View as Webpage

May 1, 2023

Greetings,

Happy May. It has been a busy Spring, as my staff has hosted and been part of numerous community outreach events and resource fairs to educate Bronx residents.

Our 6th Annual Child Safety Fair drew hundreds of kids and families who learned about bullying, internet safety, bicycle safety and more, while enjoying rock-climbing, face-painting and other fun activities. As I always say, focusing on prevention is the best way to keep our Bronx children safe. 

We held a re-entry resource fair in partnership with Hostos Community College, where formerly incarcerated people found resources on employment and education. The community benefits from putting people on the right path.

Last week, we held the Bronx 2023 Tribute to Crime Victims in observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. It was a moving event that celebrated the lives of those who were lost to violence and highlighted the resilience and bravery of survivors of crime. Their stories further motivate me to fight for victims of crime, through justice in the courtroom and services addressing trauma, financial and other needs.

The Bronx is losing a generation to death and prison. In our relentless effort to stem youth gun violence, we will be holding a Youth Summit on Saturday, May 20, at the T. Wendell Foster Recreation Center.(See flyer below for details.) It is an opportunity for our young people to be a part of the conversation on public safety, and have their voices heard.

Hope to see you around the Bronx as the warm weather takes over.  

Sincerely,

DA Clark

During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we held the Bronx 2023 Tribute to Crime Victims. It was a powerful evening that gathered survivors to share stories of perseverance and courage. Our Crime Victims Assistance Bureau put together the event at the Bronx Zoo. We are here for victims!

On April 26, Jose Gonzalez was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of FDNY Emergency Medical Technician Yadira Arroyo, who he ran over with her ambulance in March 2017. Arroyo was a mother of five and a 14-year EMT veteran. “[The sentence] closes a long and difficult chapter for the victim’s family and her FDNY colleagues, who have waited for justice for six years,” said District Attorney Clark. “Yadi will forever be missed by her loved ones, and the pain will always be there.” Gonzalez was found guilty of first-degree Murder on March 8, 2023, after a jury trial. The trial against Gonzalez was delayed after multiple court hearings on the defendant’s mental fitness to stand trial. He was deemed unfit in May 2022 and was sent to a psychiatric facility and was then deemed fit to stand trial in September 2022.

On April 12, District Attorney Clark and New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber announced the indictment of three contractors for Manslaughter and Criminal Negligent Homicide in the death of a construction worker at a Bronx building site in 2019. 

Segundo Manuel Huerta, 46, was crushed by 1,000 pounds of cinder blocks placed on a third floor platform with unsecured joists. A fourth man was charged with fraud in relation to the incident that allegedly resulted from blatant disregard for building safety codes and worker’s protections. Huerta was a husband and a father of five children.

On April 6, District Attorney Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced the indictment of three alleged pimps, a Bronx hotel manager, a front desk clerk and a security guard charging Enterprise Corruption, Sex Trafficking of a Child, and Promoting Prostitution. Two of the alleged pimps were also charged with Rape. According to the investigation by the NYPD Vice Human Trafficking Team and the Bronx District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, the conspiracy took place from August, 2019 through November, 2022, among members or associates of a prostitution organization which operated inside of the 7 Days Hotel at 2338 Bruckner Boulevard. According to the investigation, one of the girls engaged in prostitution for the co-conspirators from when she was 14 years old and continuing until she was 17 years old. According to the investigation, approximately 16 girls and young women were trafficked by the co-conspirators. Out of the 16, seven were underage.

On April 24, Steven Castro, 43, was sentenced to 24 years in prison and five years post-release supervision for fatally beating his mother with a baseball bat in their apartment in the Hunts Point neighborhood. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter on March 21, 2023. The defendant told police that he was jealous that his mother was giving gifts to his brother’s children and not his own. "It’s unfathomable that someone would kill their own mother in such a brutal way," said Clark. "The defendant will be spending decades behind bars for this horrific attack." 

On April 15, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office held its 6th Annual Child Safety Fair in Baychester. Approximately 250 attendees came out for a great day of learning and fun for both parents and kids. The event included craft tables, clowns, a bouncy house and a magic show. It also included a virtual reality room where kids learned how to handle peer pressure and bullying, with guidance from 47th Precinct Police Officers. We are very grateful to the NYPD, FDNY, Borough President Vanessa Gibson, the New York Yankees, and all of our partnering community organizations for making this event a wonderful success!

On April 19, The Bronx District Attorney’s Office partnered with Hostos Community College for a Re-Entry Fair. The event gathered many organizations across the Bronx to provide information and resources to the formerly incarcerated, such as employment, education, and healthcare information. Those returning to the community should be assisted so they stay on the right path.

April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On April 20, our Crime Victims Assistance Bureau and Community Affairs Unit proudly walked the streets in support of survivors of sexual assault and rape in the Bronx Denim Day March. The event was hosted by Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. One survivor shared her story about becoming an advocate to tell people you are not alone and that they are many organizations out there providing support to victims.

On April 13, District Attorney Clark stood om the steps of the New York Public Library alongside New York City District Council of Carpenters, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office and other elected officials to fight against wage theft and tax fraud. She said that contractors who cheat their workers will be held accountable.

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office is one of the largest employers in the Bronx. We are committed to pursuing justice with integrity by providing services to victims of crime and prosecuting the accused fairly. Whether you join our legal or professional staff, you will be provided with training, mentorship and opportunities for professional development. The collegial and collaborative environment will provide you with not just a job, but a home for building a career in criminal justice. Check out the wide variety of opportunities– IT, interpreters, digital forensic examiner, and clerical staff–we have available.

Interested in pursuing a legal career? Get your start in our Office as a Trial Preparation Assistant. TPAs provide essential administrative support to the Assistant District Attorneys, Judges, and courts. If you, or someone you know, is interested, please apply here.