Notifications

Kenneth P. Thompson

District Attorney
Kings County

June 24, 2016

COMMUNITY PARTNER IN JUSTICE NOTIFICATION

Bronx Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Slashing MTA Driver

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson yesterday announced that a 30-year-old man was sentenced to four years in prison for attacking a uniformed MTA bus driver without any provocation, slashing him in the face and neck.

According to evidence at trial, on the night of September 13, 2014, John Browne, a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, was outside his B35 bus near the corner of Mother Gaston Boulevard and Hegeman Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He had parked the bus at the last stop of its route and was waiting for assistance after a hazard light had indicated a mechanical problem.

Browne, who was in uniform, was returning to the bus after making a purchase at a bodega, when he heard the defendant, Alfredo Perez, 30, of the Bronx, whom he had never seen before, cursing him from the opposite street corner. The defendant then crossed the street, quickly approached Browne, continued to scream and curse, took out a knife and slashed Browne on the left side of his face and neck.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This defendant’s vicious and unprovoked attack against a hard-working public servant who was simply waiting for his bus to be towed is completely unacceptable. He deserves to be sent to prison to protect the public.”

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Read the full press release here.

Kenneth P. Thompson

District Attorney
Kings County

June 23, 2016

COMMUNITY PARTNER IN JUSTICE NOTIFICATION

Driver Sentenced to up to 7 Years in Prison for Recklessly Killing a Pedestrian
During High-Speed Police Chase

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Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a Crown Heights man has been sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison for the death a pedestrian who was killed when the defendant led police officers on a high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood.

According to the evidence, on the night of March 8, 2015, in the vicinity of Sterling Avenue and Schenectady Avenue in Crown Heights, the defendant, Raymond Ramos, 19, of Crown Heights, was behind the wheel of a car with the windows down. New York City Police Department officers passing in an unmarked police vehicle smelled marijuana, turned on their sirens and attempted to stop the defendant’s vehicle. The defendant refused to stop and sped up to flee from the officers.

The defendant continued speeding and ran through two steady red lights before hitting another vehicle at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and Saint Johns Place. The impact of the crash caused the defendant to hit a pedestrian, 21-year-old Dave Jones, before striking a nearby bus shelter and a telephone pole. Jones was later pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital. Three passengers in vehicles involved in the crash suffered injuries.

District Attorney Thompson said, “Instead of pulling over his car, this defendant foolishly decided to flee law enforcement and recklessly speed through red lights, which led to the death of an innocent young man. This tragedy was completely avoidable and the defendant will now spend years in prison, where, undoubtedly, he will think about that fact.”

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Read the full press release here.

Kenneth P. Thompson

District Attorney
Kings County

June 23, 2016

COMMUNITY PARTNER IN JUSTICE NOTIFICATION

Police Officer Sentenced to Two Years’ Probation for
Stomping on Suspect’s Head

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a New York City Police Officer was sentenced to two years’ probation and instructed to resign following his conviction of misdemeanor assault for stomping on the head of a suspect while he was face down on the ground, in the process of being handcuffed by other officers.

According to trial testimony, in the evening on July 23, 2014, near 223 Malcolm X Boulevard, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the defendant, Joel Edouard, 38, of Elmont, NY, and his partner observed Jahmi-El Cuffee, 32, drinking on the sidewalk and in possession of what looked like marijuana. The officers attempted to arrest Cuffee, who resisted, leading to a tussle and more officers arriving on the scene to assist.

A witness’ cell phone video showed Cuffee face down on the ground, being subdued by several officers. The video also showed Officer Edouard pointing his gun at Cuffee, walking away and then returning and stomping on Cuffee’s head, causing it to hit the concrete, resulting in a contusion and later dizziness, headaches and nausea.

Leading up to today’s sentencing, the District Attorney’s Office recommended a sentence of 60 days in jail followed by two years’ probation.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This police officer intentionally and needlessly stomped on the head of a suspect who had already been restrained by fellow officers. And he did so in broad daylight and in front of a crowd of people. He deserved to spend time in jail for committing such a blatant act of police brutality, but we accept the sentence imposed by the court.”

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Read the full press release here.

Kenneth P. Thompson

District Attorney
Kings County

June 22, 2016

COMMUNITY PARTNER IN JUSTICE NOTIFICATION

NYPD Officer Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing a Child

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a New York City Police Department Officer has been convicted for sexually abusing a young girl for nearly three years, starting when she was 10 years old.

According to trial testimony, the defendant, Jacob Sabbagh, 34, of Midwood, was a family friend of the victim and would sleep over at the victim’s home in Flatbush approximately every month. The investigation revealed that on each of these visits between June 2005 and March 2008, the defendant repeatedly groped and fondled the victim and occasionally forced her to reciprocate. The defendant joined the police force in 2009.

The abuse began when the victim was 10 and continued until she turned 13. She and her family moved out of the country and, when she was 16, the victim told her mother about the past abuse.

District Attorney Thompson said, “This is a disturbing case where a young child was sexually abused and repeatedly violated by a family friend — now a police officer — whom she should have been able to trust. The victim had the courage to speak out against the abuser and we will now see that he is punished.”

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Read the full press release here.

Kenneth P. Thompson

District Attorney
Kings County

June 17, 2016

COMMUNITY PARTNER IN JUSTICE NOTIFICATION

Two Gang Members Convicted for Fatal Shooting of
Rival in Coney Island Street

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson Friday announced that two members of the “Sex Money Murder” street gang have been convicted for second-degree murder for killing a rival whom they lured out of a store in Coney Island and shot multiple times.

The evidence showed that on December 19, 2012, the victim, Henry Dankwah, was heard making threats against one of the defendants, Gregory (“Douggie”) Ammonds, 25, of Brownsville. That evening, the other defendant, Kevin (“Cheese”) Perry, 39, of Rockaway Beach, Queens, started a conversation with the victim in a store at West 36th Street and Neptune Avenue — after which the two left the store onto West 36th Street. Ammonds and an accomplice, Michael (“Mikey”) Torres, 24, were waiting across from the store and, when Perry and the victim walked out on the street, Ammonds and Torres crept up behind them and shot the victim a total of 13 times.

Torres, of Castle Hill in the Bronx, pleaded guilty on February 17, 2016 to second-degree murder and was sentenced by a judge in April to 15 years to life in prison.

District Attorney Thompson said, “These violent defendants conspired to shoot and kill a man in the middle of the street. We will simply not allow gang members to fire guns in our communities, but will investigate each and every shooting and hold all perpetrators accountable.”

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Read the full press release here.

Kenneth P. Thompson

District Attorney
Kings County

June 14, 2016

COMMUNITY PARTNER IN JUSTICE NOTIFICATION

Coney Island Teenager Sentenced to 19 Years to Life for Arson Murder of
New York City Police Officer Dennis Guerra

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a Coney Island teenager was sentenced to 19 years to life for setting fire to a mattress in the hallway of a New York City Housing Authority building, which led to the death of one responding police officer and serious injury to another.

According to trial testimony, in the afternoon on April 6, 2014, Officer Guerra and his partner, Officer Rosa Rodriguez, responded to a 911 call of a fire on the 13th floor of the defendant’s apartment building located at 2007 Surf Avenue. When the officers arrived, they were overcome by toxic smoke. Responding firefighters found both officers unconscious and rescued them from the building.

According to testimony, the defendant, Marcell Dockery, 18, who lived on the 12th floor, found a discarded mattress in a 13th floor hallway and used a lighter to set it on fire because, the defendant admitted, “I was bored.”

Both officers were hospitalized for severe smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Officer Guerra died three days later. Officer Rodriguez is currently on limited police duty due to her injuries.

District Attorney Thompson said, “When Police Officers Guerra and Rodriguez responded to that fire inside that building, they did so to save lives. However, a senseless act of arson cost a very courageous police officer his life and destroyed the health and career of another heroic officer. The sentence imposed by the court today reflects the severity of the crime committed by the defendant.”

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Read the full press release here.

Kenneth P. Thompson

District Attorney
Kings County

June 15, 2016

COMMUNITY PARTNER IN JUSTICE NOTIFICATION

Long-Sought Suspect Indicted for 2006 Murder of Chanel Petro-Nixon

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced an indictment for the June 2006 murder of Bedford-Stuyvesant high school student Chanel Petro-Nixon. The defendant, Veron Primus, 29, formerly of Crown Heights, was indicted on one count of second-degree murder and will be arraigned following his extradition from the Caribbean country St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where he is currently detained on another matter. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

According to the investigation, Chanel Petro-Nixon, 16, was last seen alive on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 18, 2006 when she left her parents’ Bedford-Stuyvesant home to visit with a friend. Chanel stated that she would be meeting the defendant. She still hadn’t returned home the next day and was reported missing. Three days later, Chanel’s body was found in a trash bag on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights.

“Ten years ago a promising young woman’s life was tragically taken, leaving her family and the community searching for answers,” said District Attorney Thompson. “My office remained steadfast in our search for justice and with this indictment, we will ensure that the defendant is brought back to Brooklyn and held accountable for the death of Chanel Petro-Nixon.”

A public Justice Rally will be held for Chanel and the Nixon family on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at 11 a.m., starting at 212 Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights.

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

Read the full press release here.