Trial Division

The Trial Division comprises six large trial bureaus. Approximately 45 attorneys of varying levels of experience staff each of the bureaus. In addition to the legal staff, each bureau has a bureau administrator, paralegals, and secretaries.

Assistants in these trial bureaus, which are on intake in the Complaint Room on a rotating basis, evaluate felony and misdemeanor arrests and draft complaints. Felony cases are generally assigned to an Assistant District Attorney at the time a complaint is drawn up in the Complaint Room. The majority of misdemeanor cases are assigned after arraignment. The assigned attorney then handles the case from that point until the final disposition of the case. For more information on the criminal justice process, see Arrest to Sentence.

The type of case that an Assistant District Attorney handles is commensurate with his or her level of experience. Junior attorneys begin by handling misdemeanor cases and then advance to felony cases. The most senior attorneys are responsible for homicide and other major felony cases.

The Asian Gang Unit handles the investigation and prosecution of Asian organized crime. This includes murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery, the manufacture of forged credit cards and passports, as well as alien smuggling, and the operation of illegal enterprises such as houses of prostitution and gambling parlors.

The Family Violence and Child Abuse Bureau investigates and prosecutes crimes involving domestic violence, and all serious crimes committed against children under the age of fourteen. The Bureau was created in 1989 as the Child Abuse Bureau. In recognition of the strong correlation between domestic violence and child abuse, the Bureau was expanded in 1995 to form the Family Violence and Child Abuse Bureau.

Child Abuse Cases:

The Bureau handles investigations, arrests, and prosecutions of serious crimes against children under the age of fourteen, whether committed by family or non-family members. Each of the attorneys in the Bureau receives specialized training in dealing with the sensitive issues that child abuse presents. The Bureau works closely with child protective teams in hospitals, the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), and the Police Department. In addition, members of the Bureau also lecture throughout the city on child abuse issues.

The Bureau also investigates and prosecutes individuals who sexually exploit children via the Internet. Children are exploited on the Internet through the manufacture and distribution of child pornography, and by persons who seek to make contact with children online for the purpose of engaging them in sexual activity. The Bureau now prosecutes numerous such crimes each year. Staff from the Bureau are available to provide lectures and training about Internet safety to teachers, parents, and children.

Domestic Violence Cases:

The Office investigates and prosecutes thousands of domestic violence cases each year. ADAs who prosecute domestic violence cases are specially trained in various aspects of these cases, including how to interview victims, how to prosecute cases without the victim's cooperation, and how to present expert witnesses in the courtroom.

Information for Witnesses & Victims of Child Abuse

Information for Witnesses & Victims of Domestic Violence

See the Domestic Violence Brochure (en Español)

The Firearms Trafficking Unit was formally created in 1993 to investigate and prosecute illegal firearms dealers in New York City. The Unit targets gun traffickers, including unlicensed street sellers and corrupt licensed dealers, who distribute significant numbers of illegal firearms to violent criminals. The Unit is staffed by Assistant District Attorneys experienced in handling long-term investigations and complex prosecutions.

Working closely with the New York City Police Department and a variety of other local, state, and federal authorities in New York and beyond, the Unit has successfully prosecuted over one hundred firearms traffickers, involving the seizure of hundreds of firearms and preventing the distribution of thousands more guns. Through its investigation and prosecution of those who provide illegal firearms to other criminals, the Unit also has successfully developed significant prosecutions of violent street gangs, narcotics crews, robbery rings, and other criminal enterprises.

Richard Yarmy

Richard Yarmy was a gun dealer, both legally and illegally. Yarmy held a Federal Firearms License and operated "Yarmy Sporting Company," which legally sold firearms out of its offices in Hawthorne, New York, and Boones Mill, Virginia. The illegal enterprise, used to supplement Yarmy?s legitimate income, operated out of his home, first in Scarsdale, NY, then after a move, in Boone's Mill, VA. Yarmy used his legitimate, licensed business as a front for criminal activities, using middlemen to handle the riskier aspects of the enterprise, such as distributing guns and ammunition to drug gangs. Richard Yarmy profited by arming hundreds of criminals, who perpetrated countless acts of violence.

By virtue of his Federal Firearms License, Yarmy was able to purchase unlimited numbers of firearms for resale. Yarmy became one of the highest volume gun dealers in a network of gun shows regularly held along the eastern seaboard. He was able to purchase firearms and ammunition at gun shows, then resell them illegally to unlicensed purchasers. Yarmy regularly made the sales knowing that the weapons were to be resold to street criminals operating in Manhattan.

During a two year investigation by the Firearms Trafficking Unit of the New York County District Attorney's Office--in conjunction with the New York Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms--undercover detectives purchased or seized forty-five firearms and over ten thousand rounds of ammunition from an individual who acted as a middleman between Yarmy and his ultimate illegal customers.

In addition, an undercover detective purchased an assault weapon and a rifle directly from Yarmy in Scarsdale. The forty-seven weapons recovered in the course of the investigation included the types of firearms that are commonly associated with street violence -- nine millimeter and .380 caliber pistols, .357 and .38 caliber revolvers, TEC-9 and MAC-11 pistols, an Uzi, Street Sweeper shotguns, assault rifles, and fully automatic Sten and Thompson submachine guns.

When law enforcement authorities executed simultaneous search warrants at Yarmy's business locations in Hawthorne and Boones Mill, they seized 271 handguns, rifles and shotguns, and business records reflecting the scope of his enterprise. At Yarmy's Boones Mill home, authorities found an estimated 500,000 rounds of ammunition.

Yarmy was indicted for Enterprise Corruption, eight counts relating to the manufacture and transport of firearms, and four counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree. In addition, Yarmy was charged with Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree and eleven license violations.

Richard A. Yarmy was convicted at trial. He was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison.

The Homicide Investigation Unit works with investigators to target gangs who commit multiple homicides, especially those that are drug-related. Starting in the early 1980s the District Attorney's Office began to work closely with the NYPD to target the violent drug gangs that were responsible for so much of the violence plaguing Manhattan's neighborhoods. These joint efforts made a difference and led to the formation of the Homicide Investigation Unit. In the decade since the formation of HIU, homicides have been greatly reduced. Nearly 5 times as many people were killed in Manhattan in 1988 as in 1998. The unit's success has been dramatic: since 1991, HIU has removed more than 1,000 gang members from Manhattan precincts.

Gang killers often commit more than one homicide--it is a tragic consequence of their violently competitive drug business. Some estimates identify more than 70% of all homicides as drug related. Thus, removing drug gangs goes a long way toward reducing homicides. The Homicide Investigation Unit has proven this time and time again. Many of Unit's most significant cases have resulted from complex, often time consuming, investigations. The Homicide Investigation Unit, a bureau staffed by senior attorneys, experienced detective investigators, and support staff, has achieved tremendous success. Starting in the early 1980s the New York County District Attorney's Office began to work closely with the police to target the violent drug gangs that were responsible for so much of the deadly violence that plagued Manhattan's neighborhoods. These joint efforts led to the formation of the Homicide Investigation Unit.

In the mid 1990s, HIU prosecuted 136 gang members in Manhattan Valley on the West Side of Manhattan. All of them were convicted, with more than 95 of them sentenced to prison. One gang, the Young Talented Children (YTC), averaged $100,000 per week in crack-cocaine sales. They also trafficked in guns. The removal of YTC, along with eight other gangs, led to a precipitous drop in homicides. In 1993, there were 23 homicides in the 24th precinct. In 1998, only five years later, 2 homicides occurred in the 24th precinct, a reduction of 91%.

Similar success on the Lower East Side has helped to reduce the homicide rate. In the late 1990's, 7 gangs were removed. More than 200 defendants were indicted. In one case, an enforcer of the Red Tiger Gang is suspected of committing as many as 10 homicides. He was convicted of committing three. He has been successfully prosecuted, along with more than 200 other gang members. In 1994, 17 people were killed in the 7th precinct. By 1998, the number had dropped to 2, a reduction of 88%.

Other investigations, conducted by the Homicide Investigation Unit and the Trial Division, concentrated on Washington Heights, once the homicide capital of the city. In 1991 there were 119 homicides in Washington Heights, more than in all of Manhattan in 1998. In 1998 there were only 15 homicides in Washington Heights, a reduction of 87%.

Formed in November of 2004, the Identity Theft Unit is composed of 65 Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) who have training and expertise in prosecuting crimes associated with identity theft. Identity theft crimes range from using a stolen credit card for a single purchase to opening multiple accounts in a victim's name, falsifying documents, and assuming someone else's identity. The Identity Theft Unit handles over 200 such cases each month.

One of the goals of the Identity Theft Unit is to educate the public on steps that can be taken to prevent becoming the victim of identity theft and to assess and limit the damage if one is a victim. To that end, the Unit has its own Identity Theft Hotline (212-335-9600), which victims can use to contact the Unit 24 hours a day in either English or Spanish. Through its presentations to various groups and its distribution of a "Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft" brochure, the Identity Theft Unit also provides important information on these crimes to the community.

See the Identity Theft brochure in *.pdf (en Español) ()

This unit is responsible for training Assistant District Attorneys in all legal areas. Training programs include new legal staff orientation, grand jury training, trial advocacy, search warrant training, homicide conferences, and lecture series on a variety of subjects. The Legal Training Unit is a certified C.L.E. provider. For more information, please see our site's Legal Training section.

The Sex Crimes Unit was established in 1974. It was the first unit in the country dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault (rape, sexual abuse, and other criminal sexual acts). The Unit is staffed by forty senior ADAs, who are selected not only for their ability in the courtroom but also because they exhibit a sensitivity to the issues unique to survivors of these crimes. Widely recognized for its services provided to sexual assault victims and its role in dramatically increasing the conviction rate of sex offenders, the Sex Crimes Unit has been used as a model by similar units all over the country.

The Sex Crimes Unit's work is not limited to prosecutions. In addition to trial work, members of the Unit spend a great deal of time training medical personnel about protocols for victim examinations, lecturing to police about case investigation techniques, and informing the public about sex crimes. Prosecutors all over the state and country have followed the Sex Crimes Unit model.

The Sex Crimes Unit works closely with the NYPD's Special Victims Squad, frequently interacting with detectives from the moment a rape case is reported to the police.

The Sex Crimes Unit also investigates and prosecutes individuals who sexually exploit children over the age of 14 via the Internet (exploitations of children under fourteen are prosecuted by the Family Violence and Child Abuse Bureau). Children are exploited via the Internet through the manufacture and distribution of child pornography, and by persons who seek to make contact with children online for the purpose of engaging them in sexual activity. The Sex Crimes Unit now prosecutes numerous such crimes each year.

The Special Litigation Bureau (originally called the Special Projects Bureau) was established in 1982 and handles a variety of specialized areas of law:

The primary responsibility of the Unit is to oversee and provide support to assistants in Vehicular related crimes including Vehicular Homicide, Assault and DWI prosecutions. Too often, innocent lives are destroyed in horrible crashes and the Unit ensures that the perpetrators face justice. These cases are often very technical and involve crash reconstruction principles including speed from skid and yaw marks, pedestrian throw analyses and Crush analysis. The Vehicular Crimes Unit works closely with the NYPD's Accident Investigation Squad and Highway Unit, frequently interacting with detectives from the time a crash occurs. Assistants often go to crash scenes in order to aid investigation of these cases.

The Vehicular Crimes unit aids Assistants in obtaining blood search warrants in order to preserve the blood alcohol content of a suspected intoxicated driver. Assistants get on-going training on issues involveing vehicular cases and are familiar with the scientific principles involving Intoxilyzers, field tests and portable breath tests.

Assistants also prosecute misdemeanor and felony cases involving unlicensed drivers or those whose driving privileges have been suspended or revoked by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The Public Assistance Fraud Unit prosecutes fraud in need-based public assistance programs, focusing primarily on Welfare, Medicaid, and Food Stamps Programs. The Unit is staffed by approximately 21 Assistant District Attorneys drawn from the Trial Division's six Trial Bureaus. The Unit works closely with law enforcement agencies, including the Human Resources Administration's Bureau of Fraud Investigations, the New York State Office of Medicaid Inspector General, the NYPD, the New York State Department of Health, and the United States Department of Agriculture to uncover, investigate and prosecute fraud in public assistance programs. Founded in 1995, the Unit has prosecuted cases involving over 7 million dollars in fraud in public assistance programs.

The Cold Case Unit is dedicated to solving and prosecuting Manhattan’s unsolved homicides, known as “cold cases.” Hundreds of unsolved cases in this Office date back to the 1980s and before. New evidence or technology may prompt reinvestigation of these cases. Since there is no statute of limitations for homicides, investigators are able to pursue new leads, often with the help of advanced technology such as DNA matching or computer forensics. However, new technology does not eliminate the need for investigators to employ traditional methods. Staffed by experienced assistant district attorneys and investigators, the Cold Case Unit collaborates with law enforcement officials in conducting background research, interviewing witnesses, locating evidence, and analyzing crime scenes. This investigative process aids the Cold Case Unit in strategizing to build a successful prosecution.

This unit records grand jury testimony and transcribes the minutes of that testimony upon request.

This unit processes all cases and provides a variety of support services on misdemeanor cases. The following sub-units operate within Prosecution Support: the Alternative Sentencing Unit controls and monitors defendants who are sentenced to community service; the Open Case Unit maintains all pending Criminal Court case files, coordinates record-keeping functions that support the Trial Division; the Complaint Room Complex is responsible for processing all arrests.

The Spanish Language Program has a bilingual staff, and acts as a consultant on cases with Spanish-speaking witnesses. The Program also offers general translating and interpreting services to the Office.

The visual evidence unit is responsible for collecting visual evidence and formatting it for presentation in court. There are three sub-units: the Video Unit videotapes and preserves statements from defendants and witnesses and crime scenes; the Photography Unit photographs crime victims, property, and crime scenes; the Engineering Unit prepares scale diagrams of crime scenes.

The unit assists and guides crime victims and witnesses through each stage of prosecutorial process. WASU's objective is to provide a variety of specialized services to aid crime victims. The Hispanic Services Program provides Spanish speaking staff to serve Spanish speaking constituents. For more information about WASU services and how to access them, see the page dedicated to WASU.