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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, December 15, 2025

East Flatbush Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for
Near-Fatal Assault and Kidnapping of Ex-Girlfriend

Defendant Strangled, Robbed and Repeatedly Stabbed Victim
Before Leaving Her to Die on Long Island Parkway

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an East Flatbush man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison following his conviction for kidnapping and repeatedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend in April 2023, leaving her for dead on the side of a Long Island parkway.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “A woman was strangled, robbed, and repeatedly stabbed by someone who once claimed to care about her, then dragged into brush and abandoned to die. She survived because she refused to give up, fought through unimaginable injuries, and found a way to get help. Thanks to her resilience and courage, this defendant has been held accountable and will spend 15 years in prison. My office will continue to stand with survivors and pursue serious consequences for anyone who commits this kind of domestic violence.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Darren Brathwaite, 39, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin to 15 years in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree kidnapping, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree robbery, second-degree assault and first-degree unlawful imprisonment on September 30, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on April 29, 2023, at approximately 7 p.m., the victim finished her shift at her workplace in East Flatbush, where the defendant was waiting for her. He approached her and offered to drive her to her babysitter’s home to pick up her child, and she got into the defendant’s car.

As they drove, the defendant brought up their prior relationship and asked the victim to get back together with him. When she refused, according to trial testimony, the defendant became enraged, grabbed her, punched her, took her phone and brandished a knife. He then repeatedly stabbed and slashed the victim in the neck and thigh and strangled her with both hands. As the defendant continued driving, the victim attempted to escape the car several times but was forcibly pulled back inside and repeatedly stabbed. Eventually, the victim went limp and pretended to be dead to stop the attack.

The defendant drove from Brooklyn to Long Island, stopped on the Wantagh State Parkway and dragged what he believed was the victim’s lifeless body out of the vehicle. After walking away, the defendant returned and realized the victim was still alive, according to the evidence. He again stabbed her multiple times and moved her deeper into brush on the side of the parkway before fleeing.

Despite her extensive injuries, the victim managed to reach the roadway, where she flagged down a New York State Trooper. She was transported to Nassau University Medical Center and was treated for numerous stab wounds to her neck and thigh.

The defendant fled to Atlantic City, N.J. and on May 2, 2023, was located and removed from the ocean by an Atlantic City Police Department officer. Following coordination between the NYPD 67th Precinct Detective Squad, Brooklyn South Warrant Squad, and Atlantic County authorities, the defendant was taken into custody and transported to Brooklyn.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica Soares and Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Newman, Special Counsel, 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

Monday, December 15, 2025

Bronx Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Stabbing
Transit Worker in Brooklyn Subway

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder for stabbing an MTA subway conductor 11 times inside a Brooklyn subway station.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant nearly killed an innocent man working to keep New York City running. Today’s significant sentence holds him accountable for this vicious attack on a hardworking train conductor. As subway crime continues to trend downward, my office will remain relentless in protecting both transit workers and riders in Brooklyn and ensuring that those who commit violence in the system are held accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jonathan Davalos, 28, of the Bronx. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Carolina Holderness to 15 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on August 25, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on October 8, 2024, at approximately 10:40 a.m., aboard a number 4 train subway car at the Crown Heights-Utica Avenue station in Brooklyn the victim, a 59-year-old subway operator, was attempting to clear the subway at the last stop on the train when he encountered the defendant. The operator asked the defendant to exit the subway, but he refused. The defendant then pulled a kitchen knife from his jacket pocket and lunged at the victim with the knife.

The victim then ran away from the defendant, who chased the victim down the platform. The victim tripped and fell onto the platform and the defendant straddled him before stabbing him about the body. A witness alerted police officers at the station, who responded immediately, drew their weapons and ordered the defendant to stop. The defendant then stood up, dropped the knife, and was placed under arrest.

The victim, who was stabbed 11 times, was taken to Kings County Hospital in serious condition and survived his injuries.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Jamal Marshall for his assistance on this case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Barg and Assistant District Attorneys Garrett Hines and Holley Howell, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Trabulsi, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Coney Island Man Arraigned for Brooklyn Slashing Spree

That Left Three Seriously Wounded

Victims Suffered Deep Facial and Neck Wounds in Unprovoked Attacks

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Coney Island man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is accused of a series of violent, unprovoked attacks that left three men with serious injuries. The defendant was also linked to a burglary and arson inside a nearby residential building, where he allegedly set multiple fires before fleeing.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These were terrifying, unprovoked assaults that brutalized three innocent men and could have killed someone. Brooklyn is safer today than it has been in decades, with homicides and gun violence at record lows, and we will not allow anyone to undermine that hard-won progress. My office will pursue this case aggressively to ensure accountability and protect the public.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Odyssey Head, 27, of Coney Island, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter on an indictment charging him with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree arson and other related counts. The defendant was ordered held without bail, to undergo a psychiatric exam and to return to court on January 21, 2026. 

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on October 25, 2025, at approximately 6:30 a.m., aboard a northbound Q train near Cortelyou Road and E. 16^th St. in Flatbush, the defendant allegedly randomly slashed a 37-year-old man with a razor blade from lip to cheek, causing a deep facial wound that required multiple stitches.

Later that same day, at approximately 10 p.m., a 53-year-old man was standing at the corner of Foster Avenue and New York Avenue in East Flatbush when the defendant allegedly approached and slashed him across the left side of his face from eye to ear with a knife, causing a deep laceration. The victim required 25 stitches to close the wound.

Furthermore, it is alleged that the next day, on October 26, 2025, a 56-year-old man was walking on Newkirk Avenue in East Flatbush when the defendant slashed him across the neck without warning, narrowly missing an artery. He required more than a dozen stitches.

According to the investigation, that same weekend, on October 25, 2025, the defendant allegedly broke into a residential building on New York Avenue in Flatbush, where he damaged property and set fire to items inside the basement laundry area. He then allegedly walked to the first-floor trash compactor room and ignited additional items before fleeing.

The defendant was arrested after police circulated a wanted flyer for the arson incident and subsequently identified him as the individual allegedly responsible for the three slashings. At the time of his arrest, officers recovered a kitchen knife believed to have been used in the attacks.

The District Attorney thanked St. Paul Community Baptist Church, the Oyate Group, Junior’s Restaurant and local elected officials for their assistance in providing donations and in promoting the event.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Holly Hay and James Buchsbaum, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Douglas Marquez, Deputy Bureau Chief and Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and the NYPD to Offer
$500 and AirPods for Firearms at East New York Gun Buyback

Will be Held this Saturday, Just in Time for the Holidays
No ID Required, No Questions Asked

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced that a Gun Buyback event will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Paul’s Community Baptist Church, located at 859 Hendrix Street in East New York, Brooklyn. Those who turn in operable handguns and assault rifles will receive a $500 bank card and Apple AirPods.

Media availability will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 4 p.m. (members of the press are asked not to arrive before 3:30 p.m.).

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Brooklyn is about to finish this year with record lows in homicides and shootings – a testament to the comprehensive and holistic approach we have taken to reduce gun violence. Gun Buybacks are integral to our successful approach, they allow the community to get involved as every gun off our streets and out of our homes is one fewer weapon that can cause harm. I encourage every New Yorker to take advantage of this opportunity, safely turn in a gun, help make our neighborhoods safer and get some cash and a gift in time for the holiday season.”

Rev. Dr. David K. Brawley, Lead Pastor of St. Paul Community Baptist Church, said, “As a community-rooted Baptist church serving East New York since 1927, we are committed to promoting safety and wellness for our congregation and our neighbors. To that end, we are proud to partner with the Brooklyn DA’s Office on gun safety initiatives that help reduce violence and support a healthier, safer community.”

The District Attorney said that his office will offer money in the form of a $500 bank card for each operable gun or assault rifle turned in (maximum three per person). There will be an offer of a $200 bank card for ghost guns or 3D printed guns (a maximum of two per person). Participants will also receive a $75 bank card for each rifle or shotgun and a $25 bank card for each air gun, imitation pistol or a non-operable firearm. The first 100 people will also receive free AirPods, donated by the Oyate Group, a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating poverty.

No identification is required, and all transactions will be anonymous, no questions asked.

The bank cards will be issued after each firearm is received and screened by officers on site. Guns should be unloaded and packaged in a paper or plastic bag or a box when brought to the event. If transported by car, the guns must be kept in the trunk. Both working and inoperable weapons will be accepted. Active or retired law enforcement officers and licensed gun dealers are not eligible for this event.

St. Paul Community Baptist Church is located a short walk away from the Van Siclen Avenue subway station and a block away from a B83 bus stop. Free vehicle parking will be available.

The District Attorney thanked St. Paul Community Baptist Church, the Oyate Group, Junior’s Restaurant and local elected officials for their assistance in providing donations and in promoting the event.

The DA’s Office hosts periodic Gun Buybacks throughout the year in different Brooklyn neighborhoods. Over 600 firearms have been collected in these events over the past three years.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 22 Years to Life in Prison
For Stabbing Death of His Pregnant Wife

Victim was Stabbed Multiple Times in Neck with Screwdriver;
Sentence to Run Consecutively to Term Defendant is Serving for Upstate Murder

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for the stabbing death of his wife in their Williamsburg apartment. The sentence will run consecutively to a term of 22 years to life in prison that the defendant is serving for the murder of his former wife in Schenectady, New York.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant shockingly killed two women, both mothers, within weeks of each other. He callously stabbed his pregnant wife, leaving her to die, then headed upstate and killed his former wife. He will now serve 44 years to life for these despicable crimes. There is no place for domestic violence and intimate partner abuse in Brooklyn and we will continue to prosecute such cases vigorously.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Timothy Taylor, 38, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin to 22 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on October 16, 2025. The term was ordered to run consecutively to an additional term of 22 years to life in prison that the defendant was sentenced to earlier this year following his July 1, 2025 guilty plea to second-degree murder for the death of Tishawn Folkes-Taylor, 44, in her Schenectady home on May 28, 2023.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on May 13, 2023, at about 8 a.m., at 356 Bedford Avenue, Theresa Gregg, 37, was found unresponsive on the floor in the doorway of her bedroom by her 14-year-old twin daughters. The victim had blood around her face and neck and a screwdriver was found next to her body. Her daughters called 911 and emergency medical technicians responded, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gregg, who was employed as a police officer with the city’s Department of Homeless Services, was approximately three months pregnant.

The defendant was apprehended in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 2, 2023.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Farin Chasin-Fodeman, 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, November 21, 2025

Brooklyn Teenager Sentenced to 18 Years to Life in Prison
For Fatal Shooting of Innocent 15-Year-Old Boy

Defendant Convicted of Second-Degree Murder Following Jury Trial

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Fort Greene teenager has been sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy in a Downtown Brooklyn park in broad daylight.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Today’s sentence holds this defendant accountable for taking the life of 15-year-old Unique Smith, an innocent boy who was simply sitting in a park near his school when he was senselessly murdered. Unique’s family, friends, and community will carry this loss forever, and my heart is with them. Working with the NYPD, we’ve brought gun violence in Brooklyn down to record lows, but one shooting is still one too many, and we will not rest until no family has to grieve a loved one lost to gunfire.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Wesley Walker, 19, of Fort Greene, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter to 18 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on August 20, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on September 7, 2022, the victim, Unique Smith, was sitting on a bench in McLaughlin Park, in the vicinity of Tillary Street and Jay Street, at around 1:40 p.m. Smith was a student at nearby Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School.

The defendant, who was wearing a mask and was a member of the FNO Woo street gang, along with another masked individual, approached the victim and asked if he was affiliated with a gang. Following a brief argument the defendant shot the victim once in the stomach.

The victim was rushed to Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the trial testimony, earlier that day the defendant had cut class, went to school at dismissal and recruited several students, including one to act as a lookout, to go to the park, where he displayed a gun and expressed his intent to use it.

The defendant fled the scene and was arrested in Binghamton, New York, on February 1, 2023.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal Meghan Brancato and Intelligence Analyst Zoe Feygin, of the Digital Evidence Lab 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 Senior Assistant District Attorney Lauren Fitton, of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Brutal Murder and Dismemberment of 39-Year-Old Man in Flatbush

Defendant Fatally Stabbed and Slashed Victim More Than 60 Times, Beat Him with Hammer
and Stored His Remains in Refrigerator for Nearly Two Years

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Flatbush man has been sentenced to life without parole for the murder and dismemberment of an acquaintance whose remains were discovered inside a refrigerator in the defendant’s apartment.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a deeply disturbing act of violence by a defendant who not only stole a man’s life, but then desecrated his body. The cruelty and disregard for human life shown in the case are almost beyond comprehension. Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his horrific crimes and serves as a reminder that those who commit such heinous crimes in Brooklyn will face the most serious consequences under the law.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Nicholas McGee, 48, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht to a prison term of life without parole. The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse on October 9, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, in March of 2022, inside the defendant’s apartment on Nostrand Avenue in Flatbush, the defendant stabbed Kawsheen Gelzer, 39, in the back as he slept on a sofa. Medical testimony established the defendant also inflicted more than 60 sharp force injuries to the victim’s head, torso and extremities and struck the victim multiple times in the head with a hammer during the attack.

Following the murder, the defendant rummaged through the victim’s pockets, took the drugs the victim had on him and used them with his co-defendant. The defendant then dragged the victim’s body to the bathroom, where it remained in the bathtub for several days before the defendant used a saw and hammer to dismember the body, placing the remains in separate plastic bags. He then hid the victim’s head, torso, arms and legs inside a refrigerator and freezer located in the apartment and sealed the refrigerator and freezer shut with tape and glue.

The victim’s body was discovered on January 20, 2024, after an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip led police to the defendant’s apartment, where they discovered the remains. While in custody in Virginia on an unrelated matter, the defendant was interviewed by NYPD detectives and, after negotiating with the detectives for a cigarette, gave a detailed confession to the murder and dismemberment.

The defendant’s co-defendant and wife, Heather Stines, 48, pleaded guilty on October 24, 2024, to concealment of a human corpse and third-degree bail jumping. She will be sentenced at a later date.

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, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Adam Ghalmi, also of the Green Zone, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Brooklyn Driver Sentenced to up to Nine Years in Prison for Killing
Mother and Two Daughters While Speeding Through a Red Light

Prosecutors Requested the Maximum Sentence of up to 15 Years;
Defendant Plowed Through Pedestrians in Ocean Parkway Crosswalk

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman was sentenced to a prison term of three to nine years for killing a mother and two daughters, injuring the family’s young son and several others while speeding through a steady red light. The defendant’s vehicle then crashed into an Uber that was waiting as the family crossed the intersection, plowing through the pedestrians as her car rolled over. The defendant previously pleaded guilty to three counts of reckless manslaughter when accepting the judge’s plea offer.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant is a reckless driver who cared about only herself when she raced in the streets of Brooklyn and wiped away nearly an entire family. She should not have been driving a car that day but, instead, she chose to callously ignore all traffic and safety laws when she caused this unspeakable carnage. While today’s sentence is shorter than the maximum we recommended, it sends a clear message that reckless driving will be vigorously prosecuted and met with serious consequences. I thank our prosecutors and the NYPD for their diligent work, and I stand with advocates urging legislation to require speed-limiting devices for drivers who have shown they cannot operate safely. We continue to hold Natasha Saada and her young daughters, Diana and Deborah, along with the other victims of this tragic crime and their loved ones, in our hearts.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Miriam Yarimi, 33, of Midwood, Brooklyn. She was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to an indeterminate sentence of three to nine years in prison following her guilty plea to three counts of second-degree manslaughter, which was taken on October 22, 2025. The DA’s Office recommended the maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on March 29, 2025, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the defendant, whose license was suspended, was driving a 2023 Audi, turning onto Ocean Parkway. Video surveillance shows her using a cell phone while driving before her vehicle drove through a red light a block before the crash, narrowly avoiding other cars and continuing north on Ocean Parkway.

At the next intersection, at Quentin Road, the mother, Natasha Saada, 34, was crossing Ocean Parkway from west to east, holding hands with her three children, Diana, 8, Deborah, 5, and Philip, 4. The evidence shows that a Toyota Camry was in the process of turning right from Quentin Road onto Ocean Parkway and was waiting for the pedestrians to finish crossing.

When the family was a step or two from the sidewalk, the Audi driven by the defendant sped through the intersection against the light, smashed into the back of the turning Toyota and plowed through the victims with her car continuing to roll over, stopping about 130 feet away. According to evidence obtained from the black box, the Audi was traveling at about 68 mph (in a 25-mph zone), was at full throttle (suggesting the gas pedal was floored) and zero brake was applied.

The mother and two daughters were killed at the scene. Her son suffered skull fractures, brain bleeding and had a kidney removed. The Toyota had five occupants – the Uber driver, a mother and her three kids – who sustained minor injuries. The Audi ended up upside down and had to be cut to get the defendant out. She suffered minor physical injuries.

The District Attorney thanked detectives from the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Boykin, Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, with assistance from Assistant District Attorneys Adam Ghalmi, of the Green Zone, and Aaron Gauthier, formerly of the Green Zone, and with additional assistance from Jennifer Nocella, Chief of the Street Safety Bureau, Christopher Velez, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Street Safety Bureau, Paralegals Devi Kempadoo and Lauryn Mordaunt, of the Street Safety Bureau, and Green Zone Supervising Paralegal Aneudy Mata, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Frank DeGaetano, Chief of the Green Zone.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 17, 2025

Six Family Members Indicted in PPP Loan Fraud Conspiracy,
Two Also Charged with Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Theft

Defendants Allegedly Used Fake Businesses and False Records to
Obtain More Than $166,000 in COVID-Relief Funds

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang, today announced that six individuals — all members of the same family — have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to steal more than $166,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds through fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and other pandemic aid. The defendants are accused of submitting fraudulent loan applications and forgiveness requests for fictitious businesses between April 2021 and October 2022.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Pandemic relief programs were created to help small businesses and workers survive an unprecedented crisis. We allege these defendants abused that system for personal gain by inventing companies and falsifying records. My office is committed to protecting taxpayer funds and holding accountable anyone who exploits public relief programs.”

Inspector General Lang said, “The Paycheck Protection Program and unemployment assistance were designed as lifelines for New Yorkers during some of our darkest days. Stealing Covid-era public funds for personal gain is an affront to all who suffered. I thank District Attorney Gonzalez, his team, and my outstanding staff for our shared commitment to safeguarding the integrity of resources meant for our most vulnerable families and small businesses.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Karima Branche, 46, of Brooklyn; Faye Wilkie-Fields, 68, of Brooklyn; Wilworth Branche, 70, of Georgia; Carol Horton, 68, of Brooklyn; Monique Horton, 38, of Brooklyn; and Paul Neufville, 41, of Florida. They are variously charged in a 23-count indictment with fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree grand larceny, 11 counts of third-degree grand larceny, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, seven counts of first-degree falsifying business records and one count of third-degree attempted grand larceny. They were arraigned today in front of Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Eugene Guarino, who ordered the defendants released without bail and to return to court on January 28, 2026.

In addition to the PPP loan fraud charges, Karima Branche is charged with third-degree grand larceny related to an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advance. Wilkie-Fields is charged with attempted third-degree grand larceny related to an EIDL advance. Carol Horton and Monique Horton are also charged with third- and fourth-degree grand larceny for allegedly fraudulently obtaining Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, between April 2021 and October 2022, the defendants allegedly acted together to file multiple fraudulent PPP loan applications containing nearly identical financial information. Each claimed to operate a self-employed business, ranging from educational services to retail to marketing and consulting, and all submitted falsified tax forms listing identical expense categories and expense amounts.

The loan applications and forgiveness requests were allegedly filed from two IP addresses linked to Neufville. Relying on these submissions, lenders disbursed federally backed funds guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The defendants allegedly received a total of $166,664 in PPP loan proceeds.

     • Karima Branche allegedly obtained two loans for $20,833 each from Benworth Capital Partners, LLC.

     • Faye Wilkie-Fields allegedly received a $20,883 loan from Benworth Capital Partners, LLC.

     • Wilworth Branche allegedly received two loans of $20,833 each, one from Benworth Capital Partners, LLC and another from Capital Plus Financial, LLC.

     • Carol Horton allegedly obtained two $20,833 loans, from Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC and Capital Plus Finance, LLC.

     • Monique Horton allegedly received a $20,833 loan from Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC.

The investigation further revealed that Neufville allegedly coordinated the applications and received payments from several co-defendants ranging from $500 to $2,500 marked for “services.” Investigators found that the defendants later submitted loan forgiveness applications claiming at least 60 percent of proceeds were used for payroll.

The District Attorney thanked the New York State Inspector General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the New York State Department of Labor, the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Social Security Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York State Department of Taxation and Amtrak Office of the Inspector General for their assistance in the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sergey Marts, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Tony Kim, of the Investigations Division, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of 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, November 13, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to up to 12 Years in Prison for Fatal Crash

Defendant was Fleeing Police When He Ran Red Light at 75 Miles Per Hour;
Victim Was Ejected from Vehicle, Struck by Defendant and Later Died

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Cypress Hills man has been sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for causing a fatal collision that killed a 29-year-old woman in Bushwick. Police had attempted to stop the defendant for speeding, but instead of stopping he ran a red light and struck another vehicle, killing a passenger.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “By speeding, fleeing police, and running a red light, this defendant turned his car into a deadly weapon. His reckless choices stole a young woman’s future and caused immeasurable grief to her loved ones. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that this kind of lawlessness will not be tolerated in Brooklyn.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Juan Lopez, 33, of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. He pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, first-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting where serious physical injury or death results on August 20, 2025. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Eugene Guarino to an indeterminate term of four to 12 years in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on May 26, 2024, at approximately 5:28 a.m., officers from the NYPD’s 83rd Precinct activated lights and sirens and attempted to stop the defendant, who was driving a black 2018 Mercedes Benz at a high rate of speed on Gates Avenue in Bushwick. The defendant failed to pull over, accelerated through a steady red light at the intersection of Gates Avenue and Central Avenue, and collided with a 2005 Honda Pilot that was traveling through the intersection with a green light. A review of the vehicle’s black box determined the defendant was traveling at approximately 75 miles per hour five seconds before the crash.

The impact caused the victim, Micah Elizabeth Dukes, 29, who was a passenger in the Honda, to be ejected from the vehicle. She suffered severe head and facial injuries as well as a punctured lung and was transported to Elmhurst Hospital. She was transferred to NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, where she died due to her injuries on June 8, 2024.

Following the crash, the defendant fled the scene on foot and was apprehended by responding officers. Officers observed signs of intoxication, and the defendant later admitted to consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Velez, Deputy Chief the District Attorney’s Street Safety Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Nocella, Chief of the Street Safety Bureau, assisted in the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Brogna and Assistant District Attorney Brendan Fitzpatrick, of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Robert Walsh, Bureau Chief.

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