NYC DEP and Trust for Public Land Break Ground on New Green Playground in Jackson Heights

DEP Invests $1 Million in New Playground Design to Reduce Street Flooding and Protect Local Waterways

Synthetic Turf Athletic Field Will Capture up to 260,000  Gallons of Stormwater Annually

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the School Construction Authority (SCA), staff, students, local elected officials, and community members to break ground on a new green playground at P.S. 69Q in Jackson Heights, Queens. DEP contributed $1 million to the project, which includes a synthetic turf athletic field designed specifically to capture up to 260,000 gallons of stormwater annually. By soaking up rainwater where it falls, the new playground will help reduce flooding on school grounds and in the surrounding neighborhood and limit sewer overflows into the East River and New York Harbor during rainstorms.

DEP’s partnership with TPL is a key component of the agency’s nation-leading green infrastructure program that has constructed over 16,000 green infrastructure installations, including subsurface detention systems, rain gardens, infiltration basins, green roofs, permeable pavement and green medians. All of these green infrastructure tools intercept stormwater before it drains into the sewer system, thereby freeing up capacity in the sewers, reducing street flooding and protecting local waterways. Together, DEP and TPL have built 52 new playgrounds that manage stormwater, with five more in design and 23 in planning.

“The upgraded playground at P.S. 69Q will give students and families in Jackson Heights a fun new place to play, and capture stormwater on rainy days which will reduce neighborhood flooding” said New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “DEP is proud to partner with the Trust for Public Land on this important project to help safeguard our environment and reduce increasing impacts from climate change.”

“This groundbreaking represents an investment in the health, joy, and future of Jackson Heights,” said Tamar Renaud, New York State Director for Trust for Public Land. “TPL is grateful for leaders like CM Krishnan for advocating for the creation of public green spaces that not only give kids room to play and learn but benefit entire neighborhoods.”

“The School Construction Authority is proud to partner on this important project that will transform an underutilized schoolyard into a vibrant, green space for both students and the Jackson Heights community,” said Nina Kubota, SCA President & CEO. “Projects like this reflect our commitment to creating healthy, sustainable learning environments while expanding access to safe outdoor spaces in neighborhoods that need them most.”

Designed through a participatory process with students, educators, families, and community members, the new schoolyard will feature nature‑themed play elements and shaded seating. The subsurface storage system beneath the synthetic turf athletic field will capture, hold and slowly release stormwater back into the sewer after the peak rainfall. The project will also reduce heat and contribute to a healthier urban environment.

P.S. 69Q serves more than 800 students in pre‑kindergarten through fifth grade. Jackson Heights has some of the lowest access to open space in New York City, making projects like this essential for children’s health and overall community well‑being. Once complete, the space will be open to the public outside of school hours, expanding access to much‑needed outdoor recreation for more than 56,000 nearby residents within a 10‑minute walk.

Since 1996, TPL’s NYC Playgrounds Program has helped design and build 238 school and community playgrounds across the five boroughs. The community schoolyard initiative is a key part of Trust for Public Land’s mission to close the park‑equity gap and create vibrant, climate‑resilient outdoor spaces in neighborhoods that need them most. TPL is leading the movement to transform asphalt schoolyards into vital green infrastructure through advocacy, policy change, research, and resource sharing. These revitalizations create dynamic outdoor spaces that boost student health and learning, reduce neighborhood heat, and absorb stormwater.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

About the NYC School Construction Authority

The School Construction Authority's (SCA) mission is to design and construct safe, attractive, and environmentally sound public schools for children throughout the many communities of New York City. We are dedicated to building and modernizing schools in a responsible, cost-effective manner while achieving the highest standards of excellence in safety, quality, and integrity. Established by the New York State Legislature in December 1988, the SCA has provided over 300,000 new school seats to New York City students, and protected, repaired, and upgraded over 1,800 schools in over 1,400 school buildings with over 12,500 capital improvement projects. For more information, please visit nycsca.org.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules.For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X. 

Three-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Selling Deadly "Tranq Dope" That Killed One and Seriously Injured Another

 

Masi Lenard Fears has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl, which resulted in the death of one customer and serious injury to another, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

“Selling lethal drugs disguised as something less dangerous is not just criminal, it’s deadly,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This repeat offender knowingly distributed a toxic combination of fentanyl and xylazine, resulting in one death and another life forever changed. This sentence reflects the devastating impact of that deception and our unwavering commitment to justice.”

“This case is a powerful reminder that fentanyl can be mixed into any substance and even a small amount can kill you,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Fears’ hand-to-hand drug transaction took a life, and the hefty sentence in this case should serve as a warning that even street-level deals can have deadly consequences that result in prison time.” 

“We commend our federal partners for taking decisive action in prosecuting Fears and removing him from our community. This case sends a strong message to criminals who engage in drug trafficking and illegally possess firearms: we will not stand by while you commit crimes in our city. With unwavering support from the federal government, we are fully committed to eradicating this criminal behavior,” said Chief R. Scott Freeman, Conyers Police Department. 

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In March 2021, Masi Fears sold two men a powdery substance for $20 at a gas station in Conyers, Georgia. The men believed they were buying cocaine or heroin, but the powder was actually a deadly combination of fentanyl and xylazine (commonly referred to as “tranq”). The men used some of Fears’ fentanyl/xylazine powder, which quickly killed one of them and caused serious injury to the other. 

The Conyers Police Department (CPD) investigated the incident and identified Fears as the dealer of the narcotics. Several months later, CPD officers located and arrested Fears, a three-time convicted felon, who was in possession of a loaded handgun and a small amount of drugs.

Masi Lenard Fears, 39, of Conyers, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to 14 years, one month, and 15 days in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Restitution in this case will be determined on a later date.  Fears pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on January 6, 2026.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Conyers Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

2026 Bronx Zoo Community Day Hosted by Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr.

 

Friends and Neighbors,

I am proud to invite our community to another fun-filled day of lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!). That’s right—it’s our Fourth Annual Community Day at the Bronx Zoo!

The world-renowned Bronx Zoo is a destination for millions of visitors each year. Although it’s right here in our backyard, many members of our community are not always able to take advantage of this magical place filled with exotic animals from across the globe.

For that reason, I am especially proud to invite you to join me on May 16th for a FREE day at the Zoo! Your ticket will grant you full access to the Bronx Zoo, including special attractions and up-close animal encounters. This is a truly special opportunity to experience one of New York City’s greatest treasures.

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

This year, we kindly ask that you meet us at the Parking Lot C entrance off Southern Blvd, where tickets will be distributed between 10am - 11am ONLY.

Tickets are limited, so be sure to secure yours today by using the QR code on the flyer below or by clicking here.

PLEASE NOTE:

This event is only available to residents of the 80th Assembly District, and tickets are limited to four per family.

To find out if you live in the 80th Assembly District, please click here.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

See you at the Zoo,

John Zaccaro, Jr.

Council Member Eric Dinowitz - Protecting Students Should Not Be Controversial

 

Mayor Mamdani Vetoes My Legislation That Protects Students

For our students, schools are second homes. It's where they nourish themselves, receive services, and of course, learn about the world around them. Nothing should prevent our kids from going to school.

I want to update you on an important bill affecting student safety across our city.

I will always fight to keep our students safe and protect them from harassment. That is why the City Council passed my legislation, Intro 175-B, to ensure that students can enter and exit their schools safely and without interference, intimidation, or harassment.

The misinformation surrounding Intro 175-B has been striking. Some critics have falsely framed it as an effort to suppress free speech, when there is absolutely no mechanism in the bill that would enable that. Some have said that it would allow the NYPD to arrest any protester within 100 feet of a school, which is pure fiction. As critics of the bill lambast elements of the bill that do not exist, it is just as disingenuous to suggest that students do not need clear protections to ensure safe access to their schools.

This bill was crafted intentionally, with every New Yorker in mind. From the students walking to school to the protestors exercising their First Amendment rights, we ensured this bill protects students, upholds free speech, and is content-neutral.

The bill requires the NYPD to create a clear, public plan for addressing harassment, intimidation, and obstruction at school entrances and exits. It also establishes transparency, communication with the public, and accountability in how those decisions are made, while fully protecting First Amendment rights.

Mayor Mamdani has now made the baffling decision to veto this student safety legislation. In his veto message, the points of justification for vetoing it are not based on the content of the bill.

The Mayor argues that the bill is too broad and could infringe on the right to protest. That claim is not supported by the text of the bill. Intro 175-B does not ban protests, restrict speech, or create new penalties. It simply requires the NYPD to be transparent and consistent in how it protects access to schools, something it already has the authority to do, but where transparency and accountability are sorely lacking. The bill draws a clear line: protest is protected, but intimidation and blocking access to classrooms are not.

The Mayor also raises concerns about the scope of what constitutes an "educational institution." But my bill clearly defines an educational institution as "any building, structure, or place affiliated with an institution of education, including public and nonpublic elementary schools, middle schools, junior high schools, high schools, colleges, and universities." Calling it vague or undefined avoids debating the actual issue: safe access to schools.

The core purpose of this bill is straightforward and practical: to ensure that students, families, and school staff can safely access school buildings. Without a clear, public plan, enforcement remains inconsistent and unpredictable, which is exactly what leads to confusion and concern.

At a time when students face real incidents of harassment and unsafe passage on their way to school, inaction is not acceptable.

Students deserve to feel safe walking into their classrooms, and New Yorkers deserve transparency and accountability from their government.

I will keep fighting every day to make sure this issue is treated with the seriousness it deserves. I will continue to advance policies that protect both public safety and constitutional rights, because we do not have to choose between them.

Check out my response to Mayor Mamdani's veto video here, and read my response to his veto here.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Eric Dinowitz

New York City Council Member

District 11

Prolific Chinese State-Sponsored Contract Hacker Extradited from Italy

 

Xu Zewei (徐泽伟), 34, of the People’s Republic of China was extradited to the United States and appeared in U.S. District Court in Houston on a nine-count indictment related to his involvement in computer intrusions between February 2020 and June 2021. Certain of those computer intrusions allegedly are part of the HAFNIUM computer intrusion campaign that compromised thousands of computers worldwide, including in the United States. Other intrusions targeted U.S. COVID-19 research during the height of the pandemic. Xu is charged along with Zhang Yu (张宇), 44, who is also a PRC national.

According to court documents, officers of the PRC’s Ministry of State Security’s (MSS) Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB) directed Xu to conduct this hacking. The MSS and SSSB are PRC intelligence services responsible for PRC’s domestic counterintelligence, non-military foreign intelligence, and aspects of the PRC’s political and domestic security. When Xu conducted the computer intrusions, he allegedly worked for a company named Shanghai Powerock Network Co. Ltd. (Powerock). Powerock was one of many “enabling” companies in the PRC that conducted hacking for the PRC government.

“The United States is committed to pursuing hackers who steal information from U.S. businesses and universities and threaten our cybersecurity,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “I commend the prosecutors and investigators who have worked hard and sought justice for years in this investigation, and we look forward to proving our case in court.”

“Xu Zewei will stand in a federal courtroom to answer for crimes that struck at the heart of American science and security — allegedly stealing COVID-19 research from our universities when the world needed it most,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “We have pursued this moment across years and continents, and the message this office sends today is the same one we sent when we first unsealed this indictment: we will work to protect the American people.”

“The extradition of Xu Zewei demonstrates the FBI's reach extends well beyond U.S. borders,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI's Cyber Division. “Xu will now answer for his alleged role in HAFNIUM, a group responsible for a vast intrusion campaign directed by China's Ministry of State Security that compromised more than 12,700 U.S. organizations. He is one of many contractors the Chinese government uses to obscure its hand in cyber operations, and others who do the same face the same risk. The FBI thanks our Italian law enforcement colleagues, especially the Polizia Postale, whose partnership led to Xu's arrest in Milan and his extradition to the United States.”

According to court documents, in early 2020, Xu and his co-conspirators hacked and otherwise targeted U.S.-based universities, immunologists, and virologists conducting research into COVID‑19 vaccines, treatment, and testing. Xu and others reported their activities to officers in the SSSB who were supervising and directing the hacking activities. For example, on or about Feb. 19, 2020, Xu provided an SSSB officer with confirmation that he had compromised the network of a research university located in the Southern District of Texas. On or about Feb. 22, 2020, the SSSB officer directed Xu to target and access specific email accounts (mailboxes) belonging to virologists and immunologists engaged in COVID-19 research for the university. Xu later confirmed for the SSSB officer that he acquired the contents of the researchers’ mailboxes.

The charges further allege that beginning in late 2020, Xu and his co-conspirators exploited certain vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server, a widely-used Microsoft product for sending, receiving, and storing email messages. Their exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server was at the forefront of a massive campaign targeting thousands of computers worldwide and known publicly as “HAFNIUM.” In March 2021, Microsoft publicly disclosed the intrusion campaign by state-sponsored hackers operating out of China. Throughout March 2021, Microsoft and other industry partners released detection tools, patches, and other information to assist victim entities in identifying and mitigating this cyber incident. Additionally, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a Joint Advisory on Compromise of Microsoft Exchange Server on March 10, 2021. However, by the end of March 2021, hundreds of web shells remained on certain U.S.-based computers running Microsoft Exchange Server software. In April 2021, the Justice Department announced a court-authorized operation to remediate hundreds of computers in the United States made vulnerable by HAFNIUM actors. In July 2021, the United States and foreign partners attributed the HAFNIUM campaign to the PRC’s MSS.

Among the victims of Xu’s alleged exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server were another university located in the Southern District of Texas and a law firm with offices worldwide, including in Washington, D.C. After exploiting computers running Microsoft Exchange Server, Xu and his co-conspirators installed web shells on them to enable their remote administration. The indictment alleges that these web shells were specific to HAFNIUM actors at the time. As with the earlier COVID-19 research intrusions, Xu and Zhang worked together on the HAFNIUM intrusions, under the supervision and direction of SSSB officers. For example, on or about Jan. 30, 2021, Xu confirmed to Zhang that he had compromised the other university’s network. Later, on or about Feb. 28, 2021, Xu updated a SSSB officer on his successful intrusions. This SSSB officer then directed Xu to obtain a list of other, successful intrusions from a second SSSB officer. Unauthorized access to the law firm’s network allowed Xu and his co-conspirators to steal information from mailboxes and search them for information regarding specific U.S. policy makers and government agencies. Their search terms included “Chinese sources,” “MSS,” and “HongKong.”

As described in the July 2025 announcement of charges against Xu, the PRC uses an extensive network of private companies and contractors in China to hack and steal information in a manner that obscured the PRC government’s involvement. Operating from their safe haven and motivated by profit, this network of private companies and contractors in China cast a wide net to identify vulnerable computers, exploit those computers, and then identify information that it could sell directly or indirectly to the PRC government. This largely indiscriminate approach results in more victims in the United States and elsewhere, more systems worldwide left vulnerable to future exploitation by third parties, and more stolen information, often of no interest to the PRC government and, therefore, sold to other third parties.

Xu is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count; conspiracy to cause damage to and obtain information by unauthorized access to protected computers, to commit wire fraud, and to commit identity theft, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; two counts of obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; two counts of intentional damage to a protected computer, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and aggravated identity theft, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Zhang Yu, remains at large. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

The FBI’s Houston Field Office is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McIntyre for the Southern District of Texas and Deputy Chief Matthew Anzaldi of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs secured the arrest and extradition from Italy of Xu. The United States thanks the Government of Italy for its assistance extraditing Xu to the United States, including the Cyber Division of the Italian National Police for its valuable assistance.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DHS Re-Adds Illegal Alien to ICE’s Most Wanted List After Biden Removed Alleged Killer

 

Jesus Maltos-Chacon has been on the run for twenty years and was removed from ICE’s Most Wanted List during the Biden Administration  

Today, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Jesus Maltos-Chacon, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been re-added to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Most Wanted List after the Biden Administration removed his name. Maltos is wanted for a 2006 hit-and-run death on 20-year-old Blake Zieto in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.   

“Jesus Maltos-Chacon is the Mexican criminal illegal alien who killed 20-year-old Blake Zieto in Baton Rouge, LA,’ said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Maltos-Chacon hit Blake head-on, driving his truck on the wrong side of the road, and trapped Blake’s motorcycle underneath the truck as it went up in flames. Jesus Maltos-Chacon has been on the run ever since. After being taken off the ICE Most Wanted list by Biden, he is back on the Most Wanted list. We will find Maltos-Chacon. Not only because justice demands it, but because the Zieto family deserves peace. If you have any information on this alien’s whereabouts, call our tip line at 866-347-2423.”  

Jesus Maltos-Chacon  

On November 18, 2006, Blake Zieto, 20, was driving his motorcycle to meet a friend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Jesus Maltos-Chacon, from the opposite lane, swerved his truck into Blake's lane and struck his motorcycle.   

Zieto’s motorcycle became trapped under the truck as the truck burst into flames. Jesus Maltos-Chacon exited the vehicle and fled the scene. Blake Zieto succumbed to his injuries on his ambulance ride to the hospital. His body was so badly burned that this family was forced to hold a closed casket funeral.  

Maltos-Chacon has multiple prior arrests in the United States, including for a DWI in Texas and in East Baton Rouge Parish for operating a vehicle without lawful presence. His earliest recorded arrest was on February 25, 1998, for assault with no disposition in Dallas, Texas, indicating that he has been in the United States illegally for nearly thirty years.   

State, local, and federal law enforcement have been searching for Maltos-Chacon for the twenty years since Blake’s death. Law enforcement has distributed multiple wanted fliers and received numerous tips on Chacon’s whereabouts locating him throughout Louisiana, Texas, and even as far north as Minnesota. The most recent potential tip on Maltos-Chacon' location was in November of 2025, with a report to the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tip Line concerning an illegal alien living in Denham Springs, Louisiana.   

Blake’s parents, Judy and Tony, have spent nearly twenty years of seeking justice and being pushed aside by open borders politicians and sanctuary politicians. That changed under President Trump.  

President Trump created the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office during his first Administration—only for the Biden Administration to shutter its doors and leave victims of illegal alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. Last year on April 9, the Trump Administration re-opened the VOICE office and put American victims and their families first.  

“I've dedicated my life to fighting for justice for Blake,” Judy said. “So, I contacted VOICE, and they immediately called me back and gave me the information that they had. The illegal that killed Blake was on ICE’s Most Wanted, and then when Biden got in office, he scrubbed the list. The illegal that killed Blake was taken off, but he is back on the list. He's up there as ICE, Most Wanted.”   

“We, for 20 years, have been watching an illegal alien whom slaughtered our child roam from sanctuary city to sanctuary city, and warned ahead of time to prevent ICE from arresting him,” Tony said.  

“Contact VOICE and they will help you,” Judy said in the video to other Angel Families. “And don't stop fighting. Just don't give up. You're not alone in this, even though many times you will feel like you are you are not alone.”

Watch a portion of the Zieto's testimony here: https://youtu.be/v2wgHEL8K_Q

For any tips or additional information on Maltos-Chacon’s whereabouts, please contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-347-2423. 

Leader of Multi-Million Dollar International Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

 

Monica Dominguez Torres has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for leading a transnational criminal organization that operated methamphetamine conversion laboratories in the Atlanta area and laundered millions of dollars of drug proceeds to Mexico.

“This case highlights the evolving nature of drug trafficking organizations which is combining large-scale methamphetamine conversion with complex asset accumulation,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Our agents followed the drugs and the money, leading to the seizure of millions in assets tied directly to criminal activity.”

“Dominguez Torres once operated a prolific criminal operation and lived a lavish lifestyle paid for by drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Now, thanks to the diligent work of our Homeland Security Task Force, Dominguez Torres’s operation has been demolished, and she will spend the next two decades in prison paying for her crimes.”

“We followed the money, and it led us straight to the heart of this criminal operation. HSI doesn’t just chase shadows—we dismantle cartels and protect the homeland, one takedown at a time,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Our success is built on strong partnerships and combining our unique capabilities with those of our federal, state, and local allies. Together, we deliver results that keep our communities safe.”

“Methamphetamine conversion laboratories present an immediate and significant threat to communities across the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “These clandestine operations endanger the public through toxic chemicals, fire hazards, and their ties to transnational criminal networks. The sentencing of Monica Dominguez Torres underscores that individuals who engage in this level of criminal activity will be held fully accountable. IRS Criminal Investigation, in coordination with our federal, state, and local partners, remains committed to conducting rigorous, collaborative investigations to dismantle these organizations.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Monica Dominguez Torres’s organization operated methamphetamine conversion laboratories where liquid methamphetamine, obtained from sources in Mexico, was converted into hundreds of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine to be sold in the Atlanta area and elsewhere. Dominguez Torres and her associates used residences in the Atlanta area to collect and count millions of dollars in cash from these drug sales. The proceeds were laundered and sent to coconspirators in Mexico. 

As part of the criminal operation, Dominguez Torres and her associates purchased millions of dollars’ worth of real estate, vehicles, and luxury goods – all designed to conceal the illicit source of their wealth. The investigation revealed that Dominguez Torres purchased five separate residences, including a seven-bedroom waterfront home in Jonesboro, Georgia. Three of these residences were purchased with bulk cash brought directly to the transaction. Dominguez Torres and others also purchased nine luxury vehicles worth approximately $780,000. Dominguez Torres also spent lavishly on high-end goods, including nearly $400,000 at Louis Vuitton and more than $425,000 at Burberry over roughly four and a half years. 

During the investigation, agents seized nearly $3.6 million in cash from Dominguez Torres’s residences, stash locations, and associates. When agents arrested Dominguez Torres at her Conyers, Georgia home in February 2024, they seized more than $1.7 million in cash, five firearms, and three vehicles.

On April 22, 2026, Monica Dominguez Torres, 37, of Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May to 20 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. As part of her sentence, Dominguez Torres was ordered to forfeit $1,750.961.00, four houses, a Cadillac Escalade, and a firearm. Nine other members of Dominguez Torres’s criminal organization including several members of her immediate family were charged as a result of the multi-year investigation. Federal agents with the DEA, HSI, and IRS partnered to conduct a thorough investigation of Dominguez Torres’s operation that resulted in these federal charges and seizures. 

In addition to Dominguez Torres’s sentence, the following co-defendants have been sentenced for their roles in the money laundering conspiracy:

• Juan Contreras Pavon, 32, of Jonesboro, Georgia, a bulk-cash money launderer, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
• Dominguez Torres’s husband, Bladimir Hernandez, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, a money launderer, was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by a year of supervised release.
• Dominguez Torres’s son, Luis Contreras Dominguez, 23, of Riverdale, Georgia, a money launderer, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison, followed by a year of supervised release. 
• Dominguez Torres’s nephew, Louis Joshua Dominguez, 24, of Stockbridge, Georgia, a money launderer, was sentenced to three months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.

Five other defendants are awaiting trial. 

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, with valuable assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, Georgia State Patrol, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Nicholas L. Evert are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

Jay Bryant Pleads Guilty as Accomplice to the Murder of Run-Dmc’s Jason Mizell, Also Known as “Jam Master Jay”

 

Defendant Convicted for His Role in Opening Locked Door for Killers to Enter Music Studio in Queens and Execute the Famed D.J.

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Jay Bryant, also known as “Bradshaw Dewitt,” “Jason Robinson,” “Morgan Bryant,” “Deshawn Sadler,” “Jay Sadler” and “Big Jay” pleaded guilty to the October 30, 2002, firearm-related murder of Jason Mizell, also known as “Jam Master Jay,” a member of the famed hip hop group Run-DMC.  The plea proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross-Goldenberg. When sentenced, Bryant faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and up to 20 years in prison.  This sentence also applies to separate narcotics trafficking and firearms charges to which Bryant already pleaded guilty and that were accepted by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan on December 2, 2023.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Division (ATF New York), and Jessica S. Tish, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the guilty plea.

“More than two decades after the cold-blooded, execution-style killing of Mr. Mizell, an exhaustive investigation revealed Bryant’s role and today he finally admitted his guilt,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “The prosecutors in our Office and our law enforcement partners never give up, no matter how long it takes, in the pursuit of justice for the victim and the victim’s family.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the NYPD Intelligence Division, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Queens County District Attorney’s Office, Columbia Borough Police Department in Pennsylvania, and the Dominican Republic National Police for their work on the case.

“Justice in the murder of Jam Master Jay has been pursued with determination and resolve for more than two decades. The defendant’s role in facilitating access for the killers was integral to this crime,” stated ATF New York Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo. “Today’s guilty plea reflects the dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors who never stopped working to bring accountability for the victim and his family.  We are grateful for the partnership of ATF NY’s Joint Firearms Task Force–Long Island, ATF Philadelphia Allentown Office, NYPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.”

“The defendant’s guilty plea reflects the relentless work of NYPD detectives to hold criminals accountable, no matter how much time has passed,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch.  “Jason Mizell was brutally murdered over 20 years ago, but thanks to our investigators, along with our partners at the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, this case was never forgotten, and those who are responsible are now being held accountable.” 

As alleged in court filings, between the 1990s and 2002, separate from his music career, Mizell was involved in arranging for the sale of kilogram-quantities of cocaine in the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere.  In August 2002, Mizell acquired approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine on consignment from a supplier.  The cocaine was intended to be distributed in Maryland by co-defendants Karl Jordan, Jr., Ronald Washington, and other co-conspirators.  A dispute between Washington and one of the co-conspirators in Baltimore resulted in Mizell cutting Washington and Jordan out of the Maryland drug deal worth almost $200,000.  Following this betrayal, Washington and Jordan continued in the larger narcotics conspiracy until they ultimately cut out Jason Mizell by murdering him on October 30, 2002.

On October 30, 2002, Mizell was present at his recording studio, “24/7,” located on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens.  At approximately 7:30 p.m., Bryant entered the building containing the recording studio and opened a locked fire escape exit door to allow Jordan and Washington to enter the building without being seen by Mizell.  Jordan and Washington entered the recording studio, armed with firearms.  Washington pointed his firearm at an individual and demanded she lay on the floor, and Jordan approached Mizell and fired two shots at close range, striking Mizell once in the head and killing him.  The second shot struck another individual in the leg.