March 7, 2025

I announced criminal charges this week against two individuals for their alleged role in the cybercrime theft of more than 900 concert tickets, including for Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour.

The ticket URLs were allegedly stolen by two individuals working at a third-party contractor for StubHub in Kingston, Jamaica. The stolen URLs were then emailed to two co-conspirators in Jamaica, Queens, who downloaded the tickets and resold them on StubHub for personal profit, raking in more than $600,000 over the course of one year.

According to the charges, these defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swift’s concert tour and other high-profile events to profit at the expense of others.

This takedown highlights the vigilance of my office’s Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Unit as well as the importance of working with our industry partners to combat fraudulent activities and ensure the protection of consumers.

I encourage any Queens resident who may have been a victim of a cybercrime to contact our Cyber Crimes team at 718-286-6673 or Cybercrimes@queensda.org. We're here to help.

My top priority will always be keeping you and your loved ones safe.

In Friendship,

Melinda Katz

Queens District Attorney

Cases of Interest

• A reputed gang leader was sentenced to 28 years to life in prison after being found guilty of murder in the second degree for the death of a 22-year-old Bronx man in October 2020. The broad daylight shooting in Rufus King Park stemmed from a marijuana deal gone wrong.
• An off-duty FDNY firefighter was arraigned on charges of manslaughter and related crimes for allegedly driving at a high rate of speed and slamming his Mercedes-Benz into another motorist at the intersection of 107th Street and Northern Boulevard in East Elmhurst.

Information Wanted

If you have information regarding an unidentified female, who was found dead inside the Turf Motel in Astoria 27 years ago, contact NYPD Crimestoppers by calling 800-577-TIPS, or through the online form.

The victim's possible portrait, pictured below, was generated using AI technology.

It is never too late for justice.

St. Patrick's Day

It was a pleasure to attend the St. Patrick's Day parade in the Rockaways over the weekend and celebrate the rich Irish heritage that shapes our communities.

I also had the opportunity to speak to the attendees at the St. Pat’s for All parade in Sunnyside.

Queens is a true melting pot of diversity in culture and traditions. I am proud to safeguard and honor the invaluable contributions of Irish Americans to our society.

Community Update with the Diocese of Brooklyn

The Diocese of Brooklyn, which serves Brooklyn and Queens, held a community update recently on the state of hate crimes and immigration policies in the country.

My office works with our city, state and federal law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and prosecute threats against any member of the community, regardless of their immigration status. If you have been a victim of a hate crime, contact us at 718-286-7010 or hatecrimes@queensda.org. We are here to help.

Thank you to the diocese and Bishop Robert Brennan for hosting this important forum.

102nd Precinct Community Council

The recent meeting of the 102nd Precinct Community Council marked a significant milestone with the introduction of Captain Pratima Maldonado, the first Sikh woman to serve as commanding officer in a New York City Police precinct.

This appointment not only reflects the commitment to diversity within law enforcement but also symbolizes an additional step forward in fostering a more inclusive community. I look forward to working with Captain Maldonado and the community council to ensure safety and justice. 

Women's History Month Celebration

Please join us for our annual celebration of Women's History Month.

The event will take place on Wednesday, March 19, and registration is required.

To RSVP, click here or on the flyer below.