MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING TELEPHONED THREATS AGAINST MAYOR BLOOMBERG FACING ONE YEAR IN JAIL AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO GUN POSSESSION CHARGE

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 38 year old man who threatened Mayor Bloomberg, during a telephone conversation with a 311 operator, has pled guilty to a gun possession charge.

Awilia YaYa, of 1560 White Plains Road, the Bronx, pled guilty to a single count of Attempted Criminal Possession of Weapon in the third degree, a Class E felony offense. Under terms of the plea agreement YaYa will be sentenced to one year in jail when he next appears before Criminal Court Judge Robert Torres on March 15, 2004 in Part F. The judge also issued a permanent order of protection directing the defendant to avoid close proximity to the Mayor and to not attempt to reach Mr. Bloomberg by telephone.

YaYa was arrested on February 18, 2004 after threatening Mayor Bloomberg while speaking with a New York City 311 hotline operator on February 18, 2004. When police responded to the defendant’s basement apartment, they found the door open, took YaYa into custody and recovered a .38 caliber revolver.

Assistant District Attorney Richard Kearney is prosecuting the case.