DEC ANNOUNCES ANNUAL YOUTH TURKEY HUNTING WEEKEND APRIL 25-26

 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced DEC's annual youth turkey hunting weekend will take place April 25-26. The youth turkey hunt, for junior hunters ages 12-15, is open across upstate New York and Suffolk County. 

“Connecting young hunters with adult mentors provides a chance to teach the next generation about safety, ethics, and outdoor appreciation,” DEC’s Deputy Commissioner for Natural Resources Katharine Petronis said. “The youth hunt is another great opportunity to ‘Get Offline and Get Outside’ by spending quality time connecting with nature.” 

Important Details for the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25 and 26 

• Hunters 12-15 years of age are eligible and must hold a hunting license and a turkey permit. 
• Youth 12-13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or adult over 21 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Youth 14-15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or adult over 18 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. 
• The accompanying adult must have a current hunting license and turkey permit. The adult may assist the youth hunter, including calling, but may not carry a firearm, bow, or crossbow, or kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the youth hunt. 
• Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day. 
• The youth turkey hunt is open in all upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, and across Suffolk County. 
• The bag limit for the youth weekend is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth's regular spring season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird may be taken only in upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, beginning May 1. 
• Junior hunters may not use rifles or handguns. Junior hunters may hunt with a shotgun loaded with shot sizes no larger than No. 2 or smaller than No. 9, or with a bow. Fourteen- and fifteen-year-old hunters may also use a crossbow.  
• All other wild turkey hunting regulations remain in effect.  

DEC Continues to Encourage Hunter Safety 

Statistics show that hunting in New York State is safer than ever. Hunting-related shooting incidents are easily prevented by following the four basics of firearm safety:  

• Always point your firearm in a safe direction. 
• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. 
• Be sure of your target and beyond. 
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.  

DEC also encourages hunters to practice these specific safety behaviors when hunting spring turkeys: 

• Don't wear red, white, blue, or black; 
• Never stalk turkeys; and 
• If you see or hear another hunter, shout and use your words. Don't try to signal or wave to get their attention.  

For more information on the youth hunt for wild turkey visit DEC’s website

Smoother Roads Ahead! Governor Hochul Announces Start of Pavement Renewal Projects on Vital Capital Region Roadways

New Road Surface and Other Improvements Will Enhance Safety and Mobility Along I-90 and the South Mall Arterial in Albany County

Part of Unprecedented Effort To Repave Roads and Fill Potholes Across the State

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that work is getting underway on a set of pavement renewal projects that will rehabilitate portions of two vital highways in the Capital Region. The projects, which are part of an unprecedented effort announced last week by Governor Hochul to restore roadways across New York State, will provide smoother rides and enhanced safety for motorists traveling along Interstate 90 and the South Mall Arterial in Albany County. Both roadways serve heavily traveled corridors that are critical for the flow of people and commerce in the region.

“Now that the winter is finally over, we are moving full speed ahead with record-breaking investments that will give New Yorkers the safe and reliable roads they demand and deserve,” Governor Hochul said. “These projects along I-90 and the South Mall Arterial are part of the opening act of what will be a very busy summer as we bring smoother rides and hassle-free travel to commuters across New York, taking some of the stress out of their busy days and helping them get to where they need to go safely.”

Overseen by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the $11 million I-90 project will resurface approximately 23 lane miles along the mainline highway between the Interstate 87 interchange and Corporate Woods Boulevard in Albany County, while also rehabilitating exit ramps and interchanges within the project’s scope. It will install new, highly reflective signage and road striping to improve visibility and upgrade drainage systems to improve resiliency and promote efficient water runoff. A vital, east-west artery for Capital Region commuters, this section of I-90 serves approximately 100,000 motorists a day, providing access to the New York State Thruway, Adirondack Northway, Interstate 787 and numerous business and government offices.

In addition to the work on I-90 in the Capital Region, NYSDOT will also begin work to resurface a key segment of the South Mall Arterial, which takes motorists to and from the Empire State Plaza and provides access to the Dunn Memorial Bridge, Interstate 787 and other roadways in the City of Albany. Work will take place on the eastbound arterial between Eagle Street and Grand Street, focusing on the transition to the high-traffic ramp leading to U.S. Route 9 and U.S. Route 20 over the Dunn Memorial Bridge toward Rensselaer. Motorists should follow posted detours.

To minimize disruptions to the traveling public, most paving operations will occur during overnight hours. The projects are all scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

As was recently announced by Governor Hochul, NYSDOT has launched the most ambitious road resurfacing agenda in its history, totaling more than 4,000 lane miles of renewed pavement to give New York drivers a smoother, safer ride. Other upcoming initiatives in the Capital Region include two projects on the Adirondack Northway, spanning a combined 113 lane miles from Western Avenue in Albany to Exit 11 in Round Lake, scheduled for substantial completion this year. 

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Join Us for the 48th Annual Run the Bronx

 

The NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to invite its members and community to be part of one of the borough’s most enduring traditions—the 48th Annual Run the Bronx, taking place on Saturday, May 2 at Bronx Community College.

For nearly five decades, Run the Bronx has brought together thousands of runners, walkers, families, and community members in celebration of health, wellness, and community pride. As the second oldest race in New York City, it continues to be a powerful reminder of what makes the Bronx strong.

This event is open to all, with a 10K run, 5K run, and 2-mile fitness walk. In alignment with its mission, all K–12 and CUNY students can participate at no cost, ensuring access and opportunity for young people across our borough.

Whether you’re looking to:

Run or walk alongside your community
Create a team with your organization or business
Volunteer and be part of the experience
There is a place for you at Run the Bronx.

Proceeds from the event support student scholarships at Bronx Community College, helping to create pathways for the next generation of leaders.

We invite you to join us and represent the Bronx.

Register Today

Alleged Conspirators Arrested for Running St. Thomas Strip Club as Prostitution Ring and Harboring Illegal Aliens

 

U.S. law enforcement arrested three members of an alleged conspiracy running a prostitution ring and harboring illegal aliens in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A federal judge in the District of the Virgin Islands issued a criminal complaint and authorized arrest warrants charging Hussein Jamil, also known as Hussian Jamil Suarez, also known as Tony, 56; Magda Castro Santos also known as Tatiana, 39; and Julio Hidaldo De Pena 65; all of St. Thomas, USVI, for their alleged respective roles in a variety of criminal activities centered around an establishment known as Tootsys Gentlemen’s Club (Tootsys).

According to court documents, Jamil owns and operates Tootsys, a strip club in St. Thomas, USVI, which he, Castro Santos, and Hidaldo De Pena are alleged to have operated as a brothel. The alleged conspirators advertised Tootsys over Instagram and other platforms to recruit women to work at the club. They are alleged to have hired both U.S. citizens and illegal aliens as dancers and sex workers. Jamil is alleged to have paid for U.S. citizens to fly from elsewhere within the United States to St. Thomas and financed smuggling operations for aliens to illegally enter the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most of the dancers working at Tootsys lived in a house on St. Thomas rented by Jamil. Hidaldo De Pena transported the dancers from the rental house to Tootsys and back for their shifts. Castro Santos managed the dancers while at Tootsys, ensuring they paid their required fees, directing clients to the dancers, and collecting payments for private dances and commercial sex, among other managerial acts. When dancers arrived on St. Thomas for the purpose of working at Tootsys, the alleged conspirators’ coercive fee scheme pushed the dancers to make more money by engaging in commercial sex, both at Tootsys and through customers “buying out” dancers to take them to an offsite premises.

Jamil, Castro Santo, and Hildaldo de Pena are each charged with conspiracy to transport for purpose of prostitution, conspiracy to commit interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises, and conspiracy to harbor aliens for financial gain. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to transport for purpose of prostitution and conspiracy to commit interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises and 10 years in prison for conspiracy to harbor aliens for financial gain.

Federal Takedown of Tootsys

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands, and Special Agent in Charge Carlos R. Goris of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Jessica Arco and Clayton O’Connor of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Baker and Cherrisse Woods for the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case.

The investigation and charges are also supported and prosecuted by JTFA, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies.

To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

These arrests are 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. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.

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

Southington Man Sentenced to Prison for Gun and Drug Offenses Stemming from 2020 Shooting in Hartford

 

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC D. COX, 43, of Southington, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 29 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for firearm and narcotics offenses stemming from a shooting in Hartford in 2020. 

According to the evidence presented during his trial, on September 4, 2020, Cox engaged in a violent altercation near Hartford Hospital in Hartford.  During the altercation, in which Cox was slashed with a knife, Cox pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the individual who slashed him and others in the vicinity, which resulted in a bystander being shot multiple times.  Hartford Police responded to the incident and found several cartridge casings on Jefferson Street where the stabbing and shooting occurred, and a hospital employee found a discarded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol outside the entrance of the hospital’s emergency department and notified law enforcement.  Police searched Cox’s car after the incident and found a bag containing approximately 28 grams of cocaine.  Subsequent analysis of the firearm revealed the presence of Cox’s DNA.

Cox’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in 2008 for a crack cocaine distribution offense.

On November 21, 2025, a jury found Cox guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of cocaine.

Cox, who is released on $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 6.

The Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuted the other individual involved in the altercation.     

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. 

Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Issues Notification of Investigative Findings Regarding Investigation into the Death of Winston Johnson

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) is issuing a Notification of Investigative Findings regarding the investigation into the death of Winston Johnson, who died on March 6, 2025 following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) on Staten Island. Upon completion of the investigation into Mr. Johnson’s death, OSI has concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers’ use of deadly physical force was justified under the law. A final Investigation Report will follow. 

About the Incident

At 5:15 a.m. on March 6, a person called 911 to report that a man was firing shots in a parking lot at 2750 Veterans Road. The NYPD later determined that Mr. Johnson was the 911 caller. Officers responded to the parking lot at 5:23 a.m. and encountered Mr. Johnson standing near his car holding a gun. Mr. Johnson fired a shot in the air and then pointed his gun at the officers. Using their police vehicles as cover, officers maintained their distance from Mr. Johnson and repeatedly instructed him to drop his gun. Mr. Johnson did not comply, and one officer discharged his service weapon. Several other officers then discharged their weapons. Mr. Johnson was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered a gun at the scene. 

Incident Video

The incident was captured on officer's body-worn camera (BWC).

Security video still showing Mr. Johnson holding a firearm in his hand, circled in red. 

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

In cases where the evidence and legal analysis are clear and the investigation is complete, OSI may issue a Notification of Investigative Findings announcing the conclusion of the investigation. In such cases, OSI will issue the final Investigation Report, as required by law, at a later date.

Dutchess County Couple Charged In Credit Card And Identity Theft Scheme

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced the arrest of OPEYEMI OLUJOBI, a/k/a “Tyler Olujobi,” and JENNIE DAVIDSON.  OLUJOBI and DAVIDSON are charged with using stolen credit cards in the names of hundreds of victims, which they had mailed to them as part of a conspiracy to fraudulently take over those victims’ accounts and make over half a million dollars in unauthorized purchases.  OLUJOBI and DAVIDSON were arrested in Poughkeepsie, New York.

“As alleged, Tyler Olujobi and Jennie Davidson enriched themselves by impersonating hard-working New Yorkers and exploiting the good credit their victims had spent years building,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “After using the U.S. Postal Service to further their scheme, the defendants embarked on a half-million-dollar spending spree at retail stores across the Tri-State Area.  This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting New Yorkers from thieves who profit from other people’s hard-earned credit, and we will continue to bring perpetrators of these shameless fraud schemes to justice.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is firmly committed to investigating those who use the U.S. Mail to steal personally identifying information and take advantage of the American public,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.  “The deliberate use of someone else’s identity for financial gain will not be tolerated, and postal inspectors will continue to work tirelessly to put a stop to complex bank and mail fraud schemes such as this.”

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

From at least May 2023 through October 2024, OLUJOBI, DAVIDSON, and/or their co-conspirators contacted a publicly traded consumer financial services company (“Victim Bank-1”) and used other people’s names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers, and addresses to falsely identify themselves as the true accountholders of over 200 store credit card accounts.  After gaining access to the cardholders’ accounts, the perpetrators changed the address listed on the account to one of four addresses in Hopewell Junction, New York (one of which was OLUJOBI and DAVIDSON’s residence).  They also changed victims’ phone numbers to one of many controlled by participants in the scheme.  Once they completed these steps, the perpetrators reported the victims’ card lost or stolen and requested that a new card be shipped to the address on file (i.e., one of the Hopewell Junction addresses).

After they obtained their victims’ credit cards, OLUJOBI, DAVIDSON, and/or their co-conspirators used those cards at various retail locations to make around $575,000 in unauthorized purchases of gift cards and other merchandise.  Video surveillance associated with many of these transactions shows OLUJOBI and DAVIDSON using the stolen cards.  If a transaction was declined or a credit limit was approached, OLUJOBI, DAVIDSON, and/or their co-conspirators promptly contacted Victim Bank-1 and requested to have the charges approved or the credit limit raised.  At times, DAVIDSON disposed of the proceeds of certain fraudulent transactions by loading tens of thousands of dollars of her fraud proceeds into an online betting account to obscure the illicit source and then transfer those funds into her personal bank account.

OLUJOBI, 28, and JENNIE DAVIDSON, 29, both of Poughkeepsie, New York, are each charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of seven and a half years in prison; access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.  DAVIDSON is also charged with money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. 

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the USPIS. 

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

ICE Lodges Arrest Detainer for Illegal Alien Charged for Incest and Child Sex Crimes in South Carolina

 

South Carolina cooperates with ICE law enforcement so this child predator will NEVER be released into American communities

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer for an illegal alien from Mexico who has been arrested for incest and three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a child in South Carolina.

According to reports, Luis Armando Argueta Montejo, a 43-year-old-criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested days after a minor was found giving birth in the parking lot of Oconee Memorial Hospital. Based on evidence from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Montejo had engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim, who is allegedly between the ages of 11 and 14.

Montejo told ICE he first entered the country in 2006, and he has no previous criminal history in the U.S.

On April 17, ICE lodged a detainer on Montejo to ensure that he is transferred to their custody after he faces the American justice system.

“This sicko should NEVER have been in our country to prey on children in the first place,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “He now faces charges for incest and multiple child sex crimes. Prior to these horrific crimes, this illegal alien lacked a criminal record in the U.S. Under Secretary Mullin, ICE lodged an arrest detainer with South Carolina to ensure this monster is never loose in our communities again. Thankfully, South Carolina cooperates with ICE law enforcement. This is why we need cooperation from state and local partners, so together we can keep criminals off our streets and make America safe again.”

DHS law enforcement is protecting American communities every day from another senseless tragedy like this taking place in another town, to another family. Victims of illegal alien crime may receive support from the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office by contacting 1-855-488-6423.