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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

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Crown Heights Man Sentenced to 23 Years to Life in

Prison for Murder of Brooklyn Mother

Defendant Fatally Attacked Victim Outside Her Home

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 47-year-old Crown Heights man has been sentenced to 23 years to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of 27-year-old Jennifer Rodriguez. The victim was killed outside her home in Crown Heights on the day of her young son’s birthday.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a brutal and cowardly attack that stole the life of Jennifer Rodriguez on what should have been a day of joy for her family. Her children will now grow up without a mother, a loss that can never be repaired. While nothing can undo that pain, today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable and ensures he will spend years in prison for this horrific crime. Thanks to the dedication of our prosecutors, working with the NYPD, violent crime in Brooklyn continues to decline, and we remain steadfast in protecting our communities and seeking justice for victims.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Antoine Thompson, 47, of Crown Heights. He was convicted of second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon on July 28, 2025, following a jury trial. The defendant was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu to 23 years to life in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 31, 2021, at approximately 2:40 p.m., the defendant attacked Jennifer Rodriguez outside her home on Belmont Avenue and Georgia Avenue in Crown Heights, slashing and stabbing her in the throat, arm and torso with a sharp object, causing fatal injuries. Rodriguez died from her wounds shortly thereafter. The victim and the defendant were known to each other from past interactions.

The defendant fled to North Carolina but later returned to Brooklyn. He was arrested on October 18, 2021.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal Angelika Rostkowska, Chief Analyst of the Digital Evidence Lab Alexandra Aber and Victim Advocate Shannel Pichardo for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Thompson, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Rapper and Gang Leader Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

For Directing and Participating in Gang Shootings

Michael Williams, a.k.a. Rapper Sheff G, Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a rapper and gang member known as Sheff G was sentenced to five years in state prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder and conspiracy. The defendant was a leading member among 32 purported members of the 8 Trey Crips and its affiliate, the 9 Ways gang, who were named in a 140-count indictment for allegedly committing shootings, possessing guns, and using stolen cars while shooting at gang rivals.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant had talent and opportunity, but chose to use them to fuel violence instead of building a better future. Together with the NYPD, we have driven gun violence in Brooklyn to record lows by focusing on dangerous individuals, like Mr. Williams and his cohorts. I can only hope that this measure of accountability will lead him to taking a different path and using his influence in a positive manner.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Michael Williams, 27, known as Sheff G. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to five years in prison and five years of post-release supervision in accordance with a Court plea offer under which he pleaded guilty in March to two top counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of second-degree conspiracy.

Justice Chun last week also sentenced an associate, Tegan Chambers, a rapper known as Sleepy Hallow, to one year in jail following his guilty plea to fourth-degree conspiracy. 

Twenty-three of the other defendants have previously pleaded guilty and seven cases are pending against the remaining defendants.

The District Attorney said that the indictment in this case was the result of a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division into shootings and gun possession incidents allegedly committed by members of the 8 Trey Crips and its affiliates, the 9 Ways gang, primarily in the 67^th and 71^st Precincts.

Many of the acts of violence were captured on surveillance videos. Furthermore, it is alleged that the defendants boasted about their criminal activities on social media and in text messages, discussing acts of violence and taking credit for shootings and an assault.

The most egregious incident charged in the indictment was a mass shooting on Hawthorne Street on October 21, 2020, at approximately 10:15 p.m. It is alleged that defendant Kamondre Dekattu was captured on surveillance video emerging from the sunroof of a white Infiniti and opening fire while other individuals fired guns from the driver’s side and rear driver’s side windows. An alleged Folk Nation rival, Theodore Senior, 23, was killed and five other alleged Folk Nation members were shot and injured. Dekattu was charged with the murder; his co-conspirators, including Michael Williams, were charged with being part of the conspiracy to commit murder for this incident and others.

In particular, approximately an hour after the mass shooting, Williams sent a text message seeking confirmation that the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways had scored against rivals. In separate messages, he sent pictures of the victim and a news article about the incident and other shootings that preceded the homicide that day.

Two days after the homicide, Williams hosted a lavish dinner with his fellow 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways members, including Tegan Chambers, at a Manhattan steakhouse to celebrate the death of Theodore Senior and the injuries sustained to the five other shooting victims.

Furthermore, Williams, who rented a large house in Short Hills, New Jersey during the conspiracy period, used the earnings from his music career to fuel gun violence in Brooklyn, by offering money and giving expensive jewelry to those who committed acts of violence. Williams’ involvement went beyond merely offering money to commit acts of violence. In one shooting incident, Williams coordinated a group of three shooters, drove those shooters to the crime scene, and then acted as the getaway driver.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Tania Lopez of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau for her assistance with the investigation.

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 DeIngeniis, VCE 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for

Triple Murder in East New York

Defendant Fatally Shot Victims in Two Separate, Execution-Style Attacks

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of three people during two separate East New York shooting incidents in June 2020. The defendant used disguises and high-capacity firearms to ambush and kill his victims in broad daylight.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s crimes were ruthless and deliberate, cutting short three lives and leaving their families with grief that will last a lifetime. While gun violence in Brooklyn is at record lows, we cannot lose sight of the devastation caused by horrific acts like these and the lasting impact they have on entire communities. Today’s sentence brings accountability and makes clear that this kind of brutality will never be tolerated in our borough.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Charles Hernandez, 52, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was convicted on May 21, 2025, following a jury trial, of one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of first-degree reckless endangerment.

Additionally, the District Attorney identified a co-defendant as Liza Jenkins, 52, of East New York. On May 22, 2025, following a bench trial, she was convicted of second-degree hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence for her role in assisting Hernandez after the first homicide. She will be sentenced at a later date.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on June 20, 2020, at approximately 11 a.m., the defendant approached Kenneth Singleton, 35, from behind as Singleton was washing his car outside of his home in the vicinity of Milford Street and Blake Avenue, in East New York. Wearing a disguise, the defendant shot Singleton multiple times in the head at close range and fled the scene.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, a week later, on June 27, 2020, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the defendant approached Stephanie Perkins, 39, and Chioke Thompson, 23, as they sat on the stoop of Perkins’ home on Van Siclen Street, near Belmont Avenue, in East New York. Disguised in a blonde wig and wearing a long coat, the defendant opened fire with a high-capacity rifle, striking both victims multiple times and killing them instantly. The defendant then stepped over their bodies, entered the house and fired additional shots throughout the first floor before fleeing.

Evidence established that each victim was targeted because of their relationship or proximity to a man with whom the defendant had an ongoing dispute. The attacks endangered other people in the vicinity, including a child and other residents inside Perkins’ home.

The defendant was arrested on July 9, 2020, in West Virginia, by the Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the West Virginia State Police and the Martinsburg Police Department.

The District Attorney thanked Chief Analyst of the Digital Evidence Lab Alexandra Aber, Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Mauricio Suarez-Marquez and Paralegals Jannette Ayala and Amanda Connolly, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Perry, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Chief of the Homicide Bureau.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, September 5, 2025

Staten Island Man Indicted for Murder in Fatal Sunset Park Hit-and-Run Crash

Defendant Allegedly Drove with BAC up to
.19 Before Killing Two Pedestrians

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Staten Island man has been arraigned on an indictment charging him with murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and related offenses for allegedly driving drunk, running a steady red light and striking two men who were crossing the street in a crosswalk in Sunset Park. The defendant then allegedly fled the scene without stopping.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly chose to drive drunk and speed through a red light, and two innocent men lost their lives while simply crossing the street. Kexun Chen and Faqiu Lin should still be with their families today. We will fight for justice on their behalf and make clear that reckless drivers who endanger lives will be held fully accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Juventino Anastacio Florentino, 23, of Staten Island. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice ¬¬Dineen Riviezzo on an indictment in which is he charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of criminally negligent homicide and related charges. Bail was set at $300,000 bond or $100,000 cash and the defendant was ordered to return to court on November 14, 2025.

It is alleged that on July 11, 2025, at approximately 4:22 a.m., the defendant was driving southbound on Third Avenue when he allegedly sped through a steady red light at 52nd Street and struck two men who were in the crosswalk with the right of way. The victims were identified as Kexun Chen, 80, and Faqiu Lin, 59. The defendant then allegedly fled the crash site without reporting the incident. Both victims were later pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators recovered video surveillance and vehicle parts at the crash site, and license plate reader technology identified the BMW. The defendant was arrested later that morning at his Staten Island residence. According to the investigation, the defendant’s vehicle displayed damage consistent with striking pedestrians, and the defendant showed signs of intoxication. Testing indicated his blood alcohol content was between .13 and .19 — well above the legal limit of .08. Approximately eight hours after the crash, the defendant allegedly blew a .04 on a breath test and admitted to drinking earlier that night.

The District Attorney thanked detectives of the NYPD’s Highway District Brooklyn Collision Investigation Squad and the detectives of the NYPD’s Brooklyn South Video Team for their case enhancement and assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Ghalmi, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Christopher Velez, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Street Safety Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Chief of the Street Safety Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Boykin, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Cassandra Pond, Deputy Bureau Chief, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Bureau Chief.

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