14
QUEENS WEEKLY, FEB. 17, 2019
Cold cases
Rockaway Boulevard in the
early 1990s.
They allegedly sold heroin
under the name “Black
Rain,” cocaine under the
brand name “White Lightning”
and crack cocaine
under the brand name
“Thunder,” according to
prosecutors said. “The gang
committed acts of violence,
including murder, to protect
its operation.
Both murders occurred
in the vicinity 128th Street
and Rockaway Boulevard
in South Ozone Park, where
Hamilton and Jones allegedly
managed a drug spot.
In June 1992, Hamilton allegedly
shot and killed Anthony
Llyod because Hamilton believed
that Lloyd had stolen
Black Rain.
Two months later in
August 1992, Hamilton and
Jones allegedly recruited
and paid two members of
Black Rain to murder Robert
Arroyo because they believed
that he was a police
informant. The recruits
mistakenly shot another
man that they believed
was Arroyo. The victim
in that shooting survived
his wounds.
On Sept. 8, 1992, the recruits
located Arroyo on a
crowded street and shot him
multiple times at Hamilton
and Jones’ direction, which
resulted in Arroyo’s death,
prosecutors said.
Hamilton was arrested
Feb. 6 in New York and Jones
is currently being held in
federal custody and is awaiting
arraignment.
“Investigations grow cold
with the passage of time,
but investigators don’t stop
searching for evidence they
need to bring the suspects
involved to justice,” stated
FBI Assistant Director-in-
Charge Sweeney. “Anthony
Lloyd and Robert Arroyo
were murdered nearly three
decades ago, and their killers
may have believed they
were in the clear. However,
the FBI New York Metro
Safe Streets Task Force and
our partners at the NYPD
want this case to serve as a
warning for those who believe
they can let their guard
down, we are still on the case
and we won’t give up.”
Continued from Page 1
Katz
York Hotel Trades Council
and more than 300 community
leaders who have
endorsed her campaign.
“Queens County Democrats
believe Melinda Katz
will be District Attorney
to deliver the reform our
borough needs to address
the inequalities in our
criminal justice system,”
Queens County Democratic
Party Chairman Joe Crowley
said. “Throughout her
career, Melinda has fought
for progressive values
and she will advocate for
justice for all as our next
District Attorney.”
Katz launched her
campaign in December to
replace current District
Attorney Richard Brown
who has held the office
since 1991. The 86-year-old
announced in January he
would not seek re-election.
“I am honored to have
the support of strong Democratic
leaders from across
Queens County. With
Trump’s administration advocating
for bigoted legislation
and racist immigration
policies, we need to unite
and fight for Democratic
values at a local level,” Katz
said. “It’s clear that Queens
is ready for criminal justice
reform, and I look forward
to transforming the District
Attorney’s office into a
partner for justice for everyone
who calls Queens home.
From discovery reform to
no bail for misdemeanors
to protections for vulnerable
communities to keeping
our streets safe, I am
committed to bringing the
progressive reform we need
to ensure that our criminal
justice system works fairly
and justly for all.”
The campaign of former
New York State Supreme
Court Judge Greg Lasak
took umbrage with the endorsement.
Lasak resigned
from the bench in September
to run for District Attorney,
the office he worked in for
25 years, rising to the ranks
of Chief of Homicide and executive
assistant district attorney
for major Crimes.
“Today, Queens County
insiders line up to support
a career politician wholly
unqualified to do the job
she’s running for — and
someone they can trust to
avoid systematic changes
to a broken system,” Lasak
for District Attorney
campaign manager Danny
O’Halloran said. “Given
the choice between Judge
Lasak, an experienced
prosecutor and judge
who has actually jailed
the guilty while securing
freedom from the wrongfully
convicted, and Katz,
a term-limited politician
who has never stepped
foot in a criminal courtroom,
the machine opted
for the tried-and-failed
status quo. Fortunately,
reform-minded voters will
make the choice that matters
June 25th and we’re
confident they’ll choose
Judge Lasak.”
The third Democratic
candidate in the race, City
Councilman Rory Lancman,
has not yet commented
publicly on the endorsement.
TimesLedger reached
out to his campaign and has
yet to receive a response.
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
Continued from Page 1
Melinda Katz picked up a key endorsement in her campaign
for Queens District Attorney. Photo by Mark Hallum
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