A Brooklyn man, Maikel Martinez, has been charged with staging a car crash on the Belt Parkway as part of an insurance scam, which was captured on a victim's dash cam. The incident involved Martinez and others forcibly stopping a vehicle and ramming it, endangering lives. Martinez, who was a passenger in the car, faces charges including insurance fraud and reckless endangerment, with a potential sentence of up to seven years if convicted. The Queens District Attorney has urged other potential victims of staged crashes to report to the NYPD's Fraudulent Collision Investigation Squad.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment of Guy Rivera and Lindy Jones in connection to the shooting death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller. Rivera, suspected of fatally shooting Diller during a traffic stop, faces charges including first-degree murder and attempted murder, while Jones faces gun possession charges. Both defendants were remanded, with Rivera held without bail as a flight risk. The Police Benevolent Association emphasized the need for accountability and an end to attacks on law enforcement, while Katz expressed commitment to seeking justice for the victims and the NYPD community.
Two brothers in New York City were indicted on 130 charges after police discovered an arsenal of untraceable firearms, homemade bombs, and a "hit list" targeting law enforcement, politicians, and celebrities in their apartment. The weapons included ghost guns assembled from kits purchased online or 3D-printed, and the brothers also owned a 3D printer. If convicted, they face up to 25 years in prison. Ghost guns have become a growing concern, with a surge in their recovery and use in crimes, leading to increased efforts to regulate them, including recent rules introduced by President Joe Biden.
