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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

For Shooting Man Twice in Chest at Point Blank Range

Defendant Shot Unarmed Victim in Broad Daylight on Labor Day Weekend

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a 2022 shooting in broad daylight in Sunset Park that left a man seriously injured.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant shot an unarmed 20-year-old man in the chest, leaving him with serious long-term injuries. His life will never be the same. We have no tolerance for violence and this sentence sends a clear message that gun violence in Brooklyn will be met with serious consequences.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as John Carter, 56, of Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter to 12 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted of second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, first- and second-degree criminal use of a firearm, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on November 14, 2024, following a jury trial.

His co-defendants were identified as Lamount Barrott, 37, Walter Lindsay, 49, and William Parez, 42. Barrott pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery and second-degree attempted assault and was sentenced to 3.5 to seven years in prison. Lindsay pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery and was sentenced to one to three years in prison. Parez pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and was sentenced to six months in jail.

The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on September 4, 2022, at approximately 3 p.m., on Third Avenue, between 19^th and 20^th Street, the defendant and three accomplices were searching for an individual with whom they had a dispute when they came across his car. But that individual was not in the car. The person seated in the car, who was watching YouTube videos on his cell phone, was another individual, a 20-year-old man.

The three accomplices surrounded the car and one of them punched the victim. Carter then approached and joined the assault. He pistol-whipped the victim, they grabbed his phone, and ordered him out of the car. The victim exited the car to retrieve his phone and the defendant shot him twice in the chest.

The victim was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he remained for a week. His gallbladder had to be removed and he sustained injuries to other vital organs, according to trial testimony. He has bullet fragments and shrapnel lodged in his body and is unable to work.

The defendant and his accomplices were arrested following an investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Supervising Paralegal Andy Mata and Paralegal Elizabeth Torres, as well as Discovery Support Director Lisa Santapaul for their assistance on this case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Boykin, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Tielman-Fenelus, also of the Green Zone, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Ringleader of ATM Burglary Ring Sentenced to Up to 12
Years in Prison; Five Accomplices Previously Pleaded Guilty

All Six Men to Serve Prison Terms; Charged for Series of
Break-ins to Stores in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that the ringleader of an ATM burglary ring that was charged with 14 separate heists was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to burglary. His accomplices have previously accepted guilty pleas in exchange for carceral sentences. From June 2022 until January 2023 the group broke into numerous businesses and removed ATM machines that were later forced open. Many of the break-ins were captured on video surveillance.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This brazen group of criminals caused serious financial damage across the city. I am proud of investigators and prosecutors from my office who, after receiving a complaint, exposed this burglary ring, built a strong case with the NYPD, and helped bring these defendants to justice. Protecting small businesses from thieves is an important priority for my office, and we’ll continue to focus on prosecuting serial shoplifters, career burglars and others who violate our laws and hurt commerce.”

The District Attorney said that ringleader Alexander Torres aka “Chacho,” 52, was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Kim Petersen to six to 12 years in prison following his guilty plea in March to two separate counts of third-degree burglary. His brother Francisco Torres aka “Fusion,” 53, was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to five years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of second-degree burglary. Jesus Cedeno aka “Capone,” 54, was sentenced last week to five to 10 years in prison following a guilty plea to third-degree burglary and attempted third-degree burglary. Angel Barbosa aka “Pucci,” 46, pleaded guilty in March to second-degree assault in exchange for a promised sentence of five years in prison; he’s scheduled to be sentenced on May 14. Luis Villanueva aka “Cholo,” 54, and Chris Moustakos aka “Chris the Greek,” 54, who each participated in only one charged incident, were sentenced last year to one and a half to three years in prison following their guilty pleas to attempted third-degree burglary.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, from June 23, 2022 to January 18, 2023, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to steal ATMs from various stores. They used apartments in Clinton Hill and East New York to prepare for the burglaries. Based on the recovery of police scanners and other evidence, the ring used to assign a member to monitor police scanners during the heists, so they could alert the others if police were approaching and to evade detection.

The investigation, which included a review of surveillance footage, revealed that members of the ring used bolt cutters and other tools to gain access to stores and then rocked the ATM machines back and forth to dislodge them. Their roles in the burglaries varied, according to video surveillance, but, generally, Alexander Torres would break the bolts securing the ATMs and then helped carry them out of the stores. Francisco Torres was frequently the driver and helped to break stores’ doors. Barbosa and Cedeno typically acted as lookouts and helped with breaking into stores.

On October 26, 2022, Angel Barbosa was arrested for possession of a police scanner. Days later, on November 1, 2022, he was arrested in possession of two stolen ATMs, after he attempted to flee apprehension and drove into an occupied unmarked police car, injuring two officers.

The ring grew more cautious after that but continued the heists, the investigation found. On January 18, 2023, Alexander and Francisco Torres, Cedeno and Moustakos burglarized a bodega in South Richmond Hill, Queens, and were exposed by investigators. They then led the authorities on a high-speed chase from there, past Kennedy Airport and ended when their Ford van crashed into a barrier in LaGuardia Airport. The four were arrested and charged in connection with that burglary.

A total of nine incidents that were charged in the indictment took place in Brooklyn, four in Queens and one in the Bronx. The exact stolen amount in most of the incidents is not known.

The case was investigated by Detective Investigators assigned to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Nicole Lauterbach and Corey Hardin, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Pamela Murray, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Fraud Bureau and Gregory Pavlides, Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, and Patricia McNeill, Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 5, 2025

Bronx Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Brutal Beating of Elderly Man

Defendant Repeatedly Attacked 67-Year-Old Who Tried to
Protect Woman From Harassment in East New York

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a 30-year-old Bronx man has been sentenced to seven years in prison following his conviction for violently attacking an elderly man who intervened to stop the defendant from harassing a woman in East New York.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a vicious and senseless assault on a senior citizen who stepped in to defend a woman in need. The defendant had multiple opportunities to walk away, but instead chose to return again and again to inflict serious, lasting injuries. Today’s sentence holds him accountable and reinforces that this kind of wanton violence has no place in Brooklyn.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ryan Lawrence, 30, of the Bronx. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter to seven years in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree assault on April 2, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 22, 2023, at approximately 4 a.m., the defendant, holding a weapon, approached a homeless woman who was sleeping outside a building on Liberty Avenue. After she pushed him away, the defendant briefly walked off, but soon returned and again advanced toward her.

A 67-year-old man who witnessed the encounter from his nearby apartment came outside to intervene and followed the defendant to the corner of Liberty Avenue and Fountain Avenue. The man threw a single punch, which the defendant dodged. The defendant then punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, and launched a prolonged and brutal assault.

As the victim lay on the ground, the defendant grabbed his shirt and threw him down again. Throughout the attack, the defendant punched the victim in the face at least 11 times, kicked him in the face at least eight times and stomped on his head. Despite efforts by bystanders to stop the attack, the defendant repeatedly returned to continue beating the victim.

The victim suffered a traumatic brain injury, facial fractures and permanent vision loss in one eye. As a result, he required extensive facial reconstructive surgery.

The defendant fled the after the assault but was arrested on November 8, 2023..

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Salvatore Prince and Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Parrish, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Karla Watson, Chief of the Red Zone.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Staten Island Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Shooting

Pregnant Woman on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

Defendant Opened Fire from Moving Vehicle in Broad Daylight, Striking Victim in the Head

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Staten Island man has been sentenced to ­­15 years in prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder for firing multiple shots at a taxi traveling along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, striking a pregnant woman riding in the backseat in the head.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying and calculated act of violence carried out in the middle of the day on one of the city’s busiest highways. The defendant showed a complete disregard for human life when he opened fire on a moving vehicle, striking a young pregnant woman and endangering countless others. We will continue to pursue justice for victims and hold accountable those who threaten the safety of our communities.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Mark Munoz, 37, of Staten Island. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to ­­15 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on March 3, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 26, 2023, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the victims, a 21-year-old woman and 30-year-old man, were picked up by a taxi at the corner of 58^th Street and Third Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The defendant, who had a prior dispute with the male victim earlier that day, followed the cab in a dark blue Jeep onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

While driving alongside the taxi, the defendant fired multiple shots into the backseat, striking the woman, who was two months pregnant, in the head. Another bullet lodged in the door where the male victim was seated.

The taxi driver immediately drove to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where doctors in the trauma unit were able to save both the woman and her unborn child.

The NYPD, working in coordination with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, determined that after the shooting, the defendant fled to Staten Island, where he spent several hours at a car wash. He was arrested on Staten Island on May 24, 2024.

The Brooklyn District Attorney thanked Intelligence Analyst Anna Kharitanova and Intelligence Analyst Kelly Crawford, of the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab, working under the supervision of Chief Analyst Alexandra Aber and Unit Chief Jingu Chong, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Andrea and Senior Assistant District Attorney Natalie Riether, 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 Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for Making and Selling Fake OSHA and Buildings Department Safety Cards

Sold Counterfeit Safety and Training Certifications to New York Construction Workers Who Never Received the Required Training

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with the New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, today announced that the owner of a Brooklyn company that is supposed to provide jobsite safety training and certification has been sentenced to six months in jail for making and selling dozens of fake safety cards to New York construction workers who never received the required training.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Safety regulations exist because lives depend on them. When employers or trainers cut corners, the results can be tragic — we’ve seen fatal falls, collapsed scaffolds, and preventable injuries on construction sites across the city. This case sends a strong message: we will not tolerate fraud that undermines worker safety. Faking safety credentials is not just paperwork fraud, it’s a direct threat to the lives of workers and the public. I thank DOI and NYCHA for their partnership to ensure that safety standards are upheld and enforced at every level.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “By creating and distributing fraudulent safety certifications, this defendant allowed workers in this City to perform difficult and dangerous work without the benefit of rigorous safety training intended to protect them and the public. Safety training is required by law, and we and our law enforcement partners will hold accountable those who flout this requirement. I thank the NYCHA employee who prompted this investigation by diligently reporting concerns about a contractor’s safety card. And I thank District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and his staff for their partnership in upholding safety standards in New York City.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Benedetto Bonello, 37, of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. On January 8, 2025, Bonello pleaded guilty to second-degree falsifying business records and his company, National Site Safety LLC, pleaded guilty to a violation, before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, in exchange for a promised sentence of six months in jail.

Bonello was an authorized OSHA trainer but, according to the investigation, did not provide the required trainings.

The District Attorney said the investigation began in November 2021 after NYCHA reported to DOI that it had identified construction safety cards with discrepancies as part of a routine check.

Workers on larger and more complex construction projects requiring permits by the City’s Department of Buildings (DOB) are required to take safety courses approved by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and are required to carry a card reflecting that certification. OSHA provides for the issuance of a 10-hour training certification for entry-level workers and a 30-hour training certification for safety managers and coordinators.

Additionally, DOB has comprehensive rules and regulations governing supported scaffolds to ensure the safety of workers and the public. Individuals who use a supported scaffold, including supervisors, are required to have completed a DOB-approved training program or course that is at least four hours long and, every four years thereafter, retake the four-hour training program or course.

As part of the investigation, DOI made an undercover purchase of a fraudulent OSHA-30 card from Bonello at his company, National Site Safety. The undercover had not completed the OSHA training or the scaffold training. Furthermore, the scaffold user card included the name and insignia of a training organization that had not authorized the defendant to give the scaffold training or use its name or insignia.

At DOI, the investigation was conducted by Deputy Inspector General Gregory Deboer, under the supervision of Inspector General for NYCHA Ralph M. Iannuzzi and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

New York City Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing $624,000

Defendant Worked as Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner at NYCERS,

Stole Pension Checks from Two Retired Individuals

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, today announced that a Brooklyn man has pleaded guilty to corrupting the government for stealing $624,000 from two retired New York City employees’ pensions.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant shamelessly exploited his position of public trust to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for retired City workers, using his insider access to enrich himself at their expense. His guilty plea is a clear admission of that betrayal, and a reminder that we will not tolerate abuse of government positions for personal gain. I thank DOI and NYCERS for their work on this case.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “The defendant used his employment with the New York City Employees’ Retirement System to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from City retirees and the City’s pension system.  Through his guilty plea today, he has acknowledged that he abused his position of public trust for his own financial gain. I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for its partnership in this investigation and its commitment to protect the City’s pension funds.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Gregory Mathieu, 41, of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He pleaded guilty today to first-degree corrupting the government before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun in exchange for a promised sentence of one to three years in prison and a judgment order of restitution for $511,115.61 against the defendant. NYCERS was previously able to get back approximately $113,000 from the defendant. Sentencing was set for September 17, 2025.

The District Attorney said that between February 8, 2021 and January 2, 2024, the defendant stole approximately $624,000 from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), where he worked as an Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner.

The defendant reactivated suspended pension payments of a deceased Department of Sanitation supervisor, stealing retroactive payments of approximately $242,000 and monthly payments between May 2021 and January 2024 of approximately $5,700.

In addition, the defendant stole approximately $199,000 from a 75-year-old retired Associated Railroad Signal Specialist employed by the MTA/NYC Transit Authority.

According to the investigation, the defendant spent the stolen funds on luxury items including $2,500 for a pair of sneakers and a shirt at a Louis Vuitton store, $1,500 for a pair of sneakers at a Chanel store, $19,000 for vacation, and $429,000 in cash withdrawals.

Mathieu was employed by NYCERS for approximately 15 years. He agreed to resign effective May 30, 2025.

The case was investigated by DOI Confidential Investigator Farhana Begum with DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for NYCERS and supervised by Assistant Inspector General Shakina Griffith, Assistant Inspector General Jeffrey Freeman, Deputy Inspector General Aleksandro Tilka, Inspector General Ann Petterson, Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives Christopher Ryan, and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella.

Kings County Detective Investigators further assisted in the investigation.

The District Attorney thanked NYCERS’ Fraud Unit for their assistance on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Theresa Robitaille, of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 25, 2025

Queens Man Indicted for Alleged $7 Million Deed Fraud Theft

Defendant Allegedly Sold Sunset Park Property by Forging Documents

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Queens resident has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records for allegedly creating false documents to cheat his fellow shareholders by selling a joint property without their knowledge or consent. 

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly attempted to steal approximately $7 million using forged documents and false filings. As real estate values continue to rise dramatically in Brooklyn, I remain committed to protecting property owners across the borough from fraudsters who would steal their security and investment in the future.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Wing Fung Chau, 53, of Bayside, Queens. The defendant was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin on an indictment in which he is charged with two counts of first-degree grand larceny and three counts of first-degree falsifying business records. The defendant was ordered held on bail of $10,000 cash or $100,000 bond and to return to court on June 4, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, 37-19 Realty Inc. is a corporation which owns a 25% interest in 6208 8^th Avenue, a large parcel of land in Sunset Park. The defendant is one of three shareholders in the corporation. Another shareholder, a 56-year-old woman is the President of the corporation. The defendant and the President are entitled to 36% of the corporation’s income. A third shareholder is entitled to the balance.

It is alleged that, according to the investigation, on September 28, 2021, the defendant signed a memorandum of contract to sell 37-19 Realty’s interest in 6208 8^th Avenue to a different 56-year-old woman and filed the contract with the City Register.

Shortly thereafter, it is alleged, the defendant negotiated with a 53-year-old man to sell 37-19 Realty’s interest in the property for approximately $7.2 million cash, with the buyer and his associates assuming various existing mortgage obligations. Before closing, the buyer required, among other things, proof from the defendant that the President of the corporation agreed to sell her interest and that the 56-year-old woman no longer had a contract to buy 37-19 Realty’s interest in the property. The buyer also requested a letter from the corporation’s accountant regarding its tax filings.

At the closing on November 18, 2021, only the defendant appeared on behalf of 37-19 Realty. He allegedly provided several forged documents: one with the President’s forged signature agreeing to the sale, one with the 56-year-old woman’s forged signature stating she was terminating her contract, and one with the forged signature of the accountant falsely claiming the corporation did not file taxes in 2019 and 2020.

The defendant allegedly had the proceeds of the sale transferred to bank accounts that only he controlled, withdrawing almost all of it within eight months of the closing. None of the funds went to the President of the corporation. The investigation began after the President’s attorney contacted the District Attorney’s office.

The District Attorney thanked KCDA Detective Investigators for their assistance on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Zhen, of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Richard Farrell, Chief of the Real Estate Frauds Unit, Assistant District Attorney Gregory Pavlides,  Chief of the Frauds Bureau, Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Three Defendants Sentenced in Connection with Fatal Shooting of

17-Year-Old Boy in Ambush Outside Midwood Charter School

The Homicide Intensified a Years-Long Gang War in Brooklyn

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that three alleged gang members have been variously sentenced for the fatal shooting of Devonte Lewis in broad daylight outside of the victim’s Midwood charter school shortly after dismissal. The two shooters in the case were sentenced to 14 years to life and 15 years to life, respectively. A third defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These defendants, who were just 15 and 16 years old at the time, laid in wait and opened fire at their target outside a school—killing him and ruining their own entire futures. We vigorously prosecute and hold responsible gang members who engage in gun violence, which is part of the reason Brooklyn is experiencing a dramatic reduction in shootings. My thoughts today are with Devonte Lewis’s heartbroken mother and loved ones.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Malachi Simms, 19, Quran Smith, 20, and Frantzy Alexandre, 20, all of Flatbush, Brooklyn. Smith was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew Blum to 15 years to life in prison. Simms and Alexandre were sentenced by Justice Blum to 14 years to life in prison and 10 years in prison, respectively, on Tuesday, April 15. Smith and Simms pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on March 17, 2025, and Alexandre pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on the same day.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on April 29, 2021, at approximately 2:40 p.m., Simms and Smith, each armed with a firearm, fatally shot an alleged gang rival, Devonte Lewis, a.k.a. Dior, 17, as he was leaving Urban Dove Charter School, a high school, on East 21^st Street near Avenue K. Alexandre accompanied the defendants to the school and was observed passing the firearm to Simms just before Simms fired the shots at Lewis. All three of the defendants belonged to the Folk No Love City gang.

Surveillance video shows the three defendants waited outside the school and hid behind the victim’s car until the moment they shot him. The video shows both defendants raising their arms to chest height to fire at the victim and continuing to fire after he falls to the ground.

Alexandre and Simms both got into the victim’s car right after the shooting and attempted to drive it away, before fleeing on foot to Simms’ house together. Smith fled the scene immediately after the shooting and went directly to Simms’ house.

The victim, a first-year Urban Dove student who had recently started a maintenance job with the New York City Housing Authority, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach and was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he died. Lewis was an alleged member of the Bloodhound Brims, who are rivals of Folk Nation and its subsets. His murder intensified the longstanding rivalry and led to a years-long war.

Police officers recovered .380 and 9mm shell casings and one live 9mm round at the scene of the shooting. A loaded .380 Taurus Spectrum Pistol fell out of defendant Smith’s pants when he was arrested on May 19, 2021 – and this gun was a microscopic match to the shell casings found at the scene.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Matthew Stewart, VCE Deputy Chief and Jennifer Cilia, VCE First Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Brooklyn Driver Who Killed Mother and Two Daughters While Allegedly Speeding Through a Red Light Indicted for Manslaughter

Allegedly Blew Steady Red Light While Going Nearly Triple the Speed Limit

And Plowed Through Pedestrians in the Crosswalk

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman has been arraigned on an indictment charging her with reckless manslaughter and other charges for allegedly speeding through a steady red light before crashing into an Uber that was waiting for a family to finish crossing the street, plowing through the pedestrians as her car rolled over. A 34-year-old mother and her daughters, 5 and 8, died from the impact, and her 4-year-son suffered serious injuries.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This horrific fatal crash was one of the worst I’ve seen in over 25 years as a prosecutor. It wasn’t an accident. This defendant’s unconscionably dangerous driving wiped out a family. The consequences of her flouting traffic laws and commonsense were disastrous, and we will now seek to hold her fully accountable for this criminally reckless behavior.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Miriam Yarimi, 32, of Midwood, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment charging her with multiple counts of second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault, and other related counts. She was ordered held without bail and to return to court on June 11, 2025. The defendant is facing a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on March 29, 2025, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the defendant was driving a 2023 Audi, turning onto Ocean Parkway. Video surveillance shows her car drive through a red light a block before the crash, narrowly avoiding other cars and continue north on Ocean Parkway.

At the next intersection, with Quentin Road, the mother, Natasha Saada, 34, was crossing Ocean Parkway from west to east, holding hands with her three children, Diana, 8, Deborah, 5, and Philip, 4. The evidence shows that a Toyota Camry was in the process of turning right from Quentin Road onto Ocean Parkway and was waiting for the pedestrians to finish crossing.

When the family was a step or two from the sidewalk, the Audi driven by the defendant sped through the intersection against the light, smashed into the back of the turning Toyota and plowed through the victims with her car continuing to roll over, stopping about 130 feet away. According to evidence obtained from the black box, the Audi was traveling at about 68 mph (in a 25-mph zone), was at full throttle (suggesting the gas pedal was floored) and zero brake was applied.

The mother and two daughters were killed at the scene. Her son suffered skull fractures, brain bleeding and had a kidney removed. The Toyota had five occupants – the Uber driver, a mother and her three kids – who sustained minor injuries. The Audi ended up upside down and had to be cut to get the defendant out. She suffered minor physical injuries.

The District Attorney thanked detectives from the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Boykin, Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Aaron Gauthier, of the Green Zone, with assistance from Jennifer Nocella, Chief of the Street Safety Bureau, Paralegals Devi Kempadoo and Lauryn Mordaunt, of the Street safety Bureau, and Green Zone Supervising Paralegal Aneudy Mata, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Chief of the Green Zone.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 14, 2025

Retired Police Officer Indicted for Unlawfully Searching NYPD Database and Sending Information to Friend in Alleged Bribery Scheme

Unauthorized Shared Info Included Arrest Warrants, Incident Reports and More,
Pertaining to the Friend – who was also charged – and Suspects in ATM Burglary Ring

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a former police officer and his alleged accomplice have been indicted for an alleged bribery scheme in which the officer allegedly conducted unauthorized searches while assigned to Brooklyn Criminal Court. The information, which included confidential reports and warrants, was allegedly exchanged for promised monetary payments.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly betrayed his badge when he provided confidential information to people accused of crimes. This was a shocking abuse of the trust he was granted and an example of corruption that could have led to serious public safety consequences. We have now indicted him and his alleged bribery partner and will work to hold them responsible.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Richard Arce, 54, of Yonkers, NY and Raymond Ramos, 42, of the Bronx. Arce was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 114-count indictment charging him with third-degree bribe receiving, fifth- and sixth-degree conspiracy, unauthorized use of a computer, and official misconduct. He was arrested last week by U.S. Marshals in the Dominican Republic. Ramos was arraigned in January 2025 on third-degree bribery, second-degree rewarding official misconduct, and fifth-degree conspiracy. Arce was released without bail and both defendants were ordered to return to court on May 7, 2025.

The District Attorney said that Arce was an NYPD officer from 2008 until he retired in 2023. He served in the Transit Bureau in the Bronx, and in February 2022, he was assigned to the Brooklyn Criminal Court section at 120 Schermerhorn Street. It is alleged that from approximately March 2021 through February 2023, Arce ran unauthorized searches for proprietary law enforcement information at the request of Ramos in exchange for promises of typically $40 to $50 per search.

The investigation revealed over 70 unauthorized searches for individuals including Ramos, Alexander Torres and Jesus Cedeno – who are defendants in an ATM burglary ring case, as well as other associates of Ramos. The searches were for arrest warrants, police reports and for license plates associated with vehicles owned or operated by Ramos. He allegedly ran these searches despite directives from the NYPD Patrol Guide, which requires NYPD officers to make inquiries which relate to official business only, and to only divulge information obtained from the system for valid law enforcement purposes. Arce allegedly used his NYPD issued cell phone to transmit the information via text messages.

For instance, the evidence shows that on October 23, 2022, Arce, while assigned to Criminal Court, texted Ramos two screenshots, one showing that Ramos had an active bench warrant from the Bronx. The next day, Arce texted, “Don’t forget the $25 cuz.” On November 11, 2022, Arce provided Ramos information indicating that he is a suspect in a commercial burglary in Manhattan, which included the name and contact information of the complainant.

The evidence further shows that, on November 1, 2022, Arce sent screenshots pertaining to Alexander Torres, which indicated he had two suspect warrants. The next day, Ramos asked for information about Jesus Cedeno, to which Arce replied, “Nope. No $. No Honey.” Torres and Cedeno were later indicted for participating in numerous burglaries of ATM machines. They have since pleaded guilty.

The case was investigated by detectives assigned to the New York City Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau.

The District Attorney thanked the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for their assistance in apprehending the defendant.

The District Attorney thanked the KCDA Detective Investigators for their assistance on this case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Nicole Lauterbach and Corey Hardin, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gregory Pavlides, Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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