Dual Lebanese-Syrian National Sentenced to Prison for His Role in a Narco-terrorism Conspiracy

 

A dual Lebanese-Syrian national was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for narco-terrorism conspiracy and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, to be served concurrently.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Antoine Kassis, 59, is a Lebanon-based drug trafficker who used his high-level access to the Syrian government under the Assad regime to traffic cocaine and weapons. Kassis laundered the proceeds of his drug trafficking through the organization of a Colombian co-conspirator. Even after the fall of the Assad regime, Kassis had access to weapons previously provided to the Assad regime by foreign governments, including Russia and Iran.

Since April 2024, Kassis and co-conspirators, who were based in Colombia and Mexico, agreed to supply military-grade weapons diverted from the Assad regime in Syria to the National Liberation Army (ELN), in exchange for hundreds of kilograms of cocaine. The ELN is a terrorist group based in Colombia dedicated to the violent overthrow of the democratically elected Government of Colombia. The U.S. Secretary of State designated the ELN as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization.

Kassis stated that he was a cousin of former Syrian President Beshar Al-Assad, and that he was working directly with General Maher Al-Assad, the brother of the former Syrian President, and other top military officials in Syria on the deal. Kassis reportedly paid the government $10,000 per kilogram of cocaine imported through the Port of Latakia. Other evidence at trial supported that the Assad regime raised revenue through charging a checkpoint tax on illicit substances passing through its territory, as well as through the manufacture and distribution of Captagon, a Schedule I controlled substance.

Kassis traveled from Lebanon to Kenya to meet a weapons inspector from the ELN, then signed a contract to import a shipping container full of fruit from Colombia to the Port of Latakia, Syria, intending that the container would contain 500 kilograms of cocaine. Kassis intended to oversee the distribution of the cocaine in the Middle East while his co-conspirators would launder the proceeds on his behalf. Evidence at trial demonstrated that his co-conspirators moved nearly $100,000,000 in less than 18 months, and did so for organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Hamas, and others.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated the case with assistance from Bogota Country Office; Cartagena Resident Office; Accra Country Office; Rabat Country Office; Nairobi Country Office; Amman Country Office; Istanbul Country Office; Panama City Country Office; Mexico City Country Office; and Madrid Country Office.

The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with Kenyan authorities to secure the arrest and May 2025 extradition from Kenya of Kassis. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Colombia’s Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación, Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission and Ghana Police Service, Morocco’s General Directorate for National Security, and Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations also provided significant assistance.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 1993 MURDER OF ESTRANGED WIFE AFTER RETRIAL

  

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Michael Robinson was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 1993 stabbing death of his estranged wife, 29-year-old Gwendolyn Samuels. Robinson went to the Bayside home where Samuels worked as a housekeeper and then attacked the pregnant woman, stabbing her multiple times. In 2023, Robinson’s 1993 conviction was vacated and he was granted a new trial following the discovery of newly discovered DNA evidence that the defendant alleged was exculpatory. The DNA evidence was presented at a second trial and Robinson was convicted by a jury after deliberating less than a day.

District Attorney Katz said: “More than 30 years ago, a jury convicted Michael Robinson of murdering his estranged pregnant wife. The facts have not changed since that time. My office continued its pursuit of justice for Gwendolyn Samuels and her loved ones. Gwendolyn’s two young children were forced to grow up without a mother because of the defendant’s actions and then were forced to re-live a second trial because of years and years of post-conviction litigation by the defendant. A second jury has spoken, and justice was delivered today with the defendant’s sentence of 25 years to life in prison.”

Robinson, 59, of Jamaica, was convicted of murder in the second degree by a jury in June. Queens Supreme Court Justice Michelle Johnson, who presided over the trial, sentenced him yesterday to 25 years to life in prison.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges and trial testimony, on January 11, 1993, Gwendolyn Samuels was working as a housekeeper for 88-year-old Alviena Marchon in Bayside. Robinson arrived at the home then he and Samuels went grocery shopping for Marchon.

When the defendant and Samuels got back from grocery shopping, the defendant sat down with Marchon and spoke to her for a few minutes. Samuels went upstairs and was followed by Robinson.

Marchon testified at the original trial that she heard Samuels screaming and rushed up the stairs to find Robinson standing over her with a knife. When Marchon attempted to stop the attack, Robinson stabbed her.

Robinson had a prior history of being physically abusive with Samuels and by the time of the attack the two had separated. Samuels was about two months pregnant and living with her new boyfriend.

At the time of trial, Marchon was 89 years old. She has since passed away. Two of the testifying detectives from the original trial are also deceased. Their testimony from the first trial was read into the record during the new trial pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law.

Robinson’s original conviction was overturned in 2023 after newly discovered DNA evidence found on one of the victim’s fingernails did not match that of the defendant. It was never determined who the DNA belonged to.

D.A. Bragg Announces Prison Sentence Of Camby Wilson For Fatal Shooting At East Harlem Liquor Store

 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the prison sentence of CAMBY WILSON, 26, to 23 years-to-life in state prison for fatally shooting 25-year-old Shaquell Gainey at a liquor store in East Harlem in February 2022. On March 9, 2026, a New York State Supreme Court jury found WILSON guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

“Camby Wilson transformed a neighborhood store into a scene of deadly violence when he murdered Shaquell Gainey in the very community where he grew up,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This deliberate act of gun violence has devastated Mr. Gainey’s family and friends, who continue to mourn his loss. Driving down gun violence remains my top priority, and I hope this significant prison sentence delivers a measure of justice and closure to Mr. Gainey’s loved ones.”

As proven at trial, on February 25, 2022, at approximately 10:55 p.m., Mr. Gainey went to a liquor store in East Harlem, near East 116th Street and 1st Avenue. After making a purchase, Mr. Gainey exited the liquor store. As he exited, WILSON, who was wearing a hood and face mask, walked by and Mr. Gainey ran back into the liquor store for safety. WILSON pulled out a firearm and began firing several shots at Mr. Gainey. WILSON then chased Mr. Gainey into the store as he fired additional shots, including striking him in the chest. WILSON fled to the New York City Housing Authority’s Wagner Houses, where he changed his clothing.

Mr. Gainey managed to make it to a nearby deli and collapsed moments later. He was eventually taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead less than an hour after the shooting.

WILSON eventually fled the city to Maine. While in Maine, he was arrested on a federal gun charge. WILSON was sentenced to a 24-month prison term in May 2023 in that case. Following that prison term, he was extradited to New York.

D.A. Bragg thanked Detective Lamount Deaderick of the 25th Precinct Detective Squad, Detective Albert Krasniqi and Sergeant Fidel Santiago, formerly of Manhattan North Violent Crime Squad, and Detective Ben Murtiff of the Augusta Police Department.

NYPD ANNOUNCES FEWEST SHOOTING INCIDENTS, SHOOTING VICTIMS, AND MURDERS IN RECORDED HISTORY FOR FIRST HALF OF 2026

 

Major Crime Declined Nearly 6% Citywide, Led by a 12% Decline in the Bronx

Safest Start to the Year in Public Housing in Recorded History with Fewest Murders, Shooting Incidents, Shooting Victims, and Robberies

Department Delivered Historic Public Safety Wins While Managing the NBA Finals, Knicks Ticker-Tape Parade, FIFA World Cup, and More

Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced that the NYPD delivered the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims, and murders in recorded history for the first half of the year. There were 322 shooting incidents, beating the previous record of 337 set in 2018 and in 2025. There were 381 shooting victims, beating the previous record of 397 set in 2025, and there were 122 murders, beating the previous record of 136 set in 2017.

Year to date, major crime was down 5.8% (55,157 vs. 58,581) citywide with reductions in patrol, public housing, and the transit system. The Bronx continues to lead the city with the largest decline in index crime, down 12% (13,434 vs. 15,208).

The NYPD continued to deliver historic lows in certain major crime categories in New York City’s public housing: murders (9), shooting incidents (49), shooting victims (51), and robberies (344).

The department delivered these historic public safety wins while managing unprecedented large-scale events, including the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Finals, Knicks ticker-tape parade, and many other parades and significant events.

“New York City’s public safety progress is the result of precision policing and the extraordinary work of the men and women of the NYPD,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “They are going after the guns, taking down violent gangs, building the cases, making the arrests, and working foot posts that help keep neighborhoods safe. The result is the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims, and murders for the first half of any year in recorded history, along with major crime reductions across the city. These numbers reflect focused enforcement, targeted deployments, and noble police work. New Yorkers owe their NYPD officers a debt of gratitude for their extraordinary service to our city.”

“Over the past six months, New York City has experienced the safest start to any year on record. The data reflects what New Yorkers are feeling on our subways, on our streets and across the five boroughs: our whole-of-government approach to public safety is working,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “I thank Police Commissioner Tisch and the brave men and women of the NYPD for all they have done to make our city so safe, and look forward to building on this incredible progress.”

Historic Lows in Shootings and Murders

Shooting incidents fell to the lowest level in recorded history for the first six months of any year, beating the record set in 2018 and last year by 5% (322 vs. 337). For the quarter, shooting incidents fell by 8.1% (182 vs. 198), beating the previous record of 196 set in 2018.

Shooting victims also fell to the lowest level in recorded history for the first six months of any year, beating the record set last year by 4% (381 vs. 397). Shooting victims also fell to the lowest level in recorded history for the second quarter of the year, down 8% (216 vs. 234).

Murder declined 24.7% (122 vs. 162) year to date, 26.4% (64 vs. 87) for the quarter, and 45.5% (18 vs. 33) in June, setting new records for the first six months of the year, second quarter, and the month of June. Year to date, murders are down in all five boroughs with all-time lows in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

For historical context, when comparing the first half of 2021 to 2026, New York City had 737 shooting incidents compared to 322, 852 shooting victims compared to 381, and 229 murders compared to 122, respectively.

The NYPD’s sustained efforts to dismantle violent gangs have contributed to reductions in shootings citywide and the number of guns taken off the streets. So far this year, NYPD detectives have carried out 61 gang-related takedowns, and the department has seized over 2,530 guns.

Driving Down Major Crime

Major crime decreased by 5.8% for the first half of the year with 3,424 fewer crimes compared to the first six months of 2025. During the second quarter, major crime citywide was down 7.7% (29,141 vs. 31,575).

Additionally, across major crime categories:

• Burglary declined 15.8% (5,354 vs. 6,359) year to date, the lowest level since 2019, and declined by 12.9% (2,700 vs. 3,099) for the second quarter. This progress is driven by the NYPD’s new Precision Task Force approach, which brings patrol officers, detectives, intelligence officers, crime analysts, and specialized units together to tackle the problem;
  • Burglaries were down in all five boroughs, with the largest reduction occurring on Staten Island, down 31.6% (121 vs. 177).
• Robbery declined 12% (6,387 vs. 7,248) year to date and 15.7% (3,421 vs. 4,056) for the quarter;
• Auto theft declined 9.7% (5,838 vs. 6,467) year to date and 14.5% (3,136 vs. 3,667) for the quarter. These reductions are the direct result of the work done by the NYPD’s auto crime investigators who continue to identify and dismantle auto theft rings, including a 16-person crew responsible for stealing vehicles and stripping more than 700 vehicle parts in the Bronx earlier this year. This work resulted in a 26.4% (1,619 vs. 2,199) reduction in auto theft in the Bronx, which is leading the city in auto theft reductions;
• Grand larceny declined 4.2% (21,633 vs. 22,585) year to date and 6.3% (11,241 vs. 11,998) for the second quarter;
• Felony assault is virtually flat (14,757 vs. 14,752) year to date and decreased by 1.1% (8,044 vs. 8,136) over the second quarter. The NYPD continues to focus on domestic violence, which accounts for 42% of felony assaults citywide and assaults on police officers, which account for another 8%.

Retail theft continued its dramatic decline, falling 16.3% (22,482 vs. 26,874) year to date compared to the same period last year with declines in all five boroughs. In the second quarter of 2026, retail theft saw a 12.2% (11,535 vs. 13,136) decline. The decline reflects the department’s focused approach to addressing retail theft: identifying crime patterns, deploying resources at high-propensity locations during peak hours, and shifting from pass-through enforcement to sustained investigations.

In September 2024, legislative changes enacted through the Rape is Rape Act rightfully broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State to include additional forms of sexual assault. Year to date, rapes have increased 5.8% (1,066 vs. 1,008), driven in significant part by reports of crimes that occurred in prior years – 26% (276) of all rapes reported this year occurred in prior years. In addition, 19% (206) of the crimes reported this year fall under the expanded definition of rape created by the Rape is Rape Act. Through the creation of the first-in-the-nation Gender-Based Violence Policy and Training Unit, the NYPD has enhanced its work with advocates to encourage all survivors of sexual assault to come forward and report these incidents.

The Bronx Continues to Lead the City

The Bronx continues to lead the city in crime reductions with a 12% (13,434 vs. 15,208) decrease in overall crime, the largest year-to-date decrease in major crime of any borough. Year to date, auto theft is down 26.4% (1,619 vs. 2,199), grand larcenies decreased 13.6% (3,882 vs. 4,491), and robberies decreased 17.1% (1,921 vs. 2,318). During the second quarter of the year, the NYPD implemented a new two-patrol borough structure in the Bronx, creating a more focused and effective approach to fighting crime in the borough.

Safest Start to the Year in Public Housing

The NYPD continues to deliver historic crime reductions in public housing developments across the city, breaking the record for the fewest murders, shooting incidents, shooting victims, and robberies for the first six months of the year. These milestones are the direct result of the department’s precision policing strategy and surge of resources to the areas where residents need them most.

Major crime in public housing is down 9% (2,659 vs. 2,905) year to date and 12% (1,361 vs. 1,541) in the second quarter.

So far this year, murders are down a staggering 44% (9 vs. 16), shooting incidents are down 26.9% (49 vs. 67), shooting victims are down 31.1% (51 vs. 74), robberies are down 23.4% (344 vs. 449), and burglaries are down 14.8% (231 vs. 271).

Keeping New York City’s Subways Safe

Last year was the safest year in New York City’s subway system since 2009, excluding the pandemic years. Building on that progress, major crime is down 1% (1,102 vs. 1,109) year to date and 1.9% (554 vs. 565) for the second quarter.

Safety Enforcement on Our Roads

The NYPD’s Transportation Bureau continued to keep New Yorkers safe on city roads. Beginning on May 27, the NYPD launched a focused e-bike and e-scooter enforcement initiative with a targeted focus on bridge corridors and high-conflict locations. Since launching, e-bike moving violations have increased 74% (1,551 vs. 893) and e-scooter moving violations have increased 247% (132 vs. 38) compared to the same time-period last year. Year to date, e-bike seizures are up 273% (816 vs. 219) and moped, e-scooter, and motorcycle seizures are up 3% (10,970 vs. 10,655). In addition, illegally parked moped and motorcycle tows increased 369% (16,636 vs. 349). Year to date, the NYPD issued 142,719 ghost plate parking summonses, 15,063 ghost plate moving summonses, and towed 3,136 ghost cars.

Data-Driven Deployment: Violence Reduction Zones

To further mitigate violent crime and shootings across the city, the department launched its Summer Violence Reduction Plan on May 4 – deploying officers in the times and locations where violence and disorder are most concentrated and likely to occur. Since inception, major crime is down 23.9% (753 vs. 990), shooting incidents are down 19.4% (25 vs. 31), and shooting victims are down 18.9% (30 vs. 37) in the zones during deployment hours.

To address youth violence during the school year, the department implemented Youth Safety Zones, which are focused on the areas where young people are most at risk – commuter corridors, bus stops, and routes to and from school. Since its inception in September 2025 until the end of the school year in June 2026, major crime decreased 54.2% (194 vs. 424), shooting incidents were down 69.2% (8 vs. 26), shooting victims were down 69% (9 vs. 29), robbery was down 61.5% (99 vs. 257), grand larceny was down 51% (22 vs. 45), and felony assault was down 38.8% (71 vs. 116) in the zones during deployment hours.

Combating Hate Crimes

The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force (HCTF) investigates allegations of hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents. After an incident is flagged as a possible hate crime, the HCTF investigates and determines, in consultation with the NYPD Legal Bureau, whether it constitutes a hate crime under New York State law. If an incident is deemed a hate crime under the law, it will be categorized as a confirmed hate crime. The NYPD provides data on confirmed hate crimes along with the universe of reported hate crimes – whether or not they are ultimately confirmed as hate crimes by the HCTF. The disclosure of both sets of numbers enhances transparency and reflects best practices in connection with hate crime reporting.

Year to date, the number of confirmed hate crimes increased by 7.7%, with 23 more confirmed hate crime incidents compared to last year (322 vs. 299). In June 2026, there were 41 confirmed hate crimes and 54 incidents reported as hate crimes. More than half of the confirmed hate crimes for the first six months of the year, or 55.3%, were anti-Jewish hate crimes, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up only 10% of the city’s population. During the first half of the year, anti-Jewish hate crimes increased 2.3% (178 vs. 174).

*All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change. *

Major Crime Statistics: YTD (Jan. 1-June 30)

Crime	2026	2025	+/-	% Change
Murder	122	162	-40	-24.7%
Rape	1,066	1,008	58	5.8%
Robbery	6,387	7,248	-861	-11.9%
Felony Assault	14,757	14,752	5	0%
Burglary	5,354	6,359	-1005	-15.8%
Grand Larceny	21,633	22,585	-952	-4.2%
Grand Larceny Auto	5,838	6,467	-629	-9.7%
TOTAL	55,157	58,581	-3,424	-5.8%

Major Crime Statistics: Q2 (April 1-June 30)

Crime	Q2 2026	Q2 2025	+/-	% Change
Murder	64	87	-23	-26.4%
Rape	535	532	3	0.6%
Robbery	6,387	7,248	-861	-11.9%
Felony Assault	8,044	8,136	-92	-1.1%
Burglary	2,700	3,099	-399	-12.9%
Grand Larceny	11,241	11,998	-757	-6.3%
Grand Larceny Auto	3,136	3,667	-531	-14.5%
TOTAL	29,141	31,575	-2,434	-7.7%

Additional Statistics: YTD (Jan. 1-June 30)

	2026	2025	+/-	% Change
Transit	1102	1109	-7	-0.6%
Housing	2,659	2,905	-246	-8.5%
Shooting Incidents	322	337	-15	-4.5%

Additional Statistics: Q2 (April 1-June 30)

	2026	2025	+/-	% Change
Transit	554	565	-11	-1.9%
Housing	1,361	1,541	-180	-11.7%
Shooting Incidents	182	198	-16	-8.1%

Confirmed Hate Crime: YTD (Jan. 1-June 30)

Motivation	2026	2025	+/-	% Change
Age	1	0	1	***
Asian	10	12	-2	-16.7%
Black	23	24	-1	-4.2%
Ethnicity	6	12	-6	-50%
Gender	13	7	6	85.7%
Hispanic	9	5	4	80%
Jewish	178	174	4	2.3%
Muslim	21	14	7	50%
Religion	26	25	1	4%
Sexual Orientation	33	21	12	57.1%
White	2	5	-3	-60%
Total	322	299	23	7.7%

Confirmed Hate Crime: Q2 2026 (April 1-June 30)

Motivation	Q2 2026	Q2 2025	+/-	% Change
Asian	4	7	-3	-42.9%
Black	13	15	-2	-13.3%
Ethnicity	3	3	0	0%
Gender	5	3	2	66.7%
Hispanic	4	3	1	33.3%
Jewish	99	98	1	1.0%
Muslim	8	9	-1	-11.1%
Religion	14	17	-3	-17.6%
Sexual Orientation	21	13	8	61.5%
White	1	3	-2	-66.7%
Total	172	171	1	0.6%

Reported Hate Crime: Q2 2026 (April 1-June 30)

Motivation	Reported
Asian	6
Black	17
Ethnicity	4
Gender	5
Hispanic	5
Jewish	138
Muslim	12
Religion	16
Sexual Orientation	33
White	1
Total	237

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Bronx had 37% of the NYC murders, Shooting incidents, and Shooting victims, while having only 16% of the NYC population. NYC Police Commissioner Tisch needs to come to the Bronx North Division to see that the increase in the murder rate, shooting incidents, and shooting victims for 2026 over 2025.