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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Williamsburg Driver Indicted for Manslaughter

After Allegedly Fleeing Car Crash That Killed Passenger

Defendant Was Allegedly Speeding and

Ran Multiple Red Lights Before Colliding with MTA Bus 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Williamsburg man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, and additional charges in connection with a car crash in which he allegedly ran multiple red lights and struck an MTA bus before fleeing the scene. One of the defendant’s passengers, a 33-year-old man, was killed.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “As alleged, this defendant’s extreme recklessness behind the wheel cost the life of an innocent person and put many more people in harm’s way. Brooklyn deserves safe streets, and I am committed to holding accountable any driver who endangers our community with this kind dangerous and criminal conduct.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Michael Rivera, 31, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Herbert Moses on an eight-count indictment in which he is charged with second-degree manslaughter; second-degree assault; criminally negligent homicide; leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, second-degree reckless endangerment; reckless driving; excessive speed; and failure to obey traffic control signal. The defendant faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count. He was ordered to return to court on July 23, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on February 26, 2024, at approximately 9:45 p.m., the defendant was driving an unregistered 2010 red Mercedes Benz on Harrison Avenue in South Williamsburg. Video surveillance allegedly captures the defendant running multiple red lights and driving more than 49 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, the defendant then allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of Lorimer Street and Harrison Avenue where he collided with an MTA bus. The force of the collision caused the vehicle to spin and mount the sidewalk. A passenger, Alex DeJesus Caba Gutierrez, 33, was thrown from the backseat. Video surveillance footage allegedly captures the defendant exiting the Mercedes and walking up to Gutierrez where he lay on the sidewalk. The defendant then fled the scene, leaving his friend.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, bystanders called 911. When EMS arrived, they observed that Gutierrez was critically injured and transported him to Bellevue Hospital where he died approximately two hours later. It was the victim’s birthday. Additionally, the driver of the MTA bus and several passengers suffered multiple injuries and were transported to the hospital for medical treatment.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Brogna and Assistant District Attorney Christina R. Deleasa, of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Robert Walsh, Bureau Chief.

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

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Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for

Shooting Two Teens, One Fatally, During Fight Over Marijuana Sale

Pleaded Guilty to First-Degree Manslaughter in March

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for shooting two teenagers, one fatally, in East Flatbush in 2020 during a fight that erupted over a marijuana sale.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant needlessly escalated an argument into a deadly confrontation that tragically cost a young man his life. The defendant’s guilty plea and today’s sentence hold him accountable for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Nasir Perez, 22, of Midwood, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht to 21 years in prison and five years’ post release supervision following his guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter on March 28, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on October 28, 2020, at approximately 2:30 p.m., at East 26^th Street and Foster Avenue, in East Flatbush, the defendant met with three 17-year-olds in order to purchase marijuana. The defendant was the buyer; the teenagers were the sellers. An argument broke out when the defendant asked to inspect the marijuana and tried to take it from one of the teenagers. When the young man resisted, the defendant pulled out a 380-caliber Taurus handgun. Two of the other teens displayed knives and converged on the defendant. The defendant then opened fire, striking one of the teens in the head and chest, and hitting another in the hand.

The victim was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The defendant was arrested on February 11, 2021.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal Amanda Connolly for her assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Perry, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Steven Bravo, 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

Friday, May 17, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Up to 10 Years in Prison for

Fatally Injuring Girlfriend’s 4-Month-Old Daughter

Medical Examiner Determined Child Died of Abusive Head Trauma

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bedford-Stuyvesant man has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for fatally injuring his girlfriend’s four-month-old daughter. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in April.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Royalty Kemp was a precious infant entrusted by her mother to the defendant’s care. Instead of ensuring the child’s safety, he caused head injuries so severe she died. With today’s sentence, the defendant has been held responsible for his horrific actions. Our hearts continue to be with the child’s mother and loved ones as they grieve her tragic loss.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ricardo Price, 26, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 3 1/3 to 10 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter on April 12, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 22, 2021, the defendant was babysitting four-month-old Royalty Kemp in an apartment at 93 Lewis Avenue. Her mother left the child in the defendant’s care for the night. The child was sitting in the defendant’s lap, according to the evidence, and began to cry. The defendant then repeatedly shook his leg to get her to quiet down, causing the child to bounce off his knee multiple times and the child’s head to strike a video game controller in the defendant’s hands.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, the child’s mother returned on June 23, and noticed the baby was lethargic and unable to eat. That afternoon, the child became unresponsive. The mother and the defendant brought her to Woodhull Medical Center where doctors diagnosed a skull fracture. The child was transferred to Bellevue Hospital where she died on July 2, 2021.

An autopsy performed by the Office of the New York City Medical Examiner determined the child’s cause of death was from abusive head trauma with numerous recent injuries including skull fractures with underlying hemorrhaging to the brain as well as hemorrhaging to parts of the spinal cord.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Paul Hershan, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Perry Cerrato, Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Construction Company Owner Convicted of Criminally Negligent Homicide in Death of 5-Year-Old Girl Struck by Pillars Following Wall Collapse

Defendant Built Dangerously Flawed Stone Fence in

Violation of Numerous Provisions of the NYC Building Code

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber and New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner James Oddo, today announced that the owner of a Nassau County construction company has been convicted of criminally negligent homicide and other charges after a wall he built collapsed on a child, killing her.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This is a heartbreaking instance where a young child was needlessly and senselessly taken from her family because this defendant chose to ignore safety protocols by violating numerous provisions of New York City’s building code, building a heavy stone fence and failing to secure it. Hopefully, today’s verdict will send a message that dangerous and sloppy work by contractors will have serious consequences.”

Commissioner Strauber said, “There is no excuse or tolerance for flouting the building code in New York City, conduct that can lead to dangerous conditions, fatal outcomes and, as this case shows, a criminal conviction.  I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the City Department of Buildings (DOB) for their partnership on this significant investigation that found the defendant had no DOB permit to construct a wall and built it without steel reinforcements, a violation of code, leading to the wall’s collapse and the tragic, needless death of a five-year-old girl.”

Commissioner Oddo said, “The death of Alysson Pinto-Chaumana was completely preventable. Simply put, if this contractor had obtained permits for the work to build this railing, and adhered to our city’s construction code regulations, this young girl would still be alive today. Since this terrible incident occurred, and a second similar fatality in 2021, the Department has conducted significant outreach to homeowners and industry professionals to get the word out about the dangers of shoddily constructed stone balustrade railings. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of District Attorney Gonzalez’s office, and our partners at the NYC Department of Investigation, for securing a meaningful conviction in this case, sending a strong message that we aren’t going to stand by as unscrupulous contractors endanger our children by cutting corners on the job.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Nadeem Anwar, 48, of Valley Stream and his company, City Wide Construction and Renovations, Inc., also of Valley Stream. Anwar was convicted today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun of criminally negligent homicide, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, and second-degree falsifying business records following a bench trial. The defendant will be sentenced on August 14, 2024.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on August 29, 2019, at approximately 8:23 p.m., Alysson Pinto-Chaumana, 5, was with her mother and several friends while they were visiting a friend at 444 Harman Street, a three-story building in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

The group was outside waiting near the front door on an enclosed patio next to a granite wall that fenced in the patio and had a base of heavy stone pillars topped with stone horizontal plates. Suddenly, the pillars and a horizontal plate fell inward onto Alysson, crushing her skull and causing her death.

An investigation into the collapse determined that the defendant, a licensed contractor, who was hired to renovate the façade of the property and build the wall in September 2018 committed numerous violations of the New York City Building Code. Although he was licensed as a contractor in Nassau County, he was not authorized to file for work permits with the NYC Department of Buildings and had another contractor file the application for the work on the façade, but not for building the wall.

The defendant did not acquire a DOB permit to build a stone wall at 444 Harman Street, which was required, nor did he have a licensed engineer or architect conduct a post-construction analysis of the wall’s stability as required. A row of stone pillars must have at least one pillar every 48 inches with a steel reinforcing bar anchoring that pillar to the base. All of the pillars must also be secured to the base with an engineer-grade adhesive. The horizontal plates must be secured to the pillars with engineer-grade adhesive.

A DOB engineer who responded to the collapse observed there were no steel reinforcing bars in any of the pillars. Furthermore, he determined that there was no engineer-grade adhesive securing any of the wall’s component parts. Therefore, he determined, the wall was highly unstable and held together mostly by its own weight and gravity, an egregious violation of multiple provisions of the Building Code. The engineer described the conditions as “imminently perilous to life.”

The case was investigated by New York City Department of Buildings Director of Forensic Engineering Unit, Marco Frias, PE, and New York City Department of Investigation Chief Investigator James McElligott, under the supervision of Senior Inspector General Gregory Cho, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominic Zarrella.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Pamela Murray, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 3, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison

for Shooting and Wounding New York City Police Officer

Defendant Shot Officer Trying to Handcuff Him While Responding to Domestic Dispute

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison following his guilty plea to second-degree attempted murder for opening fire on New York City Police Officers in 2022. The defendant fired one shot, striking an officer in the foot, and fired additional shots at officers.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Police Officers put their lives on the line every day while responding to all kinds of disputes. Luckily Officer Orlando Adorno, and the other responding officers, were not seriously injured or killed by this defendant’s decision to open fire on police. Today’s lengthy sentence holds him accountable for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Raheen Joye, 43, of the Bronx. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to 19 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on April 10, 2024.

The District Attorney said that on December 21, 2022, at approximately 8:00 a.m., inside of an apartment at 277 Gates Avenue, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, the defendant and his girlfriend had an argument, and the defendant kicked a hole in the wall. The girlfriend then called 911.

At approximately 8:50 a.m., police responding to the 911 call were met by the girlfriend and the defendant in front of the building. Police interviewed both individuals, and the defendant admitted to kicking a hole in the wall. When told he was going to be arrested, the defendant tried to run and Police Officers Orlando Adorno, Angel Valenzuela, and Gina Williams Gordon, tried to subdue him. The defendant resisted and pulled a blue gun out of his pocket and fired one shot, hitting Officer Adorno’s foot. The defendant then fled down Gates Avenue toward Bedford Avenue with police in pursuit.

While never losing sight of the defendant, police observed the defendant holding a blue handgun while fleeing towards Monroe Street. On Monroe Street, two other police officers pursued the defendant, who ran towards Police Officer Christopher Bowie. The defendant pointed his gun toward Police Officers Bowie and Alexander Bido. Gunfire was exchanged between the defendant and police. The defendant was shot and fell to the ground, where the defendant shot at Police Officer Bowie and Bido before dropping the blue handgun to the ground and being apprehended.

Officer Adorno was treated for a gunshot wound to the foot and Officer Valenzuela was treated for injuries to the ankle.

The defendant was taken to Methodist Hospital and treated for two gunshot wounds to the leg.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Aleena Peerzada, 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, May 1, 2024

Brooklyn Man Who Allegedly Punched Woman in Random,

Unprovoked Attack Indicted for Felony Assault

Victim Suffered Broken Jaw

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 33-year-old man from Crown Heights, Brooklyn has been indicted for felony assault and related charges for allegedly punching a 57-year-old woman in the face unexpectedly and with no provocation, breaking her jaw.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Random attacks against strangers, especially women, are beyond senseless and completely unacceptable. A grand jury that heard all the evidence returned an indictment for felony assault and we will now seek to hold the defendant accountable, so he will not repeat this outrageous and criminal conduct.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Franz Jeudy, 33, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew Sciarrino on an indictment charging him with second-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault, third-degree assault, and related counts. He remains on supervised release (The DA’s Office requested $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond) and was ordered to return to court on July 2, 2024. The defendant is facing a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted of the top count.

The District Attorney said that on March 26, 2024, at about 5 p.m., the victim, a 57-year-old woman from Crown Heights, who was heading home from her work as a school bus driver, was walking on Grand Avenue near Atlantic Avenue in Crown Heights.

She walked by the defendant, a stranger, who allegedly punched her in the face unexpectedly and without any provocation or words being exchanged between them beforehand. The victim ran to a nearby restaurant where her brother works and pointed out the defendant to him. The brother chased the defendant for several blocks and held the defendant until police officers arrived.

The victim was transported to New York Presbyterian Methodist Hospital. She suffered fractures to both sides of her jaw and lost multiple teeth. The case was initially charged as a misdemeanor assault but, after a review of the circumstances and the extent of injuries, the charges were upgraded to a felony.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Barg, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Michael Trabulsi, Iris Das and Linda Hristova, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Armed Robbery and Shooting Spree in East Williamsburg That Left One Dead, One Injured

Defendant Convicted of First- and Second-Degree Murder Following Jury Trial 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Boerum Hill man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally shooting a man and wounding another during an armed robbery spree in East Williamsburg in 2021. The defendant was convicted of first- and second-degree murder, as well as numerous other charges.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a vicious crime spree that left a trail of terror and trauma to multiple victims, including a father of three who did not survive being shot by the defendant. With today’s sentence, the defendant has been held accountable for his actions. We will never tolerate such violence in Brooklyn.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ramel Chapman, 32, of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Eugene Guarino to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was convicted of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of first-degree robbery, and three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on February 14, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 13, 2021, at approximately 12:39 a.m., at 200 Morgan Avenue, in East Williamsburg, Sean Robinson, 33, of Stamford, Connecticut, and his friend, a 38-year-old man, were hanging out after attending a party and were targeted by the defendant. Robinson was sitting in his Ford Mustang convertible when the defendant approached him, pointed a 9-millimeter handgun at him and yelled, “This ain’t no joke, give me your sh-t!” The defendant grabbed Robinson, shot him once in the chest and ripped two gold chains from his neck. The defendant then approached the second man, who was standing on the other side of the car, pistol-whipped him in the face, and ripped a gold chain from his neck.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, the defendant then ran to the corner of Stagg Street and Morgan Avenue, where a third victim was standing by his Dodge vehicle. The defendant pointed the handgun at the man and asked, “Do you want some too, big man?” At that point, the third victim retreated. The defendant then entered the vehicle and stole money, marijuana, and keys to the vehicle.

From there, according to the evidence, the defendant went to The Anchored Inn, a bar located three blocks away. Video surveillance captured the defendant examining the robbery proceeds. The defendant then left and headed home in a Lyft. Cell site records and video surveillance track the defendant traveling from the bar back to his home in Boerum Hill.

Robinson, a father of three who was engaged to marry his fiancé, was pronounced dead at Woodhull Medical Center. Testimony showed a bullet tore through his rib cage and right lung before it penetrated his heart and lodged in his spine.

The defendant, who was on parole, was identified on surveillance footage by two of his parole officers. He was arrested on July 27, 2021.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jhounelle Cunningham, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Nallely Duarte, of the Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Burglar Who Broke into Gargiulo’s Restaurant in Coney Island

Sentenced to up to 8 Years in Prison

Caught on Camera Stealing Approximately $100,000 from Safe;

Re-Arrested After Jumping Bail

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to up to eight years in prison after breaking into Gargiulo’s Restaurant in Coney Island and stealing approximately $100,000 from a safe. The defendant failed to appear in court after being released on bail. He was rearrested after an alleged break-in on the Lower East Side. He pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny and second-degree bail jumping in March.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Beyond breaking into Gargiulo’s, a beloved Coney Island landmark for more than a century, this defendant is a serial burglar who has shown that he will continue to commit crimes if he remains at large, necessitating today’s prison sentence. My office is committed to protecting the property of everyone in Brooklyn and to holding offenders to account.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Luis Mercado, 34, of Coney Island. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Joanne Quinones to two concurrent prison terms of four to eight years and one-and-a-half to three years in a jail, following his guilty plea on March 11, 2024, to second-degree grand larceny and second-degree bail jumping.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 29, 2022, at about 2 a.m., the owner of Gargiulo’s Restaurant located at 2911 West 15^th Street in Coney Island, was alerted that the alarm had been activated. About $100,000 in cash was missing from the safe in a back office and video surveillance captured the defendant and an accomplice breaking into the building. The defendant and the accomplice, who were wearing black clothing, gloves, and blue surgical masks, then fled through a side door towards West 15th Street and down Mermaid Avenue.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, detectives from the New York City Police Department’s 60th Precinct recovered video surveillance from numerous locations in the area that tracked the defendant and the accomplice as they traveled from the defendant’s home at 2760 West 33^rd Street to Gargiulo’s and back to 2760 West 33^rd Street. At that point, according to the evidence, the defendant entered the building’s elevator. He is then shown on camera removing the blue surgical mask covering his face.

The defendant was arrested on July 6, 2022, and indicted on charges of second-degree grand larceny and third-degree burglary.

After the defendant failed to appear in court on August 22, 2023, a bench warrant was issued. The defendant was subsequently arrested on September 12, 2023, for allegedly burglarizing a Lower East Side nightclub, and returned to Brooklyn. On January 31, 2024, the defendant was rearrested and charged with second-degree bail jumping.

The District Attorney thanked the NYPD’s 60^th Precinct Detective Squad, Supervising Paralegal Aneudy Mata, and Paralegal Andy Wang for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Danyelle Shapiro and Assistant District Attorney Adam Ghalmi, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Boykin, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 12, 2024

Brooklyn Man Indicted for Allegedly Killing Acquaintance,

Dismembering Victim’s Body and Storing it in Refrigerator  

Defendant was Arrested in Virginia, Extradited to Brooklyn to Face Charges,

Defendant’s Wife was Indicted for Concealment of a Human Corpse

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that Nicholas McGee has been arraigned on an indictment charging him with murder for the alleged stabbing death of an acquaintance in a Flatbush apartment in 2022 following a dispute over drugs.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a gruesome and horrific murder that we allege began with an attack on the victim as he slept. We will now seek to hold the defendant accountable for this senseless crime.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Nicholas McGee, 45, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully on an indictment in which he is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse. He was ordered held without bail and to return to court on April 15, 2024. The defendant faces up to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

The defendant’s wife, Heather Stines, 45, was arraigned on February 21, 2024, on an indictment in which she is charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, in March 2022, the defendant allegedly stabbed Kawsheen Gelzer, 39, in the back as he slept on a sofa in the defendant’s apartment, located at 2069 Nostrand Avenue, following a dispute over drugs. The victim woke up, and the pair struggled. Gelzer died after being stabbed multiple times and hit with a hammer. The defendant then allegedly stole drugs out of the victim’s pocket.

Furthermore, it is alleged, the defendant used a small saw and a hammer to dismember the victim’s body, placing most of it in plastic bags that were then placed in a suitcase and stored in a refrigerator. The victim’s head and torso were stored in the refrigerator and his arms and legs were stored in the freezer.

The body was discovered by police on January 22, 2024, after they responded to the location following an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip that Stines was keeping a body in her refrigerator. She was arrested at that time. McGee was arrested in Chesapeake, Virginia and returned to Brooklyn yesterday.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Cassandra Pond, 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

Friday, April 11, 2024

Crown Heights Man Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Prison

For Sexually Assaulting Two Women in Prospect Park

Defendant Approached the Victims in Separate Afternoon Attacks 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Crown Heights man has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting two women as they were walking through Prospect Park.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “I commend the victims in this case for the incredible courage and grace they showed by coming to court and testifying against the defendant. He has now been brought to justice and with today’s lengthy sentence it is ensured that he will not be able to attack any other innocent, vulnerable women.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Carlis Clarke, 28, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Christopher Robles to 15 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of one count of predatory sexual assault, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of second-degree assault on March 18, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on March 11, 2019, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a 25-year-old woman was walking through Prospect Park when the defendant walked up to her, grabbed her by the hair, pulled her off the path and dragged her into the woods. He then sexually assaulted her, dragged her to a fence, and forced himself on her again.  The defendant and the victim then heard a noise, he became distracted, and she was able to flee.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, on February 23, 2021, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a 33-year-old woman was walking through Prospect Park when the defendant, wearing a ski mask, grabbed the woman by the hair, pulled her into the woods, sat on her, and sexually assaulted her. As the victim fought him off and screamed, a passerby heard her, came to her aid, and chased the defendant away.

The witness called 911 and followed the defendant into the Ebbets Field Houses. He was captured on surveillance video and arrested. His DNA was matched to DNA collected from the scarf of the 2019 victim.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Gwen Barnes and Tatiana Benjamin, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Bureau Chief.

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