 20 years in prison on the charge of first-degree manslaughter and an indeterminate term of seven to 21 years in prison on the charge of conspiracy to commit murder. The terms were ordered to run concurrently. The defendant was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree attempted assault, fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, and first-degree reckless endangerment on November 21, 2022, following a bench trial.

            The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 20, 2017, at about 2:20 p.m., in front of 92 East 55 Street near Lenox Road in East Flatbush, the defendant, who is a member of the “SRK” subset of the Folk Nation street gang, was out hunting for rival gang members to shoot when he came across the victim, Rohan Levy, and three of the victim’s friends as they walked through East Flatbush. The victim, a student at Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design, was returning home after playing basketball.

            According to the evidence, the defendant got out of the passenger seat of a Honda Accord and fired five shots from a .380 caliber handgun, striking Levy in the back of the head and another teen, 18, in the leg. A fragment of the bullet shell entered Rohan’s brain. The teen died three days later at Kings County Hospital.

            The defendant fled the scene in the Honda Accord. He was arrested on April 5, 2017, after the New York City Police Department released video showing him getting into the car.

            The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Perry of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Alfred C. Deingeniis, Chief of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 9, 2022

Brooklyn Father Arraigned in Death of 23-Month-Old Daughter

Defendant Allegedly Hit Toddler in Head, Causing Traumatic Brain Injury

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and other charges after he allegedly hit his 23-month-old daughter in the head, causing her death. The child died from a traumatic brain injury one day before her second birthday.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “A precious and innocent child was fatally injured, allegedly at the hands of the person responsible for nurturing and protecting her. My heart is with the little girl’s family, and we will now seek to hold this defendant accountable.”

            The District Attorney identified the defendant as Robert Wright, 33, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child. Wright was released on $100,000 bail and was ordered to return to court on January 27, 2023.

            The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on October 4, 2022, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the defendant hit his daughter in the back of the head with a closed fist. The defendant later told investigators he had taken a nap with the child and hit her as he was waking up from a dream. The incident occurred in the Brooklyn home he shared with the child and other family members.

            According to the investigation, the victim’s mother returned home and observed that the child was lethargic. Family members later observed the child bleeding from the mouth. The child was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where a scan revealed bleeding and swelling to the brain. The child went into cardiac arrest before being transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. She was pronounced deceased on October 5, 2022. The New York City Medical Examiner later determined the child had suffered a traumatic brain injury with the cause of death ruled to be blunt force impact to the head.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin O’Donnell, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau and Senior Assistant District Attorney Sapna Kishnani, under the 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.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, November 4, 2022

 

Brooklyn Couple Indicted for Fatal Shooting of TSA Worker

Defendants Allegedly Tailed Victim in Vehicle Before Killing Him in East Flatbush

            Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn couple has been arraigned on an indictment in which they are charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a longtime Transportation Security Administration worker. The 45-year-old victim was shot twice from behind near East 35th Street and Church Avenue in East Flatbush.

            District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a cold-blooded killing that took the life of an innocent man. We will never tolerate such acts of violence in Brooklyn and will now work to bring these two defendants to justice.”

            The District Attorney identified the defendants as Richard Barrett, 34, and Irene Brown, 32, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Barrett was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice on an indictment in which he and Brown are charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Barrett is being held without bail.  Brown was arraigned on October 25, 2022 before Justice Del Giudice. She was ordered held without bail. Both defendants were ordered to return to court on January 11, 2023. They each face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

            The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on May 29, 2022, at approximately 12:20 a.m., Barret allegedly approached the victim, Donovan Davy, from behind near 3423 Church Avenue. Barrett then allegedly fired several shots from a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun, striking the victim in the back of the neck and right leg. Davy was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The victim was a longtime TSA employee who worked at John F. Kennedy Airport for nearly 20 years.

            Furthermore, according to the investigation, Barrett then allegedly fled the location in a 2010 Nissan Maxima driven by Brown. Video surveillance footage obtained by the New York City Police Department allegedly shows the Nissan Maxima drop off Barrett before the shooting and pick him up afterward. Cellular telephone data also allegedly tie both Barrett and Brown to the vehicle, which surveillance shows tailing an unsuspecting Davy as he travelled through Central Brooklyn on foot and by bus.

            Furthermore, according to the investigation, the Nissan is registered to Brown, who allegedly changed the vehicle’s license plate on June 6, 2022, about a week after the murder. Both defendants were arrested on September 1, 2022 and apprehended in the same 2010 Nissan Maxima.

            The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Robert Schwartz of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, Senior Assistant District Attorney Han Zhang of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Reema Moosa of the District Attorney’s Law Enforcement Assistance Unit, under the supervision of Leila Rosini, Chief of the Homicide Bureau.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

 

Red Hook Man Sentenced to 22 Years to Life in Prison

Following Conviction for Violent Assault of 60-Year-Old

Defendant Demanded Victim’s Valuables, Then Stabbed Him Repeatedly

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a Red Hook man has been sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for robbing and stabbing a 60-year-old man outside a NYCHA development. The defendant was convicted in September for the violent assault, which left the victim in the hospital with multiple stab wounds and a broken leg.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Keeping the people of Brooklyn safe is my highest priority, and violent offenders like this defendant must face serious consequences. Today’s sentence holds the perpetrator of this senseless and brutal attack responsible and ensures he will not be able to victimize others in our communities.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Maurice Johnson, 38, of Red Hook, Brooklyn. The defendant, who was deemed a mandatory persistent violent felon, was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to 22 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of first-degree assault and two counts of first-degree robbery on September 15, 2022, following a jury trial.

            The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on September 14, 2020, at approximately 10:40 p.m., the defendant approached the victim at a Citi Bike station located in front of 505 Columbia Street, part of the Red Hook Houses, and demanded his valuables. The defendant, who was wielding a knife, then punched the victim, causing him to fall and break his leg. The defendant then proceeded to rip a chain off the victim’s neck before stabbing him repeatedly in the face and torso as the victim lay helplessly on the ground. The defendant also stole items from the victim’s wallet before fleeing the scene.

The victim was taken to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and treated for multiple stab wounds on his face, neck, and body, as well as a broken leg.

After an extensive video canvas, the defendant was arrested on September 22, 2020, at a nearby shelter. Officers from the New York City Police Department executed a search warrant at the location where they recovered clothing the defendant was wearing at the time of the robbery.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Henry Neumann of the 76^th Precinct Detective Squad. Senior Intelligence Analyst Christian Salazar of the District Attorney’s Crime Strategies Unit and Digital Evidence Lab assisted in the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph Mancino, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and formerly of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Aleena Peerzada, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

 

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Violent Home Invasion Burglary in Crown Heights

Defendant Allegedly Assaulted and Sexually Abused His 81-Year-Old Neighbor

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Crown Heights man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with sexual abuse, burglary as a sexually motivated felony, assault, strangulation, and other charges for allegedly violently attacking an 81-year-old woman in her apartment.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The violent and brutal assault of an elderly woman allegedly perpetrated by this defendant shocks the conscience and our prosecutors are committed to seeking justice and accountability. This kind of depraved conduct will not be tolerated, and our thoughts remain with the victim as she recovers from this horrifically traumatic crime.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Thomas Johnson, 50, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser on a 16-count indictment in which he is charged with first-, second-, and third-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony, second-degree strangulation as a sexually motivated felony, first-degree sexual abuse, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, second-degree assault as a sexually motivated felony, and related charges. The defendant is being held without bail and was ordered to return to court on December 1, 2022.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on September 27, 2022, at approximately 3 a.m., in Crown Heights, the 81-year-old victim awoke to the sound of a noise in her apartment. She walked to the kitchen and dining area, and she allegedly saw the defendant standing in her apartment. The defendant then allegedly strangled her until she was unconscious.

When the woman came to, she began to crawl towards her bedroom. The defendant allegedly emerged and began to strangle her. She lost consciousness a second time. When she woke up, she was bleeding from the mouth and nose and called out for help. The woman’s upstairs neighbors, who are related to the defendant, came down to help and called 911.

The victim suffered substantial pain to her neck, difficulty breathing, bloodshot eyes, swelling about the face, a dislocated jaw, bleeding from the mouth and nose, and injuries to her genitals.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Newcombe of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the 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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 to 24 Years in Prison in Connection to

Seven Separate Attacks on Women in East Williamsburg

 Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Hate Crime Charges for Targeting Light-Skinned Women

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that an East Williamsburg man has been sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison for a series of attacks on women in East Williamsburg, selecting his victims based on their gender and skin color.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s lengthy prison sentence holds this predator accountable for his terrifying spree of violent attacks on women and sends a strong message that we will not tolerate hate crimes in Brooklyn. My office remains committed to seeking justice for all hate crime victims, and I thank these very strong women for their courage and cooperation.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Khari Covington, 31, who resided in an East Williamsburg transitional housing center. The defendant, who was deemed a mandatory violent persistent felony offender, was today sentenced by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 12 to 24 years in prison. He pleaded guilty on September 7, 2022 to third-degree burglary as a hate crime, second-degree attempted strangulation as a hate crime and third-degree assault as a hate crime.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between August 5, 2020 and January 4, 2021, the defendant assaulted seven women, whom he targeted because they were women and light-skinned, according to his statements to investigators.

The incidents include the following:

• An assault on August 5, 2020 at approximately 9:45 a.m., inside 20 Morgan Avenue.
• An assault on November 17, 2020, at approximately 8 p.m., inside the Morgan Avenue train station.
• An assault on December 11, 2020 at approximately 9:15 p.m. at the Morgan Avenue train station.
• An assault on December 28, 2020, at approximately 5 p.m., inside the Morgan Avenue train station.
• An assault on January 1, 2021, at approximately 8:35 p.m., inside the Morgan Avenue train station.
• An assault on January 2, 2021, at approximately 9:50 p.m., inside the Morgan Avenue train station.
• An assault on January 4, 2021, at approximately 5:10 p.m., inside a smoke shop located at 12 Wilson Avenue.

Paralegal Michael Chung of the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau assisted in the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adriana Rodriguez, Deputy Chief of the Blue Zone Trial Bureau (formerly of the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau) and Senior Assistant District Attorney Sharmalee Brooks-Gordon, of the Hate Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kelli Muse, Chief of the Hate Crimes Bureau.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, October 13, 2022

 

 

Brooklyn Man Charged with Murder and Assault for Killing Woman and Injuring Four Others While Allegedly Driving Recklessly, Evading Police

Was Allegedly Speeding and Weaving into Oncoming Traffic;

Decedent’s 8-year-old Grandson Suffered Serious Brain Injuries

  

            Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been indicted for depraved indifference murder, assault, and related charges for causing the death of a woman, seriously injuring her grandson, and wounding three others when he allegedly fled a police officers’ car stop at a high rate of speed, ran red lights and crashed into a cyclist, pedestrians, another vehicle and a bodega, before fleeing the scene on foot.

           District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s alleged recklessness behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle cost a beloved grandmother her life and injured others as he fled from a traffic stop. Everyone in Brooklyn deserves to feel safe on our streets, and we will now seek to hold this defendant accountable for his horrific alleged crimes.”

            The District Attorney identified the defendant as Tyler Green, 22, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dena Douglas on a 35-count indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, second-degree manslaughter and other related counts. The defendant was ordered held without bail and to return to court on November 2, 2022. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

            The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on June 25, 2022, at about 7:10 p.m., the defendant was driving a stolen Honda HR-V when police officers stopped him at the corner of Ralph Avenue and Chauncey Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant after observing him run a stop sign and determining that the license plate did not match the vehicle.

            The defendant allegedly took off at a high rate of speed and drove four blocks, to the intersection of Ralph Avenue and Macon Street, where he weaved around cars that were stopped at a red light and entered the intersection against the light and against traffic. He then struck a 28-year-old cyclist who was going in the opposite direction, causing the cyclist to suffer a fracture to his leg.

            The defendant also struck Lyn Christopher, 68, who was crossing Ralph Avenue with the light, along with her 8-year-old grandson who was visiting from Atlanta. The grandmother died at the scene and the boy suffered traumatic head injuries and is still hospitalized. The defendant kept going, allegedly running another red light one block away, T-boning a vehicle and injuring its 24-year-old driver who suffered a fractured collar bone. His car then jumped the curb and crashed into a bodega, causing minor injuries to a 43-year-old bodega employee who was standing outside.

            The defendant then allegedly jumped out of the car, along with his passenger, and fled on foot. The entire incident was captured on video and additional videos showed the defendant running back to his home on Gates Avenue, about a mile away. DNA matching the defendant was recovered from the deployed airbag of the Honda.

            The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and formerly of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Street Safety Bureau, and under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Courtney Hogg, Deputy Chief of the Grey Zone, and Assistant District Attorney Robert Walsh, Bureau Chief.

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

 

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