About Gary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Construction Company Operator and Foreperson Convicted in
Connection With Laborer’s Death in Brooklyn Wall Collapse

Ignored Workers’ Safety Concerns, Industry Protocols, and Concerns
Expressed by Adjacent Property Owners; Victim Was Buried Under Debris

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, and New York City Department of Buildings Acting Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik, today announced that the operator of a Sunset Park construction company has been convicted at trial of criminally negligent homicide, tax fraud and other charges, and a foreperson at the site was convicted of criminal mischief in connection with an excavation wall collapse that killed a construction worker, Luis Almonte Sanchez, who was buried under thousands of pounds of debris.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s verdict should send a strong message that when contractors cut corners and put their workers’ safety at risk – they will face serious and criminal repercussions. The death of Luis Almonte Sanchez was a preventable tragedy that would have been avoided if the operator of the construction site followed all safety protocols or heeded warnings about unsafe conditions.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “A worker was needlessly crushed to death by tons of debris because a construction company operator responsible for the construction site chose to ignore basic safety protocols and repeated warnings about the dangers at the site. Today’s conviction, along with the convictions of other defendants in this case, delivers the strong message that failure to follow construction safety laws has serious consequences. DOI thanks the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, the City Buildings Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for their partnership on this important investigation and successful prosecution.”

Acting Commissioner Vilenchik said, “The death of Luis Almonte was tragic and preventable. This incident is a painful reminder that cutting corners on a construction site and ignoring safety regulations can have dire consequences. Pursuing criminal charges in response to construction-related fatalities sends an important message to the entire industry – endangering the lives of workers and the public will not be tolerated. I commend the Brooklyn DA’s Office for their efforts in this important case.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Jiaxi “Jimmy” Liu, 49, and Wilson Garcia Jr., 48, both of Staten Island. Following a non-jury trial, Liu was convicted today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun 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; and Garcia was convicted of fourth-degree criminal mischief. Liu is facing a maximum sentence of eight to 16 years in prison and Garcia is facing up to one year in jail when they are sentenced on April 26, 2023. Two 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 Almonte Sanchez, 47, an employee of WSC Group, was struck by one of the underpinning pin sections, which weighed well more than 15,000 pounds and was buried under the collapsing debris. First responders couldn’t recover Sanchez’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. But, 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, Chief Investigator James McElligott and Special Investigator Alejandra Gomero, under the supervision of Inspector General Gregory Cho, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella and First Deputy Commissioner Daniel Cort, 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Francis Longobardi, Special Counsel at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Fraud Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Yuri Zanow, of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, 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.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Rape of Woman Near Prospect Park

Defendant Grabbed the Victim as She Walked Home,
Sexually Assaulted Her Multiple Times

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 32-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in the early morning hours of November 18, 2018, after approaching her from behind and putting her in a chokehold. The defendant was convicted on December 15, 2022 following a jury trial.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Keeping our streets safe from violent sexual predators is a top priority and I am committed to seeking justice for victims of sexual assault. This was a vicious, life-altering attack that profoundly affected the victim and her family. It took great courage for her to testify at trial and ensure that this defendant would be held accountable for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Mowngly Lucas, 32, who was living in a Queens homeless shelter at the time of his arrest. He was sentenced today to 20 years in prison and 15 years’ post-release supervision by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Heidi Cesare. He must also register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The defendant was convicted of first-degree rape, third-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony, third-degree robbery, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, and fourth-degree criminal mischief following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on November 18, 2018, at approximately 5 a.m., the victim, who was 59 years old at the time of the attack, was walking on Parkside Avenue at Parade Place when she was grabbed from behind by the defendant, who put her in a chokehold and told her he had a gun and a knife.

The defendant then dragged the woman to a bench across the street from Prospect Park and told the victim to pull down her pants and lie on the ground and then he raped her. Furthermore, the defendant then dragged her over to a white commercial van parked on Parkside Avenue and raped her again.

Finally, the defendant put his arm around the victim’s neck, causing her to have difficulty breathing. He then broke a window on the van and demanded that the victim get into the van. He then entered the van, sexually abused the victim and raped her a third time. He then stole money from her purse and fled.

The defendant was arrested by New York City Police Department detectives assigned to the Brooklyn Special Victims Squad on November 28, 2018, following an investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Supervisor Melissa Palmaccio of the Special Victims Bureau and Lawrence Washington, of the DA’s Multimedia Services Unit, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Linda Weinman, Counsel to the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau and Senior Assistant District Attorney Sapna Kishnani, also of the Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Disbarred Lawyer Sentenced to 1 to 3 Years in Prison for
Embezzling Approximately $575,000 from Brooklyn Clients

Defendant Also Stole Approximately $96,000 in COVID-19 Relief Funds

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a former attorney from New Jersey has been sentenced to one to three years in prison for stealing approximately $575,000 in settlement funds from two dozen of his clients in Brooklyn as well as approximately $96,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. The defendant, who has since been disbarred, pleaded guilty to second- and third-degree grand larceny in December 2022.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant repeatedly violated his oath as an attorney and betrayed the trust of his clients by pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlement money and COVID-19 relief funds to which he was not entitled. Criminal conduct in the legal profession is unacceptable, and today’s sentence sends a strong message that it will be prosecuted vigorously by my Office. I would like to thank the Lawyers’ Fund for reimbursing the victims in this case and for the work it does to restore trust.”

Michael J. Knight, Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection said: “The theft of law client money is not only a crime, but a profound violation of the trust placed in lawyers. On behalf of the over 351,000 members of New York’s legal profession, the Lawyers’ Fund strives to restore that trust by reimbursing the financial harm caused by the statistically few in our profession who cause such losses. The New York Lawyers’ Fund is tremendously grateful to the Kings County District Attorney’s office for its invaluable assistance to our Fund in making meaningful restitution to the victimized law clients of Mr. Herbert.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Raleigh Douglas Herbert, 61, of Chatham, New Jersey. He was sentenced today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to one to three years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second- and third-degree grand larceny as well as first-degree scheme to defraud on December 16, 2022.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, from 2015 to 2021, the defendant, who handled wrongful arrests and personal injury cases against New York City, embezzled approximately $493,000 from 16 of his clients in Brooklyn by depositing checks received from negotiated settlements into his attorney escrow account.

To conceal these thefts, the defendant lied to his clients about why they did not receive the money, which included blaming COVID-19 related court closures or claiming that the victims had liens that prevented him from paying them when no such liens existed. The defendant spent much of the embezzled funds on various personal expenses and unrelated debts.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, the defendant stole approximately $96,000 by filing fraudulent loan applications through the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) run by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The defendant was arrested on February 1, 2022, and again on May 2, 2022, under two separate indictments which were then combined. The defendant was arrested for a third time, on December 7, 2022, on a felony complaint charging him with stealing approximately $77,000 from eight additional clients who came forward following his second arrest.

The defendant was suspended from practicing law in New York State in March 2021, but continued to represent a client in a wrongful death lawsuit against the New York City Police Department. The defendant did not tell the client – who was set to receive a $750,000 settlement – he had been suspended.

The defendant was disbarred in June 2022.

To date, the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection of the State of New York has reimbursed a total of approximately $470,000 to 16 of the defendant’s victims.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jake A. Nasar of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Blank, Chief of the Organized Crime and Racketeering Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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

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

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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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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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.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, November 18, 2022

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Shooting Death of Ethan Williams

Victim was in New York City for Skateboard Tournament When he was Shot Dead in Bushwick

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 allegedly shooting an Indiana man who was sitting on a stoop in Bushwick, Brooklyn, killing him.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Ethan Williams was a kind and compassionate young man who had his whole life ahead of him. His visit to New York City was the culmination of a lifelong dream and his untimely and unnecessary death is horrific and heartbreaking. I hope this prosecution brings some sense of solace to his family as we seek to bring this defendant to justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as William Freeman, 26, of Gravesend, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice on an indictment in which he is charged with two counts 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 February 24, 2023. The defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the victim, Ethan Williams, 20, an Indiana University student on his first visit to New York City, was sitting on a stoop at 42 Eldert Street, in Bushwick, with several friends with whom he was renting an AirBnB, on October 24, 2020, at approximately 2:30 a.m., when the defendant allegedly opened fire on the group. Ethan was struck in the chest and died of his wounds.

The defendant then fled the scene, according to the investigation. The defendant was arrested on November 3, 2022, in the vicinity of 480 Knickerbocker Avenue, in Bushwick, after a car in which he was a passenger was stopped by police. The defendant allegedly made statements admitting, in essence, that the defendant shot at the victim’s group because he mistakenly thought someone in the group was responsible for his cousin’s death a few weeks prior.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Detective Robert Romano of the 83rd Precinct and NYPD Detective Sonia Yi of Brooklyn North Homicide.

Senior Intelligence Analyst Katherine Rivera of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau contributed to the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Perry, also of the Homicide Bureau.

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