CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY SUPERVISOR CHARGED WITH STEALING A KITCHEN APPLIANCE AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FROM NYCHA’S WAGNER HOUSES

  Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today the arrest of a Supervisor of Housing Caretakers at the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”), on charges of stealing kitchen cabinets, a refrigerator, and a sink from NYCHA’s Wagner Houses in East Harlem where the supervisor worked. DOI worked in partnership with the office of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, which is prosecuting the case. 

 DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said, “This NYCHA supervisor misused her position to give her personal kitchen a makeover, realizing the renovation with stolen equipment and an appliance from NYCHA and denying residents what was rightfully theirs, according to the charges. Employees who abuse their authority and steal from the City to enrich themselves will be investigated and arrested. DOI thanks the Queens District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in the prosecution of this case.”

 Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, “The defendant is accused of taking advantage of her trusted position to steal from her employer. Torres’ alleged scheme didn’t just rip off NYCHA, but also the thousands of residents who rely on the agency for housing. While greed may not be a crime, funneling goods and products meant for the truly needy is. This case should serve as a warning to others that my office will work diligently with our law enforcement partners to apprehend and prosecute those who attempt to cheat the system for their own personal gain.” 

 DOI arrested EVA TORRES, 42, of Queens, N.Y., today on charges of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, and Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison and a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year’s incarceration.

 According to the criminal complaint and DOI’s investigation, in September 2018, DOI began investigating a tip that TORRES had renovated the kitchen of her Queens residence with cabinets and an appliance from NYCHA. DOI investigators observed a post from TORRES’ Facebook account that showed TORRES in her kitchen standing in front of kitchen cabinets and a refrigerator that appeared to be similar to items used by NYCHA to furnish apartments. The specific model cabinets are procured by NYCHA from Crotone Kitchens Inc. in Canada and the exact model has never been sold privately to anybody including TORRES

 As a result of DOI’s observations, a search warrant was executed today, January 24, 2019, to search TORRES’ kitchen in Queens, at which time eight cabinets, a white refrigerator, and a sink -- all with matching serial numbers to items purchased by NYCHA for the Wagner Houses -- were found. The total value of the NYCHA property found in TORRES’ kitchen was $1,355, and TORRES did not have the permission or authority to take that property.

 The investigation was conducted by DOI’s Inspector General for NYCHA Ralph Iannuzzi and members of his staff, including Deputy Inspector General Gregory DeBoer, Assistant Inspector General Robin Jacknow, and Confidential Investigator Shateeka Washington. 

A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty

NYPD Detective Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MICHAEL BONANNO, a New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) detective, pled guilty today to his role in a bank fraud scheme that used stolen checks and bank account numbers from New York-based victims.  BONANNO pled guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.  Bonanno’s co-conspirator, Domenic Aiello, previously pled guilty before Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman on January 4, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Instead of upholding his duty to investigate and enforce the law, Michael Bonanno, who was at the time a detective in the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers unit, broke the law by brazenly attempting to swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from residents of New York.  I commend the FBI and the Internal Affairs Bureau of the NYPD for their outstanding work in this investigation.”

According to the Information and Complaint filed in this case, other public filings, and statements made during the plea proceeding:

BONANNO is an NYPD detective and was a member of the NYPD Crime Stoppers unit, which receives and investigates anonymous tips about criminal activity from members of the community.

From November 2016 to March 2017, BONANNO and Aiello stole and attempted to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bank accounts of multiple New York residents in two ways.  First, on over 20 occasions, BONANNO and Aiello made payments on BONANNO’s mortgage and credit card bills using stolen account information from various victims.  Second, on at least 15 occasions, BONANNO and Aiello attempted to deposit fraudulent and stolen checks in BONANNO’s bank accounts. 

BONANNO, 44, who resides in Staten Island, New York, pled guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.  Each count carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison.  BONANNO is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Gardephe on April 26, 2019.  The maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Affairs Bureau of the NYPD in this investigation.   

Six Individuals Charged With Conspiring To Traffic More Than $30 Million Of Contraband Cigarettes

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office (“USPS-OIG”), and Joseph Fucito, New York City Sheriff, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment in Manhattan federal court charging SHAO JUN GUO, JIAN JIANG FENG, YUE JUAN CHEN, ZHURONG GAO, SHUI YING LIN, and WO KIT CHENG with conspiring to traffic contraband cigarettes and trafficking contraband cigarettes.  The defendants were arrested yesterday and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger today.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman.  The defendants will be arraigned before Judge Furman on January 31, 2019, at 11:00 a.m.

As alleged in the Indictment, SHAO JUN GUO, JIAN JIANG FENG, YUE JUAN CHEN, ZHURONG GAO, SHUI YING LIN, and WO KIT CHENG conspired to traffic more than $30 million of contraband cigarettes to avoid approximately $30 million in taxes.  The case is assigned to United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, the defendants trafficked in massive quantities of contraband cigarettes, defrauding city, state, and federal governments of millions of dollars in tax revenue.  That is lost tax revenue that would be used to fund research into cancer and other smoking-related illnesses, and to fund cessation and anti-smoking programs.  These defendants’ alleged scheme to make millions, cheat taxing authorities, and deny funds for healthcare programs has gone up in smoke.”

USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett said:  “These defendants thought they could get away with their scheme to distribute contraband cigarettes, avoiding regulations put in place to protect the public, businesses and the City from fraud.  Their illegal profit went up in smoke.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “For the past six years these defendants smuggled untaxed cigarettes into the United States causing lost revenue to the U.S. economy to the tune of $30 million dollars in unpaid taxes.  Whether it be drugs, counterfeit goods or untaxed cigarettes, smuggling items into the United States is a crime that we at HSI take very seriously as we work every day to secure our borders.”

USPS-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Modafferi said:  “In certain instances, the Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General will work with their law enforcement partners to stop those who use the U.S. Mail to facilitate their crimes.  We would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, USPIS, HSI, and New York City Sheriff’s Department for their collaborative efforts in developing this investigation.”

Sheriff Joseph Fucito said:  “The alleged criminal conduct of the defendants deprives all New Yorkers of significant tax revenues.  These lost revenues impact public safety, education, health, housing, and social services. The New York City DOF Sheriff’s Department will continue to investigate and pursue criminal conduct to ensure these invaluable services are sustained.”  

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:  From June 2013 through January 2019, the defendants engaged in a scheme to smuggle and traffic $30 million of untaxed cigarettes in the United States to avoid at least $30 million in taxes. 

SHAO JUN GUO, 42, of Brooklyn, New York, JIAN JIANG FENG of New York, New York, YUE JUAN CHEN, 41, of Bayside, New York,  ZHURONG GAO, 66, of New York, New York, SHUI YING LIN, 43, of Brooklyn, New York, and WO KIT CHENG, 44, of Brooklyn, New York, have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic contraband cigarettes, which carries a maximum prison term of five years; and one count of trafficking contraband cigarettes, which carries a maximum prison term of five years.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS, HSI, and the New York City Sheriff’s Department.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Announces $8 Million Settlement In Principle With Walgreens Over False Claims Billed To New York's Medicaid Program For Prescription Drugs

  Attorney General Letitia James announced that New York has joined with other states and the federal government to reach an agreement in principle with Walgreen Co. (Walgreens) to settle allegations that Walgreens violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicaid at rates higher than its usual and customary (U&C) rates for certain prescription drugs. As a result, Walgreens, a Delaware corporation headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, will pay the states and federal government $60 million, all of which is attributable to the states’ Medicaid programs.

“My office will continue to investigate and stop unlawful practices that hurt New York State’s Medicaid Program,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “We will never let companies get away with illegally billing Medicaid with inflated amounts for prescription drugs."

The national federal and state civil settlement will resolve allegations relating to Walgreens’ discount drug program, known as the Prescription Savings Club (PSC).  The investigation revealed that Walgreens submitted claims to the states’ Medicaid programs in which it identified U&C prices for certain prescription drugs sold through the PSC program that were higher than what Walgreens actually charged for those drugs. In doing so, Walgreens’ obtained more money in reimbursements from the States’ Medicaid program for sales of such drugs than it was entitled to receive. 

The investigation resulted from a qui tam action originally filed in 2012 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under the federal False Claims Act and various state false claims statutes. As part of the settlement, New York Medicaid will receive over $8 million in restitution and other recoveries.

A National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU) Team conducted the settlement negotiations with Walgreens on behalf of the states. The Team included representatives from the Offices of the Attorneys General for the states of New York, California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

The civil settlement was handled by Special Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Heim Harris of the New York City Regional Office, under the supervision of MFCU Civil Chief Carolyn Ellis. MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney.

This is the second false claims act settlement reached with Walgreens. On January 22, 2019, Attorney General James announced that Walgreens is to pay New York over $6.5 million as part of a $209.2 million settlement with the federal government and other states, resolving allegations that Walgreens knowingly engaged in fraudulent conduct when it dispensed insulin pens in full boxes of five pens regardless of the quantity of insulin and/or days’ supply written on the Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries’ prescription.

Attorney General James and 45 Attorneys General Nationwide Reach $120 Million Settlement with Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Inc. Over Misleading Information about Hip Replacement Devices

DePuy Misled Patients About Longevity, Efficacy of Hip Replacement Devices

  Attorney General Letitia James announced that she and 45 other Attorneys General across the country reached a $120 million Consent Judgment with Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Inc. to resolve allegations that the company unlawfully promoted its metal-on-metal hip implant devices, the ASR XL and the Pinnacle Ultamet.

The Attorneys General allege that DePuy engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in its promotion of the ASR XL and Pinnacle Ultamet hip implant devices by making misleading claims as to the longevity, also known as survivorship, of metal-on-metal hip implants. DePuy advertised that the ASR XL hip implant had a survivorship of 99.2 percent at three years when the National Joint Registry of England and Wales reported a 7 percent revision rate at three years. Similarly, DePuy promoted the Pinnacle Ultamet as having a survivorship of 99.8 percent and 99.9 percent survivorship at five years when the National Joint Registry of England and Wales reported a 2.2 percent 3-year-revision rate in 2009 increasing to a 4.28 percent 5-year-revision rate in 2012. 

“Doctors and their patients need to have accurate and up to date information to ensure that patients are receiving appropriate healthcare,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Companies should never be allowed to freely mislead the public, especially when there are health concerns involved. This settlement serves as an important message that deceptive and false medical practices will never be tolerated.”

Some patients who required hip implant revision surgery to replace a failed ASR XL or Pinnacle Ultamet implant experienced persistent groin pain, allergic reactions, tissue necrosis, as well as a build-up of metal ions in the blood. The ASR XL was recalled from the market in 2010. DePuy discontinued its sale of the Pinnacle Ultamet in 2013.

As part of the Consent Judgment, DePuy has agreed to reform how it markets and promotes its hip implants. Under the Consent Judgment, DePuy is required to: 

• Base claims of survivorship, stability or dislocations on scientific information and the most recent dataset available from a registry for any DePuy hip implant device.
• Maintain a post market surveillance program and complaint handling program.
• Update and maintain internal product complaint handling operating procedures including training of complaint reviewers.
• Update and maintain processes and procedures to track and analyze product complaints that do not meet the definition of Medical Device Reportable Events.
• Maintain a quality assurance program that includes an audit procedure for tracking complaints regarding DePuy Products that do not rise to the level of a Medical Device Reportable Event but that may indicate a device-related serious injury or malfunction.
• Perform quarterly reviews of complaints and if a subgroup of patients is identified that has a higher incidence of adverse events than the full patient population, determine the cause and alter promotional practices as appropriate. 

Under the settlement New York State will receive $4,663,161.92.

Attorney General James Announces Settlement With Walgreens Boots Alliance Over Medicaid Fraud Allegations For Over-Dispensing Insulin Pens

Walgreens to Pay $209.2 Million to Resolve Allegations it Falsely Billed New York’s Medicaid Program for Insulin Pens

New York State to Receive Over $6.5 Million Share of Insulin Pens Settlement  

  Attorney General Letitia James announced that New York, together with the federal government and other states, has reached a nationwide $209.2 million settlement with Walgreens Boots Alliance (Walgreens) concerning allegations of fraudulent over-dispensing of insulin pens at Walgreens pharmacies. The qui tam action, unsealed today, resolves allegations that Walgreens knowingly engaged in fraudulent conduct when it dispensed insulin pens. When filling insulin prescriptions, Walgreens did not always adhere to the dosage outlined by the prescribing doctor, but rather dispensed insulin pens in boxes containing five pens, regardless of the patient’s needs. This resulted in a pattern where Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries were routinely receiving more insulin than prescribed and Walgreens was then billing Medicaid for the additional doses. Walgreens, headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, operates the largest retail pharmacy chain in the U.S., with 8,309 locations across all 50 states. 

“Cheating our state’s Medicaid program will never be tolerated by this office,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “We will continue to root out illegal practices that increase costs of health care and medication for all New York Medicaid recipients, and will hold accountable any provider that engages in these deceptive practices.”

Under the settlement, Walgreens will pay the United States and the States $209.2 million dollars. Of this amount, $89,185,625.10 will go to the state Medicaid programs to resolve civil allegations that Walgreens’ unlawful over-dispensing of insulin pens caused false claims to be submitted to Medicaid health care programs. The State of New York will receive $6,548,679.82 of this amount in restitution and other recovery.

Walgreens admitted, among other facts, that from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2017:

• When a state Medicaid program denied a claim from Walgreens because the reported days of supply for a full carton of five insulin pens exceeded the Medicaid program’s days of supply limit, it was Walgreens’ practice to dispense and bill for the full carton, and reduce the reported days of supply to conform to the program’s days of supply limit. Thus, Walgreens repeatedly reported days of supply data to state Medicaid programs that were different from, and lower than, the days of supply calculated according to the standard pharmacy billing formula of dividing the quantity of insulin being dispensed by the daily dose; and

• As result of this practice, state Medicaid programs approved and paid a substantial number of claims submitted by Walgreens for insulin pen refills that the programs would not have approved if Walgreens had reported the days of supply for previous fills calculated according to the standard pharmacy billing formula of dividing the quantity dispensed by the daily dose.

In recent years, New York’s Medicaid program paid an average of approximately $425 per box of five insulin pens to pharmacies on behalf of Medicaid beneficiaries.

The investigation was initiated after a whistleblower filed a lawsuit in 2015 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under the qui tam provisions  of the federal False Claims Act and the named plaintiff states’ respective false claims statutes.  The relator in this case will receive a share of the settlement proceeds after full payment by Walgreens.  The case is captioned United States of America et al., ex rel. Adam Rahimi et al. v. Walgreen Boots Alliance, Inc., Civil Action No. 15-CV-5686 (S.D.N.Y.) (Crotty, J.).

The insulin pens investigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU).  A NAMFCU Team conducted the investigation of Walgreens and participated in the settlement negotiations on behalf of the states, and included representatives from the Offices of the Attorneys General for the states of Indiana, New York, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma and Massachusetts.

Comptroller Stringer: Millions in Unclaimed Wages Available for Workers Cheated Out of Pay

While federal government attacks immigrant communities, Comptroller’s office launches outreach campaign to link potentially impacted employees with wages they deserve.

  New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer launched a new campaign today to return over $2.5 million in unclaimed prevailing wage awards to workers cheated out of their pay by unscrupulous contractors on City-funded projects. The Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law enforces prevailing wage and benefit rates for construction and building service workers employed by contractors on City public work projects. When companies on these public contracts fail to pay the proper wages and benefits, the Comptroller enforces the law to ensure workers receive the money they are owed through outreach.

The letters notifying workers – many of whom are immigrants –  of their unclaimed awards are on the Comptroller’s letterhead, however anecdotal evidence indicates many are afraid to respond because they fear it is a scam or veiled immigration enforcement. The new campaign will conduct outreach to impacted workers through media outlets to provide reassurance to those with unclaimed prevailing wage awards.

“An honest day’s work deserves an honest day’s pay, and my office has zero tolerance for predatory contractors who steal wages from their workers,” said Comptroller Stringer. “The hateful, anti-immigrant rhetoric coming out of Washington has created a climate of fear, leaving employees too afraid to hold employers accountable when they withhold their pay. While we can’t control the White House, we can fight to protect workers here in New York City. This campaign is our way of making sure that regardless of who you are or your immigration status, if you did the work for a City contractor, you’ll get the pay you deserve.”

Since 2014, Comptroller Stringer’s office has assessed more than $27 million in prevailing wage violations and paid over $12 million to employees who were cheated out of their wages. It has also debarred 50 contractors who took advantage of workers – setting an office record.

Cases From Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER OF MAN AFTER PETTY ARGUMENT 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2016 fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant shot and killed the victim after a petty argument. I hope today’s sentence brings some justice to the victim’s family for this senseless murder.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Luis Chacon, 39, of 1764 Weeks Avenue, was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus. Chacon was convicted by a jury of second-degree Murder on October 31, 2018.

 According to the investigation, on July 25, 2016, in front of 1775 Weeks Avenue, the defendant caused the death of Beremy Garcia by shooting him multiple times in the back and head. The defendant used a .357 magnum revolver to shoot the victim. After the shooting, Chacon hid the weapon inside the wheel well of a parked car and fled. He was apprehended nearly three months after the incident in Orlando, Florida.

 Surveillance cameras from a nearby grocery store captured the shooting incident on video and showed Chacon, who has distinctive tattoos on his torso, and he was identified as the shooter. Bullets recovered from the victim were matched to the murder weapon by detectives from the NYPD Firearms Analysis Section

 According to the investigation, Garcia and Chacon were arguing and the defendant left and returned with a gun, shooting at Garcia because he said the victim had disrespected him. Chacon also fired a shot that struck an innocent bystander, Yajaira Duverge, 37, causing her death. The defendant was acquitted of Manslaughter for Duverge’s death.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Detectives Michael Fassert and Orlando Colon of the 46th Precinct Detectives Squad, as well as Detectives Keith Walker and Sean Butler of the Bronx Homicide Task Force.

BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARCEL D. CLARK ANNOUNCES VACATING OF CONVICTION IN 1989 MURDER; HUWE BURTON SERVED 19 YEARS FOR STABBING HIS MOTHER TO DEATH WHEN HE WAS 16 

Conviction Integrity Unit Reinvestigated; Found Burton’s Confession Unreliable

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that she joined the request to vacate the conviction and dismiss charges against Huwe Burton for the 1989 fatal stabbing of his mother, after a review of the case by the Conviction Integrity Unit determined that Burton’s confession to the murder as a 16-year-old is not reliable based on new expert information about the phenomena of false confessions, as well as contradictions in the proof presented at Burton’s trial. 

 Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett granted the motion by the Innocence Project attorneys to vacate the conviction and dismiss the indictment against Mr. Burton, 46, in a hearing today in the Bronx Hall of Justice. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “Mr. Burton served 19 years in prison and since his release in 2009 has led a law-abiding life. He has maintained his innocence for almost 30 years and now we will clear his name of this brutal killing. The interests of the community are best served by dismissing this indictment so he can move on with the rest of his life.”

 “After a request by the Innocence Project attorneys, over a two-year period, the Conviction Integrity Unit worked with them to conduct a comprehensive reinvestigation of the case, which drew headlines during a time of crack cocaine-fueled violence in the city. Now, police and prosecutors use different techniques to interview suspects, and solve and try crimes, and we believe that Mr. Burton might not have been convicted using today’s standards in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. I thank the Innocence Project for giving us the time to thoroughly investigate. The Conviction Integrity Unit will review any application and is prepared to review any conviction where there are legitimate concerns about the reliability of a confession.”

 Innocence Project Attorney Susan Friedman said, “Huwe Burton is an extraordinary individual. The injustice he endured is unimaginable—to be wrongly convicted of murdering his mother, whom he adored. Today, Mr. Burton will finally get some measure of justice. The defense team is extremely grateful to District Attorney Clark and the Bronx CIU for their extraordinary work. We hope this tragic case can serve as a learning moment about the value of new scientific research on false confessions and steps that can be taken to avoid dangerously coercive interrogation techniques. Based on the three false confessions revealed during this investigation, we also hope and expect that the CIU is open to reviewing other cases handled by these detectives if the parties can develop a mechanism to identify them.”

 The Conviction Integrity Unit scoured transcripts and case files, interviewed witnesses and scrutinized the quality of evidence used to convict Mr. Burton. Scientific evidence not available until recently has identified flawed interview techniques as well as other factors, such as youth, that increase the likelihood that a confession is untrue. Based on this new expert information, and on the inconsistencies and contradictions in the proof that was presented at trial, the District Attorney no longer has confidence that Burton’s confession is reliable. Had this new evidence been presented, it is probable that the verdict would have been more favorable to the defendant.

 After a trial in Bronx Supreme Court, Burton was convicted on September 25, 1991 of seconddegree intentional murder and fourth-degree weapon possession for stabbing his mother, Keziah Burton, 59, in her bed in their apartment on Eastchester Road on January 3, 1989. On February 13, 1992, he was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS WILLIAM YANG AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NYC CHILDREN’S CABINET

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today appointed William Yang as the new Executive Director of the Children’s Cabinet. As Executive Director, Yang will continue the Cabinet’s mission to develop opportunities for City agencies to leverage each other’s work for a greater impact on children and families. Created in 2014, the NYC Children's Cabinet is a multi-agency initiative to bolster communication and coordination among City agencies about areas of work that impact child safety and well-being. The Cabinet is chaired by Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio, comprised of commissioners and directors from 24 City agencies and Mayoral offices, and guided by an Advisory Board which includes appointees from the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Yang will start on February 11.

“The future of New York City rests on the shoulders of our children,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Will’s experience will help make sure the Children’s Cabinet continues leading the efforts that will help us reach our goal to make New York City the fairest big city for everyone, including our youngest New Yorkers.”

“Will brings tremendous expertise in health and human services to the Children's Cabinet and will help us invest in the City’s most important resource.” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “As the new Executive Director of the Children's Cabinet he will play a pivotal role in the lives of the 1.7 million children in New York and help shape a better future for the entire City.”

“The Children’s Cabinet leverages the collective expertise of all City agencies entrusted with the wellbeing of youth and families to advance innovative multiagency initiatives,” saidDeputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio. “Will has the leadership, ideas and experience to support and grow the Cabinet’s crucial work. I am thrilled by his appointment, and look forward to working with him on new approaches to provide every child the opportunities and support they need.”

“New York City has been making historic strides in creating new and expanded opportunities for children,” said Darren Bloch, Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships. “Under Will’s leadership, the Children’s Cabinet will ensure City agencies are collaborating even more to break down silos and find the best approaches to helping young New Yorkers and their families.”

“As a new father myself, I am humbled by this opportunity to help strengthen New York City families,” said Children’s Cabinet Executive Director William Yang. “I’ve spent my career using innovative tools and methods to improve the health and well-being of children and families, and I look forward to helping ensure the City’s resources enable every child to succeed. I’m proud to join administration leaders in the effort to meet this important goal.”

Yang joins the Children’s Cabinet from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where in 2012 he founded the federal government’s first internal innovation accelerator, the HHS Idea Lab’s HHS Ignite. In this role, his clients included federal and local leaders driving efforts to better serve and ensure the success of children through adulthood, including the Office of Head Start and Child Care, the Office of Family Assistance, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Office of Adolescent Health, as well as the National Institutes of Health. Yang and his team also developed the strategy for the Administration for Children and Families’ flagship initiative, the Office of Economic Independence, which will help human services agencies nationwide mitigate intergenerational poverty.

“I turned to Will to help frame and lead efforts addressing some of the toughest problems and projects we faced in the Department [of Health and Human Services],” said Bryan Sivak, former Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.“He has been instrumental in helping our human services leaders understand that system change starts at the State and local levels. I’m confident he will provide the leadership that will help the City advance its goal of a future in which all young New Yorkers have the supports and environment they need to become thriving adults.”

Under Yang’s leadership, the Children’s Cabinet will advance its existing work on early childhood and child welfare, while also expanding to focus on physical and mental health as well as justice-involved, homeless, and otherwise vulnerable adolescents. In 2019, the Cabinet will help develop and launch a new human-centered design project on disrupting intergenerational inequity, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the New York City Community Trust, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This project is an example of the Cabinet’s strategic goal to employ a diversity of rigorous tools to solve complex societal problems.

NYC Children’s Cabinet Initiatives

·         Partnership between the NYC Children's Cabinet and Robin Hood's Fund for Early Learning (FUEL). In 2018, the NYC Children’s Cabinet received a renewal of their Robin Hood Foundation Fund for Early Learning (FUEL) grant to support early childhood development, targeting the over 100,000 children ages 0-3 living in poverty in New York City. Building upon the “Talk to Your Baby” campaign, the City is leveraging its partnerships to deepen efforts to support children’s lifelong success. Other partners include the Bezos Family Foundation, the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, and the other FUEL grantees. To support early brain-development messaging, the Cabinet will launch a system-wide parent engagement campaign, utilizing the Bezos Family Foundation’s Vroom curriculum.

· Growing Up NYC, a digital platform for NYC parents and caregivers to easily access a vast array of resources for raising a family in New York City.

· Generation NYC, a first-of-its-kind digital platform for New Yorkers ages 13-24 designed to help young New Yorkers navigate the sometimes challenging waters of adolescence and young adulthood by offering tailored resources and opportunities.

· NYC Unity Project. In collaboration with First Lady Chirlane McCray, the Children’s Cabinet played an instrumental role in the development and launch of the New York City Unity Project, the City's multi-agency strategy to deliver unique services to young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity (LGBTQ).

· NYC Baby Showers, organized by the Children’s Cabinet and the Office of the First Lady, have served as a key element of the Cabinet’s early childhood efforts to promote language acquisition, parent-child attachment and healthy brain development by encouraging parents to talk, read and sing with their babies from birth. This initiative has reached nearly 9,000 families from across the five boroughs.

·Safe Medication Campaign. The Children’s Cabinet’s Child Welfare and Safety Subcommittee supported the launch of the Safe Medication Campaign alongside ACS, DOHMH, HRA, NYPD, and NYC Service. This campaign raised awareness and provided resources to reduce the likelihood that children accidentally ingest medications.

· New York City Performance Partnership Pilot (NYCP3). In partnership with the Center for Youth Employment (CYE), the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), the Children’s Cabinet launched NYCP3 to attend to the specific needs of young parents who are also out-of-school and out-of-work, offering family-friendly support to help them achieve their employment and education goals.

About Will Yang

Yang received his Bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in 2006 and his Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare and Innovation from Georgetown University in 2013. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design’s Human Centered Design Public Policy Institute in 2015. He also served as an Innovation Fellow at The University of Maryland’s Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship where he co-taught a course for public health students on addressing racial and ethnic disparities.

REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT STATEMENT ON DECISION TO TEMPORARILY REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT

  Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s announcement to temporarily reopen the government.

“During his speech today, Donald Trump once again made the current state of national affairs about himself, while patting himself on the back for a reckless and pointless 35-day government shutdown that cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and put 800,000 federal workers and their families under unnecessary financial strain,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “I am grateful that a deal has been reached to temporarily reopen the government, but I remain adamant in my opposition to support any legislation that includes funding for a border wall. Walls are divisive and send a message to people around the world that they are not welcome here, and that’s a message contrary to who we are as a nation.”

SENATOR BIAGGI AND SENATE MAJORITY PASS THE JOSÉ PERALTA ​NEW YORK STATE DREAM ACT

  Senator Biaggi and the Senate Majority Conference passed the José Peralta New York State DREAM Act (​S.1250​) on Wednesday, January 23. The DREAM Act will allow undocumented children, who are already students in New York State to access state aid for higher education. New York State is now the fifth state to pass the DREAM Act, making college affordable for undocumented students. Senator Biaggi is a cosponsor of the bill. The State Assembly has passed it, and it is expected to be signed by the Governor.

“​New York was built and made great by immigrants from all over the world. Now, when immigrants are under attack, New York must be a leader in defending them and providing them the opportunity to continue to contribute to our state and our country​,” Senator Biaggi said. “​The ​José Peralta New York State​ DREAM Act offers hard working youth, the children of immigrants, the same access to education as all other New Yorkers, so they can build their careers, keep New York growing, and fulfill the dreams that brought them to the United States.​”

The passage of this legislation will remove the barriers that prevent undocumented students from college saving programs by creating the Dream Fund for college scholarship opportunities. This is a step to make the American Dream possible for aspiring young dreamers.

DE BLASIO ADMNINISTRATION LAUNCHES GENDER-BASED ANTI-HARASSMENT UNIT

Housed within NYC Commission on Human Rights, new unit investigating gender-based and sexual harassment complaints in the workplace

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that a new unit tasked with more effectively intervening and investigating claims of sexual and gender-based harassment in the workplace is operational. The Gender-Based Anti-Harassment Unit will be housed within the NYC Commission on Human Rights and will charged with escalating high priority cases more quickly, reducing instances of retaliation, such as such as losing jobs or other adverse actions, and identifying widespread harassment within entities. This unit will help strengthen New York City’s ongoing efforts to combat gender-based harassment in the workplace.

“Workplaces must be safe and supportive environments that are free from harassment,” saidMayor de Blasio. “This new unit will help the city double down on its commitment to investigate cases and help bring justice to all New Yorkers who have been victims of workplace harassment.”

“Sexual harassment has no place anywhere, and we are taking big strides to eradicate it in New York City workplaces,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “The creation of this team will help ensure that all claims of sexual harassment are investigated quickly and thoroughly.”

“Workplace discrimination and issues affecting NYC workforce are major focuses of my work in the de Blasio administration,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Phillip Thompson. “We know sexual and gender-based harassment can have devastating consequences on individual employees and the workplace as a whole and can hinder the social and economic advancement of populations disproportionately impacted by this issue. I am confident this new unit at the NYC Commission on Human Rights will help better address the increasing numbers of incidents reported by New Yorkers and will bring them the justice they deserve and need to get on with their lives.” 

“As reports of sexual and gender-based harassment continue to come in from every corner of the city, the need for swift intervention could not be more crucial,” said Chair and Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Carmelyn P. Malalis. “Victims of sexual and gender-based harassment – who frequently experience additional discrimination such as race, immigration status or disability-based harassment - are often afraid to come forward, fearing they will lose their jobs or worse, not be believed. This new unit will allow the Commission to immediately addressing ongoing harassment and retaliation and rooting out widespread harassment more effectively. We look forward to utilizing this new unit to stop harassment in its tracks and make sure that every victim gets the justice and protections they deserve.”

Under the Stop Sexual Harassment Act, signed by Mayor de Blasio last May and enforced by the Commission, the statute of limitations for filing cases at the Commission was extended from one to three years. It expanded the jurisdiction of the Law to cover employers of any size, and requires City agencies and employers to post signs on the law. The Act also requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide sexual harassment training to employees. The Commission will offer a free, online gender-based and sexual harassment training to employers citywide in April 2019. By providing these resources to employers and through the creation of the dedicated unit at the Commission, the City hopes to raise awareness about both employer obligations and employee rights, and provide another avenue for justice to all New Yorkers. 

Workplace gender-based and sexual harassment claims at the Commission increased over the past three years. Of 117 claims filed in 2017 alleging gender discrimination in the workplace, 56 included a claim of gender-based harassment up from 48 in 2014. The Commission is currently investigating 180 claims of workplace gender based harassment.

New York City is home to one of the strongest anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws in the nation, the NYC Human Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination and harassment in housing, employment, and public accommodations. Along with the launch of this new unit, the Commission is also announcing the addition of gender identity definitions in legal guidance regarding discrimination on the basis of gender expression, with updated terms such as transgender and intersex.

The Commission has the authority to fine violators with civil penalties of up to $250,000 for willful and malicious violations of the Law and can award compensatory damages to victims, including emotional distress damages and other benefits. The Commission can also order trainings on the NYC Human Rights Law, changes to policies, and restorative justice relief, such as community service and mediated apologies.

“The creation of this unit strengthens our administration's bold leadership on these important issues,” said Cecile Noel, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence. “I look forward to collaborating with the unit and exploring ways that we can collectively work to address gender-based harassment in New York City.”

“There is no place where the intersection of safety and economic mobility is more clearly defined than in the workplace. New Yorkers of all gender identities, gender expressions, and backgrounds have the right to safety and security in all public and private spaces, and to have responsive, transparent, and fair resources and processes to turn to when that right is compromised. I applaud the Mayor and Commissioner Malalis, and the Commission on Human Rights on the launch of the Gender-Based Harassment Unit, and look forward to their continued partnership in promoting the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers,” said Jacqueline Ebanks, Executive Director, NYC Commission on Gender Equity.

“This new unit is a crucial addition to the City's continued efforts to protect workers, especially those who might be most vulnerable to ‎harassment in the workplace,” said DCA Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “We are proud, under the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, to have a robust right to safe leave for anyone who experiences harassment and we look forward to continuing to work with the our sister agencies as we ensure gender-based harassment has no place in New York City.”

“Under Mayor de Blasio’s leadership, the City is prioritizing the well-being of all New Yorkers in the workplace and creating a more inclusive local economy,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “The Department of Small Business Services is proud to be a partner in the effort to educate businesses about the expanded harassment laws signed into law by the Mayor last year and being enforced by the NYC Human Rights Commission.”

New York City remains at the forefront of the fight to combat gender-based harassment in the workplace and has launched several initiatives to combat harassment head on, including:

·The Commission is proactively educating employers and small businesses about the new expansion of gender-based harassment laws in New York City. This includes visiting every BID (Business Improvement Districts) in New York City, which represents more than 85,000 businesses; engaging business associations, advocates, lawyers, and elected officials to further educate businesses about the new law; and partnering with the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, Chambers of Commerce and NYC Small Business Services, which distributes information to over 220,000 small businesses in the City.

· Launching an award-winning citywide ad campaign through the NYC Commission on Human Rights earlier this year, encouraging New Yorkers to report sexual harassment to the Commission. The campaign ran more than 5,000 ads in subway cars, bus shelters, LinkNYC kiosks, nail salons, bodegas and barber shops. The campaign also ran print ads in local outlets and videos on NYC and TaxiTV and across digital media.

· Holding the first public hearing in more than 40 years in December 2017 to learn about New Yorkers’ experiences with gender-based harassment in a number of industries. The report included the challenges New Yorkers face in reporting harassment and obtaining justice. Industries represented included hospitality, retail, domestic work, construction, media and entertainment, and fashion and modeling.

· Issuing a report by the NYC Commission on Human Rights with recommendations from victims and advocates across different industries. Details and recommendations in the report were taken from a public hearing in 2017 that examined how employers can better address and prevent gender-based harassment in the workplace.

· Expanding and renaming the Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence to add gender-based violence protections

· Creating the Gender Equity Commission to create a deep and lasting institutional commitment to tearing down equity barriers across New York City.

If you believe you are the victim of gender-based harassment or any other type of discrimination under the NYC Human Rights Law, call the Commission’s Infoline at 718-722-3131. Reports may also be filed anonymously and reported on the Commission’s website.

For more information on the protections against sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination, read a factsheet and brochure on the Commission’s website at NYC.Gov/HumanRights, and these instructions on how to report gender-based harassment.

City Hall in your Borough

Next week, City Hall is coming to the Bronx and you have an opportunity to meet with top city commissioners and senior staff during scheduled office hours to address your questions and concerns.