BRONX MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE FOR KILLING 59-YEAR-OLD MAN ON SUBWAY TRAIN

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jyrell Thomas has been indicted on murder and weapon possession charges for fatally stabbing 59-year-old Mesias Lojano on September 30 onboard a J train. Thomas allegedly produced a knife and randomly targeted Lojano, stabbing him multiple times as the train approached Woodhaven station. The defendant fled the train, was chased by good Samaritans and apprehended by police shortly after the incident.

District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant was indicted for taking the life of a hard-working father and grandfather who was simply trying to get home from work.  Commuters deserve to use our transit system without fear, and we will aggressively prosecute those who cause harm and mayhem on our subways. Our thoughts remain with Mesias Lojano’s family as we seek justice on his behalf.”

Thomas, 25, of the Bronx, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinksy remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court January 26, 2027. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the indictment and investigation, on September 30, at approximately 5 p.m., Jyrell Thomas boarded a Queens-bound J train at the Broadway Junction station in Brooklyn.

At approximately 5:15 p.m., as the subway approached the elevated platform at Woodhaven train station near the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue, Thomas screamed, allegedly produced a knife and repeatedly stabbed Mesias Lojano with whom he had no prior connection. The defendant’s knife broke in two pieces while stabbing Lojano, and the defendant then allegedly produced a second knife from his sleeve, chased the victim across the train car and continued stabbing him.

When the subway doors opened, Thomas ran and dropped his weapon. Fellow subway passengers chased after the defendant.  Responding NYPD officers apprehended Thomas two blocks from the subway station.

Police later recovered two kitchen knives — one broken knife left in the subway car and a second kitchen knife with blood on its blade allegedly dropped down the subway stairs by Thomas as he fled.

Lojano was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced deceased with stab wounds to his chest, neck, lip and back.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Frank Lasala of the 102nd Detective Squad.

New York City Council to Hold Major Oversight Hearing on Campus Safety Amid Sexual Assault Cases in New York State

 

Speaker Menin Calls on Ten New York City College and University Leaders to Testify Under Oath

Today, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced that the Council will convene a major oversight hearing on December 15. It will call on presidents from ten of New York City’s largest colleges and universities to testify under oath about the institutional measures taken to protect students from sexual misconduct. Through its efforts, the Council has set a national blueprint of how local governments can demand transparency and accountability from powerful institutions.

“New York City is the largest college town in the country, with over half a million students pursuing their education across all five boroughs, yet recent incidents have raised deeply troubling questions about student safety,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “The City Council will not wait for another tragedy before taking action to protect students from sexual assault and violence. Our colleges and universities have a fundamental responsibility to keep students safe, support survivors, and ensure accountability. This hearing is a critical first step toward examining where our institutions may be falling short so that every student can pursue their education in a safe and supportive environment.”

The Council has invited Jennifer Mnookin, President, Columbia University; Linda Mills, President, New York University; Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, Chancellor, City University of New York (CUNY); Tania Tetlow, President, Fordham University; Reverend Brian J. Shanley, President, St. John’s University; Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University; Dr. Alan Kadish, President, Touro University; Joel Towers, President, The New School; Susan L. Parish, President, Mercy College; and Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Yeshiva University.

“Sexual violence is far too common on college campuses. More than one in four women will experience it as undergraduates,” said Council Member Rita Joseph, Chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “As the facts of the case at Cornell University come to light, the New York City Council must examine not only the policies and procedures of our higher education institutions, but also how they implement them. Women deserve to learn in an environment free from harassment and assault. There is much work ahead, and I am proud to join Speaker Menin in taking this first step.”

The hearing takes place in the wake of sexual assault incidents at New York’s Cornell University and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which have sparked national outrage and a contentious debate on the effectiveness of Title IX policies.

In 2024, college campuses nationwide reported over 30,000 incidents of sexual and dating violence to the U.S. Department of Education. One in four women enrolled in an undergraduate program experiences some form of rape or sexual assault, though experts estimate numbers are underreported.  

Tallahassee Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

 

Christopher L. Daniels, 47, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute various controlled substances including more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This serial felon made a career out of victimizing our communities and flooding our streets with deadly poison, but thanks to the aggressive prosecution by my office he’ll spend decades behind federal bars where he belongs. This case was built upon the close cooperation between the Tallahassee Police Department, ATF, and DEA, and shows our unified commitment to dismantling and eradicating the drug trafficking operations that have plagued our neighborhoods with violence, addiction, and blight. Our citizens deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities, and my office will deliver on that promise with aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for anyone caught breaking the law in my District.”

Evidence at trial demonstrated that the Tallahassee Police Department conducted an investigation into drug trafficking by the defendant that culminated in the execution of a search warrant at his home on January 21, 2026. Officers found approximately 2.75 ounces of methamphetamine, an ounce of cocaine, half an ounce of crack cocaine laid out in plain view on an ironing board, approximately one ounce of “molly” (two different synthetic cathinones), 64 suspected MDMA tablets later confirmed to be low-purity methamphetamine, and a pound of marijuana. Four pistols were also found in the house, including a “Draco” AK-47-style pistol found near the plate of crack cocaine. Evidence on the defendant’s cellphone showed that he was engaged in drug-trafficking.

The defendant is a 12-time convicted felon, with convictions dating back to 1996, and faced enhanced sentencing due to multiple prior convictions for serious drug felonies.

“North Florida residents are much safer today,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “Special thanks to Tallahassee Police Department, DEA and federal prosecutors for holding this repeat violent offender accountable.”

This sentencing was the result of a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.

Attorney General James Expands Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Millions of New Yorkers

 

OAG Investigations Found Widespread “Ghost Networks” That Prevented New Yorkers from Accessing Treatment and Denied Addiction Treatment Using Improper Criteria 

Carelon Will Pay At Least $10.35 Million in Penalties and Restitution, Repay Eligible Members, and Overhaul How It Serves New Yorkers

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced two settlements with Carelon Behavioral Health, Inc. (Carelon) after two Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigations found that Carelon misled New Yorkers searching for mental health care by directing them to providers who were unavailable and improperly denied coverage for substance use disorder treatment. Carelon administers all behavioral health benefits for several popular health plans, including EmblemHealth, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Independent Health, and the Empire Plan, the health plan for state and local government employees. Under the settlements, Carelon will pay $2.35 million in penalties, fees, and costs, provide up to $8 million in restitution to eligible members who paid out of pocket for out-of-network mental health care, repay other eligible members for out-of-pocket payments for bills denied by Carelon, and overhaul its provider directories and substance use disorder coverage reviews.

“When someone is ready to seek help for a mental health condition or addiction, every day matters,” said Attorney General James. “Carelon left New Yorkers calling provider after provider who could not see them and made it harder for people to get the treatment to which they were entitled. These settlements will help people get the care they need and put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets. My office will keep fighting until every New Yorker can get the mental health and substance use treatment they deserve.”

Carelon is responsible for the mental health and substance use disorder coverage of more than four million New Yorkers across a variety of health plans. Through two investigations, OAG found that Carelon violated a 2015 agreement with OAG that required it to, among other things, maintain an accurate provider directory, ensure an adequate provider network, and only use approved criteria when reviewing requests for substance use disorder treatment.

Mental Health Ghost Network Investigation

The OAG’s first investigation found, through a secret shopper study, that Carelon's online provider directories contained many errors, including listings for providers who were unreachable, no longer practicing, not accepting new patients, or not actually in-network. As detailed in Attorney General James’ report, Inaccurate and Inadequate: Health Plans’ Mental Health Provider Directories, OAG determined that 82 percent of surveyed Emblem behavioral health providers that Carelon listed as accepting new patients were effectively unavailable, creating a “ghost networks” of providers. The OAG found that the company internally acknowledged that it had a ghost network, but did not share that information with Emblem, and that Carelon regularly dismissed members’ complaints about their inability to find care.

The consequences for New Yorkers were significant. In one case, a member searching for a psychiatrist for their spouse called at least eight providers listed in Carelon’s directory, but none could help. Carelon gave the couple approximately 25 additional names, all without success, and then contacted 38 more providers itself and still could not secure an appointment. Despite these efforts, Carelon rejected the member’s complaint as “unsubstantiated” because the member had not provided the names of the providers they called within 10 days. In another case, a mother seeking a psychiatrist for her 14-year-old son could not find an in-network provider accepting new patients, even after contacting Carelon directly for help. It took several months and OAG’s intervention before Carelon agreed to cover an out-of-network psychiatrist.

As a result of OAG’s investigation, Carelon will pay up to $8 million in restitution to members forced to seek out-of-network mental health care because they could not get an in-network appointment. Eligible members can seek reimbursement for care received as early as January 1, 2020. Carelon must also repay eligible members who paid extra, with 12 percent interest, because Carelon incorrectly listed a provider as in-network. An independent monitor will review claims and determine who qualifies for reimbursement.

Moving forward, Carelon must overhaul its provider directories by correcting inaccurate listings within two business days, verifying provider information every 90 days, and confirming that providers are accepting new patients before referring members. It must also allow members and providers to report inaccuracies, remove providers who have not submitted claims in 90 days unless they confirm they are still participating, and conduct quarterly secret shopper surveys. Carelon must count unanswered calls and unreachable providers when measuring directory accuracy and publish the results.

Attorney General James is also requiring Carelon to ensure members can get urgent care appointments within 24 hours and initial outpatient appointments within 10 business days. If members say they cannot secure an appointment with an in-network provider, and Carelon cannot find an appropriate provider within three business days, members must be allowed to see an out-of-network provider and pay their usual in-network costs. The same protection applies to members who were incorrectly told a provider was in-network.

Lastly, to improve access to mental health care, Carelon must develop a plan to recruit and retain behavioral health providers, reduce administrative burdens, and invest in recruiting child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. An independent monitor will audit Carelon's provider directories, appointment availability, out-of-network use, and behavioral health reimbursement rates and network size compared with medical care, and report to OAG every six months.

Substance Use Coverage Denial Investigation

The OAG’s second investigation examined how Carelon decides whether to cover addiction treatment. The OAG found that Carelon improperly denied members’ substance use disorder treatment requests using unapproved medical necessity criteria in at least 41 instances. The OAG also reviewed dozens of cases in which independent reviewers overturned Carelon’s coverage denials and found that Carelon failed to adequately consider patients’ substance use histories, co-occurring mental health conditions, and withdrawal symptoms.

Since 2017, New York law has required insurers to use medical necessity criteria approved by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) when reviewing requests for substance use disorder treatment. Carelon failed to make determinations using OASAS’ standards and, between 2019 and 2022, independent reviewers overturned 17 of 24 appealed denials for Empire Plan members, 27 of 50 for Emblem members, and four of six for MVP members. Given that only a small share of eligible consumers appeal denials, the number of affected members is likely much higher.

As a result of the investigation, Carelon must repay eligible members who paid out of pocket or have unpaid bills for addiction treatment following an improper denial dating back to January 1, 2020. The company must proactively identify eligible members and issue refunds within 180 days of the settlement’s effective date, and pay $350,000 in penalties, fees, and costs.

Going forward, Carelon must use only OASAS-approved medical necessity criteria and review each member’s full case file, including their diagnosis, symptoms, treatment goals, substance use history, co-occurring conditions, and the risks of stopping treatment. Carelon may deny coverage only when treatment does not meet OASAS standards. The company is also prohibited from minimizing withdrawal symptoms, requiring patients to fail at a lower level of care before approving a higher one, or requiring proof that a patient poses a risk of serious harm to themselves or others.

WORST OF THE WORST: ICE Arrests Murderers, Sexual Predators, and Drug Traffickers

 

Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin’s leadership, DHS will never stop fighting for the victims of illegal alien crime

Yesterday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, convicted for despicable crimes including second-degree murder, sexual assault, and controlled substance trafficking.

“Under President Trump, there will be no amnesty for illegal aliens, including in sanctuary cities that put illegal aliens over their own citizens. Just yesterday, ICE arrested murderers, sexual predators, and drug traffickers,” said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “We will continue to carry out the American people’s mandate to arrest and deport illegal aliens from our nation.”

Yesterday’s arrests include: 

Gustavo Rodriguez-Callado, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for second-degree murder, THREE counts of aggravated assault, and robbery in Caldwell, Idaho.

Juan Contreras-Saucedo, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for sexual assault in San Antonio, Texas.

Jose Adrian Mejia-Garcia, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for controlled substance trafficking and manufacturing and delivery of more than 900 grams of cocaine in Freeport, Illinois.

Poeurt Nhean, a criminal illegal alien from Cambodia, convicted for assault with a deadly weapon not firearm: great bodily injury and FOUR counts of possession of a controlled substance in Santa Ana, California.

Manuel Francisco Tasama-Portilla, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia, convicted for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Reading, Pennsylvania. 

Americans can see more public safety threats arrested in their communities on our webpage at WOW.DHS.Gov.

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Governor Hochul Announces Start of Construction on $178 Million Housing Development in Westchester County

North White Plains Brings Nearly 300 Apartments and Retail to White Plains, Steps From Metro-North

Development Is First Project to Break Ground Under Governor Hochul's Innovative Housing Acceleration Fund

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction on North White Plains, a $178 million mixed-income, transit-oriented development that will create 296 new apartments in the city of White Plains. The development, which will feature two six-story buildings, retail space and a publicly accessible park, is the first development to utilize the Governor's Housing Acceleration Fund, an innovative program designed to jumpstart construction of shovel-ready mixed-income housing projects across New York State. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 4,600 affordable homes in Westchester County. North White Plains continues this progress and is part of the Governor's $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“To combat the state’s housing crisis and deliver more housing options for New Yorkers, we have to be creative and use every resource at our disposal to accelerate new development,” Governor Hochul said. “Today we’re putting shovels in the ground on a great new housing development in Westchester that hundreds of households can soon call home. With smart, innovative programs like the Housing Acceleration Fund, we’re delivering projects like this to New Yorkers even faster. That’s how we build an affordable and more liveable New York.”

Developed by BRP Companies, North White Plains will include a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments designed to serve households of varying sizes. Five of the affordable homes will be reserved for households earning up to 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) and 25 will be reserved for households earning up to 110 percent of AMI. The remaining apartments will be market-rate.

Located adjacent to the North White Plains Metro-North station, the project will connect residents to job opportunities throughout Westchester County and New York City while encouraging a walkable, transit-oriented lifestyle close to dining and retail.

North White Plains will include a fitness center, resident lounge, co-working lounge, event space and patio. There will be a 1,000-square-foot ground-floor retail space envisioned as a coffee shop. The development will also include a publicly accessible park featuring a dog run, as well as a 383-space parking garage.

The all-electric project will include electric heat pumps for heating and cooling, electric vehicle charging, and is designed to meet or exceed ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction standards.

Financing for North White Plains includes a mix of public and private sources, including $18 million from the Housing Acceleration Fund, $120 million from Merchants Capital, $10 million from The Community Preservation Corporation, and $30 million in equity from Basis Investment Group and BRP Companies.

Administered by HCR, the Housing Acceleration Fund provides low-interest, revolving loans to shovel-ready mixed-income housing developments that face financing gaps preventing construction from moving forward. The program leverages public capital to attract private investment and accelerate housing production. HCR's financing is repaid with three percent interest upon project completion, allowing the State to reinvest the funds in additional housing developments.

COIB Settlements Announced

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces three settlements.

 

Misuse of City Time & Resources. A Fleet Unit Supervisor at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (“OCME”) used her assigned OCME vehicle and E-ZPass for personal trips, driving 3,139 miles and accumulating $395.58 in tolls. The Fleet Unit Supervisor also spent a total of 136 hours and 40 minutes either at home or driving for personal purposes when she was required to be working for OCME. To resolve her violations, the Fleet Unit Supervisor agreed to pay an $8,500 fine to the Board. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (OCME).”

Misuse of City Time. A Director of Program Strategy at the New York City Department of Design and Construction (“DDC”) conducted a free 30-minute counseling session for a prospective private client and sent a follow-up email to the client offering to have additional sessions for pay, all while she was required to be working for DDC. While disciplinary charges were being prepared, the Director of Program Strategy resigned in lieu of being terminated. The Board took the Director’s resignation into account in deciding not to require the payment of a fine. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DDC).”

Misuse of City Position & Misuse of City Time. On two occasions, a Maintenance Worker at the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) performed private work for a NYCHA resident at his assigned facility when he was required to be performing work for NYCHA. The Maintenance Worker asked for and accepted a total of $90 from the resident for performing the work. To resolve his violations, the Maintenance Worker agreed to pay a $1,000 fine to the Board.  The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (NYCHA).”

COIB is the independent, non-mayoral City agency charged with interpreting, administering, and enforcing the City's Conflicts of Interest Law, Annual Disclosure Law, Lobbyist Gift Law, Affiliated Not-for-Profits Law, and Legal Defense Trusts Law.

Mayor Mamdani Signs Landmark COPA Legislation, Giving Community Groups First Chance to Preserve Affordable Housing

 

Community Opportunity to Purchase Act will give qualified nonprofits and community groups the first opportunity to buy distressed and affordable multifamily buildings, protecting tenants and strengthening neighborhood stability  

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani signed the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), landmark legislation that will give qualified nonprofits and community groups the first opportunity to purchase certain multifamily buildings before they hit the private market.

Sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, COPA gives mission-driven affordable housing providers 145 days to make an offer on eligible properties, along with an additional year during which they can exercise a right of first refusal to match another buyer’s offer. The legislation creates a powerful new tool to preserve affordable housing, protect tenants and prevent buildings from falling into a cycle of disrepair and profit-driven neglect.

“Too many New Yorkers have watched their homes deteriorate while landlords extract profits and tenants are left to fight for the repairs they deserve. That’s not how housing should work. Our homes should be places of stability, not vehicles for speculation. COPA puts power in the hands of the community organizations that have spent years serving our neighborhoods and fighting to keep New Yorkers housed. After six years of organizing, tenants and advocates have won a new tool to protect their homes and keep affordable housing in the hands of those who will care for it,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This is what it looks like to build a more affordable city where every New Yorker can live with stability and dignity.”

“COPA will be a valuable part of our work to preserve and invest in affordable housing across the five boroughs. This is an important tool to ensure buildings at risk are managed by people with a stake in their long-term success,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “Congratulations to Council Member Nurse and her colleagues, tenants, and organizers who have fought for years to celebrate this day!”

“With COPA signed into law, we are entering a new era for affordable housing in New York City: one where organizations rooted in our communities are able to step in and preserve the affordable housing that New Yorkers rely on. Thanks to six years of advocacy by Council Member Nurse, the Progressive Caucus, NYCCLI, and tenants and organizers across the city, we have a powerful new tool in our work to create a fairer, more affordable city,” said Cea Weaver, Director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.

“This new law will gate against speculative investment in both distressed and expiring affordable housing by providing not-for-profit housing providers a first opportunity to purchase. This is a great tool to end the cycle of tenants experiencing worsening conditions as their buildings go from one bad landlord to the next. We look forward to implementing COPA and helping keep more New Yorkers in safe, stable housing,” said Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Dina Levy.

Under COPA, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will maintain a list of “qualified entities,” vetted nonprofits, tenant groups, community land trusts and other mission-driven organizations with demonstrated experience acquiring, preserving and managing affordable housing. These organizations must also demonstrate the financial and organizational capacity to purchase and operate eligible properties.

When a covered building is put up for sale, qualified entities will receive an exclusive 145-day window to complete the purchase. If the qualified entity’s offer is rejected and another buyer subsequently makes an offer within the following year, qualified entities will have the right of first refusal to match it.

Covered properties include multifamily buildings with four or more units that are in significant disrepair, as well as buildings with affordability restrictions governed by HPD regulatory agreements. By creating a pathway for responsible community-based ownership, COPA will ensure that these properties are repaired, maintained and operated in partnership with tenants rather than left to deteriorate by negligent owners.

Today’s signing marks the culmination of six years of advocacy by Council Member Nurse, tenants and community organizations. Former Mayor Eric Adams vetoed an earlier version of COPA in December 2025. The Mamdani administration subsequently made the legislation a priority in its Block by Block housing plan, released in May 2026. The City Council passed the bill in October 2026.

With the legislation now signed, HPD will begin implementation, including establishing the qualified entities list and creating a process to notify eligible organizations when covered buildings are put up for sale.

COPA is a part of the Mamdani administration’s broader effort to make New York City more affordable by creating new housing, preserving affordable homes and giving tenants greater power to remain in their communities. The administration’s Block by Block housing plan set unprecedented goals of building 200,000 new affordable homes and preserving 200,000 more over the next decade. In its first budget, the administration committed a historic $22 billion in affordable housing capital over five years.

That investment is part of a comprehensive housing agenda that also includes an ambitious land use strategy, stronger support for organized tenants, new tools to crack down on negligent landlords, renewed investment in public housing and streamlined processes to build and lease affordable housing at the speed that New Yorkers need. Together, these efforts reflect a fundamental commitment to building a city where working people can afford to stay, neighborhoods can shape their own futures and housing serves the people who call New York City home.