Felon Convicted of Possessing Ammunition Used in Murder in Queens

Today in federal court in Brooklyn, Kevin Edwards was convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition in connection with the February 8, 2020 fatal shooting of a man in Corona, Queens.  The verdict followed a five-day trial before United States District Judge Edward R. Korman.  When sentenced, Edwards faces up to 10 years in prison.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the verdict.

“Today, the jury has served justice on the defendant for his violent crime and disregard for the law, which tragically cost a young man his life,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “I commend the prosecutors and the investigators for their dedication to reducing gun violence in our district and holding repeat offenders accountable for their actions.”

Mr. Peace thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their outstanding investigative work on the case.

As proven at trial, on February 8, 2020, shortly after 12 p.m., the defendant drove to Northern Blvd. and 101^st Street in Queens, New York near a bodega where the victim Dontae Hambrick was standing with other men.  As captured on a nearby surveillance camera, after double parking his vehicle, the defendant walked over to the group of men, shook hands with three of the men before pulling out a handgun, and fired at least six rounds of .40 caliber ammunition at Hambrick, hitting him in the torso and legs.  Edwards got back into the SUV and fled.  Hambrick was transported to Elmhurst Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead.  NYPD officers canvassed the area and recovered video from a security camera near the crime scene and six .40 caliber shell casings. 

At the time of the shooting, Edwards had three prior felony drug convictions. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir and Lauren Bowman are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Bridget Donovan.

The Defendant:

KEVIN EDWARDS (also known as “Cuzzo”)
Age:  42
Queens, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-165 (ERK)