VCJC News & Notes 10/30/2026

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Shabbos schedule

Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.

Here are the times you need:  

Shabbos candles Friday 10/30/26 @ 5:36 pm

Shabbos morning services 10/31/26 8:40 am

Shabbos Ends 10/31/26 6:39 pm

If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah, please speak to one of the gabbaim.

Our enhanced kiddush has been a popular hit. Join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company. Benzion Panush is sponsoring the kiddush in celebration of his birthday.  Happy Birthday, Benzi!

Shabbos parsha

Parashat Vayera

This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Vayera (read on 31 October 2026).

Vayera (“He Appeared”) opens as guests inform Abraham that Sarah will give birth. Despite Abraham’s attempts to convince God otherwise, God destroys the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sarah gives birth to Isaac, and Abraham sends away Hagar and Ishmael. At God’s command, Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac, but an angel of God tells Abraham to offer a ram instead. [1]

• Torah reading: Genesis 18:1-22:24

• Commentary and Divrei Torah

Have you been seeing our Parashat videos on Facebook or Instagram?

Reminders and Announcements

Next Week: Kristallnacht Memorial Lecture: The Wannsee Conference and Its Ramifications, Sunday, Nov. 8

We will present a Kristallnacht Memorial lecture, “The Wannsee Conference and Its Ramifications,” on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 10:30 AM. Light refreshments will be served at 10:00 AM.

The lecture will be presented by Larry Hartstein, who has been widely praised and well received for his previous lectures.

The Wannsee Conference was a high-level meeting of senior Nazi German government officials and SS leaders held on January 20, 1942, in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee. The meeting played an important role in the Nazi regime’s plans for the systematic persecution and murder of Europe’s Jews.

This lecture will explore the Wannsee Conference, what took place there, the decisions that were made, and the ramifications that followed.

The program is free and open to everyone, regardless of faith or religious affiliation. The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center invites members of the community to attend this important and informative presentation.

For more information, contact the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 718-884-6105 or info@VCJewishCenter.org.

Mark your Calendar: Sunday, November 22nd, 10 AM

Rabbi Lowenthal will be giving a class on the laws of:

Eating the Cheese & Milk of a Non-Jew

The VCJC Chavurah

The VCJC Chavurah meets every Tuesday Night at 7:30 PM.  All are welcome to join us as we continue to learn Talmud together.

No cost to attend, no prior experience is needed, and the books are provided by the synagogue.

If you are interested in learning Talmud with a group of fellow members of your community, but want more details, contact the VCJC office at 718-884-6105 or info@vcjewishcenter.org, or speak to Stuart Harris or Matthew Hartstein after davening on Shabbat morning.

We Have an Eruv!

We are delighted to announce that construction of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Eruv has been completed!

While a few final steps remain, the eruv will be ready for use beginning Shabbos, November 6–7. Please do not rely on the eruv this coming Shabbos, October 30–31.

The accompanying map shows the boundaries of our new eruv, which includes both the Van Cortlandt Playground on Van Cortlandt Park South and the Fort Independence Playground.

Our sincere thanks go to Rabbis Willig and Lowenthal for their invaluable guidance, support, and assistance in bringing this important project to fruition.

Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463

Justice Department Charges 18 More in North Carolina with Illegally Voting in 2024 Election

DOJ Has Charged 30 People in North Carolina this Year for Illegally Voting 

The Justice Department announced that 18 aliens, including an illegal alien, in North Carolina have been indicted for illegally voting. Nine were charged in the Eastern District of North Carolina, five were charged in the Middle District of North Carolina, and four were charged in the Western District of North Carolina. These indictments are in addition to 12 individuals who were previously indicted in the Eastern District of North Carolina for illegally voting, bringing the statewide total to 30 indicted this year.

“Illegal voting is just that: illegal,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. “If you’re not an American citizen, you cannot vote in our federal elections. We want to prevent illegal voting from occurring, which is why we’ve now charged 30 people just in North Carolina who have violated our laws by illegally registering to vote and illegally voting. We need to preserve the integrity of the ballot box by ensuring only those eligible are casting ballots.”

“Protecting the integrity of our elections is fundamental to preserving our constitutional republic,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “Indeed, the right to vote is the primary seed from which all other rights and liberties sprout. When noncitizens steal your vote, they can create an unamerican government that strips all liberty and freedom from citizens. Every unlawful ballot silences the voice of a lawful voter, striking at the core of our great nation. This is not a victimless crime; every citizen who casts a lawful vote is a victim. You do not know which citizen’s lawful vote that illegal vote cancelled out, so it cancels out every lawful vote. With these nine indictments, added to the 10 we announced earlier this month and two from earlier in the year, we make it crystal clear: we will not tolerate illegal voting in North Carolina. Let these 21 indictments serve as an unmistakable message ahead of the 2026 election: if you vote illegally, we are looking, we will find out, and we will prosecute you.”

“The right to vote is fundamental to American citizenship and a cornerstone of our republic,” said U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop for the Middle District of North Carolina. “This office is committed to protecting the integrity of our elections and ensuring that laws enacted to ensure fairness and secure our rights are upheld. These charges serve notice that those who violate our election laws, including non-citizens who register and vote, will be investigated and prosecuted.”

“In our most recent elections in North Carolina — the 2025 municipal elections — there were 14 races decided by 2 votes; 15 races decided by 1 vote; and 7 races that were tied,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “Every vote matters.  And the public must have confidence that our elections are conducted fairly and that every ballot cast is a lawful one.”

“The integrity of federal elections is essential to the health of our democracy,” said Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “Every FBI field office assigns dedicated election‑crimes coordinators because protecting the election process is core to our mission. When questions about voter eligibility arise, we work closely with our state and federal partners to review records, confirm the facts, and ensure election laws are honored. Any violation erodes public trust and dilutes valid votes. When any aspect of our democratic process is threatened, the FBI will act decisively to defend it.”

“The integrity of our electoral system depends on rules that are applied consistently and enforced without fear or favor,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark M. Zito of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Carolinas. “HSI’s role is clear: We investigate complex threats to the homeland, including fraud that undermines public trust in vital national systems. We will continue to work with our partners to protect the public’s confidence in America’s electoral system.”

Eastern District of North Carolina

A federal grand jury has indicted nine more noncitizens, including an illegal alien, for illegally voting in the 2024 election. These indictments build on the 12 indictments U.S. Attorney Boyle unveiled on Oct. 15, including another illegal alien, for illegally voting in the 2024 North Carolina elections, bringing the total to 21 individuals indicted in the Eastern District of North Carolina for illegally voting.

The most recent indictments allege that all nine defendants falsely claimed to be U.S. citizens to register and vote in the 2024 general election. These charges reflect the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting the integrity of federal elections and ensuring that only eligible U.S. citizens participate in them.

The grand jury returned indictments against the following aliens:

• Selvin Porfidio Gonzalez Escobar, 43, an illegal alien from Guatemala living in Robeson County, North Carolina, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2020 and voted in the 2024 and 2020 general elections. 
• Amerigo Di Nolfi, 53, a native of Italy, citizen of the United Kingdom, and lawful permanent resident of the United States now residing in Hampden County, Massachusetts, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2024 and voted in the 2024 general election in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
• Elizabeth Margaret Crudup, 52, a native of Kenya and a lawful permanent resident residing in Harnett County, North Carolina is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. She registered to vote in 2008 and voted in nine general elections in 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, and 2008, as well as nine Primary Elections in 2026, 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2010, and 2008.
• Gregory Eugene Wade, 64, a native of Bermuda and a lawful permanent resident residing in Wake County, North Carolina, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2000 and voted in 12 general elections in 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2004, 2002, and 2000, as well as the 2020 and 2002 primary elections.
• Jacqueline Yvonne Papandreou Brown, 63, a native of Singapore, citizen of the United Kingdom, and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Duplin County, North Carolina, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. She registered to vote in 2020 and voted in the 2024 general election.
• Karl Anthony Wilkins, 62, a native of Jamaica and a lawful permanent resident now residing in Fulton County, Georgia, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2018 and voted in the 2024, 2022, and 2020 General Elections, as well as the 2020 primary election in Wake County, North Carolina.
• Patricia Elena Valencia Cardona, 56, a native of Colombia and a lawful permanent resident residing in Harnett County, North Carolina, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. She registered to vote in 2024 and voted in the 2024 general election.
• Richard John Reid, 62, a native of the United Kingdom and a lawful permanent resident residing in New Hanover County, North Carolina, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2002 and voted in four general elections in 2024, 2020, 2012, and 2008 general elections, as well as the 2012 and 2008 primary elections.
• Taso Gretes, 58, a native of Greece, a citizen of Canada, and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in New Hanover County, North Carolina, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2022 and voted in the 2024 general election.

Middle District of North Carolina

Five individuals have been charged with illegal voting and, in some instances, unlawfully claiming U.S. citizenship, in connection with the 2024 election in the Middle District of North Carolina.

• Adrianus Marinus Van Der Staak, a Netherlands national and a lawful permanent resident of the United States living in Seagrove, North Carolina, is charged by indictment with one count of knowingly making a false statement or claim of U.S. citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
• Saida Adali Hirachete Olivarez, a Mexican national and a lawful permanent resident of the United States living in Reidsville, North Carolina, is charged by indictment with one count of knowingly making a false statement or claim of U.S. citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
• Juan Florencio Ramos, a citizen of Cuba and lawful permanent resident of the United States living in Salisbury, North Carolina, is charged by indictment with one count of knowingly making a false statement or claim of U.S. citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
• Phillip Alexander Carter, a native of Barbados and a lawful permanent resident of the United States living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is charged by indictment with one count of knowingly making a false statement or claim of U.S. citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
• Yamila Avalos, an Argentinian national and a lawful permanent resident of the United States living in Concord, North Carolina, is charged by information with one count of voting by an alien.

Western District of North Carolina

Four aliens have been indicted for illegally voting in federal elections in the Western District of North Carolina. 

A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned criminal indictments charging the following individuals:

• Michael Agah, 74, a Nigerian national and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Charlotte, is charged with voting by an alien and making a false claim to U.S. citizenship to vote. The indictment alleges that Agah falsely stated and claimed that he was a U.S. citizen on an Authorization to Vote Form. Then on Nov. 5, 2024, Agah voted in a federal election. 
• Luis Alberto DeJesus, 50, a Dominican national and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Conover, North Carolina, is charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and making a false claim to U.S. citizenship to vote. It is alleged that DeJesus falsely stated on an Early Voting Application that he was a U.S. citizen and thereafter voted on Oct. 30, 2024, knowing that he was not a U.S. citizen and was not legally permitted to cast a ballot.
• Serge Christian Dupont, 57,a French national and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Charlotte, is charged with voting by an alien and making a false claim to U.S. citizenship to vote. It is alleged that on Nov. 5, 2024, Dupont made a false statement and claimed that he was a citizen of the United States on an Authorization to Vote Form. Dupont then did vote on the same day in a federal election.

A fourth individual has been charged by a criminal bill of information.Edread Ray Stanley, 63, a national of St. Kitts and Nevis and a lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Charlotte, is charged with voting by an alien. It is alleged that Stanley, knowing that he was not a U.S. citizen, knowingly voted on Nov. 5, 2024, in a federal election. 

Additional Details

The charges of falsely stating or claiming U.S. citizenship to vote carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Voting by an alien carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Upon conviction, a federal district court judge will determine any imposed sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

FBI and HSI are investigating the above cases. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina are prosecuting the cases in their respective districts. 

An indictment or information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Robeson County Tienda Caught Selling Over 19 Pounds of Cocaine and Heroin; Leads to 12 Years in Federal Prison

 

A federal judge sentenced Alberto Alegria, 28, of Lumberton, to 12 and a half years in federal prison for selling cocaine and heroin throughout Eastern North Carolina. On June 16, 2026, Alegria pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute over 11 pounds of cocaine and over two pounds of heroin, possession with intent to distribute more than one pound of cocaine and over two pounds of heroin, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

“This case demonstrates the impact of strong collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “By working together through the Homeland Security Task Force, we are disrupting drug trafficking operations, bringing offenders to justice, and making our communities safer.”

In 2022, investigators suspected that Alegria was a major drug trafficker in Robeson County. By August 2023, they began making controlled buys of cocaine and heroin from him. During this same period, investigators documented Alegria receiving large shipments of cocaine and selling the drugs out of his store, Tienda Mexicana La Hacienda. He used the store as a sham front to distribute narcotics and move his drug proceeds. They also found that he used wire transfers from the store to send thousands of dollars in drug profits back to a cartel in Mexico.

By conducting undercover buys, executing search warrants, and making a traffic stop, law enforcement seized more than 14 pounds of cocaine and over 5 pounds of heroin from Alegria’s criminal enterprise.

“We will not tolerate anyone who threatens the safety and well‑being of our communities by flooding them with deadly drugs. Thanks to the outstanding work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, this criminal will spend a long time in a cold, concrete box,” said Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney. “Law enforcement and federal prosecutors, collaborated to dismantle this large-scale criminal enterprise making Robeson County safer for the families who live and work there.”

“Drug trafficking networks operate with zero regard for public safety and is a significant driver of violence in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “ATF and our law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those involved in bringing illegal drugs and firearms into our communities and dismantle the networks that support their crimes 

“Illegal drug eradication is one of the main functions of the State Bureau of Investigation, and this case in Robeson County is the result of great teamwork. I am grateful to the agents who built this case and to all the agencies who worked diligently to bring this case to resolution.  I am committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to disrupt the drug trade in North Carolina,” said SBI Director Chip Hawley.

"This sentencing sends an unmistakable message that those who traffic poison across our community and surrounding counties will be held fully accountable. Illegal narcotics distribution fuels violence and tears at the fabric of our neighborhoods. Removing a prolific, high-level offender from our streets makes Fayetteville and our region measurably safer. This result demonstrates the strength of seamless law enforcement integration; our partnership with local, state, and federal entities was essential to dismantling this operation and delivering the justice our community deserves. The Fayetteville Police Department is grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our interagency partners for their dedication to prosecuting prolific offenders and protecting our residents from the devastating impact of illegal drugs."

“This sentencing highlights the essential role financial investigators play in dismantling complex drug trafficking networks,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office. “By following the money, our special agents uncovered how the defendant used his business to disguise and send illicit proceeds. These financial transactions were not simple bookkeeping irregularities; they were part of a drug trafficking organization operating in Eastern North Carolina. We will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure those who profit from distributing dangerous narcotics are held accountable.”

This prosecution is part of Operation Flip Switch, a component of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole‑of‑government initiative committed to dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad. Through unprecedented interagency coordination, HSTF directs federal law enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute the broad spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations. The HSTF places a particular emphasis on targeting offenders involved in crimes against children and uses all available legal authorities to identify, prosecute, and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States.

Secretary Mullin Highlights Success of ICE’s Lone Star Mission in Texas, Arresting Over 4,000 Illegal Aliens in Ten Days

 

On Thursday, October 29, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials held a press conference in Dallas, Texas, to announce the results of Lone Star Mission, a coordinated Texas-wide enforcement effort conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) field offices across the state.

Secretary Mullin was accompanied by Field Office Directors Miguel Vergara, ERO Dallas, and Bret Bradford, ERO Houston; acting Field Office Directors Joshua Johnson, ERO San Antonio, and Christopher McGregor, ERO El Paso, and Deputy Field Office Director Mellissa De Leon, ERO Harlingen.

Lone Star Mission, which took place from October 19 to October 29, brought together the five field offices for a coordinated Texas-wide operation and resulted in the arrests of 4,170 illegal aliens across the state of Texas, including murderers, sexual assailants, drunk drivers, and alien smugglers.

“Lone Star Mission has been an incredible success, with the brave patriots of ICE arresting more than 4,100 illegal aliens across the state of Texas in ten days,” said Secretary Mullin. “Thanks to Texas law enforcement and our federal partners, over the course of this operation, we arrested murderers, sexual assailants, drunk drivers, and alien smugglers. This operation shows exactly how important our state and local partnerships are for protecting American communities. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, ICE has been fully unleashed to go after criminal illegal aliens and make America safe again.”

Some of the worst illegal aliens arrested in Lone Star Mission include:

Javier Hernandez Alcon, an illegal alien from Mexico who had been deported TWICE previously, arrested by ICE in Liberty on October 20. His criminal history includes convictions for burglary (forced entry into a residence) and illegal reentry, and an arrest for capital murder.

Orlando Aguilar, an illegal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE in Dallas on October 24. His criminal history includes convictions for felony intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury and driving while intoxicated.

Ramon Antonio Martinez, an illegal alien from Honduras, arrested by ICE in Houston on October 23. He is wanted in his home country in connection with the alleged killing of a Honduran man alongside two other suspects.

Gerardo Daniel Rivera-Rivera, an illegal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE in Zapata County on October 24. His criminal history includes convictions for felony sexual assault and illegal re-entry.

Victor Manuel Macias-Castro, an illegal alien from Mexico and La Linea Cartel member, arrested by ICE in El Paso on October 22. His criminal history includes convictions for conspiracy to enter, transport, or harbor aliens, illegal entry, and illegal re-entry.

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Former U.S. Postal Service Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme Related to Contracts Worth Hundreds of Millions of Dollars

 

James E. Lee Sr., a former procurement official for the U.S. Postal Service, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud. 

According to court documents, Lee was a product management specialist overseeing expedited packaging supplies for the U.S. Postal Service. Lee, among other responsibilities, served as a contracting officer representative on several contracts to manufacture and provide expedited packaging supplies. Between approximately mid-2018 and late 2023, Lee and others agreed to engage in corrupt scheme in which Lee steered the procurement process for lucrative U.S. Postal Service contracts, worth hundreds of millions of dollars in certain instances, so they would be awarded to, or retained by, four different companies. Lee provided preferential treatment and competitive advantages to the companies, including reviewing draft technical proposals and disclosing to them confidential internal information regarding pricing and other issues.

Lee also performed official acts and influenced other officials during the procurement process. Lee used a relative and the relative’s consulting company as an intermediary to provide information to the companies and conceal Lee’s efforts to steer the procurement process. In exchange, the companies hired Lee’s relative as an employee or consultant, resulting in payments totaling nearly $183,000.  

Lee’s relative and a former executive for one of the manufacturing companies have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Lee is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 25, 2027.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Executive Special Agent in Charge Kevin Cloninger of the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec made the announcement.

The U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office are investigating this and related cases. 

Two “Chairmen” Of Ghana Romance Scam Conspiracy Plead Guilty

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that ISAAC ODURO BOATENG, a/k/a “Kofi Boat,” and INUSAH AHMED, a/k/a “Pascal,” pled guilty for their roles in an international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises.  BOATENG pled guilty, and AHMED pled guilty on October 27, 2026.  Both defendants pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.

“These guilty pleas demonstrate that geographic borders will not shield those who exploit Americans from facing justice in our courts,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.  “Isaac Oduro Boateng and Inusah Ahmed helped supervise an international criminal organization that preyed on vulnerable Americans, exploiting their search for companionship and turning their trust into a means of stealing millions.  Together with their coconspirators, they orchestrated a massive fraud that stole more than $100 million from victims across the country.”

According to the Indictment and public court filings:

BOATENG and AHMED were members of a criminal organization primarily based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the United States.  Many of the conspiracy’s victims were vulnerable older men and women who were tricked into believing that they were in online romantic relationships with persons who were, in fact, fake identities assumed by members of the conspiracy.  Once members of the conspiracy had gained the trust of their victims, they deceived those victims into sending their money to the enterprise or into helping them launder funds from other victims.  The conspirators also used business email compromise schemes to induce businesses to wire funds to the enterprise.  In total, the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims. After stealing the money, the fraud proceeds were then laundered to West Africa.

BOATENG and AHMED were both “chairmen” of the conspiracy, and they played a role in managing and supervising its activity.  BOATENG is being held responsible for approximately $12.5 million in victim loss and AHMED for approximately $28.5 million in victim loss.

Judge Subramanian previously sentenced codefendant DERRICK VAN YEBOAH, a/k/a “Van,” to 85 months in prison.  Codefendant PATRICK KWAME ASARE, a/k/a “Borgar,” remains at large.

BOATENG, 37, of Ghana, and AHMED, 41, of Ghana, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  BOATENG agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, both in the amount of $12,529,213.98.  AHMED also agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, both in the amount of $28,574,002.

The 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. McDonald thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ghana Attorney General’s Office and its International Cooperation Unit, Economic Organised Crime Office, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Cyber Security Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Intelligence Bureau, Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Department of State, and FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra for securing the August 7, 2025 extraditions of BOATENG and AHMED.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. 

RICHMOND HILL MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR KILLING ESTRANGED WIFE

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Angel Apodaca was charged with murder for the death of 24-year-old Tania Morales Garcia. Apodaca went to his estranged wife’s Kew Gardens Hills apartment, where she lived with their 2-year-old son, and allegedly stabbed her multiple times.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, Angel Apodaca ruthlessly stabbed his estranged wife approximately 40 times. This senseless brutality was carried out while the couple’s 2-year-old son was in the home. Our thoughts are with Tania Morales Garcia’s loved ones as we seek justice on her behalf.”

Apodaca, 22, of Richmond Hill, was arraigned today on a criminal complaint charging him with murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Queens Supreme Criminal Court Judge Thomas Wright-Fernandez remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court November 1. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison, if convicted.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on October 26, between approximately 7 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. Apodaca stabbed to death Tania Morales Garcia in her apartment on Park Drive East in Kew Gardens Hills. The couple’s 2-year-old son was at home during that time.

Police received multiple 911 calls directing them to the victim’s apartment. When NYPD officers arrived, they found Morales Garcia lying unresponsive in a pool of blood in the bedroom with multiple stab wounds to her head and body and slash wounds on the arms.

The defendant was present in the apartment with cuts on his hands and blood on his clothing. Morales Garcia’s 2-year-old son was also in the apartment with blood on his clothing.

The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead from her injuries which included approximately 40 stab wounds, a majority of which were to her back. The child was evaluated at a local hospital and determined to have no physical injuries.

A knife with blood on it was recovered from a dresser.

Apodaca was taken to a local hospital for treatment of the cuts on his hands.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Abigail Soto of the 107th Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Anthony Faranda of the Queens South Homicide Squad.

New Jersey Businessman Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud Scheme

 

Defendant’s Company Submitted Hundreds of False Loan Applications to Banks for Clients; Ordered to Forfeit More Than $840,000 in Criminal Profits

Seung Y. Lee, also known as “Kevin Lee,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 33 months’ imprisonment following his previous guilty plea to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.  Over the course of seven years, Lee, through his business, Pinnacle Capital (Pinnacle), submitted or caused the submission of hundreds of fraudulent home equity line of credit (HELOC) applications to financial institutions on behalf of loan applicants in exchange for fees.  In addition to the term of imprisonment, Lee was also ordered to forfeit $841,549.50 to the government.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence. 

“The defendant engaged in a scheme to deceive financial institutions into extending home equity lines of credit to his clients under false pretenses, exposing lenders to millions of dollars in potential losses,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “This sentence demonstrates that those who exploit the banking system through fraud for financial gain will be go to prison for their crimes.” 

As set forth in public filings and at court proceedings, Lee controlled Pinnacle, a corporate entity located in Fort Lee, New Jersey.  Lee and Pinnacle, directly and indirectly through co-conspirators, offered assistance to homeowners who sought to obtain HELOC loans. 

A HELOC allows a homeowner to borrow money using the available equity in their home to secure the extension of credit, but financial institutions require that the borrower have sufficient income to repay the HELOC.  If a HELOC borrower has insufficient income to keep up with the HELOC loan payments, the homeowner could lose their home.  Many of the Pinnacle HELOC applicants were members of the Asian-American immigrant community who had had no, low or unverified income but owned homes with some equity value.  From approximately January 2015 through March 2022, Pinnacle employees, under the direct supervision of Lee, submitted to numerous banks in the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere HELOC loan applications that contained false and fraudulent income and employment information, including tax returns, Forms W2 and pay stubs.  The applications submitted by Pinnacle fraudulent represented that the applicants had sufficient income to repay the HELOC loans.  Hundreds of these fraudulent HELOC loan applications were approved, exposing the financial institutions to a risk of loss in excess of $80 million.  For each relevant fraudulent loan, Pinnacle typically charged and earned 1% of the approved HELOC amount, earning approximately $841,549.540 in total.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section.