ICE Asks Indiana to Not Release Illegal Alien Serial Rapist

 

This sexual predator from Mexico was released into our country by the Biden Administration 

 The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer asking Indiana officials to not release an illegal alien serial rapist. 

On April 22, 2026, police in Indianapolis arrested Leonel Catalan Torreblanca, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who is the suspect in a decade-long serial rape case and now faces 30 charges including rape, sexual battery, criminal confinement, kidnapping, strangulation, and burglary. His criminal history includes convictions for patronizing a prostitute, voyeurism, and multiple DUIs.

The reported sexual assaults occurred between 2013 and 2024. 

“Thanks to the incredible work of the men and women of federal law enforcement, this demented rapist’s ten-year crime spree is over. He is now facing 30 charges including rape, sexual battery, criminal confinement, kidnapping, strangulation, and burglary,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “ICE is asking Indiana officials to hand him over to ICE custody. Indiana cooperates with ICE, so we will be able to work together to get him off our streets and out of our country. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, criminal illegal aliens are NOT welcome in the United States.” 

Torreblanca first illegally entered the United States at an unknown time and location. ICE arrested him in 2012, but he was released by the Obama Administration. ICE arrested him again in 2017, and he voluntarily returned to Mexico in 2018. He then illegally re-entered the United States – a felony – in 2023 under the Biden Administration. 

Jacksonville Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More than Eleven Years in Federal Prison

 

James Herbert Asberry, III (39, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of $18,938, the proceeds of Asberry’s drug trafficking, which were seized at the time of his arrest. Asberry pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, during a series of meetings in late 2023 and early 2024, Asberry sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover task force officer and confidential source. On February 23, 2024, the DEA arrested Asberry and law enforcement executed search warrants both at his home in St. Johns County and at a Jacksonville apartment where Asberry stored drugs. Investigators located $18,938 in cash, as well as cocaine, fentanyl, and nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. 

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

Nos Quedamos - Who Decides the Future of Melrose?

 

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

The Future of Melrose Is Being Decided Now

For more than 30 years, the Melrose Urban Renewal Plan has stood as one of the most powerful examples of what happens when a community leads its own future.

It is more than policy.

It is more than zoning.

It is a legacy of people power.

This plan has shaped Melrose into what it is today, protecting deeply affordable housing, preserving open space, and ensuring that development happens with the community, not to it.

But that legacy is now on a clock.

In just seven years, the Melrose Urban Renewal Plan is set to expire.

That may sound far away, but in the world of development, policy, and land use, seven years is not a long time. In fact, we are already seeing the pressure. Even with the Plan still in place, market forces are pushing in. They are testing the limits, looking for opportunities, and preparing for what comes next.

We have to be clear about what that means:

If we do nothing, the protections that have held this community together for decades can disappear.

Without the Plan:

• There are fewer limits on what can be built and where

• There is less protection for affordable housing

• There are fewer guarantees that residents will have a voice

And when those protections weaken, displacement follows. Culture erodes. Community control is lost.

If we don’t define the future of Melrose, someone else will and it won’t be with us in mind.

That is why we are acting now.

At Nos Quedamos, we are launching a long-term effort to not only protect what exists, but to build on it. Through our Melrose 2034: From Preservation to Power campaign, we are strategizing a dual district strategy that combines zoning protections with cultural recognition locking in both the physical and cultural fabric of this neighborhood.

But policy alone is not enough.

The strength of the Melrose Urban Renewal Plan has always come from the people behind it. That is why we are doubling down on organizing and working alongside residents in our developments and the broader Melrose community to build the collective power needed to shape what comes next.

We are also pushing for the resources required to make preservation real. Fighting for funding to stabilize distressed buildings, protect affordability, and hold public systems accountable.

This moment is not just about preventing loss.

It requires action, participation, and a shared commitment to carry this legacy forward.

Because this plan was never just about buildings.

It was about people.

And that is what we must continue to protect.

Interested in learning more about how we are doing this work? Reach out to us at info@nosquedamos.org and stay tuned to our IG

Youth Voices, Big Impact, Coming Your Way!

Make sure you mark our calendars because our youth are doing it again. Our 3rd annual youth symposium, Nosotros Somos la Voz - We are the Voice, is set for June 5th, from 2 pm - 6 pm at the Metropolitan College of New York (463 E 149th St, Bronx, NY 10455). You’ll hear from our amazing youth organizers sharing reflections on their experience doing community organizing, getting to participate in interactive workshops, and more!  

Interested in saving your spot? Fill out the RSVP link HERE

Nos Quedamos Inc. | 754 Melrose Avenue | Bronx, NY 10451

Governor Hochul Grants Clemency to Nineteen Individuals

Continues to Fulfill Commitment to Grant Clemency on a Rolling Basis

Builds on Governor’s Efforts to Reform Clemency Process, Including Convening an Advisory Panel of Impartial Experts, Dedicating Additional Staff Resources and Increasing Communication with Applicants

Since Taking Office, Governor Hochul Has Issued a Total of 139 Grants of Clemency

Governor Kathy Hochul granted clemency in the form of a pardon to 19 individuals. This action recognizes people who have demonstrated remorse, exemplified rehabilitation and displayed a commitment to improving themselves and their communities. After implementing procedural reforms to strengthen the clemency process, Governor Hochul has made a total of 139 grants of clemency during her time in office, which include 119 pardons and 20 commutations.

“Since taking office, my administration has taken a number of steps to bring more effective, fair, and thorough analysis to New York’s clemency program,” Governor Hochul said. “After careful consideration and analysis by a panel of independent experts, I am granting clemency in the form of a pardon to 19 individuals who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, and have made positive changes in themselves and their communities.”

The Governor's Office has taken a number of steps to improve transparency and communication in the clemency process. The Executive Clemency Bureau has implemented a policy of sending regular letters to individuals with clemency applications, informing them of their case status, and providing information about how to submit supplemental information in support of their applications. The Governor's Office also launched an updated online web hub to assist clemency applicants with the application process; this hub includes template clemency application forms to provide prospective applicants with improved guidance about what information to include when they apply.

The Governor also convened a Clemency Advisory Panel composed of impartial experts to assist in advising the Governor on clemency applications. Following recommendations from the Clemency Advisory Panel, Governor Hochul is granting clemency in the form of a pardon to 19 individuals.

Pardons

Individuals receiving a pardon today have lived crime-free lives for a significant period of time — in most cases for over 20 years — and have made positive contributions to their communities. All pardon recipients continue to be negatively impacted by their criminal conviction(s) despite having successfully served their sentence(s) many years ago. The Governor’s pardons will help alleviate these burdens.

Dr. Mikal Abdul-Mateen, 75, was convicted of Attempted Robbery in the Third Degree in 1971.

Joseph Percoco, 65, was convicted of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree in 1985.

Scot Forte, 61, was convicted of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree in 1985.

Courtney Brown, 58, was convicted of two counts of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree in 1988.

Delroy Mott, 69, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Narcotic Drug in the Fourth Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree in 1991 and 1990.

Marco Baez, 63, was convicted of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and Attempted Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree between 1986 - 1991.

Elvin Peña, 63, was convicted of Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in 1991.

Daniel Wagoner, 49, was convicted of Criminally Negligent Homicide in 1995.

Adalberto Bueno, 69, was convicted of Assault in the Third Degree and Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in 1990 and 1996.

Jeremy Niland, 49, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Loaded Firearm in the Third Degree in 1997.

Tiffany Wright, 47, was convicted of Petit Larceny and Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree in 1998 and 2002.

Antonio Domingues, 56, was convicted of Offering a False Instrument to File in the Second Degree in 2002.

Kobi Moshel, 44, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree in 2003.

Paul De Guzman, 44, was convicted of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree between 2003 - 2006.

Luigi Morgera, 44, was convicted of Attempted Arson in the Third Degree in 2008.

Amanda Mullen, 37, was convicted of Forgery in the Second Degree and Identity Theft in the First Degree in 2010.

Michael Thomas, 51, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree in 2010.

Edwin Tineo, 36, was convicted of Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, original conviction occurred in 2013.

Adrian Peña, 35, was convicted of Burglary in the Third Degree in 2015.

 

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against State of New Mexico and City of Albuquerque for Obstructing Federal Immigration Enforcement

 

The United States has filed a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction against the State of New Mexico, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, the City of Albuquerque, and Albuquerque Mayor Timothy Keller, alleging that the implementation of House Bill 9 (HB9), entitled the “Immigrant Safety Act,” and Albuquerque City Ordinance O-26-15, entitled the “Safer Community Places Ordinance (SCPO),” infringes on federal immigration enforcement authority.

Through HB9, the State of New Mexico is trying to abolish decades of long-standing, voluntary partnerships between local governments and federal authorities that are essential for enforcing immigration laws and keeping the federal immigration system running as Congress intended. Both HB9 and the SCPO seek to block federal agents from using any local government property to carry out their work. Additionally, by unlawfully requiring private businesses to tip off illegal aliens about immigration enforcement activities, the SCPO attempts to harbor and shield illegal aliens from detection by federal immigration authorities and poses an obstacle to the enforcement of federal immigration law.

“New Mexico is attempting to regulate immigration policy, something the federal government is clearly and uniquely empowered by the Constitution to do,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Our filings seek to halt the state’s unconstitutional actions by preserving cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement and allowing federal immigration officials to enforce the law.”

“The State of New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque seek to intentionally obstruct federal law enforcement by preventing cooperation between local governments and the federal government,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “HB9 and the SCPO unlawfully interfere with federal immigration enforcement, illegally discriminate against federal operations, and violate constitutional protections regarding contracts and federal supremacy. Additionally, by barring public entities from participating in federal immigration detention in New Mexico, HB9 jeopardizes nearly 300 jobs and the economy of Otero County. Our lawsuit asks the court to declare these laws invalid and issue an immediate injunction to stop them from being enforced.”

Upon taking office, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border to address a security and public safety crisis caused by previous Open Border policies. On February 5, 2025, the Attorney General instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal immigration laws or impede lawful federal immigration operations. On August 5, 2025, the Attorney General published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which included Albuquerque, and vowed to bring litigation to end these policies nationwide. Today’s lawsuit in New Mexico is the latest in a series of lawsuits targeting illegal sanctuary jurisdiction policies across the country.

Under President Trump’s mandate, the federal government is exercising its proper constitutional authority to remove criminal aliens from the United States. Central to this mission are long-standing, voluntary agreements between federal and local agencies that allow state and local officials to assist with the investigation, transportation, and detention of illegal aliens. The federal government relies heavily on these partnerships, which have operated successfully in New Mexico for decades, to fulfill its immigration enforcement duties and keep New Mexicans safe.

The case is United States v. State of New Mexico et al., No. 1:26-cv-01471 in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

The claims asserted by the United States are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

U.K. Executive Pleads Guilty To Tax Fraud Conspiracy

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that RODERIC SAGE pled guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with a scheme to help high-value U.S. taxpayer-clients conceal more than $60 million in income and assets held in undeclared, offshore bank accounts and evade U.S. income taxes.  SAGE pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.  

“As admitted, Roderic Sage helped U.S. taxpayers conceal more than $60 million in offshore accounts through a scheme designed to hide assets from the IRS,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “For years, Sage and his co-conspirators used layers of nominee accounts and offshore entities to disguise the true ownership of these funds and evade U.S. taxes.  Offshore schemes are not beyond the reach of American law enforcement, and this case shows the strength of international cooperation in identifying and dismantling complex financial fraud schemes.  It is straightforward: tax fraud is a fraud on your fellow Americans, and they want tax fraudsters brought to justice.” 

According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:

SAGE was the founder and CEO of a Hong Kong financial services firm.  From in or about 2008 to in or about 2014, SAGE and his co-conspirators defrauded the IRS by concealing income and assets of high-value U.S. taxpayer-clients with undeclared bank accounts at Privatbank IHAG Zurich AG (“IHAG”), a Swiss private bank.  In order to assist the U.S. taxpayer-clients, SAGE and his co-conspirators devised and implemented a scheme dubbed the “Singapore Solution” to fraudulently conceal the bank accounts of the U.S. taxpayer-clients, their assets, and their income from U.S. authorities.  In furtherance of the fraudulent scheme, SAGE and his co-conspirators conspired to transfer more than $60 million from undeclared IHAG bank accounts of the U.S. taxpayer-clients through a series of nominee bank accounts in Hong Kong and other locations before returning the funds to newly opened accounts at IHAG in the name of a Singapore-based asset management firm that a co-conspirator helped establish.  The U.S. taxpayer-clients paid large fees to IHAG and others to help them conceal their funds and assets and evade taxes.           

SAGE was arrested on May 7, 2025, in the United Kingdom and extradited to the United States.

SAGE, 73, of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  SAGE is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Woods on July 30, 2026. 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of IRS-CI.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, Interpol, and the United Kingdom’s National Extradition Unit and the Crown Prosecution Service for their assistance in the arrest and extradition of the defendant.  Mr. Clayton further thanked the Justice Department’s Criminal Division for their partnership on this case.

This prosecution is being handled by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit and the Tax Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olga I. Zverovich and Matthew Weinberg and Senior Litigation Counsel Mark F. Daly of the Tax Section are in charge of the prosecution.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“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.

GrowNYC Education: International Compost Awareness Week, Workshops, Grants, & More!

 

GrowNYC Education

Students planting at GrowNYC’s Teaching Garden

Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week, May 3 - 9 

Poster artwork by Endurance Oye of Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria

In NYC, about a third of residential waste (and 50% of school waste!) is categorized as “organic” and suitable for composting (DSNY Waste Characterization Study, 2023). When organic waste is sent to rot in a landfill, it creates a toxic liquid called leachate and emits methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Luckily, this issue can be prevented through a process called composting! 

Composting converts organic material, like food scraps, into a nutrient rich soil amendment called compost. This natural fertilizer can be added to soil to improve soil health. Though International Compost Awareness Week may only be for one week, there are many ways to get involved in composting in NYC year-round, including: 

• Separating organic material for curbside collection through the Department of Sanitation’s Curbside Composting program

• Bringing food scraps to a Food Scrap Drop-Off site

• Creating an outdoor composting system in a yard or garden, or inside with a vermicompost bin (worm bin) 

• Working towards a Master Composter Certification

• Utilizing compost in your garden or outdoor space with free compost made from the City’s organic waste 

CCNYC Community Leaders Grant Info Session (Virtual Webinar)

• Tuesday, May 12th from 4 to 5 pm ET

• Virtual webinar

Join GrowNYC School Gardens and Citizens Committee for NYC for a special school garden focused Info session for CitizensNYC Community Leaders Grant.

CitizensNYC has been providing grants and support to community groups with big ideas for 50 years, and applications are currently open for community grants of up to $5,000. Over the years, CitizensNYC has helped thousands of organizations, businesses, and individuals build projects.

To learn more, please register for GrowNYC and CitizensNYC's upcoming info session for school gardeners. This session will be recorded, so register if you’d like to receive a copy of the recording.

Pollinator Habitat in Your School Garden Part 2 (In-Person Workshop)

• Thursday, May 21st from 5:30 to 6:30 pm ET

• PS 216 Arturo Toscanini School

• 350 Avenue X, Brooklyn, NY 11223

Pollinators are essential to any garden community. Learn how to create habitats that support native bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators in school gardens, community spaces, and even window boxes.

Join GrowNYC School Gardens and Edible Schoolyard NYC for our in-person workshop where you’ll take a tour of the pollinator garden at PS 216 Arturo Toscanini School and learn how to design a pollinator habitat for your urban garden space. Enthusiasts of all ages welcome!

From Garden Beds to Forest Edges: Hands-On Strategies for School Gardening, Forest Gardens and Native Plantings (In-Person Workshop)

Professional Development workshop at GrowNYC's Teaching Garden on Governors Island

• Thursday, June 4th from 8:15 am to 2:30 pm ET

• GrowNYC Teaching Garden & The Battery Urban Farm (Governors Island & Lower Manhattan)

• Participants must be NYC teachers, non-teaching school staff, administrators, or parents/guardians currently involved with gardening at their school, or planning to start an outdoor garden at their school.

Join GrowNYC School Gardens and The Battery Conservancy on this full day of workshops for hands-on strategies on School Gardening, Forest Gardens, and Native Plants. At the Teaching Garden, participants will learn and practice various gardening techniques and garden education methods to bring back to the classroom. The afternoon will be spent at the Battery Urban Farm where the discussion will focus on frameworks and resources to help you select native plants for your garden site, both at a small scale and if planning a larger forest garden. Come join us for a full day of connection and learning!

Program Update: GrowNYC Food & Nutrition Education

Students from H.A.R.T High School practicing their farmstand design skills

If your school is applying for the 11th annual NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability’s (OES) Sustainability Project Grant, you can partner with GrowNYC Education for food education programming, focused on the local food systems, nutrition and urban agriculture. 

You can explore our programs here. 

The grant application opens on May 13, 2026. The winners will be announced in September 2026 allowing schools to implement their projects for the entire school year of 2026-2027.

If you are interested to learn more, contact our Food Education Specialist Adriana Daroqui at adaroqui@grownyc.org.

Program Update: GrowNYC School Gardens

Gardens beds at PS 889K

Are you applying for the OES Sustainability Grant to help start your school garden? Our team of School Garden Coordinators are here to help you brainstorm and plan for a garden program and guide you through the grant application process —all free of charge! Our team can help you with:

• School Garden Programming: integration planning for incorporating a garden into your curriculum and school culture.

• Teacher Workshops: tailored workshops for your teacher teams on gardening best practices.

• Garden Design: evaluation of the school space for garden placement, garden goals and the final design

• Grant writing: provide feedback and help craft a narrative that captures the vision and purpose of the school garden project.

Email schoolgardens@grownyc.org to be connected with a School Gardens Coordinator.

Program Update: GrowNYC Teaching Garden

Young seedlings at the new location for GrowNYC's Teaching Garden on Governors Island

Field trip season has bloomed at the GrowNYC Teaching Garden on Governors Island. Limited field trip spots remain for May and June, sign up now at our website!

The Teaching Garden will also be open on weekends starting May 30th. Stay tuned for more information on open hours and programming.

We're looking forward to seeing you at our garden. 

Partner Spotlight: NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability

Students watering at PS 73X

• Save the Date: The $5K Sustainability Project Grant application launches May! NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability is opening the application on May 13th and closing on June 22nd. Learn more about the Sustainability Project Grant and RSVP for an information session here.

• Climate Action Day: Water is the theme for the last Climate Action Day for the school year on May 20th. Check out step-by-step “roadmaps” to plan lessons and activities for your class, and promote your day schoolwide using the communications toolkit.

• Youth Climate Summit: Middle and high school educators, inspire student climate action by spending a day outdoors on Governors Island on June 10 or 11 for NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability’s Youth Climate Summit. Bring 5-10 students to discover career paths in climate and sustainability, attend hands-on workshops, learn about environmental justice, and walk away with climate action ideas for the summer and beyond. Register your student group for the Youth Climate Summit by May 15.

•  PD Opportunities: The Climate Education Leadership Team, is hosting monthly virtual PDs! Join a session and earn CTLE credits.

 Plant a Seed of Support

When you give to GrowNYC, you’re not just making a donation—you’re planting a seed! With every contribution, your can help NYC neighborhoods flourish, empower the next generation of environmental stewards, and create a greener, resilient city for everyone.

Please consider standing with GrowNYC and making a tax-deductible donation today! 

or visit grownyc.org/donate

Grant Opportunities

• EcoRise Student Innovation Project Grant Deadline: May 15

• KidsGardening Intergenerational Garden Grant Deadline: May 15

• NYSAR3 Green School Grant Program Deadline: May 15

• NYCPS Office of Food & Nutrition Services Nutrition Collaborative Program Deadline: May 22

• National Wildlife Federation Growing a Wild NYC Grant Deadline: June 12

• White-Reinhardt Ag Literacy Grant Program Deadline: June 12

• KidsGardening Lots of Compassion Grant Deadline: June 15

• Citizens Committee for NYC Community Leaders Grant Deadline: July 27

• Herman’s Garden Seed Donation Program Deadline: Rolling

• Coast of Maine Growing Good Donations Soil Program: Application open for Spring 2026 pickup