July 31, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week we announced the takedown of an international stolen merchandise ring allegedly operated by a mother and daughter team out of their homes in East Elmhurst and Valley Stream.

The pair allegedly directed a crew to steal from retailers in Queens and Staten Island and Nassau, Westchester and Rockland counties.

The stolen goods were advertised on social media and allegedly sold from the defendants' homes and shipped to the Dominican Republic to resell there. The investigation included undercover officers who sold purported stolen merchandise to the pair.

More than 5,000 pieces of stolen goods and purported stolen goods were recovered with a combined retail value of $159,602.

The defendants are charged with criminal possession of stolen property attempted criminal possession of stolen property, grand larceny and conspiracy. If convicted, the two face between five and 15 years in prison.

Retail theft hurts all consumers and leads to higher prices for everyone. Since the beginning of my administration, my office has used several effective strategies to combat the rise in retail theft.

For more information on our progress, visit https://retail-theft.queensdao.org.

My top priority will always be keeping you and your loved ones safe.



In Friendship,

Melinda Katz

Queens District Attorney

Cases of Interest

• A 28-year-old man was indicted for allegedly driving recklessly around a bus and killing a pedestrian. The defendant was charged with manslaughter, assault and other crimes.
• An alleged burglar, who broke into office buildings during a five-week spree, has been apprehended and charged in a six-count indictment with burglary and related other crimes. The 30-year-old Jamaica resident was additionally charged in three separate criminal complaints.
• A gun trafficker from Georgia was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a firearm. The 42-year-old defendant brought dozens of illegal guns into Queens in 2025.

Information Wanted

If you have any information about the murder of Jayme Loder, who was stabbed to death after being assaulted inside her home on 135th Street in Briarwood 26 years ago, please contact NYPD Crimestoppers by calling 800-577-TIPS, or through the online form.

It is never too late for justice.

National Night Out

National Night Out Against Crime takes place this Tuesday and I invite community members to join us. This annual event is a celebration of communities and law enforcement and our shared desire to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Each NYPD Precinct will host an event where people can meet the officers who serve and protect their communities. My office will be represented at every site with information about resources and support. We look forward to seeing you there. 

A Visit to the Glendale Kiwanis Club

I had the opportunity to meet with members of the Glendale Kiwanis Club to talk about the work we are doing at the DA's office to stop the drivers of crime and to keep Queens residents safe. One of the issues of concern for homeowners is deed fraud and squatting.

For most people, a home is the most valuable purchase they will ever make. I created the Housing, Worker and Consumer Protection Bureau to focus on these kinds of crimes and to help protect property owners. We will not allow the exploitation of homeowners in this borough and we are working diligently to combat those victimized by fraudsters and squatters.

Summer Block Party at Elmcor

Assistant District Attorneys Maryam Sheikh and Kevin Jones, along with members of my Community Partnerships Division, attended Elmcor's Annual Summer Block Party this past weekend. It was a great opportunity to interact with the community and share information about the DA's office.

You're Invite to Visit the QDA Mobile Office

Meeting Queens residents where they live and gather, the DA’s Mobile Office provides local residents a chance to get the answers they need.

Members of the DA's office meet with the public at area libraries, answer questions and provide information on available resources. The next stop is on August 12 at the Richmond Hill branch.

We Are Here to Help

If you have been a victim of a violent crime or lost a loved one to violence, you are not alone. We are here to help with services and support. Our Crime Victim Advocate Program has a team dedicated to helping you through the criminal justice process, referrals to counselors and more. For additional details, see below.