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KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES, BROOKLYN
BOROUGH-BASED COUNCIL, BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE AND
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MATTHEW J. D’EMIC ANNOUNCE CHILDREN’S
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK
STAFF TO VISIT LOCAL
SCHOOLS PROMOTING
AWARENESS OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN CHILDREN
Brooklyn,
April 29, 2009 – Kings County District Attorney Charles J.
Hynes, the Brooklyn Borough-Based Council of mental health
professionals, Brooklyn Children’s Committee, and Brooklyn
Supreme Court Justice Matthew J. D’Emic today announced that
National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is May 4 to
May 8.
To raise awareness of the dangers of untreated mental
illness and the importance of early diagnosis, officials
from the Kings County District Attorney’s Office will be
visiting public schools in Brooklyn all week.
“Too many people learn they have a mental
illness after they’ve been arrested,” said District Attorney
Hynes. “It is important to catch these issues before they
get out of control and lead to problems for children and
adults. I’d like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication
of the members of the Borough-Based Council and Judge D’Emic,
who presides over Brooklyn’s Mental Health Court.”
Judge D’Emic said, “Over the past seven years,
the Brooklyn Mental Health Court has seen adults caught up
in the criminal justice system as a direct result of
society's failure to recognize they were suffering with
mental illness as children. It is time for society to treat
the child suffering from mental illness as it does the child
suffering from physical illness -with care, concern and
compassion.”
District Attorney Hynes has been a consistent
leader in promoting treatment for the mentally ill. In 1998
DA Hynes launched TADD (Treatment Alternatives for the
Dually Diagnosed), to treat offenders who have drug
addictions and mental illness. To enter TADD defendants must
plead guilty and agree to participate in a rigorous
treatment program monitored by EAC-LINK, a non-profit
criminal-justice case management agency, which reports
regularly to prosecutors and the courts. More than 1,000
have received treatment since the program’s inception.
To keep kids in school, DA Hynes and the NYPD
operate a Truancy Program, which targets children picked up
by police for not being in school. Counselors from the
program, which works closely with the Borough-Based Council
and the Children’s Committee of the New York State Office of
Mental Health, met with 3852 students in 2008. Approximately
10 percent of those were given referrals for mental health
services.
In 2002, New York State opened a special Mental
Health Court in Brooklyn. Presided over by Judge D’Emic, the
court has been referred more than 1,000 cases involving
mentally ill defendants, many of whom also have histories of
substance abuse. Defendants accepted for court-monitored
treatment in Mental Health Court must plead guilty and agree
to participate in a treatment program of 18 months to two
years, for felonies, and 12 months for misdemeanors. In rare
cases, defendants charged with violent crimes may be
admitted, with the permission of the victim. Following
completion of the treatment program, the cases are sealed.
According to the New York State Office of Mental
Health, one in 10 children has a serious mental disturbance,
but only 20 percent of those have received treatment from a
mental health specialist. Emotional disturbance can lead
teens to drop out of school, and only 30 percent of
emotionally disturbed teens receive a standard high school
diploma. The state Office of Mental Health also reports that
13.5 percent of the state’s inmate population receives
mental health treatment.
Contact: Jonah Bruno
(718) 250-2300
09
KINGS
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES HONORS LOCAL
HEROES ON THE FIRST DAY OF NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS WEEK
TENTH
ANNIVERSARY OF CREATION OF BROOKLYN DISTRICT
ATTORNEY’S
VICTIM SERVICES UNIT
Brooklyn, April 27, 2009
– Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today, the
first day of National Crime Victims Week, recognized five
local heroes who have gone out of their way, sometimes at
great risk, to help victims of domestic violence in
Brooklyn.
“Crime Victims Week is usually a solemn
occasion,” said District Attorney Hynes. “But this year we
acknowledge the heroics of ordinary people, who felt a need
to help domestic violence victims. It is also a special
occasion for my Office, as we celebrate the 10th
anniversary of our Victim Services Unit.”
The Victim Services Unit was formed in the
spring of 1999, to help prosecutors meet the complex,
emotional needs of domestic violence and sex crime victims.
The Unit is staffed by specially trained social workers, who
work side by side with victims and prosecutors.
The local heroes honored today include a woman
who risked her life to help a victim and two NYPD detectives
whose persistence led to long-sought arrests. There is also
a woman being honored who pulled a victim off a set of
subway tracks and a Downtown Brooklyn merchant who donates
meals and snacks to volunteers at the Brooklyn Family
Justice Center.
On Nov. 9, 2007, Yvonne Swepson heard cries for
help coming from the hallway outside her apartment. When she
stepped outside to see what was happening, Swepson saw
Raymond Hampton stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Swepson’s
neighbor. Without concern for her own safety, Swepson pulled
Hampton off his victim. When he fled, she called 911 and
waited with the victim until police came. She testified at
Hampton’s trial and attended the sentencing with the victim,
who had been stabbed six times. Hampton is serving 25 years
in prison for Assault in the First Degree, and his victim is
alive, because Swepson stepped in when she did and was
courageous enough to testify against the assailant.
On Dec. 15, 2007, Tracy Bull and her three
children were on the platform of the Pennsylvania Avenue
stop on the Number 3 train. She saw Steven Lightsey throw
his estranged wife onto the tracks, where she suffered a
fracture to her lower spine. Without regard for her own
safety, Bull immediately ran to the victim’s aid, helping to
pull her off the tracks. Lightsey pleaded guilty to Assault
in the First Degree and is serving seven years in prison.
Dwight Vaccianna is the general manager of Au
Bon Pain at Metrotech, across the street from the Brooklyn
District Attorney’s Office. He has repeatedly donated food
and Au Bon Pain meal vouchers to volunteers and clients at
the Brooklyn Family Justice Center. Volunteers teaching ESL
classes to domestic violence victims and those who counsel
victims in other ways have benefited greatly from
Vaccianna’s generosity, since the Center opened in July
2005.
The Kings County District Attorney’s Office
relies on the hard work and dedication of the NYPD every day
and with every case.
George Gallagher terrorized his ex-girlfriend
and her mother for more than 12 years, ignoring repeated
court orders to stay away from them. He had been indicted
three times for crimes he committed against them, served
jail time, and each time he was released, he resumed his
previous behavior. In 2006, he violated his parole and could
not be found. Over the next three years he made threatening
phone calls, sometimes as many as 40 per day, to his two
frightened victims. During that time Detective Joseph
Notwicz, of the 94th Precinct, was in frequent
contact with both the victims and the Brooklyn DA’s Office.
Gallagher was eventually indicted, and Det. Notwicz used a
warrant to track Gallagher’s cell phone use, which led to
his arrest, on July 22, 2008. Gallagher is now serving three
to six years in prison.
On Oct. 29, 2008, James Spence, with three open
indictments charging him with battering and harassing his
ex-girlfriend, walked into the 62nd Precinct to
report a robbery. He accused his ex-girlfriend of having two
men rob him at gunpoint and flee in her car, while she
drove. Det. Michael O’Halloran investigated the case and
determined the string of events Spence described was not
possible. Spence was arrested and charged with four counts
of Falsely Reporting an Incident. His case is currently
pending in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
Contact: Jonah
Bruno
(718) 250-2300
08
KINGS
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES THANKS BROOKLYN
PASTORS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN GUN BUYBACK INITIATIVE
Brooklyn, April 23, 2009
- Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today
hosted pastors who participated in his gun buyback
initiative and thanked them for their efforts in making it a
big success.
“The success of this program goes a long way
towards reducing violent crime in Brooklyn and I want to
thank you,” said DA Hynes. “Every gun that is taken off the
streets could lead to one less robbery,” he said.
Launched last July, the
program is aimed at taking illegal, functioning guns off the
streets by offering a $200 cash reward for each eligible
weapon surrendered. A total of 1,108 guns have been
collected so far in the ongoing program.
The initiative is so
successful that it is being adopted by the other boroughs.
Among firearms collected were
revolvers, semi-automatic handguns, sawed-off shotguns,
assault weapons, riffles, and shotguns. The program is
co-sponsored by the New York City Police Department.
But Despite the success, DA
Hynes said more work needs to be done before Brooklyn is
freed of dangerous weapons. He encouraged the pastors and
their congregations to continue their aggressive involvement
in the project.
DA Hynes used the roundtable
meeting to also talk about other services and crime
prevention programs available at the Brooklyn District
Attorney’s Office, including DTAP (Drug Treatment
Alternative-to-Prison) and ComAlert, designed to help
ex-offenders with housing, education, substance abuse
treatment, physical and mental health counseling and
employment.
The meeting was then turned
over to Deanna Rodriguez, Chief of the Gang Bureau at the
District Attorney’s office, who further expanded on DA
Hynes’ crime prevention initiatives and sought input from
the ministers and their congregation to successfully execute
them.
Contact: J. Zamgba Browne
(718) 250-3850
07
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES, NEW YORK
STATE POLICE AND THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION ANNOUNCE STING
OPERATION THAT SHUTS SHOWROOM FOR COUNTERFEIT GOODS
COUNTERFEIT NIKE SNEAKERS
WITH PICTURES OF PRESIDENT OBAMA AMONG $20 MILLION IN
ILLEGAL GOODS
OPERATION STORE AND STING
Brooklyn, April 24, 2009
– Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and New
York State Police Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt today
announced the arrest of six people involved in a major
counterfeiting ring, which operated out of a self-storage
facility, Stop and Stor, in Sunset Park.
The arrests were the result
of a year-long sting operation, in which an undercover KCDA
Detective Investigator rented a storage room and posed as a
dealer in counterfeit goods. Search warrants were executed
Wednesday on 123 storage units at the Stop and Stor, 534 63rd
Street. The value of the bogus merchandise confiscated
during execution of the warrants is estimated at $20 million
and included 17 pairs of counterfeit Nike sneakers
emblazoned with pictures of President Barack Obama.
“In these tough economic
times, people deserve to know that, when they spend money,
the goods they buy are real,” said DA Hynes. “Selling
counterfeit products cheats customers out of a right to know
what they are buying[ and cheats manufacturers out of their
fair earnings. I’d like to thank the New York State Police
and the Waterfront Commission for their help in this
investigation.”
District Attorney Hynes
praised the work of the Detective Investigators from his
office, the State Police, and the detectives in the NYPD
DA’s Squad, as well as Walter M. Arsenault, Executive
Director of the Waterfront Commission.
New York State Police
Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt said, “These arrests
diminish a criminal enterprise that victimized individual
consumers, who were defrauded with bogus merchandise, and
the legitimate retail industry that lost sales to
counterfeit vendors. The New York State Police worked
closely with Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, and the
Waterfront Commission to safeguard the economy, stop the
flow of illicit money into the black market, and ensure the
integrity of products being sold to our state’s consumers.”
The joint investigation, with
the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, New York State
Police and the Waterfront Commission, began after the
Brooklyn District Attorney’s office learned that the storage
facility was being used as a citywide hub for dealers in
counterfeit, name-brand products. Over the course of the
past year, undercover detective investigators purchased
items including fake Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Coach
handbags, as well as Diesel jeans, Nike sneakers, Affliction
t-shirts, Ed Hardy t-shirts, and Timberland boots. During
the investigation, investigators witnessed thousands of
knockoff Nike sneakers delivered to, and sold from the
storage facility daily.
Investigators learned that
the goods were manufactured in China and smuggled into the
United States. The storage facility was used as a place
where dealers could store and sell goods. Retailers came
from across the city to make wholesale purchases.
The execution of the search
warrant uncovered more than 100,000 pieces of counterfeit
merchandise, including designer bags, shoes, with brand name
such as Channel, Dolce & Gabbana, Dooney & Bourke, and True
Religion.
Kai Fong Chen, 39, and Min
Min Zheng, 24, have been charged with Trademark
Counterfeiting in the Second, a Class-E Felony. The
remaining individuals, Cheng Jun Lin, 43; Lian Min Guo, 34;
Jian C. Lan, 45; and Xia S. Dong, 33, have been charged with
Trademark Counterfeiting in the Third Degree, a Class-A
misdemeanor.
Supervising Detective
Investigator Gregory DeBoer and Detective Investigator 3rd
Grade Anthony J. Schembri worked on the case. George Terra
is Assistant Chief Investigator. Joe Ponzi is Chief
Investigator.
Assistant District Attorney
Karen Turner is prosecuting the case. Michael Vecchione is
Chief of the Rackets Division.
Contact: Jonah
Bruno
718-250-2300
06
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES’ CRIME
PREVENTION INITIATIVES ATTRACT ENVOYS FROM A NUMBER OF
CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES
Brooklyn, April 16 2009
- Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes was
visited yesterday by more than a dozen ambassadors, consuls
general and other diplomats from the Caribbean region to
learn about his successful crime prevention initiatives.
“My strategy of preventing crime through
intervention and rehabilitation can be replicated across the
Caribbean, and in any place where people are serious about
reducing criminal activity and recidivism,” said District
Attorney Hynes.
DA Hynes provided information that included a Power
Point presentation highlighting some of the programs at his
office, such as ComAlert (Community and Law Enforcement
Resources Together), designed to help ex-offenders with
housing, education, substance abuse treatment, physical and
mental health counseling and employment.
The presentation also included (DTAP) Drug
Treatment Alternative-to-Prison, designed for drug-addicted,
non-violent felony offenders; the Family Justice Center
which provides a variety of multidisciplinary services for
victims of intimate partner violence and YCP (Youth and
Congregations in Partnership), program that pairs juvenile
offenders with mentors from the religious community.
Some of the diplomats asked if the District
Attorney would be willing to lecture representatives from
their respective countries about some of the crime
prevention initiatives noted in the power point
presentation.
The envoys were impressed to learn how greatly DA
Hynes’ crime prevention strategies were able to impact the
quality of life in Brooklyn.
The visitors included Lennox Price, Consul
General of Barbados; Carl F. Smith, Consul General of the
Bahamas; Dr. Juan R. Auila, UN Ambassador for the Dominican
Republic and David Codero, a member of his staff.
Also Raymond Ratti, Vice Consul General of the
Dominican Republic and Chloe Shear, members of the UN
staff; Myriam Alexis Consul General of Haiti; Yolanie
Milford of the Haitian Consulate.
The others are Martha Smith, Vice Consul of St.
Lucia and Sarah F. Beauburn, Minister Counselor, St. Lucia
and Mechesney Emanuel, Consul General of Antigua/Barbuda
Contact: J. Zamgba Browne
(718) 250-3850
05
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES
J. HYNES DESIGNATES APRIL AND MAY AS INTERNET SAFETY AND
BULLYING AWARENESS MONTHS
PROSECUTORS TO CONDUCT
AWARENESS WORKSHOPS IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, April 15, 2009
– Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today
announced he is designating April and May as Internet Safety
and Bullying Awareness Months.
In response to concerns of parents and ever
increasing incidents of cyber and online crimes, District
Attorney Hynes is sponsoring several workshops at schools
throughout Brooklyn. Students and parents will learn about
the dangers of the Internet and how to protect themselves
from being victims of cyber crimes. They will also learn
how to avoid sexual predators who scour the Internet for
victims and how to spot financial scams on the Internet
where fraudsters will try to get your personal information
to dupe you out of your money.
Prosecutors have found that sometimes children
will say things on the computer they would never say to a
person’s face without thinking about the consequences. The
workshops will teach children and parents about bullying and
cyberbullying. They will discuss the dangers of bullying
and provide tips on how you can protect yourself.
District Attorney Hynes has
made a commitment to educating the community about these
types of crimes. This past year, prosecutors spoke to more
than 20,000 students and 2,500 parents and teachers about
Internet Safety and cyberbullying. In partnership with the New
York City Department of Education, prosecutors typically go
to public, private and parochial schools and day camps in
Brooklyn approximately three times a week throughout the
year to educate children on Internet safety.
Prosecutors warn parents
about the dangers of their children surfing the Internet.
In many cases, a sexual predator will try to entice a teen
online into sexual activity using instant messages or while
chatting in a chat room. Often, the conversation leads to a
request to meet in person or even to have the teen send nude
pictures. As an example of a predator trying to lure a teen
online in a recent case, defendant Ruben Pena, 27, attempted
to meet with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl he had
engaged online. But he was actually chatting with an
undercover detective posing as a girl. After a couple of
online conversations, Pena went to meet with the girl, and
he was arrested while having six condoms and a digital
camera in his possession. He was recently sentenced to a
maximum of four years in prison.
“Sexting” is another common
way that teens land in trouble. These are incidents in
which a girl might take nude photos of herself and send them
to a boyfriend or an acquaintance, and that person may
forward those pictures to others, creating embarrassment to
the teen.
If you would like to have
more information about this program, call the Internet
Safety Program hotline at 718-250-3395.
Contact: Sandy
Silverstein
(718) 250-2300
04
DA HYNES DISCUSSES PREDATORY LENDING,
MORTGAGE AND DEED
FRAUD AT
MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE TOWN HALL MEETING
Brooklyn, April 15, 2009
- Kings County
District Attorney Charles J. Hynes yesterday warned
participants at a town hall meeting which he and Rep.Yvette
Clarke sponsored at Medgar Evers College on predatory
lending, mortgage fraud and deed fraud, to be aware of scam
artists who could steal their homes in broad daylight.
DA Hynes said in light of the
nation’s current economic crisis, it is important for
prospective home buyers to watch out for scams before
purchasing or refinancing their property.
“To avoid buying a home with a fraudulent deed,
buyers should learn what a deed looks like so they can spot
one which might be inauthentic,” said DA Hynes. You must
also trust your instincts – if something doesn’t look right.
You should break off a deal and alert the authorities.
In addition, DA Hynes warned
that homebuyers should never sign blank documents or
documents with blank spaces to be filled in later. He said
they should also read all documents carefully and be aware
of what they are signing.
“Home borrowers must be
vigilant against predatory lending schemes which target
people with poor credit ratings or lackluster employment
histories and those with homes in foreclosure,” said DA
Hynes.
The District Attorney also
alerted the town hall meeting that predatory lenders may
refinance small mortgages with terms that harm the borrower
through overpriced insurance or balloon payments, and set
high penalties for paying off loans early.
DA Hynes said anyone who is
targeted by these scam artists should not hesitate to report
the matter to his office.
District Attorney Hynes
announced that his office has been awarded $875,000 in
federal funds to establish a special unit to deal
exclusively with a flood of mortgage fraud cases across
Brooklyn that has become problematic in the borough.
DA Hynes said his office,
over the past several years, has been bombarded with
referrals of mortgage and deed fraud cases from local
politicians, homeowner advocacy groups, attorneys, state
agencies, and individual homeowners seeking help.
Contact: J. Zamgba Browne
(718) 250-3850
03
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES
J. HYNES HONORS THREE ORGANIZATIONS DEVOTED TO ANIMAL
PROTECTION
APRIL IS ANIMAL ABUSE
AWARENESS MONTH
ACTRESS AND ANIMAL RIGHTS
ADVOCATE BERNADETTE PETERS PARTICIPATES IN CEREMONY
Brooklyn, April 14, 2009
– Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today
honored three organizations dedicated to the prevention of
animal cruelty and abuse at the Brooklyn Animal Resources
Coalition (BARC), an animal shelter in Williamsburg. He
also discussed the problem of animal abuse and neglect and
what can be done to prevent it.
Tony Award-winning actress
Bernadette Peters is a major advocate for the prevention of
animal cruelty and a supporter of BARC. She has added
author and songwriter to her roster of achievements with her
debut children’s book, Broadway Barks, aptly named
after the organization she co-founded with good friend, Mary
Tyler Moore. The book landed on The New York Times
Bestseller list shortly after publication. Their annual
star-studded animal adoption event in the heart of the
theatre district, benefits animal shelters through the New
York City area. The book package includes a recording of an
original song of which Bernadette's royalties from the sale
of the book go to Broadway Barks.
In recognition of April being
Animal Abuse Awareness Month, District Attorney Hynes
presented his Making a Difference award to
Brooklyn Animal Resources Coalition, the Sean Casey Animal
Rescue, and the staff of Brooklyn Animal Care & Control for
their roles in caring for homeless and abandoned animals.
Each of these organizations cares for thousands of animals.
Each year, they feed them, provide medical attention and a
safe haven until they can be placed in loving homes.
Every day, as they work in
the streets, these organizations see many cases where an
animal is neglected or abused or has been forced to fight.
They rescue dogs and cats, who are then spayed and neutered,
and try to find new homes with loving, caring owners. While
they are in shelters, the animals get many visitors as well
as volunteers who nurture and provide for them. Often,
other kinds of animals including rabbits, snakes and even
alligators are found and rescued. These organizations are
also very active in educating the community.
The three organizations
provide early intervention for desperate owners and their
pets. When there is a case that involves the District
Attorney’s Office, these organizations are able to assist in
the prosecution of individuals who abuse animals by
providing information and support such as the preservation
of evidence.
District Attorney Hynes said, “The protection of
animals has always been very close to my heart. As an
animal lover myself, I find it incomprehensible why people
would hurt animals. Animal cruelty is a crime and those who
commit this crime are prosecuted to the full extent of the
law. Often, committing the crime of animal cruelty is a
warning sign of other problems including domestic
violence.” The District Attorney’s Office indicts
approximately eight to 12 animal cruelty cases annually,
half of which are domestic violence related.
Animal cruelty includes injuring an animal,
neglect, animal fighting and abandonment. People who cannot
care for a pet should seek a shelter for him. Abandoning an
animal is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one
year in jail. Neglecting an animal by failing to provide
proper food and water is also a Class A misdemeanor.
Intentionally killing or seriously injuring a pet is
Aggravated Cruelty, a class E felony, punishable by up to
two years in jail. Animal fighting is another form of
animal cruelty. The District Attorney’s Office has
prosecuted several cases such as cockfighting where an owner
trains, breeds, and causes an animal to fight, usually for
the purpose of gambling. This is a Class E felony,
punishable by up to four years in jail and a $25,000 fine.
Even just being a spectator at an Animal Fighting event is
illegal and can result in a fine.
It is important for the community to recognize
the warning signs of animal abuse and to report these
crimes. If you find an animal that has been abused or
neglected, contact the District Attorney Action Center at
(718) 250-2340.
Contact: Sandy
Silverstein
(718) 250-2300
02
KINGS
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES
AND POLICE COMMISSIONER RAYMOND W. KELLY TODAY ANNOUNCED
THE INDICTMENT OF 43 DEFENDANTS CHARGED
WITH OPERATING A VIOLENT DRUG RING
DEFENDANTS EARNED MORE THAN $2 MILLION A YEAR
Brooklyn,
April 2, 2009
– Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and New
York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today
announced the indictment of 43 people involved in a drug
ring that made more than $2 million a year, in southern
Brooklyn and Staten Island.
During the investigation,
KCDA Detective Investigators and NYPD Detectives captured
audio surveillance recordings of cell phone conversations,
in which the gang’s leader, Eric “Fat Eddy” Rodriguez, 26,
ordered the killing of a rival. Rodriguez believed the
victim had stolen a car full of drugs, which belonged to
Rodriguez, and ordered underling Aishan Reyes, 22, to shoot
the suspected thief. The DIs and detectives who intercepted
the phone calls were not able to prevent the shooting, but
arrived on the scene quickly enough to get medical
assistance and save the victim’s life.
“This violent drug kingpin is
behind bars, where he belongs,” said District Attorney
Hynes. “This case stemmed from the investigation into a
family of drug dealers operating out of two homes on 93rd
Street in Bay Ridge, last June. I would like to acknowledge
the excellent work done by my Detective Investigators on
this case. I would also like to thank the NYPD for the hard
work and assistance we can always depend on them to
provide.”
The defendants arrested in
the Bay Ridge case remain in jail pending trial.
“In effect, the would-be
killer called 911 on himself,” said Police Commissioner
Kelly. “Few cases better illustrate the inevitable nexus
between drug trafficking and violence, in addition to all of
the other tolls exacted by illegal drugs. It also
illustrates why drug dealers should be sentenced in ways
that keep them in jail. New York is the nation's safest
large city because, among other things, police officers and
prosecutors, epitomized by those in this case, keep the
pressure on drug dealers. I commend their continued
successes in keeping New York safe.”
Rodriguez and his cohorts are
charged, in an 88-count indictment, with Conspiracy in the
First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
in the Second Degree, Criminal Sale of a Controlled
Substance in the Third Degree, and numerous other counts.
Additionally, the six defendants charged in the shooting are
also charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree.
They face a maximum of 25 years to life in prison, for the
top count, Conspiracy in the First Degree. Two defendants
who are under the age of 18 face a maximum of
eight-and-one-third to 25 years.
The indictment charges that
Rodriguez’s drug conspiracy sold up to 2000 $20 bags of
crack cocaine each week, in Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Park
Slope, Dyker Heights, Boro Park, Bensonhurst, Bushwick, and
Williamsburg, and Tudt Hill in Staten Island. People
employed by the operation as dispatchers received cell phone
drug orders 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and sent
drivers out to deliver the drugs to customers, according to
the indictment.
Audio surveillance captured
includes statements by Rodriguez that he had sold drugs in
Brooklyn and Staten Island since as early as 2003.
An indictment is an
accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
Supervising Detective
Investigators Joseph Piraino and Shaun Winter; Detective
Investigators Third Grade Philip Centrone, Edwin Murphy, and
John Beale; and Detective Investigator Second Grade William
Pettie investigated the case. Joseph Ponzi is Chief of
Investigators.
Assistant District Attorney
Maria Haymandou and Major Narcotics Investigation Deputy
Bureau Chief Lawrence Oh are prosecuting the cases. Suzanne
Corhan is Chief of the Major Narcotics Investigation
Bureau.
Contact: Jonah
Bruno
718-250-2300
01
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES AND ORTHODOX
COMMUNITY LEADERS ANNOUNCE CREATION OF NEW OUTREACH PROJECT
FOR ORTHODOX JEWISH SEX-CRIME VICTIMS
PROJECT KOL TZEDEK (VOICE OF JUSTICE)
Brooklyn, April 1, 2009
– Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today
announced the creation of a new outreach program aimed at
helping sex-crime victims in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish
Communities report abuse.
“Sex crimes exist in every community and are always very
difficult for victims to discuss,” said DA Hynes. “Because
of the insular nature of Orthodox Jewish communities, many
victims are reluctant to report crimes to secular
authorities. This program will go a long way to address
those impediments.”
Victims who call the Project Kol Tzedek hotline,
(718)250-3000, will speak with a culturally sensitive social
worker and a prosecutor from the Sex Crimes Bureau. Victims
will be encouraged to come forward with allegations of
abuse. Prosecutors and social workers will be available to
meet with victims in a comfortable environment to discuss
their cases.
The program will be organized
by a licensed social worker, Chana Widawski, LMSW, who has
experience working with Brooklyn’s Orthodox Communities.
Project Kol Tzedek’s strength
will be based on its partnerships with community
organizations, such as the Metropolitan Council on Jewish
Poverty, Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services and Tikvah
at Ohel, and Jewish Board of Family and Children’s
Services.
Henna White is the District
Attorney’s Community Liaison. Sarah Ellis is Director of
Victim Services. Rhonnie Jaus is Chief of the Sex Crimes
Bureau.
Contact:
Jonah Bruno
718-250-2300
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