Councilman David G. Greenfield is praising Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Dineen Riviezzo for issuing David Flores 12 years in prison at today’s sentencing for illegal gun possession. Flores was found guilty in November of possessing an illegal handgun that he used to shoot four volunteer Shomrim members who were responding to reports of Flores exposing himself to neighborhood children. After Flores was found guilty of weapons possession but not guilty of attempted murder and assault, Councilman Greenfield wrote to Judge Riviezzo to request that Flores receive the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, especially considering his prior criminal record that reportedly includes 20 arrests. Greenfield also personally went to court this morning for the sentencing.

“This sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate criminals carrying illegal weapons on our streets. This is someone who put many lives in danger, including the four volunteers he shot and the many bystanders in the area at the time. Through her sentence, the judge has made it clear that career criminals will be held accountable for their actions. I applaud Judge Riviezzo for her leadership despite the intense pressure she was under from the defendant and his attorneys,” said Councilman Greenfield.

The charges stemmed from a 2010 incident that began when a resident reported to Shomrim that a person suspected of exposing himself to local children weeks prior was spotted in Boro Park. Flores, who reportedly has prior arrests for charges including gun possession, lewdness, assault and robbery, had faced between 5 and 15 years in prison at today’s sentencing.

(YWN Desk – NYC)