Governor Hochul Announces New Subway Gate Pilot Reduced Fare Evasion by 35%, Unveils Next 20 Stations to Receive Modern Fare Gates

Station Preparation Work to Begin This Month, Gates To Be Installed Starting in Q4 This Year

New Gates Have Been Used by 63 Million Riders; Improve Accessibility and Customer Flow

Announcement Marks Major Progress in Modernizing Transit Experience and Improving Fare Compliance and Accessibility

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the results of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) subway fare gate pilot, which saw fare evasion decline by an average of 35 percent at the 20 stations where new, modern gates have been installed. Following this successful pilot, Governor Hochul also announced the next 20 subway stations that will receive new fare gates across all entrances, marking major progress to strengthen the system against fare evasion, modernize the system, and improve accessibility and customer experience. The MTA qualified three vendors – Cubic, STraffic, and Conduent – to submit bids and compete to deliver the next generation of fare array systems at an additional 20 stations across Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. Bids for the first phase of the new fare gate program will be submitted this month, with new gates beginning to be installed by the end of 2026.

“The data is clear: these new fare gates have created a better riding experience for customers and made it harder for would-be fare evaders to enter the system without paying,” Governor Hochul said. “Now, we’re ramping up our plan to install these world-class fare gates across the subway system so even more riders can benefit. New York’s transit renaissance is powered by historic investments in aging infrastructure and improvements to safety and reliability, and by replacing turnstiles that date back to the token-era, we can achieve the twin benefits of accessibility upgrades and reduced fare evasion that riders deserve.”

This initiative, part of the 2025-2029 Capital Plan, is a generational investment of $1.1 billion to upgrade fare control areas across 150 stations. Following the pilot, the next 20 stations represent the first phase of the broader 150 station overhaul, which will see modern fare gates installed at stations serving nearly three quarters of all daily subway riders. The rollout of modern fare gates will continue into 2027, with a second phase consisting of 30 additional stations under construction by the end of next year. Between the pilot stations and phases one and two, 70 subway stations will be outfitted with modern fare gates.

In December 2023, the MTA issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify qualified firms to design modern fare gates that met specified technical requirements. Three vendors advanced to the piloting phase and provided new gates at no cost to the MTA at a total of 20 stations for a chance to prove they can work in the New York City transit system. Some stations received a fully replaced fare array, others received only a new wide-aisle access gate.

Last fall, the MTA began evaluating the new fare gates based on their impact on fare evasion, accessibility, customer experience, entry and egress throughput, maintenance, integration, and data and detection accuracy. Since the pilot began, roughly 29 million entries and 34 million exits have been recorded, and roughly 40 to 50 percent of typical daily subway riders have used the new gates at least once.

The stations that received new fare gates have experienced an average of a 35 percent reduction in fare evasion, with the largest decreases recorded at Hoyt St 2 3 and Nostrand Av A C, both with a 72 percent decrease, and 3 Av-138 St 6 with a reduction of 65 percent in fare evasion.

Throughout the pilot, the MTA made adjustments to the technology based on performance and customer feedback. These findings were critical in determining the final designs for the system. The next 20 stations slated to receive new fare gates will be:

Brooklyn

• 36 St DNR
• Bedford Av L
• Coney Island-Stillwell Av DFNQ
• Hoyt-Schermerhorn ACG
• Myrtle Av JMZ
• Newkirk Plaza BQ

Bronx

• 3 Av-149 St 25
• 161 St-Yankee Stadium 4BD
• Fordham Rd BD
• Parkchester 6

Manhattan

• 14 St-Union Sq 456LNQRW
• 72 St 123
• 86 St 456
• 125 St 456
• Chambers St 123
• Spring St CE

Queens

• Astoria Blvd NW
• Flushing-Main St 7
• Forest Hills-71 Av EFMR
• Sutphin Blvd/Archer Av-JFK Airport EJZ

The MTA is advancing the process of purchasing gates from the approved vendors for installation at the 20 stations listed. Early station preparation work is expected to begin in October 2026.

This comprehensive overhaul of the fare array system is the first in more than 30 years, when the MTA began installing the tri-wheel turnstiles in the early 1990s. This design dates back to the token-era and was not accessible for customers using wheelchairs, or traveling with strollers, or luggage. As a solution, the MTA created emergency exit gates to provide an entry and egress option with wider clearance for customers who could not use the traditional turnstiles.

In recent years, the emergency gate has become known as the “superhighway” for fare evasion, inviting opportunistic evaders, those who intend to pay but choose not to when they see others entering through an open emergency exit gate. The MTA has taken successful steps to reduce fare evasion through the exit gate, including replacing key locks at all gates, deploying gate guards, and implementing delayed egress. However, a full replacement of the fare arrays takes a comprehensive approach with a modern redesign that supports fare compliance while improving accessibility and the overall customer experience.

The stations where new fare arrays have already been installed include:

• Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av EFMR7
• 3 Av-138 St 6
• Bedford Park Blvd BD
• Broadway-Lafayette St BDFM/Bleecker St 6
• Flushing-Main St 7
• 125 St ABCD
• Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr BDNQR2345
• Nostrand Av AC
• Delancey St F/Essex St JMZ
• 42 St‐Port Authority ACE
• 23 St 6
• Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs LM
• 168 St AC1
• Crown Heights-Utica Av 34
• E 180 St 25
• Kingsbridge Rd BD
• Hoyt St 23
• Kings Hwy BQ
• 33 St 6
• Metropolitan Av G/Lorimer St L

 

DHS Highlights Worst Illegal Aliens Arrested or Convicted in San Antonio, Texas

Among the illegal aliens arrested or convicted in San Antonio are child sex traffickers and drug traffickers 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement highlighting the worst illegal aliens who have been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or convicted of crimes in San Antonio, Texas, including child sex traffickers, drug traffickers, and thieves.

“Few states were hit harder by the Biden Administration's disastrous open borders than the great state of Texas,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “As a result of those four long years of recklessness, the city of San Antonio has been plagued by some of the worst illegal alien criminals, including child sex traffickers, drug traffickers, and thieves. Working with our state and local partners in Texas, we are getting these dangerous illegals off the streets and out of our country.”

Among the worst illegal aliens arrested or convicted in San Antonio are:

Giannys Alexandra Ramirez-Fernandez (left) and Nelson Adrian Perez-Martinez (right).

In June, an investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio led to the sentencing of two illegal aliens from Venezuela on charges related to child sex trafficking. Giannys Alexandra Ramirez-Fernandez and Nelson Adrian Perez-Martinez were both convicted on charges of conspiracy to traffic a child and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, while Perez-Martinez was also convicted on charges of benefiting from sex trafficking of children and aiding and abetting coercion and enticement. Ramirez-Fernandez was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison, while Perez-Martinez was sentenced to 20 years.

Victor Gonzalez-Ibarra, an illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possessing/carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in San Antonio, Texas. ICE arrested him in July 2026.

Miguel Cadena-Gomez, an illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for indecency with a child – sexual contact and possession of a controlled substance in San Antonio, Texas. ICE arrested him in June 2026.

Naun Martinez-Zuniga, an illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for FOUR counts of illegal re-entry, making a terrorist threat, theft of property, TWO counts of possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance in San Antonio, Texas. ICE arrested him in June 2026.

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BRONX MAN INDICTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING HIS MOTHER

 

Victim Found in the Family Apartment Covered in Blood

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted on Murder and other related charges for allegedly stabbing his mother to death inside the family’s apartment. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant is accused of an unthinkable crime - killing his own mother in the home that they shared. This senseless act of violence has torn a family apart. This defendant will be held accountable for his actions.” 

District Attorney Clark said that defendant Bob Guzman, 33, of the Bronx, was arraigned on October 6, 2026 on second-degree Murder, and first-degree Manslaughter by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goldsmith. Remand is continued. He is due back in court on December 3, 2026. 

According to the investigation, on August 21, 2026, at approximately 3:38 p.m., inside an apartment at 1236 Grand Concourse, the defendant allegedly stabbed his mother, Josefa Soto Guzman, multiple times in the head and chest, causing her death. Five days later a member of the public spotted Guzman on the street, having seen his face on a wanted flyer. That citizen called police who arrived within minutes and placed the defendant under arrest.

District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Detective Angel Cruz from the 44th Precinct and NYPD Detective Steven Doyle from the Homicide Task Force for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Attorney General James Announces Arrest and Indictment of Queens Pharmacy Owner for Stealing More Than $31 Million

 

Miguel Baron Charged for Exploiting New Yorkers with HIV to Fraudulently Bill Medicaid and AIDS Drug Assistance Program for Medications That Were Never Dispensed to Patients 

Baron Allegedly Used Stolen Funds to Buy Real Estate, Luxury Cars, and World Cup Tickets 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the arrest and indictment of a Queens pharmacy owner for allegedly directing a massive fraud scheme that endangered vulnerable New Yorkers with HIV and stole more than $31 million from Medicaid and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). A years-long investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) found that Miguel Baron, 62, of Yonkers, allegedly used his two pharmacies in Jackson Heights, Guardiola Pharmacy and Baron Specialty Pharmacy, to pay cash kickbacks to New Yorkers on Medicaid in violation of the law. Many of Baron’s customers either filled their prescriptions for HIV medications at his pharmacies in exchange for kickbacks and received black market medications or sold their prescription medication back to the pharmacies for pennies on the dollar. As a result of Baron’s alleged scheme, vulnerable New Yorkers missed out on lifesaving medication and received medications purchased on the black market with no assurances for their safety. Baron was arrested at LaGuardia Airport as he attempted to board a one-way flight to Toronto, Canada and was charged with crimes including Grand Larceny, Health Care Fraud, and Money Laundering.

In addition to the criminal indictment against Baron and his companies, Attorney General James today filed a civil asset forfeiture action, allowing OAG to seize and place liens on assets and property Baron purchased with the proceeds of his alleged crimes. Baron and his associates allegedly used these funds to purchase luxury properties in Miami, a Mercedes Benz, a Lexus, and tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami. The OAG’s civil asset forfeiture action seeks over $95 million in damages.

“Taking advantage of vulnerable New Yorkers to steal tens of millions of dollars from Medicaid is despicable,” said Attorney General James. “Pharmacy owners who exploit patients with medication buyback schemes are putting New Yorkers’ health at serious risk. My office will continue to protect patients, shut down Medicaid fraud schemes, and hold criminals accountable to ensure that our tax dollars are not lining scammers’ pockets.”

From January 1, 2023 to April 29, 2026, Baron and his co-conspirators allegedly encouraged Medicaid recipients to fill their prescriptions at his pharmacies by paying them cash kickbacks, often between $150 and $250. In some cases, Baron’s pharmacies offered to buy back Medicaid recipients’ medications for a few hundred dollars while the pharmacies received thousands of dollars in reimbursement from Medicaid and ADAP. Baron would then allegedly put those repurchased medications back in the pharmacy inventory and disburse them to other unsuspecting customers, allowing him to bill Medicaid and ADAP multiple times for a single prescription. In other cases, Baron would allegedly disburse medications purchased from unlicensed sources while billing Medicaid and ADAP for legitimate HIV medications. In total, Baron allegedly received more than $31 million in reimbursements for expensive HIV medications by illegally submitting false reimbursement claims to Medicaid and ADAP.

Baron’s alleged scheme put vulnerable New Yorkers living with HIV at serious risk by pressuring customers to sell their medications back instead of taking them as directed, and distributing medications from unlicensed sources that lacked any assurance that they were properly stored and maintained. 

Baron allegedly sent the money he fraudulently earned from Medicaid and ADAP from his pharmacies’ bank accounts to accounts belonging to shell companies he or his associates controlled in order to disguise the source and ownership of the funds. These shell companies then purchased real estate and funded construction projects with the stolen funds and also converted the money into large sums of cash. Among the real estate purchases were condominiums in the Miami area, including reservations for high-end units in buildings that promised “luxury amenities” and “boundless opulence.”  

Architectural renderings of Villa Miami (top) and One Twenty Brickell (bottom) where Baron had purchased units

Baron and his companies were indicted by a Queens County grand jury on two counts of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, fourteen counts of Health Care Fraud in the First Degree, two counts of Health Care Fraud in the Second Degree, and two counts of unlawfully paying kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries in violation of the New York Social Services Law. Baron and his companies were also charged with three counts of Money Laundering in the First Degree and one count of Money Laundering in the Second Degree for allegedly conducting financial transactions designed to conceal the source, ownership and origin of the stolen funds.

“Today’s indictment sends a clear message to those who seek to exploit the Medicaid program for personal gain: you will be held fully accountable,” said Acting Medicaid Inspector General Frank Walsh. “We will continue to work closely with Attorney General James and our other partners to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicaid program.”

If convicted on the top count, Baron faces a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison. These charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This is the latest in Attorney General James’ nation-leading work to stop Medicaid fraud. In federal fiscal year 2026, New York MFCU obtained over $98 million in recoveries from criminal prosecutions and civil settlements, and 50 arrests in complex fraud prosecutions. In September, Attorney General James announced the arrest of a dentist operating in Queens on charges of stealing $300,000 from Medicaid. In July, Attorney General James announced the takedown of a fraudulent Medicaid clinic in Queens, and the arrest of a former nursing home employee in Rochester on charges of stealing over $150,000 from residents. In June, Attorney General James announced the arrest of a medical supply company owner from Nassau County for stealing $2.5 million from Medicaid. Also in June, Attorney General James announced the arrest of a New York City man on charges of stealing more than $9 million from Medicaid through a network of fraudulent eye clinics.

The OAG thanks its law enforcement partners who contributed to the investigation, including the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

This investigation was handled by Detective Stanislav Tabakov under the supervision of Detective Supervisor Dominick DiGennaro and Deputy Chief Ronald Lynch. The audit investigation was conducted by Principal Auditor Investigator Olga Sunitsky and Auditor Investigators Thomas Darcy, Alexandra Jerome and Victor Torres, under the supervision of Regional Chief Auditor Jonathan Romano. Dejan Budimir is the MFCU Chief Auditor.

Reporting Medicaid Provider Fraud: MFCU defends the public by addressing Medicaid provider fraud and protecting nursing home residents from abuse and neglect. If an individual believes they have information about Medicaid provider fraud or about an incident of abuse or neglect of a nursing home resident, they can file a confidential complaint online or call the MFCU hotline at (800) 771-7755. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911.

New York MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026 is $70,793,651. Of that total, 75 percent, or $53,095,240, is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $17,698,411 for FY 2026, is funded by New York state.

Heal 360 Clinics and Owner Agree to Pay $20M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Billing False Claims to the COVID-19 Uninsured Program for Services Not Rendered

 

Heal 360 Urgent Care PLLC, Heal 360 Primary Care PLLC (together “Heal 360”) and their owner, Dr. Mohammed Amer Mohiuddin (Mohiuddin), have agreed to pay the United States $20 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the Health Resources & Services Administration COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured Program (the “Uninsured Program”) for evaluation and management services that were not performed.

“The Department is committed to rooting out fraud by healthcare providers who bill for services they did not provide,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that we will hold accountable those providers who exploit federal healthcare programs for their own financial gain.” 

“We are dedicated to protecting healthcare resources from fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “When medical providers bill federal healthcare payers for unnecessary or unprovided services to increase revenue, we will use every possible tool to hold medical providers accountable and recover those funds. This case emphasizes our District’s commitment to justice by pursuing anyone who attempts to steal through misrepresentations.”

“This settlement is a great example of this Administration’s commitment to using all available tools at its disposal to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in federal healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “Through the combined efforts of civil fraud and asset forfeiture prosecutors from my office, civil fraud prosecutors in the Eastern District of Texas and at Main Justice, and outstanding investigative work by our agency partners at the HHS Office of Inspector General, we were able to secure this substantial recovery for the benefit of the American taxpayer. The message should be crystal clear to anyone seeking to defraud federal healthcare programs — we will find you, we will find the money and assets, and we will do everything within our power to hold you accountable.”

“Ensuring federal funds dedicated to public health emergency response are used appropriately is a core oversight priority for HHS‑OIG,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Billing for services that were never provided undermines trust in the health care system and diverts resources from patients who need them. HHS‑OIG will continue working alongside law‑enforcement partners to hold anyone who attempts to exploit federal healthcare programs accountable.”

Between approximately May 2020 and April 2022, the Uninsured Program reimbursed eligible providers for COVID-19 tests, testing-related items and services, treatment, and vaccines performed on uninsured individuals. Mohiuddin is a physician who owns the Heal 360 entities, which are medical clinics in Plano, Texas. During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), Heal 360 provided healthcare services, including specimen collection for COVID-19 tests. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that from Jan. 1, 2021 through March 23, 2022, Heal 360 and Mohiuddin knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the Uninsured Program by billing evaluation and management services (E/M Services) that were not performed.

As alleged by United States, claims for E/M Services, sometimes referred to as “office visits,” are submitted under Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes, and vary in level of complexity. Higher level codes reflect increased complexity, such as a higher level of decision-making, more detailed history, or longer duration of time. During the COVID Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS approved the use of CPT Code 99211 for COVID-19 test specimen collection. Physicians and non-physician practitioners, such as nurse practitioners (NPs) were required to use CPT Code 99211 to bill for COVID-19 specimen collection billed by clinical staff incident to their services. By contrast, Levels 3 and 4 E/M Services (i.e. CPT Codes 99203 and 99204 for new patients, and 99213 and 99214 for established patients) are codes for higher level E/M services (the “Higher Level E/M Services”) that could not be used for mere specimen collection.

The United States contends that during the PHE, under Mohiuddin’s oversight and direction, the Heal 360 entities operated and provided services at dozens of COVID-19 testing sites in Texas, the vast majority of which were walk up or drive through testing sites (the “COVID test sites”). Patients could register online or at the site to receive a COVID-19 test, and at the COVID test sites, patients remained in their vehicles while Heal 360 staff checked them in and performed specimen collection services through nasal swabs for COVID-19 tests. No other medical treatment was rendered.

The United States alleges that Heal 360 and Mohiuddin knew that the appropriate CPT Codes for the services provided at the COVID test sites were specimen collection codes, but nevertheless submitted claims under CPT Codes for Higher Level E/M Services that were reimbursed at substantially higher rates than reimbursements for specimen collection.

In order to create the appearance that Higher Level E/M Services were being performed, Heal 360 and Mohiuddin created fictitious, template-generated medical records to correspond to the dates of service for testing that made it appear as if E/M services occurred, for example by including sections for “past medical history” and “examination.”  The charts were generated by remote scribes located overseas who input information collected at the COVID test sites into the records. Although Mohiuddin did not visit or treat patients at the COVID tests sites, he was listed on the majority of the claims as the rendering physician. Heal 360 and Mohiuddin submitted hundreds of thousands of claims by the Heal 360 entities to the Uninsured Program for Higher Level E/M Services, and as a result received payment to which they were not entitled.

The civil settlement resolves two cases pending in the Eastern District of Texas and Northern District of Texas filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action for false claims on behalf of the United States and share any recovery. The qui tam cases are captioned U.S. ex rel. Hooper at al. v. Heal 360 Primary Care, PLLC et al., Case No. 4:21-cv-00569 (E.D. Tex.) and U.S. ex rel. Hasan v. Heal 360 Urgent Care, PLLC et al., Case No. 3:22-cv-1333-E (N.D. Tex.). Relators will receive $3,400,000 of the proceeds from the settlement. In addition, the government and Mohiuddin have reached an agreement to resolve a related asset forfeiture proceeding initiated in the Northern District of Texas against certain real properties purchased by Mohiuddin, with proceeds from the sales of those properties being credited to the civil settlement. The asset forfeiture proceeding is captioned United States v. Real Property Known as 3300 State Highway 78, Garland, TX et al., No. 3:23-cv-2784-X.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Texas and Northern District of Texas, with substantial assistance from HHS-OIG. This matter was handled by Civil Division Fraud Section Trial Attorney Elizabeth J. Kappakas and by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Gillingham and Kevin McClendon for the Eastern District of Texas, Brian Stoltz and Najib Gazi for the Northern District of Texas, and John Penn for the forfeiture proceeding in the Northern District of Texas.

This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death

A Sioux Falls woman convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death was sentenced October 5, to 20 years in federal prison. 

Jessi Whaley, 27, was sentenced to 20 years, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Whaley was indicted for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death by a federal grand jury in June 2025. She pleaded guilty on July 23, 2026.

On November 9, 2024, Sioux Falls police officers responded to a report of people passed out in a vehicle at a business in south Sioux Falls. They found Shannon Groeneweg unresponsive in the vehicle and determined that she had likely used fentanyl. The officers were unable to revive Groeneweg and she passed away. The coroner determined Groeneweg died from fentanyl and carfentanil toxicity. Investigators reviewed surveillance video and Groeneweg’s phone to determine that Jessi Whaley had provided Groeneweg powder fentanyl on the day of her death shortly before she was found unconscious. Groeneweg ingested the fentanyl she obtained from Whaley and died as a result.

“I am heartbroken that we continue to lose lives to fentanyl and its illegal analogs,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Powdered fentanyl is synthesized by Mexican drug cartels, using precursor chemicals acquired from China, and then smuggled across our border and distributed to every part of South Dakota by drug trafficking organizations that have their hooks into people in almost every community.”

“Fentanyl is sold in amounts small enough to disappear into a pocket, and lethal enough to erase a life in minutes,” U.S. Attorney Parsons continued. “It is a substance that does not negotiate. It does not distinguish between a first-time user and an addict in a longtime struggle. It simply stops your breathing and stops your heart, and then the people who loved you spend years trying to learn how to live around that silence. Today’s federal prison sentence cannot restore what was taken. It can, and does, hold the person who sold and profited from that poison accountable for the death and misery that followed, and it tells every dealer in the drug distribution chain who treats a fatal dose as inventory and victims as disposable customers, that this office will not.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Whaley was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE CELEBRATES GROUNDBREAKING FOR $13 MILLION DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE MIXED-USE HOUSING PROJECT IN HAVERSTRAW

 

61-Unit Mixed-Use Development to Transform Formerly Blighted Site in Downtown Haverstraw 

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley today announced the groundbreaking of the $13 million Village Square mixed-use housing project, a key piece of the Village of Haverstraw’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). This project, which received $1.67 million in DRI funds, will turn a blighted site in the Village into a 5-story mixed-use building with 61 residential units, a café and community space. 

“This groundbreaking marks an important step in Haverstraw’s continued transformation, turning a previously underutilized site into a welcoming place for people to live, work and spend time in the heart of the Village,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, New York is supporting Haverstraw’s vision for a more connected, accessible and vibrant downtown, while creating new opportunities for investment and growth. Projects like this show what is possible when State resources and local priorities come together to strengthen communities.” 

This project, as well as the other projects funded by the DRI, are part of Haverstraw’s dedication to enhancing walkability and connectivity to the waterfront and public places; increasing arts and cultural amenities; and expanding business and housing opportunities. By improving the overall experience of both its downtown and waterfront, the Village is supporting locally led indicatives to rejuvenate existing businesses, encouraging new investment and increasing activity in the downtown area. 

In addition to the mixed-use development, the following DRI projects are also being funded by the DRI in Haverstraw: 

• Extend Public Trail and Stabilize Shoreline to Support Reuse of the Chair Factory Site: Construct a 3,000 linear foot walkway and stabilize shoreline with riprap and native plantings around the former Chair Factory site to support future mixed-use and mixed-income development. 

• Establish a Downtown Façade Restoration Fund: Establish a downtown façade restoration fund to preserve and restore commercial and mixed-use buildings downtown. 

• Enhance the Village's Outdoor Recreation Area: Construct two new public full-court basketball courts next to the Haverstraw Center to integrate into the surrounding park and outdoor recreation area. 

• Establish and Implement a Branding, Marketing and Wayfinding Initiative: Establish and implement a branding and marketing initiative with wayfinding signage to help support locally owned businesses, boost tourism, enhance placemaking and encourage walkability. 

• Create Educational Opportunities Through Installation of Harriet Tubman Statue: Install a permanent Harriet Tubman statue, improve accessibility and enhance landscaping at the Haverstraw African American Memorial Park. 

• Enhance Main Street Through Installation of Four Murals: Create at least four murals in downtown Haverstraw. 

• Expand the Haverstraw Brick Museum: Expansion includes restoring an 1880’s basement and adding space focusing on education, innovation and research. 

• Activate the Main Street Pocket Park: Develop a plaza with outdoor seating, tables and public gathering space to create a more active community space and provide visual improvements to the existing park. 

The Village of Haverstraw was named the Mid-Hudson Region’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative winner for the fifth round in 2022. Other DRI winners in the region include Middletown, Kingston, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Ossining, Port Jervis, White Plains, Poughkeepsie and Yonkers. 

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Haverstraw’s continued revitalization reflects the power of strategic state investment to unlock new housing, support local businesses and create stronger downtowns. Village Square will transform a long-underutilized property into new homes, commercial space and community amenities, building on the Village’s momentum and helping create a more vibrant, connected and economically resilient downtown.”   

About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State, with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative "plan-then-act" strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation. Through nine rounds, the DRI has awarded a total of $1 billion to 99 communities across every region of the State.

HERNANDEZ JOINS LAWLER, BLAKEMAN TO STAND WITH GORMAN FAMILY, CALLS ON NEW YORK TO HONOR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION DETAINERS

 

Republican candidate for State Comptroller Joseph Hernandez joined Congressman Mike Lawler, Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate for Governor Bruce Blakeman and law enforcement in Northern Westchester to call out Governor Kathy Hochul's sanctuary policies. They stood with Tom and Jessica Gorman, whose 18-year-old daughter, Sheridan, was killed in March. The illegal immigrant charged with her murder had been previously arrested and let back into the community.

Congressman Mike Lawler, Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate for Governor Bruce Blakeman, and Republican candidate for Attorney General Saritha Komatireddy and Republican candidate for State Comptroller Joseph Hernandez at a press conference addressing New York’s sanctuary policies.  

New York released 6,947 criminal illegal immigrants last year despite federal immigration detainers, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Their records include 29 homicides, 207 sex offenses, 2,509 assaults, 305 robberies, 300 weapons offenses, and 199 burglaries. Another 7,113 remain in New York custody with active detainers. The NYPD received 9,645 detainers in the last fiscal year and honored zero.

 

"There are 7,000 people that have been released that committed serious crimes that should not be on the streets," said Hernandez. "There's another 7,000 people currently in custody in the state of New York that should not be released. As Comptroller, I will audit every agency that let a criminal with a detainer walk out the door. We will bring common sense and accountability back to how we run this government."