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

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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Homicides and Shootings Continued to Drop in Brooklyn in 2022, Driving Citywide Decline in Gun Violence During Past Two Years

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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Former Williamsburg Man Indicted for Operating a Ponzi Scheme, Stealing Over $1.3 Million from More Than 20 Victims

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.

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 20 Years to Life in Prison for Sexually Assaulting 20-Year-Old Woman in Brownsville Park

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 73rd 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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Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Rape

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, December 19, 2022

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Rape

Defendant Assaulted Victim as She Walked Home, Then Raped Her

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Canarsie. The defendant was convicted last month following a jury trial.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s lengthy prison sentence holds the defendant accountable for this violent and traumatic attack on an innocent woman and I am grateful to the victim for her brave cooperation throughout this prosecution. My office is deeply committed to vigorously pursuing justice for victims of sexual violence and Brooklyn is safer with this defendant behind bars.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Shinol John, 36, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 25 years in prison and 20 years’ post-release supervision by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act and second-degree assault as a sexually motivated felony following a jury trial in November.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 16, 2020, at approximately 2:30 a.m., in the vicinity of Rockaway Avenue in Canarsie, the victim was walking home from a party when she was approached from behind by the defendant, a stranger to the victim, who grabbed her by the neck, punched her in the face and head, and dragged her to a grassy area and forced her to the ground.

The defendant pulled down her underwear and raped her, according to the evidence. He put his hands on her neck, told her not to speak and threatened to slice her neck with a knife. He also told her he had a gun. He then put his mouth on her mouth and genitals. The defendant then left momentarily and told the victim not to move.

Furthermore, the defendant then returned to the scene and raped the victim a second time. The defendant then told the victim to count to 30 and not to move. Then he left and the victim walked out of the area. Two passersby saw the victim and went to her aid. One of them called 911. The defendant returned to the area but left when he saw the individuals aiding the victim.

Finally, according to the evidence, one of the witnesses flagged down a patrol car. Police located the defendant on Saratoga Avenue, and he was arrested. The victim was taken to Kings County Hospital where she was treated for swelling and bruising to the eye, and pain to the jaw.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Gwen Barnes and Pamela Lowe, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Olatokunbo Olaniyan, First Deputy Bureau Chief and Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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Record Number of Firearms Recovered in Brooklyn Gun Buyback

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, December 19, 2022

Record Number of Firearms Recovered in Brooklyn Gun Buyback

206 Weapons Surrendered, the Most During a Single Event in City History,
Including Ghost Guns and Assault Rifles

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, today announced that a Gun Buyback event that was held in Bedford Stuyvesant on Saturday resulted in the most surrendered weapons in memory. A total of 206 firearms were turned in by residents, who received up to $500 and an iPad. The weapons included 130 handguns, five of which were ghost guns, and several assault rifles.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This unprecedentedly successful Gun Buyback is a testament to what we can achieve when the community, local businesses and law enforcement come together. We know that fewer guns in our neighborhoods means less gun violence, and these 206 guns will be destroyed so they can never do harm. Public safety is a shared responsibility and I’m grateful that the Brooklyn community joined forces this holiday season to promote safer, healthier communities that are free from gun violence.”
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The District Attorney said that the gun buyback was held in Cornerstone Baptist Church, 574 Madison Street in Bed-Stuy. Thanks to a generous donation from the Oyate Group – a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating poverty by creating sustainable and holistic solutions that empower underserved communities across the city – the District Attorney’s Office was able to offer $500 bank cards for each operable gun or assault rifle that was turned in. Participants also received $150 for each operable rifle or shotgun, and $50 for each BB gun or imitation pistol. No ID was required, the firearms will be destroyed and will not be tested for DNA or other identifying information.

The District Attorney thanked the private businesses who contributed funds towards iPads that were given as an added incentives to the first 50 participants: T-Mobile, Junior’s Restaurant and Broadway Stages. He also thanked Pastor Lawrence E. Aker III of Cornerstone Baptist Church for hosting the event and the Oyate Group for funding the cash cards.

Saturday’s event was the third Gun Buyback to be held in Brooklyn this year. In total, 315 firearms were taken off the streets during the three events.

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Man and Woman Indicted for Sex Trafficking of Teenage Girl

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 15, 2022

 Man and Woman Indicted for Sex Trafficking of Teenage Girl

Defendants Are Each Charged with Sex Trafficking of a Child,

Among Other Charges in 12-Count Indictment

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a man and a woman have been named in an indictment charging them with the sex trafficking of a 16-year-old girl. The male defendant was arraigned today. His co-defendant remains unapprehended.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These defendants allegedly took advantage of a teenage girl, forcing her to repeatedly engage in sex with several men in exchange for money that the defendants took from her. We have no tolerance for this kind of outrageous conduct, and I will continue to hold accountable anyone who criminally exploits vulnerable youth in Brooklyn.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Kaelin Alexander, a.k.a. Chantz, 23, of Staten Island. His co-defendant remains unapprehended. Both defendants are variously charged in a 12-count indictment with sex trafficking of a child, second-, third- and fourth-degree promoting prostitution and endangering the welfare of a child. Alexander was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, who set bail at $50,000 cash or $350,000 bond. The defendant was ordered to return to court on January 23, 2023. He faces up to 25 years in prison and would be required to register as a sex offender if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between August 7, 2022 and August 19, 2022, the defendants made the victim, a 16-year-old girl, engage in prostitution in exchange for money in East New York, Brooklyn, walking the track on Pennsylvania Avenue, which is an area known for prostitution activity, while the defendants waited in Alexander’s car.

Furthermore, it is alleged, that on or about August 20, 2022, Alexander and his co-defendant got into an altercation and the co-defendant left the car. Thereafter, it is alleged, the victim began engaging in prostitution solely for Alexander giving Alexander the money she earned.”

Finally, according to the investigation, the New York City Police Department subsequently received information regarding the possible sex trafficking of a 16-year-old girl, an investigation was commenced, and the victim was recovered on October 17, 2022, after an undercover operation was conducted.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Denis Regimbal of the Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Robert Duplessis, Lieutenant Amy Capogna, and Captain Thomas Milano.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Iorio, of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Deputy Unit Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau.

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

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYPD To Offer $500 and iPads for Guns, Just in Time for the Holidays

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYPD
To Offer $500 and iPads for Guns, Just in Time for the Holidays

Gun Buyback to Pay Unprecedented Sums for Turned-in Firearms, No Questions Asked;

Will be Held at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bed-Stuy on Saturday, December 17

          

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell, today announced that a Gun Buyback event will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2022, from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 574 Madison Street, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Those who turn in operable guns and assault rifles will receive a $500 bank card for each firearm – the highest sum paid in a Gun Buyback event in New York City. In addition, the first 25 attendees will also receive an iPad.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Getting guns off the streets is a shared responsibility and Saturday’s Gun Buyback event is part of our Office’s comprehensive strategy to reduce gun violence in our neighborhoods. I encourage anyone who may have a firearm in their home – or knows someone who does – to take advantage of this opportunity and get a substantial sum of money in time for the holidays. I would like to thank the NYPD, business leaders and the community-based organizations who are partnering with us to make this event a success.”

Commissioner Sewell said, “The most effective way to reduce gun violence in our city is to reduce the number of guns on our streets. To that end, the NYPD will continue to deploy every strategy available to keep New Yorkers safe – including Gun Buyback events like this one. I want to thank everyone at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this important program, and for their unwavering commitment to public safety.”

Tomas Ramos, Founder and CEO of Oyate Group, said, “Gun violence is detrimental to our physical, mental and overall health and has an outsized impact on New York City’s most under-resourced communities. We at Oyate Group believe in taking an intersectional approach to public safety. Poverty has long been associated with violence, and our aim is to put an end to that violence through a conscious effort to address the struggles New York City’s underserved communities face. We are thankful for our partners who have joined us in promoting peace and investing in the financial stability of our boroughs. Together we can end gun violence.”

Pastor Lawrence E. Aker III of Cornerstone Baptist Church said, “The Cornerstone Church is pleased to collaborate with District Attorney Eric Gonzalez in an effort that will potentially make the streets of Brooklyn safer and bring joy during this holiday season.”

The District Attorney said that, thanks to a generous donation from the Oyate Group – a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating poverty by creating sustainable and holistic solutions that empower underserved communities across the city – his Office will offer money in the form of a $500 bank card for each operable gun or assault rifle turned in (there is no limit on the numbers of guns that can be turned in). No identification is required, and all transactions will be anonymous, no questions asked. Participants can also receive $150 for each operable rifle or shotgun, and $50 for each BB gun or imitation pistol.

The bank cards will be issued after each firearm is received and screened by officers on-site. Guns should be unloaded and packaged in a paper or plastic bag or a box when brought to the event. If transported by car, the guns must be kept in the trunk. Both working and inoperable weapons will be accepted. Active or retired law enforcement officers and licensed gun dealers are not eligible for this event.

Furthermore, the first 25 individuals to turn in a firearm will also receive a free iPad. The devices were donated by T-Mobile and Junior’s Restaurant as part of a private-public partnership to enhance safety.

T-Mobile’s Senior Vice President Terry Hayes said, “T-Mobile is proud to support the Police Athletic League, the NYPD and the Brooklyn DA’s Office by donating iPads for the upcoming Gun Buyback event. As an employer in Brooklyn, with Metro by T-Mobile and T-Mobile stores, we think of this as our commitment to keeping both our employees and residents safe.”

Junior’s third-generation owner Alan Rosen said, “As a father, businessman, and owner of restaurants that have been woven into the very fabric of New York for more than 70 years, I want to do everything I can to keep my borough, my city, my restaurants, and my fellow New Yorkers safe. If this gun buyback just saves the life of one other innocent boy or girl, it is worth it. Of course, we’re hoping that hundreds of individuals will participate by turning in their guns so we can really make a major dent in the problem.”

The Gun Buyback is the third such event hosted by the Brooklyn DA’s Office this year. A total of 109 firearms were turned over in the previous two events, including many types of firearms that are often used in street crimes.

Cornerstone Baptist Church is located at 574 Madison Street, about 10 blocks from the A/C subway station on Utica Avenue, and a similar distance from the J/Z Subway Station on Gates Avenue. The bus lines B15, B26 and B52 all have stops in the vicinity.

The District Attorney thanked Oyate Group, the New York City Police Foundation and Junior’s Restaurant for partnering to contribute funds and resources for this event.

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[Note: media availability will take place on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at 4 p.m.]

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to up to 21 Years in Prison for East Flatbush Shooting That Killed an Innocent Teen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to up to 21 Years in Prison for

East Flatbush Shooting That Killed an Innocent Teen

Defendant Was Looking for Rival Gang Members When He Shot 15-year-old Victim

            Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a member of a violent Brooklyn street gang has been sentenced to up to 21 years in prison for a February 2017 shooting in East Flatbush that left one teenager dead and another injured. The defendant was looking for rival gang members to shoot when he came across the victim, an innocent bystander, and shot him.

            District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant took the life of an innocent teen in a cold-blooded act of gun violence that left a family forever traumatized. We will not allow this type of gang activity on the streets of Brooklyn. Today’s sentence ensures that the defendant is no longer a danger to our community.”

            The District Attorney identified the defendant as Zidon Clarke, 23, of, Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to a determinate term of 20 years in prison on the charge of first-degree manslaughter and an indeterminate term of seven to 21 years in prison on the charge of conspiracy to commit murder. The terms were ordered to run concurrently. The defendant was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree attempted assault, fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, and first-degree reckless endangerment on November 21, 2022, following a bench trial.

            The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 20, 2017, at about 2:20 p.m., in front of 92 East 55 Street near Lenox Road in East Flatbush, the defendant, who is a member of the “SRK” subset of the Folk Nation street gang, was out hunting for rival gang members to shoot when he came across the victim, Rohan Levy, and three of the victim’s friends as they walked through East Flatbush. The victim, a student at Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design, was returning home after playing basketball.

            According to the evidence, the defendant got out of the passenger seat of a Honda Accord and fired five shots from a .380 caliber handgun, striking Levy in the back of the head and another teen, 18, in the leg. A fragment of the bullet shell entered Rohan’s brain. The teen died three days later at Kings County Hospital.

            The defendant fled the scene in the Honda Accord. He was arrested on April 5, 2017, after the New York City Police Department released video showing him getting into the car.

            The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Perry of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Alfred C. Deingeniis, Chief of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau.

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Brooklyn Father Arraigned in Death of 23-Month-Old Daughter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 9, 2022

Brooklyn Father Arraigned in Death of 23-Month-Old Daughter

Defendant Allegedly Hit Toddler in Head, Causing Traumatic Brain Injury

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and other charges after he allegedly hit his 23-month-old daughter in the head, causing her death. The child died from a traumatic brain injury one day before her second birthday.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “A precious and innocent child was fatally injured, allegedly at the hands of the person responsible for nurturing and protecting her. My heart is with the little girl’s family, and we will now seek to hold this defendant accountable.”

            The District Attorney identified the defendant as Robert Wright, 33, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child. Wright was released on $100,000 bail and was ordered to return to court on January 27, 2023.

            The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on October 4, 2022, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the defendant hit his daughter in the back of the head with a closed fist. The defendant later told investigators he had taken a nap with the child and hit her as he was waking up from a dream. The incident occurred in the Brooklyn home he shared with the child and other family members.

            According to the investigation, the victim’s mother returned home and observed that the child was lethargic. Family members later observed the child bleeding from the mouth. The child was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where a scan revealed bleeding and swelling to the brain. The child went into cardiac arrest before being transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. She was pronounced deceased on October 5, 2022. The New York City Medical Examiner later determined the child had suffered a traumatic brain injury with the cause of death ruled to be blunt force impact to the head.

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

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