Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Marvin Pippins, also known as “Mukk,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to life imprisonment for murdering a rival gang member by shooting at him six times.  Following a three-week trial in April 2023, Pippins was convicted by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy, murder conspiracy, murder in-aid-of racketeering, drug conspiracy and related firearms charges.  

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Jairo Saenz, also known as “Funny,” a high-ranking member of the Brentwood/Central Islip chapter of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (Sailors) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in connection with his participation in seven murders.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a settlement agreement with the Queens Borough Public Library and the City of New York to resolve violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the Hunters Point Library Branch. 

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Nikolay Goltsev was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 40 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to commit export control violations. Goltsev, a Canadian national, masterminded a global procurement scheme on behalf of sanctioned Russian companies, including Russian military companies.

 Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Lisa Garcia, Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, today announced the filing of a civil complaint in federal court in Central Islip against Long Island-based company Spectrum Wholesale, Inc. and Thomas J. Ciccarelli, Spectrum’s principal, alleging the defendants’ illicit sale of hundreds of products designed to remove, bypass, defeat, or render inoperative the emissions controls that vehicle and engine manufacturers use to meet emission standards, is in violation of the Clean Air Act.

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Marat Lerner, the former president of a debt relief services business, was sentenced by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.  Lerner was also convicted of continuing his criminal scheme while on pre-trial release. 

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Erlene King pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with her attempt to steal funds from New York City’s Campaign Finance Board.

BROOKLYN, NY - Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, two indictments were unsealed charging India-based companies Raxuter Chemicals and Athos Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. (Athos Chemicals) and Bhavesh Lathiya, a founder and senior executive of Raxuter Chemicals, with criminal conspiracies to distribute and import fentanyl precursor chemicals to the United States. 

United States Attorney Peace stated, “It is critically important that law enforcement can communicate effectively with members of the community, regardless of the language that they speak.  Working collaboratively with FPD, we will improve public safety for all and hope to replicate this agreement with other law enforcement agencies throughout the Eastern District of New York.” 

BROOKLYN, NY – Today in federal court in Brooklyn, Manhattan resident Chen Jinping pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), in connection with opening and operating an undeclared overseas police station in lower Manhattan for the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security.

Breon Peace is resigning as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York on January 10, 2025. 

Earlier today, a two-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Jason Soto, also known as “Twin,” a member of the Cypress Gangsta Crips , a subgroup of the Eight Trey Crips based in the Cypress Hills Houses of East New York, Brooklyn, with the February 2015 murder of Shakim Rivera, the leader of the CGC.  

“Carlos Watson orchestrated a years-long, audacious scheme to defraud investors and lenders to his company, Ozy Media, out of tens of millions of dollars,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “His incessant and deliberate lies demonstrated not only a brazen disregard for the rule of law, but also a contempt for the values of honesty and fairness that should underlie American entrepreneurship.  On far too many occasions, Watson chose deceit over candor, grasping for the illusion of business success and personal acclaim at any cost. Today’s sentence should serve as a warning to those who would engage in fraud that justice will be swift and certain.”

“The defendant built a business in China to sell sensitive technology that belongs to a U.S. company.  His actions were bold—he even advertised that he was selling the victim’s products—because he thought, incorrectly, that he was outside the reach of U.S. prosecutors,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to would-be offenders: my Office will do everything it can to protect American innovation and national security no matter where you try to hide.”

Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Quadri Garnes of transmission of threats to injure. The verdict followed a five-day trial before United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison.  When sentenced, Garnes faces up to five years in prison.

Today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Carmelo Polito, also known as “Carmine Polito,” a former acting captain and soldier in the Genovese organized crime family, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano for racketeering in connection with operating an illegal gambling business at the Gran Caffé in Lynbrook, Long Island, and attempting to extort an individual who owed him money stemming from a separate online sports betting business. 

“As proven, Dr. Hassad was a drug dealer who disgracefully dispensed highly addictive oxycodone pills without any regard for the well-being of the patient but with plenty of interest in their cash,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Corrupt doctors like this defendant, who value greed over their oath to do no harm, fuel the opioid epidemic and my Office is committed to holding them accountable for the incalculable harm they have caused.”

“As alleged, the defendant exploited for his own personal benefit confidential information, including derogatory news of his own impending termination, that was meant to be available only for corporate purposes,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “In doing so before he was shown the door, Peterman breached the trust and confidence placed in him by his former employer and its shareholders.  My Office will vigorously prosecute those, like Peterman, who would seek to enrich themselves at the expense of ordinary investors and the integrity of the securities markets.”

BROOKLYN, NY – A 12-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Natalya Ivanovna Mazulina, also known as “Natasha Mazulina,” for her alleged involvement in a scheme to circumvent U.S. export laws and sanctions on Russia.  Mazulina, the Western regional manager of a freight forwarding company based in Jamaica, New York, which operated out of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK airport) in Queens, New York, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington State, was arrested earlier today in Seattle.