With Mayor Eric Adams, we announced the launch of the Midtown Community Improvement Coalition, a new interagency quality of life improvement hub that will address public safety and quality of life issues in Midtown Manhattan. “We have already proven the success of these inter-agency collaborations through the 125th Street Hub, and I know we will be just as successful in Midtown. I want to thank Mayor Adams and his administration, the NYPD, the Garment District Alliance, and Times Square Alliance for their commitment to realizing this collaborative effort,” said D.A. Bragg.
The continued prevalence of ghost guns poses a major threat to public safety in New York City. We filed an amicus brief with Mayor Eric Adams in support of federal ghost gun regulations issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “These federal rules are a commonsense effort to make it easier for law enforcement to trace ghost guns when they are used in crimes & prevent them from falling into the hands of those who may already have a criminal history,” said D.A. Bragg.
We announced the indictment of three men for the shooting of 35-year-old Tobias Savice during an alleged gunpoint robbery, which led to his death weeks later. “Although Mr. Savice remained strong on his road towards recovery, he sadly succumbed to the effects of his injuries. I join his family and loved ones in remembering Mr. Savice’s life and honoring his memory,” said D.A. Bragg.
Steven Sylvester was indicted for allegedly attempting to shoot a 35-year-old Good Samaritan and shooting a 32-year-old man on a crowded train at an Upper East Side station. “We will continue holding people accountable who misuse our transit system as a hub for dangerous weapons and violence.” – D.A. Bragg.
New Yorkers surrendered firearms at our Washington Heights gun buyback with these partnerships with our community leaders are a critical part of our work to combat gun violence.
New Yorkers surrendered firearms at our Washington Heights gun buyback with these partnerships with our community leaders are a critical part of our work to combat gun violence.
We were thrilled to see so many people enjoying a beautiful day out in East Harlem at our annual Art of Healing festival as we stood with our community against gun violence, and support survivors in need of healing.
Standing Against Hate We announced additional hate crimes charges for an attack on a 29-year-old Jewish man in Times Square in 2021. “Violently assaulting someone because of their religion is unacceptable, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, community groups and local leaders to address attacks on the Jewish community,” said D.A. Bragg.
D.A. Bragg and members of the D.A.’s Office visited the Nova Music Festival Exhibition along with our partners in law enforcement in remembrance of the lives that were taken during the October 7 terrorist attack.
Celebrating Pride We had an amazing time celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community at Harlem Pride. We are proud to stand with our communities every single day!
Prosecuting Violent Crime Tyrese Haspil was convicted at trial for the brutal 2020 murder of his former boss, 33-year-old Tech CEO Fahim Saleh, after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. “Tyrese Haspil tragically cut Mr. Saleh’s life short – a man who came from a close-knit immigrant family and followed his passions to become a successful entrepreneur,” said D.A. Bragg.
Carl Phanor was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in state prison for violently sexually assaulting three women along the Manhattan waterfront on three separate occasions. “Phanor’s violent attacks did much more than cause physical harm, as many of the survivors continue to suffer deep emotional and psychological scars, and I stand with them as they continue to heal and address their trauma,” said D.A. Bragg.
Ove Williams was indicted for allegedly slashing a 32-year-old man with a machete in Times Square. “Pedestrians should feel safe when walking through the streets of New York, and my office holds those accountable who harm others,” said D.A. Bragg.
Connecting with our Community Partners We joined Harlem community leaders to discuss our Office’s work combating gun violence, prosecuting hate crimes, investing in mental health and more. Thank you to everyone who attended to learn, give feedback, and support our work!
Rooting out Fraud Nelson Counne was sentenced to 4-to-8 years in state prison for stealing more than $1.8 million from five women through a series of romance and investment scams. “While the scale of this fraud is remarkable, romance scams are all too common. We urge you to call us at 212-335-8900 if you or someone you know has been a victim,” said D.A. Bragg.
A postal worker and her partner were indicted for stealing credit cards and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of checks from the mail. “This type of conduct can be extremely harmful to the many Manhattanites who depend on reliable mail service for their paychecks or other important financial documents,” said D.A. Bragg.
Closing out Elder Abuse Awareness Month We hosted Elder Abuse Awareness Resource Fairs in our Washington Heights and Harlem Office’s providing fraud prevention tips, free shredder trucks, health resources, and more!
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Manhattan DA Newsletter
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