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Monday, January 30, 2023

Brooklyn Woman Indicted for Murdering Her Father
With Hammer and Knife, and Stabbing Her Sister

Defendant Initially Claimed It Was a Home Invasion

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 22-year-old Brooklyn woman has been arraigned on an indictment charging her with murdering her father with a hammer and a knife, and with seriously wounding her sister with a knife when she tried to intervene.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant is charged with brutally killing her own father and then stabbing her younger sister, allegedly following an argument over a laptop. My office will vigorously prosecute this horrific case and seek justice for the victims.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Nikki Secondino, 22, of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin on an indictment in which she is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. She was ordered held without bail and to return to court on April 5, 2023. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison if convicted.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, prior to the incident the defendant and her father had a verbal argument over a laptop. On December 29, 2022, at about 5:20 a.m., the defendant allegedly attacked Carlo Secondino, 61, who was sleeping on the couch. She struck him with a hammer multiple times and proceeded to stab him with a kitchen knife, according to the evidence. He died at the scene.

The defendant’s 19-year-old sister heard a commotion in the living room, tried to intervene and was allegedly stabbed by the defendant multiple times about her body, hands and face, requiring surgery. The defendant then ran out of the house and told responding officers that two people broke into her home, killed her sister and father, and sexually assaulted her. Family members called the NYPD and questioned that account. Investigators subsequently determined that that version of events was false.

The investigation further revealed that the defendant and her father had a history of domestic incident reports. It also found that the father had expressed fear of the defendant in the past.

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

 

Prospect Lefferts Gardens Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of Ghost Guns

Four Fully Assembled Handguns Recovered from Defendant’s Apartment; Investigators Also Allegedly Find Tools and Parts to Assemble Additional Weapons and Ammo

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced the indictment of a Prospect Lefferts Gardens man who allegedly purchased dozens of gun parts on eBay capable of being built into illegal, untraceable firearms known as ghost guns. Four fully assembled handguns were allegedly recovered from his apartment, as well as 9mm rounds of ammunition, and various tools and polymer parts to assemble additional weapons and ammunition.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly assembled four handguns and acquired the parts and tools to make more, illustrating the ease with which someone can obtain and make these lethal and untraceable weapons, and the increasing threat they pose to public safety. Eradicating deadly ghost guns from Brooklyn is a priority for my office, and we are committed to holding accountable anyone who traffics, makes, or possesses them.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Dexter Nurse, 49, of Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew Sciarrino on an indictment in which he is charged with second-, third-, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, prohibition on unfinished frames or receivers and unlawful possession of pistol ammunition. Bail was continued at $250,000 bond. The defendant was ordered to return to court on April 11, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, following an investigation, from January 2022 to October 2022, the defendant was identified as having made 56 firearm related purchases on eBay for ghost gun parts that were allegedly shipped to the defendant’s address on Lefferts Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. A search warrant was executed at the defendant’s apartment on November 29, 2022, and numerous items were allegedly recovered, including four fully assembled handguns. Investigators also allegedly found 9mm rounds of ammunition, and various tools and polymer parts to assemble additional weapons, as well as a machine press to manufacture ammunition.

The investigation was conducted by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Ghost Gun Unit

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael O’Rourke, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Spota, VCE Deputy Bureau Chief and Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, VCE First Deputy Bureau Chief, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

 

Staten Island Man Sentenced to 2 to 6 Years in Prison for Driving Drunk and Causing Crash on Gowanus Expressway That Killed Passenger

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Manslaughter in December

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Staten Island man has been sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison following his guilty plea to second-degree manslaughter for causing a collision with a tractor-trailer while driving drunk on the Gowanus Expressway. The defendant’s front seat passenger was killed in the crash.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s reckless decision to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol cost an innocent woman her life and endangered many others. He has now been held accountable for his criminal conduct. I remain committed to keeping Brooklyn’s streets safe for all people.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Mark Dookhan, 32, of Staten Island, New York. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to 2 to 6 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter on December 13, 2022.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on March 10, 2021, at approximately 11:20 p.m., the defendant was driving a 2013 BMW 535i west bound on the Gowanus Expressway when he crashed into the rear of a tractor trailer stopped in traffic near the Verrazano Bridge. The defendant’s front seat passenger, Karen Diaz, 30, was killed in the crash.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, the defendant was driving at approximately 75 miles per hour and applied the brakes only a half-second before the crash. The defendant was arrested at approximately 1:15 a.m. on March 11, 2021 and had a blood alcohol level of .12—above the legal limit of .08— when he was treated for minor injuries at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Edward Kerins, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau (formerly of the Blue Zone Trial Bureau), under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Blue Zone Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Former Brooklyn Attorney Indicted for Real Estate Fraud in Connection With Four Properties Valued at Nearly $2.3 Million

Scheme Targeted Homes in Foreclosure in East Flatbush, Canarsie, East New York And Ocean Hill; Defendant Allegedly Collected $63,995 in Rent

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a disbarred Brooklyn attorney has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with stealing the deeds to four properties, three of which were in foreclosure, for a total of approximately $2.3 million by defrauding homeowners, most of whom believed he was negotiating a short sale on their behalf.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly defrauded distressed homeowners when he stole the titles to their homes while pretending to help them, and we are committed to holding him accountable. Because people want to live in Brooklyn, scammers continue to target homeowners, and I encourage every property owner to take steps to protect themselves.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Sanford Solny, 65, of Midwood, Brooklyn, Albany Ave Realty Inc., East 100 St Realty Inc., Pleasant Pl. Realty Inc., and Bear Realty & Management Corp. They were arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an 8-count indictment in which they are variously charged with first-degree and second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first-degree scheme to defraud, and second-degree grand larceny. Solny was released without bail and ordered to return to court on March 22, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between October 2012 and December 2022, the defendant, an attorney whose license to practice law was suspended in April 2012 and who was disbarred on January 5, 2023, allegedly engaged in a real estate fraud scheme to steal deeds, possess those properties, and economically benefit from four residential properties in Brooklyn, targeting victims who owned properties that were in foreclosure.

It is alleged that various individuals, including unlicensed brokers, contacted the victims and referred them to the defendant to negotiate a short sale, i.e., selling the property to someone else under terms communicated to and approved by a lender. In exchange, the lender would then drop the foreclosure action and forgive the loan amount owed.

The defendant allegedly met most of the victims at his office in Borough Park where he either falsely told them that they were required to sign their deeds over to him for the defendant to begin a short sale negotiation on their behalf or had the victims sign documents that the defendant claimed were part of the short sale process but, unbeknownst to them, actually relinquished ownership of their property to the defendant.

The indictment charges the defendant with crimes involving the following one- and multi- family homes with a total current value of approximately $2.295 million:

• 1247 Albany Avenue in East Flatbush
• 1429 East 100^th Street in Canarsie
• 1100 Sutter Avenue in East New York
• 10 Pleasant Place in Ocean Hill

In most cases, the defendant allegedly paid the owner’s fee, ranging from $350 to $10,000, for transferring the property to him or to various corporations he controlled. In some cases, the defendant allegedly told the victims that the lenders preferred or required that the homeowners vacate the property for the short sale to occur.

Over the years that the defendant claimed to be in negotiations, when victims asked him about the negotiations or possible sales, he allegedly offered an array of excuses and explanations.

The defendant allegedly collected at least $63,995 in rent from tenants he brought in or existing tenants at three of the properties the victims transferred to him. As record owner, if any of the properties were to be sold, the defendant would also benefit from the increase in value accrued over the last several years.

As a result of the defendant’s alleged fraudulent scheme, the victims lost their properties and potential rental income. In addition, their credit scores and ability to obtain new loans rapidly deteriorated as most of the foreclosures remain active.

The District Attorney offered the following tips to homeowners to protect themselves:

• Make sure the NYC Dept. of Finance has the correct address to receive property notices.
• Designate a trusted family member or friend to receive notices if you are unable.
• Register with the NYC Department of Finance to receive automatic notifications regarding any changes to your deed or property records.
• Never sign any contract you do not understand.
• For more information visit http://brooklynda.org/deedfraud/

The case was investigated by Detective Candido Salgado of the KCDA New York City Police Department Squad. Supervising Financial Investigator Deborah Wey, of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, assisted in the investigation.

The District Attorney thanked the New York City Department of Finance and the New York State Department of Financial Services for their assistance in the investigation.

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

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Long Island Man Sentenced to Up to 10 Years in Prison for Stealing Bushwick House Using Forged Power of Attorney

Defendant Sold Property of 89-Year-Old Absentee Homeowner
Who Was Living with Relatives in Upstate New York

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Long Island man has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for stealing the house of an 89-year-old woman. The defendant was convicted last month of grand larceny, forgery and other charges following a jury trial.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant callously took advantage of an elderly woman, stealing and selling her home while she was living with relatives. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for this despicable crime and sends a strong message to would-be scammers and deed thieves that we will seek serious penalties for those who victimize Brooklyn homeowners.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Shavard Callaway, 48, of North Babylon, New York. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu to an indeterminate term of five to 10 years in prison. He was convicted of two counts of second-degree grand larceny, one count of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, four counts of second-degree forgery, and one count of first-degree falsifying business records on November 18, 2022, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, the defendant sold the home of an 89-year-old woman, located at 654 Chauncey Street, in December 2014 after creating and using a forged power of attorney and claiming to be the nephew of the homeowner. The property was sold to WI Management for $250,000.

In January 2015, the homeowner discovered the fraud because she was in contract to sell the home for $900,000. The prospective purchaser did a title check and discovered the false deed on record. Thereafter, the homeowner immediately began civil litigation to undo the fraud.

The defendant was indicted in November 2017 and hired an attorney who negotiated a surrender, but the defendant failed to surrender and evaded arrest. He was finally arrested in late 2020 after being located in Suffolk County.

Prior to the trial, the deed was returned to the estate of the 89-year-old owner – who died in July 2015 – and the purchase price was returned to WI Management by the title company.

The investigation found that the defendant, who is a predicate felon, boasted on Facebook that he had turned from his life of crime selling drugs to committing forgery and theft as a “paperwork master” and even posted a photo of the façade of 210 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn, the location of the borough office for the City Register, where deeds are filed.

The District Attorney offered the following tips to homeowners to protect themselves:

• Make sure the NYC Dept. of Finance has the correct address to receive property notices.
• Designate a trusted family member or friend to receive notices if you are unable.
• Register with the NYC Department of Finance to receive automatic notifications regarding any changes to your deed or property records.
• Never sign any contract you do not understand.
• For more information visit http://brooklynda.org/deedfraud/

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Bronx Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison Following Guilty Plea to Attempted Murder for Shooting at Kings Plaza Mall

Two Teenage Boys Wounded When Defendant Opened Fire Inside Sneaker Store

     Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bronx man was sentenced to 9 years in prison for a 2022 shooting inside a crowded Brooklyn mall that wounded two teenage boys and sent dozens of other shoppers running in fear for their lives. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder in November.

     District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant shot two teenagers and terrorized everyone around when he opened fire on a group in a crowded mall store. We have no tolerance for violence and this sentence sends a clear message that gun crime in Brooklyn will be met with serious consequences.”

     The District Attorney identified the defendant as Timothy Briggs, 20, of Claremont Village, Bronx. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 9 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision, following his guilty plea to second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on November 30, 2022. The defendant will also serve three-and-a-half years concurrent on another conviction of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

    The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on January 31, 2022, at approximately 2:30 p.m., inside the Kings Plaza Shopping Center, the defendant and two co-defendants got into an argument with a group of six teenage boys at the Laced Up sneaker store.  The defendant then pulled out a 40-caliber handgun and fired as many as 10 times at the group, striking a 14-year-old boy in the leg. A second boy, 16, suffered a graze wound to the leg.

   According to the investigation, the defendant and two co-defendants then fled the mall before being apprehended less than three blocks away. Police recovered two guns at the scene, including the 40-caliber handgun fired by the defendant. The shooting was also captured on surveillance video.

   The two victims were taken to local hospitals where they were treated and released.

   Co-defendants, Jaheim Covington, 20, and Omarion Harvey, 19, have both pleaded not guilty in connection with the shooting and are awaiting trial.

   The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Edward Kerins, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Alfred Deingeniis, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 9, 2023

Serial Burglar Sentenced to up to Four Years in Prison for
Six Break-ins and One Attempted Break-in of Brooklyn Businesses

Stole Cash, Electronics and Other Items After Breaking In

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Park Slope man has been sentenced to two to four years in prison for a string of commercial burglaries of Brooklyn businesses.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant is a serial burglar who has shown that he will continue to invade other people’s property if he remains at large, necessitating this prison sentence. My Office is committed to protecting the safety and property of everyone living in Brooklyn and will continue to prosecute those who victimize our neighbors.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Charles Wold, 59, of Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Evelyn LaPorte to six concurrent prison terms of two to four years following his guilty plea earlier on November 2, 2022 to six counts of third-degree burglary and one count of third-degree attempted burglary. The plea was over the objection of the District Attorney’s office, which asked for a sentence of nine to 18 years in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant’s actions resulted in physical damage to the businesses he targeted and loss of thousands of dollars in cash, cash registers, electronics and other items.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the incidents include the following:

• Simply Sweet, located at 2106A Avenue U, in Sheepshead Bay, on October 5, 2021.
• Hipster Deli, located at 168 7th Avenue, in Park Slope, on November 28, 2021.
• Park Slope Ale House, located at 356 6th Avenue, on December 7, 2021.
• Just Salad, 252 7th Avenue, in Park Slope, at approximately 12:40 a.m. on December 5, 2021.
• Tava Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant, 318 5th Avenue, in Park Slope, at approximately 2:38 a.m., on December 5, 2021.
• 390 Social Bar and Restaurant, 390 5th Avenue, in Park Slope, at approximately 7:30 p.m. on December 30, 2021.
• Blue Collar Burger, 187 Court Street, in Cobble Hill, at approximately 12:14 a.m. on January 6, 2022.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Andrew Gruna, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 30, 2022

Homicides and Shootings Continued to Drop in Brooklyn in 2022,

Driving Citywide Decline in Gun Violence During Past Two Years

Shootings in Brooklyn Decreased by 31% and Homicides Went Down by 21%,

Since the 2020 Peak, Accounting for About 88% of the Decline in Murders and 83% of the Declines in

Shootings and Shooting Victims Across New York City Over that Time Period

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that Brooklyn continued to make gains in public safety during 2022, with homicides declining by 8% and shootings decreasing by 13% compared to 2021. These encouraging trends amount to a reversal of the spike in gun violence during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 – shootings in Brooklyn dropped by 31% over the past two years, representing over 83% of the citywide decline during that period. Similarly, the number of shooting victims declined by 33%, accounting for over 83% of the citywide decrease, and murders went down by 21%, making up a whopping 88% of the citywide decline in the past two years. However, index crimes in Brooklyn rose by about 21% in 2022. The Brooklyn DA’s Office continued to focus on reducing gun 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 crimes and to take firearms off the streets.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “I am happy to report that public safety in Brooklyn continued to improve over the past year, as we rebound from the spike in violence that we experienced during 2020. The significant declines in murders and shootings in our borough are driving the citywide gains against gun violence and are a testament to the hard work and focused approach by my Office, the NYPD and all of our partners. We still have work to do as we pledge to drive down gun crimes even further and contend with upticks in other crime categories, but I am confident that we are on the right track. I remain committed to targeting the most violent individuals and to growing our partnerships with community-based groups, violence interrupters and others who are engaged in preventative strategies.”

The District Attorney said that 138 homicides (nine of which were reclassified from incidents that happened in previous years) were recorded in Brooklyn during 2022 – 12 fewer or down 8% compared to the previous year. Shooting incidents dipped by 67 (13%) for a total of 448, and shooting victims decreased by 76 (12%) for a total of 543. These numbers are comparable to statistics from the mid-2010s.

Taking a two-year view to analyze the long-term recovery from the spike in gun violence during 2020 – which was likely caused by a global pandemic, social and economic upheavals, and other factors – shows that Brooklyn is the driving force behind public safety improvements in New York City. Murders went down by over 21% with the 37 fewer homicides making up about 88% of the citywide decline (from 468 in 2020 to 426 to 2022 citywide). Shootings in Brooklyn dropped by 31% during that timeframe and the 204 fewer shootings represent 83% of the citywide decline. Similarly, the number of shooting victims declined by 265, or 33%, accounting for 83% of the citywide decline.

The most notable drops in homicide in Brooklyn over the past year took place in Coney Island, East Flatbush, Midwood, Bushwick and Fort Greene, with all of those neighborhoods experiencing a 50% decrease or more. Some of the more historically violent precincts saw homicides numbers remain the same as in 2021 but shootings declined in most of them: by 42% in Bedford-Stuyvesant, 18% in Brownsville and 14% in Crown Heights, while East New York had a 12% increase.

The seven major index crimes (murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand theft auto) increased in Brooklyn by 20.5% last year compared to 2021. But in that aspect too, Brooklyn has seen better trends that New York City as a whole: while the most populous borough, it wasn’t the leading contributor in any of those crime categories when compared to the four other boroughs, and the percentage increase was the second smallest among the five boroughs. It also had the smallest percentage increase than any other borough when compared to 2020.

[All stats are based on the New York City Police Department’s preliminary CompStat reports as of December 30, 2022.]

The District Attorney said that his Office, together with the NYPD, continued to target the most violent individuals in our communities who are responsible for the majority of gun violence. In November, 32 alleged members of two rival Brownsville gangs were indicted in connection with 19 shootings, two of them fatal, which wounded several innocent bystanders, including a 3-year-old girl. Another component of DA Gonzalez’s multi-pronged strategy to reduce violence involves community participation, such as Gun Buyback events. A total of 315 firearms were surrendered during three events in 2022: a record 206 weapons this month in Bed-Stuy, 69 in Clinton Hill, as reported by the New Yorker, and 40 in Flatbush. The DA’s Office also hosted a number of preventative educational programs, including youth summits and workshops, and issued a Stop Violence report that summarized its comprehensive approach to driving down shootings, which includes a $2 million investment in a new Digital Evidence Lab, a new Ghost Gun Unit and an executive position focusing on gun violence reduction.

In other groundbreaking moves, DA Gonzalez announced a restructuring of his Office in October with the creation of a new Gender-Based Violence Division that placed the Domestic Violence and Sex Crimes Bureaus, the Human Trafficking, Crimes Against Children and Victim Services Units, Family Justice Center operations and the U-Visa practice under a single umbrella. In September, the DA moved to dismiss 378 convictions that relied on 13 police officers who were later convicted of misconduct – one of the largest mass exonerations in U.S. history.

Over the past year, the Brooklyn DA’s Office also extended and expanded its engagement efforts across Brooklyn communities – an important part of the District Attorney’s goal of strengthening community trust in the legal system. Some highlights of these wide-ranging efforts included a deed fraud prevention forum, a resource fair for newly-arrived asylum seekers, an immigration clinic for people from the Ukraine, a successful back-to-school Summerfest in Coney Island, and much more.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Former Williamsburg Man Indicted for Operating a Ponzi Scheme,

Stealing Over $1.3 Million from More Than 20 Victims

Defendant Allegedly Spent Stolen Funds on Rent, Restaurants and Travel;

Victims Include Church in Queens and Numerous Churchgoers

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a former Williamsburg man has been arraigned on a 56-count indictment in which he is charged with stealing over $1.3 million from over 20 people in a Ponzi scheme in which he allegedly posed as a securities broker and wooed investors with promises of high rates of return. It is alleged the defendant did not invest the victims’ funds in the stock market as promised, but instead spent the money on rent, restaurants, travel, and leasing luxury cars.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly defrauded over 20 hardworking people out of their savings in what amounted to an elaborate Ponzi scheme. Our investigation revealed that he targeted many churchgoers whose trust he allegedly betrayed.  Financial fraud will be investigated and prosecuted vigorously by my Office with the goal of making victims whole and holding alleged swindlers accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Mark Ramkishun, 28, of Orlando, Florida. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu on a 56-count indictment in which he is charged with second-, third-, and fourth-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, issuing false financial statements, and violations of the Martin Act. He was ordered released without bail and to return to court on February 15, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, between March 2019 and September 2022, the defendant allegedly operated a fraudulent investment scheme in which he told his victims he was a securities broker and solicited them to invest $20,000 or more in his company, Leo Growl LLC. The defendant claimed to be able to achieve monthly returns of $2,000 to $3,000 for every $20,000 invested and had his victims sign bogus contracts with him. After obtaining the money, the defendant allegedly provided his victims with false brokerage statements from E*TRADE Securities that purported to show monthly trading profits, which did not, in fact, exist.

According to the investigation, the defendant did not invest the victims’ funds in the stock market as promised, nor did the defendant open brokerage accounts on behalf of the victims at a broker-dealer. Instead, the defendant allegedly embezzled the funds, paying for rent in Brooklyn, and living a lavish lifestyle that included leasing luxury cars and paying for restaurants and travel. The defendant purportedly diverted some of the money obtained from new investors to pay previous investors. Approximately $360,000 of his victims’ money was allegedly dispersed this way.

            According to the investigation, many of the defendant’s victims were members of the Healing Center Church in Ozone Park, Queens, where the defendant’s parents are former members and served as church elders before moving to Florida in 2021. The church itself invested with the defendant, making it the largest known victim of the alleged Ponzi scheme.

The case was investigated following a tip to the District Attorney’s Action Center.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Counsel for Complex Investigations Michael Choi, of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicole Lauterbach, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wedneday, December 21, 2021

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 20 Years to Life in Prison for Sexually Assaulting

20-Year-Old Woman in Brownsville Park

Defendant Offered to Walk the Victim Home, Then Raped and Robbed Her

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the rape and robbery of a 20-year-old woman in a public park in Brownsville. A DNA match connected the defendant to the crime.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a horrific attack that left a young woman traumatized and a community shaken. With today’s sentence, the defendant is held accountable for this deplorable crime. I am committed to bringing to justice those who commit such brutal acts of sexual violence.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jason Lopez, 44, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 20 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo. He was convicted of first-degree rape and third-degree robbery following a jury trial in May.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on December 1, 2018, at approximately 2 a.m., the defendant approached the 20-year-old victim near Herzl Street and Dumont Avenue as she was trying to assist a friend to get home from a party.

The defendant asked the two women if they needed help. He then hailed a cab and helped the friend into the cab before offering to walk the victim home. The defendant then grabbed the victim by the wrist and led her into Betsy Head Park, where he asked if she wanted to have sex. When the victim refused, the defendant pushed her to the ground and raped her.

The defendant then ran off with the victim’s cellphone and purse as the victim yelled. She immediately reported the rape to a bystander she spotted on the street. The bystander called 911 and brought the victim to the 73^rd Police Precinct. DNA from the victim’s sexual assault evidence kit matched the defendant’s DNA, which was on file from a prior felony conviction. He was arrested on December 15, 2018.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sapna Kishnani, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Kevin O’Donnell, Deputy Bureau Chief, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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