ADDABBO CONCERT RE-SCHEDULED:
Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.’s Big Band Swing Concert, co-sponsored by Flor Cawley/State Farm, originally scheduled for Friday, September 25, was postponed due to forecasted rain and will now take place on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Forest Park Bandshell.
GREEK AMERICAN HOMEOWNERS ASSN MTG:
The next General Meeting of the Greek American Homeowners Association will take place on Wednesday, October 7, at 7:00 pm at 23-49 31st Street, Astoria. Scheduled guest speaker is Nicole Garcia from the Department of Transportation.
RIDER ALERT: J AND M SERVICE AFFECTED:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced a series of service changes to the J and M lines. October 17 to November 23, the J train will operate between Jamaica Center-Parson/Archer and Myrtle Av-Broadway for the weekends of Oct. 17 to 18, Oct. 24 to 25, Nov. 7 to 9, Nov. 13 to 16, and Nov. 20 to 23, from 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 10:00 p.m. Sunday.
Limited M service will operate in two sections with trains arriving every 20 minutes: Between Middle Village-Metropolitan Av and Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs with connection to the train and between Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs and Myrtle Av on Broadway connecting riders to the train.
The MTA encourages riders to utilize additional train line such as the A C and L to travel between Manhattan and Jamaica.
Stay informed by visiting mta.info or using the MTA app.
JULIE WON PROTESTS FOR SOIL DECONTAMINATION IN COURT SQUARE:
Council Member Julie Won (CD-26, Queens) joined dozens of Long Island City neighbors and dog owners at a rally outside the Murray Playground dog run entrance to demand that NYC Parks accelerate the long-delayed remediation of the park, which has remained closed since February 2024.
NYC Parks fenced the Murray Playground dog run on February 14, 2024, immediately after soil testing revealed lead, arsenic, copper, and cadmium contamination. Council Member Won’s office requested an updated retesting timeline and site safety fencing one week later. Subsequent testing found the contamination spread across more than 20,000 square feet, roughly a third of a football field, triggering the City’s Unified Stormwater Rule and requiring a full redesign of the site’s drainage system. Design work was completed in May 2026, but procurement has not started, and NYC Parks has not submitted required permits, including a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a Site Connection Permit, in a timely manner. At the current pace, construction would not begin until spring 2027, with the dog run not reopening until 2028, four years after it closed.
Money is not the obstacle. The project has $15,248,000 in allocated capital funding, including $9,948,000 from the Mayor and $5,300,000 from the City Council, with an additional funding request pending to cover expanded remediation and the new drainage system.
Council Member Won is calling on NYC Parks and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to run environmental reviews, stormwater approvals, and contractor bidding concurrently rather than sequentially, which could cut months off the timeline. She is also calling on NYC Parks to open a fenced, temporary dog run elsewhere in Long Island City while the community waits, and on City Hall to approve the pending funding request while NYC Parks publishes a public schedule with firm deadlines.
“The Parks Department needs to hurry for Murray. Our families, our kids, and our dogs cannot wait any longer. My Council District has the least park space per resident in New York City, and any further delays will widen that disparity,” said Council Member Julie Won. “Closing the dog run in 2024 was the right call for public health but the soil should have been remediated immediately. The money for this project has been sitting there since the start, over $15 million between the Mayor and the City Council. We need urgency–I am calling on NYC Parks and DEP to run their reviews and permitting at the same time instead of one after another, to open a temporary dog run for our neighbors now, and to publish a public schedule with real deadlines. Long Island City is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in New York City, and our families should not have to wait until 2028 for a safe place to bring their families, children, and dogs.”
Council Member Won urges NYC Parks and City Hall to act on these requests without further delay. Without any further steps, Murray Playground is scheduled to open in 2028.
SCHULMAN ON E-BIKES:
Council Member Lynn Schulman introduced legislation focused on ensuring New Yorkers have the tools they need to address issues affecting their health, safety, and well-being, along with e-bike legislation to hold delivery apps accountable. She introduced legislation to require delivery services that facilitate or arrange for deliveries in New York City to obtain a business license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. “Delivery apps play an increasingly important role in how New Yorkers receive food and goods, and they should be held accountable for operating safely and following the rules. By bringing these companies under a licensing framework, the City would have stronger oversight and enforcement tools to ensure that delivery platforms are meeting their responsibilities.”
QUEENS BIKE TOUR:
From the office of Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.: “Not even the chilly rain was going to stop hundreds of us from hopping on our bikes and zipping across The World’s Borough during our inaugural Ride Queens bike tour on Sunday, September 20! One of the best ways to see Queens is by bike, and our borough’s diverse cycling community is growing by the day. Ride Queens aimed to celebrate both facts, as we invited riders from all walks of life to pedal together along 12- and 25-mile routes that began and ended in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. To the hundreds of kids, families and cycling enthusiasts who participated with excited smiles on your faces, thank you for making Ride Queens such a smashing success, despite the weather. We hoped you enjoyed the food, giveaways and so much more, courtesy of our many sponsor organizations. Not only will we always celebrate and encourage people to join Queens’ cycling community through rides like this — we will continue to fight for and invest in safer streets for all who use them, bike riders included. Thank you to Transportation Alternatives and NYC Parks for partnering with us and delivering a ride to remember. We’ll see you next year for Ride Queens 2027!”
HANAC 54TH ANNUAL GALA:
HANAC’s 54th Annual Gala honoring Magnusson Architecture and Planning PC, Company of the Year; County Executive Ken Jenkins, Public Service Award; Helen Tritaris, Volunteer of the Year on Friday, October 30 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, 142 West 54th Street in Manhattan.
COUNCILMAN CALLS FOR SUBPOENAS ON CITY HALL’S USE OF SIGNAL:
New York City Councilman Frank Morano today called on the City Council’s Committee on Governmental Operations, State and Federal Legislation to consider issuing subpoenas to compel testimony from administration officials with firsthand knowledge of City Hall’s use of Signal to communicate with social media influencers. During Tuesday’s oversight hearing, Morano submitted a January 15, 2026 memorandum from the Mayor’s Office of the Chief Counsel, provided to him by a former Mayor’s Office employee.
The three-page memorandum, titled “Communication Requirements and Best Practices,” explicitly instructs employees not to use WhatsApp, Signal, or other communications applications for government business. It also establishes procedures intended to ensure the preservation of government communications. The document contains a typographical error listing the year as 2022. Morano’s source confirmed that the memorandum was issued in January 2026.
The administration has previously acknowledged the use of Signal to communicate with influencers and stated that exceptions to its general messaging restrictions can be authorized by the Chief Counsel’s office. However, questions remain about whether the particular influencer group received such authorization, what conditions were imposed, and whether substantive government records were preserved. Morano has asked committee counsel to advise on the procedural steps necessary to pursue subpoenas and obtain the relevant documents.
LIFELONG DEMOCRAT ENDORSES BLAKEMAN FOR GOVERNOR:
Fueling an expanding statewide movement of voters crossing party lines, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman welcomed the endorsement of former New York City Council Member Bob Holden, a lifelong Democrat who will now co-chair the “Democrats for Blakeman” coalition.
“Every day as I travel around the state… Democrats come up to me and say, ‘Bruce, I’m a lifelong Democrat. I’ve never voted Republican in my life, but I’m voting for you this year,’” said Blakeman. “The issues that face the people of this state are not Republican or Democratic issues. They are affordability and safety issues. Hochul hiked taxes to the highest in the nation. You pay 70% more than the rest of the nation for energy. I’ve never met a democrat who wants to pay higher bills, and that’s why they’re supporting my plan to cut state income taxes, slash utility bills in half, create high-paying jobs, and restore public safety.”
“Kathy Hochul is the worst Governor in America. If we go on four more years of Kathy Hochul, we are doomed in New York State. No doubt about it. Did you ever think you would see a Democratic party endorse socialism, communism… terrorism? I never thought this would happen in my lifetime, but it’s happened. That is why Bruce Blakeman—with his track record of cutting taxes and keeping communities safe—is someone Democrats can get behind to put everyday people first,” Holden said.
The “Democrats for Blakeman” coalition continues to gain momentum across the state as voters rally behind the Blakeman platform centered on economic relief, lower utility rates, and safer communities.
BLAKEMAN ON SIENA POLL:
Nassau County Executive and candidate for Governor of New York Bruce Blakeman said in response to the Siena poll released today: “All polls continue to show Kathy Hochul’s downward spiral and me closing the gap as New Yorkers learn more about my plan to cut income taxes by historic margins and slash electric bills in half. And let’s remember: at this point in the 2022 race, a Siena poll had Lee Zeldin trailing Kathy Hochul by 17 points. Today, our race is in single digits, with one-third of New Yorkers still needing to learn more about me.”
MENG ON ADDITIONAL $31 MILLION IN AID TO NEPAL AND TIBET:
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) today released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to provide an additional $31 million in humanitarian assistance to Nepal and Tibet following the deadly flooding on August 26:
“After devastating floods struck Nepal and Tibet, the United States initially sent only one advisor and $500,000 in assistance. Trump Administration officials themselves acknowledged that the U.S. response was ‘slow.’ After I pressed Administration officials during an Appropriations Committee hearing to increase aid and strengthen rescue support, the Administration is now delivering a total of $36 million in humanitarian assistance. While this remains far below what affected communities need, it is a significant improvement over the Administration’s original response. As families continue searching for loved ones and communities begin the difficult work of recovery, I will continue standing with Nepali and Tibetan communities in Queens and advocating for the robust assistance they need to rebuild.”
WON ON SUNNYSIDE YARD:
Council Member Julie Won: “We need truly affordable housing in Queens, but we need a real plan to execute. Since the last discussion on Sunnyside Yard months ago between the Mayor and President there is no funding from Congress nor any public meetings to move this project forward. There is no federal, state, or city bill allocating funding for this project. There is still no timeline. Congress would have to fund it, and the State and City Legislature would have to approve it.
“Our neighbors in Sunnyside yet again were not part of yesterday’s conversation, and there still has been no meaningful engagement with the public. Any plan for Sunnyside Yard must begin with them, through a full ULURP process, and deliver homes for families earning 0 to 50 percent of AMI. Until we see real funding, real approvals process, and real community engagement, this is a conversation, not a housing project.”
QUEENS STUDENT HONORED WITH AG TRIPLE C AWARD:
Flushing’s own Jesus Sanchez Vazquez, 16, has been honored with the New York State Attorney General’s Triple C Award, a statewide recognition celebrating students who demonstrate exceptional commitment, character, and courage.
Jesus is a student at the International Academy of Hope (iHOPE), a specialized school operated by YAI that serves students with brain injuries and brain-based disorders. He was nominated by his teacher, Brithney Remy, and was presented with the award during a class celebration with his mother by his side.
The Triple C Award, sponsored by the Office of the New York State Attorney General, recognizes up to two students per school statewide for succeeding academically, serving their communities, displaying leadership, or overcoming personal obstacles. “In the face of adversity, Jesus Sanchez Vazquez has continued to serve as a role model and demonstrate everything the Triple C award represents,” said New York Attorney General James. “Amid challenges, he has remained steadfast in his devotion to learning, while engaging his peers and educators in both academic discourse and in spreading kindness. I am honored to recognize Jesus for his perseverance and dedication to his education.”
Jesus, who has attended iHOPE for three years, communicates using an assistive communication device — and has made it a tool for leadership. He regularly advocates for new vocabulary to be added to his device in both English and Spanish, then explores the meanings of those words and uses them to hold richer conversations with classmates, teachers, and therapists.
“Jesus demonstrates a genuine and consistent love for learning,” said Remy. “He doesn’t just request new words for his device — he revisits them, explores their meanings, and uses them to connect with everyone around him. His initiative, curiosity, and persistence embody true academic commitment.”
This year, Jesus also faced a new medical diagnosis requiring daily monitoring and significant changes to his routine — a challenge he has met with openness and resolve.
“He has adapted with remarkable bravery, and he speaks about these changes with honesty and strength,” Remy said. “His resilience shows a level of courage I greatly admire. He is a role model to his peers and an inspiration to every adult who works with him.”
Known at school for his wit, curiosity, and kindness, Jesus enjoys reading, movies, and spending time with friends. He takes great pride in his growing independence, both in and out of the classroom.
Local elected officials have taken notice of Jesus and the services he is receiving through YAI.
“Jesus’ accomplishments, dedication, and commitment to learning exemplify the qualities we hope to see in the leaders of the next generation,” said Council Member Linda Lee, co-Chair of the Queens Delegation. “As Jesus continues to pursue his academic goals, I am confident that he will continue to make Queens and our city proud. I am grateful to YAI for being part of the village that has supported and empowered Jesus along his journey, and to Attorney General James for recognizing and celebrating his accomplishments.”
Jesus represents the very best of Queens: courage, curiosity, determination, and a commitment to growing every single day. I am proud to congratulate him on receiving the New York State Attorney General’s Triple C Award, a well-deserved recognition of the leadership he demonstrates in and beyond the classroom,” said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry, Co-Chair of the Queens Delegation. His achievement is a powerful reminder that leadership takes many forms, and we must continue to recognize, celebrate, and create opportunities for students with disabilities.”
About iHOPE: The International Academy of Hope is a specialized school serving students ages 5–21 with brain injuries and brain-based disorders, operated by YAI, a New York nonprofit supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn more at yai.org/ihope.
ROZIC CELEBRATES OPENING OF QUEENS HILLEL 188TH:
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) joined Queens Hillel for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the organization’s new student hub at 80-15 188th Street in Jamaica, aptly named: Queens Hillel 188th.
Rozic allocated $195,000 in state funding for the Hillel International Foundation, Inc. to support the creation of an off-campus Hillel centrally located to serve Jewish students from St. John’s University, Queens College, and Queensborough Community College (QCC).
Hillels serve to enrich and support Jewish students with resources, mentorship, and a sense of belonging and community. The funding will support staffing at the new hub, including a mental health social worker, as well as staff at participating universities to expand outreach, raise awareness of Hillel’s resources, and connect more students with its services. “Queens is one of the most diverse places in the world, and our college students deserve spaces where they can celebrate their identity, build community, and know that they are supported,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. “As students navigate the challenges of college life, spaces like 188th Street are essential in providing access to resources that promote well-being and connections”
MAMDANI ANNOUNCES MOST TREES PLANTED IN A DECADE:
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura today announced that the City planted 18,261 trees in fiscal year 2026, the most in a single fiscal year since 2016.
The new trees will bring cleaner air, cooler streets, greater flood resiliency and more greenery to neighborhoods across the five boroughs, with the majority planted in communities most vulnerable to extreme heat. This record-setting year reflects an aggressive new approach by NYC Parks to accelerate tree planting and expand the city’s tree canopy, advancing the goals of the Urban Forest Plan to reach 30% canopy coverage by 2040.
To plant more trees, NYC Parks started earlier. The agency partnered with nurseries to build a larger supply of trees before planting season, harvested many trees before spring bud-break and kept newly planted trees watered and mulched throughout the summer. NYC Parks will use the same strategy to get ahead of this fall’s planting season. “Our administration is building a city where every neighborhood can find cool shade on a hot day, breathe clean air and enjoy the beauty of a healthy tree canopy,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Access to green space and relief from extreme heat should not depend on your ZIP code. Planting more trees, especially in the neighborhoods that need them most, will help make our city cooler, healthier and more beautiful for all New Yorkers.”
The majority of the City’s new trees were planted in neighborhoods vulnerable to extreme heat, including: In Queens: Hunters Point, Sunnyside, Long Island City, Elmhurst, Laurelton, St. Albans, South Ozone Park, Queens Village, and Cambria Heights.
New York City is home to more than 7 million trees spanning more than 100 species. New Yorkers can help keep the city’s trees healthy by signing up for stewardship events through NYC Parks, watering neighborhood trees weekly and weeding unwanted plants from tree beds — young trees are extra thirsty!
WONG CALLS FOR SURGE IN NYPD RESOURCES:
Council Member Phil Wong (D-Queens) today called for an immediate surge of NYPD resources into the 104th, 110th and 112th Precincts following a continuing string of violent robberies, jewelry thefts and other public safety incidents across the district.
The latest incident occurred Wednesday morning in Maspeth, where, according to preliminary information, an elderly man was robbed by perpetrators on a moped who allegedly displayed a weapon and struck him in the head. The victim was taken to the hospital. The attack follows recent robberies in Middle Village, Elmhurst, Rego Park and surrounding communities involving firearms, mopeds and scooters. Police have also warned about a separate jewelry-swap crime pattern in which crews target older residents, distract them and replace valuable jewelry with fake pieces.
“You can tell people crime is down all day long, but that is not what my constituents are seeing,” said Wong. “An elderly man was attacked and robbed this morning. We have seniors being targeted in jewelry-swap schemes, violent robberies involving guns, and just days ago we had another street takeover at 69th Street and Eliot Avenue. Public safety in our neighborhoods is not getting better. From what people are seeing and experiencing, it is getting much worse.”
Wong is calling for additional officers on patrol, more detectives, targeted deployments in areas experiencing repeated incidents, stepped-up enforcement against mopeds and scooters, and greater coordination between the precincts. “Our precincts need more resources and more cops out on the street,” added Wong. “These problems are crossing precinct and neighborhood lines, and the NYPD needs the manpower to respond the same way. We need a surge of resources now, not after somebody else gets hurt.”
*** CRIME BLOTTER ***
FAR ROCKAWAY MAN SENTENCED FOR GANG ASSAULT:
Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Violent Assault on Malba Couple
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Justin Aguilera was sentenced to 4½ years in prison for brutally attacking a Malba couple outside their home during an illegal car meetup in November 2025. Aguilera pleaded guilty last month to gang assault after attacking the male homeowner, who attempted to clear him and other trespassers from his lawn. He punched the victim’s wife in the face when she attempted to protect her spouse.
District Attorney Katz said: “Justin Aguilera participated in a lawless street takeover and then, acting with others, viciously assaulted a married couple on the lawn of their nearby home. We will not allow illegal car meetups to disrupt our peaceful neighborhoods, and we will use every tool at our disposal to arrest and prosecute the organizers and participants who create mayhem. I thank my prosecutors and our partners at the NYPD for apprehending this defendant and getting justice for the homeowners.”
Aguilera, 20, of Far Rockaway, pleaded guilty in August to gang assault in the second degree in satisfaction of the original indictment. Queens Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino sentenced him today to 4 ½ years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.
District Attorney Katz said that, according to the court record and indictment, on November 23, 2025, at approximately 12:40 a.m., a homeowner heard a loud commotion outside his residence on 11th Avenue in Malba caused by multiple motor vehicles spinning their tires and creating smoke in front of the corner property. The homeowner saw a group of at least 10 people, including the defendant, gathered near his yard. The homeowner went outside holding a baseball bat and accompanied by his wife and told the group to leave the area. At that time, approximately six to eight individuals in the group advanced onto the lawn, surrounding the homeowner and advancing toward the front door of the residence. One of them threatened to kill the husband saying, “I’ll pop you. I’ll put you six feet under. You’re not hard.”
The victim was punched, causing him to fall. Aguilera, along with others, then punched, kicked and stomped on the male victim while he was on the ground. When the victim’s wife attempted to intervene and push the individuals away from her husband, Aguilera punched her in the mouth. Following the physical attack, Aguilera fled the area. The male victim suffered multiple rib fractures, a fracture of his right shoulder and other related injuries.
Approximately three hours later, at 3:53 a.m. that morning, Aguilera was arrested for several traffic violations near the intersection of Union Turnpike and Utopia Parkway, in the same car he fled the scene in and wearing clothing that led to his identification in video footage of the earlier assault. He was arrested in December for his role in the Malba incident.
FORMER POSTAL WORKER CHARGED WITH CASHING STOLEN CHECKS:
Defendant Allegedly Acted in Concert with Others to Cash Checks at South Ozone Park Post Office; Received more than $50,000 in Kickbacks; Faces up to Five to 15 Years in Prison, if Convicted
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Kasandra Perez was arrested for grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a forged instrument and other crimes for allegedly cashing United States Treasury checks intended for others while working as a clerk at the South Ozone Park post office. Perez is alleged to have cashed 20 stolen checks in March and April totaling more than $56,000 and received $50,330 in kickbacks. The stolen checks were primarily tax refunds and Social Security and Veterans Administration benefit payments.
District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this former U.S. Postal Service clerk worked with accomplices to steal and cash more than $56,000 worth of checks that were primarily tax refunds, Social Security payments and veterans’ benefit payments. As part of the scheme, Kasandra Perez cashed the checks brought to her window by accomplices and then paid herself with money orders purchased with the stolen funds. I thank our partners at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and USPS Office of Inspector General for their work on this case. The investigation is ongoing.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the New York Division said: “This arrest disrupted a fraud scheme that diverted thousands of dollars in stolen checks and victimized honest hard-working individuals. The defendant in this case took advantage of her position, as a USPS employee, for their own financial gain. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to working with our partners to protect the integrity of the U.S. Mail and hold those who exploit it accountable. This investigation validates the commitment of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to protect the U.S. Postal Service while ensuring and securing the public trust in the mail.”
Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General said: “Postal Service employees are entrusted with protecting the mail and serving the public with integrity. When that trust is violated, we will work with our law enforcement partners to pursue accountability. We thank the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their continued partnership in this investigation.”
Perez, 31, of Brooklyn, was arraigned Thursday night on a 104-count criminal complaint charging her with one count of grand larceny in the second degree, one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree, 20 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree, 20 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, nine counts of grand larceny in the third degree, nine counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, 11 counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, 11 counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, 16 counts of identity theft in the first degree, four counts of identity theft in the second degree and two counts of scheme to defraud in the first degree.
Queens Criminal Court Judge Sharifa Nasser-Cuellar ordered Perez to return to court September 24. She faces a potential maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Perez and a codefendant, Davaun High, were previously charged with similar crimes committed on three different dates: two counts of grand larceny in the third degree, two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, four counts of forgery in the second degree, four counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, four counts of identity theft in the first degree, two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree and two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General began an investigation into Perez in July 2025. The DA’s office joined the investigation in December 2025.
District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, Perez worked as a clerk at the South Ozone Park post office where between March 12, 2026, and April 28, 2026, she cashed 20 stolen U.S. Treasury checks totaling $56,821.71. The checks were intended for recipients living in New York and other states including Pennsylvania, Florida, Washington and Hawaii.
On March 12, Perez allegedly processed transactions for an unapprehended individual who purchased five money orders, subsequently made out to Perez, totaling $4,260. She then cashed three allegedly stolen U.S. Treasury checks totaling approximately $4,700. The checks were Social Security and VA payments. The money orders were allegedly payment to Perez for cashing the stolen and forged Treasury checks.
On March 23, the defendant is alleged to have processed transactions by an unapprehended individual involving the purchase of eight money orders, subsequently made out to Perez, totaling $6,950. She then cashed three treasury checks, all tax refunds, totaling approximately $7,600. One of the checks was intended for a New York man who told investigators that he never received it and that the defendant did not have permission or authority to possess and cash the check and further that any signature in the endorsement of the check was not authorized and was forged.
A similar pattern continued on 10 more dates where Perez issued money orders to an unapprehended male who came to her window to cash thousands of dollars in treasury checks. Most of the checks were tax refunds. In total, Perez allegedly received approximately $50,330 in payments.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
LONG ISLAND MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES:
Defendant Fled to Florida After Shooting and was Extradited to New York; Defendant faces 25 Years to Life in Prison, if Convicted
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jhavaughn Pinnock was arraigned on an indictment charging him with murder and other crimes in connection with the April 2023 shooting death of 23-year-old Jevaughn Jeminson outside the Pure Lounge nightclub in St. Albans. Pinnock was apprehended in Florida and extradited to New York.
District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant coldly executed a young man on the streets of Queens and then fled the state to avoid accountability. We never give up on seeking justice for victims and will aggressively prosecute this case as we seek justice for the victim and his family. I thank my prosecutors and our partners with the US Marshals Service, the Hollywood Florida Police Department and the NYPD for their work on this case.”
Pinnock, 35, of Elmont, was arraigned yesterday on an indictment charging him with murder in the second degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Supreme Court Justice Gia Morris remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court on October 23. If convicted, Pinnock faces 25 years to life in prison.
Codefendant Christopher King was arrested in Georgia on August 16, 2023, and extradited to New York. He pleaded guilty December 1, 2025, to manslaughter in the first degree and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on April 8, 2023, at approximately 1:56 a.m., Pinnock and codefendant King attempted to re-enter Pure Lounge, located at 126-19 Merrick Boulevard, after previously being inside. King, who was in possession of a firearm, was frisked and permitted to enter the lounge without his firearm being detected. Pinnock was then frisked, and after his firearm was discovered, he was denied entry. Pinnock briefly walked around the corner from the lounge and King exited the club, looking for Pinnock. The two then returned to the entrance and again waited in line. Both defendants were frisked a second time and, with neither firearm detected, were permitted inside the lounge.
After entering the lounge, Pinnock and King returned to the VIP section where they had previously been socializing with their group. Approximately 10 minutes later, the other members of their group began leaving the lounge. Rather than exit with them, Pinnock and King remained inside and positioned themselves at a high-top table near the exit door. Shortly thereafter, the victim, Jevaughn Jeminson of North Lauderdale, Florida, who was a patron at the lounge, received a text message, exited the lounge, and stood outside near the corner of Merrick Boulevard and Selover Avenue. Pinnock and King immediately left the lounge and followed Jeminson outside.
Pinnock allegedly exchanged words with Jeminson and then removed a firearm from his sweatshirt, pointed it toward Jeminson’s face and fired, striking the victim underneath his chin. Jeminson attempted to flee around the corner but was allegedly chased by both defendants who continued to fire their weapons. After Jeminson fell to the ground, Pinnock allegedly stood over him and fired multiple shots at close range. Pinnock began to walk away and then walked back toward the victim, stood over him and again fired multiple shots into his face and body. Pinnock and King then walked to the corner of 177th Street and 129th Avenue, entered King’s dark colored BMW and fled.
The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Jeminson sustained four gunshots to the head and face, two to the abdomen, four to the back, and one to the arm.
After an extensive investigation, Pinnock was apprehended on August 20, 2026, in Hollywood, Florida, and was extradited yesterday to Queens.
ALLEGED SQUATTERS INDICTED FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING BAYSIDE HOME:
Defendants Moved into Property After Owner Died Without Will or Heirs; Face up to 15 Years, if Convicted
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Vernon Glass and Lusascha Taylor have been indicted on charges of burglary, grand larceny and criminal trespass for illegally occupying a vacant Bayside home for more than two years. The prior owner of the home died in 2018 without heirs or a will.
District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, these defendants took possession of an unoccupied home without permission and lived there for more than two years. You simply cannot move into a home without permission and claim you have a right to stay – even if the property is vacant and the owner is deceased. The defendants have been removed from the property, and the home has been secured to prevent their return. They will now face justice in our court system.”
Glass, 41, and Taylor, 41, were arraigned yesterday on a three-count indictment charging them with burglary in the second degree, grand larceny in the second degree and criminal trespass in the second degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice David Kirschner ordered the defendants to return to court October 1. If convicted of the top charge, Glass and Taylor face a potential maximum of 15 years in prison.
DA Katz said that, according to the indictment and investigation, a house on 205th Street in Bayside was unoccupied after the owner died in 2018 and did not leave a will or have any heirs. He had entered into a reverse mortgage contract on the property with a finance company prior to his death and a lien was placed against the property by the company after the man passed away. The Public Administrator was declared the lawful custodian of the home in May pursuant to a ruling in Queens County Surrogate’s Court. The DA’s office conducted an investigation after receiving reports that squatters had taken over the residence. Surveillance by the DA’s office of the home indicated that Glass and Taylor were coming and going from the property. Neighbors indicated the couple had been living there for approximately two and half years. Glass and Taylor are both alleged to have gone so far as listing the property’s address on their driver’s licenses.
The defendants were arrested at the home and the house was padlocked.
OAKLAND GARDENS WOMAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER:
Defendant Sliced Victim’s Face and Damaged Mother’s Car; Faces up to 25 Years in Prison, If Convicted
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Melissa Duran was arraigned on a complaint charging her with attempted murder, assault and other crimes for randomly attacking a man as he stood outside his home on 53rd Avenue. Duran pulled up in front of a 54-year-old Bayside man’s house Thursday morning and cut the stranger across the head with a knife. The defendant also repeatedly damaged her mother’s vehicle.
District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the 54-year-old victim was standing on his porch on Thursday morning when Melissa Duran – without any provocation – ran toward him with knife and slashed his face. In an instant, this innocent man’s life was changed, and he is now recovering from a laceration along his temple and ear. The defendant also went to her mother’s home – in violation of an order of protection – and repeatedly damaged the woman’s vehicle. We will not allow anyone to bring chaos and disorder to our residential neighborhoods.”
Duran, 39, of Oakland Gardens, was arraigned Saturday on a criminal complaint charging her with attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, criminal mischief in the third degree, two counts of criminal contempt in the first degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Queens Criminal Court Judge Martinez Alonso ordered the defendant to return to court September 30. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years in prison.
DA Katz said that, according to the criminal complaint:
Duran arrived at her mother’s residence on September 23, at approximately 5:19 a.m. The victim has an order of protection against the 39-year-old woman. The defendant exited her vehicle – a red Honda Civic – and smashed the front driver side window and rear driver side window on her mother’s white BMW. Duran then got back in her car and drove away after approximately three minutes.
On September 24, at approximately 11:45 a.m., a 54-year-old man was standing on his porch on 53rd Avenue when the defendant exited a red Honda Civic, ran toward the man with a knife and asked the man, “What are you looking at?”
Duran raised the knife over the victim’s head, swung the knife downward and struck the man’s temple area, causing a laceration from his temple to his ear. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was treated.
That night, at approximately 9:10 p.m., Duran returned to her mother’s residence. Duran approached her mother’s vehicle and bashed it. The loud noise garnered her mother’s attention. When Duran’s mother went to her car, she saw that it had numerous dents and a kitchen knife stuck in its rear bumper.
—With contributions by Augusta Luger
This column was originated by John A. Toscano.