June 16, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We arrested eight people this week who are accused of operating a major gun and drug trafficking ring in and around Rufus King Park in Southeast Queens. Three of the defendants are charged as major drug traffickers and the ringleader faces up to 150 years in prison. Through a long-term wiretap investigation that I authorized, and was supervised by my office, the police intercepted numerous communications in which the defendants openly discussed their illegal activities. This enabled us to secure search warrants for defendants' residences. What police seized during these raids in Queens, Brooklyn and Nassau County confirmed what we suspected: This was a major trafficking operation. During these raids, police seized more than 3 pounds of cocaine, four handguns, more than a pound of fentanyl, more than 1.5 pounds of hallucinogenic mushrooms, thousands of pills, including ecstasy and oxycodone, a car and more than $67,000 in cash. Prior to the raids, undercover agents had bought cocaine and ecstasy from at least one of the defendants on 40 occasions. Undercovers also purchased five handguns from at least one of the defendants. My top priority will always be keeping you and your loved ones safe. In Friendship, Melinda Katz Queens District Attorney

Selected Cases of Interest

Deli workers charged in assault, strangulation of customer Million-dollar drug- and gun-trafficking ring taken down

Help Solve This Case

If you have information regarding the stabbing deaths of Rose Gilbert and John Dalton, who were killed 18 years ago, please contact NYPD Crimestoppers by calling 800-577-TIPS, or through the online form. It is never too late for justice.

Pride Celebration with Queens Borough President

I co-hosted a Pride celebration with my good friend Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. We honored local LGBTQIA+ leaders, including Assistant District Attorney George Deluca-Farrugia from my office.

Empower My Hood Inc. Scholarship Event

It's graduation season and I had the pleasure of joining Empower My Hood Inc. for their scholarship gala at which 13 high school seniors were awarded funding to help them attend college. Empower My Hood is a nonprofit specializing in college access and success run by black professionals who grew up in underserved communities.

Dar Al Taqwa Islamic Center Visit

I visited the Dar Al Taqwa Islamic Center to discuss my office's efforts to make Queens the safest place to live, work and worship in New York City. It was my pleasure meeting with Imam Mohammed Sherzad and the entire congregation. Throughout my 30 years as an elected official, I have maintained a close relationship with the Muslim community, cognizant that our diversity is what makes our borough special and that the members of the Muslim faith have enriched our neighborhoods in countless ways.

2023 Brave Justice Summer Internship

I welcomed 50 law school and four college students this week to our Brave Justice Summer Internship program. The interns hail from local universities, including Hofstra, NYU, Fordham and St. John's, as well as from the University of South Carolina and the University of South Dakota. The interns will visit the NYPD Training Academy and hear detailed presentations from members of my office's Special Victims, Human Trafficking and Hate Crimes bureaus.

Gun Buyback Event