About Edwin Pineda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Manhattan Man Who Killed Ex-Girlfriend’s New Boyfriend After
Breaking into Her Brooklyn Home Sentenced to Life in Prison

Defendant Stabbed Victim Seven Times, Dragged Him Out to Street to Die

  Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an East Harlem man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for breaking into the home of his former girlfriend, with whom he shared a child, punching her in the face and body, and fatally stabbing her new boyfriend.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a chilling and calculated attack on an innocent man and woman by a defendant with a long history of domestic abuse. Not only did he commit a brutal murder, but he also shattered the sanctity and safety of a family’s home. I hope that today’s sentence brings some solace to James Santiago’s relatives, including his devastated mother, who lost her son in such a violent and cruel manner.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Michael Israel, 39, of East Harlem, New York. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Michael Kitsis to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child on June 26, 2026, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on January 12, 2020, at approximately 2:20 a.m., the defendant broke into the Coney Island residence of his former girlfriend, a 37-year-old woman, where she was in bed sleeping with her new boyfriend, James Santiago, 42. The defendant punched the woman several times, causing two black eyes and bruising to her back and shoulder, and stabbed the now deceased victim seven times about his body.

The defendant then dragged the victim’s bloodied body, naked except for a T-shirt, out of the house and into the street, where he whispered something in the victim’s ear, and left him to die, according to the evidence.

Testimony at trial showed that the defendant had long been a domestic violence abuser of his former girlfriend and that in the hours leading up to the murder had sent her numerous threatening text messages and made a Facetime call in which he became jealous and told the woman he was going to come to her home and assault her.

The defendant was arrested on January 15, 2020, following an investigation.

The District Attorney thanked New York City Police Detective Darnell Forrester and Detective James Hemmer for their work on the case, as well as Assistant District Attorney Rachel Singer, Chief of the Forensic Science Unit, DNA Specialist Susan Horan, also of the Forensic Science Unit, KCDA Detective Investigators, Christina Stewart and Sourov Talukder of the KCDA Digital Evidence Lab, and Homicide Paralegal Julia Holman for their assistance.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Toder, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Ashley Infante, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Brooklyn District Attorney to Host Begin Again Event
To Clear Summons Warrants

The Renewed Community Initiative Will Also Include Health and Resource Fair

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that his office will host a Begin Again event on Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bridge Street AME Church, 277 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn. This summons warrant adjudication initiative – aimed at helping residents address their open summons matters and clear the staggering backlog of warrants in the New York City summons court system – will be held in partnership with Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries’ Office, the New York State Office of Court Administration, and the Legal Aid Society.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The number of low-level summonses issued by the NYPD has ballooned in recent years, leaving thousands of New Yorkers who failed to answer those tickets with open warrants that could lead to an arrest and other negative consequences. This is why we are restarting the successful Begin Again program that allows individuals to resolve these summons warrants in a safe environment inside a local church. I encourage anyone who may be eligible for relief or would like to take advantage of the adjacent health fair to come down to Bridge Street this Saturday to give themselves this life-changing opportunity.”

Rev. David B. Cousin, Sr. said, “Bridge Street is excited to assist in partnering with District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and his office in this initiative, which offers residents an opportunity to resolve outstanding summons warrants. This program aligns with Bridge Street’s history of being a social justice institution with a motto of being ‘The Church in the Heart of the Community with the Community at Heart.’”

For far too long, unresolved summonses for minor, low-level offenses have resulted in unnecessary interaction with the criminal justice system. Now, thanks to this weekend’s Begin Again event, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to clear up open warrants and prevent a minor infraction like littering from leading to an arrest or other serious consequences,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “I am grateful to Bridge Street AME Church for hosting this life-changing event and to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez for his leadership in making our communities safer and ensuring people with outstanding summonses can resolve their warrants quickly and easily.”

The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and its partners will provide on-site legal services to give New Yorkers a chance to clear their outstanding warrants. Individuals who appear for Begin Again will first consult with on-site free attorneys to make sure only eligible summons warrants are heard. All participants will then enter a temporary courtroom, where a judge will be on hand to address the outstanding summons and bench warrants that resulted from the failure to respond to summonses for a multitude of low-level infractions, including walking a dog without a leash, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk or being in a park after closing.

These summons warrants, when left unresolved, subject those who have them to automatic arrest when questioned by police on the street or during a traffic stop. They also carry a number of negative consequences, including impeding one’s ability to apply for citizenship, secure employment or obtain public housing. In today’s immigration enforcement environment of the federal government, an open warrant can be particularly risky to undocumented immigrants.

The use of criminal summonses by the NYPD has increased dramatically in recent years, from over 45,000 in 2021 to over 95,000 in 2024 and over 117,000 last year. Consequently, many thousands more people may have an arrest warrant they are not aware of or another unresolved matter relating to the summons. Begin Again provides an opportunity to resolve these issues for free, in a safe and supportive environment.

The Brooklyn DA’s Office launched this program in 2015, leading to the dismissal of thousands of warrants in Brooklyn. It was later adopted by other boroughs and, in 2017, the city automatically dismissed warrants that were 10 years or older. The program was paused in 2018, but the accumulation of hundreds of thousands of new warrants makes it urgently needed again.

Saturday’s event will additionally include a Health and Resource Fair, including FDNY CPR demonstrations, free mammogram sign-up, blood pressure reading, prostate cancer screening, job readiness resources and more.

The District Attorney thanked Congressman Jeffries, the Office of Court Administration, the Legal Aid Society and all the community partners for their participation and assistance in the event.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Three Defendants Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of a Child

Defendants Variously Trafficked Three Teenage Girls in Brooklyn and North Carolina

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that three men charged in connection with trafficking teenage girls in Brooklyn and North Carolina have been sentenced to up to 12 years in prison. They previously pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a child.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These sentences deliver justice for the victims and reaffirm our commitment to protect 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 and harm they cause through this type of exploitation.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Mylord Williams, 37, of the Bronx, Terrel Chery, 29, of Nassau County, and Kinard Oliver, 28, of Brooklyn. All three defendants pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a child. Chery and Oliver also pleaded guilty to fourth-degree conspiracy.

Chery was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 12 years in prison, five years’ post-release supervision, and he must register as a sex offender upon release from prison. Oliver was sentenced by Justice Chun on August 12, 2026 to eight years in prison, five years’ post-release supervision, and he must register as a sex offender upon release from prison. Williams was sentenced by Justice Chun on June 24, 2026 to six years in prison, five years’ supervised release, and he must register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, in July 2022 Williams rented two rooms in East New York, Brooklyn, and along with Chery, sex trafficked a 17-year-old girl, posting commercial sexual advertisements of her and collecting all the money she made by engaging in prostitution through October 2022.

Furthermore, in October 2024, a 15-year-old victim who had also been sex trafficked was identified, and further investigation revealed that Williams, Chery, and Oliver conspired to engage in the sex trafficking of additional minors in Brooklyn and North Carolina.

The defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced in connection with the following additional incidents:

• Williams and Oliver sex trafficked a 17-year-old victim in Brooklyn in August 2024. That victim texted a friend asking for help and NYPD officers responded to the location. The investigation revealed that her trafficking had been going on since the beginning of February 2024.
• In October 2024, Chery and Oliver transported a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old female to North Carolina where they engaged in prostitution in various cities and were required to give a portion of their earnings to Chery and Oliver.

The case was investigated by now retired New York City Police Department Detective Kevin Deleon, along with now retired Detective James Rufle of the joint FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and citywide Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Lieutenant Amy Morin and Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh, and the overall supervision of Inspector Gary Marcus. Detective Investigators from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office contributed to the investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Police Officer Tim Dewyngaert of the Wilmington, N.C., Police Department, Detective Joseph Wechsler of the Henrico, Virginia Police Division, Police Officer Sean Kehoe, Counselor Jacquelyn Wells and Sergeant Charles DePrima, of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department Youth Services Unit, Investigator Sean Tashjian of the New York State Police, Detective Jonathan Castro, of the Newark Police Department, and Lieutenant Tracey Quinn of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.

Additionally, the District Attorney thanked Deputy Chief Janette Lukowsky of the District Attorney’s Law Enforcement Assistance Unit, Human Trafficking Unit Deputy Chief Mary E. Monahan, Paralegal Specialist Aurora Martinez, Paralegal Aaliyah Antrobus, and Digital Evidence Lab Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Taylor Mumley for their work on the case.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Prison for Government Impersonation Scam

Defendant Stole Approximately $18,000 from Williamsburg Woman
Who Was Falsely Told She Faced Arrest

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Sunset Park man has been sentenced to one and a half to four and a half years in prison for his role in a government impersonation scam that stole $18,200 from a 22-year-old Williamsburg woman after she was falsely told there was a warrant for her arrest.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These scams are designed to frighten and manipulate people into handing over their hard-earned money. I urge anyone who is the target of a scam to report it immediately and know they are not alone. We will continue to aggressively investigate these schemes and hold accountable those who prey on members of our community.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Weiwei Xu, 39, of Sunset Park, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin to one and a half to four and a half years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny on August 11, 2026.

The District Attorney said that on July 17, 2025, the victim received a telephone call from an individual who falsely identified herself as a United States Marshal and told her that there was an open warrant for her arrest for money laundering and that her identity had been compromised. The caller told the victim she would have to pay money to clear the purported warrant and kept her on the telephone for more than four hours.

According to the investigation, the caller directed the victim to withdraw $13,000 from her bank account and deposit it into another account. When the victim’s bank blocked the transaction due to suspected fraud, the caller instructed her to return home and wait for someone to collect the cash. Later that day, two unidentified men arrived at the victim’s home and one of them provided a passcode that had been given to the victim by the caller before taking the $13,000.

The caller continued contacting the victim over the next several days, according to the evidence. On July 20, 2025, the victim contacted Shomrim and called 911. A New York City Police Department officer responded to her home and, while taking a report, answered another call from the scammer, identified himself as a police officer and told the caller to stop contacting the victim.

Later that evening, the scammer again called the victim and demanded that she turn over the remaining $5,200 in cash, telling her that an undercover detective would collect the money the following day. The victim reported the planned pickup to Shomrim and police.

On July 22, 2025, at approximately 12:55 p.m., after the victim had alerted law enforcement, the defendant drove a black Cadillac to the victim’s home and met her outside. He provided the prearranged passcode, identified himself as “Jack” and took the $5,200 in cash. The defendant was stopped shortly afterward by Shomrim and police, who recovered the victim’s money from his vehicle and arrested him.

Following the defendant’s arrest, an investigation conducted by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office identified 12 telephone numbers associated with the scheme and determined that the scammers used internet-based phone services with IP addresses located in several countries in Asia.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Han Zhang and Assistant District Attorney Kellen Michuda, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to up to 12 Years in Prison for Stealing Nearly
$16 Million in Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Scheme

Scammed Approximately 100 Victims Throughout the US;
Convinced Users to Transfer Funds, Claiming Accounts were Hacked

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an indictment brought by his Virtual Currency Unit has resulted in the guilty plea and sentencing of a Brooklyn man in connection with a phishing and social engineering scheme that stole nearly $16 million from about 100 users of the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. The defendant – who used the handle @lolimfeelingevil when bragging online – contacted users purporting to be a Coinbase representative, claimed that their assets were at risk from a hacker and convinced them to transfer their money to a new cryptocurrency wallet. He then emptied out those accounts and laundered the assets by sending them to online swapping and mixing services as well as cryptocurrency gambling entities.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentencing holds the defendant accountable for a brazen, long-running social engineering scam that amounted to a digital robbery of nearly 100 victims. Our Virtual Currency Unit painstakingly pieced together the digital proof that identified the defendant behind this sophisticated scheme, followed the money that he stole and compiled iron-clad evidence against him. This case should put crypto scammers on notice: we will follow the digital trail wherever it leads and aggressively pursue those responsible.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ronald Spektor, 23, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to four to 12 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to the entire 31-count indictment, including first-degree money laundering, first-degree grand larceny, first-degree criminal possession of stolen property and related charges on September 2, 2026 in exchange for the promised sentence over the objection of the District Attorney’s office, which sought a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison.

The defendant was also ordered to forfeit cash, cryptocurrency and personal property with an estimated value of more than half a million dollars and make restitution of almost $16 million.

The District Attorney said Coinbase is an American cryptocurrency exchange that allows its users to buy, sell, and store digital assets. Coinbase users are popular targets for phishing scams, which are social engineering cyberattacks where a bad actor impersonates a trusted entity, like a bank or a well-known company, to trick customers into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, account numbers, or other personal details. These scams are typically conducted through deceptive emails, text messages, phone calls, or malicious websites that mimic legitimate ones.

Over the course of a year, the DA’s Virtual Currency Unit investigated a Coinbase phishing scheme that resulted in approximate loss of $15,944,000 from about 100 U.S.-based users. Victims confirmed that a purported Coinbase representative contacted them and informed them that their assets were at risk from a hacker and needed to be moved to a new wallet. The users, believing they were communicating with a real Coinbase representative, unwittingly moved their crypto assets to a wallet that they were led to believe was under their sole control, but was actually accessible by the defendant.

The investigation further revealed that the stolen assets were then laundered by swapping them multiple times through different crypto exchanges until they were eventually consolidated at “cash-out points” where they could be converted to other types of cryptocurrencies, wagered in bets, converted to cash, and used to purchase gift cards or digital assets. Large portions of the stolen assets in this case were sent to gambling services and various online storefronts.

The defendant, who lived with his father in Brooklyn, was responsible for the scheme, according to the evidence, based on transaction records, blockchain analyses, digital forensic and evidence recovered from multiple search warrants. The defendant’s own home IP address was linked to multiple wallets that cryptocurrency was stolen from. The investigation also revealed that he used online forums to recruit others to work for him as social engineers (e.g. perpetuating what might look like a hacking attempt) and to brag about his criminal exploits.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that Spektor used the handle @lolimfeelingevil on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, where he ran a channel called “Blockchain enemies” in which he openly bragged about his heists. He also used encrypted apps like Discord. Investigators recovered messages that show he wrote, using slang terms, that he lost six million dollars of cryptocurrency by gambling and implied that he has made millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency through scamming.

In addition, text messages recovered from his phone show that after becoming the subject of online allegations of fraud, he disposed of a cryptocurrency hardware wallet and purchased a new one.

Victims came from all walks of life, and their locations spanned the entire country. Some lost $1 million or more.

The District Attorney offered the following tips to avoid falling victim to phishing scams:

• • Coinbase and most other companies will never call customers or ask to transfer crypto to a “safe wallet”
  • Don’t trust caller ID, sender names or lookalike domains that can be spoofed.
  • Slow down. Scammers rely on urgency and pressure. Verify independently, consult with others, don’t move money in a rush.

The civil forfeiture case against the defendant was handled by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joel Greenwald under the supervision of Asset Forfeiture and Crimes Against Revenue Deputy Bureau Chief Diana Villanueva.

The case was investigated by Assistant District Attorney Alona Katz, Chief of the District Attorney’s Virtual Currency Unit with the assistance of ADA Kevin Zhen of the Frauds Bureau, Senior Virtual Currency Analyst Sam Weaver and Paul Stenzel, as well as analysts Jayden Kuprel, Chris Vellios, and Paralegal Claire Fagan, of the Virtual Currency Unit. Detective Investigators from the KCDA Detective Bureau and members of the Digital Evidence Lab Unit under the supervision of Chief Jingu Chong also assisted in the investigation.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, September 21, 2026

Man Indicted for Brownsville Restaurant Shooting During Botched Robbery

 Defendant Allegedly Shot Two Restaurant Workers, Killing One Man

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bronx man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with first-degree murder and related charges for allegedly shooting two men inside a Brownsville restaurant during a robbery attempt, killing one of them.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Two hardworking New Yorkers were brutally attacked during an attempted robbery, and a husband and father of two tragically lost his life. This kind of violence tears families apart and endangers entire communities. We have driven gun violence to a record low in Brooklyn through focused enforcement and strong accountability for those who commit these horrific crimes, and our prosecutors will pursue this case vigorously.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jesus Acosta, 31, of the Bronx. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo on an 11-count indictment in which he is charged with first- and second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree attempted robbery, and related charges. The defendant is being held without bail and was ordered to return to court on December 4, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 22, 2026, at approximately 11:50 p.m., the defendant allegedly entered American Best Wings & Pizza located at 842 Rockaway Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn, carrying a black plastic bag.

The defendant then allegedly reached into the bag and walked behind the counter where the two employees, MD Yousuf, 44, and a 39-year-old man, were working. The defendant allegedly shot Yousuf in the torso and shot the other man in the leg.

The defendant allegedly banged on the cash register with the gun in his hand and then fled the scene.

Yousuf, a married father of two, was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The defendant was arrested on August 29, 2026, in a Bronx park.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Aleena Peerzada, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, September 14, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for
Sexually Assaulting Woman He Followed from Bar

Off-Duty Maryland Police Officer Intervened to Stop Attack

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Canarsie man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and 12 years of post-release supervision for following a woman from a Kensington bar, carrying her into an alley and sexually assaulting her before an off-duty police officer intervened.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his horrific crime, demonstrates our commitment to the protection of vulnerable victims in Brooklyn, and ensures a measure of justice for the innocent woman who was so violently assaulted.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Janeal Figueroa, 26, of Canarsie, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jay Weiner to 12 years in prison and 12 years of post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree sexual abuse on May 20, 2026, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on April 7, 2023, the 35-year-old woman went for drinks with friends before going to a bar located on Beverley Road in Kensington, Brooklyn, where she continued to drink by herself. The defendant observed and followed the victim when she left the bar alone at approximately 10:30 p.m.

As the victim walked home, the defendant put his arm around her and carried her into an alley near the corner of East 2nd Street and Church Avenue in Kensington as she screamed “no, no, no,” according to video surveillance. Once inside the alley, as the victim could be heard screaming, the defendant violently physically assaulted her, held her on the ground and subjected her to oral sexual conduct. When the victim attempted to crawl away, the defendant grabbed her by the ankles and pulled her back as she screamed for help.

An eyewitness flagged down an off-duty police officer visiting from Montgomery County, Maryland, who intervened and ordered the defendant out of the alley. As the defendant attempted to flee, he bragged to the off-duty officer and another witness about what he had just done to the victim. Members of the New York City Police Department arrested him nearby a short time later, and the off-duty officer identified him as the attacker.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Supervisor Jennifer Hernandez for her work on this case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Stephen Van Doran and Jourdan Thompson, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Shooting Death
Of Business Acquaintance During High-End Sneaker Transaction

Stole the 10 Sneakers, valued at $25,000, Torched Remains, Misled
Detectives and Victim’s Relatives as They Searched for Him

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Crown Heights man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting a Georgia man who came to New York to sell the defendant high-end sneakers valued at thousands of dollars. The defendant stole the sneakers and then made elaborate efforts to cover up the crime by torching the remains and misleading investigators.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentence holds this defendant accountable for taking the life of Douglas Young, an innocent man who was senselessly and deliberately killed by someone he knew and trusted. The defendant then took elaborate steps to cover up his heinous crime. Young’s family, friends, and community are heartbroken by his loss, and my thoughts are with them today.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Hakeem Smith, 31, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and third-degree arson on August 25, 2026, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on February 6, 2020, the victim, Douglas Young, flew from Georgia to New York to complete a high-end sneaker transaction with the defendant, who he knew and with whom he had done similar business in the past.

The pair were supposed to meet near the Barclays Center, but the defendant changed the meeting place to a remote location in Red Hook, in the vicinity of 621 Court Street. The victim drove his rental car to the location, met the defendant and showed him the sneakers. The defendant then shot Douglas, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, three times in the head, killing him, according to the evidence.

The defendant took the 10 pairs of sneakers that he was supposed to purchase, which had a resale value of $25,000, and left the vicinity. Among the sneakers stolen from the victim
were Nike Air Yeezy 2 Solar Red, Nike Air Force 1 Low Off-White MCA University Blue, Nike Air Force 1 Low VLONE, Nike Dunk SB Low What the Dunk, Jordan 1 Retro High Travis Scott, Jordan 1 Retro Fragment Friends, Family, Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White Euro and Jordan 1 Retro High Off-White Chicago.

On February 8, 2020, the defendant returned to the scene where the deceased victim remained in the vehicle, according to the evidence, and set the car on fire.

The evidence also showed that the day after the murder, while the victim’s family was trying to locate him, the defendant offered to help them by filing a missing person report. He told Young’s relatives and detectives investigating his disappearance that they met near Barclays Center, that the transaction didn’t take place and that he watched the victim drive away to meet someone else.

The defendant was arrested on September 11, 2020, following an extensive investigation.

The District Attorney thanked KCDA Detective Investigators, the Digital Evidence Lab, and Homicide Paralegals Sarah-Jane Quashie and Angelika Rostkowska for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Steven Bravo, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Kaitlin Kinsella, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Alleged Sex Trafficking of Teenager 

Digital Investigation Uncovered Online Ads Promoting Prostitution of 16-Year-Old Girl

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that two defendants have been indicted for their roles in the alleged trafficking of a 16-year-old girl for prostitution after investigators uncovered online advertisements featuring the teenager and digital communications allegedly showing that she was being promoted for commercial sex.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Protecting vulnerable children from exploitation is among our most important responsibilities. As trafficking increasingly moves online, digital and video evidence can be critical to identifying exploitation and building strong cases. We will continue using every available tool to protect victims, hold traffickers accountable and keep our communities safe.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Carlton Foster, 38, of Brooklyn, and Jaeandrea Herriot, 19, also known as Jae Herriot, also of Brooklyn. They are charged in a seven-count indictment with second-, third- and fourth-degree promoting prostitution and endangering the welfare of a child. Foster is also charged with sex trafficking of a child. Herriot was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, who set bail at $5,000 cash or $25,000 bond. Foster was arraigned on August 12, 2026, by Justice Chun. Foster was ordered held on bail of $200,000 cash or $1 million bond. Both defendants were ordered to return to court on October 14, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on March 10, 2026, law enforcement received a referral regarding a 16-year-old girl who had run away from her group home and was suspected of being a victim of sex trafficking.

Detectives from the New York City Police Department’s Human Trafficking Squad opened a joint investigation with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, when investigators allegedly located online advertisements featuring the teenager on websites used to advertise prostitution and trafficking.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, on April 3, 2026, the teenager encountered police in Brooklyn in connection with an unrelated matter. Detectives obtained her cellphone and conducted a forensic examination that allegedly uncovered extensive prostitution-related communications involving Foster and Herriot.

The District Attorney said that on May 7, 2026, The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children notified the FBI that live online advertisements of the teen were discovered in Newark, New Jersey. That night, FBI agents arranged a meeting and recovered her from a hotel room in New Jersey.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Kevin Deleon (now retired), along with Detective Daniel Bergamini, of the New York City Police Department Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh, and the overall supervision of Inspector Gary Marcus.

The District Attorney thanked the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Police Officers Felix Figueroa and Anthony Gallucci of the Newark, N.J., Police Department, Special Agent Brian Salamone from the FBI Newark Field Office and the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey for their assistance in the investigation.

Additionally, the District Attorney thanked Human Trafficking Unit Office Manager Aurora Martinez and Paralegal Aaliyah Antrobus, and Digital Evidence Lab Digital Forensic Analyst Titan Cox for their work on the case.

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

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Two Individuals and Company Indicted for Making and Selling
Fake OSHA and Buildings Department Site Safety Cards

Allegedly Sold Counterfeit Safety and Training Certifications to Construction Workers
Who Never Received the Required Training

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Nadia I. Shihata and New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, today announced that the owner and an associate of a company with locations in Brooklyn and Queens that was authorized to provide jobsite safety training and certification have been arraigned on an indictment charging them with making and selling fake safety cards to construction workers who never received the required training.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Proper safety training is a foundational safeguard for everyone on a construction site. When individuals or companies cut corners and issue certifications without the required instruction, they undermine the integrity of our safety systems and endanger workers and the public. This case reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that training standards are followed and that fraudulent practices are identified and addressed promptly. I am grateful to our prosecutors and our partners at DOI and DOB for their excellent work on this important case.”

Commissioner Shihata said, “City and state workplace safety standards exist to protect workers. Put simply, shortcutting required training and coursework puts lives at risk. As charged, these defendants allegedly sold fraudulent safety cards to construction workers who never completed the required training. I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Buildings for their continued commitment to holding accountable those who undermine workplace safety in our City.”

Commissioner Tigani said, “Since Site Safety Training card requirements were implemented in New York City, data has shown consistent improvements in safety. Simply put, fraudulent cards risk undermining those gains and putting lives in danger. Fraud will not be tolerated. Allowing untrained workers onto a job site puts them at risk and can put their coworkers in danger as well. The invalidation of SST cards issued by Redcode was done because we cannot, in good conscience, allow untrained workers on job sites. I want to thank our partners in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Department of Investigation, and all of the dedicated members of DOB who helped uncover and stop this fraudulent activity.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Lutfur Rahman, 34, of Jamaica, Queens, Mohammed Tushar, 34, of Howard Beach, Queens, and Redcode Inc., with locations at 529 McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn and 146-04 Hillside Avenue in Queens. The defendants were arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which they are charged with three counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, three counts of second-degree receiving reward for official misconduct, and six counts of second-degree falsifying business records. They were released without bail and ordered to return to court on November 4, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between April 22, 2025 and July 16, 2025, undercover investigators from the Department of Investigation (DOI) posed as construction workers and went to Redcode’s locations in Brooklyn and Queens. They allegedly met with Rahman, the owner of the company, and Tushar, an associate, who agreed to provide the undercovers with site safety training (SST) cards and OSHA cards for $500 each without the undercovers completing the required training.

The undercovers were allegedly asked to sign attendance sheets, making it seem as though they had attended training sessions. Redcode then allegedly sent information regarding the training to the DOB and to an OSHA designated training intermediary falsely indicating that the “students” completed the training. As a result, OSHA’s intermediary issued the “students” OSHA cards and DOB issued SST cards.

The DOB requires construction workers to undergo training in worksite safety before being allowed to work on most construction jobsites in New York City. OSHA, a subdivision of the United States Department of Labor, sets standards for workplace safety throughout the United States, including a 30-hour course in accident prevention. DOB requires this coursework plus an additional 10 hours of Site Safety Training (SST).

By issuing OSHA cards and SST cards to students who did not complete the coursework, it is alleged, the defendants allowed for workers who were not properly trained in the required safety protocols to work on construction sites posing a danger to themselves, other workers and members of the public.

The case was investigated by investigators from DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for the New York City School Construction Authority, under the supervision of First Deputy Inspector General Gerard McEnroe, Inspector General William E. Schaeffer, Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives Christopher Ryan, and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Michael Mullahy.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph DiBenedetto and Assistant District Attorney Jack Mulderrig, of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of Investigations.

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