Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 24, 2022

 

Brooklyn Woman Indicted for Beating 9-year-old
Daughter to Death in Crown Heights Apartment

Victim Suffered Blunt Force Impact Injuries to Face, Head and Body

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a woman has been arraigned on an indictment in which she is charged with murder and other charges for allegedly killing her 9-year-old daughter, Shalom Guiffaro, in the family’s apartment in Crown Heights.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This horrific murder ended the life of a precious young child, allegedly at the hands of her own mother. The brutality of this attack shocks the conscience, and we are committed to seeking accountability and justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Shemene Cato, 47, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo on an indictment in which she is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree manslaughter, one count of first-degree attempted assault, two counts of second-degree assault, one count of third-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and four counts of second-degree menacing. She is being held without bail and was ordered to return to court on August 5, 2022.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on May 15, at approximately 8 a.m., inside the family’s fourth-floor apartment, located at 571 Lincoln Place, the defendant allegedly beat Shalom and another daughter, 13, with an electrical cord and a broom during an argument over a missing tablet. The beating lasted for approximately two hours. At one point, Shalom allegedly tried to escape the defendant by crawling under a bed. The defendant then allegedly lifted the bed and attempted to pull Shalom out from under it. The defendant is alleged to have dropped the bed, causing the leg to fall off, and the bed to fall on Shalom’s head.

According to the investigation, the defendant called 911 at 1 p.m., and EMS responded and performed CPR on Shalom, who was pronounced dead at 1:21 p.m. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined that the child suffered multiple blunt force impact injuries to her head, face, and body. The cause of death was blunt force trauma. The defendant’s 13-year-old daughter was taken to Brooklyn Hospital and treated for lacerations and contusions over her lower body.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Linda Weinman, Counsel to the District Attorney’s Special Victim’s Bureau and Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Mirabella, of the 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, June 22, 2022

 

Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez Dedicates Unprecedented Resources to Combat Gun Violence Under Comprehensive STOP VIOLENCE Initiative

Building on Reductions in Shootings and Homicides During the First Half of the Year,
Plan Adds Personnel, Technology, Intelligence-Sharing Protocols and
Community Partnerships to Prevent Shootings and Prosecute Offenders

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced a comprehensive strategy to fight gun violence in Brooklyn and dedicated unprecedented new resources to enhance the Office’s analytics, investigative and technological capacity to prevent violence and to hold accountable those who commit gun crimes. The new investments include a $2 million Digital Evidence Lab, a new Ghost gun Unit and an executive position focusing on gun violence reduction. The Office is also making significant new investments in gang violence prevention programs and youth engagement. The full plan is available here.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “We know what we’re doing in Brooklyn works because shootings here dropped in 2021 as they spiked elsewhere and we’re seeing that progress continue in the first half of 2022. Shootings and murders fell in Brooklyn last year because of a strong focus on the drivers of crime and community engagement, and this initiative will supercharge the most effective strategies. We are committing more prosecutors, more technology, and more information-sharing tools to investigate and prosecute those who commit gun crimes, while broadening the community partnership efforts that are critical to violence prevention. Working with our partners at every level, this initiative will make Brooklyn safer.”

District Attorney Gonzalez will personally lead the new Strategic Team Operation to Prevent Violence through Intelligence, Organization, Law Enforcement, Neighborhood and Community Engagement (STOP VIOLENCE) initiative, with day-to-day collaboration facilitated by Kevin Aulbach, who has been promoted to the newly created role of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Strategic Enforcement. The team will bring together representatives from the Crime Strategies Unit, Homicide Bureau, Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, the Forensic Science & Cold Case Unit, Community Lead Safety Representatives, and Detective Investigators, sharing intelligence and data in real time.

The Crime Strategies Unit operates on the evidence-based principle that a very small number of individuals are responsible for most violent crime, and that by identifying those individuals and carefully targeting investigative and prosecution resources to address those drivers of crime, public safety is improved. It is this focus, shared by our partners in the New York City Police Department, that has helped reduce gun violence in Brooklyn. Last year, shootings declined by 20% and homicides went down by 15%, and the borough has experienced similar percent reductions in these categories so far this year.

The STOP VIOLENCE plan also includes the creation of a new Ghost Gun Unit to focus on weapons sold as kits requiring assembly, which have no serial number, require no background check, and are untraceable.

In addition, the District Attorney has invested in cutting-edge new technology to fight gun crime. With more than $2 million in new software and hardware and four new digital forensics analysts, the District Attorney’s recently certified Digital Evidence Lab is improving the Office’s ability to extract critical evidence and intelligence from cellular phones and other electronics. Specially trained analysts assist with search warrant execution to ensure all potentially relevant digital evidence is captured, analyzed, and utilized for maximum investigative value to prevent crime and to prosecute violent offenders. Leveraging these new resources, in addition to existing tools including ShotSpotter, cellular geolocation, crime mapping, video surveillance, and social media analysis, the Office is bringing unprecedented analytics and investigative tools to the fight against gun violence.

District Attorney Gonzalez has also hired five experienced prosecutors to focus exclusively on gun crime. These Assistant District Attorneys will ensure that critical gun cases have the staff support needed to not only investigate and prosecute offenses, but to proactively share intelligence to prevent crime.

The District Attorney’s Office will continue its collaborative engagement with local, state, and federal partners through the Gun Violence Strategies Partnership (GVSP), a Citywide clearinghouse effort established in August 2021 that brings representatives from every state and federal law enforcement and corrections agency together daily. In these briefings, leaders from each agency discuss the most significant drivers of shooting violence across the City, share information and intelligence, and coordinate resources to ensure that every possible law enforcement tool is brought to bear to interrupt patterns of violent criminal conduct.

The Office also collaborates with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York regarding “Triggerlock” defendants, which allows federal prosecutors to remove appropriate gun possession cases to U. S. District Court for federal prosecution and sentencing, frequently resulting in more severe sentences. This potential for additional prison time encourages those facing eligible gun charges to cooperate, often revealing information useful to prevent or solve other violent crimes and to identify and stop those trafficking weapons.

Finally, the District Attorney is committed to continuing the Office’s strong community engagement efforts to build trust, strengthen partnerships, and promote collaboration. These efforts include gun buybacks event in collaboration with the NYPD and local churches; new youth engagement programming and support for violence interrupters who work directly with at-risk individuals to help resolve conflicts peacefully; as well as other community-driven efforts to match services and resources to those in need to prevent criminal conduct. The District Attorney’s Office has also partnered with neighborhood organizations in Bedford-Stuyvesant, investing unprecedented resources as part of Project Restore, an innovative pilot program that seeks to address a decades-long history of violent gang rivalry through restorative justice interventions. This effort to prevent violent conflict, combined with direct engagement in impacted communities following significant enforcement events helps to not only reduce violence, but also to promote healing and growth.

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 21, 2022

 

East Flatbush Man Arraigned on Indictment Charging Him
With Kidnapping and Predatory Sexual Assault of Teen Boy

Defendant Abducted 13-Year-Old Stranger at Knifepoint as He Walked Home from School

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an East Flatbush man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with predatory sexual assault, criminal sexual act, kidnapping, luring a child, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and other charges in connection with abducting and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a chilling assault of an innocent child making his way home from school in broad daylight. Thankfully this brave young victim survived this horrific attack and was able to lead police to his alleged assailant, who we will now seek to bring to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Christopher Fiesco, 32, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser on an indictment in which he is charged with predatory sexual assault, first-degree criminal sexual assault, second-degree kidnapping, luring a child, and related offenses. The defendant was ordered held without bail and to return to court on August 10, 2022.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on May 2, 2022, at approximately 3:50 p.m., the defendant, wearing a full ski mask, approached a 13-year-old boy in the vicinity of Winthrop Street and East 98th Street in East Flatbush, grabbed the child’s arm, and asked him for the time. When the child tried to leave, the defendant allegedly threatened him with a knife, told him not to scream, and took him to a building located at 87 East 53rd Street.

The defendant allegedly forced the child to climb a fire escape and enter an apartment through the window. Once inside, the defendant told him to shower and then allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted the child. He then let the child leave.

The victim went home and reported the assault to his family, who called 911.

The investigation was conducted by New York City Police Detectives assigned to the Brooklyn Special Victims Squad.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Connie Solimeo 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
Tuesday, June 21, 2022

 

Brooklyn Men Who Allegedly Stole Approximately
$227,000 from Elderly Clinton Hill Woman Indicted on
Grand Larceny and Other Charges

Former Neighbor of 94-Year-Old Woman Allegedly Facilitated Theft Using a Power of Attorney

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and United States Secret Service New York Field Office Special Agent in Charge Patrick Freaney today announced that two men were arraigned on an indictment in which they are variously charged with grand larceny and other charges for allegedly stealing approximately $227,000 from an elderly woman.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It is always heartbreaking to me to see individuals with access to a senior citizen’s life savings, such as through a power of attorney, allegedly abuse that trust to enrich themselves. We will now seek to hold these defendants accountable for their alleged actions. I thank the Secret Service and my prosecutors for their work on this case.”

Special Agent in Charge Freaney said, “Elder fraud remains a serious problem, and this case is yet another example of the danger posed to the elderly by individuals who seek to take advantage of that community through financial fraud and identity theft. The Secret Service is proud to partner with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, and we look forward to our continued partnership in combatting fraudulent activity.”

The District Attorney said that the defendants Humberto Nunez, 66, of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn and Mahilima Baa, 50, of Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn are variously charged in a five-count indictment with second-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal possession of stolen property and first-degree identity theft. Nunez was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser and Baa was arraigned on June 13, 2022. Both defendants were released without bail and ordered to return to court on August 5, 2022.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, between July 19, 2019, and January 7, 2020, the defendants, who are acquaintances, allegedly stole approximately $52,000 from a former business account associated with 684 Quality Cleaners, which was owned by Nunez’s former neighbor, who is now 96 years old. Nunez was allegedly given power of attorney by the woman prior to her becoming incapacitated and having a guardian appointed.

Furthermore, it is alleged, between July 15, 2019, and January 7, 2020, the defendants stole approximately $175,000 from an account established using the power of attorney, which represented the proceeds of a reverse mortgage the victim had since 2009.

Furthermore, it is alleged, defendant Baa allegedly stole another $28,000 by impersonating the victim.

It is alleged that the defendants used the proceeds to pay for their own personal expenses, including credit card payments, restaurants, and Amazon and Best Buy purchases.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service New York Field Office and Detective Investigators assigned to the District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Karen Turner, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gregory Pavlides, Frauds Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division and 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, June 21, 2022

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for
Leading Police on a Car Chase, Striking Multiple Vehicles

Sped and Ran Red Light While Driving Stolen Car in East New York

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to five years in prison for fleeing police in a stolen car, speeding, and striking multiple vehicles in East New York, Brooklyn. The incident happened just over a year after the defendant was released from prison following an assault conviction that stemmed from dragging and seriously wounding an NYPD officer in another stolen car when he was 15.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It is pure luck that more people were not injured or killed by this defendant’s reckless behavior, and he deserves every day of this prison sentence, especially because of his history of dangerous and destructive conduct. Serious charges and vigorous prosecution were important to protect the public from harm, and I hope that he will use his prison term to finally grow up and learn from his mistakes.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Justin Murrell, 20, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to five years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on March 28, 2022 and accepted the Court’s offer. The DA’s Office’s plea offer was to the maximum sentence of seven years.

The District Attorney said that on May 23, 2021, at about 1:15 a.m., two police officers in an unmarked car received a radio call and turned on their vehicle’s lights and sirens. The defendant, driving a 2021 Honda Accord that was reported stolen by a Valley Stream dealership eight days earlier, was just ahead of the police car and took off at a high rate of speed, running a steady red light.

The defendant, with three passengers in the car, led police on a chase over several blocks, running another red light and driving on the sidewalk. He struck two parked cars and a car that was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Wyona Street and Riverdale Avenue. Other responding officers directed him to stop, but the defendant kept going.

He sped through another steady light into oncoming traffic and crashed into two vehicles at New Lots and Georgia Avenues, causing both drivers to suffer minor injuries. He finally stopped at the corner of New Lots and Van Sinderen Avenues, stumbled out of the Honda and attempted to flee. He was apprehended one block away, on the corner of Junius Street. The defendant had no valid driver’s license, and the Honda had forged Alabama license plates.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Carbajal, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Andrea Orlando, Deputy Bureau Chief, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Karla Watson, Bureau Chief.

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 15, 2022

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 18 Years to Life in Prison
For Fatal Shooting of Innocent Teen in Bedford-Stuyvesant

Victim Shot on Street After Exchanging Words with Defendant

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a young man has been sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for the 2018 fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy who was walking with his girlfriend.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant senselessly took the life of an innocent teenager, Latrell Brown, who was a talented shooting guard and captain of his basketball team, the Brooklyn Ballers. Latrell had his whole life ahead of him and his death devastated his family, friends, and classmates. My heart continues to be with his loved ones, and I hope that today’s sentencing brings them some measure of solace.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Justin Delapara, 21, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Tomlinson to 18 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on May 23, 2022.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 11, 2018, at approximately 1:48 p.m., in the vicinity of Macon Street and Lewis Avenue, the victim, Latrell Brown, 16, and the defendant walked past one another on the street and words were exchanged. The defendant displayed a handgun and shot the victim in the head, killing him. The defendant was arrested shortly thereafter by police and the handgun was also recovered.

Latrell Brown was a student at Brooklyn Law and Technical High School where he was scheduled to begin his senior year at the time he was killed. He was a shooting guard for the Brooklyn Ballers as well as for his high school team.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Angelika Rostkowska and Supervising Paralegal Jannette Ayala, of the Homicide Bureau, for their assistance on the case.

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

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 15, 2022

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Prison for Attempted Assault
as a Hate Crime following Anti-Gay Attack in East New York

 Defendant Stabbed Victim in Shoulder After Shouting Homophobic Slurs

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to up to five years in prison for an anti-gay attack outside an East New York bodega in which he stabbed a woman in the shoulder after shouting homophobic slurs. The defendant pleaded guilty to attempted assault as a hate crime.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Hate has no place in Brooklyn’s diverse communities, and this shocking and unprovoked act of homophobic violence underscores the importance of vigorous hate crime prosecutions to deter anyone who may consider acting on their bigoted views. Our dedicated Hate Crimes Bureau relentlessly pursues cases against those who victimize our neighbors because of their perceived race, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity or religion and we are deeply committed to preventing these despicable offenses in Brooklyn.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Samuel Huff, 32, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced two-and-a-half to five years in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun following his guilty plea to second-degree attempted assault as a hate crime on March 23, 2022.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on May 7, 2020, at approximately 9:10 p.m., the defendant encountered the victim, a 33-year-old woman, and a friend, inside the Placencia Deli located at 1129 Blake Avenue in East New York. The defendant then followed the two women to Del Liquors across the street at 1130 Blake Avenue.

While inside of Del Liquors, the defendant approached the victim and pointed to her, stating, “What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here? You are a tranny and a (explicative).” The victim ignored the defendant. However, the defendant continued making homophobic and threatening remarks.

Moments later, the victim and her friend left Del Liquors and got into a BMW convertible that was parked out front of the store on Blake Avenue. After the victim got into the convertible, which had its top down, the defendant approached and stated, “You’re a tranny. You’re a (explicative). Get the (explicative) out of here.” The defendant then lunged over the passenger side door toward the victim and stabbed her in the shoulder with a sharp object. The defendant then fled down Blake Avenue. The victim was taken to Brookdale Hospital and treated for a laceration wound to the shoulder and back, receiving seven stitches.

The defendant was arrested on May 12 after being identified from video surveillance from Placencia Deli. The victim also identified the defendant during a photo array conducted at the 75th Precinct.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Samantha Perlstein of the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kelli 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, June 9, 2022

 

Three Defendants Sentenced to 75 Years to Life in Prison for Robbery and Murder of New York City Police Department Civilian Employee in His Bensonhurst Home

Defendants Staked Out Victim’s Home, Then Entered After He Left for Work;
Ambushed and Tortured Him Hours Later in Attempt to Force Him to Open Safe

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that two men and a woman have each been sentenced to 75 years to life in prison for the torture and murder of a Bensonhurst man during a robbery at his home. The defendants were convicted in April following a jury trial.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The depravity of this horrific murder can’t be overstated and the lengthy prison terms to which these defendants were sentenced today holds them accountable for torturing and killing an innocent man during a carefully-planned robbery. While no sentence can return Robert D’Onofrio to his loved ones, I hope this sentence gives some solace to his family and friends.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Abasie Brabam, 31, of Marietta, Georgia; Lee Williams, 30, of Clarksville, Tennessee; and Tanaja Grant, 32, of Orlando, Florida. The defendants were each sentenced to 75 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice. They were convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary on April 26, 2022, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 8, 2017, the defendants left Brownsville, Brooklyn at approximately 4 a.m. to drive to the house of the victim, Robert D’Onofrio, 66, on Bay 8th Street in Bensonhurst. They arrived before he left for work, waited for him to leave and then pulled into his parking spot. They continued to wait over two more hours for his daughter to leave and for the house to be unoccupied.

The defendants then entered the victim’s home, according to the evidence, and stole electronics, jewelry, boxes of ammunition, and other items. They then waited for the victim to return home to force him to open a large safe in his garage that contained firearms.

The evidence showed that defendant Grant, who had a relationship with the victim, texted him throughout the day to confirm his whereabouts, who he was with and when he would be arriving home.

When the victim arrived home at approximately 5 p.m., according to the evidence, the defendants ambushed him, tortured him by repeatedly striking him in the head with blunt objects, whipping him across the torso with a weapon consistent with a belt, and dragging him – tearing the flesh off his knees. The victim was then shot twice – one bullet pierced his lung and penetrated his heart and the other entered his back and pierced the same lung.

Following the shooting the defendants fled in the victim’s Ford Mustang, packed with stolen property taken from his house. They traveled to Brownsville, where they were all caught on surveillance video concealing and disabling the victim’s car. DNA from all three defendants was recovered in or on the car.

The victim’s body was found by his 31-year-old daughter in a garage attached to the house. The safe was also recovered in the garage.

Abasie was arrested in 2018 after being questioned by police in another matter. Grant and Williams were arrested in 2019.

A fourth defendant, Derek Simpkins, 32, was arrested on February 10, 2017. He pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary on January 28, 2022 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision.

The District Attorney thanked New York City Police Department Detective Gilberto Alonso of the Brooklyn South Homicide Squad, Detective Louis Caputo of Brooklyn South Nightwatch Squad, Detective Omar Santiago of the NYPD Video Unit, Detective Kevin McDonough of Brooklyn South Homicide Squad, Retired Detective Michael Habert from Brooklyn South Homicide, Assistant District Attorney Robert Kaftal, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Law Enforcement Assistance Unit, Senior Assistant District Attorney Melody Huang of the Law Enforcement Assistance Unit, Senior Intelligence Analyst Eungee Hwang and Paralegal Meghan Brancato for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jamie Begley and former Senior Assistant District Attorney Andy Palacio, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Bierce, of the District Attorney’s Appeals Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 8, 2022

 

Brooklyn Teenager Charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide
For Allegedly Causing Three Fatalities When Driving Recklessly

Victims, Ages 11, 16 and 18, Died When Two Vehicles Crashed
On a Decommissioned Runway in Floyd Bennet Field

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an 18-year-old man has been indicted for criminally negligent homicide and related charges in connection with a deadly car crash that took place when two cars collided while racing on an abandoned runway. The victims included the 16-year-old driver of one of the vehicles, his 18-year-old girlfriend and her 11-year-old brother.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Three young lives were tragically cut short when this defendant allegedly t-boned the victims’ car as he attempted to do stunts at a high speed. This case highlights the incredible dangers of drag racing, and this kind of recklessness cannot be tolerated in Brooklyn. Our prosecutors will seek to hold them accountable, and my heart continues to be with the families of the victims as they grieve.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Tamirlan Abylknov, 18, of Homecrest, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Craig Walker on an indictment in which he is charged with three counts of criminally negligent homicide and one count each of second-degree assault, unlicensed operator, excessive speed, second-degree reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The defendant was ordered released without bail and to return to court on July 21, 2022. He faces a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison if convicted of the top count with which he is charged.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 11, 2020, at approximately 8 p.m., the defendant and a group of friends were on North 40th Runway in Floyd Bennet Field, a decommissioned airfield that is open to the public as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. The defendant, who was 16 at the time, was driving a Toyota Camry and Emil Badlov, also 16, was driving a Kia Forte.

The two motorists were allegedly racing at high rates of speed and doing “donuts” and other stunts for a period of time before colliding. When the Camry, driving straight at a speed of about 70 mph, “t-boned” the Kia, Badlov, his girlfriend Margarita Sigdiyayeva, 18, and her 11-year-old brother Daniel Sigdiyayeva all died, and another 16-year-old occupant of the Kia was injured. The defendant and two passengers in his car, ages 18 and 11, suffered minor injuries.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Street Safety Bureau, under the 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.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 8, 2022

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and New Yorkers
Against Gun Violence Host Anti-Gun Violence Youth Summit

Thursday Event Will Educate High Schoolers and Provide Opportunity to
Speak Up and Offer Solutions They’d Want to See in Their Communities

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, today announced that his Office and the advocacy organization will host an Anti-Gun Violence Youth Summit in Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Restoration Plaza. The event will take place on Thursday, June 9, 2022, beginning at 9 a.m. and will include presentations from the DA and his staff, discussion groups, and guided tours.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Teaching our young people about the harms of gun violence and how to avoid it is critical to keeping communities healthy and safe. As part of our all-out effort to reduce shootings in Brooklyn this summer – which includes aggressive enforcement, gun buybacks, legislative advocacy and much more – we will host a unique summit aimed at educating and engaging our youth. They are not just our future, but also a force that can help prevent violence in our neighborhoods right here and now. My thanks to New Yorkers Against Gun Violence for partnering with us and for bringing their effective educational program to Bed-Stuy.”

Rebecca Fischer, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, said, “Young people in Brooklyn and across this city are impacted every day by the trauma of gun violence in their communities. Our NYAGV educators see the impact this crisis is having on New York’s Black and Brown youth, and we need leaders who help to create safe and supportive platforms for our students. Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez recognizes that to stop the shootings and prevent gun violence, we need to provide young people with safe and empowering spaces to talk about the violence they are experiencing and to be a part of finding solutions. We are proud to partner with the Brooklyn DA’s Office on this outstanding Youth Summit and look forward to working together on more prevention initiatives in the future.”

The District Attorney said that the Anti-Gun Violence Youth Summit will educate high school students on root causes of violence, teach ways to address underlying trauma, and provide them with the opportunity to brainstorm solutions they would want to see in their communities. The event will take place in Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street, beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, when public high schools are closed for Chancellor’s Day.

After registration and opening remarks, the students will hear from the District Attorney and a supervising detective investigator at the Brooklyn DA’s Office. They will then break into two discussion workshops: Personal Identity: How Identity Unifies and Divides Us and The Double Public Health Crisis: Covid-19 and Gun Violence.

The discussions will be facilitated by instructors from NYAGV who teach in the ReACTION program, a year-long curriculum that is taught in numerous schools that are disproportionally affected by gun violence and has proven to shift attitudes about guns, gun violence, and civic engagement.

Following a lunch break at noon, students will have the option of joining a guided tour in a Brooklyn courthouse or a free tour of the Brooklyn Museum, if they wish. A MetroCard, a stipend and swag bag will be provided for all participants.

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