Prosecuting Crimes Against Store Workers We announced the guilty plea of Tyshaun Watson for brutally attacking a 47-year-old pizzeria manager. “This employee, who was just doing his job, suffered significant injuries and had to be placed in a medically induced coma for two weeks. No worker should ever have to fear for their safety, and my Office will prosecute those who harm them,” said D.A. Bragg.
Gerald Barth was sentenced to 5 years in state prison for his role in an assault and robbery spree in the East Village, including an attack on the elderly owner of Ray’s Candy Store. “For his actions, Barth will now serve a state prison term and I thank our prosecutors for securing accountability for the victims,” said D.A. Bragg.
Zeroing in on Intimate Partner Violence Luis Marquez was indicted for allegedly murdering 47-year-old Carmen Lopez, his ex-girlfriend, by stabbing her more than 20 times. “Ambushed after a night out with friends, Ms. Lopez was left to die alone on the floor in her own apartment building. My heart is with Ms. Lopez’s loved ones as they grieve her immense loss,” said D.A. Bragg.
Combating Transit Crime We announced the indictment of a man for allegedly shoving a 24-year-old off-duty NYPD officer onto the tracks at the 3rd Avenue L-train station in the East Village. “I am thankful this off-duty officer was returned to safety with the help of a Good Samaritan. All New Yorkers deserve to be safe in our subway system, and those who commit this type of horrific violence will be prosecuted,” said D.A. Bragg.
Cracking Down on Gun Violence, We announced the all-count trial conviction of Lenue Moore who shot and killed Jacqueline Billini, her friend Levaughn Harvin, and her dog Zeus. “I commend the bravery of Ms. Billini’s and Mr. Harvin’s family members for coming forward to testify at trial to recount the horrific experiences they endured. I thank our prosecutors for presenting a strong and compelling case,” said D.A. Bragg.
Looking Ahead to the Next Four Years, D.A. Bragg sat down with Amsterdam News to discuss our office’s goals for the next four years. “We want to lean into the things that have worked very well in term one. Shootings down about 65% in Manhattan, homicides almost down 50% — so we want to continue that important work that is urgent,” said D.A. Bragg.
Advocating for Laws to Protect Everyday New Yorkers D.A. Bragg penned an op-ed in City and State NY advocating for a bill sponsored by State Senator Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Micah Lasher which would help prosecutors protect New Yorkers from tenant harassment. “No tenant should have to choose between living in uninhabitable conditions or being forced onto the street,” said D.A. Bragg.
We are proud to support State Senator Zellnor Myrie’s bill that would overhaul New York State's outdated laws against white-collar crime and fraud that costs New Yorkers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. “This bill would empower prosecutors to take on new kinds of financial crimes while ensuring penalties commensurate to the real harm they cause New Yorkers,” said D.A. Bragg.
Connecting With Our Navigators D.A. Bragg stopped by our Neighborhood Navigators’ weekly meeting at The Bridge to thank them for their hard work engaging with unhoused New Yorkers to connect them to longer-term services and resources.
D.A. Bragg also met with our Court-Based Navigators from the Fortune Society to acknowledge their work immediately connecting New Yorkers leaving their initial court appearances to resources and individualized treatment.
Seeking Accountability for Hate Crimes, We announced the sentencing of Salem Seleiman to 2 years in state prison for attacking a 29-year-old Jewish man in Times Square. “In recent years, we have seen increased threats and violence against Jewish New Yorkers, and we want the community to know that our Hate Crimes Unit takes these matters extremely seriously,” said D.A. Bragg.
Honoring Our Colleague We were honored to celebrate the memory of one of our beloved colleagues, the late Robert Ferrari, as he received the Thomas E. Dewey Medal posthumously. He will be remembered for his tireless commitment to the Office and unwavering support to the people he supervised, and will be deeply missed.
Investing in Our Youth We were thrilled to join Mayor Eric Adams, elected officials, and community partners for the ribbon cutting of the Brigadier General Charles Young Field. “I am proud to celebrate the culmination of this years-long effort to make Brigadier General Charles Young Field a place where young New Yorkers can play sports, make friends, and be mentored by caring adults in a safe and beautiful space,” said D.A. Bragg.
Staying Vigilant While Holiday Shopping As New Yorkers do their online shopping for the holidays, it is crucial to stay alert and beware of common scams. "Fraudsters who are looking to seize upon an opportunity can be very good, very persuasive,” said D.A. Bragg.
Did You Know Our Worker Protection Unit holds bad employers accountable and fights for hardworking New Yorkers to receive every dollar they earn.
Connecting with Our Community D.A. Bragg was proud to be honored by the Epsilon Sigma Harlem Chapter at their Harlem Renaissance Gala for his work as Manhattan D.A. and commitment to advancing public safety in the Harlem community.
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