About Edwin Pineda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison
For Fatally Shooting Construction Worker, Injuring a Second Worker

Grandmother Killed in Dispute Over Employment at Job Site in Coney Island

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of a construction worker in a broad daylight shooting outside a Coney Island job site. The defendant opened fire on a group of workers, killing a 53-year-old grandmother and wounding another individual.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a senseless act of violence that took the life of a hardworking woman, devastating her family. Dorothy Dixon was a mother of six and grandmother of many more who was just trying to earn a living when her life was viciously cut short. Gun violence is now at record lows in Brooklyn and my office is committed to further driving down shootings and holding people such as this defendant responsible for their actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Malik Fryar, 34, of Coney Island, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder on September 3, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on February 4, 2019, at approximately 11:40 a.m., the defendant approached a construction site on West 33rd Street in Coney Island where Dorothy Dixon, 53, and other construction laborers were gathered seeking work. The defendant, who was also seeking work, drove his vehicle up to the scene with his wife in the passenger seat, exited the vehicle and began arguing with one of the workers over job opportunities. After the dispute became heated, the defendant returned to his vehicle, retrieved a loaded, illegal firearm and fired multiple shots toward the group, striking Dixon several times. Another worker was struck in the foot by the gunfire as he fled.

Dixon was later pronounced dead at the hospital and the surviving victim was treated for his injuries. The defendant fled on foot to his nearby residence while his wife drove the car to an unknown location. The car was recovered about a month later, abandoned approximately five miles away in Brighton Beach. The defendant was arrested on July 17, 2019, when members of the NYPD Warrants Squad discovered him in an apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan
attempting to escape through an air conditioner duct.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegals John Homnick and Andy Wang, Intelligence Analyst Victoria Genna-Schmidt and Victim Advocate Catherine Cruz for their assistance in the investigation

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Mirabella, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Khrystyna Sahin, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Brooklyn Woman Sentenced to 20 Years to Life in Prison
for Fatally Stabbing Her Mother and Her Dog in Starrett City

Victim was Stabbed More than 50 Times, Dog Stabbed and Thrown from Balcony

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the murder of her mother inside their Starrett City apartment. The defendant fatally stabbed the victim more than 50 times and threw the family dog from their 11th-floor balcony.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It is heartbreaking that a mother lost her life so violently at the hands of her only child. This tragedy has shattered a family and deeply affected her loved ones. My office remains steadfast in pursing justice for victims and holding those who commit such acts of domestic violence fully accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Drea Eugene, 38, of Starrett City, Brooklyn. She was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 20 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on September 24, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on January 19, 2024, at approximately 7 p.m., police responded to 1500 Hornell Loop in Starrett City after receiving multiple reports of a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of Donna Hyman, 58, inside her apartment. She had been stabbed approximately 55 times in her neck, chest, arms, back, and scalp, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her small dog “Gigi” was found deceased outside the building, having been stabbed approximately 32 times and thrown from the balcony.

The investigation revealed that the defendant, who lived with the victim, fatally stabbed her mother and her dog during a violent outburst. She then threw the dog from the apartment balcony. The defendant was found shortly thereafter outside the building, naked and covered in blood, and was taken into custody.

The defendant was hospitalized for self-inflicted stab wounds and a dog bite. She was charged with her mother’s murder on January 24, 2024.

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

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking of a Child

Fifteen-Year-Old Victim was Approached on Harlem Street, Lured to Brooklyn

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an East New York man has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his guilty plea to sex trafficking of a child for the trafficking of a 15-year-old girl. The defendant’s wife pleaded guilty in connection to the case earlier this year.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This young victim showed tremendous courage in coming forward after enduring horrific exploitation. The defendant’s actions were cruel, manipulative, and deeply damaging, stealing a child’s sense of safety for his own gain. Today’s sentence delivers justice for her and reaffirms our commitment to protecting vulnerable young people from predators who traffic and abuse them. My office will continue to stand with survivors and hold traffickers fully accountable for the pain they cause.”
The District Attorney identified the defendants as Daryl Hicks, 40, and Michelle Wicks, 33, of East New York, Brooklyn. Hicks was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to eight years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. He must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. He pleaded guilty to the top count of sex trafficking of a child on August 6, 2025. Wicks pleaded guilty to second-degree promoting prostitution and fourth-degree promoting prostitution on April 11, 2025. As a condition of her plea, she will be able to withdraw her felony plea upon completion of the Women’s Prison Association Program.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between November 20, 2022 and December 30, 2022, the defendants met the 15-year-old victim and induced her to engage in acts of prostitution. The victim was approached by Hicks in Harlem and told by him “you could be working for me” and “I could put money in your pocket.”

The defendants actively posted the victim’s photo on escort websites and arranged “dates” for her at various locations in Brooklyn. They instructed her on what sexual services to offer, how much to charge, and how to communicate with customers.

Hicks engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim on Christmas Day in 2022, according to the investigation. Photos and videos of the victim, including videos of sexual acts with Hicks, were discovered on the defendant’s cell phone.

On December 30, 2022, detectives from the Human Trafficking Squad went to the Imperial Hotel in East New York and recovered the victim inside a room registered to Hicks. She had been reported missing days earlier after reaching out to her foster mother and sending her photos.

The case was investigated by Detective Paul Mastronardi of the New York City Police Department’s Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh and Lieutenant Amy Capogna, and the overall supervision of Chief Carlos Ortiz.

The District Attorney thanked Human Trafficking Unit Office Manager Aurora Martinez and Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Taylor Mumley of the Digital Evidence Lab for their assistance on the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Mary E. Monahan, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Brooklyn Woman Indicted for Stealing Over $130,000 in
Social Security Benefits Intended for Deceased Mother

Defendant Allegedly Filed False Reports to Conceal
Mother’s Death, Collected Benefits for 13 Years

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman has been arraigned on an indictment in which she is charged with grand larceny and filing false documents for allegedly collecting her deceased mother’s Social Security benefits for more than a decade, totaling over $130,000.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly took advantage of her mother’s death to steal from a program that provides earned benefits to retirees and their families, ultimately defrauding taxpayers for over a decade. My office remains committed to protecting public funds, rooting out scams and ensuring that those who exploit social safety net programs face justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Katrina McCloud, 52, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Kitsis on an indictment in which she is charged with second-degree grand larceny and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. She was released without bail and ordered to return to court on November 19, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant served as her mother’s Representative Payee for Social Security benefits prior to her mother’s death. After her mother died, the defendant allegedly failed to notify the Social Security Administration and continued to collect monthly payments of approximately $1,000 between 2012 and 2024, totaling $132,528.

The investigation further revealed that the defendant allegedly filed false Representative Payee Reports — annual documents required by the Social Security Administration to verify how benefit funds are being used for a recipient’s care — indicating that her mother was still alive and that the payments were being used for her benefit, deceiving the Social Security Administration into continuing payments for more than a decade.

The District Attorney thanked Special Agent Mark Balsam of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, Special Agent Joseph LoBiondo of Homeland Security Investigations, Postal Inspector Aileen Santiago of the United States Postal Inspection Service and Detective Michael McCaffrey of the New York City Police Department for their work and partnership on the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Karen Turner, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gavin Miles, Chief of Intake & Case Assessment for the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeil, Chief of Investigations.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 3, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Stabbing
Two Men in Homeless Shelter and Another in Subway

The Victims Were Asleep When the Defendant Attacked Them,
Suffered Serious and Life-Threatening Injuries

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder in connection to a series of unprovoked stabbings that left three innocent men seriously injured.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The cruelty and depravity of these attacks cannot be overstated. Three men were stabbed as they slept, utterly defenseless, and it is truly a miracle that they all survived. This kind of random brutality shocks the conscience, and with today’s sentence, this violent defendant is being held accountable and removed from our streets. My office remains steadfast in our commitment to protect all Brooklyn residents from senseless violence, and I commend the NYPD and our prosecutors for their outstanding work in this case.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Abraham Kentish, 28, formerly of the SUS Shelter in East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter to 12 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty on July 29, 2025, to three counts of second-degree attempted murder.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on November 12, 2023, at approximately 1:30 a.m., at the SUS Shelter, a homeless shelter located at 1000 Blake Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn, the defendant went into the room of a 70-year-old client who was sleeping and stabbed him 15 times in the torso and about the body. He then stabbed a 38-year-old man who was sleeping in the same room twice in the face and once in the elbow. The defendant then left the shelter and a security guard, who was told about the stabbings, called 911.

A short time later, between 1:55 a.m. and 2:55 a.m., the defendant entered the New Lots Avenue subway station, boarded a 4 line subway car, and walked up to a 32-year-old man who was sleeping and stabbed him once in the neck.

The defendant was arrested later that morning by two New York City Police Officers who saw that he matched the description of an individual being sought for the attacks.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ainissa Proctor, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Karla Watson, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Long Island Man Indicted for Defrauding State Grant Program

Defendant Allegedly Pocketed More Than $61,000 by Duping
Hardworking Brooklyn Residents in Pandemic Relief Fraud

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with the New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang, announced today that a Long Island man has been arraigned on a 25-count indictment for allegedly stealing public funds from New York’s Empire State Development agency (ESD) by submitting falsified tax returns and other documents to obtain state grant funds.

An ESD grant is financial assistance offered through Empire State Development, New York’s statewide economic development agency. Created during the COVID-19 pandemic to mirror federal relief programs, these grants were intended to help small businesses cover expenses, weather the shutdown and keep workers employed. To qualify, businesses had to have revenues under $2.5 million, be in operation since at least March 2019 and show either regular expenses like payroll and utilities or proof of lost income using their 2019 and 2020 tax returns.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly exploited hardworking Brooklyn residents, including drivers and home health aides, by misusing their personal information to inflate applications for pandemic relief. By stealing funds meant to help people and small businesses recover, he betrayed the victims who trusted him and undermined a program designed to support our city and state in a time of crisis.”

Inspector General Lang said, “This scheme was a calculated abuse of a critical lifeline created to support New Yorkers during a time of crisis. By allegedly submitting false documents and misusing the personal information of others, the defendant took advantage of public trust and targeted vulnerable workers — including health aides and Uber and Lyft drivers who were essential to keeping our city running during the pandemic. My office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard public resources and ensure that those who seek to exploit emergency aid for personal gain are held fully accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Lasha Bukia, 34, of Riverhead, New York. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 25-count indictment in which he is charged with one count of second-degree larceny, 14 counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, nine counts of first-degree falsifying business records and one count of first-degree scheme to defraud. He was ordered released without bail and to return to court on December 3, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between November 2021 and October 2022, the defendant allegedly applied for and obtained ESD grants on behalf of nine individuals, including Lyft and Uber drivers and home health aides, who lived in Brooklyn.

Those individuals ultimately received $369,000 in ESD funds. In exchange for preparing and submitting the applications, Bukia allegedly received approximately $61,000 from the nine grant recipients.

To receive an ESD grant, Bukia allegedly directed the grant recipients to provide him with their driver’s licenses, 2019 and 2020 tax returns and a utility bill. He then altered the returns to inflate their income and make it appear the applicants were entitled to larger grants than for which they were qualified. Without the recipients’ knowledge or consent, these falsified documents were submitted to ESD and used to secure the relief funds.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the 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

Thursday, September 18, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Aleena Peerzada and Assistant District Attorney Kaitlin Kinsella, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Chief of the Blue Zone.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kings County Detective Investigators further assisted in the investigation.

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

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Theresa Robitaille, of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 11, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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