FLORIDA MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF BRONX WOMAN IN 2000

 

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Second-Degree Murder; He Was Extradited From Florida After DNA Matched to Him in 2017

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Florida man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the strangulation murder of a Bronx woman in a Van Nest apartment in 2000. The cold case was solved in 2017 when DNA and a fingerprint from the crime scene were matched to him.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant killed a 19-year-old woman in December 2000 and her lifeless body was discovered by her mother. The defendant moved on and started a new life in Florida, but justice always catches up. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree Murder and was sentenced today to 20 years to life in prison. I thank the NYPD Detectives who never gave up on finding the person who killed Dora Del Valle, whose family has waited too long for closure, but I hope today they can take some comfort in this sentence.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Christopher Gonzalez, 41, of Naples, Florida, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus to 20 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree Murder on December 21, 2022.

 According to the investigation, on December 2, 2000, inside an apartment building on 1186 East 180th Street, the victim, Dora Del Valle, 19, was house-sitting for her uncle who was hospitalized at the time. The defendant, who lived blocks away from the victim, strangled her with a telephone cord, causing her death. The victim, who had been raped, was found dead by her family later that day.

 A fingerprint and significant DNA evidence collected at the scene was matched to the defendant in 2017. He was extradited from Florida on December 8, 2017. The DNA hit also matched the defendant to a 2005 cold case murder in Westchester County.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Malcolm Reiman (retired) and Matt McCrosson (retired) of Bronx Homicide, Detective Arthur Connelly (retired) of NYPD Latent Print Section, Investigator Eugene Donnelly from the New York State Police Major Crimes Unit, and Detective Kevin O’Neill and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

Individual Who Portrayed Himself as Experienced Stock Trader Sentenced to 30 Months' Imprisonment for Defrauding Investor

 

Defendant Also Ordered to Pay $224,500 in Restitution to the Victim

 Gonzalo Ortiz was sentenced in federal court in Brooklyn by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz II, to 30 months in prison for defrauding an investor of nearly $600,000 by making false representations about Ortiz’s trading expertise and the profitability of various investments.  The Court also ordered Ortiz to pay $224,500 in restitution to the victim and imposed two years of supervised release to follow his custodial sentence.  In November 2021, Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of investment advisor fraud.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.

Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office, for their significant cooperation and assistance in this case.

Between approximately April 2015 and May 2017, Ortiz falsely represented himself to an investor (the “Victim”) as a successful investment adviser who had made profits for other individuals by trading stocks on their behalf.  Ortiz convinced the Victim to allow him to invest the Victim’s money, promising significant returns.  Based on those misrepresentations, the Victim made successive investments with Ortiz over a period of years.  During this time, Ortiz falsely told the Victim that the investments were profitable and sent the Victim a false account statement to support these claims.  In reality, Ortiz made poor trading decisions that resulted in the loss of a portion of the Victim’s money, and also stole some of the Victim’s money for himself, siphoning off portions of the investments to pay for personal expenses, including clothing, food and car payments.  Ortiz controlled nearly $600,000 of the Victim’s money, stole approximately $224,500 for himself, and lost a significant amount of the Victim’s money to unprofitable trades.

DEC AND PARTNERS CONDUCT SECOND YEAR OF ADIRONDACK MOOSE RESEARCH PROJECT

 

Data Collected from GPS Collars Guides Research on Moose Population Health, Mortality, and Dispersal

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the second year of a moose research project in the Adirondack region. This year, 19 moose were fitted with GPS collars as part of a multi-year project assessing moose health and population. DEC partnered with researchers at the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), and Native Range Capture Services to safely capture, collar, and collect biometric data on the sample moose.

“Each year of this valuable research increases our understanding of New York’s moose population and its vital role in our State’s biodiversity,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “The data collected through DEC’s research partnership with Cornell, SUNY ESF, and Native Range Capture Services helps us understand the health of our moose and allows us to make evidence-based management decisions to support this treasured species in the future.” 

The GPS collars will provide location data and information on moose activity patterns, movements, and mortality. Data collected as part of this research effort will contribute directly to the continued management of moose in New York.

Previous moose research in the Adirondacks has helped researchers better understand adult moose survival and reproduction, but little is known about calf survival and dispersal in New York. By collaring calves and monitoring their survival to adulthood, biologists will be able to investigate factors limiting moose population growth, such as the effects of parasites on juvenile moose survival. These parasites, including winter ticks, brain worm, and giant liver fluke, and their associated diseases have increasingly become a management concern in the northeast and elsewhere.

“There are multiple stressors in New York that might be limiting moose population growth,” said Angela Fuller, Cornell University Professor and U.S. Geological Survey New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Leader. “Our research team includes wildlife and disease ecologists and wildlife managers, working closely to better understand the role that parasites might be playing in limiting moose populations. The recent moose collaring effort will allow us to estimate calf survival and better understand moose health.”   

“The opportunity to capture and sample live moose provides us with a ton of valuable information about moose health,” said Krysten Schuler, Wildlife Disease Ecologist and Director of the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab. “Unfortunately, we are seeing more evidence of parasites, like winter ticks and liver flukes, on the young moose, but this study allows us to identify management options for these problems.”

The cooperative research project is funded by a Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration grant through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These funds are collected through federal excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment and then apportioned to states for wildlife conservation. 

This year’s research also included sampling white-tailed deer pellets and water sources to detect and better understand the prevalence and distribution of brain worm and giant liver fluke across the landscape. Larvae from these parasites are found in deer scat, where they are picked up by snails and then incidentally consumed by moose as they forage on plants. Trail cameras were deployed in the fall of 2021 to determine range overlap between deer and moose and to monitor hair loss on moose infested with winter ticks. 

For additional information about moose biology, current research, or to report moose sightings, visit DEC’s website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6964.html. 

Film and Event Series at BAAD! celebrates Queer Power - Get Tough! Get BAAD! - Feb. 14-25

 

BAAD! - THE BRONX ACADEMY OF ARTS & DANCE PRESENTS

 GET TOUGH, GET BAAD!

February 14-25, 2023

A FILM AND PERFORMANCE SERIES CELEBRATING QUEER POWER, DIVERSITY, VISIBILITY AND DEFIANCE INCLUDES A VALENTINE’S CELEBRATION CALLED SHOW ME LOVE PAIRED WITH THE GLOBAL EVENT ONE BILLION RISING, AND QUEER MOVIE MOVERS, EVENING OF DANCE TO MOVIE MUSIC AND 8 QUEER NARRATIVE FILMS

ALSO IN FEBRUARY AT BAAD!, ANGELA’S PULSE CONTINUES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 

DANCING WHILE BLACK WITH HOW WE DO: Centering the Body, February 11

BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance presents GET TOUGH, GET BAAD!, an annual series of films and events celebrating queer power, diversity, defiance, strength, and visibility. The series was initiated in 2010 to take a stand against violence and to counter negative and victimized images of queer people in the media from a wave of homophobic attacks in the Bronx and New York City that year. GET TOUGH, GET BAAD! presents narrative films that are empowering to the LGBTQ community that feature queer, people of color as the protagonists, and also offers events that celebrate queer strength and value. This year’s installment includes two thrilling events and eight films. Kicking off the series on Valentine’s Day is “Show Me Love/One Billion Rising,” where BAAD! brings its Bronx queer flavor to a global mass action to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence).  The festival will screen eight films and end with a dance concert set to movie music.  Also in February, BAAD! continues its partnership with Angela’s Pulse and its 10th Anniversary of Dancing While Black with day-long events, in person and virtually.   The Dancing While Black event is on February 11, 2023, and GET TOUGH! GET BAAD! runs from February 14-25, 2023. Both events are at BAAD!, 2474 Westchester Avenue in the Bronx’s Westchester Square neighborhood. Most events are free to $20. For reservations, directions, and further information call (718) 918-2110 or visit www.BAADBronx.org. 

DANCING WHILE BLACK at BAAD!:

Saturday, February 11 | Free to $20

ANGELA’S PULSE/DANCING WHILE BLACK

HOW WE DO: Centering the Body

DANCING WHILE BLACK is an artist-led initiative that supports the diverse work of Black dance artists by cultivating platforms for process, performance, dialogue and documentation. This day of workshops asks how practices by Black-embodied/movement artists shift with the mo(ve)ments in which they find themselves. 

In-person events: 

• 11am-1pm: Improvising Our Diaspora with Joya Powell & Marguerite Hemmings;

• 
  

  1pm-3pm: Move to Transform with  Candace Thompson-Zachery & Sydnie L. Mosley;

• 
  

  3pm-5pm: Rest Your Eyes & Tell Me A Story with Alethea Pace & Katrina Reid.

Virtual event:

Sunday, February 12:

• 
  

  3pm-5pm: All of Us: Coming Together Through Movement with Kayla Hamilton & India Harville.

GET TOUGH! GET BAAD! FESTIVAL

Tuesday, February 14 at 6:30pm | Free

SHOW ME LOVE!/ONE BILLION RISING!

The series kicks off on Valentine’s day with a vibrant event with food, performances, a photo shoot and party. BAAD! bring its Bronx queer flavor to One Billion Rising’s global mass action to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence). MC’d by Destination Tomorrow’s Landon Dickerson, the program includes performances, short films curated by Black Trans Media, a photo shoot where all who attend can pose for a portrait, and a party to groove and show love. 

Friday, February 17 | Free

7:00 pm

VENUS

When Sid decides to come out as a woman, a 14-year-old son shows up announcing that Sid is his dad. Then mix in Sid’s South Asian parents, white boyfriend, and white ex-wife and see what happens when gender, generations, and cultures collide to create a truly modern family. Directed by Elisha Marjara.

9:00pm

UNA MUJER FANTASTICA

In this Academy Award-winning, set in Santiago, Chile, Marina, a transgender woman who works as a waitress and moonlights as a nightclub singer, transcends adversity after the death of her boyfriend. Directed by Sebastián Lelio. In Spanish, English subtitles.

Saturday, February 18 | Free

3:00pm

HEARTS BEAT LOUD

Touching drama about a white single father and his Bi-racial, lesbian young daughter who form a band and a bond. Directed by Brett Haley.

5:00pm

THE HALF OF IT

When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for Alexxis, his crush in this Cyrano de Bergerac-esque story. Written and directed by Alice Wu.

7:00pm 

DUCK BUTTER

Two women (one played by Iraqi-American actress Alia Shawkat who co-wrote the script) who are dissatisfied with the dishonesty they see in dating and relationships, decide to make a pact to spend 24 hours together hoping to find a new way to create intimacy. Directed by Miguel Arteta.

9:00pm

ELSA Y MARCELA

Based on real events, Elisa takes on the identity of Mario Sánchez in 1901 Spain to marry her lover of fifteen years, Marcela. Directed by Isabel Coixet. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Friday, February 24 | Free

7:00pm

ALASKA IS A DRAG

Leo is a glam-obsessed Black young man whose dreams of being a drag superstar are hard fought while working in a fish cannery in Alaska and fighting back against homophobic attacks. When fabulous Leo takes his fighting skills into the boxing ring, this fish-out-of-water dramedy takes off while it explores themes around the fluidity of gender identity, conforming to norms, being accepted for who you are, and defining love.  Directed by Shaz Bennett.

9:00pm

THE INSPECTION

Powerful drama of a young man who joins the Marines in an attempt to win his mother’s love, but finds his power.  Directed by Elegance Bratton.

Saturday, February 25 at 8pm | $20, Virtual: Free to $20

QUEER MOVIE MOVERS

Eight choreographers take over BAAD!’s stage with a series of dances set to music from their favorite films.  Featuring performances from Javier Cardenas, Ian Fernandez, Diamante Habibi, Shizu Homma, Linda La, LeFierce LaBeija, Hannah Littman and Edgard Toro.

Crowned “a funky and welcoming performance space” by The New York Times, BAAD! is a performance and workshop space that presents cutting-edge works in dance and all creative disciplines empowering to women, people of color and the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community. BAAD! is home to Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre (AATT), and the AATT Academy, and was founded by Arthur Aviles and Charles Rice-Gonzalez in 1998 in Hunts Point. BAAD! moved to Westchester Square in October 2013 to a gothic revivalist building on the grounds of St. Peter’s Church.

BAAD!/AATT receives support from The Ford Foundation, The Howard Gilman Foundation, The Mellon Foundation, The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, The SHS Foundation, The Mertz Gilmore Foundation, The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, The Mosaic Fund, The Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, The New York State Council on the Arts, The Jerome Foundation, The Robbins Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, The John and Jody Arnhold Foundation and private donations.

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON STAY AT BROOKLYN CRUISE TERMINAL WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS AND STATUS OF WATSON HOTEL

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement today after he, New York State Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, and ‘Homeless Hero’ and advocate Shams DaBaron joined hundreds of asylum-seeking men to sleep at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal last night: 

 

“I would never ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t be willing to do myself, so last night, on the coldest night of the year, Assemblymember Gibbs, Shams, and I wanted to show the asylum seekers staying at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal the warmth of New York City. The three of us decided to sleep at the terminal overnight alongside hundreds of migrants and experience what they are all experiencing. What we saw is what we have seen since the beginning of this crisis, individuals who are grateful to the greatest city in the world for providing them the opportunity to work towards the American Dream. I’d like to be clear that the facilities at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal are providing the same services to asylum seekers as every other humanitarian relief center in the city, and the team at the terminal is giving new meaning to the words ‘love thy neighbor.’ 

 

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - 2023 Women in Business Luncheon - Honorees Announced

 

Learn More and Register

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - 2023 State of the Borough

 

Dear Neighbor,

The time has come for our 2023 State of the Borough!

We have made so many strides in our quest for a better Bronx and we cannot wait to share with you all that we have done and all we hope to accomplish.

Join us as we celebrate our Borough and outline our plans for the future on Wednesday, March 1st at Manhattan College (Kelly Student Commons, 5th Floor) at 5pm. To RSVP, click here.

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

Governor Hochul Announces Department of Motor Vehicles Recovered $7.3 Million in Stolen Vehicles and Parts for New Yorkers

 

New York, Nation Seeing Increase in Vehicle Thefts

DMV Also Fighting Fraud, Raising Catalytic Converter Theft Awareness

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles helped New Yorkers recover 231 stolen vehicles valued at more than $7.3 million in 2022. In addition, DMV recovered 81 stolen vehicle parts, worth $67,223.

"Since the day I took office, the safety of New Yorkers has been my number one priority," Governor Hochul said. "My administration is committed to tracking down and recovering stolen vehicles and bringing justice to the innocent New Yorkers who are victimized by these crimes."

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "Our investigators work hard to protect New Yorkers—not only their property but also their identities. Recovering stolen vehicles and parts is just part of the critical work they do day in and day out. In addition to being vigilant once you own a vehicle, we always advise consumers to be wise when purchasing a salvage vehicle or one that may have been stolen or subjected to flooding."

By comparison, in 2021, DMV recovered 194 vehicles and 77 parts for a total value of $5.2 million.

Breakdown of the vehicles recovered in 2022 and their value:

Brand	Number of vehicles	Value
Acura	8	$185,125
Alfa Romeo	1	$25,000
Audi	3	$105,238
Big Tex trailer	1	$13,000
BMW	8	$417,095
Buick	1	$26,975
Cadillac	4	$116,245
Can-Am ATV	1	$4,120
Chevrolet	5	$149,470
Chrysler	2	$21,500
Dodge	15	$631,897
Ford	8	$110,400
GMC	6	$231,800
Hino	1	$35,600
Honda	76	$2,009,264
Hyundai	5	$71,520
Infiniti	6	$220,025
Jaguar	1	$61,200
Jeep	23	$1,034,058
Kawasaki	2	$10,340
Kia	2	$55,500
KTM	1	$9,250
Land Rover	3	$139,038
Lexus	1	$20,000
Lincoln	2	$19,600
Mercedes Benz	4	$192,825
Nissan	10	$151,041
Polaris	1	$4,060
Pontiac	1	$4,000
Porsche	2	$113,000
Ram	8	$695,800
RPS	1	$1,300
Toyota	15	$413,250
Yamaha	2	$10,500
Utility Trailer	1	$250
TOTAL	231	$7,309,286

There has been a national increase in stolen vehicles. Drivers should remember to lock their vehicle when they park and take the key or key fob with them. For additional security, vehicle owners can use visible or audible devices such as alarms, brake or wheel locks, or install a vehicle immobilizer like fuse cut-offs or ignition and fuel disablers.

If your vehicle is stolen, report it to the police and your auto insurance company as soon as possible. The police will enter the information into national and state auto theft computer records. The theft will be noted on your vehicle title record to help prevent someone from selling the vehicle or applying for a title.

The DMV offers additional guidance on stolen and recovered vehicles on its website, and the agency also provides a link that lets customers determine if a car was flooded or stolen. By typing in the Vehicle Identification Number, a customer can learn if a vehicle has flood damage that is not readily visible.

Consumers should also be careful when purchasing a vehicle where the deal seems too good to be true. They should be wary if the seller is insisting on cash only and should check to be sure the vehicle description on the title matches the vehicle they are receiving. For example, the plates and inspection stickers should match the jurisdiction listed on the title.

Auto theft recovery is just one of the many functions of DMV's Division of Field Investigations. Last year, DMV investigators made 1,126 arrests related to fraud, identity theft and using false identifications to purchase alcohol.

At the Governor's direction, the DMV has also worked with members of law enforcement, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and state and regional automobile dealers' associations to combat catalytic converter thefts. DMV helped supply dealers with a new process that allows auto dealers to etch a unique, traceable serial number onto the catalytic converter that can be clearly seen and linked back to the vehicle from which it was stolen.

In October, the Governor signed legislation requiring auto dealers to stock and use those etching kits on new vehicles. The legislation also amended Vehicle and Traffic Law to add catalytic converters as a major component vehicle part, which will require vehicle dismantlers to maintain records of them. Every 60 days, those businesses must report the number of catalytic converters received during that period. Failing to maintain or produce those records upon request is a Class A misdemeanor and could include monetary penalties of up to double the amount made in taking in allegedly stolen converter components.