October 18, 2024

I authored an op-ed for the New York Daily News recently on the importance of curbing the production of lethal weapons in our communities.

As the lead law enforcement officer for Queens County, I have seen an alarming trend emerge — the building of personally manufactured firearms or “ghost guns” in residents’ homes.

Seeing this dangerous development, in 2021 I created the first Crimes Strategies & Intelligence Bureau in the borough, tasked with instituting a proactive, intelligence-based approach to crime prevention.

To date, CSIB investigations have led to the recovery of more than 400 firearms, including 290 ghost guns, 1,040 high-capacity magazines, more than a dozen machine gun conversion devices and enough component parts to build an additional 311 ghost guns.

And just last week, we recovered a stock pile of 18 illegal firearms, including six assault weapons, from a home in Queens Village and storage unit in Nassau County.

Individuals who choose to assemble and stockpile lethal, illegal firearms in Queens need to think again. Ghost guns cause unspeakable tragedy, and my office will continue to meticulously go after illegal firearms and those who manufacture and use them.

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

In Friendship,

Melinda Katz

Queens District Attorney

Cases of Interest

• An alleged squatter has been indicted for illegally occupying a single-family home in Howard Beach.
• A Queens woman was sentenced to 27 years in prison for killing a man in her Flushing apartment and a related burglary in September 2021.
• A defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for stabbing a man in the backyard of the victim’s home in Jamaica in February 2022. The altercation took place after the defendant tried to solicit the victim’s girlfriend for sex outside a liquor store on Sutphin Boulevard.

Information Wanted

If you have information regarding the death of Margaret Tobar, who was found strangled to death inside her apartment in Far Rockaway 32 years ago, contact NYPD Crimestoppers by calling 800-577-TIPS, or through the online form.

It is never too late for justice.

Health Fair at Queens Public Library

Members of my Community Partnerships Division were pleased to join the Queens Public Library at Central for a health fair aimed at enhancing the well-being of our community members.

This initiative reflects our commitment to health and safety, providing residents with valuable resources and information to support their physical and mental health.

Youth Empowerment Programs

The Youth Empowerment team in my office launched two of our seasonal programs: the Student Advisory Council and the Legal Explorers Program.

These initiatives are designed to create meaningful connections between young people and my office, offering students a unique opportunity to engage directly with our assistant district attorneys.

Participants will dive into discussions about the prosecution process and explore various careers in the legal field, reinforcing our commitment to community involvement and education. 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Empowerment Luncheon

Domestic violence is a crime that spares no gender and knows no age, cultural or national boundary. My office, in collaboration with our partner service providers, remains committed to helping those affected by intimate-partner violence.

If you need support or have questions, call the numbers listed below. Phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You are not alone. We're here to help.