Press Releases for 2007


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Number & Date
Brief details for cases in December
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71. 12/19/2007
SAMUEL ENCARNACION (SENT: to 40 years to life imprisonment for the death of Johnny Torres and the attempted murder of Ofelia Torres. Encarnacion was found guilty of the stabbing death of Johnny Torres and the attempted murder of Ofelia Torres.)
70. 12/14/2007
BERNARD HINSON (CONVICTED: on one count of Murder in the 2nd degree in the shooting death of David Bovian and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree. The fatal shooting occurred on April 29, 2004 on the sidewalk in front of 1203 Findlay Avenue. The deceased, David Bovian, was standing with his brother Frazier Bovian and another person when a car drove by with Hinson sitting in the front passenger seat and another man, Damon Ellwood behind the wheel.)
69. 12/12/2007
KEITH MARTIN (ARRESTED: charged with Grand Larceny in the 2 degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 2nd degree. It is alleged that from July 14, 2000 through December 24, 2004 Martin stole approximately $118,000 while employed by the Archdiocese of New York as the Chief Financial Officer of Monsignor Scanlon High School.)
68. 12/12/2007
JOSHUA NOWRANG (CONVICTED: on one count of Murder in the 2nd degree. The jury deliberated for a little more than an hour before determining that Nowrang had ““intentionally caused the death”” of Rawayti ““Anita”” Haimraj, a 35-year-old mother of two children.)
67. 12/11/2007
PARKCHESTER AREA DRUG RING (INDICTED: more than two dozen alleged members of a major narcotics distribution ring operating in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. The ring engaged in both street level and wholesale drug sales totaling an estimated $140,000 a week. The 177 count indictment charges 31 individuals with conspiracy to traffic in heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine.)
66. 12/10/2007
EDGAR MORALES (SENTENCED: to two consecutive terms of 20 years to life imprisonment on the manslaughter and attempted murder convictions. Morales must serve a minimum of 40 years before he will be eligible for parole. Edgar Morales, a 25-year-old member of the St. James Boys street gang, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal shooting of ten year old Melanny Mendez and the attempted murder of Javier Tocchimani.)
65. 12/10/2007
ELIAS LANGGUTH (CONVICTED: on one count of Falsely Reporting an Incident in the 3rd degree, and two counts of Aggravated Harassment in the 2nd degree. Langguth, a Port Authority Police Officer, has been convicted of making a false report and racially insensitive telephone calls to a police command desk at the Port Authority.)
64. 12/06/2007
CHRISTOPHER PERINO (INDICTED: on 12 counts of Perjury in the 1st degree. Perino, a New York City Police Detective, is charged with lying while under oath at the trial of a Bronx man who was charged with attempted murder.)
63. 12/05/2007
RAPHAEL LORA (INDICTED: on one count of 1st degree manslaughter in the death of Honduran immigrant Fermin Arzu. Lora, an off duty New York City Police Officer, is charged with the shooting death of Arzu.)

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in November
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62. 11/30/2007
LAMAR PLATT (INDICTED: on Murder in the 1st degree and two counts Murder in the 2nd degree in the deaths of Marlene Platt and Nashon Platt. Platt is charged with murdering and dismembering his mother and brother.)
61. 11/30/2007
SAMUEL ENCARNACION (CONV: of Murder in the 2nd degree, in the death of Johnny Torres and Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree and Assault in the 1st degree of Ofelia Torres. Encarnacion was found guilty of the stabbing death of Johnny Torres and the attempted murder of Ofelia Torres.) Sentencing is set for December 17, 2007.
60. 11/01/2007
JOSE CALDERON (SENT: to a maximum term of 5 to 15 years imprisonment on one count of Manslaughter in the 2nd degree. Calderon was found guilty of the beating death of four-year-old Quachaun Brown in January 2006).

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in October
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59. 10/31/2007 EDGAR MORALES (CONV: of Manslaughter in the 1st degree in the death of Melanny Mendez and Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree in the shooting of Javier Tocchimani. Morales was also found guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree and Conspiracy in 2nd degree). Sentencing is set for November 14, 2007 in Part T-11.
58. 10/25/2007
PAUL TEJADA-JIMENEZ (P.G. to one count of Manslaughter in the 1st degree in the death of two year-old Sharllene Morillo). Sentencing is set for December 19, 2007 in Part 70.
57. 10/17/2007
JOSE CALDERON (CONV: on one count of Manslaughter in the 2nd degree. Calderon was found guilty in the beating death of four-year-old Quachaun Brown. Sentencing is set for November 1, 2007.
56. 10/10/2007
SHELDON BECKER (SENT: to 50 years to life imprisonment on one count of Murder in the 2nd degree and one count of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree. Becker pled guilty to stabbing a 22-year-old woman to death and seriously injuring her father on Christmas Day 2005).

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in September
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55. 09/20/2007
BURNESTHA WILDER and RAYLESHIA CAGE (ARRESTED: charged with one count each of Grand larceny in the 2nd degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 2nd degree, and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument. The defendants are charged with stealing the assets of an elderly stroke victim during her hospitalization and recovery).
54. 09/19/2007
EVELYN CRUZ (CONV: on one count of Inciting to Riot and one count of Making False Statements to Police. Cruz was found guilty of starting a brawl that left one of her young sons ‘brain dead’). Sentencing is set for October 15, 2007.
53. 09/18/2007
JONATHAN APONTE (P.G. to falsely reporting a shooting incident last July in an effort to avoid further military service in Iraq). Sentencing has been set for October 17, 2007 in Part A.
52. 09/17/2007
SHELDON BECKER (P.G. guilty to one count of Murder in the 2nd degree in the death of Demaris Lopez, and one count of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree in the wounding of Hector Lopez). Sentencing is set for October 9, 2007 in Part T 22.
51. 09/11/2007
DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROBERT T. JOHNSON announced the hiring of 54 New Assistant District Attorneys.
50. 09/06/2007

KWAME HODEN (SENT: to a term of 17 years to life imprisonment for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd degree. Hoden, a mandatory persistent violent felony offender, was found guilty of the illegal possession of a semi-automatic gun.

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in August
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49. 08/16/2007

RICARDO JIMENEZ (SENT: to a term of 22 years to life imprisonment on one count of Murder in the 2nd degree. Jimenez was found guilty of the fatal shooting of a movie patron at the Whitestone Multiplex Cinemas in July of 1989).
48. 08/07/2007
ANN LANDSMAN (SENT: to a Conditional Discharge on one count of Scheme to Defraud in the 1st degree. Landsman was found guilty of a scam involving the theft of tens of thousands of dollars by improperly filing time sheets for working simultaneous shifts at two different hospitals).
47. 08/01/2007
SPARKLE DANIEL and NADINE PANTON (INDICTED: on one count of Murder in the 1st degree, one count of Murder in the 2nd degree, and one count each of Robbery in the 1st and 2nd degrees. Both defendants are charged with the murder of 91- year-old Nellie Hocutt in January 2003).

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in July
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46. 07/26/2007
YVETTE D’ANGELO (INDICTED: on one count of Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree, one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd degree, and 17 counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd degree. D’Angelo is charged with stealing approximately $6,000 during a two-year period while employed by Sharp Realty, Inc.).
45. 07/18/2007
EDELMIRO CESAREO (SENT: to two consecutive terms of 25 years imprisonment on manslaughter charges. Cesareo was found guilty of the shooting deaths of his common law wife and her sister nearly two years ago).
44. 07/18/2007
ALEISHA SMITH (SENT: to 2 ½ to 7 ½ years imprisonment. Smith was found guilty of “recklessly causing the death” of her 5- year-old son, Quachaun Brown. Smith failed to seek prompt medical attention for her son who had been beaten allegedly by her boyfriend).
43. 07/13/2007
HOYT PHILLIPS (SENT: to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Phillips, a parolee, was found guilty of a series of armed robberies involving four victims).
42. 07/13/2007
RICARDO JIMENEZ (CONV: on one count of Murder in the 2nd degree. Jimenez was found guilty of the shooting death of Sean Worrell at the Whitestone Multiplex Cinemas in July of 1989). Sentencing has been set for August 6, 2007.
41. 07/09/2007
MARLON HENRY (SENT: to 29 years imprisonment for two counts of Manslaughter in the 1st degree. Henry was found guilty for his role in the shooting deaths of Robert Melendez and Kristopher Jimenez).
40. 07/06/2007
DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHNSON announces the appointment of a new Chief Assistant and other staff promotions.
39. 07/05/2007
MICHAEL O’CALLAGHAN (CONV: of three counts of Petit Larceny. Callaghan was found guilty of stealing gasoline purchased by the city to fuel vehicles that are used for official business.) Sentencing has been set September 10, 2007.
38. 07/05/2007
RODRIGUEZ, HECTOR (CONV: of Attempted Murder in the2nd degree, Assault in the 1st degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd and 3rd degrees. Rodriguez was found guilty of shooting Julio Miguel Verase). Sentencing has been set for August 3, 2007.

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in June
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37. 06/21/2007
Payback Bloods and Jump-Off Bloods (INDICTED: Fifteen reputed members or associates of the aforementioned street gangs were charged with selling crack cocaine at two neighboring New York City Housing Authority developments in the Morrisania section of the Bronx).
36. 06/19/2007
ALEISHA SMITH (P.G. to one count of Manslaughter in the 2nd degree. Smith pled guilty to “recklessly cause the death” of her 4- year-old son. Co-defendant, Jose Calderon, charged with murder in the death of Quachaun Brown, case is still pending.). Sentencing is set for Wednesday, July 18, 2007 in Part 70.
35. 06/19/2007
JULIA AYALA (SENT: to 15 years imprisonment for Robbery in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony offense and Grand larceny in the 4th degree, a Class A misdemeanor offense. Ayala was found guilty of robbing a construction worker who had been lured into a three card monte card scam).
34. 06/15/2007
STEPHEN BASCIANO (SENT: to 2 ½ years imprisonment followed by another 2 years post release supervision. Basciano was found guilty of assaulting and seriously injuring a man whose complaints led to the arrest of the defendant’s brother).
33. 06/15/2007
WILLIAM VEGA (INDICTED: on one count of Murder in the 2nd degree, one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th degree, one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th degree, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a child. Vega is charged with the stabbing death of his 30-year-old, girlfriend, the mother of his three children).
32. 06/14/2007
RENE BONILLA (SENT: to 50 years to life imprisonment for Murder in the 2nd degree and Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree. Bonilla was found guilty of murdering a 10-year-old girl and the attempted murder of a 19-year-old youth).
31. 06/07/2007
ANGEL CABRAL, WALLMER CORREAS, KANJY FELIPE (INDICTED: charged, with multiple counts of Robbery in the 1st , 2nd and 3rd degrees, Burglary in the 1st and 2nd degrees, Attempted Robbery in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Cabral, Correas and Felipe were “acting in concert” when they allegedly forced their way into a home in the Baychester section of the Bronx).
30. 06/07/2007
25 LAW SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS begin summer intern program at the Office of the Bronx District Attorney.
29. 06/06/2007
ANN LANDSMAN (CONV: of one count of Scheme to Defraud in the 1st degree. Landsman a former Physician’s Assistant was found guilty of a scam involving the theft of tens of thousands of dollars by improperly filing time sheets for working simultaneous shifts at two different hospitals). Sentencing is set for Wednesday, July 18, 2007.
28. 06/05/2007
MARIA T. CORTESE, Senior Assistant District Attorney, an esteemed ADA for nearly 24 years, was installed as the new President of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York.
27. 06/01/2007

GAIL LEWIS, Assistant Deputy Warden and SHERMAN GRAHAM, Captain (ARRESTED: Graham is charged with Attempted Assault in the 3rd degree, Falsifying Business Records in the 1st degree and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st degree. Lewis is charged with Falsifying Business Records in the 1st degree, Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st degree and Official Misconduct. Assistant Deputy Warden Gail Lewis and Captain Sherman Graham were indicted for an incident involving inmate Brian Mitchell at the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island on October 4, 2006).

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in May
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26. 05/24/2007
EILEEN KORANTENG (ARRESTED: charged with Grand larceny in the 2nd, forgery in the 2nd degree and Criminal possession of a forged instrument in the 2nd degree. Koranteng a former Accountant Assistant at the Riverdale Country School is charged with allegedly stealing approximately $508,000 from the school)
25. 05/17/2007
EDELMIRO CESAREO (CONV: of Manslaughter in the 1st degree, one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Cesareo was found guilty in the shooting deaths of his wife and her sister). Sentencing has been set for Wednesday, July 18, 2007.
24. 05/16/2007
HOYT PHILLIPS a Mandatory Persistent Violent Offender (CONV: of four counts of Robbery in the 1st degree. Phillips was found guilty of robbing four women at knife-point within a period of seven days in October 2004).
23. 05/11/2007
RENE BONILLA ( CONV: of Murder in the 2nd degree and Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree. Bonilla was found guilty in the shooting death of a 10-year-old girl and the wounding of a 19-year-old youth in a playground on Labor Day, September 5, 2005).
22. 05/10/2007
TRAVIS SQUIBB (ARRESTED: and charged with Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the 1st and 2nd degrees, and Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Squibb is charged with attempting to disseminate sexually explicit nude images to numerous “underage” girls via the Internet).
21. 05/08/2007
DONALD McKINNON (CONV: of one count of Assault in the 1st degree, one count of Attempted Kidnapping in the 2nd degree and one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 5th degree. McKinnon was found guilty with attempting to kidnap a Health Inspector).
20. 05/03/2007
GEORGE MARTINEZ a repeat offender (SENT: to 17 ½ years to life imprisonment. Martinez was convicted last month on burglary and possession of stolen property).

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in April
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19. 04/12/2007
M. F. (SENT: to be placed on probation for a period of 24 months accompanied by intensive counseling, including individual therapy and family therapy. M.F. was adjudicated last December as ‘responsible’ for the depraved indifference murder of her infant son. The baby was killed on January 14,2005.
18. 04/03/2007
DOLORES RODAS,aka CARMEN LARA (INDICTED: on multiple counts of grand larceny and practicing medicine without a license). Rodas is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Monday, May 21, 2007 in Part A.

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in March
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17. 03/30/2007
DAVID BROWN (INDICTED: on two counts of Criminal Solicitation in the 2nd degree. Brown a Rikers Island inmate is charged with attempting to hire a hit man to assassinate New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly).
16. 03/29/2007
DOLORES RODAS , aka CARMEN LARA (ARRESTED: and charged with Grand Larceny in the 2nd and 3rd degrees, Assault in the 2nd and 3rd degrees, Reckless Endangerment in the 1st degree, Unauthorized Practice, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th degree and Harassment in the 2nd degree. Rodas has been arrested for allegedly pretending to be a doctor, whose treatments left a New Jersey couple seriously injured and financially drained).
15. 03/28/2007
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ (P.G. to two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd degree. Rodriguez pled guilty to using forged credentials to obtain employment as a mental health consultant with a non-profit organization). Sentencing is set for April 17, 2007 in Part A.
14. 03/23/2007
JUAN MEDINA (CONV.: of Robbery in the 1st degree. Medina, who claimed he was a confidential informant for the federal authorities, was convicted of armed robbery in connection with a “home invasion” in November 2004). Sentencing is set for April 16, 2007, in Part T-19.
13. 03/22/2007
AMIR DOUGLAS (CONV.: of Gang Assault in the 1st degree and Assault in the 2nd degree in the fatal beating of Tyreece Abney, on October 3, 2004. The incident occurred at the George Motchen Detention Center at the City Jail on Rikers Island). Sentencing is set for April 26, 2007 in Part T-27.
12. 03/16/2007
DERRICK GARCIA ( CONV: of Murder in the 2nd degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree. Garcia was found guilty of shooting Stephen Miranda to death as the victim sat behind the wheel of his car in June 2004). Sentencing is set for April 5, 2007 in Part T4.
11. 03/08/2007
UMBERTO PITTARI (ARREST: and charged with Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the 1st and 2nd degrees, and Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Pittari it is alleged engaged in numerous Internet chats via instant messaging with a detective whom Pittari believed to be a 14 year old girl.

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in February
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10. 02/23/2007
NICHOLAS VEGIER (INDICTED: on one count of Attempted Rape in the 1st degree, two counts of Sexual Abuse in the 1st degree, one count of Unlawful Imprisonment in the 2nd degree, one count of Resisting Arrest and one count of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree. Vegier was charged with the attempted rape of a 17 year old girl, by allegedly forcing her into an ambulette). The defendant will be arraigned on the indictment on May 7, 2007 in State Supreme Court, Part A.
9. 02/20/2007
SHARON SCOTT (INDICTED: on two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree, one count of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree, one count each of Arson in the 1st and 2nd degrees, two counts of Assault in the 1st degree, one count of Assault in the 2nd degree, one count of Reckless Endangerment in the 1st degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th degree. Scott has been charged with causing the death of Amanda Adjivon, and a fire in an effort to kill her husband, James Hicks). The defendant will be arraigned in State Supreme Court, Part A, on Wednesday, March 21, 2007.
8. 02/06/2007
JUAN RODRIGUEZ and MARIBEL CACERES (INDICTED: Rodriguez is charged with Murder in the 2nd degree, Manslaughter in the 1st and 2nd degrees and Illegally disposing of the child’s body. Caceres is charged with Hindering prosecution in the 1st degree and Illegally disposing of the child’s body. Two month old Giovanna Marie Rodriguez death occurred on January 29, 2007). Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned on indictment, March 26, 2007 in Part A. Caceres is scheduled to be arraigned on indictment, March 5, 2007 in Part A.
7. 02/06/2007
MARLON HENRY (P.G. to two counts of Manslaughter in the 1st degree. Henry was convicted of “acting in concert” in the shooting deaths of a war veteran and his best friend in November 2003). Sentencing is set for Monday, February 26, 2007 in Part T-11.
6. 02/02/2007
SHAKUR MUHAMMAD and HENRY TIMMONS (INDICTED: on Gang Assault in the 1st degree, assault in the 2nd degree, Burglary in the 2nd and 3rd degrees, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Both defendants are charged with the assault of a elementary school principal in the school cafeteria). The arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, 2007 in Part A.

Number & Date
Brief details for cases in January
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5. 01/26/2007
FAIZ HADDAD, ABDELMAJID LABABNEH and BRIAN BESS (PG: Haddad on Money laundering in the 2nd degree, Lababneh on Money laundering in the 3rd degree and Bess on Violation of New York State Tax Law. All three pled guilty in money laundering case involving the sale of untaxed cigarettes on the black market). Haddad will be sentenced February 7, 2007 in Part T-23, Lababneh will be sentenced February 6, 2007 in Part T-60 and Bess will be sentenced March 13, 2007 in Part T-60.
4. 01/25/2007
ROHAN CAMPBELL (CONV: on one count of Burglary in the 1st degree. Rohan is serving 25 years in prison for the abduction and sexual assault of a young woman, is now facing an additional 25 years in prison following his second felony conviction). Sentencing is set for January 31, 2007 in Part T-19.
3. 01/22/2007
ALAN BROWN (aka C Philly), (INDICTED: on two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree, two counts of Manslaughter in the 1st degree and Criminal Possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree. Brown was indicted today for the murder of Shawron Hughes in a contract killing that occurred on July 7, 2005. Two other people named in the indictment, Terrance Degraffenreid (aka T), 33, and Duane Heath, (aka Cin), 19, were arraigned last week).
2. 01/18/2007
BRIAN GONZALEZ (P.G. to two counts of Criminal mischief in the 2nd degree and two counts of Criminal mischief in the 4thdegree. Gonzalez was charged with using cans of spray paint to damage private property). Sentencing is set for March 8, 2007 in Part 20.
1. 01/02/2007
MICHAEL WILLIAMS (SENT: to 25 years to life imprisonment in the brutal murder of his newborn son in December 2003).

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