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Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to up to 12 Years in Prison for Stealing Nearly
$16 Million in Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Scheme

Scammed Approximately 100 Victims Throughout the US;
Convinced Users to Transfer Funds, Claiming Accounts were Hacked

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an indictment brought by his Virtual Currency Unit has resulted in the guilty plea and sentencing of a Brooklyn man in connection with a phishing and social engineering scheme that stole nearly $16 million from about 100 users of the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. The defendant – who used the handle @lolimfeelingevil when bragging online – contacted users purporting to be a Coinbase representative, claimed that their assets were at risk from a hacker and convinced them to transfer their money to a new cryptocurrency wallet. He then emptied out those accounts and laundered the assets by sending them to online swapping and mixing services as well as cryptocurrency gambling entities.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentencing holds the defendant accountable for a brazen, long-running social engineering scam that amounted to a digital robbery of nearly 100 victims. Our Virtual Currency Unit painstakingly pieced together the digital proof that identified the defendant behind this sophisticated scheme, followed the money that he stole and compiled iron-clad evidence against him. This case should put crypto scammers on notice: we will follow the digital trail wherever it leads and aggressively pursue those responsible.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ronald Spektor, 23, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to four to 12 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to the entire 31-count indictment, including first-degree money laundering, first-degree grand larceny, first-degree criminal possession of stolen property and related charges on September 2, 2026 in exchange for the promised sentence over the objection of the District Attorney’s office, which sought a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison.

The defendant was also ordered to forfeit cash, cryptocurrency and personal property with an estimated value of more than half a million dollars and make restitution of almost $16 million.

The District Attorney said Coinbase is an American cryptocurrency exchange that allows its users to buy, sell, and store digital assets. Coinbase users are popular targets for phishing scams, which are social engineering cyberattacks where a bad actor impersonates a trusted entity, like a bank or a well-known company, to trick customers into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, account numbers, or other personal details. These scams are typically conducted through deceptive emails, text messages, phone calls, or malicious websites that mimic legitimate ones.

Over the course of a year, the DA’s Virtual Currency Unit investigated a Coinbase phishing scheme that resulted in approximate loss of $15,944,000 from about 100 U.S.-based users. Victims confirmed that a purported Coinbase representative contacted them and informed them that their assets were at risk from a hacker and needed to be moved to a new wallet. The users, believing they were communicating with a real Coinbase representative, unwittingly moved their crypto assets to a wallet that they were led to believe was under their sole control, but was actually accessible by the defendant.

The investigation further revealed that the stolen assets were then laundered by swapping them multiple times through different crypto exchanges until they were eventually consolidated at “cash-out points” where they could be converted to other types of cryptocurrencies, wagered in bets, converted to cash, and used to purchase gift cards or digital assets. Large portions of the stolen assets in this case were sent to gambling services and various online storefronts.

The defendant, who lived with his father in Brooklyn, was responsible for the scheme, according to the evidence, based on transaction records, blockchain analyses, digital forensic and evidence recovered from multiple search warrants. The defendant’s own home IP address was linked to multiple wallets that cryptocurrency was stolen from. The investigation also revealed that he used online forums to recruit others to work for him as social engineers (e.g. perpetuating what might look like a hacking attempt) and to brag about his criminal exploits.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that Spektor used the handle @lolimfeelingevil on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, where he ran a channel called “Blockchain enemies” in which he openly bragged about his heists. He also used encrypted apps like Discord. Investigators recovered messages that show he wrote, using slang terms, that he lost six million dollars of cryptocurrency by gambling and implied that he has made millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency through scamming.

In addition, text messages recovered from his phone show that after becoming the subject of online allegations of fraud, he disposed of a cryptocurrency hardware wallet and purchased a new one.

Victims came from all walks of life, and their locations spanned the entire country. Some lost $1 million or more.

The District Attorney offered the following tips to avoid falling victim to phishing scams:

• • Coinbase and most other companies will never call customers or ask to transfer crypto to a “safe wallet”
  • Don’t trust caller ID, sender names or lookalike domains that can be spoofed.
  • Slow down. Scammers rely on urgency and pressure. Verify independently, consult with others, don’t move money in a rush.

The civil forfeiture case against the defendant was handled by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joel Greenwald under the supervision of Asset Forfeiture and Crimes Against Revenue Deputy Bureau Chief Diana Villanueva.

The case was investigated by Assistant District Attorney Alona Katz, Chief of the District Attorney’s Virtual Currency Unit with the assistance of ADA Kevin Zhen of the Frauds Bureau, Senior Virtual Currency Analyst Sam Weaver and Paul Stenzel, as well as analysts Jayden Kuprel, Chris Vellios, and Paralegal Claire Fagan, of the Virtual Currency Unit. Detective Investigators from the KCDA Detective Bureau and members of the Digital Evidence Lab Unit under the supervision of Chief Jingu Chong also assisted in the investigation.

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Monday, September 21, 2026

Man Indicted for Brownsville Restaurant Shooting During Botched Robbery

 Defendant Allegedly Shot Two Restaurant Workers, Killing One Man

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bronx man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with first-degree murder and related charges for allegedly shooting two men inside a Brownsville restaurant during a robbery attempt, killing one of them.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Two hardworking New Yorkers were brutally attacked during an attempted robbery, and a husband and father of two tragically lost his life. This kind of violence tears families apart and endangers entire communities. We have driven gun violence to a record low in Brooklyn through focused enforcement and strong accountability for those who commit these horrific crimes, and our prosecutors will pursue this case vigorously.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jesus Acosta, 31, of the Bronx. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo on an 11-count indictment in which he is charged with first- and second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree attempted robbery, and related charges. The defendant is being held without bail and was ordered to return to court on December 4, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 22, 2026, at approximately 11:50 p.m., the defendant allegedly entered American Best Wings & Pizza located at 842 Rockaway Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn, carrying a black plastic bag.

The defendant then allegedly reached into the bag and walked behind the counter where the two employees, MD Yousuf, 44, and a 39-year-old man, were working. The defendant allegedly shot Yousuf in the torso and shot the other man in the leg.

The defendant allegedly banged on the cash register with the gun in his hand and then fled the scene.

Yousuf, a married father of two, was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The defendant was arrested on August 29, 2026, in a Bronx park.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Aleena Peerzada, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Bureau Chief.

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

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Friday, September 18, 2026

Bronx Man Arrested for a 1995 Gunpoint Rape of

Brooklyn Woman on Rooftop of Bedford-Stuyvesant Building

Advanced DNA Technology Helped Identify the Alleged Defendant Over 30 Years Later

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bronx man has been charged with rape, robbery and related counts for allegedly assaulting a 36-year-old woman at gunpoint on the rooftop of her mother’s apartment building in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, in 1995. Advanced DNA technology helped identify the suspect, who was previously indicted as a John Doe.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “The victim in this case endured three decades of trauma and uncertainty following a horrific sexual attack. Technological advances and the persistence of NYPD detectives and our Forensic Science and Cold Case Unit allow us to now seek justice on her behalf. We will continue to use every available tool to investigate and prosecute every crime committed in Brooklyn, no matter how long it takes.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as William Stephens, 54, of the Bronx. He was arraigned today before Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo on an indictment charging him with first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, first-, second-, and third-degree robbery and second-degree assault. He was ordered held on $250,000 bail and to return to court on October, 30, 2026. The defendant is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that on the evening of August 2, 1995, the victim, who was 36 at the time, entered her mother’s apartment building in Bed-Stuy and an unknown male allegedly approached her from behind, pressed a firearm against her right side, instructed her to remain quiet and proceeded to lead her up the stairs to the sixth floor and onto the rooftop. At the time, the victim noted that the male appeared to be familiar with the building.

Once on the rooftop, the male allegedly pointed the firearm at her, ordered her to undress and lie down and then raped her while continuing to hold the gun. After the sexual assault, the male removed several pieces of jewelry from the victim and fled the scene.

The victim went to a friend’s house and immediately reported the incident. She was transported to Brooklyn Hospital, where a rape kit was collected. A male DNA profile was created but it did not match any profile in the national database. An indictment charging the DNA profile as John Doe was filed in June 2005, before the statute of limitations was set to expire, and the case remained unsolved for another two decades.

Advances in familial DNA technology that were utilized to reevaluate old profiles yielded a person of interest this summer. An abandonment sample taken from the defendant confirmed that his DNA matched the DNA from the 1995 rape kit. The investigation also revealed that his mother and other relatives resided at the time in the apartment building where the assault took place.

The forensic investigation was conducted by Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Singer, Chief of the Forensic Science and Cold Case Unit, Bridget Brodzinski, Deputy Unit Chief, and DNA Specialist Susan Horan.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Brian Newcombe, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Olatokunbo Olaniyan, First Deputy Bureau Chief, and Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, September 14, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for
Sexually Assaulting Woman He Followed from Bar

Off-Duty Maryland Police Officer Intervened to Stop Attack

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Canarsie man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and 12 years of post-release supervision for following a woman from a Kensington bar, carrying her into an alley and sexually assaulting her before an off-duty police officer intervened.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his horrific crime, demonstrates our commitment to the protection of vulnerable victims in Brooklyn, and ensures a measure of justice for the innocent woman who was so violently assaulted.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Janeal Figueroa, 26, of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jay Weiner to 12 years in prison and 12 years of post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree sexual abuse on May 20, 2026, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on April 7, 2023, the 35-year-old woman went for drinks with friends before going to a bar located on Beverley Road in Kensington, Brooklyn, where she continued to drink by herself. The defendant observed and followed the victim when she left the bar alone at approximately 10:30 p.m.

As the victim walked home, the defendant put his arm around her and carried her into an alley near the corner of East 2nd Street and Church Avenue in Kensington as she screamed “no, no, no,” according to video surveillance. Once inside the alley, as the victim could be heard screaming, the defendant violently physically assaulted her, held her on the ground and subjected her to oral sexual conduct. When the victim attempted to crawl away, the defendant grabbed her by the ankles and pulled her back as she screamed for help.

An eyewitness flagged down an off-duty police officer visiting from Montgomery County, Maryland, who intervened and ordered the defendant out of the alley. As the defendant attempted to flee, he bragged to the off-duty officer and another witness about what he had just done to the victim. Members of the New York City Police Department arrested him nearby a short time later, and the off-duty officer identified him as the attacker.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Supervisor Jennifer Hernandez for her work on this case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Stephen Van Doran and Jourdan Thompson, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Shooting Death
Of Business Acquaintance During High-End Sneaker Transaction

Stole the 10 Sneakers, valued at $25,000, Torched Remains, Misled
Detectives and Victim’s Relatives as They Searched for Him

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Crown Heights man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting a Georgia man who came to New York to sell the defendant high-end sneakers valued at thousands of dollars. The defendant stole the sneakers and then made elaborate efforts to cover up the crime by torching the remains and misleading investigators.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentence holds this defendant accountable for taking the life of Douglas Young, an innocent man who was senselessly and deliberately killed by someone he knew and trusted. The defendant then took elaborate steps to cover up his heinous crime. Young’s family, friends, and community are heartbroken by his loss, and my thoughts are with them today.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Hakeem Smith, 31, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and third-degree arson on August 25, 2026, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 6, 2020, the victim, Douglas Young, flew from Georgia to New York to complete a high-end sneaker transaction with the defendant, who he knew and with whom he had done similar business in the past.

The pair were supposed to meet near the Barclays Center, but the defendant changed the meeting place to a remote location in Red Hook, in the vicinity of 621 Court Street. The victim drove his rental car to the location, met the defendant and showed him the sneakers. The defendant then shot Douglas, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, three times in the head, killing him, according to the evidence.

The defendant took the 10 pairs of sneakers that he was supposed to purchase, which had a resale value of $25,000, and left the vicinity. Among the sneakers stolen from the victim
were Nike Air Yeezy 2 Solar Red, Nike Air Force 1 Low Off-White MCA University Blue, Nike Air Force 1 Low VLONE, Nike Dunk SB Low What the Dunk, Jordan 1 Retro High Travis Scott, Jordan 1 Retro Fragment Friends, Family, Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White Euro and Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White Chicago.

On February 8, 2020, the defendant returned to the scene where the deceased victim remained in the vehicle, according to the evidence, and set the car on fire.

The evidence also showed that the day after the murder, while the victim’s family was trying to locate him, the defendant offered to help them by filing a missing person report. He told Young’s relatives and detectives investigating his disappearance that they met near Barclays Center, that the transaction didn’t take place and that he watched the victim drive away to meet someone else.

The defendant was arrested on September 11, 2020, following an extensive investigation.

The District Attorney thanked KCDA Detective Investigators, the Digital Evidence Lab, and Homicide Paralegals Sarah-Jane Quashie and Angelika Rostkowska for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Steven Bravo, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Kaitlin Kinsella, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Alleged Sex Trafficking of Teenager 

Digital Investigation Uncovered Online Ads Promoting Prostitution of 16-Year-Old Girl

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that two defendants have been indicted for their roles in the alleged trafficking of a 16-year-old girl for prostitution after investigators uncovered online advertisements featuring the teenager and digital communications allegedly showing that she was being promoted for commercial sex.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Protecting vulnerable children from exploitation is among our most important responsibilities. As trafficking increasingly moves online, digital and video evidence can be critical to identifying exploitation and building strong cases. We will continue using every available tool to protect victims, hold traffickers accountable and keep our communities safe.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Carlton Foster, 38, of Brooklyn, and Jaeandrea Herriot, 19, also known as Jae Herriot, also of Brooklyn. They are charged in a seven-count indictment with second-, third- and fourth-degree promoting prostitution and endangering the welfare of a child. Foster is also charged with sex trafficking of a child. Herriot was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, who set bail at $5,000 cash or $25,000 bond. Foster was arraigned on August 12, 2026, by Justice Chun. Foster was ordered held on bail of $200,000 cash or $1 million bond. Both defendants were ordered to return to court on October 14, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on March 10, 2026, law enforcement received a referral regarding a 16-year-old girl who had run away from her group home and was suspected of being a victim of sex trafficking.

Detectives from the New York City Police Department’s Human Trafficking Squad opened a joint investigation with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, when investigators allegedly located online advertisements featuring the teenager on websites used to advertise prostitution and trafficking.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, on April 3, 2026, the teenager encountered police in Brooklyn in connection with an unrelated matter. Detectives obtained her cellphone and conducted a forensic examination that allegedly uncovered extensive prostitution-related communications involving Foster and Herriot.

The District Attorney said that on May 7, 2026, The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children notified the FBI that live online advertisements of the teen were discovered in Newark, New Jersey. That night, FBI agents arranged a meeting and recovered her from a hotel room in New Jersey.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Kevin Deleon (now retired), along with Detective Daniel Bergamini, of the New York City Police Department Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh, and the overall supervision of Inspector Gary Marcus.

The District Attorney thanked the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Police Officers Felix Figueroa and Anthony Gallucci of the Newark, N.J., Police Department, Special Agent Brian Salamone from the FBI Newark Field Office and the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey for their assistance in the investigation.

Additionally, the District Attorney thanked Human Trafficking Unit Office Manager Aurora Martinez and Paralegal Aaliyah Antrobus, and Digital Evidence Lab Digital Forensic Analyst Titan Cox for their work on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Janesse Dawson, of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Mary E. Monahan, Deputy Chief and David Weiss, Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the Special Victims Bureau.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Two Individuals and Company Indicted for Making and Selling
Fake OSHA and Buildings Department Site Safety Cards

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

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Nadia I. Shihata and New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, today announced that the owner and an associate of a company with locations in Brooklyn and Queens that was authorized to provide jobsite safety training and certification have been arraigned on an indictment charging them with making and selling fake safety cards to construction workers who never received the required training.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Proper safety training is a foundational safeguard for everyone on a construction site. When individuals or companies cut corners and issue certifications without the required instruction, they undermine the integrity of our safety systems and endanger workers and the public. This case reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that training standards are followed and that fraudulent practices are identified and addressed promptly. I am grateful to our prosecutors and our partners at DOI and DOB for their excellent work on this important case.”

Commissioner Shihata said, “City and state workplace safety standards exist to protect workers. Put simply, shortcutting required training and coursework puts lives at risk. As charged, these defendants allegedly sold fraudulent safety cards to construction workers who never completed the required training. I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Buildings for their continued commitment to holding accountable those who undermine workplace safety in our City.”

Commissioner Tigani said, “Since Site Safety Training card requirements were implemented in New York City, data has shown consistent improvements in safety. Simply put, fraudulent cards risk undermining those gains and putting lives in danger. Fraud will not be tolerated. Allowing untrained workers onto a job site puts them at risk and can put their coworkers in danger as well. The invalidation of SST cards issued by Redcode was done because we cannot, in good conscience, allow untrained workers on job sites. I want to thank our partners in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Department of Investigation, and all of the dedicated members of DOB who helped uncover and stop this fraudulent activity.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Lutfur Rahman, 34, of Jamaica, Queens, Mohammed Tushar, 34, of Howard Beach, Queens, and Redcode Inc., with locations at 529 McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn and 146-04 Hillside Avenue in Queens. The defendants were arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which they are charged with three counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, three counts of second-degree receiving reward for official misconduct, and six counts of second-degree falsifying business records. They were released without bail and ordered to return to court on November 4, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between April 22, 2025 and July 16, 2025, undercover investigators from the Department of Investigation (DOI) posed as construction workers and went to Redcode’s locations in Brooklyn and Queens. They allegedly met with Rahman, the owner of the company, and Tushar, an associate, who agreed to provide the undercovers with site safety training (SST) cards and OSHA cards for $500 each without the undercovers completing the required training.

The undercovers were allegedly asked to sign attendance sheets, making it seem as though they had attended training sessions. Redcode then allegedly sent information regarding the training to the DOB and to an OSHA designated training intermediary falsely indicating that the “students” completed the training. As a result, OSHA’s intermediary issued the “students” OSHA cards and DOB issued SST cards.

The DOB requires construction workers to undergo training in worksite safety before being allowed to work on most construction jobsites in New York City. OSHA, a subdivision of the United States Department of Labor, sets standards for workplace safety throughout the United States, including a 30-hour course in accident prevention. DOB requires this coursework plus an additional 10 hours of Site Safety Training (SST).

By issuing OSHA cards and SST cards to students who did not complete the coursework, it is alleged, the defendants allowed for workers who were not properly trained in the required safety protocols to work on construction sites posing a danger to themselves, other workers and members of the public.

The case was investigated by investigators from DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for the New York City School Construction Authority, under the supervision of First Deputy Inspector General Gerard McEnroe, Inspector General William E. Schaeffer, Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives Christopher Ryan, and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Michael Mullahy.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph DiBenedetto and Assistant District Attorney Jack Mulderrig, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of Investigations.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Robbery Spree

Defendant Committed Three Gunpoint Robberies in Four Days

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for a string of three gunpoint robberies in four days, all in the NYPD’s 88th precinct.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant committed brazen gunpoint robberies three times over a span of just a few days, terrifying a community. With today’s sentence he is being held accountable and facing the consequences of his criminal actions. With homicides and shootings at a record low in Brooklyn, we will continue to focus our resources on the drivers of crime to continue our progress improving neighborhood safety.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jaquan Smith-Mack, 34, of Downtown Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Kitsis to 13 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery on June 12, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on September 27, 2024, the defendant approached the first victim at gunpoint near the intersection of Navy Street and Park Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn. The defendant told the victim, “Run your pockets” and lifted his sweatshirt to reveal a gun in his waistband. The victim gave the defendant his AirPods and his wallet, which contained his credit cards and cash. The defendant also demanded the victim’s glasses from his face, and the victim complied. Shortly thereafter, the defendant attempted to use the victim’s credit card at a liquor store.

Two days later, on September 29, 2024, the defendant pointed a gun at the stomach of a second victim, an Uber Eats delivery driver, at an apartment building on Monument Walk in Fort Greene and demanded the keys to the victim’s moped, stating “If you don’t give me the key, I will shoot you.” The victim complied. The defendant left but came back soon after and demanded the victim’s phone. The victim refused to comply, so the defendant pushed the victim, causing him to fall, and took his phone before fleeing on the victim’s moped.

The following day, on September 30, 2024, the defendant robbed the third victim at a bus stop on DeKalb Avenue in Clinton Hill. The defendant got off a moped, showed the victim a gun, and stated, “Don’t move, if you listen to me, I won’t hurt you.” The victim gave the defendant approximately $15.

A few hours later, the defendant was spotted driving a moped without a helmet or license plate and going through red lights in Bedford-Stuyvesant. After NYPD officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the defendant drove on the sidewalk, subsequently fell off the moped and took off running. The defendant tripped, fell, and threw a loaded firearm. The firearm was recovered next to the defendant underneath a vehicle.

The moped the defendant had been driving was later identified by the second victim as the moped that had been stolen from him on September 29, 2024.

The District Attorney thanked Digital Forensic Analyst Hector Feliz, of the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab, for his work on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kellen Michuda, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Chief of the Blue Zone.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Defendant Sentenced to 19 Years to Life in Prison for
Murder of Girlfriend in Bedford-Stuyvesant Apartment

Cause of Death Cited as Ligature Strangulation

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for the strangulation death of his girlfriend in their Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment. The victim was discovered after a relative asked police to conduct a wellness check at the location.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Kelly Kwak should have been able to feel safe and secure in the home she shared with her boyfriend. Instead, the defendant brutally strangled her to death, ending her life at just 28 years old and devastating everyone who loved her. This sentence holds the defendant accountable for this horrific crime, and my thoughts remain with Kelly’s family and friends, who continue to live with the devastating loss of a young woman taken from them far too soon.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Michael Hosein, 36, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Abena Darkeh to 19 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on July 30, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, at approximately 10 a.m., on March 10, 2023, a police officer responding to a request for a wellness check at 218 Gates Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant entered apartment 1A and saw the defendant alone in the apartment with the lifeless body of Kelly Kwak, 28.

Video surveillance footage of the area recovered by the police showed the defendant and the victim entering the apartment together on March 6, 2023, at approximately 12:45 a.m. Furthermore, video surveillance does not depict any one else entering or exiting the apartment between 12:45 a.m. on March 6, 2023 and the time the police officer discovered the deceased victim.

The Office of the New York City Medical Examiner determined the victim’s cause of death to be ligature strangulation.

Following an investigation, the defendant was arrested on March 15, 2023 in Brooklyn.

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, Domestic Violence Bureau Chief.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Two Brooklyn Men Indicted for Attempted Murder in Alleged
July Fourth Mass Shooting That Wounded 8, Including 4 Children

Eight Family Members Shot During Family Barbecue in Coney Island;
Youngest Victim’s Puppy Was Struck in Head and Killed

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that two Brooklyn men have been indicted on attempted murder and other charges in connection with a mass shooting at a family Fourth of July barbecue in Coney Island. The shooting left eight people, including four children, wounded. A 10-week-old puppy belonging to the youngest victim was shot in the head and killed.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These defendants are allegedly responsible for unleashing a barrage of gunfire into a courtyard packed with families celebrating the Fourth of July, striking eight people—including four children—and killing a six-year-old boy’s puppy. The fact that no person was killed is extraordinary, but it does not diminish the alleged recklessness and brutality of this attack. We will now seek to hold both defendants fully accountable for the devastation they are accused of causing.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Robert Smith, 44, and Kevin Blunt, 44, both of Coney Island. They are charged together in an 88-count indictment with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, first- and second-degree criminal use of a firearm, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree attempted assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. Smith was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun and was ordered held without bail and to return to court on October 14, 2026. Blunt was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin on August 3, 2026, and was ordered held without bail and to return to court on August 19, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 4, 2026, at approximately 10:30 p.m., approximately 50 people were gathered for a family barbecue in the courtyard of a residential building near Surf Avenue and West 30^th Street in Coney Island when the defendants allegedly approached. It is alleged that Smith fired attempted to fire into the barbecue, and when the gun appeared to jam, Blunt helped clear it, allowing Smith to fire approximately 15 shots into the crowd.

Eight people were struck by gunfire, including four boys, ages six, seven, 12 and 14, and four adults, ages 21, 25, 33 and 37. The victims were taken to local hospitals, where the 21-year-old woman was initially listed in critical condition and the remaining victims were in stable condition. Additionally, the six-year-old victim’s 10-week-old puppy, Sky, was shot in the head and killed.

According to the investigation, surveillance footage allegedly captured the shootings and the defendants’ actions before, during and after the attack. Smith was apprehended by the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force on July 8, 2026, in the confines of the 60^th Precinct. Blunt was subsequently apprehended by the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force in the confines of the 84^th Precinct.

The District Attorney thanked Detective Omar Santiago of the Brooklyn South Video Team and Detective Andrew Noto of the 60^th Precinct Detective Squad for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Adam Ghalmi and Assistant District Attorney Cassidy Oliver, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief and overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Joseph Alexis, Chief of the District Attorney’s Trial Division.

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