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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Bedford-Stuyvesant Man Sentenced to 25 Years in
Prison for Ambush Stabbing Death in Tompkins Houses

Waited in Lobby Before Chasing and Fatally Stabbing 26-Year-Old Victim

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bedford-Stuyvesant man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatally stabbing a 26-year-old man during an attack at the Tompkins Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where both the victim and defendant lived.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a deliberate and cold-blooded killing that left a man dead. With today’s sentence, we are delivering justice for the victim and protecting our community by making clear that those who bring this kind of irreversible harm will be removed from our streets. We will continue this approach as we keep driving Brooklyn’s crime numbers down.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Marquis Shiloh, 35, of Bedford-Stuyvesant. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 25 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted of first-degree manslaughter on July 31, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 12, 2023, at approximately 8:40 p.m., the defendant waited in the lobby of 760 Park Avenue, part of the Tompkins Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant, as Stephon Sinclair, 26, rode the elevator down. When the doors opened and Sinclair stepped out, the defendant punched him. A physical altercation ensued but, as the victim tried to retreat from the building, the defendant, assisted by a co-defendant, pursued him outside, took out a knife and stabbed him once in the left leg and once in the lower right leg, severing an artery and vein. The victim collapsed nearby and was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The defendant fled the scene with the help of a co-defendant and was arrested on August 2, 2023, following an investigation by the NYPD’s 79th Precinct and the Brooklyn North Homicide Squad.

The co-defendant pleaded guilty in July 2025 to third-degree assault for assisting the defendant during the attack, including striking the victim as he lay on the ground. In August, Justice Leo sentenced her to a conditional discharge.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Aleena Peerzada and Assistant District Attorney Kaitlin Kinsella, 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, September 17, 2025

New York City Employee Sentenced to Prison for Stealing $624,000

Defendant Worked as Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner at NYCERS,
Stole Pension Checks from Two Retired Individuals

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to up to three years in prison for using his role as a NYCERS employee to steal approximately $624,000 in pension benefits.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant shamelessly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars meant for hardworking New Yorkers who earned their pensions through years of dedicated service. By abusing his role at NYCERS, he betrayed the trust placed in him as a public employee, funding a luxury lifestyle with money that should have supported retirees. Today’s prison sentence sends a strong message that public corruption will be met with serious consequences. I thank Commissioner Strauber and the Department of Investigation for their partnership and commitment to protecting the integrity of the City’s pension system.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “As an employee of NYCERS, this defendant’s duty was to safeguard the City’s pension system. Instead, he used his access to City workers’ information and his knowledge of the system’s vulnerabilities to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. Today, he faces up to three years in prison as a result of his crimes, and we announce a series of recommendations to address the vulnerabilities that he exploited, in a report issued today. I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for its commitment to helping DOI protect pension funds of the largest municipal public employee retirement system in the United States.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Gregory Mathieu, 41, of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He was sentenced to one to three years in prison today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree corrupting the government on April 30, 2025. A judgment order of restitution for $511,115.61 against the defendant was signed at the time of the plea. NYCERS was previously able to get back approximately $113,000 from the defendant.

The District Attorney said that between February 8, 2021 and January 2, 2024, the defendant stole approximately $624,000 from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), where he worked as an Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner.

The defendant reactivated suspended pension payments of a deceased Department of Sanitation supervisor, stealing retroactive payments of approximately $242,000 and monthly payments between May 2021 and January 2024 of approximately $5,700.

In addition, the defendant stole approximately $199,000 from a 75-year-old retired Associated Railroad Signal Specialist employed by the MTA/NYC Transit Authority.
According to the investigation, the defendant spent the stolen funds on luxury items including $2,500 for a pair of sneakers and a shirt at a Louis Vuitton store, $1,500 for a pair of sneakers at a Chanel store, $19,000 for vacation, and $429,000 in cash withdrawals.

Mathieu was employed by NYCERS for approximately 15 years. He agreed to resign effective May 30, 2025.

The case was investigated by DOI Confidential Investigator Farhana Begum with DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for NYCERS and supervised by Assistant Inspector General Shakina Griffith, Assistant Inspector General Jeffrey Freeman, Deputy Inspector General Aleksandro Tilka, Inspector General Ann Petterson, Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives Christopher Ryan, and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella.

Kings County Detective Investigators further assisted in the investigation.

The District Attorney thanked NYCERS’ Fraud Unit for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Theresa Robitaille, of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Bureau Chief, 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

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

East Flatbush Gang Member Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for
Fatal Brownsville Shooting, Other Gun Violence

Defendant Shot Four People Over the Course of Multiple Shootings,
Causing the Death of a 28-Year-Old Rival

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man, a member of a subset of the Bloods street gang, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to multiple acts of gun violence, including the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man in Brownsville.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant terrorized communities with a spree of gang-related violence, taking a life and putting countless others at risk. Gun violence is at record lows in Brooklyn because the NYPD and my prosecutors relentlessly focus on the drivers of crime like this defendant who are responsible for much of the bloodshed. By holding him accountable, we are delivering justice for the victims and continuing the progress that is making our borough safer than ever.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Devante James, 29, of East Flatbush. He pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025 to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree attempted murder in connection. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo to 25 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 18, 2019, at approximately 2:14 a.m., the defendant, a member of the Mac Balla 59 Brims/Bloods crept up to a group of people hanging out near Tapscott Street and Sutter Avenue in Brownsville, and fired into the crowd, hoping to strike a rival Crip gang member, but instead struck two innocent men. One man suffered an injury to his right ankle and the other victim suffered an injury to his right thigh.

Two days later, on August 20, 2019, at approximately 9:20 p.m., near Union Street and Sutter Avenue in Brownsville, the defendant chased 28-year-old Arsenio Gravesande and shot him in the hip. Gravesande was transported to Brookdale Hospital, where he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead.

On September 11, 2019, during an unrelated police investigation near Church Avenue and E. 37th Street in East Flatbush, officers saw the defendant discard what they later learned was a loaded firearm. It was recovered and later matched to him through DNA testing.

In a separate incident, on March 28, 2020, outside a bodega at Franklin Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the defendant argued with a patron, who hit him in the head with a bottle. James retaliated by shooting the man in the stomach. On April 3, 2020, the defendant displayed a handgun to an employee at a bodega near Bedford Avenue and Greene Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The employee flagged down police, who apprehended the defendant and recovered a loaded handgun from an open mailbox in a nearby building. Ballistic testing confirmed it was the same weapon used in the March 28 shooting.

The District Attorney thanked Senior Assistant District Attorney Michelle Munneke and Paralegal Heidi Spitzer of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and Senior Assistant District Attorney Julian Joiris and Assistant District Attorney Sholom Twersky, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Appeals Bureau for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sapna Kishnani, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, VCE Deputy Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, VCE First Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred De Ingeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Bronx Driver Sentenced to up to 12 Years in Prison for Fatal Red-Light Crash in Sunset Park

Defendant Ran Multiple Red Lights at High Speeds, Refused to Stop for Police,
Then Collided with Another Vehicle, Killing that Driver

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to four to 12 years in prison in connection with a fatal 2021 crash in Sunset Park. The defendant sped through a red light, struck another vehicle, and attempted to flee the scene.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “By refusing to stop for police and speeding through one red light after another, this defendant caused a devastating crash that stole the life of James Lopez, an innocent man simply driving lawfully through an intersection. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for that tragic loss, and my office remains committed to seeking justice for victims and their families.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Elvis Nolasco, 28, of the Bronx. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Kim Petersen to an indeterminate term of four to 12 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on July 31, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on October 17, 2021, at approximately 4:25 a.m., the defendant was driving a white Mercedes southbound on Third Avenue in Sunset Park at a high rate of speed. NYPD officers activated their lights and sirens and attempted to pull over the defendant, who refused to stop and accelerated. The pursing officers’ speedometer reached 80 miles per hour as the defendant ran through multiple red lights. At the intersection of 60th Street, the defendant sped through another red light and T-boned a Nissan Altima driven by James Lopez, 42, who was lawfully proceeding through the intersection. Mr. Lopez was taken to NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn, where he died.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, the defendant attempted to flee the scene on foot, but was apprehended nearby hiding under a parked car. A subsequent investigation revealed that the defendant was driving with a suspended license.

The defendant was arrested on April 18, 2023, following an investigation led by the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Danyelle Shapiro and Assistant District Attorney Bianca Kushner, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Chief of the Street Safety Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Chief of the Green Zone.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for

Triple Murder in East New York

Defendant Fatally Shot Victims in Two Separate, Execution-Style Attacks

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of three people during two separate East New York shooting incidents in June 2020. The defendant used disguises and high-capacity firearms to ambush and kill his victims in broad daylight.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s crimes were ruthless and deliberate, cutting short three lives and leaving their families with grief that will last a lifetime. While gun violence in Brooklyn is at record lows, we cannot lose sight of the devastation caused by horrific acts like these and the lasting impact they have on entire communities. Today’s sentence brings accountability and makes clear that this kind of brutality will never be tolerated in our borough.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Charles Hernandez, 52, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was convicted on May 21, 2025, following a jury trial, of one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of first-degree reckless endangerment.

Additionally, the District Attorney identified a co-defendant as Liza Jenkins, 52, of East New York. On May 22, 2025, following a bench trial, she was convicted of second-degree hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence for her role in assisting Hernandez after the first homicide. She will be sentenced at a later date.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on June 20, 2020, at approximately 11 a.m., the defendant approached Kenneth Singleton, 35, from behind as Singleton was washing his car outside of his home in the vicinity of Milford Street and Blake Avenue, in East New York. Wearing a disguise, the defendant shot Singleton multiple times in the head at close range and fled the scene.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, a week later, on June 27, 2020, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the defendant approached Stephanie Perkins, 39, and Chioke Thompson, 23, as they sat on the stoop of Perkins’ home on Van Siclen Street, near Belmont Avenue, in East New York. Disguised in a blonde wig and wearing a long coat, the defendant opened fire with a high-capacity rifle, striking both victims multiple times and killing them instantly. The defendant then stepped over their bodies, entered the house and fired additional shots throughout the first floor before fleeing.

Evidence established that each victim was targeted because of their relationship or proximity to a man with whom the defendant had an ongoing dispute. The attacks endangered other people in the vicinity, including a child and other residents inside Perkins’ home.

The defendant was arrested on July 9, 2020, in West Virginia, by the Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the West Virginia State Police and the Martinsburg Police Department.

The District Attorney thanked Chief Analyst of the Digital Evidence Lab Alexandra Aber, Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Mauricio Suarez-Marquez and Paralegals Jannette Ayala and Amanda Connolly, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, for their assistance on the case.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, September 5, 2025

Staten Island Man Indicted for Murder in Fatal Sunset Park Hit-and-Run Crash

Defendant Allegedly Drove with BAC up to
.19 Before Killing Two Pedestrians

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Staten Island man has been arraigned on an indictment charging him with murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and related offenses for allegedly driving drunk, running a steady red light and striking two men who were crossing the street in a crosswalk in Sunset Park. The defendant then allegedly fled the scene without stopping.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly chose to drive drunk and speed through a red light, and two innocent men lost their lives while simply crossing the street. Kexun Chen and Faqiu Lin should still be with their families today. We will fight for justice on their behalf and make clear that reckless drivers who endanger lives will be held fully accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Juventino Anastacio Florentino, 23, of Staten Island. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice ¬¬Dineen Riviezzo on an indictment in which is he charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of criminally negligent homicide and related charges. Bail was set at $300,000 bond or $100,000 cash and the defendant was ordered to return to court on November 14, 2025.

It is alleged that on July 11, 2025, at approximately 4:22 a.m., the defendant was driving southbound on Third Avenue when he allegedly sped through a steady red light at 52nd Street and struck two men who were in the crosswalk with the right of way. The victims were identified as Kexun Chen, 80, and Faqiu Lin, 59. The defendant then allegedly fled the crash site without reporting the incident. Both victims were later pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators recovered video surveillance and vehicle parts at the crash site, and license plate reader technology identified the BMW. The defendant was arrested later that morning at his Staten Island residence. According to the investigation, the defendant’s vehicle displayed damage consistent with striking pedestrians, and the defendant showed signs of intoxication. Testing indicated his blood alcohol content was between .13 and .19 — well above the legal limit of .08. Approximately eight hours after the crash, the defendant allegedly blew a .04 on a breath test and admitted to drinking earlier that night.

The District Attorney thanked detectives of the NYPD’s Highway District Brooklyn Collision Investigation Squad and the detectives of the NYPD’s Brooklyn South Video Team for their case enhancement and assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Ghalmi, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Christopher Velez, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Street Safety Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Chief of the Street Safety Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Boykin, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Cassandra Pond, Deputy Bureau Chief, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Brownsville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Shooting
That Wounded Three-Year-Old Girl

Defendant Opened Fire on Perceived Gang Rival,
Struck Toddler Leaving Daycare with Father

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brownsville man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a 2022 shooting in which a three-year-old was struck in the shoulder as she was leaving daycare with her father.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “When violent gang members treat our streets like shooting galleries, innocent families pay the price. This defendant nearly killed a precious three-year-old on her way home from day care, and he will now be held accountable with a lengthy prison sentence. With gun violence in Brooklyn at a record low, my office will continue to relentlessly dismantle gangs until every Brooklyn resident can walk home in safety.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Daleek Habersham, 26, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 15 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on June 11, 2025.

According to the evidence, the defendant was a member of the Brownsville-based CHOO gang and was charged as part of a 2022 takedown targeting CHOO and its rival crew, WOOO.
The crews were linked to dozens of shootings across Brooklyn between 2020 and 2022, including incidents that left two people dead and several innocent bystanders wounded.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on March 25, 2022, at approximately 6 p.m., the defendant exited a BMW on Riverdale Avenue near Amboy Street in Brownsville and opened fire in the direction of a man placing a child into a car, mistakenly believing him to be a member of rival WOOO gang. Instead, the defendant struck a three-year-old girl walking nearby with her father, hitting her in the shoulder. Responding officers rushed the toddler to Brookdale Hospital, where she survived after emergency medical treatment.

The next day, the defendant sent a screenshot of a news story about the shooting to a private Instagram group with the message “did bad.”

In total, 32 alleged gang members of the WOOO and CHOO gangs were indicted in 2022 on 106 counts, including 19 shootings that left 14 people injured and two dead. The takedown also resulted in the recovery of 27 firearms.

The District Attorney thanked Assistant District Attorney Kelly Maloney, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, and Paralegals Tania Lopez and Dian Fields-Vernon, of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, for their assistance on the case.

This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Winnie Choi, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, VCE Deputy Chief, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, VCE First Deputy Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred De Ingeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Broadway Producer Sentenced for Fraudulent COVID-19 Grant Scheme

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Falsifying Records to Obtain $69,000 in Pandemic Relief Funds

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang, announced today that a Brooklyn woman has been sentenced for fraudulently obtaining more than $69,000 in COVID-19 small business recovery grants by filing falsified records.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant took advantage of a public health crisis by falsifying records to secure government aid that was meant to keep struggling small businesses afloat. My office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraud at the expense of programs designed to protect New Yorkers.”

Inspector General Lang said, “Abuse of scarce state resources — during the pandemic and always — is a crime against both government and New Yorkers in need. Thank you to our partners at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for sharing our commitment to public integrity and to ensuring accountability for those who undermine it.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Suzanne Gilad, 54, of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. She pleaded guilty to second-degree falsifying business records and was sentenced by Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Janet McDonnell on April 28, 2025 to a conditional discharge and ordered to complete 210 hours of community service, proof of which she provided to the court today. The defendant previously reimbursed the State for the funds.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, between December 2021 and January 2022, the defendant submitted multiple fraudulent applications for grants offered by the New York State Empire State Development to assist businesses that experienced financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendant submitted falsified copies of federal business income tax returns on behalf of three companies she controlled: In Fine Company LLC, Custom Broadway LLC and All the Josh Cohens LLC. As a result of the fraudulent applications, the defendant received approximately $69,099 in grant funds, which she then transferred into her personal bank accounts.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kirsten Tamayo of the District Attorney’s Fraud Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Laura Neubauer, Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, and Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, August 25, 2025

New Jersey Brothers Indicted for Alleged Financial Scam Targeting Seniors

Allegedly Claimed Victims’ Bank Accounts Were Compromised and Directed Them to Send
Funds to the “Government” for Safekeeping or to Other Bank Accounts They Controlled

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that two New Jersey men, acting in concert with others, have been indicted for allegedly scamming four women ranging in age from 76 to 90 years old out of almost $400,000 by posing as government agents or bank representatives and claiming the victims’ bank accounts were compromised and they needed to withdraw their funds immediately – and not tell anyone what they were doing.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These defendants allegedly targeted some of the most vulnerable members of our communities to steal the nest eggs they had carefully built up over many years. Their alleged behavior is despicable, and we will now seek to bring them to justice. I am committed to protecting our senior citizens from scams such as this one.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Abhishek Barvalia, 31, and Tushar Barvalia, 32, of Rutherford, New Jersey. They were arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which they are charged with second-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud and fourth-degree conspiracy. They were released without bail and ordered to return to court on October 22, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between June 2023 and January 2024, the defendants allegedly participated in a scheme that targeted at least four victims who were 76, 78, 83, and 90 years old. The victims lived in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and Connecticut. In some cases, it is alleged, the victims were instructed to keep their withdrawals confidential to protect the secrecy of the “government investigation.”

It is alleged that on December 11, 2023, the 76-year-old victim received a pop-up notification on her computer screen which urged her to call the number displayed on the screen, which she did, and spoke to a person purporting to be an FBI agent. The “agent” told the victim hackers were using her information for illegal activities including selling drugs and guns and money laundering. The victim was told she needed to secure her savings by transferring money out of her bank accounts and into accounts “controlled by the U.S. government.” That same day she withdrew a total of $171,680 in three cashier’s checks and mailed them to the defendants.

Furthermore, it is alleged, on July 5, 2023, the 78-year-old victim received a pop-up notification on her computer screen claiming her computer was infected with malware and urging her to call “Microsoft” at the number displayed on her screen, which she did and was then transferred to someone purporting to be with the Federal Trade Commission who told her hackers were trying to steal money from her bank accounts and she should send funds to the federal government for safekeeping. Over the next two days, the victim sent two cashier’s checks totaling $70,000 to the defendants.

It is alleged that on December 4, 2023, the 90-year-old victim received a pop-up notification on her computer warning her of a purported “Apple Security Risk” and then began speaking with a purported government agent who allegedly said her bank accounts were being hacked and used to store money related to illicit activity including child pornography. Over the next two weeks the victim was persuaded to send a total of approximately $136,224 to accounts allegedly controlled by the defendants.

Finally, it is alleged that on June 30, 2023, the 83-year-old victim received a phone call from someone purporting to be a bank representative who convinced the victim to disclose information about her account. Later that day, $15,000 was wired out of the victim’s account into an account allegedly controlled by the defendants. That same day, an additional request for $21,000 was made but denied by the bank.

The District Attorney said that financial schemes are often conducted through a person contacting the victims under the guise of protecting their assets, with the callers representing themselves as a law enforcement officer, a representative of a financial institution, or security from a technology firm such as Microsoft or Apple. The caller typically requests some transfer of funds or information about accounts. The perpetrators direct the victims to mail cashier’s checks or send funds via a wire transfer.

The District Attorney offered the following information to guard against being victimized by a financial scheme:

• • Beware of any warnings that pop up on your computer screen which claim that your bank account is being hacked and that you need to call a certain phone number.
  • DO NOT call that number.
  • DO NOT click on anything received in an unsolicited email or text message.
  • DO NOT give your bank account information or PIN number to anyone who calls you and claims to be a federal agent or banker. End the call
  • immediately.
  • DO go to your bank branch and tell a manager what happened, or if that is not possible, call your local branch and speak to a manager about what happened.
  • Beware of any caller who requests absolute confidentiality and requests that you not tell family members or contact the police.

The District Attorney thanked KCDA Detective Investigators for their work on this case, as well as Supervising Financial Investigator Susan Ryan, Intelligence Analyst Veranika Basak and Paralegal Jezebel Negrete-Ugaz.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Kohler, Special Counsel to the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Frank Ungerer, also of the Investigations Division, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for
Execution Style Murder in Bedford-Stuyvesant

 Victim Lured to Neighborhood in Premeditated Plot as Defendant Lay in Wait

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally gunning down another man in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant opened fire in broad daylight on a crowded street, killing his intended target and striking an innocent bystander. He was arrested and prosecuted following a thorough investigation and has now been held accountable. My thoughts today are with the young victim’s devastated family. Acts of gun violence in Brooklyn will always lead to severe consequences.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant Rahmell Howell, 29, of Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on June 16, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on September 10, 2021, at approximately 6 p.m., the victim, Jermaine Isaiah Hill-Cross, 23, was standing in front of 354 Clifton Place. At the time, the defendant and another individual were inside an apartment located at 366 Clifton Place. Upon seeing the victim, the defendant and the other person immediately exited the apartment and walked up to the victim. The defendant was brandishing a gun, and the victim ran away. The defendant then chased the victim down Clifton Place, according to the evidence, and fired six shots, striking the victim once in the chest. A 42-year-old man standing on the block was struck once in the buttocks.

The victim, who was a former friend of the defendant and went to school with him, was lured to the area after getting some phone calls an hour before the murder, taking a taxi from Manhattan to Brooklyn, according to the evidence.

The defendant, who boasted about the shooting on social media, was arrested on November 5, 2021.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Visotzky, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Han Zhang, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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