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Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Sunset Park Man Arraigned for Hammer Attack

That Killed Mother and Critically Injured 2 Children

Defendant Faces Up to 25 Years to Life in Prison If Convicted of Second-Degree Murder

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Sunset Park man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for an alleged attack in which he bludgeoned and strangled a 43-year-old mother to death and critically wounded her 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter with a hammer.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a horrific, harrowing, and unspeakably brutal attack on an innocent mother and her two defenseless young children. With this prosecution, we will seek justice for Zhao Zhao and her son and daughter, as well as their heartbroken family, friends, and neighbors.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Liyong Ye, 47, of Sunset Park, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The defendant was ordered held without bail and to return to court on November 8, 2023. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on August 23, 2023, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the defendant allegedly attacked Zhao Zhao, 43, and her two children inside an apartment at 531 52^nd Street shared by the two families and two roommates. The defendant and Zhao had previously argued over living conditions inside the apartment.

According to the investigation, the defendant allegedly called one of his roommates, shortly after the attack, and told him to pick up the defendant’s 5-year-old son. When the roommate returned to the apartment, he found the floor and walls of the kitchen covered with blood. The defendant was allegedly holding a bloody hammer in his hand and standing over the bodies of Zhao and her children. The roommate went outside and called 911. The defendant was arrested outside of the building.

Zhao was taken to Lutheran Hospital where she was pronounced dead from massive blunt force trauma to the head and body. Her children were treated at the Pediatric Trauma Unit at Bellevue Hospital and subsequently transferred to a long-term rehabilitation facility where they continue to recover from their critical injuries.

The District Attorney thanked Office Manager Jannette Ayala of the Homicide Bureau for their assistance on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Chow Yun Xie, Deputy Chief and Assistant District Attorney Daphney Gachette of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau Senior, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Chief of the Homicide Bureau.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Construction Company Operator Sentenced to up to Four Years in Prison

For Causing Laborer’s Death in Brooklyn Wall Collapse

Ignored Workers’ Safety Concerns, Industry Protocols, and Concerns

Expressed by Adjacent Property Owners; Foreperson Also Convicted

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, and New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo, today announced that the operator of a Sunset Park construction company has been sentenced to two to four years in prison in connection with an excavation wall collapse that killed a construction worker, Luis Sanchez Almonte, who was buried under thousands of pounds of debris. The site’s foreperson was convicted of criminal mischief and is awaiting sentencing.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The death of Luis Sanchez Almonte was not an accident but a preventable disaster that was caused by disregard of safety protocols and reported signs of danger. The prison term imposed today is an affirmation of these facts – and also a message that those who put their workers in jeopardy will pay a steep price when their actions result in tragedy. I would like to thank DOI, DOB and OSHA for working in partnership with my office to obtain a measure of justice and accountability in this important case.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “Ignoring construction safety laws can have tragic and deadly consequences, as it did in this case. The custodial sentence imposed on Jiaxi Liu is a warning to construction company owners that prioritize speed and cost over worker safety. I am grateful to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, the City Buildings Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for their partnership in this case and their commitment to hold accountable those who maintain hazardous construction sites.”

Commissioner Oddo said, “Ignoring safety regulations on construction sites must have consequences. Securing prison time in this case sends an important message to the entire construction industry – endangering the lives of workers and the public is unacceptable. The Brooklyn DA’s Office, DOI, and OSHA have been invaluable partners in pushing for greater construction safety in our City, and we thank them for doggedly pursuing this important case.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jiaxi “Jimmy” Liu, 49, of Staten Island. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to two to four years in prison following his bench trial conviction in March of criminally negligent homicide, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, fraudulent practices in violation of worker’s compensation laws, fourth-degree city criminal tax fraud, and related counts. (The DA’s Office recommended a sentence of 5 to 11 years.)

Wilson Garcia, 48, of Staten Island, who served as the foreman at the construction site was convicted of fourth-degree criminal mischief. He is expected to be sentenced on October 18, 2023. Two other codefendants previously entered guilty pleas: Jia Rong “Tommy” Liu, 52, of Brooklyn, to petit larceny, and Cindy Chai, 45, of Staten Island, to tax fraud.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, between April and September 2018, construction workers employed by WSC Group Inc., owned by Liu, performed demolition, excavation and foundation work at a construction site at 714 39th Street in Sunset Park. The construction involved removing a one-story industrial building and replacing it with a four-story manufacturing and community facility, including a new cellar level that would serve as an underground garage approximately nine feet below the first-floor level.

Despite warnings of dangerous conditions at the site from workers and adjacent property owners, Liu refused to stop work at the site. On September 12, 2018, at approximately 2 p.m., a portion of a support of excavation system (SOE) and an existing masonry wall – adjacent to residential apartment buildings – collapsed, trapping one of the construction workers who was performing foundation work in the immediate vicinity. That worker, Luis Sanchez Almonte, 47, an employee of WSC Group, was struck by one of the underpinning pin sections, which weighed well over 15,000 pounds and was buried under the collapsing debris. First responders couldn’t recover Almonte’s body until the following day due to unstable conditions at the site, which were worsened by significant rain.

The District Attorney said that the evidence showed that Liu ran WSC Group, the company hired to perform the excavation work and it was his responsibility to give instructions to the foreperson and workers. Garcia served as the foreperson and “competent person,” designated to identify hazards and take immediate action to correct the hazards on site.

According to the evidence, the defendants were obligated by law to ensure that the construction site was in compliance with regulations promulgated by the DOB and Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure the safety of the work site, but, in fact, the site was not in compliance and, furthermore, the defendants failed to follow the design plans submitted and approved by the DOB. They solicited new plans, which were not submitted to DOB, but ultimately didn’t follow any plans, leading to hazardous conditions at the site. Among the issues: the underpinning system wasn’t installed properly; and safe bracing procedures were not followed.

Furthermore, in the days prior to September 12, 2018, Liu was informed of a number of potentially dangerous conditions, including that the rear wall was moving forward and that some support was needed in order to stop the wall’s movement. He was also notified by a resident who lived immediately adjacent to the rear wall that her patio and garage had caved in. Despite those warnings, Liu refused to direct the workers to install additional bracing and never halted work at the site in order to assess or remedy the conditions. Nor did he notify DOB about the conditions.

Instead, he ordered workers to continue working on the underpinning at the rear of the site and in the days immediately preceding the collapse allowed a trucking company to continue to remove truckloads of dirt during a heavy rainstorm, further destabilizing the site and contributing to the fatal collapse.

In addition, WSC defrauded the New York State Insurance Fund by making false statements about who it was employing, and also committed tax fraud by failing to file taxes between 2015 and 2018.

The case was investigated by DOI, specifically the late Investigative Inspector Ross Hoffman and Chief Investigator James McElligott, under the supervision of Inspector General Gregory Cho and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella, with assistance from DOI’s squad of NYPD Detectives.

DOB Executive Engineer for Engineering Services Geoff Eisele and Assistant Chief Inspector Greg Gonzalez assisted in the investigation. New York State Insurance Fund Investigator Maliaka Williams, Division of Confidential Investigations and OSHA Safety Engineer Mitchel Konca and Safety Engineer James Ng, also assisted in the investigation.

The New York City Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Tax Auditor Giselle Decamps-Guthrie and Bureau Chief Gary Wong assisted in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank Longobardi, Chief of the District Attorney’s Construction Crimes and Labor Fraud Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gregory Pavlides, Chief of the District Attorney’s Fraud Bureau, and 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 Investigations.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, September 22, 2023

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Murder of Girlfriend’s Two-Year-Old Son

Defendant Allegedly Beat the Child to Death While Babysitting

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with murder for the beating death of a two-year-old boy. The child’s mother, who was dating the defendant, was at work at the time of the incident.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Little Nasir was a helpless, defenseless child entrusted by his mother to the defendant’s care while she was at work. Instead of ensuring the toddler’s safety, the defendant allegedly beat him so severely that he tragically died. We are determined to see that this defendant is held responsible for this senseless crime, and our hearts are with his mother and loved ones as they grieve this horrific loss.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Latrell Lewis, 23, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, and endangering the welfare of a child. The defendant was ordered held without bail and was to return to court on November 17, 2023. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, on August 27, 2023, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the defendant’s girlfriend left her two-year-old son, Nasir Carter Paris, with the defendant in her home, located on East 68^th Street in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn, when she left for work. Later that morning, the defendant contacted the mother and alleged Nasir was complaining of stomach pain. He called an ambulance at approximately 11:55 a.m. and the child was taken to Brookdale Hospital. Nasir was pronounced dead at approximately 12:54 p.m.

An autopsy performed by the Office of the New York City Medical Examiner determined that the child’s cause of death was from blunt force injuries to the head and torso, resulting in a depressed skull fracture, hemorrhaging between the skull and brain, lacerations to the liver, internal hemorrhaging in the abdomen, contusion to the liver, colon, pancreas, and kidney; and bruises on his torso, neck and face.

The Medical Examiner determined that the child’s injuries are consistent with multiple, inflicted, blunt force traumas.

Additionally, defendant is charged in connection with a prior incident on April 22, 2023, where again while allegedly in the defendant’s sole care, Nasir Carter Paris sustained a spiral fracture of his femur, and the defendant allegedly failed to seek medical attention.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Perry Cerrato, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Jacobi, also of the Special Victims Bureau, 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 22, 2023

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Murder of Girlfriend’s Two-Year-Old Son

Defendant Allegedly Beat the Child to Death While Babysitting

            Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with murder for the beating death of a two-year-old boy. The child’s mother, who was dating the defendant, was at work at the time of the incident.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Little Nasir was a helpless, defenseless child entrusted by his mother to the defendant’s care while she was at work. Instead of ensuring the toddler’s safety, the defendant allegedly beat him so severely that he tragically died. We are determined to see that this defendant is held responsible for this senseless crime, and our hearts are with his mother and loved ones as they grieve this horrific loss.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Latrell Lewis, 23, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, and endangering the welfare of a child. The defendant was ordered held without bail and was to return to court on November 17, 2023. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, on August 27, 2023, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the defendant’s girlfriend left her two-year-old son, Nasir Carter Paris, with the defendant in her home, located on East 68^th Street in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn, when she left for work. Later that morning, the defendant contacted the mother and alleged Nasir was complaining of stomach pain. He called an ambulance at approximately 11:55 a.m. and the child was taken to Brookdale Hospital. Nasir was pronounced dead at approximately 12:54 p.m.

An autopsy performed by the Office of the New York City Medical Examiner determined that the child’s cause of death was from blunt force injuries to the head and torso, resulting in a depressed skull fracture, hemorrhaging between the skull and brain, lacerations to the liver, internal hemorrhaging in the abdomen, contusion to the liver, colon, pancreas, and kidney; and bruises on his torso, neck and face.

The Medical Examiner determined that the child’s injuries are consistent with multiple, inflicted, blunt force traumas.

Additionally, defendant is charged in connection with a prior incident on April 22, 2023, where again while allegedly in the defendant’s sole care, Nasir Carter Paris sustained a spiral fracture of his femur, and the defendant allegedly failed to seek medical attention.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Perry Cerrato, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Jacobi, also of the Special Victims Bureau, 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.

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Murder of 23-Year-Old Man

Allegedly Shot Victim Repeatedly Following Argument Outside Bike and Scooter Shop in

Crown Heights; Was Extradited to Brooklyn After Fleeing to Ohio 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 64-year-old former Brooklyn resident has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with murder for the 2020 shooting death of Nicholas Isaac, 23, in Crown Heights. Both men were hanging out outside the shop when they got into an argument.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Nicholas Isaac’s life was cut short far too soon and hopefully his family will find some solace with today’s indictment, knowing that for three years a team of law enforcement professionals remained vigilant in bringing his alleged killer to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Robert Bryson, 64, formerly of Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin on an indictment in which he is charged with one count of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was ordered held without bail and to return to court on October 27, 2023. The defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 18, 2020, at approximately 3 p.m., the victim and the defendant were standing in front of a bike and scooter shop located at 662 Nostrand Avenue, when they got into a dispute.

It is further alleged that the defendant returned on foot approximately an hour later, pulled out a gun and fired at the victim. The victim was struck but ran inside the store for safety. The defendant allegedly followed the victim into the store and shot him several more times as the victim was running away from him. The defendant then allegedly fled, leaving his scooter outside the store and taking another scooter.

The victim was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he underwent surgery, but was later pronounced dead.

The defendant was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio on August 22, 2023, by members of the Northern Ohio Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service. Members of the U.S. Marshals NY NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted in the apprehension. The defendant was extradited to Brooklyn this week.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Cesar Valerio of the 77th Precinct Detective Squad and NYPD Detective Roxanne Joseph of the Homicide Squad.

The District Attorney thanked the Detective Investigators of the KCDA for their substantial assistance on this case.

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

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Teenager

Defendant Lured Victim from Ohio to New York With Promise of Video Shoots

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the sex trafficking of an 18-year-old girl for whom he bought a bus ticket from Ohio to New York with promises of a modeling career.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant lured an innocent teenager from her home in Ohio to New York promising to fulfill her dream of a modeling career, but instead he horrifically exploited her in a sex trafficking nightmare. Today’s lengthy sentence underscores our commitment to protecting young women and other at-risk individuals and ensuring those who engage in sex trafficking face serious consequences.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Allen Barrington, 38, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 10 years in prison and 10 years’ post-release supervision. He must register as a sex offender upon his release. The defendant pleaded guilty to sex trafficking on March 29, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on June 3, 2022, the defendant responded to a post on an online website posted by an 18-year-old girl who was living in Ohio. He offered to pay for a Greyhound bus ticket for her to visit New York where he would help her get started in nude modeling on video.

When the girl arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal on June 5, 2022, he picked her up and brought her to an apartment in East New York, Brooklyn, where there was another girl that the defendant had recruited from Illinois to engage in prostitution. He told her she had to work in prostitution and took her to a track in East New York. When the victim refused, telling the defendant that this was not the agreement, the defendant threatened the victim and threatened to harm her grandparents back in Ohio.

Between June 5, 2022 and June 18, 2022, in addition to forcing her to work in prostitution in East Flatbush and East New York, the defendant was physically violent towards the victim and at one point attempted to taser her. She was forced to engage in prostitution on the track in East New York and was not allowed to stop until she earned a quota set by the defendant. The defendant took photos of the victim and the other woman and posted them on websites offering prostitution services.

Furthermore, the victim walked into the 75^th precinct to report the defendant on June 17, 2022. He was arrested in Ohio on July 6, 2022, and was extradited to Brooklyn on July 26, 2022.

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

Paralegal Specialist Aurora Martinez of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit assisted in the investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Detective Christina Chavez and Detective Nicholas Cox of the Peoria, Illinois Police Department, Major Jeff Allen and Agent Kelly Jankowski from the Mahoning Valley Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Chief of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, along with Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Iorio, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, September 8, 2023

Former Brooklyn Cab Driver Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for

Violently Assaulting 12-Year-Old Passenger at Gunpoint

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to First-Degree Rape

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a former Brooklyn cab driver has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for raping and violently assaulting a 12-year-old girl at gunpoint while driving around with her for more than two hours. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree rape in June.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “With today’s sentence, we are holding this defendant accountable for a brutal and horrific attack against an innocent young girl. I remain committed to keeping our streets safe from violent sexual criminals and to seeking justice for all victims of sexual violence.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Rafael Martinez, 35, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 13 years in prison and 20 years’ post-release supervision. He must also register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree rape on June 26, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 10, 2020, at approximately 5:30 p.m., the defendant picked up a 12-year-old girl from a relative’s home in Fort Greene and was supposed to drive the girl to her home in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Instead, the defendant stopped the cab on Bergen Street and removed what appeared to be a black firearm from the glove compartment, loaded silver bullets into it and told the victim: “If you say anything, these bullets are for you.”

The defendant then climbed into the backseat, threatened the child with the firearm, and punched her. The defendant then proceeded to rape and sexually assault her, according to the evidence. He then went back into the driver’s seat and drove to a second location, on Herkimer Street, and returned to the backseat, pushed the victim down and raped her again. At approximately 8 p.m., he dropped her home, where she told her mother that she had been raped.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Julia Holman, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, for her assistance on the case.

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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Assault as a Hate Crime for

Alleged Sexual and Violent Attack Against Trans Woman in Subway

Allegedly Groped, Slapped and Punched Victim After Using Homophobic Slur

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 22-year-old Brooklyn man has been arraigned on an indictment charging him of assault as a hate crime and other charges for an alleged unprovoked attack against a trans woman inside a subway station and car.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Every person in our city deserves to safely use the subway, no matter their gender identity or expression. This defendant allegedly groped an innocent individual and then violently attacked her. We will continue to vigorously prosecute violent people and defend the rights of every member of Brooklyn’s LGBTQ community.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Ian Williams, 22, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with third-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault, third-degree menacing as a hate crime, forcible touching and other related counts. He was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond and to return to court on November 1, 2023. The defendant is facing a maximum sentence of up to four years if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 17, 2023, at 1 p.m. the defendant and the 22-year-old victim were waiting for the J-train at the Myrtle Avenue Station in Bed-Stuy. The defendant allegedly made a sexually suggestive gesture at the victim and then grabbed her buttocks. When confronted by the victim, he threatened her and called her a f—-t, according to the investigation.

Both entered the Manhattan-bound J-train and the victim asked the defendant why he groped her and used that slur. The defendant then allegedly slapped the victim, punched her repeatedly and threw her to the floor. Bystanders pulled him away and he moved to another car.

The victim was treated for a broken nose at Lennox Hill Hospital.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Samantha Perlstein, of the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau, with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Shane Kaliszewski, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kelli M. Muse, Hate Crimes Bureau Chief..

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, August 25, 2023

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

For Attempted Murder of Wife’s Colleague

Defendant Ambushed the Victim Outside of His Dyker Heights Home,

Stabbed Him Repeatedly and Left Him Bleeding Out in Driveway

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for repeatedly stabbing and severely injuring his ex-wife’s work colleague, with whom she carpooled to the office. Victim was rushed to the hospital after his 16-year-old daughter found him bleeding heavily in the driveway of their house.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a life-altering attack on a completely innocent man who was lucky to be found by his daughter. I am committed to keeping the people of Brooklyn safe from violence. With today’s sentence the defendant has been found accountable for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jianqing Chen, 43, of Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to 15 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and second-degree aggravated harassment on July 7, 2023, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that between February 1, 2022 and March 3, 2022, the defendant was responsible for approximately 159 harassing phone calls and 500 text messages sent to his 34-year-old estranged wife in which he insulted her and threatened violence against her and her acquaintances, according to the evidence. He also showed up at her Dyker Heights home unannounced and knocked on her window. The defendant and his ex-wife had been married for 10 years before separating in 2019 and shared two children.

On March 3, 2022, at approximately 6 p.m., the defendant left his home on 68^th Street and walked to the victim’s home on 67^th Street. The victim arrived home at about 6:15 p.m. and walked into his shared driveway, according to the evidence, where he was ambushed by the defendant who snuck up from behind and stabbed the victim in the neck, the head, face, back, and arm, causing massive bleeding. The defendant, who cut his own hand during the attack, then fled the scene.

The victim was found a few minutes later when his daughter arrived home. She called 911 and he was taken to the hospital and treated, according to the evidence.

The defendant, meanwhile, eventually went to NYU Langone Hospital, where he told authorities he was robbed by two black men armed with a knife.

Following an investigation, the defendant was arrested for the attack. Evidence included his DNA that was recovered from the knife found at the crime scene and he was also captured on surveillance video during the attack.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Han Zhang and Aleena Peerzada 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

Wednesday, August 22, 2023

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Following Guilty Plea to Violent Assault of 55-Year-Old

Defendant Punched Victim Inside Subway Station, Then Stabbed Him Repeatedly

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for punching and stabbing a man at the Jay Street Subway Station in Downtown Brooklyn last year. The defendant pleaded guilty to assault for the unprovoked attack in July.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Keeping the people of Brooklyn safe is my highest priority, and violent offenders such as this defendant will face serious consequences. Today’s sentence holds him responsible for this frightening and random attack and ensures he will not be able to victimize others in our communities.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Roland Henegan, 35, formerly of the Kingsborough Men’s Shelter in Brooklyn. The defendant was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Kitsis to 10 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree assault on July 26, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 5, 2022, at approximately 6 p.m., the victim, a 55-year-old man, was entering the Jay Street Subway Station going home from work when he saw the defendant suddenly open an emergency door inside the station. The victim continued walking down a staircase when the defendant began walking up the staircase. The defendant, unprovoked, attempted to punch the victim in the face. The defendant then grabbed the victim and punched him.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, the defendant then stabbed the victim in the face and in the back. Following the attack, the defendant fled the scene and was later identified as the suspect in this Brooklyn assault.

The victim was treated for numerous injuries, and needed multiple stitches to his face and back, as well as having his jaw wired and screwed shut for several months.

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

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