Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 12, 2019

Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office to Launch Saturday Night Lights Soccer Program in East Flatbush and Brownsville Through Collaboration with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the NYC Soccer Initiative

The Free Program Will Offer Lessons and Games Every Saturday

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced the launch of Saturday Night Lights in East Flatbush and Brownsville, a soccer program in collaboration with the NYC Soccer Initiative and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. The free program will begin on September 21, 2019 at the Winthrop Beacon Community Center in East Flatbush. The soccer program is open to boys and girls ages nine to 18.

The weekly sessions will offer an opportunity to learn character building skills by working as a team and with experienced coaches. The program will run every Saturday night from 6 to 9 p.m., year-round.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “In Brooklyn, we are excited that the Saturday Night Lights program, which exists in East New York, is now expanding to East Flatbush and Brownsville, thanks to the generosity of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

“These terrific programs give our children a place to spend their Saturday nights in a safe and productive environment where they not only learn sports and sportsmanship, but help our children build confidence and develop life skills. This is a valuable investment in communities that often lack the resources and facilities to constructively engage young people and complements our existing youth programs such as our Chess Partnership, our Explorers Program, our Anti-Bullying Initiative and our Brooklyn Scholars program.

“The goal of my Justice 2020 Action Plan is to enhance public safety while building community trust. Saturday Night Lights achieves both these goals while reducing the criminal justice footprint.”

There are no academic or pre-registration requirements to participate in the soccer program. Parents can enroll their children at the Winthrop Beacon Community Center, located at 905 Winthrop Street in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. The program is part of a two-year grant awarded to City in the Community, the non-profit organization of the New York City Football Club, by the Manhattan District Attorney, which is funding the program.

For more information on our Saturday Night Lights programs, please visit: http://www.brooklynda.org/youth-initiatives/.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Brooklyn Man Sentenced for Stealing Neighbor’s East New York Home;
Transferred Deed to Himself After Forging Notary’s Signature

Defendant Befriended Elderly Victim for Whom He Worked as Part-Time Caretaker

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an East New York man has been sentenced to five months in jail and five years’ probation for stealing and attempting to sell the home of his 85-year-old neighbor, a diabetic man for whom the defendant was a part-time caretaker.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “With today’s sentencing this defendant is being held accountable for preying on his elderly neighbor and abusing his trust. I urge seniors and their family members to protect their homes, especially as property values continue to rise in Brooklyn, by taking care not to sign any documents pertaining to their properties without the advice of a reputable attorney. I remain committed to prosecuting deed thefts like this and assisting all homeowners whenever possible.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jordan Horsford, 29, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to five months in jail and five years’ probation. The defendant pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny in June and consented to an order nullifying the fraudulent recorded deed.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, in August 2016 the defendant, who was known to do odd jobs in the neighborhood, began helping the victim as needed, including carrying his wheelchair up steps and helping him get in and out of vehicles; he was paid for each task by the victim’s family.

In April 2017, the victim’s family began paying the defendant $400 a week to accept Meals on Wheels deliveries and set them out for the victim, to make sure he took his medicine and to check in on him at night.

Between June 19, 2017 and November 1, 2017, the defendant convinced the victim to sign away the deed to his home on Barbey Street in East New York, Brooklyn. The defendant told the victim he risked losing his home if he did not sign a document, and had the document notarized by a notary. The defendant then realized he needed another document notarized, but the notary refused so the defendant cut and pasted her original signature. He then recorded the deed, which had been signed over to him.

Finally, the defendant attempted to sell the house almost immediately after securing the deed, but a title company suspected foul play and refused to insure the home. The would-be purchaser then reached out to the 85-year-old victim’s family. At around the same time, the victim’s daughter, while going through her father’s mail, found a letter from the Department of Finance notifying them about documents filed relating to the property. The daughter pursued the matter with the DOF and the case was ultimately referred to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for further investigation and prosecution.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Karen Turner of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gavin Miles, Counsel to the Frauds Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez Announces Opening of
The Kenneth P. Thompson Boutique Located At
The DA’s Re-Entry Bureau in Partnership with 100 Suits for 100 Men

To Provide Men and Women Involved with the Criminal Justice System
With Clothing for Job Interviews and Employment, At No Cost

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with Kevin Livingston, founder and president of 100 Suits for 100 Men, and Mrs. Lu-Shawn Thompson, widow of the late DA Ken Thompson, today announced the grand opening of the Kenneth P. Thompson boutique located in the District Attorney’s Re-Entry Bureau in Downtown Brooklyn. The boutique will offer professional attire, free of charge, to assist men and women recently released from prison or involved with the criminal justice system as they search for and secure employment.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “In Brooklyn, we are committed to strengthening community trust in the criminal justice system and our commitment to justice does not end when a person is released from prison. It is our obligation to aid their reintegration into the community. This boutique is a great tool to help ex-offenders increase their self-esteem and get on the right path with access to professional work attire as they prepare for job interviews and seek to obtain employment.

“The late District Attorney Ken Thompson firmly believed in fairness and second chances and this boutique named in his honor will continue that legacy. I’m proud to partner with Kevin Livingston and 100 Suits for 100 Men in this important endeavor.”

Mr. Livingston said, “We are proud to continue the legacy of service that was a cornerstone of Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson’s administration and forms the basis of our own mission. 100 Suits works with men and women who have justice involvement and having a location inside Brooklyn’s Re-Entry Bureau will greatly improve access to the services we provide.”

Mrs. Thompson said, “My husband would be so proud to have his name associated with 100 Suits for 100 Men and would have been an avid supporter of Kevin Livingston and his amazing work. He would also have been pleased that Eric Gonzalez and the Brooklyn DA’s office are continuing to keep his legacy alive by continuing to make strides in criminal justice reform.”

The Kenneth P. Thompson boutique will provide clothing for job interviews and employment, as well as personal empowerment support for individuals who have been incarcerated or otherwise involved with the criminal justice system. The boutique will be operated by the not-for-profit organization 100 Suits for 100 Men, and will provide its services free of charge, primarily to individuals enrolled in the District Attorney’s re-entry programs.

This partnership reflects DA Gonzalez’s commitment to strengthen his office’s work in re-entry programs. The Re-Entry Bureau currently includes three case management-based programs serving individuals who have been convicted of offenses and may have experienced incarceration or another form of removal from the community. The Kings County Re-Entry Task Force is a partnership with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (Brooklyn Region) that serves 300 individuals. ComAlert (Community and Law Enforcement Resources Together) serves a similar number of clients and is growing. The Gender-responsive Re-entry Assistance and Support Program (GRASP) serves younger people, primarily women.

100 Suits for 100 Men has operated programs throughout New York City and has sites in Harlem and Jamaica, Queens. This is its first permanent location in Brooklyn and the first time it has partnered with a DA’s office to establish a permanent location.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 5, 2019

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for Fatally Shooting Two Men in Brownsville Following an Earlier Argument

Defendant Fired Six Shots at the Victims, Killing Both Men

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 23-year-old Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree murder for fatally shooting two men in July 2016, after walking away from an argument and returning with a gun.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Gun violence in our communities destroys lives, families and makes our streets unsafe. We will continue to prosecute all gun crimes against individuals who use violence such as this defendant. Two families were left without their loved ones, and that is an avoidable tragedy they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Tariq Hargrove, 23, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice William Harrington to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder on August 5, 2019.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 15, 2016, the defendant was arguing with one victim, Jeffrey James, 37, outside of the New York City Housing Authority’s Howard Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The second victim, Perry Chance, 40, who knew both the defendant and James, tried to intervene to end the argument. James then began to argue with Chance for getting involved, but ultimately all three men walked away from the argument.

The same morning, at approximately 4:03 a.m. outside of 101 Osborn Street, as Chance was walking with his wife, they saw James on the street. The men began to argue about what happened earlier. During the argument, the defendant approached them from nearby Pitkin Avenue and fired six shots, hitting both victims. James was shot five times, and Chance was shot once. Both victims died at Brookdale University Hospital.

Three eyewitnesses who knew the defendant identified him as the shooter. The defendant was arrested in Harlem on August 22, 2016.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Emily Dean, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Timothy Gough, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Manslaughter for Causing
Motorcyclist’s Death While Driving Under the Influence and Speeding

Defendant and His Girlfriend Additionally Charged with Conspiracy and Obstruction
For Allegedly Telling Police That She was Driving at the Time of the Collision

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, conspiracy and other related charges for speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, then slamming into a motorcyclist at an intersection in Kensington, Brooklyn, killing him. The defendant and his girlfriend initially told the police that she was driving.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “A thorough and comprehensive investigation by my Office showed that these defendants allegedly lied to police in order to help the driver of this vehicle to escape justice for slamming into a law-abiding motorcyclist and killing him. The victim was a father whose family is now devastated. I am determined to keep Brooklyn’s roads safe for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians alike and will continue to bring anyone who unlawfully endangers those who use our streets to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Christopher Diaz, 24, of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice William Miller on a 17-count indictment in which he is charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, criminally negligent homicide, fifth- and sixth-degree conspiracy and second-degree obstruction of governmental administration. Bail was set at $400,000 bond or $200,000 cash and the defendant was ordered to return to court on September 23, 2019. He faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The defendant’s girlfriend, Jasmin Morales-Cruz, 23, of Homecrest, Brooklyn, was indicted on charges of fifth- and sixth-degree conspiracy, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, and second- and third-degree hindering prosecution and will be arraigned on a later date. A criminal complaint in which Morales-Cruz was charged with vehicular manslaughter and related charges immediately after the incident – after she told police she was driving the vehicle when it struck the victim – will be dismissed.

The District Attorney said that on May 27, 2019, at about 3:55 a.m., Diaz, was driving a 2014 black Infinity Q50 sedan registered to Morales-Cruz, northbound on Ocean Parkway, near Beverley Road in Kensington, Brooklyn. The investigation found that as Evvon Alexander, 28, was traveling southbound on a motorcycle and was attempting to turn onto Beverley Road from the turning lane, he was struck by the defendant, who was traveling at more than 80 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone and was under the influence of alcohol. The motorcycle was struck with such force that it split in half. The victim was thrown into the air, over the median between the main parkway and the service road and landed between parked cars on the service road. He was declared dead at Maimonides Hospital.

When police arrived, the defendant and Morales-Cruz both claimed that she had been driving because she had only one drink and that the defendant had multiple drinks. Their two passengers also said Morales-Cruz was driving, but days later admitted that Diaz was driving and had asked them to lie. Morales-Cruz’s blood alcohol level was .11 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent. Because of the alleged conspiracy claiming that Morales-Cruz was the driver, Diaz’s blood alcohol level was not tested, though he later admitted, during the course of the investigation, that he had consumed six to eight beers.

A lengthy investigation led to the recovery of videotape surveillance of the defendants and their passengers drinking at three different bars before the collision and allegedly showing Diaz getting into the driver’s seat shortly before the collision. Text messages asking the passengers to lie to authorities about who was driving were also recovered; other evidence allegedly shows that the defendant accelerated from 65 mph to 83 mph seconds before the crash and applied the brake just a half-second before impact.

Assistant District Attorney Craig Esswein, Chief of the District Attorney’s Vehicular Crimes Unit, and Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Deputy Chief, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Douglas Marquez, assisted in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Luis Segura and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Velez, of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 29, 2019

Two Former New York City Police Detectives Plead Guilty to
Bribe Receiving and Official Misconduct for Having Sex With
Woman in Their Custody in Exchange for Her Release

To Be Sentenced to Five Years’ Probation Under Plea Offer Made by the Court;
Prosecutors Requested Prison Time

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that two former New York City Police detectives pleaded guilty to bribe receiving and official misconduct for having sex inside a police van with a young woman they had arrested, before releasing her without authorization and without reporting the arrest. While prosecutors requested incarceration, the defendants were promised five years’ probation in exchange for their guilty plea.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These defendants engaged in a shocking abuse of power which they finally acknowledged. While I would have preferred to see them serve prison time, they are no longer members of our police department and with today’s plea are convicted felons. As a result of this disturbing incident, New York passed a law to prohibit police officers from having sex with people in their custody, closing a loophole that had allowed officers to claim that the sex was consensual. We could not apply the new law retroactively, and serious credibility issues in this case precluded us from proceeding on additional charges, yet we remained committed to holding these defendants accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Eddie Martins, 39, and Richard Hall, 34, who were formerly assigned to the NYPD’s Brooklyn South Narcotics. They pleaded guilty today to the indictment against them – two counts of third-degree bribe receiving and nine counts of official misconduct – before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, who indicated he will sentence each defendant on October 10, 2019 to five years’ probation over prosecutors’ objections. The District Attorney’s Office requested a term of incarceration of one to three years. Because the defendants pleaded guilty to the entire indictment, the plea agreement was offered by the Court and without prosecutors’ consent.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on September 15, 2017, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the defendants, who were on-duty and riding in a Dodge Caravan, working as part of a team of plainclothes detectives assigned to Brooklyn South Narcotics and conducting a buy and bust operation in the confines of the 60th Precinct, left their post without authorization and drove to Calvert Vaux Park in Gravesend, Brooklyn.

Just after 8 p.m., the officers conducted a car stop of an Infinity Coupe driven by an 18-year-old woman with two male passengers. There was a quantity of marijuana in the front seat cup holder. The officers instructed the three occupants to step out of the car and asked if they had any drugs on them, according to the investigation. The young woman responded she had marijuana and two Klonopin pills. The detectives handcuffed the woman, told her she was under arrest and would be getting a desk appearance ticket. They let her companions go, the evidence showed.

After leaving the park, while inside the police van, the woman had sexual intercourse with Martins and performed a sex act on Hall, according to the evidence. The defendants then drove back to the vicinity of the 60th Precinct in Coney Island and released the woman, giving her back the Klonopin pills. They did not report the incident to their supervisor or to anyone else and had no authority to rescind the arrest or to release the detainee, according to the indictment.

DNA recovered from the woman was a match to both of the defendants. Video surveillance shows the woman exiting the police van at approximately 8:42 p.m., the investigation found.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, First Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, Senior Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nasar, of the Special Victims Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Anthea Bruffee, First Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Appeals Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the Special Victims Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Joseph P. Alexis, Chief of the Trial Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Brooklyn Man Indicted on Attempted Murder and Hate Crime Charges for Allegedly
Stabbing Transgender Individual’s Partner After Harassing Couple

Victim Was Stabbed in the Back of the Neck

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 32-year-old man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with attempted murder, assault as a hate crime and related charges for allegedly stabbing a transgender individual’s partner in the neck during an attack outside their apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly violated the sanctity and safety of this couple’s home when he showed up at their door spewing hate, then escalated it to a violent assault. There is no place for such ignorance and intolerance in Brooklyn, where we celebrate our diversity. We will now seek to hold this defendant accountable for this very serious attack.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Emmanuel Dash, 32, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 25-count indictment in which he is charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault as a hate crime and related charges. He was ordered held on $40,000 bail and to return to court on October 23, 2019. The defendant faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on June 22, 2019, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the victim, a 32-year-old male, and his non-gender conforming partner, were allegedly harassed by the defendant outside their apartment on Malcom X Boulevard in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The defendant allegedly knocked on various apartment doors looking for the couple and threatened them when he found their apartment. While outside the apartment, the defendant allegedly said: “I’m glad I know where you live, because I don’t like gay people.”

When the victim’s partner opened the door, the defendant allegedly threatened the partner with a knife. The partner then shut the door to the apartment and told the victim what happened. A short time later, the couple sought to speak with the defendant, who they recognized from the neighborhood.

As the couple was returning to their building, the defendant allegedly charged towards them in the street and allegedly started attacking them with a weapon. The victim was stabbed in the back of the neck while attempting to retreat into the apartment building.

After the defendant fled, the victim’s partner called 911. The victim was taken to Kings County Hospital with a stab wound to the back of the neck, approximately six inches in length, that partially severed the vertebral artery. The defendant was arrested on July 24, 2019, at his home.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Peter Choi, of the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Ari Farkas, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kelli M. Muse, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 22, 2019

Off-Duty NYPD Officer Indicted for Insurance Fraud After
He Allegedly Attested Falsely that His Car Was Stolen

Defendant’s BMW Convertible Was Found Torched Two Days
Before the Date He Claimed Under Oath That He Used It Last

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a New York City Police Department officer has been indicted for insurance fraud, falsifying business records and related charges for allegedly filing a false insurance claim, stating his vehicle was stolen when, in fact, the same car was found burned down at an earlier date.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Insurance fraud victimizes both the insurer and paying customers that get hit with higher premiums. That this crime was allegedly committed by a police officer is troublesome because we demand honesty and integrity from all of our law enforcement officials. We intend to hold this defendant accountable and continue to investigate every instance of fraud or misconduct.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Police Officer Kirk Peddie, 43, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, a 15-year veteran of the NYPD who was assigned to the 66th Precinct patrol unit at the time of the incident. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an 11-count indictment in which he is charged with third- and fourth-degree insurance fraud, first-degree falsifying business records, third-degree attempted grand larceny and related counts. The defendant was released without bail and ordered to return to court on October 23, 2019. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on December 25, 2016 the defendant called 911 to report that his BMW had been stolen and he filed two supporting depositions attesting to the fact that he had last seen and moved the vehicle to a parking spot near his residence on December 22, 2016. Subsequently, the defendant filed a claim with his insurance company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Company, which required him to submit an additional affidavit of vehicle theft. He again stated in that affidavit that he last saw the vehicle on December 22, 2016.

On December 20, 2016, the FDNY responded to a vehicular fire in East New York involving a 2006 BMW 650i convertible, which was later determined to be registered to the defendant.

On February 15, 2017, the Defendant was deposed in regards to his insurance claim and stated that he actually last moved his car on December 8, 2016. When confronted about the change of date, he admitted that he had no explanation for giving the factually impossible date in the above-mentioned documents.

The District Attorney thanked the NYPD and its Internal Affairs Bureau for the assistance in the investigation.

The case was investigated by Lieutenant John Orecchia of the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Peter Choi, formerly of the District Attorney’s Civil Right Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patrick L. O’Connor, Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Law Enforcement Accountability Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Eribo, Deputy Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Joseph Alexis, Chief of Trials, and Executive Assistant District Attorney Tali Farhadian-Weinstein, General Counsel.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 22, 2019

Middle School Teacher Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
For Sexually Assaulting 14-Year-Old Student

Child was Assaulted on Seven Occasions in Classroom and School Bathroom

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 36-year-old former teacher at Lenox Academy Middle School in Canarsie has been sentenced to four years in prison following his guilty plea last month to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student on multiple occasions.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant exploited his position of trust to prey on a young student, which is an unconscionable betrayal. Schools should be safe havens and parents must be able to feel that their children are being protected while attending class. I hope today’s sentence brings some closure to the young student and his family and I remain steadfast in my commitment to protecting our children.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Andre Braddy, 36, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser to four years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty on July 2, 2019 to second-degree criminal sexual act, promoting a sexual performance of a child and related charges, before Justice Konviser, in exchange for the promised sentence, over the objection of prosecutors, who had asked for five years in prison. The defendant faced up to seven years if convicted at trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on seven occasions between March 19, 2018 and April 20, 2018, in Lenox Academy, located on Flatlands Avenue, in Canarsie, Brooklyn, the defendant, who was 34 years old, sexually assaulted a 14-year-old male student, in his classroom and in the school bathroom, including during school hours. The defendant also admitted to exchanging sexually explicit photos with the student.

The defendant was arrested after the victim’s mother found sexually explicit photos and text messages on his phone and confronted the child, who disclosed the abuse.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Bridget Brodzinski, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Miss Gregory, Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Queens Man Charged with Reckless Manslaughter for Causing
Cyclist’s Death by Speeding and Running a Red Light

Defendant Allegedly Drove at Over 60 mph and Struck Vehicle at Intersection,
Sending it Crashing into Victim, Killing Him

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an 18-year-old Queens man has been indicted for reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and other charges for killing a cyclist at a Midwood intersection when he allegedly sped through a steady red light and collided with an SUV, causing it to strike the victim who was waiting for the light to change.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This tragic case illustrates the dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians when drivers choose to recklessly ignore the rules of the road. I urge all motorists to obey the speed limit, follow all traffic laws and yield the right of way to those who share our streets. If they don’t, they might take a life in an instant – and face serious criminal charges. I am committed to doing my part to promote safety and will continue to investigate cases of vehicular violence and bring criminal charges whenever they are supported by the facts and the law.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Umar Mirza Baig, 18, of Rego Park, Queens. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 17-count indictment in which he is charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, criminally negligent homicide and other charges. Bail was set at $50,000 bond or $10,000 cash and the defendant was ordered to return to court on October 23, 2019. He faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count with which he is charged.

The District Attorney said that on August 11, 2019 the defendant was driving a 2019 Dodge Charger, going southbound on Coney Island Avenue in Midwood, Brooklyn. The investigation found that when he crossed Avenue L at 12:27 p.m., the defendant was speeding through a steady red light which turned red at least five seconds earlier, and collided with a 2018 Honda Pilot that had the light and was heading east on Avenue L. The Dodge was allegedly going at approximately 61 mph in a 25 mph zone at the time of the impact, the evidence shows.

As a result of the collision, the Honda was forced diagonally across the intersection and struck a cyclist who was situated in the southeast corner, waiting for the light to change on the northbound lanes of Coney Island Avenue.

The cyclist, 52-year-old Jose Alzorriz, was thrown off his bike and became pinned between a brick wall and the Honda. He was pronounced dead at Coney Island Hospital. The driver of the Honda sustained internal bleeding and spine trauma.

The case was investigated by Detective Jared Vazquez of the New York City Police Department’s Collision Investigation Squad.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Vehicular Crimes Unit, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Jacob Uriel, also of the Vehicular Crimes Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Craig Esswein, Unit Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney David Klestzick, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Trial Division.

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