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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Prison for Brownsville Shooting

Defendant Shot Man in Front of Bodega, Then Fled Scene

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for firing a weapon at and killing a 33-year-old man outside a deli in Brownsville. The victim and defendant had been involved in a dispute prior to the shooting.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Daishawn Benjamin was shot and killed outside a neighborhood bodega in broad daylight, leaving his mother to grieve the loss of a second son to gun violence in just three weeks. No sentence can undo that unimaginable pain, but today’s prison term holds this defendant accountable for so callously taking a life. My office will continue working with the NYPD and our communities to protect the hard-won progress that has driven gun violence in Brooklyn to record lows.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Waajid Pierce, 48, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu to 22 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on February 27, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on October 27, 2021, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the defendant walked toward a group of three men standing in front of a bodega at the corner of Belmont Avenue and Mother Gaston Boulevard in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He took out a handgun and shot at one of them, Daishawn Benjamin, 33, three times. The three shots struck the victim in the torso, the arm and the hand. The defendant then fled the scene in his Infinity G35 sedan.

The investigation determined, through video surveillance and other evidence, that the defendant was the person who fired the gun at the scene. The defendant was arrested on March 2, 2022, as he was disembarking from a flight returning from Tampa, Florida to MacArthur Airport on Long Island.

The victim’s brother, Kizer Williams, was killed three weeks earlier, blocks from where Daishawn Benjamin was killed. That case remains unsolved.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Prison for Fatal Broad-Daylight Shooting of Innocent Bystander in Crown Heights Park

Gunfire Intended for Another Target Killed Innocent Father of Two

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 21-year-old Crown Heights man has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the fatal shooting of Christopher Ross, a 53-year-old father of two, who was struck by a bullet intended for another individual while enjoying a summer afternoon in Lincoln Terrace Park in Crown Heights.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Christopher Ross was a father who went to a neighborhood park and never came home. The defendant fired multiple shots in a space filled with families and children, killing a man who had nothing to do with the dispute, but was just trying to enjoy a summer afternoon. No family should have to endure that loss. My office will continue the steady work of keeping guns off Brooklyn streets and ensuring people can feel safe in our communities.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Gucci Morris, 21, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter to 15 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder on October 30, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 9, 2020, at approximately 5 p.m., the defendant traveled with a group of friends to Lincoln Terrace Park in Crown Heights, Brooklyn wearing dark clothing and carrying a loaded firearm. At the same time, Christopher Ross arrived at the park to play handball with friends.

As two groups engaged in a physical altercation along a main park walkway near a playground and handball courts, the defendant pulled out a gun and fired off multiple shots. One of the bullets passed through a fence surrounding the handball court and struck the victim in the left eyebrow, piercing his skull and brain. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting caused panic throughout the park, which was crowded with adults and children. The defendant fled the scene with others, later altering his appearance to avoid arrest.

Following an extensive investigation that included eyewitness accounts, surveillance footage tracking the defendant before and after the shooting, digital evidence recovered from the defendant’s phones, and identifications by individuals familiar with him, the defendant was arrested and charged on February 9, 2022.

The District Attorney thanked KCDA Detective Investigators, Detective Thomas Pisano of NYPD Brooklyn North Homicide, Detective John Davis of NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Division, Detective Dave Williams of the NYPD’s 77th Precinct, Paralegals Suleimy Santos and Andy Wang of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, Intelligence Analysts Anna Kharitonova and Hiba Abdullah of the KCDA Digital Evidence Lab and Multimedia Analysts Theophilus Kendall, Robert Rubenstein and Lawrence Ricks for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Gianna Del Grippo, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Salvatore Prince, of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 11, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Prison for Fatal Bushwick Hit-Run Crash

Defendant Fled Scene After High-Speed Collision Killed Passenger and
Seriously Injured Three Others

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to prison for causing a 2024 fatal hit-and-run crash in Bushwick that killed a 29-year-old man and seriously injured three others before fleeing the scene on foot.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant caused a catastrophic crash that killed a man and seriously injured three others, then fled the scene instead of helping the victims he left behind. Hayden Wallace had recently moved to Brooklyn and was already building community here in the city when his life was tragically cut short. I hope today’s sentence brings a measure of justice and closure to his loved ones.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Christopher Seabrook, 29, of Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht to up to six years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting on April 16, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on January 8, 2024, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the defendant was driving a Kia Sportage at a high rate of speed southbound on Irving Avenue in Bushwick when he crashed into a Toyota Yaris traveling through the intersection at Stockholm Street. The force of the impact spun the Toyota into multiple parked vehicles.

The crash killed 29-year-old Hayden Wallace, who was riding in the right rear passenger seat of the Toyota, and seriously injured the vehicle’s three other occupants. The surviving victims suffered numerous severe injuries, including fractured ribs, fractured clavicles, internal injuries and organ damage that required surgeries and lengthy hospital stays.

Following the collision, the defendant exited the Kia and fled the scene on foot before police and emergency responders arrived, according to the evidence. Video surveillance later tracked the defendant walking to a nearby smoke shop after the collision. He was arrested in February 2025 following an investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Digital Evidence Lab Analyst Zoe Feygin, under the supervision of Unit Chief Jingu Chong, Paralegals Toki Persaud and Sangdoma Sherpa, under the supervision of Supervising Paralegal Jason Martinez, Detective Curt Cunningham of the Collision Investigation Squad of the NYPD and a KCDA Detective Investigator for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexander Davis of the District Attorney’s Virtual Currency Unit and Leigh Ann Perez, Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the general supervision of Christopher Velez, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Street Safety Bureau, and the overall supervision of Jennifer Nocella, Street Safety Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 11, 2026

[Note: Materials displayed at the press conference are available here]

Fifteen Alleged Members of Coney Island-Based
Gangs Charged with Numerous Shootings Across Brooklyn

16 Shootings, One of Them Fatal, And Six Non-Fatal Victims,
Including Four Innocent Bystanders, One of Whom was Left Paralyzed

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, today announced that 15 alleged members of two subsets of the 59 Brim Bloods violent street gang known as FOG and Koney Sides, based in Coney Island, have been variously charged with conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to possess weapons, murder, attempted murder, and related charges. The indictment includes charges related to 16 shootings that resulted in seven victims, including one who died of his injuries.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s indictment reflects our commitment to continue to drive down shootings and homicides across Brooklyn by focusing on violent gang members who destabilize our neighborhoods with senseless gunfire. In one instance alleged in this case, some of the defendants unloaded as many as 30 rounds of bullets at perceived rivals. In another, a defendant allegedly carried a firearm in an office meeting with a supervised release counselor, then opened fire on alleged rivals on his way out the door. We cannot accept this type of brazen gun violence on our streets, and I thank the NYPD and our prosecutors for their hard work on this case, which will help make our communities safer.”

“This 13-month investigation closed 16 separate shooting cases and ended the spree of violence and retribution these gang members had unleased across Brooklyn,” said Commissioner Tisch. “It is all part of the NYPD’s precision policing strategy: taking down gangs, removing guns from our streets, and deploying our officers exactly where and when they are needed most. That work continues to drive gun violence in our city down to historic lows, and I thank our NYPD investigators as well as the Brooklyn DA’s Office for their dedicated efforts in this case.”

The defendants were arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justices Danny K. Chun and Craig S. Walker on an indictment in which they are variously charged with second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and related charges. There are a total of 113 counts in the indictment against 15 defendants who are alleged members of two subsets of the 59 Brim Bloods in Coney Island known as “Fly Ooter Gang,” a.k.a., FOG, and “Koney Sides.”

The District Attorney said the indictments are the result of a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the New York City Police Department’s Gun Violence Suppression Division that started in January 2024 and continued through the present. The investigation focused on two street gangs that operate out of several neighboring housing complexes in Coney Island. FOG/Koney Sides territory encompasses the area of Coney Island from West 15th Street to West 37th Street, between Surf Avenue and Neptune Avenue.

Rival gangs to FOG/Koney Sides are numerous and span a large area of central Brooklyn. They include WOOO, Choo, 780, Folk Nation, GWAY, R2R, and Drench, variously based in Brownsville, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Coney Island, Gravesend, and East New York. Over the course of the investigation the defendants allegedly traveled extensively to commit acts of violence against their rivals; the charged incidents in this indictment occurred in nine different police precincts from Coney Island to Downtown Brooklyn.

The investigation revealed that the acts of violence in this indictment were allegedly committed by the defendants to maintain their territorial dominance, as well as to retaliate against taunts by rival gangs regarding the April 27, 2025 homicide of FOG/Koney Side member Javon Johnnie and the April 29, 2025 friendly-fire homicide of FOG/Koney Side member Tamari Carmona. The defendants also regularly exchanged taunts with their rivals through music videos and social media, including in an online chat group to which some of the defendants and numerous rivals belonged.

It is alleged that many of the acts of violence were captured on surveillance videos. Significant incidents that are charged as part of the conspiracies include:

• The homicide charged in the indictment took place on April 29, 2025, at approximately 12:25 a.m. It is alleged that defendant Tyquan Holmes, two unidentified others, and Tamari Carmona, 17, traveled to the Flatbush Gardens Housing Complex in Folk Nation territory and fired in the direction of two Folk members they encountered. It is alleged that the FOG/Koney Side members instead struck Carmona, who died of a gunshot wound to the head. In subsequent text messages, Holmes allegedly admitted his involvement to a friend and, five days after the murder, texted his mom, “Somebody’s life got took,,, and I was envolved (sic).”

• On May 30, 2025, at approximately 8:04 p.m., it is alleged that defendants Kristian Blackstock, Christopher Smart, and two unidentified others walked up to the house of a known rival in Canarsie and all four allegedly began firing numerous rounds toward the house. Blackstock was arrested a few blocks from the scene and police recovered a 9mm pistol. At least 18 shots were fired at the scene. The investigation revealed that in the hours and minutes before the shooting, defendants were texting in a large group chat that included associates and rivals, with Smart being egged on to “boom” an opposition member nicknamed JC. Two minutes after the shooting, Smart allegedly texted, “Take that JC.”

• On February 20, 2026, at approximately 11 p.m., it is alleged, defendants Isef Richards, Christopher Moore, and an unapprehended other, were in the vicinity of Newkirk Avenue in East Flatbush, in Folk Nation territory, when all three fired their weapons at three individuals standing on a corner. It is alleged that 30 rounds were fired. A 16-year-old, innocent non-gang member was struck in the abdomen and treated at a hospital. The shooting was allegedly retaliation for the ambush shooting earlier that same day of FOG/Koney Side member and rapper Elijah Lewis by Folk rivals in East Flatbush. Lewis was struck in the shoulder.

• On March 2, 2026, defendant Christopher Moore had an in-person appearance at the Center for Justice Innovation in Downtown Brooklyn as a condition of his supervised release. After meeting with his counselor, he went to the lobby and ran into three Folk members, it is alleged, followed them out the door with a gun visible in his hand, and shot at one of the individuals at close range as they ran up Elm Place, but missed. Two .40 caliber cartridge casings were recovered at the scene, as well as a bullet fragment between panes of glass at 236 Livingston Street.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detectives Brian Mahon and Ryan McGowan, under the supervision of Sergeant James Haley of the Gun Violence Suppression Division, Lieutenant Christopher Siani and the overall supervision of Inspector Craig Edelman.

The District Attorney thanked the following for their assistance on the case: Digital Evidence Lab Analyst Sindy Pelaez, under the supervision of Unit Chief Jingu Chong; Paralegals Kevin Ourvan, Catherine Prigov, and Vincent Ryan, under the supervision of Supervising Paralegal Marta Kuklik; members of the District Attorney’s School Advocacy Bureau; and KCDA Detective Investigators.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Daniel Stern, Matthew Bennett, Katrina Gomez, and Jonathan Gross, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chiefs Gillian DiPietro and Karen Varriale, First Deputy Bureau Chief Jennifer Cilia, and Bureau Chief Alfred DeIngeniis.

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

DEFENDANT ADDENDUM:
FOG/Koney Sides members

1. Randy Belle, 18
2. Kristian Blackstock, 17
3. Nehemiah Dash, 18
4. Cornell Graham, 18
5. Gabriel Greenidge, 18
6. Kamar Hines, 19
7. Tyquan Holmes, 18
8. Julien Johnnie, 20
9. Elijah Lewis, 18
10. Christopher Moore, 21
11. Isef Richards, 27
12. Christopher Smart, 16
13. Taj Underwood, 23
14. Jhosue Valdespino, 17
15. Andreus Williams, 18

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 8, 2026

Elder Parolee Convicted of Murdering and Dismembering
Brooklyn Woman, Then Discarding Her Remains

Torso and Leg were Discovered on Street Inside Plastic Bags,
Additional Body Parts Recovered from Defendant’s Apartment

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an 87-year-old parolee has been convicted of first-degree murder and other charges for killing a Brooklyn woman whose body parts were discovered inside and in the vicinity of the defendant’s East New York apartment.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This conviction holds the defendant accountable for the cruel and reprehensible murder of Susan Leyden. Following the senseless murder, the defendant desecrated the victim’s remains in a manner that truly shocks the conscience. I hope Ms. Leyden’s family finds a measure of solace in this guilty verdict, which ensures this defendant will never walk free again.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Harvey Marcelin, 87, of East New York, Brooklyn. The defendant was convicted yesterday afternoon of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse following one hour of deliberations after a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole when sentenced on June 10, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, surveillance footage taken on February 27, 2022, showed the victim, 68-year-old Susan Leyden, entering the defendant’s apartment on Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York. She was never seen leaving the apartment alive. Additional surveillance footage showed the defendant rolling a wheeled shopping bag containing a black plastic bag on March 2. The victim’s torso was discovered in that bag in the early morning hours of March 3.

In a subsequent search of the defendant’s apartment, police discovered the victim’s head and limbs, as well as blood, cleaning supplies, a hammer, and the box from an electric saw. On March 7, one of the victim’s legs was found near a garbage can about three blocks away. In addition, surveillance video showed the defendant purchasing a saw and cleaning supplies in a Manhattan Home Depot around the time of the victim’s disappearance.

The Medical Examiner determined that the victim, who resided in Clinton Hill, suffered blunt force trauma to the head and other physical injuries to her body. The investigation revealed that the defendant and the victim lived in the same shelter in the Bronx in 2019, but the nature of their relationship is unclear.

On October 16, 1963, the defendant was convicted of first-degree murder in Manhattan, forming the basis of the first-degree murder charge in this case.

The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detectives Thomas Pisano, of Brooklyn North Homicide Squad, and David Quattrocchi of the 75th Precinct Detective Squad. Paralegal Supervisor Jannette Ayala and Paralegal Monika Rostkowska, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, assisted in the investigation.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Prison for High-Speed,
Fatal Bedford-Stuyvesant Hit-and-Run

Defendant Drove More Than 50 MPH Through Red Light,
Struck and Killed Pedestrian, Then Fled Scene

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to five to 10 years in prison for causing a fatal hit-and-run crash in Bedford-Stuyvesant when he drove over 50 miles per hour and ran numerous red lights before fatally striking a 49-year-old pedestrian and fleeing the scene.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s reckless and selfish actions cost an innocent man his life, and instead of stopping to help, he callously sped away. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for the irreversible harm he caused and makes clear that drivers who endanger lives and attempt to escape responsibility in Brooklyn will face prison time and serious consequences.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jerry Gelle, 32, of Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin to five to 10 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty on March 11, 2026 to second-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on October 10, 2024, at approximately 3:05 a.m., the defendant was driving a gray 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Bedford Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant at approximately 53 miles per hour. In the minutes before the crash, video surveillance showed the vehicle running multiple red lights, driving in bike lanes and triggering speed cameras.

At the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Lafayette Avenue, as 49-year-old Felix Mendez crossed the street, the defendant ran a steady red light, striking the victim in the middle of the crosswalk. The impact of the crash killed Mendez.

Following the crash, the defendant fled the scene without stopping to render aid or report the incident.

The investigation further determined, through video surveillance and other evidence, that the defendant continued driving recklessly after he fatally struck Mendez, running additional red lights and stop signs. He later attempted to sanitize the interior of the Jeep and abandoned it about four blocks from the scene of the crash, where members of the NYPD ultimately recovered it.

Evidence recovered from the vehicle, including DNA on the gear shift, linked the defendant to the crime. He was arrested in July 2025.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alejandro Vera, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Chief of the District Attorney’s Street Safety Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Chief of the Blue Zone.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for Killing Girlfriend,

Firing at Second Victim Inside East Flatbush Home

Defendant Shot Victim Multiple Times, Then Fired Through Door as Others Hid with Infant

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting his 49-year-old girlfriend inside their East Flatbush home, then turning the gun on others in the house as they hid in a bedroom with a newborn baby.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Jacqueline Wilson was shot to death inside her own home and others, including a terrified family with a six-week-old baby, were forced to barricade themselves to survive. This was a senseless act of violence and I hope today’s sentence brings some measure of solace to the family, who endured unthinkable pain and trauma at the hands of this defendant.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Peter Hibbert, 51, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on March 18, 2026, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on May 7, 2023, at approximately 2:55 a.m., inside a residence on East 96^th Street in East Flatbush, the defendant shot Jacqueline Wilson, 49, multiple times, killing her. The defendant and the victim had been in a relationship for approximately three years and lived together in the home.

Also inside the home at the time were the victim’s adult daughter, her husband and their newborn baby. After shooting Wilson, the defendant pointed a handgun at the couple and fired toward them as they fled into a bedroom and shut the door. Two bullets pierced the door as the couple barricaded themselves inside with the infant while waiting for police. Neither the couple nor their baby were hit by gunfire.

The defendant was discovered by police shortly after the shooting sleeping in the basement of the home and was arrested.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Farin Chasin-Fodeman and Assistant District Attorney Victoria Mulhern, of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kori Medow, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 24, 2026

Brooklyn Man Who Preyed on Elderly Neighbors as
Serial Killer Pleads Guilty to Three Murders

Trusted for Repairs, Defendant Admitted to Killing Women Inside Their NYCHA Apartments

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brownsville man who acted as a serial killer inside his own apartment building has pleaded guilty to murder for killing three elderly women who trusted him for help with repairs and errands. The defendant admitted to fatally stabbing one victim, stomping on the neck and chest of a second victim, and strangling a third victim inside their apartments at the New York City Housing Authority’s Carter G. Woodson Houses during separate incidents between 2015 and 2021.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant exploited elderly women who trusted him, gained access to their homes, and murdered them in a series of brutal attacks that shocked the conscience. These victims were vulnerable neighbors who deserved safety and dignity, and instead had their lives stolen by someone they believed was there to help. Today’s guilty plea ensures that he will be held accountable for all three killings and spend the rest of his life in prison. My thoughts remain with the victims’ families who have endured unimaginable loss, and I hope that this outcome brings them a measure of solace.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Kevin Gavin, 71, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. The defendant pleaded guilty today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Ann Riviezzo to one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder, in exchange for a promised sentence from the Court of 30 years to life in prison. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between November 8, 2015, and January 14, 2021, the defendant killed three elderly women who lived in the same NYCHA building as him on Powell Street in Brownsville.

On or about November 8, 2015, the defendant fatally stabbed Myrtle McKinney, 82, in the neck with a knife inside her apartment.

On or about April 30, 2019, the defendant stomped on the neck and chest of Jacolia James, 83, inside her apartment.

On or about January 14, 2021, while robbing her, the defendant strangled Juanita Caballero, 78, by wrapping a phone cord around her neck inside her apartment.

Following Ms. Caballero’s death, the defendant was captured on video surveillance using her debit card at multiple locations. He was apprehended on January 21, 2021, by members of the New York City Police Department’s Brooklyn North Homicide and the 73rd Precinct and subsequently confessed to all three murders.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal Meghan Brancato and Green Zone Paralegal Aneudy Mata for their work on this case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cassandra Pond, Green Zone Deputy Bureau Chief, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Long Island Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Sex Trafficking of a Child

Defendant Recruited the 15-year-old Victim on Social Media

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following his guilty plea to sex trafficking of a child for forcing a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity for money.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant exploited a 15-year-old girl at a time of vulnerability and subjected her to manipulation, abuse and profound harm for his own profit. Today’s sentence holds him accountable, and we remain committed to supporting survivors with compassion and pursuing justice against those who traffic and exploit young people.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Terrence Reid, a.k.a. Chinchilla, 46, of Hempstead, New York. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. He must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a child on March 4, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, in early 2022 the defendant messaged the victim, who was 14 years old at that time, on Instagram, and they messaged back and forth for a few days.

In May 2023, the 15-year-old, who was going through challenges at home, agreed to meet with the defendant, who picked her up at her aunt’s home in Brooklyn.

The defendant then took the victim to a hotel in East Orange, New Jersey, had semi-nude photos of her taken, and posted them online on a website used for prostitution along with another adult female that the defendant had engaging in prostitution for him.

The victim, and the second female, were driven to a prostitution street track on Pennsylvania Avenue in the 75th Precinct, where she was forced to walk the track all night until about 7 a.m. the following morning.

The 15-year-old engaged in numerous acts of sex for money while walking the “Penn Track” from May 22 to May 25, 2023. The defendant imposed a $300 a day quota on her, warning “it would be a problem” if she did not meet the quota.

Furthermore, on May 25, 2023, while on the “Penn Track,” the 15-year-old was assaulted and robbed by a man who paid to have sex with her. When she told the defendant what happened, he screamed at her and ordered her to get back on the track.

Finally, while everyone was sleeping at a hotel in Queens where the defendant had been keeping her, the 15-year-old sneaked out of the room, got in a taxi and reported the incidents to her case worker.

The case was investigated by Detective Courtney Thorpe of the New York City Police Department-FBI Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force, under the supervision of Lieutenant Amy Morin and the overall supervision of Inspector Gary Marcus.

Special Agent Margaret Murphy from the FBI NY Field Office, Sergeant Justin Gaudino and Detective Konrad Rozwadowski from the Manchester, Connecticut Police Department assisted in the investigation.

The District Attorney thanked Victim Specialist Erica Bell & IA Whitney Heres from the FBI NY Field Office, Office Manager Aurora Martinez and Social Worker Raquel Alger from the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit and Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Taylor Mumley, from the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab, for their assistance on the case.

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Staten Island Man Indicted for Hate Crime Assault and Robbery
Targeting Muslim Victim on Subway

Victim Thrown to Ground and Robbed in Unprovoked Attack

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Staten Island man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with robbery and assault as hate crimes and related offenses in connection with an unprovoked attack against a Muslim woman at the Ninth Avenue subway station in Brooklyn.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant is accused of a vicious, Islamophobic hate crime against an innocent victim going about her daily life. No one should have to fear violence due to their religious or ethnic background. The impact of these hate-fueled crimes reverberates throughout entire communities and has no place in our society. We will now seek to hold the defendant accountable for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Christopher Nastasa, 39, of Staten Island. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 16-count indictment in which he is charged with second-degree robbery as a hate crime, second-degree robbery, third-degree robbery as a hate crime, third-degree robbery, fourth-degree grand larceny as a hate crime, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, fourth-degree criminal mischief, petit larceny as a hate crime and related charges. The defendant is being held on bail of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. He was ordered to return to court on June 3, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on March 17, 2026, at approximately 10:40 a.m., on the platform at the Ninth Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, the defendant stated to the victim, “I wonder how many Iranians we kill today, I think about 500.” The defendant followed the victim and further stated, “I think it’s funny how a terrorist can walk around now, not even your mayor can save you.” The victim started to record the defendant with her cell phone, and the defendant grabbed the victim’s hands and shook the victim, causing the victim to fall to the ground. The defendant then grabbed the victim’s phone and slammed it on the ground before picking it up and throwing it across the train tracks and into a wooded area. The defendant fled the scene on foot. The victim notified MTA staff about the incident and reported the incident to NYPD officers, who were able to recover the victim’s phone from the brush. The defendant was arrested following an investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Prabhalya Pulim, of the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kelli M. Muse, Chief of the Hate Crimes Bureau.

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