Story by Ethan
On November 8th, 2024, charges against Maikel Martinez, 28, were announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Maikel Martinez was charged with second-degree Staging a Motor Vehicle Accident, third-degree Criminal Mischief, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, fifth-degree Conspiracy, and fifth-degree Insurance Fraud.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated, “The defendant and others allegedly staged a crash on a busy highway and rammed an unsuspecting driver with their vehicle after they forcibly stopped her in the left lane of the Belt Parkway. Countless lives were jeopardized due to this incredibly reckless conduct. This investigation is very much ongoing, and I encourage anyone who suspects that they may have been a victim in a staged car crash to call the NYPD Office of Fraudulent Collision Investigation Squad at 718-822-5403.”
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 11:11 a.m. on October 16th, 2024, the victim, Asphia Natasha, was driving north on the leftmost lane on the of the Belt Parkway in Rosedale near the Nassau County, New York border. The vehicle that Asphia Natasha had both front and rear view cameras. As Asphia Natasha was driving, a silver Honda Civic cut in front of her and came to an abrupt stop. Asphia Natasha was forced to step on her brakes to avoid colliding with the car in front of her. After both vehicles were stopped, the silver Honda Civic backed up into Asphia Natasha’s vehicle, damaging both of the cars in the process. The passengers in the Honda Civic held up what looked like to be a tarp in front of the rear window that partially obstructed the view into the Honda Civic. As the tarp was being held up, the people inside of the Honda Civic changed their seating arrangement and positions.
After the shuffling, four people exited the car. On the front driver’s side a woman stepped out and on the front passenger’s side a man who identified himself as Maikel Martinez also exited the Honda Civic. Maikel Martinez claimed that the driver was his wife who was the female that exited the car on the front driver’s side. Two other unidentified individuals also exited from the Honda Civic. In addition to the Honda Civic, a red Kia Sport was seen following Asphia Natasha as she was driving. After the crash the Kia Sport parked in front of the Honda Civic, and one of the unidentified individuals from the Honda Civic swiftly entered the Kia Sport, which subsequently fled the scene. Following the incident, Maikel Martinez was taken into custody on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, while the investigation is still ongoing.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Maikel Martinez are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
