Queens' Most Wanted

By Liz Goff

Take a look at the faces on this page – take a good look. They are the faces of the New York City Police Department’s 10 “Most Wanted” in Queens.

According to officers at the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Office (DCPI), the most wanted criminals in Queens are “those considered to be the most serious unapprehended offenders within the confines of Queens.”

Compiled by Queens detectives, the list of most wanted criminals takes into account the number of felonies committed by the criminals, the degree of crimes committed, and the likelyhood that the criminals will repeat their offenses.

If you can tell the NYPD the whereabouts of any one of these men, and if that tip leads to an arrest and conviction, you could receive a $2,000 reward from the NYPD “Crimestoppers” hotline.

Giovanni Anzora

It was about 4:20 a.m. on Aug. 18, 1991. Hector Sanchez stood with a friend outside 41-81 Frame Pl. in Flushing. As the two men talked, Giovanni Anzora approached them and started to argue with Sanchez.

Anzora turned and walked into his residence. He stepped back onto the street moments later, carrying a sharp object.

Anzora rushed Sanchez, slicing and stabbing him numerous times, then fled into the first light of dawn.

Sanchez died moments later. Anzora is described as a male Hispanic, 5-feet-8-inches tall, 145 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is Sept. 11, 1969. He is now 32 years old and the NYPD’s No. 1 most wanted in Queens.

Thomas Acosta

Thomas Acosta was standing on 210th Street and 90th Avenue at about 8:35 p.m. on April 11, 1987, when he became embroiled in a dispute with another man.

Acosta pulled a knife, stabbed his victim to death, and fled.

He is described as a male Hispanic, 5-feet-10-inches tall, 155 pounds, with salt and pepper hair (could be white or grey) and brown eyes. He is 62 years old, and No. 2 on the NYPD list.

Man Singh

Man Singh arrived at the home at 97-17 40th Rd. in Elmhurst shortly before 11 p.m. on Dec. 22, 1986.

Singh slid down the chimney with murder on his mind.

By 11:30 p.m., one man was dead and Singh had disappeared into the night.

Singh is described as Indian, 5-feet-8-inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Detectives tracked Singh to several locations in Elmhurst in the past few years. He managed to flee moments before they arrived. Singh is the Queens NYPD’s No. 3 most wanted.

Michael Francis

Michael Francis stood at the corner of Guy Brewer Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue at about 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 24, 1994, one in a group of men talking sports, drugs and how to make a “quick buck.”

Steven Moutrie walked up to the men and Francis “went nuts,” police said. Moutrie and Francis had a history that included an unpaid debt.

In the heat of the argument, Francis pulled a gun and shot Moutrie in the chest, killing him instantly.

Francis is described as black, 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. He is now 36 years old and No. 4 on the NYPD list.

Esat Bici

Esat Bici is, perhaps, the most high-profile of those on the NYPD list of murderers.

Convicted in 1991 of the second-degree murder of Julio Rivera, Bici was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

An appellate panel disagreed with the conviction, reversing the decision in 1993.

Prosecutors were preparing to retry Bici (who was out on bail) in 1995, when he disappeared. He has been sought since Sep. 18, 1995 on a felony fugitive warrant.

Bici, along with two accomplices, came across Rivera on the night of July 20, 1990 in a Jackson Heights playground, police said. The three men, armed with knife, hammer and wrench, beat Rivera  to death – because he was a homosexual, police and prosecutors said. News of the murder rippled through the neighborhood, resulting in marches and protests by members of the gay community.

Bici is described as white, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 145 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Now 31 years old, Bici is believed to have strong ties to organized crime, police said.

He is No. 5 on the NYPD list.

Fernando Cuartas

The night of August 20, 1996 was steamy, with a thick dampness hanging over the streets of Elmhurst.

Arguments flared that night, police said. One involved Fernando Cuartas and Sigfredo Giraldo outside 88-11 St. James Ave.

At about 7:05 p.m., the men began to argue heatedly, police said. That’s when Cuartas pulled a gun and pumped several shots into Giraldo, leaving him dead on the street.

Cuartas is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 225 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Cuartas is No. 6 on the NYPD list.

Oscar Ortiz

Oscar Ortiz was at a birthday party in Elmhurst on July 20, 1998, with a friend, William Reyes.

Something went terribly wrong, police said. Booze and bad blood don’t mix.

A heated dispute turned deadly when Ortiz pulled a gun and emptied it into three partygoers. Ortiz and Reyes left the scene in a hurry, police said.

Ortiz is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 170 pounds, with brown hair and eyes.

Now 28 years old, Ortiz is No. 7 on the NYPD list.

Eric Coles

There was murder amid the whoops and hollers at a New Year’s Eve party on Jan. 1, 1999.

Sultry and silent, Eric Coles picked up a brick and smacked it in the face of a partygoer. He’s been on the run ever since.

Coles is described as black, 6 feet tall, 220 pounds, with a light complexion, black hair and brown eyes.

Now 36 years, Cole is believed to frequent neighborhoods in Southeast Queens, police said. He is No. 8 on the NYPD list.

Yascob Hondri

Police said Yascob Hondri went to the residence of an informer at 94th Avenue and 101st Street at about 5 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2000, to “silence” a “rat.”

Hondri skulked up to the victim, stabbed him dozens of times and fled.

Hondri is described as white, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and eyes.

He is No. 9 on the NYPD list.

Ryan Johnson

His face tells the tale of his sordid criminal history, bearing scars from his encounters with a knife.

Ryan Johnson is currently being sought on twin fugitive felony warrants for criminal possession of a weapon, related to a Feb. 19, 2000 assault.

Johnson is described as black, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 21 years old, 165 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Note: Johnson has also gone by the names Kevin Smith and Kevin Wright. He is No. 10 on the NYPD list.

Although the Tribune did ask for the borough’s “most wanted woman,” DCPI officers were unable to provide a name. A DCPI officer said, “I contacted Queens detectives, but it takes a while to compile the most wanted criminals.”

Along with the NYPD Crimestoppers Hotline, you may call your local precinct or the Queens Homicide Squad at 520-9255 if you have information on these men, who are considered armed and very dangerous.

– Angela Montefinise contributed to this story