Nab Kew Gardens Man For Dirty Deal
A Kew Gardens lawyer found himself on the wrong side of the law last week after being indicted for allegedly paying a teenage girl to perform oral sex on him nearly two years ago, prosecutors announced.
Eyal (a.k.a. Al) Katzman, 56, of Cuthbert Road appeared in court last Wednesday, July 30, to answer to charges in a seven-count indictment including third-degree criminal sexual act, third-degree patronizing a prostitute, endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree sexual abuse.
Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron released Katzman without bail and ordered him to return to court on Oct. 8. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said the suspect faces up to four years behind bars if convicted.
Between October and November 2012, according to the indictment, Katzman paid a 16-year-old girl $80 to perform oral sex on him at his home office. Reportedly, the dirty deal was arranged through one of the victim’s friends, whom Katzman allegedly paid a $20 commission.
Authorities said the friend initially asked the 16-year-old victim if she was interested in prostituting herself, claiming she knew a guy named “Al” willing to make a proposition.
Det. Scott Velazquez of the NYPD Major Case Vice Enforcement Unit conducted the investigation under the supervision of Sgt. Sammy Melisi and Lt. Marcus Morales and the overall supervision of Deputy Inspector Anthony Favale and Chief Thomas Purtell.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jessica L. Melton, supervisor of the DA’s Human Trafficking Unit, unde the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Anthony M. Communiello, chief of the DA’s Special Proceedings Bureau, and Oscar W. Ruiz, deputy bureau chief.
