Westchester Man Sentenced to Prison for Pushing Stranger onto Subway Tracks

 

Defendant Approached Victim from Behind and Shoved Him

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that a Westchester man has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for shoving a stranger onto the subway tracks at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays station in Brooklyn.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It is every New Yorker’s worst fear to be senselessly shoved without warning onto the subway tracks. Today’s sentence holds this defendant accountable for doing just that. Thankfully, the victim in this case was able to safely get off the tracks just before a train entered the station.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Andrew Pashinin, 20, of Harrison, New York. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Tomlinson to three-and-a-half years in prison and two years of post-release supervision. The defendant was convicted of first-degree attempted assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon on August 24, 2026, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on December 7, 2024, at approximately 11:35 a.m., on the south bound D train platform of the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays station the defendant pulled out a knife and walked behind a 33-year-old man standing on the platform. He then put the knife away, pulled out a camera and began recording the man.

The defendant and the man got into a verbal dispute and the man walked away from the defendant, who then followed the man and shoved him from behind onto the subway tracks. The victim was able to get himself off the tracks, and onto the platform seconds before a train entered the station. He sustained pain and bruising.

The defendant fled the scene and was arrested on January 21, 2025, following an investigation.

The District Attorney thanked New York City Police Detective Nathanial Ullman, Hector Feliz and Christina Stewart of the KCDA Digital Evidence Lab, and Sara Kurtzberg, Chief of Prosecutorial Innovation, for their work on the case.

Secretary Mullin Highlights Importance of Working with Tribal Nations in North Carolina

 

United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin met with leaders of the Lumbee Tribe and delivered remarks in Lumberton, North Carolina.

Secretary Mullin was joined by John Lowery, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina Chairman; William Kirkland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs; and Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07).

"If we don't enforce our nation's laws, we become a lawless nation and that makes us a third-world country. And that's unique because we have those unique challenges also on reservations. All throughout Indian Country, we have these same challenges, and we can see what happens. It can erode the society that we grew up in," said Secretary Mullin. "And I know who's standing there with us to enforce our nation's laws, it's the Lumbees."

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs William Kirkland (left), Lumbee Tribe Chairman John Lowery (center), and Secretary Mullin.

"You guys never gave up on the fight. You guys were fighting from one generation to the next generation to the next generation to be recognized. And it's the generation that's sitting in front of me that accomplished it because you never gave up," said Secretary Mullin. "And as Secretary of Homeland Security, I'm never giving up fighting for my backyard and fighting for your backyard." 

Chairman John Lowery delivers remarks, alongside Congressman David Rouzer and Secretary Mullin.

In December 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed legislation into law adding the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina to the official list of federally-recognized tribes.

California Couple Sentenced for Trafficking Protected Wildlife

 

Linh Luu and Kevin Le, a husband and wife of Anaheim, California, pleaded guilty in federal court in Eugene, Oregon, to violating the Lacey Act. The court sentenced them to three years’ probation and a $10,000 fine each for their roles in trafficking wildlife between Oregon and Vietnam. 

Photo of tiger pelt trafficked by defendants, from sentencing memo in case number 26-cr-00297 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Luu and Le admitted that from September 2019 through May 2021, they processed $51,100 in payments to aid an individual in Vietnam to illegally move wildlife items to and from Oregon. The wildlife parts included American black bear gallbladders and cougar bones, all shipped to Vietnam; and lion teeth, segments from black rhinoceros and white rhinoceros horns, and a tiger pelt, all imported to Oregon. 

According to a sentencing submission filed by the government, Luu and Le met an undercover federal agent in December 2020 in a parking lot. They accepted $12,000 in cash as a down payment for part of a rhino horn and discussed ways to avoid U.S. banking regulations that could detect illicit transactions. They later each received nearly $5,000 in electronic payments for the horn segment, which was then shipped to Oregon disguised as a household decoration. The sale was discussed as a way to build trust for future, larger deals.

Lion teeth trafficked by the defendants to Oregon, from sentencing memo in case number 26-cr-00297 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

All of the wildlife that had parts trafficked in this case are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a treaty that the United States, Vietnam, and 183 other governments have signed to regulate commercial trade in species that are or may become extinct. Trade in listed species is prohibited without a permit, which the defendants did not receive. Black bears and cougars are native to Oregon and are prized by some for use in traditional Asian medicine. Lions, tigers, and black and white rhinoceroses are also protected under the Endangered Species Act. The Lacey Act is the country’s oldest wildlife trafficking statute and prohibits, among other things, buying or selling wildlife that was illegally imported or exported. 

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon, and Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) made the announcement.

Photo of a part of a rhino horn (left) and the same rhino horn part disguised as a house good to thwart customs (right), from sentencing memo in case number 26-cr-00297 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

The USFWS’s Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Oregon State Police.

Convicted Felon Sentenced to Twelve Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

 

Scott Oranje, 52, of Mary Esther, Florida, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am proud that my office has delivered yet another successful prosecution in our fight to eliminate the operations of armed drug traffickers in this district.  President Donald J. Trump rightly designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction because of the devastation it can wreak, especially in the quantities possessed by this trafficker. Our citizens deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases until we deliver on that promise.”

Court documents reflect that on November 10, 2025, law enforcement officers intercepted a package addressed to the defendant’s residence that contained over 300 grams of fentanyl. Law enforcement thereafter conducted a controlled delivery at the defendant’s residence, and the defendant took possession of the package and entered his condominium. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence. The defendant did not answer the door requiring officers to breach the door, after which the defendant fled through the back patio with the fentanyl. The defendant was caught and taken into custody, and a subsequent search of his residence located a digital scale, various narcotics paraphernalia, owe sheets documenting transaction records, and multiple firearms. The defendant had previously been convicted of First-Degree Residential Robbery and sentenced to state prison in California on or about July 30, 2018, and was therefore legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition as a felon.

“This career criminal possessed enough potential deadly doses of fentanyl to decimate the population of a mid-sized city,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “Our agents and law enforcement partners did a great job bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”

“The United States Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring that the mail system is not used to deliver fentanyl and other poisons into our communities,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The stiff sentence handed down in this case should serve as a warning to others that you will be prosecuted.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Patterson and Thomas S.P. Geeker prosecuted the case. 

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

Wave Hill Weekly Events (Oct 29 – Nov 4) | Enter the Enchanted World of the Gardens

 

The moon hangs above the city in the night sky, glowing above the gardens while silhouettes of petals dance in the gentle winds from the river and long limbs cut across paths. Although there are many marvels to see in the daylight of Wave Hill, there is magic to find in these enchanted evenings. Join us in a Wave Hill-O-Ween celebration and discover the hidden wonders of our world just beyond where we think to look.

Wave Hill-O-Ween

Thu, Oct 29, 3:30PM – 6:30PM

Calling all ghosts and goblins, pirates and princesses—it’s Halloween at Wave Hill! Venture through our iron gates (if you dare!) for an enchanted evening for the whole family.

Nature & Wellness 

Garden Highlights Walk

Sun, Nov 1, 1:00PM – 1:45PM

Free with admission to the grounds 

Registration not required.

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide; each walk varies with the Guide leading it.

Art

Public Gallery Tour

Thu, Oct 29, 2:00PM – 2:45PM

Sat, Oct 31, 2:00PM – 2:45PM 

Free with admission to the grounds

Registration not required. 

Solo and group exhibitions at Glyndor Gallery explore the dynamic relationships between nature, culture, and site. Visitors can expect an in-depth look at artworks on view in Glyndor Gallery and in the Sunroom Project Space, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Family

Family Art Project: Day of the Dead

Sat, Oct 31, 10:00AM – 1:00PM

Sun, Nov 1, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds

Registration not required. 

Join us to celebrate this special Mexican cultural holiday. We will explore and create nicho boxes, small shadow boxes filled with meaning and purpose that honor a lost loved one. 

Wave Hill-O-Ween

Thu, Oct 29, 3:30PM – 6:30PM

Free with admission to the grounds

Advanced registration encouraged.

Calling all ghosts and goblins, pirates and princesses—it’s Halloween at Wave Hill! Discover spooky surprises with a garden scavenger hunt, monster mash to tunes on the lawn, snap a photo of the “gourdgeous” view, or unleash your creativity with a drop-in art activity inspired by the haunting season.

Special Events

Afternoon Tea

Thu, Oct 29, 12:00PM – 2:00PM

Tue, Nov 3, 11:00AM – 2:00PM 

7-day Advanced Registration required

Enjoy delicious tea sandwiches and delectable pastries with a specialty tea selection every Tuesday and Thursday with seatings at 11AM or 2PM. Served at historic Wave Hill House, Afternoon Teas are provided by our exclusive partner Great Performances whose menu uses local and seasonal ingredients, inspired from their own organic farm, Katchkie Farm. 

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday 

Shuttle Service free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.

DEC ENCOURAGES NEW YORKERS TO HELP PROTECT BATS DURING 'BAT WEEK'

 

Department of Environmental Conservation Press Office

Outdoor Enthusiasts Encouraged to Refrain from Visiting Caves and Mines During the Fall and Winter Months

Don’t be ghoulish to our fanged friends this spooky season

In observance of Bat Week and to raise awareness about the critical role of bats in the environment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) encourages outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter months to reduce human disturbance to endangered and threatened bats. Bat Week is observed October 24-31 annually and is organized by representatives from conservation groups and government agencies in the United States and Canada to build support for the conservation of bats – a frequently misunderstood species.  

“Protecting New York’s bats is essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems and conserving our state’s wildlife for future generations,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “During Bat Week, DEC is reminding New Yorkers that disturbing hibernating bats can threaten their survival, particularly as they face ongoing challenges to recovery. By avoiding caves and mines and allowing bats to hibernate undisturbed, we can all play a role in protecting these important species.”

These nocturnal flying mammals are more helpful to people than harmful, with most species having absolutely no interest in biting other mammals. There are nine species of bats in New York, all of which are insectivores that help control pest populations across the state. Their voracious appetites for insects help limit the amount of pesticides used for crops and gardens, reduce mosquitoes, and may help limit the spread of invasive insects in New York.   

Of the nine bat species found in New York, six are cave bats that hibernate in caves and mines throughout the winter. Three tree bat species migrate to warmer areas. All these bats need to build up fat stores in the fall to make sure they have enough energy to carry them through their long hibernation or migration. They do this by consuming up to their bodyweight in insects each night. During this time, known as the fall swarm, bats are also congregating in large numbers to mate. For cave bats, this means they are using their hibernation sites to find potential mates before hunkering down inside for the upcoming winter, making these sites even more valuable to them.  

Bats spend the winter hibernating in caves and mines where relatively constant, warm temperatures protect these mammals from harsh winter temperatures above ground. The health of bats is particularly vulnerable to human visitation to winter "hibernacula," and especially harmful since the arrival of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in 2006, a fungus that has killed more than 90 percent of bats at hibernation sites in the state.  

Both WNS and human visitation cause bats to rouse more frequently than they typically do throughout the hibernation season. 

If bats are disturbed during hibernation, they raise their body temperature, depleting crucial fat reserves. This stored fat is the only source of energy available to the bats until the weather warms in spring and insects become readily available. The more frequently bats are disturbed, the less likely they are to survive the long winter months underground without eating. 

In recent years, scientists have found evidence of recovery of the once-common little brown bat throughout New York State. While this seeming stabilization provides a hopeful outlook after more than a decade of devastating population declines, similar evidence of stabilization has not been seen for other severely affected bat species. 

DEC reminds the public to follow all posted notices restricting access to caves and mines. If bats are discovered hibernating in a cave, DEC urges visitors to leave quickly and quietly to minimize disturbance. Anyone entering a listed bat hibernation site from October 1 through April 30, the typical hibernation period for bats, may be subject to prosecution. 

Other ways to help protect bats in New York include: 

• Limiting tree removal to the winter months (December 1 – February 28 in Suffolk County or November 1 – March 31 elsewhere) to protect bats from harm. During the active season (spring through early fall), bats roost in trees and form maternity colonies to rear their pups, so tree removal during this season can potentially harm bats using trees for these behaviors.
• Planting a pollinator garden to increase prey availability for bats, who feed on insects; 
• Putting up a bat box on your property to offer bats a summer roost safe from predators and human activity (see options for bat box designs and DIY instructions here);
• Keeping cats indoors to prevent their predation of bats; and 
• Contacting a bat-certified Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) when looking to remove bats safely from your home (find a list of NWCOs in your area here). 

For more information on bats, including state and federally listed species like Indiana bat and Northern long-eared bat, visit DEC’s website.  

COMPTROLLER CANDIDATE JOSEPH HERNANDEZ RELEASES ANALYTICAL MODEL PROJECTING NEW YORK’S PATH UNDER HOCHUL VS. BLAKEMAN

 

Joseph Hernandez, candidate for New York State Comptroller, today released a quantitative model projecting that the state’s economic and quality-of-life outcomes will diverge sharply by 2030 under continued leadership by Kathy Hochul versus election of Bruce Blakeman as governor.

The model uses recent measured data on jobs, energy prices, taxes, migration, and crime, then applies realistic policy impacts under both scenarios.

Key findings include:

• Employment growth: 0.3% per year under Hochul versus 1.0% under Blakeman (+233%)
• Energy costs: 32¢ per kWh under Hochul versus 22¢ under Blakeman (–31%)
• Tax competitiveness: Remains near the worst in the nation (#50) under Hochul versus improves to roughly #38 under Blakeman (+12 spots)
• Combined state and local tax load: Rises under Hochul versus declines under Blakeman (–15 index points)
• Net domestic out-migration: Approximately 120,000 people leaving per year under Hochul versus 50,000 under Blakeman (–58%)
• Crime: Modest improvement under Hochul versus stronger gains under Blakeman (–18%)

“As someone who has spent his career on Wall Street and is running to be the taxpayers’ watchdog, I believe New Yorkers deserve to see the numbers,” said Hernandez. “This model shows one path continues high costs and slow growth. The other aims to reverse those trends through lower energy costs, tighter spending, and stronger public safety. A Democratic legislature will limit how far any governor can go, but the direction is clear.”

The model is directional and transparent. It starts from current baselines and applies straightforward compounding formulas under each policy scenario.

“New Yorkers should go to the voting booth with these scenarios in mind,” Hernandez added. “The data shows the gap is real.”

Note: This is a directional analytical model based on current trends and realistic policy impacts. It is not a precise forecast.