DHS Highlights Worst Illegal Aliens Arrested in Florida

 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement highlighting examples of the worst illegal aliens recently arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the state of Florida, including those convicted for such crimes as vehicular manslaughter, sexual assault, domestic violence, and arson.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, ICE has been unleashed to target and remove the worst illegal aliens from our country, no matter where they are,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “In the great state of Florida, we’ve arrested killers, sexual assailants, arsonists, and other heinous criminals who endangered our communities. There are few greater partners to us than the Sunshine State, and we will continue working with our state and local partners to make America safe again.”

Among the worst illegal alien arrests in Florida are:

Djina Christelle Maurice, an illegal alien from Haiti, arrested by ICE in Ocala on October 14. Her criminal history includes a conviction for vehicular homicide.

Tai Ngoc Ly, an illegal alien from Vietnam, arrested by ICE in Orlando on October 8. His criminal history includes convictions for predatory criminal sexual assault, robbery and burglary.

Jean Joel Joseph, an illegal alien from Haiti, arrested by ICE in Orlando on October 19. His criminal history includes a conviction for domestic violence.

Dinh Doan, an illegal alien from Vietnam, arrested by ICE in Cocoa on October 16. His criminal history includes a conviction for arson of occupied structure and arrests for assault and criminal damage.

Pedro Alvarez Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Cuba, arrested by ICE in Orlando on October 20. His criminal history includes convictions for robbery and identity theft, and arrests for battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting law enforcement officer with violence, and speeding.

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Indian National Pleads Guilty to $227M Medicare Fraud

 

An Indian national pleaded guilty to a $227 million Medicare fraud scheme in which hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries’ personally identifiable information was purchased from a company based in Pakistan and used to bill Medicare for COVID-19 test kits that were never provided.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Syed Murtuza Kablazada, 36, an Indian national residing in Des Plaines, Illinois, engaged in a scheme to defraud the Medicare program by submitting false and fraudulent claims for over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits that were not requested by beneficiaries or provided to them. Over the course of six months, starting in January 2023, Kablazada and his co-schemers acquired three Chicago-area laboratories, Chicago Care, V Care, and Al-Ameer. Kablazada then paid approximately $11 million to a purported telemarketing company based in Pakistan to obtain personally identifiable information for hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries. Using those Medicare beneficiaries’ information, Kablazada caused the laboratories to submit $227 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for test kits that he knew were never requested by or shipped to the Medicare beneficiaries, for which Medicare paid approximately $136 million. To conceal their involvement in this scheme, Kablazada and his co-schemers paid themselves through overseas money transfers and unlicensed money transmitters, and they used the proceeds in part to purchase luxury vehicles.

As part of his plea agreement in this case, Kablazada agreed to forfeit over $46 million in fraud proceeds that law enforcement seized from ten bank accounts.

Kablazada pleaded guilty to two counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on a later date and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen of the FBI Chicago Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.

The FBI Chicago Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

Deputy Chief Patrick Mott and Trial Attorney Claire Sobczak Pacelli of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andres Almendarez for the Northern District of Illinois assisted in investigating and prosecuting this case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - JOIN US: ITALIAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION

Israeli National Extradited to Face Charges for Stealing Nearly $3M in Virtual Currency Heist

 

Alexander Gurevich, 49, an Israeli national, had his initial appearance  in the Northern District of California on a 2023 indictment that charged him for exploiting the Nomad Bridge’s self-executing computer program, also known as a smart contract, to steal $2.89 million in virtual currency. Gurevich was arrested in May 2025 in Israel and was recently extradited to the United States.  

According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 1, 2022, Gurevich is alleged to have executed four exploit transactions from the Nomad Bridge and transferred a total of 103 WBTC (Wrapped Bitcoin) and 300 WETH (Wrapped Ether) from Nomad’s virtual currency address to a virtual currency address controlled by Gurevich through unauthorized and non-authenticated transactions. The estimated value of this virtual currency was approximately $2,894,390 at the time of the transactions. Shortly after he stole this virtual currency, Gurevich conducted a number of financial transactions to convert the virtual currency to other types of virtual currency, including Bitcoin, and continued to transfer the funds to multiple virtual currency addresses in order to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds of his unlawful activity.   

Gurevich is charged with causing damage to a protected computer, interstate transportation of stolen money, and money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for causing damage to a protected computer, as well as for interstate transportation of stolen money, and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for money laundering. 

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Scott R. Schelble of the FBI made the announcement. 

The FBI is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Israeli authorities provided substantial assistance. 

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

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Boost your mood: Volunteer with us

 

Woodlawn Wednesdays

Wednesdays, November 4, 18 - Meet at 9am

Woodlawn Wednesdays are back! Tackle harmful plants like multiflora rose, bush honeysuckle, bittersweet, and Japanese angelica trees that threaten our native biodiversity in the northeast forest.

RSVP Now

Meet at Woodlawn Playground

 

Woodlawn Pollinator Garden Volunteer Event

Wednesdays, November 4 - Meet at 1pm

Join us for an afternoon of caring for the Woodlawn Wildflower Garden and surrounding area. Volunteers will have the chance to plant goldenrods and daffodil bulbs.

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Meet at Pollinator Garden next to Woodlawn Playground

 

Trail Work Thursdays

Thursdays, November 5, 12, 19- Meet at 9am

Blaze trails with us! Whether you’re an experienced trailblazer or new to trail maintenance, your help will make a significant impact to ensure trail safety for runners and hikers.

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Meet at VCPA Learning Garden 

 

Tune Up Tuesdays

Tuesdays, November 10, 24 - 10am to 1pm

Turnip to volunteer! Volunteers will help care for our garden, maintain compost bins, weed, water, and harvest produce. No gardening experience needed – just show up in clothing that can get dirty!

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VCPA Learning Garden

Forest Fridays

Fridays, November 13, 20 - Meet at 9am

Join us along Turtle Creek, the stream feeding the mill pond from the northwest, to plant native trees from NYC Parks in the floodplain and cut back invasive phragmites by hand. Your work helps the floodplain forest take back ground from the reeds.

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Meet at southern end of VC Golf House

 You can support our work in Van Cortlandt Park!

Adopt a Bench

New Opportunity! A bench in Van Cortlandt Park is a meaningful way to celebrate a loved one, honor a special memory, or create a lasting connection to a place that brings so much to our community while supporting the park you love!

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Make a Donation

The park is really big. Our staff is really small. Only with your help can we grow our capacity, hire more staff, and take on projects to improve Van Cortlandt Park… for YOU!  Please consider a gift to Van Cortlandt Park Alliance today.

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Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

EDGEMERE MAN SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATAL SHOOTING OF 10-YEAR-OLD BOY IN DISPUTE OVER SHARED DRIVEWAY

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ashram Lochan has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for the fatal shooting of 10-year-old Justin Wallace in June 2021. Lochan pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter last month admitting he directed Jovan Young to fire multiple gunshots into his neighbor’s doorway because of a grudge over a shared driveway. The young boy was shot once in the chest as he stood near the doorway. Young also pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced last week to 24 years in prison for fatally shooting the child and seriously injuring another man.

District Attorney Katz said: “This was a profoundly senseless act of gun violence. Young Justin Wallace was gunned down because Ashram Lochan had a disagreement with a neighbor over a shared driveway. Lochan directed co-defendant Jovan Young to spray the neighbor’s home with bullets, killing 10-year-old Justin and wounding the child’s 29-year-old uncle in the process. Using guns to settle disputes is as stupid and dangerous as it gets, and we hope this sentence brings some measure of closure to Justin’s family, friends and community.”

Lochan, 32, of Edgemere, was sentenced before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant to 19 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Young, 34, also of Edgemere, was sentenced before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky to 24 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision, for his role in the offense.

Both defendants pleaded guilty in satisfaction of indictments that variously charged them with murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and tampering with physical evidence.

DA Katz said that, according to the indictment and investigation, on June 5, 2021, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Lochan saw his neighbor, 29-year-old Kyle Forrester, entering Forrester’s home on Beach 45th Street. Lochan, angry over a disagreement about a shared driveway, directed defendant Jovan Young to shoot at Forrester just as the victim opened his front door.

Young fired multiple shots, hitting Forrester in his back, hand and neck. Forrester’s cousin, Justin Wallace, who stood inside the doorway was struck once in the chest.

Wallace was transported to a local hospital where he later died from the gunshot wound.

DEC URGES CAUTION WITH CAMPFIRES

 

Department of Environmental Conservation

Dry Conditions Have Elevated Potential Fire Danger

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is urging the public to be extremely careful with all types of outdoor fires to avoid dangerous risks due to dry weather. Fire danger conditions are elevated, and much of the state is abnormally dry. Daily fire danger ratings may fluctuate based on weather, but the overall situation is elevated beyond what is typical for this time of year. With the fall foliage season in full swing, fire risk will continue to be a concern. 

In recent weeks, DEC Forest Rangers have responded to multiple wildfires and encountered causes including unattended or improperly extinguished campfires. People often think a fire has been extinguished, but in dry conditions, hot embers burn into the ground where they can smolder for days or even weeks before being detected as a wildfire.   

Due to high fire danger and extended dry conditions, campers, hunters, and other outdoor recreationists are discouraged from having campfires outside of established fire rings or pits that keep the fire contained. If you feel strongly that you must have a campfire, please keep them small and extinguish them completely. To properly extinguish a campfire, pour copious amounts of water on the fire, stir any remaining coals to mix the water into the fire bed, and make sure the fire is cool to the touch before leaving it. 

If you encounter a wildfire in the forest, dial 911 to report the fire and be prepared to give a location of the fire to first responders. If you encounter unattended campfires on DEC lands, contact Forest Ranger Dispatch at 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264). 

Some helpful wildfire prevention tips: 

• Completely extinguish all campfires. Fires should be doused with water and stirred to mix ashes and water until ashes are cool enough to touch with the back of your hand.  Remember, if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.   
• Never discard ashes from campfires, charcoal grills, woodstoves, or cigarettes on vegetation or the forest floor. 
• Refrain from smoking in areas with flammable vegetation or organic soils. Cigarette butts and ashes should never be discarded in the forest regardless of location. If you carry it in, carry it out! 
• Do not drive off an established road or park on top of vegetation. Hot mufflers and catalytic converters can ignite vegetation that touches them. 
• When operating chainsaws, generators, and other power equipment, ensure it has a functioning muffler with spark arrestor. Have supplies (shovel, water, fire extinguisher) to deal with a fire if one should start. 
• Check local regulations for your intended destination for any additional restrictions on fires. 
• Make sure that all vegetation and flammable material are far away from your fire. 
• Never leave a fire unattended. Always be careful with fire. 
• And “Remember…Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.” 

DEC is also alerting the public to increased levels of particulate matter in the air. Cool autumn nights can lead to light winds and limited atmospheric mixing, so local pollution sources, like chimneys, traffic, and industrial processes can build up, leading to higher levels of particulate matter. This week, brushfires over the Southern United States are bringing smoke into New York. Most of it stays aloft and is not as intense as the wildfire smoke seen from western wildfires, but there’s still a portion of the fine particles that settle. 

Other available resources: 

NYS DEC Campfire Safety: https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/camping/fire-safety 

NYS DEC Open Burning:  https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/air-quality/open-burning 

NYS DEC Fire Danger Map:  https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/wildfires/fire-danger-map 

Firewise NY:  https://dec.ny.gov/nature/forests-trees/wildfires/firewise-new-york/homeowners 

Air Quality Index: https://appfactory.dec.ny.gov/AQI/ 

Air Quality Monitoring: https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/air-quality/monitoring 

Results of Operation Iron Sights Announced

 

34 Wichita-area Defendants Indicted on Firearms and Drug Trafficking-Related Charges

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the results of Operation Iron Sights, a violent crime initiative conducted in the Wichita-Sedgwick County area from July 13 - September 16, 2026.

U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser and ATF Director Robert Cekada held a joint press conference in Wichita accompanied by partner agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), Wichita Police Department (WPD), and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (SGSO). The Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) provided funding support.

“An advantage of securing federal indictments against defendants facing firearms and drug trafficking charges is that certain federal charges come with mandatory minimum sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “A mandatory minimum sentence assures that if individuals are convicted of these dangerous crimes, they will not be back out on the streets in no time.”

“Our crime gun intelligence capabilities at Wichita State University support investigations across the nation, and Operation Iron Sight shows the impact right here in Wichita. This operation targeted 34 suspects and seized nearly 60 firearms. Multiple suspects had prior felony convictions. The charges include firearms trafficking, illegal machinegun possession, and trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine,” said ATF Director Robert Cekada. “These cases are about protecting people from armed, violent criminals and the devastation they leave behind, including a suspect accused of assaulting one of our ATF agents with a firearm. Attacking our people will not intimidate us or weaken our resolve. I’m proud of our ATF personnel and our state, local, and federal partners for building these cases and standing shoulder to shoulder to hold offenders accountable. If you arm criminals, commit violent crimes, or poison our communities, we will find you and work relentlessly to put you behind bars.”

Operation Iron Sights was a collaborative effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute dozens of defendants accused of firearms and drug trafficking-related crimes. During this operation, law enforcement seized 58 firearms, approximately 6.75 kilograms of narcotics, and approximately $13,000 in U.S. currency.

“Fentanyl and firearms create a lethal combination, which is why drug trafficking enterprises are extreme threats to public safety,” DEA St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer said. “These offenses are far from victimless, and today we stand with our law enforcement partners in recognition that justice is being served.”

“Operation Iron Sights reflects the strength of law enforcement working together as one to protect our community,” Sheriff Jeff Easter said. “When federal, state and local agencies unite, we are better positioned to hold violent offenders accountable and make Sedgwick County safer.”

“The FBI is proud to join our partners in the announcement of results from Operation Iron Sights. We stand committed to working with our partners across Kansas to ensure that our communities are safe from gun and drug violence,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.

Major Robert Keener of the Kansas Highway Patrol said, “The Kansas Highway Patrol was proud to work alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in Operation Iron Sights. Collaborative efforts like this demonstrate the shared commitment to working together to protect our communities and enhance public safety.”

As a result of the meticulous investigations and thorough surveillance operations carried out by law enforcement, USAO-KS secured 13 federal grand jury indictments that include a total 34 defendants. Some of the defendants charged as part of Operation Iron Sights are:

• Lafayette Washington, 46, is a convicted felon also known as “Dirty Dot Com” and the alleged leader of a drug trafficking ring in Wichita. He and other members of his operation were indicted on methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking and firearms related offenses. Members of Washington’s operation are accused of being connected to an overdose in August 2026 that resulted in serious bodily injury to a minor victim.
• Carey Watts, 20, was indicted for allegedly using a firearm to attack an ATF agent back in July 2026 while the officer was performing his duties.
• Jeffrey Muldrow, 41, faces charges for illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon and is accused of supplying firearms to other people knowing that the weapons would be used to commit crimes. He was also indicted for fentanyl trafficking.
• Morkeuz McClennon, 28, was indicted on charges related to fentanyl, methamphetamine, and firearms trafficking.