Mayor Adams Says Crime Down in NYC, But Few People See It

NEW YORK, NY – Mayor Eric Adams announced a significant decrease in crime rates across New York City during the second quarter of 2024, marking six consecutive months of declining crime figures. The announcement came during a briefing led by Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard from the Public Information Office of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of public safety, stating, “The prerequisite to prosperity is public safety and justice. The city must be safe.” He praised the NYPD, highlighting the dedication of Commissioner Caban, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, Chief of Patrol John Chell, and Deputy Commissioner Daughtry, for their relentless efforts to protect New Yorkers.

The Mayor acknowledged the challenges faced by the city, including a surge in protests and the arrival of some individuals with criminal intentions among the migrants and asylum seekers. “We have a small proportion of dangerous individuals who have arrived in our city, but this does not represent the majority who are here to pursue their American dream,” Adams stated. He commended First Deputy Commissioner Kinsella and Deputy Commissioner Weiner for their investigative work in Colombia to address these threats.

Mayor Adams expressed gratitude to the NYPD officers, referring to them as “heroes” for their ongoing commitment to reducing violence and disorder. “They are continuously providing the service that we expect with the level of professionalism that we want,” he said.

Highlighting the progress made, Mayor Adams noted, “This administration inherited a 40 percent increase in crime when we took office, but we have seen a consistent decrease over the past six months.” The Mayor attributed this success to various initiatives aimed at tackling issues such as shootings, illegal mopeds, dirt bikes, and ghost cars. “New York City is the safest big city in America,” he proclaimed.

The briefing concluded with Mayor Adams reiterating his administration’s commitment to public safety and expressing confidence in the continued effectiveness of the measures implemented.

The NYPD, under the leadership of Mayor Adams and Commissioner Caban, remains focused on maintaining the safety and security of all New Yorkers, ensuring that the city continues to thrive as a safe and prosperous metropolis.

4o

WASHINGTON, DC – Sean Branch, 31, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury of first-degree burglary while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and other charges related to a violent home invasion and assault on a woman and her twelve-year-old son. The incident occurred in Southeast Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Branch was also convicted of three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of second-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of threats to do bodily harm. The verdict was returned on July 3, 2024, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, presided over by the Honorable Michael O’Keefe. A sentencing date has not yet been set, but Branch faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for his offenses.

According to the government’s evidence, Branch had formed a friendship with the adult victim during the summer of 2020, which led to him storing belongings in her apartment. In the days leading up to the offense, Branch and the victim argued over whether he could continue to store his belongings there. On September 11, 2020, shortly after 8:30 a.m., Branch broke into the apartment through an exterior window, wearing a ski mask. He approached the woman and her child in the living room, struck the woman in the face with a gun, causing severe bleeding, and then dragged them to the back bedroom while repeatedly demanding his belongings. Branch pointed the gun at the child’s head and threatened to kill both victims before fleeing the scene.

The victims identified Branch based on his voice and the context of the offense. MPD officers recovered surveillance footage showing Branch fleeing from the ground floor balcony wearing a ski mask. Officers also found a pair of sweatpants and a jacket along Branch’s flight path that matched the assailant’s appearance on video. DNA testing linked Branch to the recovered clothing.

The case underscores the efforts of the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring justice to victims of violent crime in the District of Columbia.

OXFORD, MS – A former Robins Air Force Base employee has been arrested for making false statements and obstructing justice during a federal criminal investigation into a 2017 military plane crash that resulted in the deaths of 16 service members.

On July 10, 2017, a United States Marine Corps KC-130 transport aircraft, known as “Yanky 72,” crashed near Itta Bena, Mississippi, killing fifteen Marines and one Navy Corpsman. On Tuesday morning, James Michael Fisher, 67, formerly of Warner Robins, Georgia, and currently residing in Portugal, was arrested based on an indictment issued by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi. The indictment charges him with obstruction of justice and making false statements during the investigation into the crash.

According to the indictment, Fisher, a former propulsion engineer with the C-130 program office at Robins Air Force Base, engaged in conduct aimed at avoiding scrutiny for his past engineering decisions that might be related to the crash. The indictment alleges that Fisher knowingly concealed key engineering documents from criminal investigators and made materially false statements about his past engineering decisions.

Fisher faces two charges of making false statements and two charges of obstruction of justice. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi, along with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).