Uncategorized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 11, 2025

Seven Alleged Gang Members Variously Indicted for
Attempted Murder and Gun Possession

Variously Charged in Connection with Five Separate Incidents in East Flatbush;
One Innocent Woman Struck; Another Almost Struck as She Sat in Beauty Salon

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, today announced that seven alleged members of the 8-Trey Crips gang were variously charged in connection with two attempted murder incidents and three cases of criminal possession of a weapon. All incidents happened in East Flatbush within a three-month span earlier this year and mostly involved the defendants allegedly firing at perceived rivals.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These cases are part of our ongoing efforts to get violent gang members off the streets and improve safety across Brooklyn. We do that through long-term conspiracy investigations and in response to individual incidents as we did today. The goal is the same: focusing on the small number of shooters who are willing to pick up a gun and open fire in our communities to ensure that they cannot harm anyone else. These incidents, where only innocent bystanders were struck or almost hit, exemplifies how dangerous this criminal behavior can be, and why it is vital for us to take swift action.”

Commissioner Tisch said, “The 8-Trey Crips gang allegedly turned East Flatbush into a violent playground, shooting and seriously injuring New Yorkers in broad daylight and putting many more lives at risk. That ends today. The NYPD has carried out more than 40 gang-related takedowns this year alone, resulting in over 300 arrests and the recovery of more than 230 illegal guns from our streets–and these arrests make one thing very clear: We are not backing down. I’m grateful to the investigators from the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division and the 67th Precinct Detective Squad, as well as the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, for their relentless work to dismantle this criminal network and bring these young offenders to justice.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Gun violence puts lives at risk and tears at the fabric of our neighborhoods. We will never allow gang members to commit violence and act with impunity on New York City streets. With the arrest and indictments of these seven alleged 8-Trey Crips gang members, we are delivering justice for East Flatbush and sending a clear message that this kind of criminal activity will never be tolerated. Working with our law enforcement partners, we’re continuing to target the small number of people responsible for a large share of the violence — and we won’t stop until every New Yorker feels safe.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Jaziah Waldron, 17, Jahfyah Selassie, 20, Omar Jones, 16, Malik Johnson, 17, and Dylon Val, 15, who have been charged with a top count of second-degree attempted murder. In addition, Dymond George, 21, and another one of the defendants have been named in separate indictments charging them with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. George, Johnson, Val, and Jones were arraigned today. Salassie, Waldron and Gonzalez were arraigned in May. They were ordered held on bail ranging from $20,000 to $500,000, except for Johnson and Jones who were ordered released without bail.

The District Attorney said that the defendants are alleged 8-Trey gang members, a subset of the Crips under the Woo umbrella, who predominantly operate in the 40s blocks of East Flatbush. The five indictments pertain to these five incidents:

• • On February 19, 2025, at 5:05 p.m., one of the defendants allegedly fired into a beauty salon located on Snyder Avenue, nearly striking three innocent people inside, including a woman who reported a bullet whizzing through her hair.
  • On April 25, 2025, at 6:20 p.m., Waldron, with the help of Selassie, allegedly shot in the direction of a rival gang member on Church Avenue and struck an innocent woman in the hand. The two defendants allegedly swapped clothes with each other after the shooting.
  • On May 7, 2025, at 3:50 p.m., it is alleged that Val opened fire at an unknown target, believed to be a rival. The shooting took place in broad daylight with children visible in the video. No one was struck. The evidence shows that Johnson allegedly wore a backpack from which Val retrieved and returned the gun, then exchanged clothes with Val after the shooting. Jones allegedly pointed out the target and can be heard on video saying, “He’s right there, blow that s—t.”
  • On May 8, 2025, at 10 a.m., police responded to a 911 call about a group menacing someone with a gun. Responding officers observed Gonzalez allegedly throwing a gun under a car and another gun was allegedly recovered from Waldron.
  • On May 9, 2025, at 7:31 p.m., George allegedly shot at a rival gang member, according to ballistic and video evidence. No one was struck.

The investigation was conducted by the New York City Police Department’s Gun Violence Suppression Division and the 67th Precinct Detective Squad.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kellen Michuda and James Buchsbaum, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Douglas Marquez, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Nine Alleged Members of “Road 2 Riches” Gang Charged in 68-Count

Conspiracy Indictment That Includes 10 Shootings

One Homicide and Nine Non-Fatal Shootings with Three Victims;

Nine Firearms Recovered During the Course of the Investigation

[Note: materials displayed during the press conference are available here]

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, today announced that nine alleged members of the Road 2 Riches street gang are variously charged in a 68-count indictment with conspiracy to commit murder, possess weapons and related charges. The indictment includes charges related to 10 shootings that resulted in four victims – including an innocent bystander, a 68-year-old woman, who was shot in the back in broad daylight.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This indictment charges a disturbing pattern of gang violence allegedly committed by a group of young defendants. Their actions endangered entire communities and include the murder of a 24-year-old man and the broad daylight shooting of an innocent 68-year-old woman. Working with the NYPD, we remain focused on holding accountable the small number of offenders driving this violence. The success of this strategy is clear, with record low gun violence in Brooklyn last year, and continued progress this year.”

Commissioner Tisch said, “For too long, Road 2 Riches gang members have terrorized neighborhoods in Brooklyn – unleashing gunfire in broad daylight, on busy streets, and near schools. Many of these alleged shooters were teens, emboldened by laws like Raise the Age that eliminate consequences for young people engaging in this type of violence, but these gangs are no match for the NYPD – this year alone, we have conducted more than 40 gang-related takedowns and removed more than 230 illegal guns from our streets. This work is the reason that shootings are down double digits in Brooklyn, and we are not letting up.  I want to thank the Gun Violence Suppression Division and the Brooklyn DA’s Office for their outstanding work on this case.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Today’s gang takedown is another significant victory for our city as we stop nine members of the Road 2 Riches gang from terrorizing our children and neighbors. With these arrests and indictments, we are sending a clear message that violent criminals have no place in our city. We are also delivering the safety and justice that every New Yorker deserves. Since day one, public safety has been our North Star, and it’s victories like this that have helped bring shootings to record lows, and major crime down in June, year to date, and for six quarters straight. I want to thank the NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Division and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their relentless work to keep all New Yorkers safe.”

The defendants were arraigned yesterday in Brooklyn Supreme Court on a 68-count indictment in which they are variously charged with second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and first-degree reckless endangerment. The defendants were either remanded or are being held on high bail.

The District Attorney said the indictment is the result of a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division into the violence allegedly committed by members and associates of the Road 2 Riches (R2R) street gang, which is primarily based within the confines of the 75^th Precinct in east New York, from January 2023 to the present. The defendants ranged in age from 15 to 20 during the course of the conspiracy.

It is alleged that many of the acts of violence, including numerous shootings, were captured on surveillance videos. Furthermore, it is alleged that the defendants boasted about their criminal actions on social media, including taking credit for acts of violence such as the shooting death of Abdoulaye Ba, 24, and antagonizing their opposition.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, R2R territory is in the East New York area, specifically R2R operates largely out of 398 Sheffield Avenue, part of the New York City Housing Authority’s Long Island Baptist Houses, Remeeder Houses and Unity Houses. R2R is considered a younger subset of the “Cocky Bama Bullies” street gang and falls under the larger Bloods street gang confederacy.

The R2R rivals include several opposing gang members including “Pistol Packin Pitkin” (PPP) in East New York and the “WOOO” and “CHOO” Folk Nation gangs whose territories are in neighboring Brownsville and Forever My Brothers (FMB), also located in Brownsville. Other rivals include the “Wortman Avenue Gangstas” (WAG), based out of the Linden Houses in East New York.

It is alleged that R2R members committed 10 shootings during the course of the conspiracy, including the following:

• It is alleged that on March 31, 2023, at approximately 3:45 p.m., a 14-year-old boy, a perceived R2R rival, was leaving his girlfriend’s 5^th floor apartment at 626 Sutter Avenue as defendants Mikeem Echevarria and Javonte Jaime entered the elevator at that location and took it to the 5^th floor. As the 14-year-old waited for the elevator, the defendants exited the elevator, chased the teen, and knocked him to the floor. The teen broke free, attempted to run away, and was shot twice in the left leg. The 14-year-old victim’s injury required a significant hospital stay which included surgery.

• It is alleged that on August 21, 2023, at approximately 3:15 p.m., defendant King Downing was in a bodega located at 640 Blake Avenue, with R2R members Quinn Parker, Jevonte James and another R2R member, when they observed Abdoulaye Ba, 24, and his brother, a known CHOO/Folk Nation gang member, near the front entrance of the bodega, looking inside. Upon seeing them, Downing allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired at the front entrance, striking the victim in the head. He was later pronounced dead. The murder weapon was later recovered during a search warrant execution from fellow R2R member Quinn Parker’s residence.

• It is alleged that on October 29, 2023, at approximately 2:25 p.m., defendant DeAnthony Ortiz left 585 Blake Avenue with three fellow R2R members and walked to the Van Dyke Houses in neighboring Brownsville, which is opposition WOOO territory. The defendants allegedly walked to the intersection of Powell Street and Dumont Avenue where Ortiz allegedly was captured on surveillance video pulling out a firearm and shooting diagonally across the intersection at two men who fled from the location. An innocent bystander, a 68-year-old woman on her way to the grocery store, was shot in the back. Her husband managed to remove the bullet, and she was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

• It is alleged that on November 5, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., defendant Samuel Gaiter, along with other R2R members, were captured on surveillance video in the vicinity of Unity Plaza in R2R territory. Soon after they were captured on surveillance walking from there to 2181 Pitkin Avenue, the Fiorentino Houses, PPP territory. As they approached the area, it is alleged that an individual accompanying Gaiter walked closer to a group in the PPP area and signaled to Gaiter. Thereafter, it is alleged that Gaiter approached, pulled out a firearm, and shot into a group of people striking a 23-year-old in the right buttocks. The victim was treated at a local hospital.

• On April 20, 2025, at approximately 4:30 p.m., it is alleged that surveillance video captured Mikeem Echevarria and another individual leaving 131 Belmont Avenue. As they leave the building Echevarria allegedly pulled out a firearm and chased an unknown individual on a scooter. At the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Christopher Avenue, Echevarria allegedly fired shots in the direction of the person on the scooter and struck two moving vehicles. One vehicle, an Uber with a family in the rear seat, was struck through the windshield glass, hitting the front passenger headrest. The other vehicle was struck on the roof. No one was injured.

The investigation was conducted by the New York City Police Department Gun Violence Suppression Division.

The District Attorney thanked VCE Paralegal Tania Lopez and KCDA Digital Evidence Lab analyst Rianna Persaud, as well as the many other analysts and support staff for their assistance on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Omar T. Harding, Matthew Bolin and Katerina Kurteva, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, First Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, Bureau Chief.

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

DEFENDANT ADDENDUM:

1. King Downing, 18
2. Mikeem Echevarria, 18
3. Jevonte Jaime, 17
4. Qvon Weaver, 19
5. Quinn Parker, 19
6. Deanthony Ortiz, 18
7. Anthony Wilkinson, 20
8. Korey George, 19
9. Samuel Gaiter, 18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Brooklyn Ended the First Half of 2025 with a Steep Decline in

Homicides and Historic Drops in Shootings and Victims

Homicides Dropped by Nearly a Third, Shootings and Shooting Victims

Declined by 19% and 15% Respectively; Total Serious Crime Down 8%  

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that the decline in gun violence in Brooklyn continued and accelerated during the first half of 2025, with the number of homicides plunging by 29%. Shootings and shooting victims – which reached record low last year – decreased by 19% and 15% respectively to the lowest numbers recorded in Brooklyn at any year’s midway point. Total serious felonies decreased by 8% for the year so far.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These historic declines in shootings and homicides mean something profound: lives have been saved, families have been spared unimaginable grief, and more Brooklyn residents are walking our streets with a sense of safety. This progress reflects a comprehensive and sustained strategy, including strong partnerships with the NYPD and community groups, smart prevention efforts, and a relentless focus on those driving violence. I am proud of the work we are doing, and we will keep pushing forward to build an even safer and more just Brooklyn for everyone.”

The District Attorney said that there were 123 shooting incidents in Brooklyn so far this year, down 19% compared to the same time in 2024 (29 fewer and 10 below the previous low in 2017). There were 147 shooting victims, a decline of 15% (25 fewer than last year and five fewer than the 2017 record). These achievements came on the heels of a 15% decrease in shootings and 13% decrease in victims during 2024. There was an even bigger drop in homicides: to 41, which is 17, or 29%, fewer than at the end of June 2024. Of which, 26 were shooting homicides, which is 11 or 30% fewer. That number is equal to the previous midyear record. (NYPD’s Compstat counts an additional homicide, which was reclassified from 2020 and is not included in this analysis.)

Eight of Brooklyn’s 23 precincts did not report any homicides this year, compared to three at this time in 2024. The precinct with the steepest decline was Brownsville, down to two murders from 14. That precinct also saw a 45% drop in shootings. The 77^th Precinct in Crown Heights also had a notable drop, from six to one homicide. Homicides in public housing developments were reduced by 60% (from 10 to four) and shootings declined by 34%.

The seven most serious felonies declined by 8% compared to the midpoint of 2024, with robberies, burglaries and larcenies all decreasing by double-digit percentage points. The decrease is outpacing 2024, when these index crimes went down by 6%.

The DA’s Office is doubling up on its efforts to keep driving down violence, with a number of ongoing gang investigations, planned community events such as a gun buyback and the expected launch of a preventative program that offers opportunities for criminal justice involved young people.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Brooklyn District Attorney Moves to Vacate Conviction of Man

Who Pleaded Guilty to 1988 Murder of Game Room Employee

Served Nearly 16 Years in Prison Before getting Paroled;

Reinvestigation Found Reasonable Probability He Was Not Involved in the Crime

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that following a thorough reinvestigation by his Conviction Review Unit (CRU), he will move to vacate the conviction of Brian Kendall, 55, who served nearly 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. He was paroled in 2004. The reinvestigation found that what Kendall has claimed from start – that he was at the store when a man entered and shot the worker, and that he and his friends chased after the shooter – was likely true and that he is probably innocent. The full CRU report is available here.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, ““Our system failed Brian Kendall when he was encouraged to plead guilty to a horrific crime without a full understanding of the evidence against him. Our investigation found that eyewitnesses corroborated his long-held account of events, critical evidence was not disclosed, and because we conclude he is likely innocent, we cannot stand by this conviction. This case highlights our deep commitment to correct the mistakes of the past, and I am grateful to the Legal Aid Society for their strong advocacy during this process.”

 

Kendall will appear in court today via video hookup at 10:15 a.m. before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic at 320 Jay Street, 15^th Floor.

The District Attorney said that on February 24, 1988, at about 7 p.m., Raphael Reyes was shot and killed inside a Flatbush game room where he worked. Initial police radio runs indicated that “there’s a group apparently chasing” the shooter and a witness described him as a Black man in his 40s, adding that he walked several blocks away before entering a car and driving away.

Despite corroboration from other witnesses, Kendall, who was 17, was arrested after one man identified him, claiming he was kicked out of the store, came back, and shot the employee. A 13-year-old who was playing a video game in the store at the time of the shooting identified him as well. Although these witnesses’ accounts of Kendall’s actions, in particular his escape route, contradicted each other, Kendall was indicted for second-degree murder. In July 1989, facing a potential life sentence, Kendall pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for a sentence of eight and a third to 25 years in prison. After admitting to the crime in parole hearings, he was released in 2004.

The CRU investigation revealed that police reports and audio recordings supported the defendant’s claim that another man was the shooter. It was corroborated shortly after the incident by his five friends, brother, and a friend of the deceased, and supported by the contemporaneous police dispatches. CRU spoke to the nephew of the deceased, who said he worked at the location and gave a full description of an earlier dispute with another suspect adding, “I think you got the wrong guy.”

The CRU also interviewed Kendall’s defense lawyer, who said he didn’t know that by the time of trial the 13-year-old witness may have become unavailable or that the other witness had drug problems and had been promised a letter of leniency for an unrelated criminal case. Having lost contact with some defense witnesses and thinking the prosecution had a strong case – he recommended a plea even though his client insisted he’s innocent.

The reinvestigation concluded that Kendall’s version of events is likely accurate. The fact that Kendall pleaded guilty and took responsibility during parole hearings is understandable under the circumstances and does not contravene the conclusion that he is likely innocent.

The District Attorney accordingly recommends that his conviction be vacated, and the indictment dismissed.

To date, the work of the Conviction Review Unit has resulted in 41 convictions being vacated since 2014. Currently, CRU has approximately 60 open investigations.

This case was investigated by Senior Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Height of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit, under the supervision of Charles Linehan, former Unit Chief, and Julio Cuevas, Special Counsel to CRU.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

New York State Correction Officer Indicted for Stealing Approximately $43,000 in Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Defendant Allegedly Claimed She was Injured on the Job and Couldn’t Work,

Undercover Probe Revealed She was Earning Income from her Hair Braiding Business

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang, today announced that a Brooklyn woman employed as a NYS Correction Officer has been arraigned on an indictment in which she is charged with grand larceny, scheme to defraud, falsifying business records and related charges for stealing approximately $43,000 in benefits over the last four years.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Workers’ compensation benefits exist to support those who are truly injured and unable to work—not to be exploited for personal gain. This defendant’s alleged conduct is a serious betrayal of the public trust, and we will seek to hold her fully accountable. This case sends a strong message that we will investigate and prosecute fraud wherever we find it, especially when committed by those sworn to uphold the law. I’m grateful to Inspector General Lang and her team, and to our prosecutors, for their work on this case.”

Inspector General Lang said, “Correction officers hold positions of public trust and should be expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity. This officer both violated that trust and undermined public confidence in her profession by fraudulently collecting workers’ compensation benefits while running a business at the same time. Thank you to my team, and to District Attorney Gonzalez and his office for their partnership in safeguarding public resources and accountability in State prisons.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jahmelia Mattison John, 42, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Gershuny on a 23-count indictment in which she is charged with two counts of third-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, five counts of first-degree falsifying business records, five counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, five counts of penalties for fraudulent practices, and five counts of third-degree insurance fraud. The defendant was released without bail and ordered to return to court on August 13, 2025.

It is alleged that between June 10, 2021 and June 6, 2025, the defendant, who is a NYS Correction Officer assigned to the Queensboro Correctional Facility at the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), stole approximately $43,382.79 in benefits from both DOCCS and the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) by falsely claiming she was unable to work due to on duty injuries.

In fact, it is alleged, while collecting workers’ compensation benefits, the defendant earned income from a hair braiding business which she owned and operated. The defendant advertised her business on social media. An undercover operation led by the NYS IG’s office allegedly recorded the defendant actively braiding the undercover’s hair – directly contradicting the defendant’s claimed disability.

The defendant has been employed as a Correction Officer for approximately 17 years.

The case was investigated by New York State Inspector General staff including Senior Investigator Anne Peters, Investigator Mario Rubino, and Digital Forensic Investigator Colin Corrado, working under the supervision of Attorney-in-Charge for Workers’ Compensation Fraud Bryan Richmond and Chief of Investigations for the New York City and Long Island Regions Ben Defibaugh.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Pamela Lowe, of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Bureau Chief and Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s 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

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Brooklyn Woman Indicted for Road Rage Murder in

Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash in Bed-Stuy

Allegedly Drove Stolen Car, Fled After Dragging Pregnant Woman

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman has been arraigned on an indictment in which she is charged with murder and other charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in Bedford-Stuyvesant that killed a 32-year-old pregnant woman. The defendant was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle, after striking the victim’s car from behind, when she allegedly struck the victim and dragged her nearly half a block before fleeing the scene on foot.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a shocking crime that claimed the life of an expectant mother. This defendant is accused of stealing a car, using it to senselessly run down an innocent woman, then leaving her to die in the street. We will now seek justice for the victim and her grieving family and will hold the defendant fully accountable for this heartbreaking loss.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Chaquasia Pigford, 28, of Bedford- Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dena Douglas on an indictment in which she is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident without reporting and other related counts. She was ordered held without bail and to return to court on July 30, 2025. The defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on May 24, 2025, at approximately 11:56 p.m., the defendant was driving a stolen red Chevrolet Trax near Marcus Garvey Boulevard and Van Buren Street when she rear-ended a 2021 Toyota 4Runner driven by the victim, Tiffany Cifuni, 32. After the minor collision, the victim exited her vehicle to speak with the other driver.

As the victim stood in front of the Chevy, the defendant allegedly accelerated, struck the victim, and dragged her northbound on Marcus Garvey Boulevard before her body was dislodged near Lafayette Avenue. The victim suffered severe head and body trauma and was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital shortly after midnight.

The investigation revealed that the defendant allegedly abandoned the vehicle — which is registered to a man who reported it stolen that night — and fled on foot. Multiple surveillance cameras were analyzed by NYPD detectives and eyewitnesses provided a description leading to the defendant’s arrest.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Tara Kelly of the District Attorney’s Trial Bureau, Grey Zone, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Velez, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Street Safety Bureau.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

 Joint Investigation Disrupts Cryptocurrency

Scam that Used Facebook Advertisements and Scam Websites,

Recovering $140,000 and Freezing $300,000 in Stolen Funds

 

Scammers Used Deceptive Facebook Ads to Lure Russian-Speaking

New Yorkers into Investing with Fake Cryptocurrency Trading Platforms

Over 100 Fraudulent Domains Seized; Some Victims Were Warned Early,

Others to Be Made Whole

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services Adrienne Harris, today announced that a multi-agency long-term investigation resulted in the disruption of a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scam that targeted members of the Russian community in Brooklyn and across the country. Stolen cryptocurrency was sent to domain registrars as payment to create fake cryptocurrency investment domains and to Meta as payment for Facebook advertisements that promoted fraudulent cryptocurrency investment opportunities. After learning of the investigation, Meta shut down more than 700 accounts associated with the “Black Hat” advertiser promoting the scam. Court orders have led to the seizure of $140,000 worth of cryptocurrency, the freezing of approximately $300,000 worth of cryptocurrency, and the dismantling of a cluster of scam websites and registrar accounts.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “As crypto scams continue to proliferate, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies to work together in order to stop them. That’s what happened in this case, with the fraudulent network being shut down, victims warned to stop investing and some of the stolen money getting recovered. I am grateful for the partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Financial Services that led to this successful outcome. My office will continue to investigate every reported scam in Brooklyn and to educate residents about how to protect themselves from these dangerous frauds.”

Attorney General James said: “Hundreds of New York investors thought they were putting their hard-earned money in safe, high-return investments, only to be defrauded out of millions of dollars. These scammers targeted Russian speakers on Facebook with enticing ads and my office together with DFS and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office took action to stop these scammers and protect New Yorkers. I urge all New Yorkers to be vigilant of online cryptocurrency investment ads.”

Superintendent Harris said, “Through partnership and collaboration with the Brooklyn District Attorney and New York Attorney General, hundreds of thousands of dollars will be returned to victims and these criminals were held accountable for their deplorable actions. As a preeminent global regulator of cryptocurrency, banks, insurers, and other financial services providers, the Department will continue to work every day to build a more equitable, transparent, and resilient financial system for all New Yorkers.”

The investigation began in October 2024 when NYDFS became aware that a fake cryptocurrency investment website was displaying what looked like a BitLicense certificate, purportedly issued by the agency (these certificates are issued to legitimate virtual currency businesses operating in New York to ensure compliance with state laws, consumer protection and transparency). The first site NYDFS identified was WhalesTrade.com and further investigation revealed that the domain name was linked to a large network of related domains and accounts that were part of a scam campaign targeting Russian-speaking residents of Brooklyn and across the state and country.

The scammers involved in this scheme lured victims with deceptive social media ads, many in Russian and primarily on Facebook, featuring popular names and personalities. Once victims showed interest in investing, scammers responded and moved the conversation to encrypted private messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. After the victims made an initial investment on the fraudulent platforms, scammers then falsely showed the victims that their investment accounts were increasing in value and encouraged victims to send more money. After making more investments, sometimes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, victims were unable to withdraw their funds and were told they needed to pay more in false withdrawal fees or taxes. Eventually, the scammers cut off contact with the victim and pocketed their money.

In the course of the investigation, more than 300 victims were identified, and many were personally contacted by Brooklyn District Attorney and New York State Department of Financial Services investigators and alerted to the fraud so that they would stop sending funds to fake investment platforms. It’s estimated that the scheme caused over $1 million in losses in Brooklyn alone. To disrupt the scheme and prevent future harm, the DA’s Office executed a series of warrants that resulted in the seizure of over 100 domains and 17 registrar accounts; terminated scammers’ access to their web-based email, effectively disconnecting their communications with victims; seized $140,000 that was stolen from victims that can now be returned; and was able, with NYDFS, to monitor blockchain activity in real time and warn dozens of victims who had just started engaging with the scammers, preventing the future loss of funds. In addition, DA Gonzalez appeared in Russian media to explain these types of frauds and advise community members on how to protect themselves.

The scammers targeted Russian speakers by launching a campaign of advertisements on Facebook which promised high returns on cryptocurrency investments. To avoid revealing their real identity to Facebook and to evade restrictions on misleading and fraudulent advertisement, the scammers paid individuals based in Vietnam for “Black Hat” advertising services. “Black Hat” advertising on Facebook refers to deceptive online tactics used to promote services that violate Facebook’s advertising policies. The investigation revealed that the scammers used over a million dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency stolen from victims to pay “Black Hat” advertisers for the placement of the deceptive advertisements.

The Office of the Attorney General joined the investigation, focusing on the payment of funds to the “Facebook Black Hat” advertisers. Their investigation revealed that a “Black Hat” advertiser was converting Bitcoin sent by victims into local Vietnamese currency, which was used to purchase more fraudulent ads on Facebook.

The OAG successfully obtained a court order to freeze $300,000 in cryptocurrency accounts linked to the “Black Hat” advertisers.

Residents of New York who want to verify the legitimacy of a cryptocurrency exchange or file a complaint about a cryptocurrency company, product, or service can visit the DFS website, visit dfs.ny.gov/complaint or call (800) 342-3736. DFS continues to set the bar for prudential regulation of virtual currency, protecting consumers; preserving markets; and rooting out financial crimes like money laundering and terrorist financing.

New Yorkers who have been affected by deceptive conduct in cryptocurrency markets should also report the conduct to OAG by filing an online complaint. Brooklyn residents who believe they’ve been scammed are encouraged to report to the DA’s Office by calling 718-250-2340. Attorney General James also encourages workers in the cryptocurrency industry who may have witnessed misconduct or fraud to file an online whistleblower complaint, which can be done anonymously.

The investigation into this case was handled by Assistant District Attorney Alona Katz, Chief of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Virtual Currency Unit, with assistance from Senior Virtual Currency Analyst Sam Weaver, Virtual Currency Analyst Jayden Kuprel, Assistant District Attorney Brian Umana, Paralegal Claire Fagan, Senior Detective Investigator Gerard Caffrey, and Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Mauricio Suarez-Marquez, under the supervision of Jingu Chong, Chief of the Digital Evidence Lab Unit.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Brooklyn Woman Arraigned on Indictment Charging Her

With Stealing Sheepshead Bay Home

Defendant Allegedly Used Forged Deed and Utility Records To

Illegally Take Over Property of Deceased Homeowner

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman has been arraigned on an indictment in which she is charged with filing a forged deed and other fraudulent documents to steal a home in Sheepshead Bay, where she then allegedly squatted for months without any legal right to the property. The defendant also allegedly attempted to take over a second nearby home, but the filing was rejected due to a payment issue.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly took advantage of a deceased homeowner’s absence to steal a house and live there unlawfully. Deed fraud and squatting schemes like this rob families of their rightful properties and destabilize neighborhoods. We are committed to holding individuals accountable who use deception and forgery to take what is not theirs.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Shelle Revivo, 35, of Brooklyn. She was arraigned today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dena Douglas on an indictment in which she is charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and first-degree falsifying business records. She was ordered held on bail of $50,000 cash or $150,000 bond and to return to court on August 5, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, the defendant allegedly filed a forged deed on August 1, 2024, transferring ownership of the single-family Sheepshead Bay house to herself for $10. The deed and related documents allegedly included forged signatures and backdated notary stamps. The defendant had no connection to the deceased owner.

The defendant allegedly moved into the house and opened a utility account, receiving gas service while unlawfully occupying the property. The investigation further revealed that the defendant allegedly attempted to file another fraudulent deed for a second nearby property in Manhattan Beach, also using forged paperwork tied to a deceased homeowner. That filing was ultimately rejected.

The alleged scheme came to light after a neighbor contacted the District Attorney’s Action Center to report suspicious activity.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kirsten Tamayo of the District Attorney’s Fraud Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Richard Farrell, Chief of the Real Estate Fraud Unit, Assistant District Attorney Gregory Pavlides, Chief of the Frauds Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, under 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

Friday, June 13, 2025

Former Chairman of Emergency Medicine at SUNY Downstate

Medical Center Admits to Stealing Nearly $1.5 Million

Used Business Credit Card for Purchases Ranging from a High-End Pet Resort to

Personal Travel, Catering Expenses, College Tuition and Cash Advances

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller, today announced that a now retired emergency medicine doctor has pleaded guilty to grand larceny for stealing approximately $1.44 million by using a business credit card for personal purchases and cash advances. The plea was in exchange for a promised sentence of one to three years in prison.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The defendant used his employment with a vital healthcare institution to gain access to more than $1 million to fund a lavish lifestyle. Today’s guilty plea is an admission of his violation of the public trust by using his position to steal from taxpayers and SUNY Downstate. I thank my prosecutors, the Inspector General’s Office, and the Tax Department for their work on this case.”

Inspector General Lang said, “New Yorkers expect public servants, especially those entrusted with critical healthcare responsibilities, to act with honesty and integrity. Dr. Lucchesi’s admitted theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the State represents a serious breach of public trust. This guilty plea is a clear message that abuse of public funds will not be tolerated and those responsible will be held accountable.”

Acting Commissioner Hiller said, “Let this serve as a warning to any taxpayers considering lining their pockets for personal gain. The defendant repeatedly took advantage of his position and is being held accountable. I commend the dedicated work of our NYS Tax Investigators, and thank Brooklyn DA Gonzalez and New York State IG Lang for their diligent efforts in this case.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Dr. Michael Lucchesi, 67, of Staten Island. He pleaded guilty today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Danny Chun to one count of first-degree grand larceny in exchange for a promised sentence of one to three years in prison. The defendant had been indicted on charges including grand larceny, falsifying business records and criminal tax fraud. In addition, the defendant agreed to make restitution in the amount of $720,000, which included restitution of $63,926 made today to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and restitution of $656,074 to Downstate Hospital’s clinical practice on August 6, 2025, when he is sentenced.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between December 1, 2016 and January 31, 2023, the defendant, a medical doctor, who was the Chairman of Emergency Medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and at various points was the acting head of Downstate Hospital and the medical school, and was the Chief Medical Officer, made personal purchases using a credit card meant to be used for business purposes only by members of the clinical practice, University Physicians of Brooklyn, of SUNY Downstate.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant’s spending totaled approximately $1.44 million and included cash advances of approximately $115,000; pet care totaling $176,000 (including $120,000 paid to The Greenleaf Pet Resort & Hotel in New Jersey); $348,000 spent on personal travel; $109,000 in payments to the New York Sports Club for membership and personal training; $92,000 for premium seating for sporting events, concerts and Broadway shows; $52,000 in catering expenses; $46,000 in tuition payments for his children; and assorted payments for online shopping, flowers, liquor, electronics and other items.

The thefts were discovered by SUNY during an audit.

The District Attorney thanked Investigative Counsel Thomas Collery, Senior Investigative Auditor Angelus Okeke, Investigative Auditor Victoria Oliva, and Senior Investigator Jimmy Gibson, under the supervision of Chief of Investigations for the Downstate Regional Offices Ben Defibaugh, Deputy Inspector General for the New York City Regional Office Ken Michaels, and Chief Deputy Inspector General Michele Bayer of the Offices of the New York State Inspector General for their work on the case.

The District Attorney also thanked the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Criminal Investigations Division.

The District Attorney thanked KCDA Chief Financial Investigator Ludwig Sanchez, Financial Investigator Jose Carlos Covas, Assistant District Attorney Dewey Golkin, Director of the Crimes Against Revenue Bureau, as well as KCDA Detective Investigators and Paralegal Jezebel Negrete-Ugaz, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Choi and Assistant District Attorney Andrew Kohler, both Special Counsel to the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Disbarred Attorney Convicted of Stealing Deeds of 11
Brooklyn Properties in Decade-Long Fraudulent Scheme

Defendant Targeted Minority Homeowners Facing Foreclosure;
Now Facing Mandatory Prison Time

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced the conviction of a disbarred Brooklyn attorney who stole the deeds to 11 residential properties across Brooklyn, primarily from minority homeowners in financial distress. The defendant falsely promised to help facilitate short sales, but instead transferred ownership of the homes to himself or companies he controlled.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant didn’t just steal homes — he stole stability, equity and the future that these families worked hard to build. He preyed on Brooklyn homeowners already in crisis, including a nurse, cab driver and home health aide, by posing as a trusted advisor. This sentence makes clear that we will not allow fraudsters to exploit vulnerable New Yorkers or profit from a housing crisis and highlights my office’s success in prosecuting deed theft.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Sanford Solny, 68, of Midwood, Brooklyn. He was convicted today of 13 counts of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, three counts of first-degree scheme to defraud and one count of third-degree grand larceny in connection with 11 properties following a bench trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. Eleven corporations owned by the defendant, one for each property, were also convicted of 13 counts of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and one count of third-degree grand larceny (the judge acquitted the defendant of charges pertaining to one property as well as of additional charges pertaining to the 11 properties). As a predicate felon, the defendant is facing mandatory prison time when he’s sentenced on September 17, 2025, with the maximum sentence for the top count he was convicted of being three and a half to seven years in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, between 2012 and 2022, the defendant, whose law license was suspended in 2012 before he was disbarred in 2023, carried out a fraudulent real estate scheme targeting homeowners in foreclosure. He presented himself as a financial expert who could negotiate with lenders to sell the homes for less than what was owed on the mortgage — a process known as a short sale — to help clients avoid foreclosure. Instead, using an array of false statements, he tricked his victims into unwittingly signing over their deeds to corporations he controlled.

The defendant defrauded 15 victims, many of whom had limited legal or financial literacy by convincing them they were getting help. Instead, the defendant transferred ownership of their homes to his companies and in some cases collected rent from tenants already living there. The 11 properties included homes in Bedford-Stuyvent, East Flatbush, Canarsie, East New York and Ocean Hill, among other neighborhoods. Victims lost their homes, their equity and, in many cases, suffered damage to their credit as the foreclosure proceedings remained unresolved.

Since 2017, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has obtained 30 indictments against 42 defendants in numerous deed theft cases, pertaining to over 70 properties. All of these cases resulted in convictions – leading to many carceral sentences – except for five that are still pending. Most of the defendants were skilled scammers, including disbarred attorneys and repeat offenders, who targeted and harmed multiple victims. These many successful prosecutions have significantly contributed to the overall precipitous drop since 2017 in the number of deed fraud complaints made by Brooklyn residents to the city’s Department of Finance. The DA’s Office remains committed to safeguarding homeownership and ensuring justice for communities harmed by these predatory schemes.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph DiBenedetto, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Gregory C. Pavlides, Chief of the Frauds Bureau, 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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