An initial analysis of the scene revealed that a 59-year-old victim had been slashed in the neck. The male was in serious distress and was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital Center. Another 28-year-old male victim was discovered with knife wounds in his right thigh area. He was quickly transported to Woodhull Hospital.

As of now, authorities are baffled as to what caused the sudden violent outburst between the older and younger men. There doesn’t appear to be any immediate motive.

Brooklyn and New York State authorities have been warning citizens about the uptick in recent random acts of violence in the past few years. Assaults have been on the rise, and in many cases, they’re even being streamed online on platforms like TikTok. The assaults are often unprovoked and sudden.

What’s more, surveys from 2021 and 2022 show that only about 40% of all assaults are actually getting reported to the police. Far too many violent attacks occur and never officially get reported.

With the increase of random, unprovoked, and unexplainable attacks, there has also been an increase in false criminal allegations in and around Brooklyn.

If you believe you’ve been falsely accused of a crime, then it’s important to quickly get informed regarding your rights and options.

Have You Been Falsely Accused of a Crime in Brooklyn?

Assault charges range in severity based on the circumstances of the incident. The least severe form of assault, third-degree, is considered a class a misdemeanor. This can result in up to one year in jail, three years of probation, and/or fines of up to $1,000. A second-degree assault charge is considered a class D felony, which could land you in prison for up to seven years. First-degree assaults are the most serious category of crime, a class B felony. Getting convicted of first-degree assault could result in a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

Felony offenses not only result in more substantial penalties, but they also lead to a revocation of specific rights. You’ll no longer be able to vote, possess a firearm, and more.

The best way to avoid all these criminal penalties is to avoid a conviction altogether, especially if you’re being falsely accused of a crime. Here at Bukh Law Firm, our team of criminal defense attorneys will go over exactly what happened with you, help you fully understand the charges against you, and go over the exact defense strategies that are most likely to help you defeat your charges.

Once you make a decision on how to move forward, our lawyers will work tirelessly to advocate on your behalf and aggressively fight for you in court. Schedule a cost-free consultation with our office now to learn more about how we can help.

Cuomo, who is under investigation for matters ranging from inappropriate sexual contact with women to how he handled data concerning the COVID-19 nursing home deaths that took place under his watch, had fiercely held on to his position amidst the storm, refusing to resign until now. While his resignation won’t be final for another two weeks, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul is standing ready to take his place.

No Support Left For Andrew Cuomo

Not particularly well-liked in the political halls of New York, Cuomo has lost what little support he did have in the last few weeks. While his reasoning for resigning was that impeachment would be time-consuming, eat into his governing responsibilities, and consume financial resources, it is surmised that the scathing 165-page report released by Attorney General Letitia James concerning his conduct and corroborating the claims of the women accusers finally did him in.

After the report became public, it became clear that Cuomo could no longer stay. Impeachment would be imminent and would prohibit him from holding any other state office. In true political style, his resignation announcement came shortly after he condemned the report as untrue and politically motivated.

The other proverbial straw, it is suggested, was the resignation of his secretary and staunchly supportive personal aide, Melissa DeRosa, who submitted a 271-word resignation letter, highlighting the administration’s achievements and her feelings of honor at serving. She had also been named repeatedly in the investigation.

Crossing the Line

In defense of his sexual harassment allegations, Cuomo said, “In my mind, I’ve never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate, and I should have no excuses.” In the #MeToo age, one may wonder how someone still can continue to use these outmoded excuses for conduct that was relatively recent and not during some bygone era. It can be argued that he was well aware of where the line was and knew that he crossed it, as the powerful will do.

The irony is that his successor is a woman who has called his actions “sickening” and promised a very different government atmosphere.

New York’s First Woman Governor

Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul will become the 57th governor of New York and its first woman governor. While the report by Attorney General Letitia James said that Cuomo created a toxic work atmosphere, it is hard to say how much Hochul will clean house once she becomes governor. She will be meeting with cabinet members but was clear that anyone who had been found doing anything unethical will not be remaining.

What is in Store For Cuomo?

As far as Cuomo, although it is unlikely that lawmakers will pursue impeachment, prosecutors say they will continue investigations. The women who have accused him of sexual harassment may also bring civil lawsuits against him.

As New York criminal defense and sexual harassment attorneys, the team at Bukh Law will be watching these cases closely as they move forward.

Randolph was seated in the public gallery when Devone Jeffrys was on trial for his role in a high-profile trial. Jeffrys was charged with terrorizing a family in their Williamsburg apartment in 2015, looking for heroin.

From the gallery, in clear view of Jefferys, Randoph made gestures with his hands,mimicking the shape of a gun. He pointed to his head and then under his chin.According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, these gestures were clearly meant to intimidate Jeffrys.

Jeffrys was convicted after the six-day trial. And now Randolph has been sentenced for threatening a witness after pleading guilty to that charge.

Why Witness Intimidation is Taken So Seriously

In New York, the courts take witness intimidation very seriously because it threatens law enforcement’s ability to investigate. It also threatens a prosecutor’s ability to get critical witness testimony. Intimidation is one of the main reasons that witnesses decide not to testify or recant their statements. Consequently, the courts take the protection of witnesses very seriously.

What New York Law Regards as Witness Intimidation

Witness intimidation can be charged in three separate degrees, depending on the unique circumstances of each. Regardless of the degree, however, each is considered a felony and is taken very seriously.

Intimidating a witness in the third degree, under New York Penal Law Section 215.15 states that intimidating a victim or a witness applies when an individual, knowing the witness or victim possesses information relating to the criminal occurrence, attempts to compel or compels the witness to not communicate that information to a court or law enforcement officer by fear of physical injury. This can also apply if the individual causes damage to the property of the victim or witness for the purpose of having them not offer information. Being convicted of intimidating a witness in the third degree is a class E felony and carries a penalty of up to a year imprisonment.

Even more serious are higher degrees of witness intimidation, where physical injury has been caused to the witness or victim as part of the intimidation. Depending on the severity of the injuries, higher degrees of witness intimidation are considered class D and class E felonies, respectively, and carry even more serious penalties.

It is also a chargeable offense if an employer penalizes an employee for their absence
from work when they are part of a criminal case. This can result in the employer being charged with a class B misdemeanor.

Witness Intimidation is a Serious Charge

Being charged with witness intimidation is serious, with any degree of charges being considered a felony. Kysheeq Randolph learned this the hard way. If you have been charged with intimidation of a witness, or you have experienced witness intimidation yourself, having the right lawyer is crucial. At Bukh Law Firm, we have a proven track record of fighting for the rights of our clients. Contact us for a free case review.

What Exactly is a Civil Fraud in Brooklyn, New York?

According to the New York Penal Code, a civil fraud charge generally involves allegations that you, or a family member, took the following actions:

(i) you intentionally made a false representation of a material fact,

(ii) this misrepresentation was made with an intent to deceive another party, and

(iii) the other party reasonably relied on the misrepresentation to their detriment.

Examples of False Representations That Can Lead to Civil Fraud Charges

Here are some common examples of false representations that could ultimately be cited as a basis for being charged with civil fraud in New York:

• There was a false statement of fact and the false statement was known to be false when it was made;
• There was a promise made of future performance, but that promise was made with the intent to never actually perform as promised;
• There was a statement of opinion, but it was based on a false statement of fact;
• There was a statement of opinion and the individual who made the statement knew it was false; or
• There was an expression of opinion that was false and the individual who made the false opinion claimed or implied that they had special knowledge of the subject matter of the opinion.

What You May Be Up Against

If you are charged with fraud, be prepared to take on federal agencies, state government officials, or a combination of both. These agencies and entities devote substantial resources to investigating and prosecuting allegations of fraud. Furthermore, there is a growing trend of “criminalizing” business decisions that are deemed “suspicious.” This is especially true in the financial markets and health care industry. As a result, you need to be prepared to navigate through a web of complex laws and regulations.

Examples of Laws Related to Civil Fraud

In the financial industry, it is important to be cognizant of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. These laws establish that a misrepresentation, or an omission of fact, has occurred when a reasonable investor considers the fact important when making an investment decision. Another set of important regulations to be aware include Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Rules 2020 and 2210. FINRA Rule 2020 creates a prohibition to induce the purchase or sale of any security by means of manipulative, deceptive or other fraudulent device or contrivance. In addition, FINRA Rule 2210 requires representations that are made to investors be balanced in light of all the information being provided to the investor. This means a financial adviser is prohibited from only listing the positive aspects of a particular security without revealing the downside risk and negative aspects of the security in a balanced manner. An intentional omission of the downside risk of an investment can also be a basis for a fraud claim.

Along with the rules and regulations described above, you also need to be mindful of “whistle-blower” laws. These laws actually create a financial incentive for employees and business competitors to make accusations against business management of alleged wrongdoing. This increased scrutiny exposes businesses and their employees to unfounded allegations that can result in serious harm.

Take Action – Contact the Bukh Law Firm Today

As you can see, having an experienced and skilled civil fraud defense attorney is critically important to protect your legal rights. That is why you should take action by contacting the Bukh Law Firm, PLLC. We are here to help. The Bukh Law Firm is unique because we’re not just a group of attorneys, paralegals and law consultants. We’re a cohesive team of professionals focused on meeting our clients unique needs. Whether you were accused of a crime or are under investigation for a crime, we can help.  The Bukh Law Firm proudly serves a variety of communities, including Russian, Polish, Turkish, Albanian communities in Brooklyn.