Year: 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 18, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Rush
Hour Subway Shooting That Injured Two Passengers

Defendant Opened Fire on Crowded C Train,
Hitting 17-Year-Old and 52-Year-Old Passengers

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder for opening fire inside a crowded subway car during the evening rush hour, striking two passengers.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying act of gun violence that endangered dozens of commuters and left two people injured. Firing multiple shots on a packed train showed a blatant disregard for human life, and this sentence holds the defendant accountable for his actions. We remain committed to ensuring public safety and delivering justice for victims.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Alexander Villafana, 22, of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Eugene Guarino to 10 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on April 8, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on November 28, 2023, at approximately 5:35 p.m., the defendant was inside a crowded northbound C train approaching the Ralph Avenue station in Bedford-Stuyvesant when he got into a verbal altercation with a 17-year-old boy. The dispute escalated, and the defendant pulled out a gun and fired several shots, one of which struck the teen in the hand. As a 52-year-old passenger fled to an adjacent train car, he was struck in the ankle. A 9mm shell casing and fired bullets were recovered from the subway car.

The teenage victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he underwent treatment for fractures to both hands. The older victim was taken to Kings County Hospital, where a bullet fragment was removed from his fractured ankle.

Following the shooting, the defendant fled to Pennsylvania and changed his appearance. The Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended him at his home in Brooklyn on December 12, 2023.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Omar Harding, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Shooting
Father and Son Following Traffic Dispute

After Victim Asked Him to “Chill Out,” Defendant Returned with Gun And
Opened Fire on Crowded Sidewalk; Apprehended by Bystanders as He Tried to Flee

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for shooting a man in East Flatbush, then also shooting the victim’s dad who tried to intervene. The broad daylight gun violence took place after the defendant became upset at a woman who was parking her car in a driveway, briefly blocking his vehicle, and the victim asked him to calm down.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying act of gun violence that inflicted lasting harm on a father and son and endangered everyone nearby. I commend the extraordinary bravery of the victims and the bystanders who intervened to disarm and detain the shooter. Thanks to their courage and the excellent work of my office, this dangerous individual has been held fully accountable and will no longer pose a threat to our community.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as John Miller, 34, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. The defendant, a violent felony offender, was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to 30 years in prison, following his conviction on two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a jury trial last month.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 12, 2022, at about 6:30 p.m., in the vicinity of East 95th Street in East Flatbush, the first victim, a then 38-year-old man, was sitting in his parked car when he heard a commotion. He stepped out and saw the defendant yelling at a neighbor who was blocking his sedan as she navigated her vehicle into her driveway. He told the defendant to “chill out,” and the defendant responded, “I’ll be back,” before driving off. The victim then went and sat on his stoop.

A short time later, the defendant returned on foot, stood in front of the victim and repeatedly said, “You were the one talking s–t.” The defendant then reached into his pocket, prompting the victim to lunge toward him to grab the gun. But the defendant managed to shoot him twice at close range, striking his back and stomach. The victim’s father, who was 63 at the time and standing by the stoop, ran over to help and was shot once in the upper thigh. A crowd formed and the father managed to pry the gun from the defendant’s hand and give it to a bystander. The defendant attempted to escape but was apprehended by the crowd and held on the ground until police arrived.

The son was taken to Kings County Hospital where he received two life-saving operations, suffered a severe complication, and underwent a high-risk procedure before he was discharged after 17 days. The father was treated in Brookdale Hospital and still suffers from numbness in his right leg and cannot walk without a cane as a result of the injury to his sciatic nerve and the lodged bullet.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica Wishart and Assistant District Attorney Robert Andrea of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Douglas Marquez, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Manhattan Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for
Fatal Shooting of Innocent Bystander Inside Brooklyn Smoke Shop

Victim Was a Mother and Stranger to Defendant; Dog Also Killed by Gunfire

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Manhattan man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison following his guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting a 36-year-old mother who was a stranger to him. The victim was struck by gunfire inside the Bedford-Stuyvesant smoke shop, where she was shopping with her dog. The dog was also killed.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant brazenly opened fire into a store open to the public, killing a completely innocent woman and endangering everyone inside. Today’s sentence ensures he is held accountable for this outrageous act of violence and reflects the seriousness of the harm he caused.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Namel Colon, 39, of the Lower East Side. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on June 9, 2025, before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu, who sentenced him today to 25 years in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on January 2, 2022, at approximately 9:45 p.m., the defendant arrived by car at Salim Smoke Shop, located at 488 DeKalb Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant. He exited the vehicle and fired into the store, striking Jennifer Ynoa, 36, a mother of four, in the torso. Ynoa, who was inside the store with her dog and had no connection to the defendant, was transferred to The Brooklyn Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead. The victim’s dog was also fatally shot. A second person was present in the store at the time of the shooting but was not injured.

The defendant fled the scene but was apprehended by members of the NYPD’s Violent Felony Squad on February 22, 2022.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Da Rin, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 19 Years to Life in Prison
For Murder of Deli Clerk During Flatbush Robbery

Masked Defendant Shot 20-Year-Old Victim in the Head 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 19 years to life in prison following his guilty plea to second-degree murder for shooting a deli clerk in the head during a robbery. The defendant, who fled following the shooting, was apprehended in Newark, New Jersey.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a cold-blooded and senseless execution of a young man who was simply doing his job. Fadhl Moosa’s life was cut short in an act of shocking violence that has devastated his family and shaken the community. Today’s sentence ensures that the defendant will be held accountable for this horrific crime, and I hope it brings some measure of justice and closure to Fadhl’s loved ones.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ricardo Senatus, 32, of Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 19 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on June 24, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on December 14, 2021, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the defendant entered a deli located at 803 Flatbush Avenue, wearing a mask and armed with a firearm. He went behind the counter and pointed the firearm at the store clerk, Fadhl Moosa, 20, and demanded money from the cash register.

Furthermore, the District Attorney said, a physical struggle ensued between the defendant and the clerk and ended with the defendant shooting the victim in the head. The defendant left the store, then realized he forgot to take the money. He returned to the store, stepped over the dying victim’s body, and retrieved the money from the cash register.

The defendant fled the scene and was apprehended in Newark, New Jersey on December 20, 2021.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 11, 2025

Seven Alleged Gang Members Variously Indicted for
Attempted Murder and Gun Possession

Variously Charged in Connection with Five Separate Incidents in East Flatbush;
One Innocent Woman Struck; Another Almost Struck as She Sat in Beauty Salon

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, today announced that seven alleged members of the 8-Trey Crips gang were variously charged in connection with two attempted murder incidents and three cases of criminal possession of a weapon. All incidents happened in East Flatbush within a three-month span earlier this year and mostly involved the defendants allegedly firing at perceived rivals.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These cases are part of our ongoing efforts to get violent gang members off the streets and improve safety across Brooklyn. We do that through long-term conspiracy investigations and in response to individual incidents as we did today. The goal is the same: focusing on the small number of shooters who are willing to pick up a gun and open fire in our communities to ensure that they cannot harm anyone else. These incidents, where only innocent bystanders were struck or almost hit, exemplifies how dangerous this criminal behavior can be, and why it is vital for us to take swift action.”

Commissioner Tisch said, “The 8-Trey Crips gang allegedly turned East Flatbush into a violent playground, shooting and seriously injuring New Yorkers in broad daylight and putting many more lives at risk. That ends today. The NYPD has carried out more than 40 gang-related takedowns this year alone, resulting in over 300 arrests and the recovery of more than 230 illegal guns from our streets–and these arrests make one thing very clear: We are not backing down. I’m grateful to the investigators from the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division and the 67th Precinct Detective Squad, as well as the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, for their relentless work to dismantle this criminal network and bring these young offenders to justice.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Gun violence puts lives at risk and tears at the fabric of our neighborhoods. We will never allow gang members to commit violence and act with impunity on New York City streets. With the arrest and indictments of these seven alleged 8-Trey Crips gang members, we are delivering justice for East Flatbush and sending a clear message that this kind of criminal activity will never be tolerated. Working with our law enforcement partners, we’re continuing to target the small number of people responsible for a large share of the violence — and we won’t stop until every New Yorker feels safe.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Jaziah Waldron, 17, Jahfyah Selassie, 20, Omar Jones, 16, Malik Johnson, 17, and Dylon Val, 15, who have been charged with a top count of second-degree attempted murder. In addition, Dymond George, 21, and another one of the defendants have been named in separate indictments charging them with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. George, Johnson, Val, and Jones were arraigned today. Salassie, Waldron and Gonzalez were arraigned in May. They were ordered held on bail ranging from $20,000 to $500,000, except for Johnson and Jones who were ordered released without bail.

The District Attorney said that the defendants are alleged 8-Trey gang members, a subset of the Crips under the Woo umbrella, who predominantly operate in the 40s blocks of East Flatbush. The five indictments pertain to these five incidents:

• • On February 19, 2025, at 5:05 p.m., one of the defendants allegedly fired into a beauty salon located on Snyder Avenue, nearly striking three innocent people inside, including a woman who reported a bullet whizzing through her hair.
  • On April 25, 2025, at 6:20 p.m., Waldron, with the help of Selassie, allegedly shot in the direction of a rival gang member on Church Avenue and struck an innocent woman in the hand. The two defendants allegedly swapped clothes with each other after the shooting.
  • On May 7, 2025, at 3:50 p.m., it is alleged that Val opened fire at an unknown target, believed to be a rival. The shooting took place in broad daylight with children visible in the video. No one was struck. The evidence shows that Johnson allegedly wore a backpack from which Val retrieved and returned the gun, then exchanged clothes with Val after the shooting. Jones allegedly pointed out the target and can be heard on video saying, “He’s right there, blow that s—t.”
  • On May 8, 2025, at 10 a.m., police responded to a 911 call about a group menacing someone with a gun. Responding officers observed Gonzalez allegedly throwing a gun under a car and another gun was allegedly recovered from Waldron.
  • On May 9, 2025, at 7:31 p.m., George allegedly shot at a rival gang member, according to ballistic and video evidence. No one was struck.

The investigation was conducted by the New York City Police Department’s Gun Violence Suppression Division and the 67th Precinct Detective Squad.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kellen Michuda and James Buchsbaum, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Douglas Marquez, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Nine Alleged Members of “Road 2 Riches” Gang Charged in 68-Count

Conspiracy Indictment That Includes 10 Shootings

One Homicide and Nine Non-Fatal Shootings with Three Victims;

Nine Firearms Recovered During the Course of the Investigation

[Note: materials displayed during the press conference are available here]

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, today announced that nine alleged members of the Road 2 Riches street gang are variously charged in a 68-count indictment with conspiracy to commit murder, possess weapons and related charges. The indictment includes charges related to 10 shootings that resulted in four victims – including an innocent bystander, a 68-year-old woman, who was shot in the back in broad daylight.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This indictment charges a disturbing pattern of gang violence allegedly committed by a group of young defendants. Their actions endangered entire communities and include the murder of a 24-year-old man and the broad daylight shooting of an innocent 68-year-old woman. Working with the NYPD, we remain focused on holding accountable the small number of offenders driving this violence. The success of this strategy is clear, with record low gun violence in Brooklyn last year, and continued progress this year.”

Commissioner Tisch said, “For too long, Road 2 Riches gang members have terrorized neighborhoods in Brooklyn – unleashing gunfire in broad daylight, on busy streets, and near schools. Many of these alleged shooters were teens, emboldened by laws like Raise the Age that eliminate consequences for young people engaging in this type of violence, but these gangs are no match for the NYPD – this year alone, we have conducted more than 40 gang-related takedowns and removed more than 230 illegal guns from our streets. This work is the reason that shootings are down double digits in Brooklyn, and we are not letting up.  I want to thank the Gun Violence Suppression Division and the Brooklyn DA’s Office for their outstanding work on this case.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Today’s gang takedown is another significant victory for our city as we stop nine members of the Road 2 Riches gang from terrorizing our children and neighbors. With these arrests and indictments, we are sending a clear message that violent criminals have no place in our city. We are also delivering the safety and justice that every New Yorker deserves. Since day one, public safety has been our North Star, and it’s victories like this that have helped bring shootings to record lows, and major crime down in June, year to date, and for six quarters straight. I want to thank the NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Division and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their relentless work to keep all New Yorkers safe.”

The defendants were arraigned yesterday in Brooklyn Supreme Court on a 68-count indictment in which they are variously charged with second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and first-degree reckless endangerment. The defendants were either remanded or are being held on high bail.

The District Attorney said the indictment is the result of a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division into the violence allegedly committed by members and associates of the Road 2 Riches (R2R) street gang, which is primarily based within the confines of the 75^th Precinct in east New York, from January 2023 to the present. The defendants ranged in age from 15 to 20 during the course of the conspiracy.

It is alleged that many of the acts of violence, including numerous shootings, were captured on surveillance videos. Furthermore, it is alleged that the defendants boasted about their criminal actions on social media, including taking credit for acts of violence such as the shooting death of Abdoulaye Ba, 24, and antagonizing their opposition.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, R2R territory is in the East New York area, specifically R2R operates largely out of 398 Sheffield Avenue, part of the New York City Housing Authority’s Long Island Baptist Houses, Remeeder Houses and Unity Houses. R2R is considered a younger subset of the “Cocky Bama Bullies” street gang and falls under the larger Bloods street gang confederacy.

The R2R rivals include several opposing gang members including “Pistol Packin Pitkin” (PPP) in East New York and the “WOOO” and “CHOO” Folk Nation gangs whose territories are in neighboring Brownsville and Forever My Brothers (FMB), also located in Brownsville. Other rivals include the “Wortman Avenue Gangstas” (WAG), based out of the Linden Houses in East New York.

It is alleged that R2R members committed 10 shootings during the course of the conspiracy, including the following:

• It is alleged that on March 31, 2023, at approximately 3:45 p.m., a 14-year-old boy, a perceived R2R rival, was leaving his girlfriend’s 5^th floor apartment at 626 Sutter Avenue as defendants Mikeem Echevarria and Javonte Jaime entered the elevator at that location and took it to the 5^th floor. As the 14-year-old waited for the elevator, the defendants exited the elevator, chased the teen, and knocked him to the floor. The teen broke free, attempted to run away, and was shot twice in the left leg. The 14-year-old victim’s injury required a significant hospital stay which included surgery.

• It is alleged that on August 21, 2023, at approximately 3:15 p.m., defendant King Downing was in a bodega located at 640 Blake Avenue, with R2R members Quinn Parker, Jevonte James and another R2R member, when they observed Abdoulaye Ba, 24, and his brother, a known CHOO/Folk Nation gang member, near the front entrance of the bodega, looking inside. Upon seeing them, Downing allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired at the front entrance, striking the victim in the head. He was later pronounced dead. The murder weapon was later recovered during a search warrant execution from fellow R2R member Quinn Parker’s residence.

• It is alleged that on October 29, 2023, at approximately 2:25 p.m., defendant DeAnthony Ortiz left 585 Blake Avenue with three fellow R2R members and walked to the Van Dyke Houses in neighboring Brownsville, which is opposition WOOO territory. The defendants allegedly walked to the intersection of Powell Street and Dumont Avenue where Ortiz allegedly was captured on surveillance video pulling out a firearm and shooting diagonally across the intersection at two men who fled from the location. An innocent bystander, a 68-year-old woman on her way to the grocery store, was shot in the back. Her husband managed to remove the bullet, and she was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

• It is alleged that on November 5, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., defendant Samuel Gaiter, along with other R2R members, were captured on surveillance video in the vicinity of Unity Plaza in R2R territory. Soon after they were captured on surveillance walking from there to 2181 Pitkin Avenue, the Fiorentino Houses, PPP territory. As they approached the area, it is alleged that an individual accompanying Gaiter walked closer to a group in the PPP area and signaled to Gaiter. Thereafter, it is alleged that Gaiter approached, pulled out a firearm, and shot into a group of people striking a 23-year-old in the right buttocks. The victim was treated at a local hospital.

• On April 20, 2025, at approximately 4:30 p.m., it is alleged that surveillance video captured Mikeem Echevarria and another individual leaving 131 Belmont Avenue. As they leave the building Echevarria allegedly pulled out a firearm and chased an unknown individual on a scooter. At the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Christopher Avenue, Echevarria allegedly fired shots in the direction of the person on the scooter and struck two moving vehicles. One vehicle, an Uber with a family in the rear seat, was struck through the windshield glass, hitting the front passenger headrest. The other vehicle was struck on the roof. No one was injured.

The investigation was conducted by the New York City Police Department Gun Violence Suppression Division.

The District Attorney thanked VCE Paralegal Tania Lopez and KCDA Digital Evidence Lab analyst Rianna Persaud, as well as the many other analysts and support staff for their assistance on the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Omar T. Harding, Matthew Bolin and Katerina Kurteva, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, First Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, Bureau Chief.

An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

DEFENDANT ADDENDUM:

1. King Downing, 18
2. Mikeem Echevarria, 18
3. Jevonte Jaime, 17
4. Qvon Weaver, 19
5. Quinn Parker, 19
6. Deanthony Ortiz, 18
7. Anthony Wilkinson, 20
8. Korey George, 19
9. Samuel Gaiter, 18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Brooklyn Ended the First Half of 2025 with a Steep Decline in

Homicides and Historic Drops in Shootings and Victims

Homicides Dropped by Nearly a Third, Shootings and Shooting Victims

Declined by 19% and 15% Respectively; Total Serious Crime Down 8%  

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that the decline in gun violence in Brooklyn continued and accelerated during the first half of 2025, with the number of homicides plunging by 29%. Shootings and shooting victims – which reached record low last year – decreased by 19% and 15% respectively to the lowest numbers recorded in Brooklyn at any year’s midway point. Total serious felonies decreased by 8% for the year so far.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These historic declines in shootings and homicides mean something profound: lives have been saved, families have been spared unimaginable grief, and more Brooklyn residents are walking our streets with a sense of safety. This progress reflects a comprehensive and sustained strategy, including strong partnerships with the NYPD and community groups, smart prevention efforts, and a relentless focus on those driving violence. I am proud of the work we are doing, and we will keep pushing forward to build an even safer and more just Brooklyn for everyone.”

The District Attorney said that there were 123 shooting incidents in Brooklyn so far this year, down 19% compared to the same time in 2024 (29 fewer and 10 below the previous low in 2017). There were 147 shooting victims, a decline of 15% (25 fewer than last year and five fewer than the 2017 record). These achievements came on the heels of a 15% decrease in shootings and 13% decrease in victims during 2024. There was an even bigger drop in homicides: to 41, which is 17, or 29%, fewer than at the end of June 2024. Of which, 26 were shooting homicides, which is 11 or 30% fewer. That number is equal to the previous midyear record. (NYPD’s Compstat counts an additional homicide, which was reclassified from 2020 and is not included in this analysis.)

Eight of Brooklyn’s 23 precincts did not report any homicides this year, compared to three at this time in 2024. The precinct with the steepest decline was Brownsville, down to two murders from 14. That precinct also saw a 45% drop in shootings. The 77^th Precinct in Crown Heights also had a notable drop, from six to one homicide. Homicides in public housing developments were reduced by 60% (from 10 to four) and shootings declined by 34%.

The seven most serious felonies declined by 8% compared to the midpoint of 2024, with robberies, burglaries and larcenies all decreasing by double-digit percentage points. The decrease is outpacing 2024, when these index crimes went down by 6%.

The DA’s Office is doubling up on its efforts to keep driving down violence, with a number of ongoing gang investigations, planned community events such as a gun buyback and the expected launch of a preventative program that offers opportunities for criminal justice involved young people.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Brooklyn District Attorney Moves to Vacate Conviction of Man

Who Pleaded Guilty to 1988 Murder of Game Room Employee

Served Nearly 16 Years in Prison Before getting Paroled;

Reinvestigation Found Reasonable Probability He Was Not Involved in the Crime

 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that following a thorough reinvestigation by his Conviction Review Unit (CRU), he will move to vacate the conviction of Brian Kendall, 55, who served nearly 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. He was paroled in 2004. The reinvestigation found that what Kendall has claimed from start – that he was at the store when a man entered and shot the worker, and that he and his friends chased after the shooter – was likely true and that he is probably innocent. The full CRU report is available here.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, ““Our system failed Brian Kendall when he was encouraged to plead guilty to a horrific crime without a full understanding of the evidence against him. Our investigation found that eyewitnesses corroborated his long-held account of events, critical evidence was not disclosed, and because we conclude he is likely innocent, we cannot stand by this conviction. This case highlights our deep commitment to correct the mistakes of the past, and I am grateful to the Legal Aid Society for their strong advocacy during this process.”

 

Kendall will appear in court today via video hookup at 10:15 a.m. before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic at 320 Jay Street, 15^th Floor.

The District Attorney said that on February 24, 1988, at about 7 p.m., Raphael Reyes was shot and killed inside a Flatbush game room where he worked. Initial police radio runs indicated that “there’s a group apparently chasing” the shooter and a witness described him as a Black man in his 40s, adding that he walked several blocks away before entering a car and driving away.

Despite corroboration from other witnesses, Kendall, who was 17, was arrested after one man identified him, claiming he was kicked out of the store, came back, and shot the employee. A 13-year-old who was playing a video game in the store at the time of the shooting identified him as well. Although these witnesses’ accounts of Kendall’s actions, in particular his escape route, contradicted each other, Kendall was indicted for second-degree murder. In July 1989, facing a potential life sentence, Kendall pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for a sentence of eight and a third to 25 years in prison. After admitting to the crime in parole hearings, he was released in 2004.

The CRU investigation revealed that police reports and audio recordings supported the defendant’s claim that another man was the shooter. It was corroborated shortly after the incident by his five friends, brother, and a friend of the deceased, and supported by the contemporaneous police dispatches. CRU spoke to the nephew of the deceased, who said he worked at the location and gave a full description of an earlier dispute with another suspect adding, “I think you got the wrong guy.”

The CRU also interviewed Kendall’s defense lawyer, who said he didn’t know that by the time of trial the 13-year-old witness may have become unavailable or that the other witness had drug problems and had been promised a letter of leniency for an unrelated criminal case. Having lost contact with some defense witnesses and thinking the prosecution had a strong case – he recommended a plea even though his client insisted he’s innocent.

The reinvestigation concluded that Kendall’s version of events is likely accurate. The fact that Kendall pleaded guilty and took responsibility during parole hearings is understandable under the circumstances and does not contravene the conclusion that he is likely innocent.

The District Attorney accordingly recommends that his conviction be vacated, and the indictment dismissed.

To date, the work of the Conviction Review Unit has resulted in 41 convictions being vacated since 2014. Currently, CRU has approximately 60 open investigations.

This case was investigated by Senior Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Height of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit, under the supervision of Charles Linehan, former Unit Chief, and Julio Cuevas, Special Counsel to CRU.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

New York State Correction Officer Indicted for Stealing Approximately $43,000 in Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Defendant Allegedly Claimed She was Injured on the Job and Couldn’t Work,

Undercover Probe Revealed She was Earning Income from her Hair Braiding Business

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang, today announced that a Brooklyn woman employed as a NYS Correction Officer has been arraigned on an indictment in which she is charged with grand larceny, scheme to defraud, falsifying business records and related charges for stealing approximately $43,000 in benefits over the last four years.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Workers’ compensation benefits exist to support those who are truly injured and unable to work—not to be exploited for personal gain. This defendant’s alleged conduct is a serious betrayal of the public trust, and we will seek to hold her fully accountable. This case sends a strong message that we will investigate and prosecute fraud wherever we find it, especially when committed by those sworn to uphold the law. I’m grateful to Inspector General Lang and her team, and to our prosecutors, for their work on this case.”

Inspector General Lang said, “Correction officers hold positions of public trust and should be expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity. This officer both violated that trust and undermined public confidence in her profession by fraudulently collecting workers’ compensation benefits while running a business at the same time. Thank you to my team, and to District Attorney Gonzalez and his office for their partnership in safeguarding public resources and accountability in State prisons.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jahmelia Mattison John, 42, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Gershuny on a 23-count indictment in which she is charged with two counts of third-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, five counts of first-degree falsifying business records, five counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, five counts of penalties for fraudulent practices, and five counts of third-degree insurance fraud. The defendant was released without bail and ordered to return to court on August 13, 2025.

It is alleged that between June 10, 2021 and June 6, 2025, the defendant, who is a NYS Correction Officer assigned to the Queensboro Correctional Facility at the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), stole approximately $43,382.79 in benefits from both DOCCS and the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) by falsely claiming she was unable to work due to on duty injuries.

In fact, it is alleged, while collecting workers’ compensation benefits, the defendant earned income from a hair braiding business which she owned and operated. The defendant advertised her business on social media. An undercover operation led by the NYS IG’s office allegedly recorded the defendant actively braiding the undercover’s hair – directly contradicting the defendant’s claimed disability.

The defendant has been employed as a Correction Officer for approximately 17 years.

The case was investigated by New York State Inspector General staff including Senior Investigator Anne Peters, Investigator Mario Rubino, and Digital Forensic Investigator Colin Corrado, working under the supervision of Attorney-in-Charge for Workers’ Compensation Fraud Bryan Richmond and Chief of Investigations for the New York City and Long Island Regions Ben Defibaugh.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Pamela Lowe, of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Bureau Chief 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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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Brooklyn Woman Indicted for Road Rage Murder in

Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash in Bed-Stuy

Allegedly Drove Stolen Car, Fled After Dragging Pregnant Woman

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman has been arraigned on an indictment in which she is charged with murder and other charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in Bedford-Stuyvesant that killed a 32-year-old pregnant woman. The defendant was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle, after striking the victim’s car from behind, when she allegedly struck the victim and dragged her nearly half a block before fleeing the scene on foot.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a shocking crime that claimed the life of an expectant mother. This defendant is accused of stealing a car, using it to senselessly run down an innocent woman, then leaving her to die in the street. We will now seek justice for the victim and her grieving family and will hold the defendant fully accountable for this heartbreaking loss.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Chaquasia Pigford, 28, of Bedford- Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dena Douglas on an indictment in which she is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident without reporting and other related counts. She was ordered held without bail and to return to court on July 30, 2025. The defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on May 24, 2025, at approximately 11:56 p.m., the defendant was driving a stolen red Chevrolet Trax near Marcus Garvey Boulevard and Van Buren Street when she rear-ended a 2021 Toyota 4Runner driven by the victim, Tiffany Cifuni, 32. After the minor collision, the victim exited her vehicle to speak with the other driver.

As the victim stood in front of the Chevy, the defendant allegedly accelerated, struck the victim, and dragged her northbound on Marcus Garvey Boulevard before her body was dislodged near Lafayette Avenue. The victim suffered severe head and body trauma and was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital shortly after midnight.

The investigation revealed that the defendant allegedly abandoned the vehicle — which is registered to a man who reported it stolen that night — and fled on foot. Multiple surveillance cameras were analyzed by NYPD detectives and eyewitnesses provided a description leading to the defendant’s arrest.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Tara Kelly of the District Attorney’s Trial Bureau, Grey Zone, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Velez, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Street Safety Bureau.

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