A ComALERT Thanksgiving

Pictured (left to right): Darrell Alston; Reverend Derrick Smallwood, Divine Christian Inspiration Church; Kim Caldwell; Joseph Counts; Christian Soto; Carlton Jefferson-Harvey; Nicole Turner; Rasheed Irwin; Reverend David DeMeara, Risen Christ Lutheran Church; Michael Robinson.

Participants in Cycle 7 of ComALERT’s innovative Coming Home Life Skills and Empowerment project joined community mentors and agency partners for an evening of fellowship and a joyous, meaningful Thanksgiving celebration. For most it was the first Thanksgiving celebration after having been released from incarceration. A sumptuous dinner including turkeys donated by community friends of the program complemented the evening’s agenda of reflection and instruction offered by the New York Peace Institute. The ComALERT reentry program is designed to support the reduction of recidivism among individuals returning from prison to Brooklyn under community supervision (parole). Participation in the program’s Coming Home component is voluntary, peer driven, and offers an intensive thirteen week series of life skills sessions, public speaking and mentoring that enhances personal and professional growth, family reunification, and the establishment of positive community ties.

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes Announces Conviction In New Years Day Assault Of Cab Driver

Brooklyn, November 19, 2013 – Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the conviction of Andrew McElroy, 29, for beating a cab driver on January 1, 2013.  McElroy was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree.  He will be sentenced on February 20, before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Gary, where he faces up to seven years in prison. READ PRESS RELEASE

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and NYC Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert Doar Announce Indictment of Woman Who Scammed Medicaid Out Of More Than $47,000 In Benefits For Which She Was Unqualified

DEFENDANT DID NOT DISCLOSE THAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND OWN A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MANSION IN STATEN ISLAND, AT LEAST 14 OTHER BUILDINGS, AND LUXURY CARS

Brooklyn, November 14, 2013 –  Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and NYC Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert Doar today announced the indictment of Hasime Lika aka Hasime Lolovic, 34, for fraudulently collecting Medicaid benefits from 2006 through 2011 for which she was ineligible. READ PRESS RELEASE

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes Announces Results Of Project Safe Surrender

OVER 3,500 PARTICIPANTS HAD THEIR WARRANTS VACATED AND THEIR SUMMONSES RESOLVED SINCE THE PROGRAM’S INCEPTION IN 2010

Brooklyn, November 4, 2013 – Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the results of this past weekend’s Project Safe Surrender.  434 people participated in the initiative which allows individuals in Brooklyn to resolve open warrants and summonses at a local house of worship.

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District Attorney Charles J. Hynes Hails Graduates of His “Youth and Congregations in Partnership” Mentoring Program

Brooklyn, October 29 - Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes congratulates graduates of his “Youth and Congregations in Partnership” (YCP) and “Gender-responsive Re-entry Assistance and Support Program” (GRASP) in a ceremony held at his office on Tuesday. DA Hynes has reiterated his commitment to strengthening our community and improving public safety through alternatives to incarceration and re-entry programs for youth. 

 “Unlike other mentoring programs, ours takes a holistic approach, supporting the youth with a tailored schedule services and dedicated social workers,” said DA Hynes. 

DA Hynes launched YCP 16 years ago for those ages 13-22, in response to growing rates of youth crime and recidivism in Brooklyn. GRASP was launched eight years ago for girls ages 13-25,  and is focused on the unique needs of young women involved in the juvenile or criminal justice system.   YCP and GRASP provide comprehensive services and mentoring for enrolled youth.   Each YCP and GRASP participant is assigned a social worker who completes a psycho-social assessment, provides counseling and coordinates services. Mentors are drawn from a broad range of faith-based congregations, secular organizations, and proactive individuals across the borough. These programs focus on providing each participant with opportunities for educational, personal, entrepreneurial and career development.  Upon graduation of YCP, felony charges can either be reduced to misdemeanors, criminal records may be sealed or their cases dismissed.

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes In Partnership With The Jewish Association Serving The Aging And The New York Asian Women’s Center Announce Award Of $400,000 Federal Grant To Address Elder Abuse In Brooklyn

BROOKLYN CHOSEN AS ONE OF ONLY NINE JURISDICTIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND THE FIRST IN NEW YORK CITY TO WIN ELDER GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

BROOKLYN, October 28, 2013 – Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes in partnership with the Jewish Association Serving the Aging (“JASA”) and the New York Asian Women’s Center (“NYAWC”) today announced that Brooklyn is one of only nine jurisdictions in the country, and the first in New York City, to win a $400,000 federal elder abuse grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. The award will address crimes against older people, commonly known as elder abuse.  READ PRESS RELEASE

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, NYC Department Of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn, And NYC Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert Doar Announce The Arrests Of An HRA Caseworker And Three Accomplices In The Theft Of 123 Emergency Assistance Checks, Worth Nearly $90,000, From HRA

CASEWORKER CAUSED CHECKS TO BE ISSUED TO ACCOMPLICES WHO FALSELY POSED AS LANDLORDS CLAIMING RENT FOR HRA CLIENTS

Brooklyn, October 25, 2013 -  Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn, and New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) Commissioner Robert Doar today announced the arrests of an HRA caseworker and three accomplices who schemed to steal 123 Emergency Assistance checks worth nearly $90,000 from HRA.  READ PRESS RELEASE

Breast Cancer Walk

(From left to right): Rayelynn Griffin, Adele Johnson, Verdell Leocadio, Alliyah Leocadio, Amanda Taylor, Tiffany Ortiz, Danielle Wallin, Bruce Alderman, Margaret Berardi, Jessica Henriquez, Seth Lieberman, Jennifer Henriquez, Evan Benigno, Marsha Henriquez, Brandy Mirles, Anthea Bruffee, Joan Ierardi, Jodi Mandel, Marie-Claude Wrenn. Not pictured: Carlos Morales

On October 20, wearing pink, the symbolic color for breast cancer awareness, members of my staff gathered at Prospect Park, along with other teams, to participate in the four-mile walk, which raises money for breast cancer research.  Hundreds of cities across the nation unite to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what can be done to reduce the risk of breast cancer, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information and services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.  We all have a common goal – to put an end to breast cancer.  The DA’s team raised almost $4,000 this year.  The donations will help more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors celebrate another birthday this year! 

The DA’s Office’s team walked in memory of two former employees who lost their lives due to breast cancer – Terry Ann Corniffe, an Assistant District Attorney in our Appeals Bureau and Lisa Pemberton, a Supervising Paralegal in our Trial Bureau Green Zone, who both passed away within the last couple of years.   

Over the past 20 years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised for the fight against breast cancer.

DA Hynes gives out citations at the PAL Boxing Club at the Flatbush Gardens

East Flatbush, Wednesday, October 23, 2013: District Attorney Charles J. Hynes presented citations to the participants of the Atlas Cops & Kids/PAL Boxing Club, who won the  National PAL Boxing Championship for the second straight year.  In addition to boxing, the program offers free tutoring, resume, and career assistance to youths between the ages of 12-21.  Kids and parents were present for the event, which also highlighted the coaches who help make this event a success. Assemblyman Nick Perry was a keynote speaker. The PAL Boxing Club is located in East Flatbush at 3301 Foster Avenue.

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes Announces the Latest Successful Results For Back On Track Program

Brooklyn, October 22, 2013 -  Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the latest success of his Back on Track program, a school run for formerly truant youths who now attend class regularly and have improved their grades.  The program was launched in 2011 in Brownsville. 

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DA’s Office Joins Other Agencies in Turning the State Purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

On Wednesday October 16, the District Attorney’s Office joined the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and other statewide agencies to celebrate Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Some of the DA’s staff gathered on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall to “turn New York State purple.”  Wearing the symbolic color purple, the DA’s Office participated in the annual Shine the Light on Domestic Violence campaign.  New York State launched the campaign in 2008 to fight domestic violence. 

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly Announce the Indictment of a Gun Trafficker For The Illegal Sale Of 30 Firearms To NYPD Undercover Officer

DEFENDANT TRANSPORTED RIFLES, REVOLVERS, SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOLS AND AMMUNITION FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO BROOKLYN

Brooklyn, October 16, 2013 – Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and New York Police Department Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today announced the indictment of Christopher “Country” McPhaul, 43, for illegally selling 30 firearms to an undercover police officer in Brooklyn on ten separate occasions, between April 1, 2013 and September 6, 2013. 
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DA Hynes greeting seniors

DA Hynes delivering opening
remarks

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes Announces Guilty Pleas Of Brooklyn Couple For Scheming To Defraud Asian Immigrant Families Out Of Tuition Money They Paid For Defendants’ Bogus “English As A Second Language” School 

DEFENDANTS MUST PAY OVER $50,000 IN RESTITUTION OR FACE PRISON SENTENCE

Brooklyn, September 27, 2013 – Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the guilty pleas of Patrick Panettieri, 63, and his wife, Joanne Panettieri, 59, who admitted defrauding Asian immigrant families out of thousands of dollars each in tuition fees paid for their children to attend schools for English as a Second Language.   READ PRESS RELEASE

ComALERT Celebrates Coming Home Grads

Graduates of ComALERT’s innovative “Coming Home: Life Skills and Empowerment” project share a light moment during an evening of networking and reflection with family, mentors and community partners. ComALERT (Community and Law Enforcement Resources Together) is a program created in 1999 by Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes that has received national recognition for its documented success in reducing the recidivism rate among individuals returning from incarceration. Participation in the Coming Home: Life Skills and Empowerment program is voluntary, and offers an intensive thirteen-week series of life skills sessions, public speaking and mentoring that enhances personal and professional growth, family reunification, and the establishment of positive community ties.

INFORMATION

If you notice any of the following signs of Child Abuse please contact the State Central Registry, the phone number is 800-342-3720. For more information visit:

NYS Office of Children and Family Services

• Truancy
• Unexplained injury
• Extreme Mood Changes
• Afraid to Go Home
• Consistent Hunger
• Inappropriate Seasonal Dress
• Stealing Food
• Difficulty in Walking
• Poor Peer Relationships
• Poor Hygiene

INFORMATION

• DTAP Twenty-Second Annual Report
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• What Every Parent Needs to Know About Sex Offenders
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• Mortgage Fraud and Predatory Lending
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• New York Times Article on ComALERT
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VIDEO SECTION

• DA Hynes at "Symposium of Race, Law and Justice
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• Unlocking Justice - The Red Hook Community Justice Center
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• Project Legal Lives Gang Awareness Presentation
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• Extraordinary Women 2012
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• DA Hynes at the Haitian Clergy Breakfast
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• ComALERT Back to School 2012
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