January 9, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, my office announced an indictment charging a Rosedale man with making terroristic threats as a hate crime and related crimes for allegedly threatening the murder of Jewish residents and Israelis in New York City as well as members of the NYPD and federal officials.

According to the charges and investigation, the defendant used his social media account on at least five separate occasions to issue explicit threats laced with inflammatory language.

At a time when antisemitic vitriol is rising at an alarming rate, we know that hate speech can escalate into real-world violence.

The 54-year-old defendant was arraigned on the felony hate crimes charges. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

I thank the NYPD for their work on this case and the Community Security Initiative by the UJA Federation and JCRC-NY for providing crucial assistance.

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

In Friendship,

Melinda Katz

Queens District Attorney

Cases of Interest

• A Long Island City resident was charged with animal cruelty for allegedly tying two dogs behind his car and driving - dragging the animals down the street. A bystander was able to record the incident and the police were contacted. The animals are with the ASPCA.
• A mother has been indicted on murder charges for allegedly killing her 15-month-old son. The defendant was found in a locked bathroom with her lifeless toddler on December 29, 2025.
• A defendant was indicted for gang assault and other crimes following an illegal street takeover of a residential neighborhood in Malba by dozens of individuals. He allegedly joined in a gang assault, kicked and stomped a resident who tried to disperse the crowd, and punched the victim's wife.
• A South Carolina man was indicted for the murder of Dashanna Donovan in East Elmhurst in September. The defendant allegedly shot the 21-year-old in the head and then fled the state in an attempt to avoid accountability.

Human Trafficking Awareness Month

We joined the #WearBlue campaign to mark National Human Trafficking Awareness month and bring attention to this urgent issue. We want to alert the public that the need is real and to push for more action that will one day end this horrific form of modern-day slavery.

When I became the District Attorney, I created a Human Trafficking Bureau to aggressively prosecute the offenders while implementing a victim-centered approach by connecting survivors to meaningful services.

If you believe you've been a victim of human trafficking , or know someone who has, email HumanTrafficking@queensda.org, or call 718 286-6548.

Information Wanted

If you have any information about the unidentified female whose body was found inside the Turf Motel in Astoria nearly 28 years ago, please contact NYPD Crimestoppers by calling 800-577-TIPS, or through the online form.

It is never too late for justice.

QDA Mobile Office Visit

My Community Partnerships Division visited the Kew Gardens Hills library recently during our ongoing outreach efforts to answer questions, offer assistance and provide general information about how the Queens District Attorney's office can help. Not everyone can make it to the DA's office, but the library is an easily accessible setting for parents, the elderly and others.

We want people to learn about our programs and resources in the communities, not in a courtroom.

Join Us at the Queens Library

Help Us Take Guns Off Our Streets