District Attorney Introduces Staff

CARMEL, N.Y.- Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy is pleased to announce several new additions to the office.

 Andres Gil, Esq., is the office’s new Assistant District Attorney, having started in February 2014, filling a vacancy left by retirement so there’s no impact to taxpayers. He spent the last seven years working as an ADA in the Bronx District Attorney’s office where he prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases, with a special emphasis on long-term racketeering, official government misconduct, bribery, firearms trafficking, and enterprise corruption.

 Gil is also a Captain the United States Army Reserve, and proudly served as a Judge Advocate General or JAG attorney. While deployed in Iraq, he worked with the Department of State and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to ensure that displaced citizens had access to Iraqi courts. When deployed in Afghanistan, he lobbied and facilitated meetings between Provincial and local government officials to establish a district court to resolve grievances. He is also a Civil Affairs Officer, trained to support local civil authorities during national emergencies.

 “As a Captain in the Army Reserve, Andres served his Country with distinction and honor. As a prosecutor in the Bronx DA’s Office, he tenaciously investigated allegations of public corruption and official misconduct, and did so without fear or favor. I am honored that Andres accepted my offer to join our team in the Putnam DA’s Office and look forward to putting his unique skill-set to work immediately”, DA Levy said.  

 Also joining the office is Lourdes “Lulu” Gonzalez. A retired Detective from the

Special Victims Bureau of the New York City Police Department, Detective Gonzalez, who is fluent in Spanish, not only has extensive training and experience in the investigation and prosecution of child sex crimes, but she also has extensive experience investigating claims of police misconduct, human trafficking, and narcotics trafficking. Her service commendations include the Combat Cross (the NYPD’s second-highest departmental award) for acts of heroism while engaged in personal combat with an armed adversary, and the NYPD Medal for an act of “extraordinary bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent and personal danger to life.” 

“It has long been clear that there is a need for a bilingual female investigator in Putnam County, because many victims of sex crimes and human trafficking in Putnam are young girls who speak Spanish as their primary language,” Levy said. “I once again applaud the Legislature and County Executive for approving this position during last years’ budget process, and couldn’t be more satisfied at the caliber of this most decorated detective investigator. Detective Gonzalez will help improve and transform how sex crimes are investigated and prosecuted in Putnam County. She was a major asset to the NYPD, and I have no doubt she will be equally indispensable in Putnam.”

 The office also has a new Public Information Officer in Michelle Carter. This position is privately funded and will have no fiscal impact on the taxpayers of Putnam County. While District Attorneys in neighboring counties all have paid spokespeople, Putnam has not. The spate of yellow journalism that has plagued Putnam County in the last year, however, and the dramatic increase in press inquiries has taken other employees away from their primary job functions. Ms. Carter enjoyed a reputation as an honest and no-nonsense journalist who excelled at investigative reporting and uncovering the truth, no matter how much it was hidden by those who wanted it kept a secret.

 “I understand the burdens of Putnam County taxpayers, and it has always been my belief that if I’m going to ask them to pay for a new office position, it should be another prosecutor or investigator,” Levy said. “It was important to me that this office be represented by someone smart, savvy and impeccably ethical, and we found that person in Michelle.”

 Carter is the former Putnam County Editor of the Hudson Valley Reporter and has an extensive background in journalism, public relations, and marketing. She will be handling all office-related media inquiries, and help promote and enhance the office’s public safety initiatives.