Feb. 4, 2025 By Adam Daly A Williamsburg contractor was arraigned Monday on grand larceny charges for allegedly stealing $318,000 from a Park Slope couple and spending the money on lavish purchases. Hayk Safaryan, 43, is accused of accepting payment for a major home renovation project on the couple’s brownstone and performing no work,…
Jan. 31, 2025 By Megan McGibney After 24 years as a special education teacher, Abraham Freud was struggling to do his job. In 2021, Freud began experiencing back problems and was later diagnosed with severe scoliosis, kyphosis, degenerative disc disease, and other conditions. The health issues made it challenging for him to work with…
Jan. 20, 2025 By Adam Daly New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit last week accusing a Midwood-based online furniture retailer of deceptive practices that defrauded hundreds of consumers. The lawsuit against Payless Furniture, Inc., operating as 1StopBedrooms, alleges the retailer charged exorbitant cancellation fees, falsely promoted “hassle-free” 30-day returns, and failed…
Jan. 8, 2025 By Lauren Rapp The campaign treasurer for a failed candidate in the 2021 Brooklyn borough president race pleaded guilty to wire fraud and attempting to steal $400,000 from New York City’s Campaign Finance Board, federal prosecutors announced. Erlene King could face up to 20 years in prison, according to the U.S.…
Jan. 7, 2025 By Dean Moses The suspect accused of burning a woman alive on the F train in Brooklyn last month was arraigned on a grand jury indictment Tuesday as faith leaders announced a memorial service for the victim. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on first-degree…
Dec. 30, 2024 By Meaghan McGoldrick O'Neil The Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA) held its Annual Dinner at the El Caribe in Mill Basin earlier this month, bringing together the borough’s top lawyers and judges to recognize the accomplishments of Kings County’s legal eagles. Awards were given to outstanding individuals in the legal field, including…
Nov. 20, 2024 By Kirstyn Brendlen Getting called for jury duty — which usually means long hours waiting to find out if you’re even needed and eligible, or multiple days on-call in case something comes up — can inspire dread. But, it’s a civic duty, and a critical part of the right to a…
Oct. 17, 2024 By Kirstyn Brendlen Council Member Susan Zhuang made a brief court appearance on Tuesday as part of her ongoing case for allegedly biting a police officer during a protest last summer. The pol was inside a Brooklyn Supreme Court courtroom for only a few minutes, according to news outlet The City,…
Oct. 10, 2024 By Anna Bradley-Smith In a rare case of the state blocking a property sale over questionable dealings, a judge has sided with the attorney general in a long running drama that has pitted locals and preservationists against a developer and a nonprofit in Bed-Stuy. In a dramatic development, a Kings County…
Oct. 4, 2024 By Adam Daly An East Flatbush man who pleaded guilty to a 1986 killing to avoid prison after a successful appeal in 1996 had his wrongful conviction overturned Thursday, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic vacated Keith Roberts’ conviction and dismissed the indictment on Oct.…