4 THE COURIER SUN • FEBRUARY 16, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com Burglars hit businesses in Kew Gdns. Hills Photo courtesy of NYPD BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@qns.com @robbpoz They did their shopping after hours. Two men are at large for committing six burglary attempts at businesses in Fresh Meadows and Kew Gardens Hills since the middle of January, police said. Police released images and a video of the perpetrators involved in the pattern, which began early on the morning of Jan. 16 inside Barua Gift and Grocery located at 147-13 Union Tpke. in Kew Gardens Hills. According to law enforcement sources, the burglars pried open a rear door at the shop between 3:22 and 9 a.m. that day and removed $9,000 in cash as well as lottery tickets, cigarettes and MTA MetroCards. Then, between 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 24 and 7:30 a.m. the next morning, two suspects hit three stores on the same block of 69th Avenue near 164th Street in Flushing. Police said they forced open the rear door of each business and removed a combined $3,300 in cash from Lane Cleaners (164-10 69th Ave.), Gourmet Bukharian (164-08 69th Ave.) and Futigi (164-04 69th Ave.). Police said the two suspects also visited the Gold Nail Salon and Spa located at 184-08 Horace Harding Expwy. between 7:45 p.m. on Jan. 24 and 10 a.m. the next morning. The crooks pried open a rear door, but removed no property from the location. Finally, authorities said, the suspects made an unsuccessful attempt at breaking into the Fresh Meadows Halal Meat market located at 184-12 Horace Harding Expwy. at 2:19 a.m. on Feb. 7. All of the incidents were reported to the 107th Precinct. Anyone with information regarding the suspects’ whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential. Howard Beach grandson of late mob boss admits to drug dealing: DA BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@qns.com @robbpoz The grandson of the late organized crime kingpin John Gotti has pleaded guilty to charges that he illegally dealt prescription painkillers throughout Howard Beach and Ozone Park, prosecutors announced. John J. Gotti, 23, faces up to 12 years in prison and seven years’ probation after pleading guilty to counts of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a felony. He must also forfeit more than $250,000 in drug proceeds that law enforcement agents seized from him following his arrest on Aug. 4, 2016, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “Today’s guilty plea sends a message to all drug dealers that we will not tolerate the illegal drug trafficking that is destroying our young people and our communities,” Brown said in a statement on Feb. 8. “Do not expect any leniency because you are illegally trafficking prescription medications, rather than cocaine or heroin.” John J. Gotti and eight others — including his girlfriend — were picked up by NYPD Narcotics Borough Queens South members in August as a result of a long-term investigation into illegal prescription drug sales in the areas of Howard Beach and Ozone Park. Gotti had previously been arrested on June Photo via Twitter (@JJGotti27) John J. Gotti admitted in court on Feb. 8 that he dealt prescription painkillers illegally in Ozone Park and Howard Beach. 30, 2016, by the 106th Precinct after cops found him in possession of large quantities of Oxycodone, Xanax, methadone and other drugs during a routine traffic stop. During the long-term investigation, prosecutors police used court-authorized wiretaps and recording devices — one of which was installed on an Infiniti G35 sedan that Gotti used — which captured conversations Gotti had about his illegal business. In one instance, law enforcement sources said, Gotti stated that he sold more than 4,200 pills a month, earning more than $100,000 monthly; he once estimated that his Oxycodone trafficking business netted him $1.6 million a year. Along with surveillance, undercover detectives posed as customers to purchase more than $46,000 in Oxycodone pills from Gotti between April 22 and July 28, 2016, spending an average of between $21 and 30 per pill. Cases are currently pending against Gotti’s alleged co-conspirators. Gotti’s grandfather, John Gotti, was the head of the Gambino crime family during the late 1980s. He operated his criminal empire out of the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club in Ozone Park. The “Teflon Don,” who died in prison in 2003, was known for not shying away from the spotlight even as he was the focus of repeated investigations and prosecutions for criminal activity. Forest Hills plans ‘unity rally’ to stand against bigotry BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport In a show of solidarity, residents of Forest Hills and other areas will gather at Mac- Donald Park on Sunday, Feb. 26, to celebrate “Queens values” and the borough’s diversity in the face of growing divisiveness across the country. Ethan Felder, Community Board 6 member, came up with the idea for the Queens Stands Together Rally in response to the recent political climate, specifically the travel ban issued by President Donald Trump, restricting immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. “The rally was my idea; with all that’s happening in politics, with the travel ban, the wall and the executive orders, in the most diverse place in the world here in Queens, we needed a tolerance rally,” Felder said. “Being a lifelong Forest Hills resident and attending local public schools, I thought the values instilled in school needed to be stood up for.” Felder has enlisted the help of Mazeda Uddin, Peter W. Beadle, Prameet Kumar and Mark Laster to organize the rally, and have the support of a diverse group of community organizations. “When I see my Muslim friends feeling fearful and subject to bias, it affects me,” Felder said. “When one group is targeted, it is a threat to us all. So I think a Queens rally needs a strong showing of public support. Not just by having the rally, but assembling a diverse group of coalitions to sponsor it.” Felder has also invited several of the local elected officials to participate in the rally, including Borough President Melinda Katz, Public Advocate Letitia James, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, and Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. According to the rally’s Facebook event page, the rally will be used as a show of unity to bring together people of different faiths and ethnicities to stand up against hatred and bigotry. The rally is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 26 at MacDonald Park, located on Queens Boulevard between Yellowstone Boulevard and 70th Road. Photo by Anthony Giudice/THE COURIER Residents will gather at MacDonald Park in Forest Hills for a unity rally on Feb. 26.
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