DOI ARRESTS EIGHT INDIVIDUALS FOR SUBMITTING FORGED PARKING PLACARDS IN EFFORT TO HAVE PARKING TICKETS DISMISSED

  Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), in partnership with Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., announced today the arrests of eight individuals for allegedly using forged parking placards to dispute parking tickets with the New York City Department of Finance (“DOF”) in an effort to have the tickets dismissed. The investigation began after DOI received a referral from the City Department of Transportation (“DOT”). The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

 DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said, “Parking comes at a premium in a city like New York and using fraudulent placards to circumvent the rules is a crime. These individuals abused City parking regulations and attempted to escape paying the penalties by posing as City employees with City-issued placards or by using fake handicap parking placards reserved for those in real need, according to the charges. DOI is proud to partner with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on cracking down on fraudulent placards and thanks DOT for referring these cases for investigation and their ongoing assistance in this proactive matter.” 

 The following defendants are charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison. According to the indictment and DOI’s investigation:

  MAXHUN HYKOSMANI, 53, of the Bronx, N.Y., received a summons for Failure to Display a Parking Meter Receipt on January 22, 2018 in Manhattan. In an effort to get the ticket dismissed, HYKOSMANI allegedly submitted a fraudulent City Law Department parking placard to DOF in February 2018. HYKOSMANI’s plea was denied by DOF and the summons was paid in full. Because HYKOSMANI allegedly used a City Law Department placard, purporting to be a City Law Department employee, HYKOSMANI is also charged with Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor. Upon conviction, a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year’s incarceration.

  ELLIOT OBENG-DOMPREH, 33, of Bloomfield, N.J., received a summons for No Standing in a Meter Zone on August 25, 2017 in Manhattan. In an effort to get the ticket dismissed, in September 2017, OBENG-DOMPREH allegedly submitted to DOF a fraudulent City DOT handicap parking placard. OBENG-DOMPREH’s summons was dismissed by DOF

  YING J. LIN, 47, of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., received two summonses for Failure to Display a Muni Meter Receipt and Failure to Display a Parking Meter Receipt on August 8, 2017 and February 26, 2018, respectively, both in Queens. In an effort to get the tickets dismissed, in August 2017 and March 2018, LIN allegedly submitted two fraudulent City DOT handicap parking placards to DOF. LIN’s plea was denied by DOF and the summonses were paid in full.

  RAMON ARIAS, 57, of East Elmhurst, N.Y., received a summons for Failure to Display a Parking Meter Receipt on January 16, 2018 in Manhattan. In an effort to get the ticket dismissed, ARIAS allegedly submitted a fraudulent New York Blood Center parking placard to DOF in January 2018. ARIAS’ plea was denied by DOF and the summons was paid in full. Because ARIAS allegedly used a New York Blood Center placard, purporting to be a New York Blood Center employee, ARIAS is also charged with Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

  ARSEN ISKHAKOV, 47, of Forest Hills, N.Y., received a summons for parking in a No Parking Zone during street cleaning on February 20, 2018 in Queens. In an effort to get the ticket dismissed, ISKHAKOV allegedly submitted to DOF in February 2018 a fraudulent City DOT handicap parking placard. ISKHAKOV’s plea was denied by DOF and the summons was paid in full.

  CANDIDA ROMAN, 47, of Manhattan, N.Y., received two summonses for Failure to Display a Parking Meter Receipt on May 9, 2018 and May 10, 2018, both in Manhattan. In an effort to get the two tickets dismissed, ROMAN allegedly submitted to DOF in May 2018 a fraudulent City DOT handicap parking placard. ROMAN’s plea was denied by DOF and the summons was paid in full.

  ADRIAN RAMPRASAD, 27, of South Richmond Hill, N.Y., received summonses for Failure to Display a Parking Meter Receipt on May 30, 2018 and September 20, 2018 in Queens. In an effort to get these tickets dismissed, RAMPRASAD allegedly twice submitted a fraudulent City Law Department placard to DOF, in October 2018 and June 2018. RAMPRASAD’s plea was denied by DOF and the summonses were paid in full. Because RAMPRASAD allegedly used a City Law Department placard, purporting to be a City Law Department employee, RAMPRASAD is also charged with two counts of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

  JENNIFER ROSARIO, 36, of Manhattan, N.Y., received a summons in a No Standing Except for Authorized Vehicles zone on July 22, 2018 in Manhattan. In an effort to get the ticket dismissed, ROSARIO allegedly submitted to DOF in July 2018 a fraudulent City DOT parking placard purportedly assigned to the United States Postal Office. ROSARIO’s plea was denied by DOF and the summons was paid in full.

 Commissioner Garnett thanked Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, and their staffs, including DOT Director of Security Operations Stefanie Panuccio, for their cooperation and assistance in this investigation.

The investigation was conducted by DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for DOT.

The case is being prosecuted by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Indictments are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.