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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 15, 2023

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison Following Guilty Plea to Attempted Murder and Criminal Sexual Act

Defendant Broke into Marine Park House with Two Co-Defendants, Stabbed
Retired Police Lieutenant and Sexually Assaulted his Wife

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 18 years in prison for breaking into a home in Marine Park in 2018 with two other people, duct taping the elderly residents and assaulting them.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant violated the sanctity of this couple’s home and subjected them to unconscionable violence. With today’s lengthy sentence, he has now been brought to justice and the victims will be spared the anguish of a trial.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Tyrique Rushing, 25, of the Bronx. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 18 years in prison and 15 years of post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder, first-degree criminal sexual act and first-degree burglary on April 24, 2023. He must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

His co-defendants, Lance Jyrkenin, 25, and Shirnel Sobers, 30, previously pleaded guilty. Jyrkenin pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder, first-degree burglary and second-degree burglary on December 11, 2019 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Sobers pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary on September 12, 2022 and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on September 24, 2018, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the defendants Jyrkenin and Sobers broke into the Marine Park home of a 72-year-old retired police lieutenant and his 71-year-old wife and stole cash and the victims’ Honda Civic. The vehicle was later found abandoned in lower Manhattan.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, on a second date, on October 8, 2018, at approximately 4 a.m., the defendants Jyrkenin and Sobers, along with defendant Rushing broke into the same home and tied up both victims, who were in separate bedrooms, using duct tape. Rushing forced the woman to perform a sex act and her husband was slashed on his head and face.

The defendants stole cash, a set of speakers, a Bank of America card and the Honda Civic.

The 72-year-old victim was treated for lacerations to his head and face and received 40 stitches. His wife was treated for bruising on her hands and wrists from the duct tape and underwent a sexual assault evidence collection kit.

Jyrkinen and Sobers were arrested on October 8, 2018, at approximately 10 p.m., outside of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel inside of the victims’ Honda Civic. Rushing was arrested in Joplin, Missouri on October 18, 2018.

The District Attorney thanked Special Victims Bureau Paralegal Lucia Battaglia and DNA Specialist Susan Horan of the KCDA Forensic Science Unit for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Deborah Cohen, Counsel to the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, Assistant District Attorney Ebonie Legrand, Deputy Chief of the SVB, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Jacobi, also of the SVB, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

East Flatbush Man Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Prison

For Killing Brooklyn Rapper

Defendant Fatally Shot Victim in Chest After Dispute Over Stolen Cellphone

           Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an East Flatbush man has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 30-year-old Brooklyn rapper after a dispute over a stolen cellphone in 2017.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a tragic and senseless shooting of a man who had his life and budding musical career tragically cut short. Brooklyn is safer with this defendant behind bars, and today’s sentence sends a strong message that gun violence in our neighborhoods will be met with serious consequences.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as James Oliver, 44, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. The defendant was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 15 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on April 26, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on December 2, 2017, at approximately 10 p.m., inside the lobby of a building at 80 East 92nd Street, in East Flatbush, the defendant and victim, Darnell Pettway, 30, were drinking and gambling with a group of men. The defendant got into a fight with another individual over a stolen cellphone and became enraged when Pettway did not intervene on his behalf. According to the evidence, the defendant then left the location and went to his apartment at 87 East 93rd Street where he was recorded by video surveillance putting a gun into his waistband. The defendant then went back to 80 East 92nd where he shot Pettway several times in the chest.

Pettway, a rapper who performed under the stage “Mook Mula,” was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The defendant fled to Pennsylvania. He was arrested on Jan. 1, 2019, in Upper Saucon Township, after being arrested for an unrelated incident.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal Amanda Connolly and Digital Evidence Lab Intelligence Analyst Austin Fedchock for their assistance on the case.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 8, 2023

U-Haul Driver Indicted for Murder and Attempted Murder for Allegedly Intentionally Driving a Truck into Multiple Victims, Killing One Man and Injuring Others in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Sunset Park

Defendant’s Alleged Rampage Ended When he was Boxed in by Police in Red Hook

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a former Las Vegas, Nevada resident has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with murder, attempted murder and assault for driving a U-Haul truck into 10 civilians, killing one, and for injuring two police officers.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying incident in which we allege that an innocent pedestrian and numerous cyclists were intentionally targeted and mowed down by this defendant, including a father of three who did not survive his injuries. We will now seek to bring the defendant to justice and to keep the streets of Brooklyn safe.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Weng Sor, 62, formerly of Las Vegas, Nevada. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 25-count indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder, first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault and first-degree attempted assault. The defendant was ordered held without bail and to return to court on May 31, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on February 13, 2023, between 10:20 a.m. and 11:05 a.m., at multiple locations, beginning at 55th Street and 4th Avenue in Sunset Park and concluding at 72nd Street and 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, according to witnesses and surveillance footage, the defendant was driving a U-Haul truck and struck numerous e-bike riders and a bicyclist and endangered pedestrians, motorists and people waiting to cross the street.

In addition, it is alleged, the defendant drove up on to the sidewalk and struck a pedestrian. During the course of the alleged rampage, he allegedly drove toward a police officer who was then struck and injured by an e-bike being dragged by the truck.

The defendant, who was being pursued by police, drove from Bay Ridge on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to Red Hook where he was boxed in and apprehended by police, at which time a police officer was struck by the vehicle and injured.

A civilian, YiJie Ye, a 44-year-old father of three, who was riding an e-bike and working for a food delivery service, died of head injuries after being struck in the vicinity of Bay Ridge Parkway and Fifth Avenue.

The other individuals that were struck suffered a variety of injuries including multiple rib fractures, a pelvic fracture, broken legs, injury to the head, ankle, and knee. Additionally, several of the victims required surgery as a result of their injuries.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal James Morales and KCDA Digital Evidence Lab Intelligence Analyst Lexie Giardina for their assistance on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph Mancino of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Alicia Trujillo of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Chief of the Homicide Bureau.

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 5, 2023

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for Murder of Former Girlfriend and Attempted Murder of Her Mother

Victim Was Shot Five Times as She Walked Near Her Home with Her Mother and Friend

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for shooting to death his former girlfriend, with whom he shared two children.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s calculated, cold-blooded murder cut short Sade Sanchez’s life and robbed her family and friends of a beloved mother, daughter, and friend. With today’s substantial prison sentence, this defendant will no longer be a threat to anyone else in our community.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Gabriel Rivera, 30, of Ridgewood, Queens. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Tomlinson to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree attempted assault, and first-degree stalking on March 29, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on approximately September 1, 2018, Sade Sanchez, 24, ended a nine-year relationship with the defendant, with whom she shared two children. Thereafter, he called and texted her repeatedly and showed up outside of her Bushwick home stalking her.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, on October 6, 2018, the defendant showed up outside of the victim’s home, located on Menahan Street, and saw a 21-year-old male friend of the victim hanging out in front of the house. The defendant punched the man three times in the head and told him that no one could be with his woman.

Finally, according to the investigation, on October 7, 2018, the victim was walking on Menahan Street with her 46-year-old mother and the same friend who was punched by the defendant a day earlier, when the defendant approached from behind a car, pulled out a firearm and shot Ms. Sanchez five times. After she fell to the ground, he continued to fire at her. He then pointed the gun in her mother’s face and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire.

The defendant fled the scene and was arrested the following day.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sabeeha Madni, First Deputy Chief of the School Advocacy and Juvenile Crimes Bureau (formerly of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau), under the supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Michelle Kaminsky, Chief of the District Attorney’s Gender-Based Violence Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, May 4, 2023

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Killing Ex-Girlfriend 

Defendant Slashed Victim in Neck with Knife During a Dispute

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend by fatally slitting her throat. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “With today’s sentence the defendant has been held responsible for the vicious and deadly stabbing of an innocent woman and mother. Today’s lengthy prison sentence is a step toward justice for the victim’s family and friends.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Romeo Borneo, 63, of Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Abena Darkeh to 19 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on April 3, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on November 13, 2018, at approximately 11 a.m., at 25 Lefferts Avenue, the defendant called police stating that he and the victim, Erica Renaud, 47, had a fight and that he had been cut. Police and emergency medical personnel arrived at the address and found the defendant with cut marks on his wrist.

Furthermore, during a search of the apartment, police found the vicitm’s body under a pile of blood-stained bedding and pillows on the living room floor. The victim’s throat was cut. The defendant told police he and the victim, who had recently ended their relationship, had a fight. Detectives subsequently found a broken knife in the garbage with what appeared to be blood stains on it.

The medical examiner later determined the victim’s cause of death to be a wound to the neck which led to a fatal loss of blood.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Farin Chasin-Fodeman, of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kori Medow, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

 

Former Paralegal Indicted for Embezzling Over $400,000

from Brooklyn Law Firm

Defendant Allegedly Stole Settlement Money Belonging to Clients

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a former Brooklyn paralegal has been charged with embezzling more than $400,000 from the law firm where he worked. The defendant allegedly stole from the firm’s Interest On Lawyer Account (IOLA) fund, which contained settlement money belonging to firm clients, and then used the money to pay personal expenses, including credit card bills.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly violated the trust of his firm’s clients by stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars to which he was not entitled. Criminal misconduct cannot be tolerated in the legal profession, and we are committed to holding this defendant accountable for his alleged fraud. I thank the U.S. Department of Homeland Securities Investigations for their assistance with the case.”

HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said, “As alleged, Steven Cher exploited his trusted position as a paralegal with the Law Office of Yuriy Prakhin to embezzle over $400,000 from several of the firm’s clients. Financial fraud and embezzlement are not victimless crimes. Those who are defrauded often suffer financial and emotional turmoil as they seek to recover from the offenses against them. The success of this investigation highlights the importance of collaborative law enforcement partnerships to apprehend these types of perpetrators and grant justice for their victims. I am especially grateful to HSI New York’s Document & Benefit Fraud Task Force and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Steven Cher, a.k.a., Vladislav Cherednichenko, 48, recently of Leander, Texas. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree grand larceny, second-degree money laundering, first-degree identity theft, and thirty-two counts of first-degree falsifying business records. The defendant was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court on May 1, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, from 2015 to 2018, the defendant worked as a paralegal at the Law Office of Yuriy Prakhin where he assisted in handling settlement checks to clients.  It is alleged the defendant stole over $400,000 from the IOLA account.  He deposited approximately $288,611 of these funds into a bank account that he opened in the name of another person.  The defendant also allegedly diverted 16 checks worth $127,524 made out to clients of the firm into bank account in his own name.  Furthermore, it is alleged the defendant used the embezzled funds on travel and restaurants, as well as to pay his credit card bills.

The defendant was arrested in Tennessee earlier this month and waived extradition to New York.

The investigation was conducted by the Kings County District Attorney’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

The District Attorney thanked Deputy Joseph Reiber of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee for his assistance with the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Abigail Rosen of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gavin Miles, Bureau Chief of Intake and Case Assessment, Gregory Pavlides, Bureau Chief of Frauds, Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

 

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez to

Host Prescription Drug Take Back

Safe, Convenient Way to Dispose of Expired and Unused

Prescription Drugs Will Be Provided in 13 Brooklyn Locations

          Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that, together with the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, his Office will host a Prescription Drug Give Back on Friday, April 21, 2023, between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The initiative, held one day before the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, will provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Unused prescription medications can fall into the hands of children or get stolen and sold to those who misuse drugs. It is essential to safely dispose of these medications as a measure to help prevent opioid addiction before it begins, which is why we have partnered for the first Rx Take Back in Brooklyn. On Friday, across 13 locations throughout the borough, residents are encouraged to turn in expired and unused prescription drugs in a way that doesn’t impact our environment and makes us all safer and healthier.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said, “Events like these are an important part of the NYPD and our law enforcement partners’ efforts to fight the nationwide overdose epidemic and save lives. We encourage everyone – across Brooklyn, and across New York City as a whole – to share the responsibility for public safety by properly disposing of unneeded prescription medications. This is how we will continue to keep all of our communities safe.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said, “For more than a decade DEA has helped Americans rid their homes of old, unwanted, or expired medications at our National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. I applaud our partners at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department for their efforts to expand this program within the communities they serve. The DEA New York Division is pleased to partner with Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and New York City Police Department in this preventative effort to safeguard homes from prescription drug misuse.”

The District Attorney said that, according to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 11.5 million people age 12 and older misuse a prescription pain reliever each year. More than 40 percent of those drugs are obtained from friends and family members – typically without their knowledge. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is aimed at addressing this issue while providing education about the danger of misuse of prescribed medication.

On Friday, April 21, between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., safe drop off sites for expired and unused medication will be available to the public throughout Brooklyn, no questions asked. The 13 locations, including the lobby of the DA’s Office, community centers, senior centers and churches, will be staffed with uniformed officers and include educational literature. The full list of locations is available in the attached flyer.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Bronx Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Rape of Stranger on A Train

Defendant Approached Woman on Platform at Liberty Avenue,

Then Boarded Subway and Sexually Assaulted Her Multiple Times

           Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a woman in the early morning hours of August 11, 2021 onboard a northbound A train.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant violently and brutally attacked an innocent woman on the subway, and thanks to the victim’s brave testimony he will be held accountable. Protecting our communities from sexual assault is a top priority for my office and I commend the NYPD for their outstanding work apprehending the defendant within hours of this attack.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Dashawn Lewis, 32, of the Bronx. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu to 25 years in prison and 20 years of post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted of first-degree rape, three counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, third-degree robbery, forcible touching, and theft of services on March 16, 2023, following a jury trial. The defendant must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 11, 2021, at approximately 3:20 a.m., the victim, a 24-year-old woman, was waiting for the subway at the Liberty Avenue station in East New York when the defendant started speaking to her and she ignored him. When she got up to board the train, he touched her buttocks, boarded the train, started yelling at her in front of two other passengers, and then moved into a different car.

Meanwhile, the victim, who was crying, called her friend on Facetime, but the call dropped. The two other passengers got off the train at the next stop, according to the evidence, and the defendant came back into the car, said to her “don’t make me mess up your pretty face,” and forced her to perform a sex act while filming it. He then raped her and again forced her to perform a sex act, took her identification and left the train.

When the victim got off the train at the next stop she was met by her friend and police, as her friend had called 911 when the call dropped. The victim was taken to a hospital, where a sexual assault kit was prepared.

The defendant was arrested for farebeating at approximately 5:45 a.m., at a nearby train station, by New York City police officers who recognized him as fitting the description of the suspect in the sexual assault, and he was subsequently charged. The defendant’s DNA was a match to the sexual assault kit and further evidence of the attack was found on his phone.

           The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Gwen Barnes and Paul Hershan, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 17, 2023

Brooklyn Residents Indicted for Making and Selling Fake OSHA and Buildings Department Safety Cards

Allegedly Sold Dozens of 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 a 42-year-old woman and the owners of two Brooklyn companies that allegedly provide jobsite safety training and certification have been arraigned on separate indictments charging them with making and selling dozens of fake safety cards to New York construction workers who never received the required training.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Evading regulations that ensure worksite safety training and certification is inexcusable and puts people’s lives at risk. Today’s indictments should send a strong message that when alleged fraudsters offer dangerous shortcuts, or attempt to profit by getting around safety requirements, they will face serious repercussions. I thank DOI for their continued cooperation in investigating corruption cases.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “As charged, these defendants made and sold illegitimate documents that purported to certify construction workers had the required training when in fact they did not. City and federal agencies’ construction safety rules are not optional, and promoting work-arounds to rigorous courses and programs designed to ensure worker safety can and does lead to dangerous and tragic results. I thank the NYCHA employee who prompted this investigation by reporting discrepancies regarding a contractor’s safety card to DOI. And I thank District Attorney Gonzalez and his team for their continued partnership on investigating these important cases that hold accountable anyone who undercuts construction safety in New York City.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Latecia Moore, 42, of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; Alex Kaushanskiy, 35, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn; and Benedetto Bonello, 35, of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Moore is charged with ten counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, two counts of second-degree forgery, and four counts of first-degree falsifying business records. Kaushanskiy and his company, Odessa Safety, Inc., are charged with three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and three counts of first-degree falsifying business records. Bonello and his company, National Site Safety LLC, are charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. Defendants Kaushanskiy and Bonello are authorized OSHA trainers but, according to the investigation, did not provide the required trainings.

Bonello was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. He was released without bail and ordered to return to court on June 14, 2023. Moore and Kaushanskiy were arraigned on April 13, 2023 before Justice Chun. They were released without bail and ordered to return to court on June 13, 2023 and June 14, 2023, respectively.

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. Occupation 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, under Local Law 196 of 2017, New York City requires additional safety certifications for some construction workers, including the Site Safety Training certification (SST) for workers and supervisors. An SST card for workers can be earned by completing the OSHA 30-hour training program plus 10 additional hours of training. An SST card for supervisors can be earned by completing the OSHA 30-hour training program plus 32 additional hours of training that includes courses in fall prevention, scaffolding, drug and alcohol awareness, and site safety. The SST card contains a QR code, which, when scanned, displays a photograph of the holder, the SST ID number and other information regarding the training the cardholder has completed.

As part of the investigation, DOI executed a search warrant at Moore’s workplace and recovered computers, a card printer, and various counterfeit OSHA and SST cards. It is alleged Moore manufactured fake cards which were later sold to customers for between $200 and $650 per card. DOI also made an undercover purchase of a fraudulent OSHA-30 card and another type of fraudulent card from Bonello at his company, National Site Safety. Furthermore, according to the investigation, DOI conducted undercover buys of phony OSHA and SST cards from Odessa Safety. The undercovers were instructed to complete paperwork such as course attendance sheets and evaluation forms without having to attend any actual classes.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Tammy Chung, also of the PIB, 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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An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 10, 2023

Crown Heights Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking of 19-Year-Old Girl

   Defendant Also Allegedly Assaulted the Victim and Another Woman

  Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Crown Heights man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, assault and other charges for the alleged sex trafficking and assault of a teenager as well as the assault of a 40-year-old woman.

  District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s allegedly violent and exploitative abuse of women for profit shocks the conscience and we are committed to seeking justice on behalf of the victims and anyone impacted by human trafficking. We have no tolerance for this kind of reprehensible conduct in Brooklyn and will continue our vigorous and multi-pronged efforts to protect the most vulnerable.”

  The District Attorney identified the defendant as Samuel Tucker, 39, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was arraigned Friday afternoon before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice E. Niki Warin on a 27-count indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking, second-, third- and fourth-degree promoting prostitution, second- and third-degree assault, second-degree attempted assault, first-, second- and third-degree coercion, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted of the top count, he is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender. The defendant was ordered held on bail of $200,000 cash or $750,000 bond and to return to court on May 10, 2023.

  The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the 19-year-old victim was homeless and living in a shelter in Brownsville when she was introduced to the defendant, who allegedly enticed her with promises of cash and drugs if she would engage in prostitution for him. The victim allegedly moved into the defendant’s apartment in Crown Heights, where she slept on an air mattress in the living room and allegedly engaged in prostitution in the bedroom with dates that the defendant arranged for her. He also allegedly posted photos of her on in a prostitution advertisement on OneBackpage.com.

  The defendant allegedly instructed her how much to charge and all the money she earned was immediately turned over to him.

  It is alleged that on one occasion, the defendant allegedly beat her with a can of corn that he placed in a sock, hitting her about the body repeatedly and causing bruises to her chest and back. In another instance, it is alleged, the defendant heated a spoon using the burners on the stove and then held it to her feet, burning her.

  On another occasion, it is alleged, the defendant allegedly hogtied another woman, age 40, who was also engaging in prostitution for the defendant, and placed her in a hotel room bathtub filled with scalding hot water and repeatedly held her head beneath the water in the presence of the 19-year-old victim.

  In another instance, the defendant allegedly forced the 19-year-old victim to watch as he beat the 40-year-old victim about the head and body with a firearm. He then instructed her to clean and bandage the older woman’s wounds.

  On January 18, 2023, the victim allegedly ran away from the defendant and contacted the New York City Police Department.
The New York City Police Department investigation was led by Detective Paul Mastronardi of the NYPD’s Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Robert Duplessis, Lieutenant Amy Capogna and Captain Thomas Milano.

        The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Mary E. Monahan, of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Aurora Martinez and HTU Social Worker Kirsty Carroll, and under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the Special Victims Bureau.

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