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Thursday, February 1, 2024

Park Slope Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

For Repeatedly Sexually Assaulting Young Girl

Child was Abused by Defendant During Piano Lessons and Other Occasions

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man who sexually abused a child repeatedly for almost two years has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant exploited his position of trust to prey on a young child, which is an unconscionable betrayal. After starting a friendship with this family, he sexually abused the child beginning when she was just 9 years old. I hope today’s sentence brings some closure to the victim and her family and I remain steadfast in my commitment to protecting our children.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as John Stewart Russell, 62, of Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht to seven years in prison and 10 years’ post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted on January 11, 2024 of second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and endangering the welfare of a child, following a bench trial. He must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, the defendant started a friendship with the victim’s family in the summer of 2016. During that period, he began a pattern of grooming that preceded the sexual abuse to which he subjected the child. In November 2016, the defendant began giving the child piano lessons and started abusing her when he was alone with her.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, from November 2016 to June 2018, when she was 9 to 11 years old, the defendant regularly subjected the victim to sexual contact including groping her and subjecting her to various sexual acts. The sexual abuse continued after the piano lessons ended.

The defendant was arrested on July 30, 2020, after the victim disclosed the abuse to her parents.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Newcombe, Senior Assistant District Attorney Gabriela Sinisi, and Paralegal Supervisor Jennifer Hernandez, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Stuyvesant Heights Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Shooting

NYPD Officer Responding to Domestic Violence Call

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder in September

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Stuyvesant Heights man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for shooting a New York City Police Officer who was responding to a domestic violence call. The officer was wearing a bulletproof vest that stopped the bullet.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It’s a miracle Officer Boalick wasn’t more seriously injured or killed when he was shot by this defendant while answering a domestic violence call. Today’s lengthy prison sentence holds the defendant accountable for his violent actions while underscoring the dangers our police officers face every day to keep us all safe.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as William Moss, 23, of Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 20 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on September 7, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, throughout the afternoon and evening of December 24, 2020, the defendant and his girlfriend were engaged in an argument on the phone. At one point, the defendant threatened to come over to the young woman’s home on Bergen Street in Crown Heights and shoot at the window. As a result of this threat, the young woman’s mother called police.

At approximately 9:05 p.m., according to the evidence, six uniformed officers from the 77^th Precinct arrived at the address. While they were interviewing the young woman outside of the building, the defendant showed up and fired two shots at her. The first shot missed. The second shot struck one of the officers, Connor Boalick, then 27, in the back. The bullet lodged in a bulletproof vest that the officer was wearing.

Immediately after the shooting, the defendant fled on foot with two of the officers chasing after him. The officers shot at the defendant, missing him. Police apprehended the defendant two blocks away and located his 9-millimeter pistol where he had tossed it.

Police Officer Boalick was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was treated for bruising and abrasions to his back and released.

The District Attorney thanked Office Manager Jannette Ayala of the Homicide Bureau and Alexandra Aber, Chief Analyst of the Digital Evidence Lab, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Chow Yun Xie, Deputy Chief of District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Salvador Reynozo, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Chief of the Orange Zone Trial Bureau.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Brooklyn District Attorney Moves to Vacate Conviction of

Man who served 14 Years for Homicide Committed by Someone Else

Jury Didn’t Hear Evidence that Supported Defense’s Theory of

Different Gunman, Who Was Never Investigated; Defendant Paroled in 2010

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 Steven Ruffin, 45, who was 18 when convicted of the 1996 killing of a 16-year-old in a case of mistaken identity. The reinvestigation concluded that his defense lawyer failed to present evidence to bolster his claim that another person was the actual killer and that police and prosecutors failed to investigate that potential suspect. The defendant served 14 years in prison before he was released on parole in 2010. The full CRU report is available here.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “After a full investigation by my Conviction Review Unit, we can no longer stand by this old conviction and will move to give Mr. Ruffin his good name back. A confluence of factors, including errors by defense counsel and tunnel vision by law enforcement, produced a tragic result in this case – Mr. Ruffin was convicted for the actions of a different person whom he claimed to be the killer all along. We will continue to correct miscarriages of justice and to learn from the mistakes we uncover to ensure that they never happen again.”

The defendant will appear in court today at 2:30 p.m. before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic at 320 Jay Street, 15th Floor.

The District Attorney said that on February 5, 1996, at about 9:10 p.m., 16-year-old James Deligny was shot and killed in Crown Heights after he was mistaken to be the person who had just robbed the defendant’s sister of her earrings. According to credible testimony, the victim was approached by a group of young men, one stated, “It’s not him,” when the victim reached into his coat pocket as if he had a gun – and was then fatally shot.

The defendant was convicted based in part on the testimony of the victim’s sister, who described the shooter as a man with a cracked tooth. He was also interrogated by now-retired Detective Louis Scarcella and twice denied being involved in the shooting. The defendant’s estranged father, who was a police officer, was then called to the precinct and convinced the defendant to confess, which he did in his third statement.

At trial, the defense argued that the boyfriend of the defendant’s sister and the person who gave the murder weapon to the detective was the real culprit. The defendant, his sister and two eyewitnesses testified that the defendant was with his sister down the block at the time of the shooting and it was the boyfriend who committed the murder. The defense also called the boyfriend to the stand, where he repeatedly took the fifth. The jury acquitted the defendant of murder but convicted him of first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison and the sentence was reduced on appeal to 12½ to 25 years.

In reinvestigating the case, CRU reviewed the case files and conducted interviews with most of the witnesses and others involved in the case. It concluded that serious errors by the defense attorney compromised the defendant’s right to a fair trial. Specifically: he failed to have the boyfriend display to the jury that he had a cracked tooth, just like the defendant; failed to bring up the fact that the sole witness never viewed an identification procedure where the boyfriend was the subject; and failed to question witnesses about the fact that the boyfriend confessed to multiple people and even went at some point to get a Legal Aid lawyer with the intention of turning himself in (which he ultimately did not do).

CRU also concluded that the identification of the defendant and his confession were unreliable and that his alibi was plausible. It found that the police and prosecution investigation was inadequate, likely due to tunnel vision and confirmation bias, in that it failed to investigate the boyfriend, who possessed the murder weapon, had a cracked tooth like the defendant as well as a similar motive – to avenge his girlfriend’s robbery. Accordingly, CRU recommended to vacate the conviction and dismiss the underlying indictment.

To date, the work of the Conviction Review Unit has resulted in 37 convictions being vacated since 2014. Currently, CRU has approximately 40 open investigations.

This case was investigated by Assistant District Attorney Bruce Alderman, formerly of the District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit, with assistance from Lori Glachman, CRU Editor-in-Chief, under the supervision of Charles Linehan, Unit Chief

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Brooklyn Man Arraigned on Attempted Murder and Other Charges for

Allegedly Stabbing Two Men in Homeless Shelter and Another in Subway

The Victims Were Asleep When the Defendant Allegedly Attacked Them

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with attempted murder, assault and other charges in connection with a series of stabbings that left three innocent men seriously injured.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly engaged in a horrific spree of violence, brutally stabbing three innocent and vulnerable people as they slept. We have no tolerance for this kind of random violence in Brooklyn and will now seek to bring the defendant to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Abraham Kentish, 27, formerly of the SUS Shelter in East New York, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew Sciarrino on an indictment in which he is charged with three counts of second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, and related charges. The defendant is being held without bail and was ordered to return to court on March 7, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on November 12, 2023, at approximately 1:30 a.m., at the SUS Shelter, a homeless shelter, located at 1000 Blake Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn, the defendant allegedly went into the room of a 70-year-old client who was sleeping and stabbed him 15 times in the torso and about the body. The defendant allegedly then went into the room of a 38-year-old client who was also sleeping and stabbed him twice in the face and once in the elbow. The defendant then left the shelter and a security guard, who was told about the stabbings, called 911.

Furthermore, it is alleged, later that morning, between 1:55 a.m. and 2:55 a.m., the defendant entered the New Lots Avenue subway station, boarded a number 4 subway car, and walked up to a 32-year-old man who was sleeping and stabbed him once in the neck.

All three victims were taken to Brookdale Hospital where they were treated for stab wounds.

The defendant was arrested later that morning by two New York City Police Officers who saw that he matched the description of an individual being sought for the attacks.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ainissa Proctor and Assistant District Attorney Ashlica Malcolm of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Karla Watson, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 8, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for

Execution Murder of One Man and Shooting and Injuring a Second Man

Defendant Opened Fire Inside of Crowded Deli

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting one man and shooting and wounding a second man inside of a crowded deli in East New York, Brooklyn.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The defendant showed a complete indifference to human life when he callously opened fire inside of a crowded deli, repeatedly shooting and killing one man, a soon-to-be father, and shooting and severely wounding a second man. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Marcus Worrell, 28, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on November 9, 2023, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 5, 2020, at approximately 8:20 p.m., the defendant entered a deli located at 620 Livonia Avenue and shot Evon Hillman, 28, and continued firing at him even after the victim fell to the ground. Hillman died instantly, according to testimony. A second man, age 40, who was standing next to the victim, was shot in the stomach and suffered massive internal damage.

The defendant then left the deli, according to the evidence, and robbed another man of his motorbike at gunpoint to escape. He was arrested two months later, on August 5, 2020, by the New York City Police Department.

Evon Hillman’s fiancée gave birth to their son two months after the murder.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Chow Xie, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 8, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for
Execution Murder of One Man and Shooting and Injuring a Second Man

Defendant Opened Fire Inside of Crowded Deli

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting one man and shooting and wounding a second man inside of a crowded deli in East New York, Brooklyn.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The defendant showed a complete indifference to human life when he callously opened fire inside of a crowded deli, repeatedly shooting and killing one man, a soon-to-be father, and shooting and severely wounding a second man. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Marcus Worrell, 28, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on November 9, 2023, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 5, 2020, at approximately 8:20 p.m., the defendant entered a deli located at 620 Livonia Avenue and shot Evon Hillman, 28, and continued firing at him even after the victim fell to the ground. Hillman died instantly, according to testimony. A second man, age 40, who was standing next to the victim, was shot in the stomach and suffered massive internal damage.

The defendant then left the deli, according to the evidence, and robbed another man of his motorbike at gunpoint to escape. He was arrested two months later, on August 5, 2020, by the New York City Police Department.

Hillman’s fiancée gave birth to their son two months after the murder.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Chow Xie, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 29, 2023

Shootings and Shooting Victims Dropped by About 25% in Brooklyn in 2023,
Accelerating Three-Year Decline; Homicides Down by 10%

Significant Decline in Gun Homicides, Total Serious Crimes Reduced by Over 5%

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that Brooklyn continued to make significant gains in public safety in 2023, with shooting incidents and victims both dropping by about 25% compared to the previous year. Those numbers translate to about 150 fewer shooting victims. Homicides decreased by almost 10% and overall index crimes declined by more than 5%. These encouraging statistics are part of years-long trend that reversed the spike in gun violence during the height of the COVID pandemic and reverted back to pre-pandemic territory, when such crimes were at their lowest in recorded history. The Brooklyn DA’s Office continued to focus on reducing violence by targeting violent street gangs, partnering with community-based organizations to prevent at-risk youth from becoming either perpetrators or victims of gun violence, and enhancing efforts to better prosecute gun offenses. It also continued its efforts to correct miscarriages of justice and to strengthen fairness and equity in the legal system.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It is gratifying to see the progress we are making in keeping Brooklyn safe. This past year, we experienced a marked reduction in gun violence with shootings and shooting victims declining by a full quarter and homicide decreasing by 10%. These are not just numbers; these are 150 fewer people suffering gunshot injuries that would have altered their lives forever. While every act of gun violence is one too many, we are on the right track with most other serious crimes also trending downward. These achievements are a testament to the joint effort among my office, the Brooklyn community, the NYPD and all other law enforcement and community partners. As we look to 2024, I am hopeful and confident that we can continue to make our borough safer and strengthen trust in the justice system.”

The District Attorney said that there were 337 shooting incidents in Brooklyn this year, down 100 or 25% compared to 449 in 2022. There were 147 fewer shooting victims – 397 compared to 544, or down 27%. There were also 15 fewer murders, or a 10% decline. The decrease in gun homicides was notable, with 10 fewer shooting-related homicides or 63% of total number of murders committed this year. This percentage is analogous to 2018 and 2019, when homicides in Brooklyn reached record lows and those involving shootings stood at 64% in each of those years. That ratio jumped to 80% in 2020 and 72% in 2021. The reduction in shooting related homicides is another indication of improvements in gun violence.

The most notable gains in public safety took place in Brooklyn North precincts, first among them the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville, where murders dropped by a whopping 67% (from 21 to 7) and shootings decreased by 30%. Shootings also declined in East New York (75th Precinct), by 32%, and Bedford-Stuyvesant (81st Precinct), by 47%. Greenpoint (94th Precinct) saw one shooting, compared to eight in the previous year (down 87.5%). The southern neighborhoods that experienced the biggest drops in shootings were Sheepshead Bay (61st Precinct), down 71.5%, and Coney Island (60th Precinct), down 55.6%. The number of shootings decreased in 18 out of the 23 Brooklyn precincts. And gun violence in public housing developments declined significantly with 41% fewer shootings and 42% fewer shooting victims.

The seven major index crimes (murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand theft auto) decreased in Brooklyn by 5.1% this year compared to 2022. Burglaries decreased by 18.4%, grand larcenies by 7.2%, reported rape by 6.1% and robberies by 4.2%. The only upticks, by about 2.5% each, were in felony assaults and grand theft auto. [These stats are based on the New York City Police Department’s preliminary CompStat reports as of 12/24/2023.]

The DA’s Office’s efforts to combat gun violence this year included the takedown of two rival street crews with the indictment of 32 alleged gang members. A central figure in one of the gangs was successful drill rapper “Sheff G,” who allegedly used his music industry earnings to bankroll and encourage acts of violence. The office also secured the conviction of a man who killed a gang rival, sparking the cycle of violence between the two groups. Other initiatives focused on prevention, such as support to a program that aims to reduce shootings by addressing domestic violence, engagement of criminal justice involved youth, and gun buyback events.

Brooklyn’s Conviction Review Unit continued its crucial work to correct past miscarriages of justice, exonerating three individuals over the course of 2023. They included a man who served 18 years in prison, having been arrested based on a witness identification of a different man with the same name; a man who pleaded guilty to murder but a reinvestigation revealed that another person was responsible; and a man who spent 35 years in prison for a conviction that was based on an unreliable witness.

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

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Thursday, December 21, 2023

Brooklyn Landlord Indicted on Attempted Murder and Arson Charges

For Allegedly Setting Fire to Rental Property With 8 People Inside

Defendant Allegedly Threatened Family of Tenants Over Unpaid Rent at Cypress Hills Home

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn landlord has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with attempted murder, arson and related charges for allegedly setting fire to a Cypress Hills rental property he owned while a family of eight tenants, including six young children, slept inside. It is alleged the defendant had previously threatened to burn the building down as part of an ongoing dispute over unpaid rent. During the dispute, the defendant allegedly left a dead cat outside the family’s apartment.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly set fire to an occupied home, forcing an entire family, including six small children, to climb onto the roof and escape from the blaze in fear of their lives. It’s a miracle no one was killed or more seriously hurt. We will now seek to hold the defendant accountable for this allegedly deliberate and unconscionable act of arson.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Rafiqul Islam, 66, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 59-count indictment in which he is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree attempted assault, second-degree attempted arson, third- and fourth-degree arson, first- and second-degree reckless endangerment, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was ordered held without bail and to return to court on January 31, 2024. The defendant faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant is the owner of 212 Forbell Street, a two-story, two-family home in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn. Built in 1920, the building has a single entrance and no fire escape.

On September 26, 2023, at approximately 5:17 a.m., a tenant on the second floor noticed a burning smell from outside his family’s apartment. The tenant exited the apartment and saw smoke and flames coming up from the interior stairwell – the only point of egress within the building. As the fire spread, the entire family, including six children, ages 1 to 8, were forced to climb out of a back window and onto the roof. From there, two adult tenants were able to drop the children into the arms of neighbors waiting approximately 20 feet below. The two tenants then jumped off the roof the ground. One of the tenants called 911.

 Firefighters arrived to find the building fully engulfed. Approximately 55 firefighters were needed to extinguish the blaze while family members were taken to Brookdale Hospital and treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation.

Video surveillance obtained by FDNY Fire Marshals allegedly shows the defendant enter the building wearing a mask and carrying a bucket and a garbage bag. Additionally, video surveillance captured immediately before the tenant’s 911 call shows the defendant leaving the building. Witnesses were subsequently able to identify the defendant from the surveillance footage.

Police arrested the defendant on October 25, 2023.  The defendant was allegedly angry that the tenants had stopped paying rent and refused to move out of the building, according to the investigation. Three prior complaints were lodged between the defendant and the tenants dating back to February 2023. They include accusations from the tenants that the defendant threatened to cut off the family’s power and, later, set fire to the building. The defendant also allegedly placed a dead cat in the hallway outside the family’s apartment.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Miguel Rodriguez, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Andrea Orlando, Deputy Chief of the Red Zone, and the overall 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

Monday, December 18, 2023

Burglar Who Broke into Williamsburg Matzah Factory
Sentenced to up to Five Years in Prison

Stole Over $94,000 Just Weeks Before Passover

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years in prison for breaking into a Matzah factory in Williamsburg and stealing cash and checks worth over $94,000. The theft took place weeks before Passover, when the business was ramping up operations ahead of the Jewish holiday.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant brazenly broke into a religious institution that was gearing up to make matzahs before the start of a Jewish holiday. He was caught red handed and will now be held responsible. My office will continue to protect the property of everyone in Brooklyn and to hold offenders to account.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Muntaquim Durant, 44, of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Raymond Rodriguez to two-and-a-half to five years in prison, following his guilty plea in October to third-degree burglary.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 28, 2023, at approximately 9:50 a.m., the defendant entered the Satmar matzah bakery at 423 Broadway in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Surveillance video captured him enter the building, rummage through jackets on a coat rack, go upstairs, pour himself a cup of coffee, and enter the location’s office on the second floor.

The office was locked, but the defendant forced his way in and then exited the office a few seconds later with what appeared to be a wad of cash and checks in his pockets. He then exited the location.

An employee later entered the office and noticed checks were thrown around on the floor, and that there were missing checks and missing cash. The stolen checks totaled over $34,000 and the cash totaled over $60,000. Another employee called 911 and made a report.

The case detective created a wanted poster using the surveillance footage and other detectives identified the defendant, who was a suspect in other burglaries. He was arrested on March 15, 2023, during a routine traffic stop.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Brogna and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Kong, of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Robert Walsh, Bureau Chief.

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Friday, December 15, 2023

Williamsburg Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Following Conviction for Violent Assault of Modell’s Employees

Defendant Slashed One Worker in Back and Neck, Sliced Second Man Across Face

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for assaulting two Modell’s Sporting Goods employees in Williamsburg after they tried to stop him from shoplifting.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Keeping the people of Brooklyn safe is my highest priority, and violent offenders like this defendant must face serious consequences. Today’s sentence holds him responsible for this vicious assault that injured and traumatized two young men.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as John Whichard, 43, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The defendant was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht to 10 years in prison. The defendant was convicted of first-degree assault and second-degree assault on October 26, 2023, following a jury trial. A co-defendant, Gerald Rowlett, 53, of Williamsburg, was convicted of petit larceny and sentenced to six months jail.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 12, 2020, at approximately 11:35 a.m., the defendant and Rowlett were inside of a Modell’s Sporting Goods store located at 4 Graham Avenue in Williamsburg when they were approached by a store manager, who attempted to retrieve items the men placed in their bag. Two employees, both 20-year-old men, attempted to intervene and assist the store manager.

The defendant then slashed one employee in his back and the back of his neck and sliced the other employee across his face, according to the evidence. Both victims were treated at Woodhull Hospital. The defendants were arrested following an investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jennifer DaRin and Assistant District Attorney Kirsten Tamayo, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Karla Watson, Bureau Chief.

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