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06
DISTRICT
ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES CELEBRATES CARIBBEAN- AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH, HONORS AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE AND SEVERAL
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Brooklyn, June 25, 2010
- Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes yesterday
marked Caribbean-American Heritage Month by paying tribute
to Caribbean-Americans, particularly in Brooklyn, in
recognition of their impressive cultural, economic and
political contributions.
“Caribbean-American cultural - its values and
traditions – have greatly benefited us all by their
commitment to faith, to family, to industry and to law.
Their love for arts, for music, and for dance and for life
itself has enriched all our lives immeasurably,” said DA
Hynes.
He honored the following individual and
organizations: Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Administrative Judge for
Civil Matters in Brooklyn Supreme Court; the West Indian
American Day Carnival Association, organizer of nation’s
largest cultural events in Brooklyn; and the Caribbean
American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which gives
Brooklyn’s Caribbean businesses a voice and chance to grow
and succeed.
The District Attorney also saluted Sesame Flyers
International, which provides cultural and supportive social
services to youth throughout Brooklyn, especially through
the group’s musical band and One Caribbean Radio, which
provides a unified voice for Caribbean-Americans and helps
publicize their cultural bounty.
In addition, District Attorney Hynes honored Hawks
International, an organization that helps to promote the
culture of Trinidad and Tobago in Brooklyn and the Haitian
American Law Enforcement Fraternal Organization, a national
network of Haitian-American police officers who volunteer
their time to improve relations between law enforcement
agencies and the Haitian-American and Caribbean-American
communities.
District Attorney Hynes said he was particularly
pleased to honor these fine Caribbean-Americans, who have
helped to make Brooklyn a great place to live and to work
in.
The
event featured a slide presentation highlighting employees
at the Office of the District Attorney who are of Caribbean
heritage
Contact:
J. Zamgba Browne
(718) 250-3850
05
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES HONORS
51 GRADUATES OF HIS DRUG TREATMENT ALTERNATIVE-TO-PRISON
(DTAP) PROGRAM
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
JOSEPH E. GUBBAY GIVES KEYNOTE ADDRESS
GRADUATES TELL THEIR MOVING
STORIES OF RECOVERY
Brooklyn, June 22, 2010 – Kings County District
Attorney Charles J. Hynes today honored 51 graduates
of his Drug Treatment Alternative-to-Prison (DTAP) program
in the ceremonial courtroom of Borough Hall in Downtown
Brooklyn. Acting Supreme Court Justice Joseph E.
Gubbay delivered the keynote address, congratulating the
graduation class.
“It makes no sense to simply warehouse nonviolent drug
abusers in state prisons,” said District Attorney Hynes.
“I believe that nonviolent drug abusers would benefit more
by giving them treatment in the community, rather sending
them to prison where they will not overcome their
addictions. Instead, they are more likely to continue
their lives of crime to feed their drug habits. DTAP
gives nonviolent offenders an opportunity to change their
lives of addiction and crime into lives of hope and
promise.”
From this graduating class, there are some remarkable
stories. Prior to entering the DTAP program, the graduates
were using drugs, some since they were as young as 14. Some
of the offenders committed other crimes to support their
drug habits. The graduates have all made incredible
strides to overcome their drug addictions and turn their
lives around. One individual that spoke about how the
program changed his life was Troy Green.
At the age of fourteen, Troy Green experimented with
drugs, using marijuana, which later led him to start using
cocaine and crack cocaine. When he was arrested in
2008, he went into the DTAP program, receiving treatment at
Samaritan Village. Green’s counselors helped him
change his perspective on life and made him want to change.
Today, he is drug-free and works as a cook for Carl’s
Cheesesteak. He is currently assigned to Yankee
Stadium where he feeds the players and the fans. He
has improved relationships with his family members and is
looking forward to his new life, free of drugs.
Every year, thousands of offenders commit drug crimes or
other non-violent offenses in order to feed their drug
habit. District Attorney Hynes created DTAP in 1990
based on the belief that addicted defendants would return to
society more capable of resisting drugs and crime after
receiving appropriate treatment, than if they had spent a
similar or greater amount of time in prison. They
would be able to resurrect their lives. This diversion
program, which is recognized as one of the nation’s most
successful, provides residential drug treatment to
drug-addicted, non-violent, repeat offenders, under a
deferred-sentencing model. Participants enter a guilty
plea and receive a deferred sentence that allows them to
participate in a residential drug treatment program, usually
for about 24 months. Those who successfully
complete the program have their charges dismissed.
Those who fail to complete the program are brought back to
court and sentenced to prison.
DTAP, now in its 20th year, has reduced recidivism rates
of its graduates by half. Since the program began in
1990, there have been 1,222 graduates. Diversion to DTAP
has resulted in public cost savings of $49 million dollars,
because DTAP costs significantly less than incarceration.
Ninety-one percent of the class are men; 9% are women.
Their average age is 43. Prior to treatment, 33% of the
employable graduates were working. By the time these
graduates completed treatment, 91% were working in jobs that
include culinary arts, maintenance, truck driving,
counseling, carpentry and plumbing. The majority of the
class calls Brooklyn home, but there are graduates from the
other four boroughs as well.
These graduates received treatment at eight residential
therapeutic communities including Daytop Village; Phoenix
House, Samaritan Village and Veritas.
Contact: Sandy Silverstein
718-250-2300
04
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES ANNOUNCES MURDER CONVICTION IN
PEDESTRIAN’S DEATH
HIGH-SPEED CHASE IN STOLEN
CAR LEAD TO COLLISION
Brooklyn, June 14, 2010
– Kings County District
Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the conviction of
José Maldonado, 30, of Murder in the Second Degree, for
running down a pedestrian, as Maldonado tried to outrun
police in a stolen car.
Maldonado was also convicted
of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Unlawfully Fleeing
a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree.
When he is sentenced July 8, Maldonado faces a maximum
sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
On April 27, 2009, driving a
Dodge Caravan he had stolen, Maldonado illegally passed an
unmarked police car on Graham Avenue, in Williamsburg. The
officers stopped Maldonado’s car, and when they stepped out
of their car, he fled. Speeding through Williamsburg and
Greenpoint, Maldonado drove through multiple red lights,
before striking and killing a pedestrian, 37-year-old
Violetta Krzyzak, on Manhattan Avenue, in Greenpoint. After
continuing a few blocks, Maldonado crashed into several
parked cars.
The case was prosecuted by
Vehicular Crimes Bureau Chief Craig Esswein. Executive
Assistant District Attorney Gayle Dampf is Chief of the
Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
Contact: Jonah
Bruno
(718) 250-2300
03
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES ANNOUNCES DONATION OF 500 PAIRS OF
SHOES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND THEIR CHILDREN
STATEN ISLAND GIVING
CIRCLE DONATES SHOES TO BROOKLYN FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
Brooklyn, June 8, 2010
– Kings County District
Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the Staten Island
Giving Circle’s donation of 500 pairs of shoes to the
Brooklyn Family Justice Center, where they will be
distributed to needy Domestic Violence victims and their
children.
The shoes were donated to the Staten Island
Giving Circle, a local charitable organization, by a Staten
Island shoe store. A Dyker Heights Civic Association board
member, Jennifer DeFrank, who is also a member of the Giving
Circle, arranged with Giving Circle founder Evelyn Kormanik,
to donate the shoes to domestic violence victims in
Brooklyn.
The Family Justice Center, named in honor of
District Attorney Hynes’ mother, Regina Drew, a domestic
violence victim, is an all-in-one location where domestic
violence victims can access an array of services that were
once spread across the borough. At the Family Justice
Center, victims can speak with prosecutors, counselors,
family law attorneys, learn about emergency housing and
access additional services, in whatever language they speak
most comfortably.
Contact: Jonah
Bruno
(718) 250-2300
02
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES ANNOUNCES 40-YEAR SENTENCE IN
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER AND ATTEMPTED ROBBERY
Brooklyn, June 8, 2010
– Kings County District
Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced a 40-year prison
sentence for Ian Fields, 20, who fired seven shots at an
off-duty police officer during the attempted robbery of an
auto repair shop.
Today Brooklyn Supreme Court
Justice Vincent Del Guidice sentenced Fields to 25 years for
Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and 15 years on
Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, to run consecutively.
Fields was convicted May 20.
On May 9, 2009, Fields and
his accomplice Kenneth Williams were inside the DJL Auto
Repair Shop, located at 4201 Glenwood Road, with several
employees and customers, including off-duty Detective Ray
Williams, when Kenneth Williams pulled out a firearm from
his waistband. Kenneth Williams announced the robbery and
ordered everyone to empty their pockets and get on the
ground. When Kenneth Williams pointed the gun at one of the
civilians, Detective Williams drew his gun and identified
himself as a police officer. Kenneth Williams fired a round
at the Detective who returned fire, striking Kenneth
Williams in the neck. After his accomplice was hit and
dropped his pistol to the ground, Fields picked up the gun
and fled the store with it. Detective Williams gave chase
and Fields fired approximately seven rounds at him and fled.
Detective Williams and the civilians were uninjured.
Kenneth Williams was
pronounced dead at the scene.
The case was prosecuted by
Lewis Lieberman, Deputy Bureau Chief in the Investigations
Bureau. John O’Mara is Chief of the Investigations Bureau.
Contact: Jonah
Bruno
(718) 250-2300
01
KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES AND NEW YORK CITY POLICE
COMMISSIONER RAYMOND W. KELLY ANNOUNCE FOUR INDICTMENTS
CHARGING EIGHT DEFENDANTS WITH SEX TRAFFICKING
DA HYNES CREATES NEW SEX
TRAFFICKING UNIT WITH 24-HOUR HOTLINE
Brooklyn, June 2, 2010
– Kings County District
Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the creation of a
new Sex Trafficking Unit, within the Rackets Division, to
target the exploitation of women and girls who are forced
into the sex trade. District Attorney Hynes and NYPD
Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly also announced four separate
indictments against eight people charged with Sex
Trafficking in Brooklyn.
“Sex Trafficking, forced
sexual exploitation, is a heinous crime fueled by the greed
and violence of pimps, and whenever my office encounters Sex
Trafficking, we will do everything possible to ensure
lengthy prison sentences,” said District Attorney Hynes. “I
would like to thank Police Commissioner Kelly and the NYPD’s
Vice Major Case Unit for all their work on these cases.”
“Trafficking in women and
young girls for prostitution is barbaric, and deserves to be
combated with the toughest sanctions available under the
law,” said Police Commissioner Kelly. “I want to commend our
vice detectives and the prosecutors who supported them in
these arrests and indictments. I also want to commend
District Attorney Hynes for focusing on the issue in a
special way with the establishment of a new sex trafficking
unit.”
The Sex Trafficking Unit will work with the NYPD
and other agencies and community groups to combat sexual
exploitation, whether victims are from Brooklyn or brought
here from abroad. Members of the unit will also conduct
meetings at schools and community centers, to raise
awareness of sex trafficking and its potential signs;
provide comprehensive services to victims, through the
District Attorney’s Counseling Services Unit; and monitor a
24-hour hotline, which victims and people with knowledge of
sex trafficking can call. That number is (718) 250-2770.
The first indictment being announced today
charges Abking Wilcox, a reputed member of the Bloods street
gang, with forcing women and girls as young as 15 into
prostitution in Bushwick and Brownsville, from 2007 to 2009.
Wilcox, 30, is charged with recruiting victims, who he
called his “Team” from local high schools and middle
schools, and forcing them to earn $500 per day – which he
kept – or be beaten and denied food. He is also charged with
forcing the victims to engage in sexual acts with him.
The indictment also charges that Wilcox and
several other reputed Bloods gang members had a loose
affiliation they called the “Horse Gang”, a reference to the
“stables” of women and girls they forced into the sex trade.
To maximize profits, according to the indictment, Wilcox and
the Horse Gang advertised so-called “adult services” on
websites, such as Craigslist and Backpage.com, and threw
parties, for which they charged johns entrance fees that
included the cost of sex with women and girls.
Wilcox is charged in two separate indictments.
The first charges him with Sex Trafficking, a Class-B
Felony; Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree,
Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, and Rape in the
Third Degree. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
In the second indictment, Wilcox and fellow
Horse Gang members Christiana Woodbury and James Cortu – who
remains at large – are charged with exploiting a 15-year-old
girl. Wilcox and Cortu are charged with Sex Trafficking,
Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, Promoting
Prostitution in the Third Degree and Assault in the Second
Degree. Woodbury is charged with Promoting Prostitution in
the Second Degree and faces up to 15 years in prison.
The investigation into Wilcox and the Horse Gang
is continuing, and additional arrests are possible.
In a third, unrelated case, Taniesha Sanders,
37; her son, Eric Sanders, 18; and her cousin, Bernadette
Mosely, 32, are charged with coercing a 16-year-old girl
into prostitution. The girl, a friend of Taniesha Sanders’
daughter, had been staying at Taniesha Sanders’ home to
escape troubles in her own home. At Taniesha Sanders’ home,
the victim was forced to engage in sex acts with Sanders’
adult son, Eric, and forced into prostitution, with threats
of violence, according to the indictment. Mosley, a
prostitute who worked for Taniesha Sanders, is charged with
escorting the girl to meetings with johns and with
collecting money from them, on Sanders’ behalf.
Charges against Taniesha and Eric Sanders
include Sex Trafficking, Promoting Prostitution in the
Second Degree, Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree,
Coercion in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First
Degree and Criminal Sex Act in the First Degree. If
convicted, they each face up to 25 years in prison. Mosley
is charged with Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree,
a Class-D Felony, with a maximum sentence of seven years in
prison.
In the fourth indictment, Lathaniel Maccoy, 22,
and Kareem Clarke, 21, are charged with luring a 15-year-old
girl into prostitution and then threatening her and
restricting her movement and contacts with friends and
family, in an effort to keep her under their control. While
working on the investigation, NYPD’s Vice Major Case Unit
was able to rescue the girl.
Maccoy and Clarke are charged with Sex
Trafficking, Compelling Prostitution, Promoting Prostitution
in the Second Degree, Promoting Prostitution in the Third
Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Maccoy is
also charged with Rape in the Third Degree. They face up to
25 years in prison, if convicted.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and
not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
The cases were investigated by Detective Frank
Tedesco, Detective William Perez, and Lt. Mike Costello, of
the NYPD’s Vice Major Case Squad. Chief Brian Conroy is
Commanding Officer of NYPD Vice.
Assistant District Attorneys Lauren Hersh and
Grace Albinson are prosecuting the cases. Michael Vecchione
is Chief of the Rackets Division.
Contact: Jonah
Bruno
(718) 250-2300
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