294 Days and Counting

 

Why won't Andrew Cuomo step down, so I can take credit for saving the city from COVID-19, and then run for governor. 

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State Vaccination Program

 

178,118 Doses Administered Across New York State in the Last 24 Hours 

More than 1.12 Million Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days 

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker  

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. 178,118 doses have been administered across New York's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1.12 million doses have been administered over the past seven days. The week 13 allocation from the federal government continues being delivered to providers for administration.         

"Our recovery and our ability to continue to reopen our state rely on our continued progress in getting more New Yorkers vaccinated, which is why our providers are working day and night to get more shots into people's arms," Governor Cuomo said. "Even with one out of every five New Yorkers now having gotten a first shot, it is critical that we continue our outreach in hard-hit communities and make the vaccine accessible to every resident. We now know that Washington is serious about giving states and cities a helping hand, and with a strong ally in the White House, we are well positioned to build back better and defeat the beast." 

New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.             

The 'Am I Eligible' screening tool has been updated for individuals with comorbidities and underlying conditions with new appointments released on a rolling basis over the next weeks. New Yorkers can use the following to show they are eligible:    

• Doctor's letter, or
• Medical information evidencing comorbidity, or
• Signed certification     

Vaccination program numbers below are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program. A breakdown of the data based on numbers reported to New York State as of 11AM today is as follows. 

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered - 6,264,136 

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 178,118

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 1,120,917

Percent of New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 21.0%

Percent of New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 10.7%  

Attorney General James Announces Indictment of Bronx Man for Sex Trafficking Children

 

Joint Investigation Led by AG’s Organized Crime Task Force and NYPD’s Human Trafficking Team Marks First Time AG Has Charged Newly Enacted Crime

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment of Paul Alexander, 57, of the Bronx, a Level 3 Sex Offender, for sex trafficking young girls throughout New York City. Alexander’s indictment is the result of a long-term joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Vice Major Case Squad, Human Trafficking Team. Alexander's arrest and charges in December 2020 marked the first time Attorney General James has charged a defendant with the newly enacted crime of Sex Trafficking of a Child, which strengthens prosecutors’ ability to hold sex traffickers accountable.

In a 17-count indictment — unsealed today before Bronx County Supreme Court, Criminal Division Judge Michael A. Gross — Alexander was charged with multiple counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child; and related counts of First, Second, Third, and Fourth Degrees of Promoting Prostitution; Conspiracy; multiple counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and Obscenity charges. Both Sex Trafficking of a Child and First-Degree Promoting Prostitution are class B felonies, and the Sex Trafficking of a Child is a violent felony offense. Alexander faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted of the top counts. Additionally, Alexander was remanded and ordered to return to court on March 12, 2021.

“The sexual exploitation of children is disgraceful, sickening, and blatantly illegal,” said Attorney General James. “Adults have the responsibility to protect children, yet Alexander’s alleged actions exposed minors to untold pain and suffering. My office will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to root out sex traffickers and child abusers, and bring justice to their victims. I thank the NYPD for their partnership in this work.”

“Today’s charges further affirm the NYPD’s unwavering commitment to combating sex trafficking and protecting the survivors of this heinous crime,” said NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea. “I commend our NYPD investigators and the New York state attorney general for their sustained work in this important case.”

The investigation was named “Operation Mile High,” after investigators revealed Alexander was listed as the C.E.O. of Central Jet Charter, a private aircraft charter company. Through the use of covert recording devices, social media, and undercover operations, the investigative team determined that Alexander was, in fact, trafficking children across county lines for sex. The initial investigation began after female minors reported Alexander to the NYPD, alleging that Alexander sexually abused them and other underage girls, and promoted them for prostitution to other men. An undercover police officer met with Alexander, who charged him a total of $300 for sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old victim and a 14-year-old victim — and encouraged the undercover officer to use alcohol and marijuana to make the victims more cooperative.

The investigation further revealed that, between 2018 and 2020, Alexander would lure female teenage victims (ages 12 to 16) to his apartment in Bronx County, often using marijuana and food to entice them. Once there, Alexander would attempt to perform sexual acts with them, expose himself to them, and show the victims nude photographs. Alexander also displayed nude photographs of himself with other female teenagers to his victims. 

Alexander was arrested on December 5, 2020. The charges against the defendant are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.  

This investigation remains ongoing, and Attorney General James urges anyone who may be a victim of trafficking or who knows someone who may be a victim to call the NYPD’s Trafficking Hotline at 646-610-7272.

Attorney General James thanks Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark for her office’s assistance in this investigation. 

The NYPD investigation was led by Detectives Antonio Pagan and Liam O’Hara, under the supervision of Lieutenant Amy Capogna, who oversees the NYPD’s Vice Enforcement Unit of the Human Trafficking Team. Captain Thomas Milano is the Executive Officer and Inspector Neteis Gilbert is the Commanding Officer of the Vice Enforcement Division.

The OAG investigation was led by OCTF Investigator Ramon Almodovar and Supervising Investigator Paul Grzegorski, under the supervision of OCTF Assistant Chief John Sullivan and Deputy Chief John McManus. The Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.

The OAG case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Caitlin Carroll, with assistance from Analyst Stephanie Tirado, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Lauren Abinanti and aided by Crime Victims Assistance Coordinator Priscilla Tavares. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF, which is a part of the Division for Criminal Justice. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jose Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - MARCH 12, 2021

 

Hospitalizations Drop to 4,634—New Low Since December 6

ICU Patients Drop to 935—New Low Since December 7; 639 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 3.11%

74 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitalizations dropped to 4,634, a new low since December 6. ICU patients dropped to 935, a new low since December 7.

"We're making progress each day by fighting the infection rate down and vaccinating more New Yorkers, but we have more work to do to defeat this pandemic and get everyone back to safety. Our residents have faced huge challenges this year with discipline and toughness, and they can make it through to the light at the end of the tunnel," Governor Cuomo said. "New York State is expanding its vaccine distribution network to get more shots in arms, and we'll be able to ramp up vaccinations once the supply increases. In the meantime, New Yorkers should continue washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing as we get through this pandemic together."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 299,278
• Total Positive - 9,299
• Percent Positive - 3.11%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.13%
• Patient Hospitalization - 4,634 (-101)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -400
• Patients Newly Admitted - 566
• Hospital Counties - 53
• Number ICU - 935 (-20)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 639 (-26)
• Total Discharges - 152,476 (+570)
• Deaths - 74
• Total Deaths - 39,385

Singapore Resident Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Fraudulent Pre-IPO Stock Scheme

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Joseph Fucito, New York City Sheriff, announced today the unsealing of a criminal Complaint charging SHAMOON RAFIQ, a/k/a “Shamoon Omer Rafiq,” a/k/a “Omar Rafiq,” a/k/a “Omer Rafiq,” a resident of Singapore, with securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft for engaging in a scheme in which RAFIQ solicited millions of dollars through his use of false representations offering to sell purported investments in shares of stock in privately held companies that have not yet conducted an initial public offering (“pre-IPO stock”) that he did not actually own, his false impersonation of senior officials of a reputable family office investment firm, and other acts of deception.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged, Shamoon Rafiq exploited investors’ fear of missing out on the potential gains to be earned from investing in companies before they go public, and solicited millions of dollars from investors through brazen lies and deception. Rafiq allegedly elicited millions under the false pretense that he would sell shares of pre-IPO stocks which – unbeknownst to his investors – he did not even own and therefore could not sell.  Furthermore, Rafiq allegedly sent faked emails impersonating senior officials of a reputable family office investment firm that supposedly backed his claims.  I sincerely thank our law enforcement partners for their assistance in charging Rafiq for alleged predatory acts of deceit on his victims.” 

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said:  “A fraudster with a felony conviction for wire fraud, Rafiq allegedly attempted to fleece investors out of their hard-earned cash by creating the illusion of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest victims’ funds into pre-IPO stocks such as Airbnb shares. In reality, no such opportunity existed and Rafiq' was simply trying to walk off with millions of dollars from Singapore. HSI’s El Dorado Task Force and our partners will continue to work tirelessly to identify, investigate, arrest and prosecute individuals, like Rafiq, who allegedly peddled too good to be true financial opportunities within the U.S. financial markets. Investors should be reminded that unbelievable investment prospects are sometimes just that.”

USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Phillip R, Bartlett said:  “Mr. Rafiq’s alleged scheme is all based on the alleged perfect opportunity for ‘stock’ in a well-known company. The opportunity to own prominent holdings would be a boon to any investor, but in this case there was no stock, just a made up investment scheme to enrich an alleged serial fraudster. Through the collaboration of law enforcement, both domestically and globally, Mr. Rafiq will once again answer for his crimes to defraud investors. A reminder that no one eludes justice forever.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “As alleged in this complaint, Shamoon Rafiq preyed on the hopes of innocent victims in elaborate financial swindles. But the joint work of our NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners put an end to these alleged crimes and I commend the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for bringing this important case.”

If you believe you are a victim of a fraudulent pre-IPO stock scheme perpetrated by SHAMOON RAFIQ or have information about the crimes charged in the Complaint, please call the United States Attorney’s Office at 866-874-8900.

According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

SHAMOON RAFIQ, a/k/a “Shamoon Omer Rafiq,” a/k/a “Omar Rafiq,” a/k/a “Omer Rafiq,” was born in the Netherlands in 1973 and presently resides in Singapore.  RAFIQ was convicted in 2004 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York for carrying out a wire fraud scheme in which he purported to sell pre-IPO stock in a privately held company that had not yet conducted its initial public offering when, in fact, RAFIQ did not own or have access to such stock.  After serving a 41-month federal prison sentence for that crime, RAFIQ was deported from the United States and eventually relocated to Singapore.

Since at least July 2020, RAFIQ has been engaging in a new scheme from Singapore to defraud victims into paying him millions of dollars for alleged investment interests in various pre-IPO stocks that he does not actually own or control. 

In connection with his new fraud scheme, RAFIQ has fraudulently impersonated two senior officials (“Victim-1” and “Victim-2”) of a prominent family office investment firm (“FamCap”) that manages and invests assets of members of a prominent billionaire family (the “Family”).  In July 2020, RAFIQ caused the creation of a fake FamCap website (the “Fake FamCap Website”) that has automatically routed users to the official FamCap website, and the creation of fake FamCap email addresses for Victim-1 and Victim-2 that closely resemble, but are slightly different from, their official FamCap email addresses (the “Fake FamCap Email Addresses”).  The Fake FamCap Website and Fake FamCap Email Addresses for Victim-1 and Victim-2 were created without their or FamCap’s consent.  The Fake FamCap Email Addresses also included the names of Victim-1 and Victim-2 without their authorization.

In July 2020, RAFIQ began soliciting millions of dollars from investment firms in New York and elsewhere based on false claims that in exchange for their funds, he would sell them investment interests in a purported special purpose investment vehicle called “[Fam] Capital Technology Fund, LLC” that was supposedly managed by FamCap and allegedly owned pre-IPO stock in Airbnb, Inc., among other companies.  For example, as part of this fraudulent scheme, RAFIQ deceived an investment firm based in New York, New York (the “New York Firm”), and one of the firm’s foreign institutional clients (the “Client”) into making agreements under which the Client wired about $9 million in mid-August 2020 into an escrow account in New York for anticipated release to a bank account in Singapore to pay RAFIQ for his purported sale of investment interests in the LLC.

In soliciting this $9 million investment, RAFIQ made a variety of false representations, including the following:

• RAFIQ falsely claimed that the LLC was managed by FamCap.  In fact, the LLC never existed. 

• RAFIQ falsely claimed that the LLC owned pre-IPO shares of Airbnb.  In fact, the LLC did not own and could not have owned such stock because the LLC never existed.

• RAFIQ falsely claimed that Victim-1 and Victim-2 had approved of his sale of his alleged interests in the LLC.  In fact, Victim-1 and Victim-2 do not know RAFIQ and have confirmed that FamCap was never involved in or approved of any such transaction.

During and to further the goals of this fraudulent scheme, RAFIQ also caused the creation and transmission of emails from the Fake FamCap Email Addresses and fake contracts and deal documents purporting to have been signed by Victim-1 or Victim-2 on behalf of FamCap that neither of them approved.  For example, in August 2020, during the course of email communications with the New York Firm and Client concerning RAFIQ’s alleged sale to them of his purported interests in an alleged FamCap-managed LLC that supposedly held Airbnb shares, RAFIQ copied into the email chain the Fake FamCap Email Addresses to create the false impression that FamCap was involved in and approved of the alleged transaction.

In a separate parallel enforcement action, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has filed civil charges against RAFIQ.        

RAFIQ, 47, is a resident of Singapore and a citizen of the Netherlands.  RAFIQ has been charged in a three-count Complaint with one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory prison sentence of two years that must be imposed to run consecutively to any other terms of imprisonment.  In addition to potential prison sentences, each of these charges also carries potential financial penalties.  The maximum potential prison sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

RAFIQ remains at large.  The United States looks forward to working with our foreign partners to bring RAFIQ to justice.

Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of HSI, USPIS, the NYPD and the New York City Sheriff’s Office, and she also thanked the SEC, which conducted a separate parallel investigation, for its assistance.

The allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

Joint Statement from Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Bowman on New York State Leadership

 

Today, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman released the following joint statement calling for Governor Cuomo's resignation.

“This week, the second sexual assault allegation and the sixth harassment allegation was leveled against Governor Cuomo. The fact that this latest report was so recent is alarming, and it raises concerns about the present safety and well-being of the administration’s staff. These allegations have all been consistent and highly-detailed, and there are also credible media reports substantiating their accounts. 

“Unfortunately, the Governor is not only facing the accusation that he engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment and assault. There is also the extensive report from the Attorney General that found the Cuomo administration hid data on COVID-19 nursing home deaths from both the public and the state legislature. 

“As members of the New York delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, we believe these women, we believe the reporting, we believe the Attorney General, and we believe the fifty-five members of the New York State legislature, including the State Senate Majority Leader, who have concluded that Governor Cuomo can no longer effectively lead in the face of so many challenges.” 

295 Days and Counting

 

Did anyone else come forward to say that Governor Cuomo did anything to them? Why isn't the media doing to him like they did to Donald Trump, and me when I was in trouble? 

Zurich’s Oldest Private Bank Admits To Helping U.S. Taxpayers Hide Offshore Accounts From IRS

 

Rahn+Bodmer Enters into Deferred Prosecution Agreement for Criminal Misconduct; Agrees to Pay $22 Million

 Audrey Strauss, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Stuart M. Goldberg, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Tax Division, and James C. Lee, Chief of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced the filing of a criminal Information against RAHN+BODMER CO. (“R+B”), a financial institution located in Zurich, Switzerland.  The Information charges R+B with one count of conspiring to help U.S. accountholders evade their U.S. tax obligations, file false federal tax returns, and otherwise defraud the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) by hiding hundreds of millions of dollars in offshore bank accounts at R+B.

Ms. Strauss, Mr. Goldberg, and Mr. Lee also announced a deferred prosecution agreement with R+B (the “Agreement”), under which R+B admits to its unlawful conduct in assisting U.S. accountholders in violating their legal duties.  R+B’s admissions are contained in a detailed Statement of Facts attached to the Agreement.  The Agreement requires R+B to provide ongoing assistance to the Department of Justice and to pay a total of $22 million in restitution, forfeiture, and penalties.  If R+B abides by all of the terms of the Agreement, the Government will defer prosecution on the Information for three years and then seek to dismiss the charge.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As Rahn+Bodmer now admits, it aided U.S. taxpayers in evading their tax responsibilities to the tune of more than $16 million.  This venerated banking institution knowingly offered banking services that assisted its U.S. customers in evading their tax obligations, and affirmatively schemed to conceal from the IRS the assets and income of U.S. accountholders.  Now Rahn+Bodmer will pay $22 million and commit to helping the Justice Department uncover tax evasion by U.S. customers.”

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg said:  “Under today’s resolution, Rahm+Bodmer is paying $22 million for helping U.S. accountholders evade their taxes, and  has agreed to fully cooperate with investigations into those taxpayers.  With the April 15 tax filing date fast approaching, there is a clear message for those intending not to pay their fair share – nothing remains hidden forever.”

IRS-CI Chief James C. Lee said:  “Through a years-long scheme, the R+B bank hid the assets of U.S. accountholders to shield them from their tax obligations.  Today’s admission and agreement provide a clear path to recovery of funds owed to the U.S. government, and sends a strong signal that offshore accounts are not beyond the reach of special agents with IRS CI.”

According to the Agreement, the accompanying Statement of Facts, and other documents filed today in Manhattan federal court:

From at least in or about 2004 and continuing until at least in or about 2012, R+B conspired with certain of its U.S. accountholders and others to defraud the United States with respect to taxes, file false federal tax returns, and commit tax evasion.  R+B’s bankers assisted U.S. accountholders in concealing their ownership and control of assets and funds held in undeclared R+B accounts, which enabled those U.S. accountholders to evade their U.S. tax obligations.  R+B admitted to holding undeclared accounts on behalf of approximately 340 U.S. taxpayers, who collectively evaded approximately $16.4 million in U.S. taxes between in or about 2004 and in or about 2012.  The assets under management that R+B held for undeclared U.S. accountholders increased from approximately $391 million in 2004 to approximately $550 million in 2007, its peak year for undeclared assets under management.

In furtherance of the scheme to help U.S. taxpayers hide assets from the IRS and evade taxes, R+B undertook the following actions, among others:

• R+B opened “numbered” or “pseudonym” accounts for U.S. accountholders in order to reduce the risk that U.S. tax authorities would learn their identities.
   
• R+B opened and maintained accounts for U.S. accountholders in the names of non-U.S. corporations, foundations, trusts, or other legal entities, thereby helping U.S. taxpayers conceal their beneficial ownership of the accounts.
   
• R+B agreed to hold bank statements and other account-related mail in Switzerland, rather than send them to the U.S. accountholders in the United States, which helped ensure that documents reflecting the existence of the accounts remained outside the United States and beyond the reach of U.S. tax authorities.
   
• After Liechtenstein and the United States signed a Tax Information Exchange Treaty in December 2008, R+B transferred the undeclared assets of certain U.S. taxpayers from accounts held in the names of sham foundations organized under the laws of Liechtenstein to new accounts held in the names of new sham foundations organized under the laws of Panama, in an effort to further conceal the accounts from U.S. tax authorities.
   
• R+B allowed U.S. accountholders and third-party asset managers to make withdrawals by check from undeclared accounts in amounts of less than $10,000, in an apparent attempt to conceal transactions from U.S. authorities.
   
• On occasion, R+B opened accounts for U.S. taxpayers who were exiting UBS AG and other Swiss banks, and allowed these U.S. taxpayers to continue to conceal their undeclared assets at R+B.  R+B additionally opened “escrow” accounts on behalf of a Swiss attorney to facilitate the transfer of undeclared assets of U.S. accountholders that had been converted to gold and other precious metals held in a vault at UBS.
   
• R+B helped U.S. accountholders to repatriate funds to the United States in a manner designed to ensure that U.S. tax authorities did not discover the undeclared accounts, including by transferring the funds of one U.S. accountholder in increments of approximately $100,000 to another Swiss bank before the U.S. accountholder routed the funds to a diamond dealer in Manhattan, where the U.S. accountholder ultimately received them.
   
• R+B, through its bankers, made regular visits to the United States to solicit, open, and service undeclared accounts of U.S taxpayers.

Under today’s resolution, R+B is required to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice and affirmatively disclose new information it may later uncover regarding U.S.-related accounts.  R+B is also required to disclose information consistent with the Department’s Swiss Bank Program relating to accounts closed between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2019.   

As part of the resolution, R+B will pay a total of $22 million, which has three parts.  First, R+B has agreed to pay $4.9 million in restitution to the IRS, which represents the estimated unpaid taxes resulting from R+B’s participation in the conspiracy.  Second, R+B has agreed to forfeit $9.7 million to the United States, which represents the approximate gross fees that R+B earned on its undeclared U.S.-related accounts between 2004 and 2012.  Finally, R+B has agreed to pay a penalty of $7.4 million.  The penalty takes into consideration that R+B conducted a thorough internal investigation and provided a substantial volume of documents to the Department, as well as implemented remedial measures to protect against the use of its services for tax evasion in the future.

Ms. Strauss and Mr. Goldberg praised the outstanding work of IRS-CI.  Ms. Strauss also thanked the Department of Justice’s Tax Division for their partnership on this case.

Attorney General James Responds to Legislature’s Action to Investigate Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Governor Cuomo

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement confirming that the independent investigation her office is overseeing into allegations of sexual harassment against Governor Andrew Cuomo will continue regardless of today’s actions by the New York state legislature:

“Today’s action by the New York state legislature will have no bearing on our independent investigation into these allegations against Governor Cuomo. Our investigation will continue.”

Earlier this week, Attorney General James announced the appointment of former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim and employment discrimination attorney Anne L. Clark as the two attorneys leading the independent investigation into Governor Cuomo.

Assemblymember Nathalia Fernandez - Women HERstory Month Events

 

Join me at the following Women's HERstory Month events: Small Business Pop-Up Date: Saturday March 13th  Time: 11:00am Location: Maestros Catering Hall, 1703 Bronxdale Ave   NYPL Family Storytime Date: Wedsneday March 24th  Time: 11:00am - 11:30am  Location: Register Here   M/WBE Certification Webinar Date: Wedsneday March 24th  Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm  Location: Register Here Sincerely,  Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez

Governor Cuomo Announces More than 6 Million Total Doses Administered Across New York State

 

More than 20% of New Yorkers Have Received a First Dose 

10.4% of New Yorkers Fully Vaccinated

More than 1 Million Doses Administered at New York State-Run Mass Vaccination Sites   

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than 6 million total COVID vaccine doses have been administered across New York State. More than 20 percent of New Yorkers have received a first dose, and 10.4 percent of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated. 144,946 doses have been administered across New York's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1.12 million doses have been administered over the past seven days. Across New York State's network of mass vaccination sites, more than 1 million doses have been administered to date. The week 13 allocation from the federal government is in the process of being delivered to providers for administration.      

"The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war, and with more and more New Yorkers getting vaccinated every day, we are gradually weakening the beast," Governor Cuomo said. "Our partners in the White House have committed to delivering us a steady supply, and our high-capacity distribution network enables us to get over a million shots administered on a weekly basis. Even as we reach new milestones, we are still in a footrace to make sure the vaccination rate remains ahead of the infection rate, but we have a successful formula in place and we will continue working around the clock until New York becomes the first COVID-free state in the nation."  

New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.          

The 'Am I Eligible' screening tool has been updated for individuals with comorbidities and underlying conditions with new appointments released on a rolling basis over the next weeks. New Yorkers can use the following to show they are eligible:    

·     Doctor's letter, or

·     Medical information evidencing comorbidity, or

·     Signed certification   

Vaccination program numbers below are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program. A breakdown of the data based on numbers reported to New York State as of 11AM today is as follows.        

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered - 6,086,018 

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 144,946 

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 1,126,783 

Percent of New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 20.4%

Percent of New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 10.4%   

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic March 11, 2021

 

Hospitalizations Drop to 4,735—Lowest Since December 6

ICU Patients Drop to 955—Lowest Since December 8; 665 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Drops to 2.77%—Lowest Since November 21

80 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitalizations dropped to 4,735, the lowest since December 6. The number of patients in ICUs dropped to 955, the lowest since December 8. Yesterday's positivity rate dropped to 2.77 percent, the lowest since November 21. 

"COVID-19 remains a serious issue in New Yorkers' daily lives, and it's important to stay vigilant and practice safe behaviors even as we see improving numbers and rising vaccinations," Governor Cuomo said. "Our expansive network of vaccine distribution sites is serving more New Yorkers as supply increases and as we expand eligibility, but there's a long way to go before we get to the light at the end of the tunnel. New Yorkers should wear masks, wash their hands and stay socially distanced to slow the spread and save lives as we work to defeat the COVID beast together."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported - 243,153
• Total Positive - 6,747
• Percent Positive - 2.77%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.11%
• Patient Hospitalization - 4,735 (-63)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -442
• Patients Newly Admitted - 580 
• Hospital Counties - 53
• Number ICU - 955 (-44)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 665 (-21)
• Total Discharges - 151,906 (+552)
• Deaths - 80 
• Total Deaths - 39,311

Attorney General James Holds American Medical Collection Agency Responsible for 2019 Data Breach

 

AG James Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition of 41 Attorneys General In Resolving Data Breach

Investigation That Exposed Personal Information of Up to 21 Million Americans

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced an agreement between a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general from around the nation and the Westchester County debt collection agency Retrieval-Masters Creditors Bureau, d/b/a American Medical Collection Agency (AMCA), that resolves a multistate investigation into the company’s 2019 data breach. The breach exposed the personal information — including Social Security numbers, payment card information, and, in some instances, names of medical tests and diagnostic codes — of up to 21 million individuals, including 582,146 New Yorkers. AMCA is based in Elmsford, New York and specializes in small-balance medical-debt collection, primarily for laboratories and medical testing facilities.

“If companies are going to manage New Yorkers’ personal information, they must make every effort to protect that information,” said Attorney General James. “But AMCA’s security failures resulted in 21 million Americans having their data illegally accessed. I am committed to protecting New Yorkers’ personal data and will not hesitate to hold companies accountable when they fail to safeguard that information. Today’s agreement ensures that the company has the appropriate security and incident response plan in place so that a failure like this does not take place again.” 

Between August 1, 2018 and March 30, 2019, an unauthorized user gained access to AMCA’s internal system and was able to collect a wide variety of customers’ personal information. Despite numerous warnings from banks that processed its payments about a potential breach, AMCA failed to detect the intrusion. 

On June 3, 2019, AMCA provided notice to the states, including New York — which immediately opened an investigation. The company also simultaneously began providing notice to affected individuals. To help manage the harm from the exposure of personal information, AMCA offered affected individuals two years of free credit monitoring.

On June 17, 2019 — as a result of the costs associated with providing notification and remediating the breach — AMCA filed for bankruptcy. In order to continue the investigation and take steps to ensure that the personal information of their residents was protected, Attorney General James and other members of the multistate coalition participated in the bankruptcy proceedings. The company ultimately received permission from the bankruptcy court to settle with the multistate coalition, and, on December 9, 2020, the company filed for dismissal of the bankruptcy. 

Under the terms of today’s agreement, AMCA and its principals have agreed to implement and maintain a number of data security practices designed to strengthen its information security program and safeguard the personal information of consumers. These include:

• Creating and implementing an information security program with detailed requirements, including an incident response plan;
• Employing a duly qualified chief information security officer to oversee data safety practices at the company;
• Hiring a third-party assessor to perform an information security assessment; and
• Cooperating with the attorneys’ general investigation and maintaining evidence.

As part of the agreement, AMCA may also be liable for a $21 million payment to the states if the company violates the injunctive terms of the agreement. Because of AMCA’s financial condition, the payment will be suspended if no violation occurs.

Joining Attorney General James in co-leading this investigation were the attorneys general of Connecticut, Indiana, and Texas. They were joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

New York State Comptroller DiNAPOLI ANNOUNCES SALE OF $636 MILLION STATE OF NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS

 

Competitive Offering to Feature Tax-Exempt and Taxable Bonds

 State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the details of the competitive sale scheduled for March 16 of tax-exempt and taxable New York State General Obligation bonds, totaling $635.9 million. The state expects to sell $181.1 million for new money transportation, education and environmental purposes, and depending on market conditions, $454.8 million to refund a portion of certain outstanding General Obligation bonds to reduce the state’s debt service costs.

The net proceeds of $125.1 million of the new money portion of the Series 2021A Tax-Exempt Bonds will finance projects authorized by the following voter-approved bond acts: Environmental Quality (1986), Clean Water/Clean Air (1996), and Smart Schools (2014). The Series 2021A Tax-Exempt Bonds will mature over 14 years.

The net proceeds of $77.5 million of the new money portion of the Series 2021B Taxable Bonds will finance projects authorized by the following voter-approved bond acts: Environmental Quality (1986), Clean Water/Clean Air (1996), Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation (2005) and Smart Schools (2014). The net proceeds of $452.8 million of the refunding portion of the Series 2021B Taxable Bonds will refund certain outstanding General Obligation bonds. The Series 2021B Taxable Bonds will mature over 21 years.

The bonds are expected to be awarded pursuant to electronic competitive bidding to be held via BiDCOMP on behalf of the Comptroller of the State of New York on March 16, 2021, as set forth in the Notice of Sale published in The Bond Buyer on March 11, 2021. The bonds will be dated on the date of delivery, expected to be March 23, 2021.

Dependent on market conditions, the State of New York reserves its right to change, amend or cancel this scheduled sale of General Obligation Bonds.

A copy of the Preliminary Official Statement is available.

Find out how your government money is spent at Open Book New York. Track municipal spending, the state's 180,000 contracts, billions in state payments and public authority data. Visit the Reading Room for contract FOIL requests, bid protest decisions and commonly requested data.

Governor Cuomo Announces Quarantine for Domestic Travel Will No Longer Be Required Starting April 1st

 

While No Longer Required, Quarantine After Domestic Travel is Still Advised as Added Precaution

Mandatory Quarantine Remains in Effect for International Travelers

All Travelers Covered Must Continue to Fill Out Traveler Health Form Upon Arrival Into New York State

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory starting April 1st. While no longer required, the NYS Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution. Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. All travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread - wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings.

"New Yorkers have shown strength and perseverance throughout this entire pandemic, and it shows through the numbers that continue to decrease every day," Governor Cuomo said. "As we work to build our vaccination infrastructure even further and get more shots in arms, we're making significant progress in winning the footrace between the infection rate and the vaccination rate, allowing us to open new sectors of our economy and start our transition to a new normal in a post-pandemic world. As part of that transition, quarantine for domestic travelers is no longer required, but it is still being advised as an added precaution. This is great news, but it is not an all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down. To beat this virus once and for all we all must continue doing what we know works to stop the spread, including wearing masks, washing our hands and practicing social distancing."

Regardless of quarantine status, all individuals exposed to COVID-19 or returning from travel must:

• Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14;
• Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated);
• Must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.

Comptroller Stringer Analysis: City Spent More Than $447,000 Per Incarcerated Person in FY 2020 as Rates of Violence Rise

 

Department of Correction on the Comptroller’s Watch List for the fourth consecutive year

Agency has been under a Consent Decree and federal mandates since November 2015, yet violence and the use of force within city jails has increased despite rising costs and increased staff ratio per incarcerated person

Comptroller Stringer calls for redirecting resources to programming and treatment that can help prevent incarceration, reduce violence within the jails, and help people succeed in their communities after they leave.

 Today, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released an analysis of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 spending for the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) – an agency which appears on the Comptroller’s annual “Agency Watch List” for the fourth year in a row due to concerns around soaring costs and persistent underperformance. The analysis found that New York City spent an average of $447,337 per every incarcerated individual in FY 2020 – a 30 percent increase over the previous year – even as rates of fight and assault infractions in City jails rose by 27 percent. Comptroller Stringer underscored the need to redirect resources to programming and treatment that can prevent incarceration, increase safety within the jails, and help people succeed in their communities after they leave.

Despite historic declines in the jail population that began to accelerate at the end of 2019 with the implementation of new State bail laws and subsequent drops during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the full cost per incarcerated individual continues to increase unabated – more than doubling since FY 2015. Despite higher spending and staffing per incarcerated person, use of force, fights, and assaults on other incarcerated individuals and on officers are all on the rise.

“My analysis of the Department of Correction shows that its spending is continuing to fail to deliver meaningful results for New Yorkers – and it’s why I’m putting them on the Watch List for the fourth year in a row,” said Comptroller Stringer. “The cost to incarcerate a single individual on Rikers has exploded even as our jail population remains near historic lows – yet rates of violence continue to climb. That means we are spending more and more money to incarcerate fewer and fewer people and reducing the safety of both officers and people in custody in the process. We must reimagine our criminal legal system, dramatically reduce the pretrial population, and invest our taxpayer dollars in the resources and programs—from housing to health care—that prevent incarceration in the first place.”

First announced in 2018, the Agency Watch List calls attention to City agencies that raise the most budgetary concerns to evaluate the effectiveness of spending and recommend indicators that should be reported and monitored to achieve the Administration’s stated goals.

This year’s watch list report on the DOC highlighted the following data:

Budget and Spending

• The DOC budget declined 7 percent from $1.37 billion in FY 2017 to $1.28 billion in FY 2020 and is forecast to decrease by an additional 11 percent to $1.14 billion in FY 2021.
• Uniformed headcount has also fallen, dropping 15 percent from 10,862 in FY 2017 to 9,181 in FY 2020. The City forecasts that the number of correction officers will fall by an additional 23% during FY 2021, reaching 7,060 officers by the end of June 2021. However, as of the end of November 2020, headcount was down just 3%, to 8,871.
• Overtime expenses have decreased – falling 44 percent from FY 2017 to FY 2020, as overtime per uniformed officer dropped by 37 percent from $22,131 in FY 2017 to $13,869 in FY 2020.

Census, Staffing and Cost

• Annual admissions to city jails and the average daily population have dropped substantially in recent years. During FY 2020, the population averaged 5,841, a decline of 26 percent from the prior year and 39 percent below FY 2017. Total admissions to jail were down 60 percent, dropping from 58,226 in FY 2017 to 23,317 in FY 2020.
• For the first four months of FY 2021 (July-October 2020), as the city began to ease COVID-19 restrictions, the daily population averaged 4,193, a further decline of 28 percent from FY 2020.
• As of FY 2020, DOC employed 1.6 correction officers and spent an average of $217,043 for every incarcerated person.
• In FY 2020, the City spent an additional $230,294 in non-DOC costs for each person in custody, including expenses for employee fringe benefits and pensions and health care services provided by other agencies, bringing the full annual cost of incarceration to $447,337 per person.

Violent Incidents and Use of Force

• Violence in City jails rose in FY 2019 and again in FY 2020. From FY 2019 to FY 2020, the rate of fight and assault infractions rose by 27 percent and the rate of violent incidents among the jail population rose by 16 percent. Assaults on staff have also increased with the rate rising 26 percent in FY 2020.
• The rate of incidents and allegations of use of force has also grown sharply, nearly doubling from FY 2018 to FY 2020.

Access to Health and Mental Health Services

• As admissions have fallen, the percentage of the jail population with a mental health diagnosis has gone up, reaching 46 percent in FY 2020 and 54 percent in the first four months of FY 2021.
• The share of the jail population with a serious mental health diagnosis also increased from 14.8 percent in FY 2020 to 17 percent in the beginning of FY 2021.

According to the New York City Board of Correction, as of the last day of FY 2020, more than 300 people in DOC custody had a confirmed case of COVID-19, while more than 200 Correctional Health Services staff and over 1,400 DOC staff had contracted the virus. Three people in custody have died of COVID-19.

To read the DOC Agency Watch list, click here.

To view the Comptroller’s annual update on DOC operations, click here.