August 14, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week my office announced that an East Hampton resident was indicted for a horrific New Year's Day hit-and-run that killed a 27-year-old man and seriously injured another individual in Corona.

The 30-year-old man allegedly drove drunk and plowed into two pedestrians as they crossed the street, turning a celebratory night into a nightmare for the victims and their families. The defendant allegedly fled the scene and a day later flew to Ecuador to escape justice.

Tragically, the surviving victim remains in a vegetative state.

The defendant was recently apprehended when he attempted to enter Honduras.

He was taken into custody by federal authorities and returned to Queens where he is charged in a 19-count indictment with aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter in the second degree and related crimes.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.

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



In Friendship,

Melinda Katz

Queens District Attorney

Cases of Interest

• A 60-year-old Queens Village father has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for repeatedly raping his daughter, whom he began sexually abusing when she was 10. The defendant was convicted at trial of rape in the first degree and other crimes.
• Two Far Rockaway men were sentenced to 22 years to life and 20 years to life in prison, respectively, for shooting a 24-year-old man in a spray of gunfire in August 2022. A jury found both defendants guilty of murder in the second degree.
• A Brooklyn resident was arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing a man found dead in the bathtub of his apartment in Long Island City. The defendant, 36, is now charged with murder and illegal possession of a weapon and other crimes.

Information Wanted

If you have any information about the murder of 17-year-old Leslie Zaret, whose body was found near PS 203 on Springfield Boulevard in Bayside nearly 52 years ago, please contact NYPD Crimestoppers by calling 800-577-TIPS, or through the online form.

It is never too late for justice.

3,000 Guns Removed from New York City Streets

I joined NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, along with my fellow district attorneys, the state attorney general and federal law enforcement partners, to announce the removal of more than 3,000 firearms from the streets of New York City since the start of 2026.

Shootings in Queens are now at their lowest level in 30 years.

It takes all of us working together to rid our communities of illegal firearms. I applaud the work of the NYPD and the collaborative model we have built that has made every corner of Queens safer for our families and senior citizens.

Annual Dre Day Event

It was a pleasure to be part of the annual Dre Day gathering in honor of Robert DeAndre Williams. The young man was gunned down on the first day of the year in 2021 outside the former Umbrella Hotel in Kew Gardens.

Every year Robyn Williams, Dre's mother, hosts a community event collecting school supplies, backpacks and other items for neighborhood children in the name of her son.

In March, the man who shot and killed the victim was convicted of murder in the second degree and other crimes. The defendant is currently serving 75 years to life in prison.

Scooter Crackdown in Richmond Hill

We are making our streets, sidewalks and commercial strips safer by removing unregistered and illegally parked scooters. Since 2024, we have seized and vouchered 1,496 scooters.

We recently removed 22 motorized scooters from the neighborhood of Richmond Hill. Law enforcement also wrote 16 parking summonses and 18 moving violations were issued by the NYPD.

Two individuals were arrested for driving with a suspended license and criminal possession of a forged instrument.

I thank the Queens DA's office detectives and the officers of the 102nd Precinct for their hard work on this important initiative.

You're Invited 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 neighborhood libraries, answer questions and provide information on available resources. Come see us at the next stop on August 26 at the Fresh Meadows branch.

Illegal Cannabis Shops

My office is committed to shuttering illegal cannabis shops. Far too many of these businesses are selling marijuana products that are not regulated and are potentially harmful.

Since November 2022, our joint enforcement has resulted in more than 440 people charged and in excess of 7,000 pounds of cannabis edibles seized. If you believe a business is illegally selling marijuana, reach out to my office at 718 286-6812.