Mayor Mamdani Nominates Housing Policy Leader John Mangin as Chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the nomination of John Mangin as Chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA). Mangin currently serves as Director of the Housing Division at the Department of City Planning, where he has played a leading role in many of the City’s most significant housing and land-use initiatives over the past decade.

“We are leaving no stone unturned and no body of government untapped in our work to deliver for New Yorkers. John Mangin has spent his career advancing the housing solutions our city needs and I am proud to nominate him to lead the BSA at a moment when we must move faster to build the affordable homes New Yorkers deserve,” said Mayor Mamdani.

“John Mangin is uniquely qualified to lead the BSA as we work to create more affordable housing across the city. I know he will bring his deep knowledge of the city’s housing and land use policy to the position, and I am excited about the prospect of working with him in this new role,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.

“It’s an honor to be nominated by Mayor Mamdani to chair the BSA. The housing crisis calls for urgency, and the BSA plays a crucial role in an active, all-of-government approach to build a more affordable city. I hope to work with colleagues at the BSA and in the administration, the City Council, and stakeholders across the city to uphold the responsibilities of this role,” said John Mangin, BSA chair nominee.

At the Department of City Planning, Mangin led the development of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, a landmark package of citywide zoning reforms designed to create “a little more housing in every neighborhood.” He also helped develop Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and neighborhood plans across the five boroughs.

Mangin previously served as Director of Policy and Research for the 2025 Charter Revision Commission, which proposed the most significant changes to the City’s land-use review process since 1989. Before joining City government, he advanced fair housing policy and litigation at Fair Share Housing in New Jersey. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a graduate of Yale Law School.

The BSA is an independent five-member board that reviews zoning matters and grants variances for certain types of development. In 2025, New York City voters approved the creation of a new Affordable Housing Fast Track action, allowing the BSA to approve certain affordable housing proposals.  

LPC Unveils New Historic District Markers In Longwood, The Bronx

 

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has unveiled four new historic district markers commemorating the Longwood Historic District and Longwood Historic District Extension in Longwood, The Bronx. The markers recognize the architectural and historical significance of the neighborhood, which was designated by the LPC in 1980, with the extension added in 1983. 

Developed largely between 1897 and 1900, the districts represent one of The Bronx’s best preserved collections of turn-of-the-20th-century residential architecture. The area remained largely rural until plans for an IRT subway connection to Manhattan spurred residential development. Much of the neighborhood was developed by George B. Johnson, with homes designed by architect Warren C. Dickerson in the neo-Renaissance style, featuring Roman brick façades, classical ornamentation, and distinctive paired rowhouses.

The districts also include several notable institutional and historic buildings, including the former Montefiore Hebrew Congregation building at 760-764 Hewett Place, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church at 940 East 156th Street, and 990 East 156th Street, an 1850 residence later used as Johnson’s real estate office. The newly installed markers are part of the New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation’s Historic District Marker Program and were produced and installed by the New York City Department of Transportation.

The Longwood Historic District is located in the South Bronx near the Longwood Avenue station on the 6 train, with additional access from the Prospect Avenue station on the 2 and 5 trains and the Hunts Point Avenue station on the 6 train.

Arrests, Drug Seizures, and Federal Drug Trafficking Charges Surge in San Francisco Through Coordinated Federal-Local Law Enforcement Efforts

 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners announced the results of a surge in federal drug enforcement measures in San Francisco.  Between early October 2025 to the end of May 2026, coordinated federal and local law enforcement efforts resulted in the seizure of over 2.2 kilograms of fentanyl, over 840 grams of methamphetamine, over $38,000 in drug proceeds, and approximately 89 arrests in San Francisco.  Over the same period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office brought federal criminal charges against more than 40 defendants for drug trafficking in San Francisco.

“There are some problems that cannot be solved alone and this was one of them.  San Francisco’s open-air drug markets were rending the fabric of the city, but working together with our federal, state, and local partners we have made significant progress cleaning up the streets of our great city and we will continue this important work.  We owe the people who live and work here nothing less,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.  “As we come off a successful Super Bowl and look forward to welcoming the world for FIFA, we hope that visitors will see what our citizens already know that our city and region are stronger and safer than ever.”

“The DEA is proud of our relationships with our federal, state, and local task force officers.  These partnerships provide a force multiplier in the fight against Drug Trafficking Organizations to save American lives,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.

“The FBI remains fully committed to working side‑by‑side with our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt the criminal networks responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our community.  These results demonstrate what we can accomplish when we combine our authorities, intelligence, and resources toward a shared mission.  Every arrest and every seizure represents a meaningful step toward improving the safety and well‑being of the people of San Francisco, and we will continue this coordinated effort with urgency and resolve,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble.

“Selling and using deadly narcotics in San Francisco will never be tolerated, and the San Francisco Police Department will continue to work closely with our federal partners to crack down on illegal drug markets across our city,” said SFPD Chief Derrick Lew.  “I want to thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the DEA for their close partnership in this vital work.  While we have more work to do, today’s announcement shows the progress San Francisco is making in taking major quantities of drugs off our streets and holding traffickers accountable.”

Many of the federal cases recently charged or resolved involve large quantities of drugs and carry mandatory minimum sentences for the offenders under federal drug statutes.  Examples include: 

• Kiet Ly, 46, of San Francisco, who was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 9, 2025.  Ly pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025, to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), as well as to related supervised release violations.  According to the plea agreement, on or about July 19, 2025, law enforcement searched the car that Ly was driving in San Francisco and found 117 grams of methamphetamine and a Glock pistol loaded with seven bullets.  Ly was sentenced to ten years in federal prison on May 14, 2026.
• Martha Alvarado Rodriguez, 50, and Solis Soto Alvardo, 35, both from Oakland, who were each charged by information with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to court documents and proceedings, Rodriguez and Alvardo sold fentanyl to undercover police officers on more than one occasion in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco.  A search of their car found 73.9 gross grams of fentanyl, 33.5 gross grams of methamphetamine, and 16.2 grams gross of cocaine base.  Rodriguez and Alvardo pleaded guilty on November 5, 2025, and were each sentenced to three years in federal prison on April 22, 2026.
• Andy Cruz, 40, of Oakland, who was charged on January 29, 2026, by a superseding information with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) and failure to appear in court as required.  According to court documents and proceedings, Cruz had been selling drugs in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco and elsewhere since 2008.  An earlier search of his home discovered nearly one kilogram of fentanyl, 76 grams of heroin, and 25 grams of methamphetamine.  He was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison on March 25, 2026.

These efforts expand upon the U.S. Attorney’s Office-led “All Hands on Deck” law enforcement initiative to address endemic drug dealing – in particular of fentanyl and methamphetamine – in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco.  Since its inception, the initiative has resulted in over 200 federal drug prosecutions and over 160 convictions, with cases still pending. 

The recent increased operations involved coordination among the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, FBI, ATF, IRS Criminal Investigations, the San Francisco Police Department, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, and California Highway Patrol.  Additional operations are planned in the coming months.  

A criminal complaint, information, or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Friends,

Our summer event series continues with a SKATE PARTY at Kossuth Playground in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

Join me on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 5:30 PM at Kossuth Playground for a FREE community skate party.

Skates, equipment, and beginner lessons will all be provided free of charge.

• WHEN: Friday, June 12, 2026 
• WHERE: Kossuth Playground (111 E. Mosholu Pkw N.) 
• TIME: 5:30 PM

Come skate into a beautiful Bronx evening with friends, family, and neighbors.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Yours Truly,

John Zaccaro, Jr. 

New York State Assembly

  

Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on Death of Samuel Williams

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its report on the death of Samuel Williams, who died on May 29, 2023 following a motor vehicle incident involving members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) on May 28, 2023 in the Bronx. After a thorough investigation, which included review of commissioned expert reports and footage from officers’ body worn cameras (BWC) and a nearby security camera, as well as interviews with involved witnesses and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the involved officers committed a crime, and therefore closes the matter by issuing this report.

At 5:45 p.m. on May 28, a group of NYPD officers assigned to the Manhattan North Community Response Team (CRT) was driving over the University Heights Bridge from the Bronx to Manhattan in four unmarked police cars. At the same time, a group of dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) led by Mr. Williams was crossing the bridge in the opposite direction. Two of the unmarked police cars then turned into the opposite lanes in an attempt to slow traffic and stop the bikes. Mr. Williams drove around the first car on his bike before colliding with the second car. After the collision, Mr. Williams’ right leg was visibly broken but he was alert and speaking. Mr. Williams hopped on one leg toward the officers before falling on the hood of an officer’s car. Mr. Williams was arrested at the scene and taken to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery for a broken leg. Mr. Williams died from complications from the surgery on May 29, 2023.

In order to convict an officer for causing a death with their police car while in pursuit of someone who violated the law, a prosecutor would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the involved officer committed a crime that requires the mental state of recklessness. Although the actions of the officers who turned their cars into oncoming traffic raise serious concerns and were inconsistent with their training, the evidence does not establish the speed of either the police cars or Mr. Williams’ dirt bike at the time of the collision, or whether Mr. Williams accelerated in order to go around the police car and evade capture. Therefore, the evidence is insufficient to establish the officers’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In this case, the law and the evidence do not establish that the officers were without fault. However, the law and the evidence do establish that a prosecutor cannot meet the high burden to convict the officers of a crime at trial, by proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. For these reasons, OSI will not seek criminal charges. 

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Reminder: NYCHCC Puerto Rico 2026 Trade Mission

 

Reserve Your Trip Today

EX-NYPD COP SENTENCED TO PROBATION FOR PERJURY INVOLVING 2009 ON-DUTY SHOOTING OF TEEN IN BRONX BUILDING

 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a former New York City Police Officer has been sentenced to five years probation and a $2,500 fine for first-degree Perjury, first-degree Tampering with Public Records and Official Misconduct involving his shooting of a teen in 2009 during a police encounter. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant told a Bronx Grand Jury in 2009 that he shot the teen from a distance away in defense of his partner, but later during civil litigation, a laboratory report unequivocally concluded that the bullet that was fired into Peter Colon’s back was discharged at point blank range. The teen also testified at trial. It took 16 years but finally truth and justice won out.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Danny Acosta, 46, was sentenced to five years probation and a $2,500 fine by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Seth Steed. Acosta was convicted by a jury after a two-month trial on April 24, 2026, of four counts of first-degree Perjury, first-degree Tampering with Public Records, and two counts of Official Misconduct. The people requested 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.

According to the facts brought out at trial, on June 4, 2015, pursuant to the civil rules of discovery, Acosta was deposed by Peter Colon’s civil attorney during Colon’s lawsuit against the city and the Police Department. Under oath, Acosta testified that he was “a couple of steps down” from Colon, then 17, at the time that he fired the two shots in his direction. He also testified that Colon and his partner were “both standing” at the time that he discharged his weapon. 

In 2017, the Assistant Corporation Counsel who was representing Acosta in the lawsuit learned about a laboratory report that was generated by the New York City Police Department’s Trace Analysis Unit. This report refuted Acosta’s under oath suggestions that he was a significant distance away from Colon at the time that he fired his service weapon. The report in question unequivocally concluded that the bullet that was fired into Colon’s back was discharged at close/extreme close/or contact range.

During the trial Colon testified to the jury that while he lay face down on the floor, Acosta put his knee on his back and pressed the gun against him and fired.

District Attorney Clark thanked BXDA Detective Investigators Randy Scarpinato, Fernando Nunez, Clayton Nyonyo, Christopher Scerbak, Paula Alegria, Keila Ynfante, Debra Koch, Anai Tamarez, Nicholas Russo, and Dwayne Anderson; Sergeant Sherece Perkiss, Lt. Brian O’Loughlin, Deputy Chief Peter Holness for their work in this investigation. District Attorney Clark thanked Sergeant Louis Meade and Detective Danny Angen from the NYPD’s Bronx DA’s Squad for their assistance in this case.

Governor Hochul Celebrates Groundbreaking for Major Construction Stage of Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Project

Governor Joins MTA Leadership to Break Ground on Launch Site for Tunnel Boring Machine

Lessons Learned from Phase 1 Result in $1 Billion in Cost Savings; Project Funded in Part by Revenues from Congestion Pricing

Nearly a Century After it Was First Proposed, Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Will Bring a New Transit Connection to 100,000 East Harlem Daily Riders

Governor Kathy Hochul today joined leadership from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), elected officials and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project. The groundbreaking occurred at the location where, in early 2027, the state-of-the-art tunnel-boring machine (TBM) will be lowered into the ground and begin mining the new subway tunnels from 120 Street and 2nd Avenue to 125 Street and Malcolm X Boulevard.

The governor also announced that, following the resumption of federal funding to the project in April, the MTA has awarded the next major contract to construct the final tunnel section of this phase from 105 Street to 110 Street, including the future 106 St Station, using a “cut and cover” approach. The MTA is applying lessons from Phase 1 of the project to deliver more than $1 billion in savings and is on track to complete advanced utility relocations early, allowing pending work on this project to start six months faster than originally scheduled.

“The Second Avenue Subway will change everything for East Harlem, saving people precious time and making possible opportunities that have for too long been out of reach for too many,” Governor Hochul said. “The last groundbreaking for a second avenue subway in East Harlem was 54 years ago, only for the project to be abandoned and this community left behind. When I became Governor, I promised that I would be the leader to finally get this done, and by breaking ground on the major construction phase of this project, we are one giant step closer to realizing a dream nearly a century in the making.”

The state-of-the-art variable-density Tunnel Boring Machines will be delivered early next year. Weighing more than one million and a half pounds, the machines are equipped with 23-foot, tungsten carbide cutter heads. The TBM can adjust its methods depending on what kind of material it encounters, toggling between one kind of drill for hard rock and another for soft soil or sand. The TBM also reinforces the tunnel lining it leaves behind as it travels beneath Harlem. The TBM will launch from the 120 Street site and travel to 125 Street and Malcolm X Boulevard.

Concurrent to today's milestone on the Phase 2 project, Governor Hochul and the MTA are already scoping and designing a potential next phase of the Q train westward across 125th St to Broadway with three new stations and more than 160,000 daily riders. Following the completion of an MTA feasibility study announced by the governor in 2024, this year’s FY27 enacted state budget secured $25 million to conduct preliminary engineering and design of a tunnel extension and approval of an efficient environmental review process. If the project is advanced, work on the tunnel could continue seamlessly using much of the same equipment from phase 2, saving time and money.

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 is divided into four contracts – compared to 10 in Phase 1 – to increase project efficiency and minimize complicated contractor coordination. The tunnel boring is part of Contract 2, valued at $1.97 billion, including shaft excavation for the TBM, controlled blasting for future stations and asbestos and lead abatement in the existing 1970s tunnels. At today’s groundbreaking, the MTA and Governor Hochul announced progress on another major component of Phase 2: the award of Contract 3. Contract 3 will construct the structural shells of the new 106 St Station and associated tunneling, connecting the existing tunnels north and south of the station, which the contractor is expected to begin work in the coming months. The entire Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project is budgeted at $6.968 billion and is on track for revenue service in 2032.

Using Cost Containment Strategies Learned During Phase 1

As part of the MTA's commitment to delivering key infrastructure projects better, faster and cheaper, the contracts for Phase 2 incorporate lessons learned from Second Avenue Subway Phase 1.

Addressing utility relocation requirements upfront reduces the risk of unexpected costs or delays later as construction progresses — especially in New York City which has one of the most complex underground utilities networks in the world, most of which is unmapped.

Additional cost containment initiatives in Phase 2 include: reuse of a tunnel segment that was built in the 1970s from 110 Street to 120 Street along Second Avenue, early real estate acquisition, adoption of innovative contract structures such as best-value, performance based contracts, design-build, close coordination of contracts, and the reduction in back-of-house, ancillary spaces, and station sizes.

All told, these initiatives have saved more than $1 billion.

Delivering Better Transit For East Harlem

East Harlem is a historically underserved neighborhood which has one of the largest concentrations of affordable housing in the United States and where 70 percent of residents rely on transit. Phase 2 will create three new accessible stations right in the heart of the community at 106 Street, 116 Street, and 125 Street, and offer one-seat rides from East Harlem to the Upper East Side, West Midtown and Coney Island, shortening travel times by up to 20 minutes.

The Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project will create thousands of jobs, including union-wage construction jobs. A 20 percent local hiring goal for the project will generate good-paying job opportunities for hundreds of East Harlem residents.

East Harlem has long been promised a new subway connection on Second Avenue. In the 1920s, the Second System proposal, which ultimately became the IND subway system, included service on Second Avenue. In 1948, New York City voters approved bonding intended to build the second avenue subway, which was ultimately left unbuilt after the start of the Korean War. In 1972, construction on the line finally commenced in East Harlem, but was later abandoned in 1975 during the city’s fiscal crisis. Sections of the tunneling constructed in the 1970s will be adapted and utilized in Phase 2, including for the 116 St station.

About Phase 2

The second phase of the project will extend Q train service from 96 Street north to 125 Street and then west on 125 Street to Park Avenue, approximately 1.5 miles in total. There will be a direct passenger connection with the existing 125 St subway station on the Lexington Avenue subway line. Phase 2 will also feature an entrance at Park Avenue to allow convenient transfers to the Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem-125 Street Station.

Each station will have above-ground ancillary buildings that house ventilation, mechanical, and electrical equipment, as well as space for possible ground-floor retail and community uses. The expansion will serve 300,000 daily riders when combined with Phase 1 – and provide three new ADA accessible stations — raising the bar for customer comfort and convenience. Increased multimodal transit connectivity at the 125 Street station at Park Avenue with connections to the 4 5 6 lines, Metro-North and the M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport will allow for convenient transfers to other subway and commuter rail lines, facilitating smoother, faster transportation across the city and metropolitan region.

Defendant Sentenced to 210 Months’ Imprisonment for Sex Trafficking Minor Victim

 

Defendant Used a Combination of Isolation, Drugging, and Sexual Violence to Traffick a 15-Year-Old Runaway, Unhoused Child

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Hadrian Crichlow was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 210 months in prison for sex trafficking a minor. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Judge Gonzalez ordered Crichlow to pay $12,000 restitution to the victim. Crichlow pleaded guilty to the charge in December 2025. 

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence. 

“Sex trafficking is a crime that strips victims of their freedom, dignity, and safety, and today’s sentence reflects the profound harm he inflicted on a child,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Crichlow treated a child as a commodity, taking advantage of a vulnerable 15-year-old and selling her body for his own profit.  Today’s outcome should send a clear message that such exploitation will be met with serious consequences, and it is my hope that it brings a measure of justice to the victim who endured these abuses.”

"Hadrian Crichlow subjected a vulnerable child to unthinkable sexual abuse and psychological torment, including repeatedly trafficking this minor victim for profit.  May today’s lengthy sentence reflect the FBI’s dedication to holding accountable those who commit such vile actions that exploit children," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

Between September and October 2023, Crichlow, then 42-years-old, trafficked the victim – a 15-year-old unhoused runaway – and forced her to engage in commercial sex acts throughout New York City, including in Brooklyn and the Bronx, as well as in other states.  Crichlow took photographs of the victim and those images were posted in online advertisements for commercial sex.  Crichlow then forced the minor victim to meet with commercial sex customers multiple times per day in hotel rooms while transporting her between several states and required the victim to surrender all proceeds to him. Crichlow controlled the victim through a combination of isolation, dependency, drugging, and sexual violence. He prohibited her from possessing or using a cellphone outside of his presence, ensuring she could not contact family, friends, or law enforcement; he gave her drugs; and he forced her to engage in sex acts with him directly – separate from the commercial sex encounters he arranged – over her express objections, telling her on at least one occasion that he did not care whether she consented.  Crichlow sex trafficked the victim until she escaped in October 2023. 

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. 

Go New York Go: Governor Hochul Directs State Landmarks to Illuminate Orange and Blue as the New York Knicks Return to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals

11 State Landmarks To Be Illuminated Across New York State As New Yorkers Rally Behind The Knicks

 

Governor Kathy Hochul directed 11 New York State landmarks to illuminate in orange and blue this evening, Monday, June 8, ahead of tonight's NBA Finals Game 3 matchup against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.

“The Knicks have New York buzzing, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome them home for Game 3,” Governor Hochul said. “Tonight, landmarks across the state will shine orange and blue as we cheer them on. Let’s go Knicks!”

The following 11 landmarks will be illuminated orange and blue this evening:

• 1WTC
• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
• Niagara Falls
• The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
• Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct
• MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
• Moynihan Train Hall
• Roosevelt Island Lighthouse

Illegal Alien Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Assaulting an 8-Year-Old Girl in Virginia

This is just the latest in a long list of crimes committed by illegal aliens in the commonwealth 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after a criminal illegal alien was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Loudoun County, Virginia upon his conviction for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl.

On May 28, Aroldo Santos-Velasques, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 25 years in prison after he was found guilty on the charges of aggravated sexual battery and attempted sexual battery. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to local reporting, police in Leesburg arrested Santos-Velasques in May of 2024 on the charges of rape and using an object for sexual penetration. His victim was 8 years old at the time, and the investigation also determined that another child was present while he molested his victim.

“This monster was sentenced to 25 years after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians to cooperate with us and turn this pedophile over to ICE custody after his sentence is complete, so that he can never again roam our streets and molest another innocent child. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we will not allow criminal illegal alien pedophiles to prey on innocent children in American neighborhoods.”

Santos-Velasques illegally entered the country in Texas in 2014 and was deported. He then illegally re-entered the country – a felony – at an unknown date and location.

During her first days in office, Governor Spanberger signed executive orders banning state cooperation with ICE as well as terminating 287(g) state and local agreements.

Under Governor Spanberger, Virginia has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime. Some of the recent illegal alien crimes in the sanctuary state include:

• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Cristian Romero Saenz-Argueta, an illegal alien from El Salvador, who was arrested in Prince William County, Virginia and charged with raping a girl under the age of 15.
• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Jorge Enrique Garcia-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, who was arrested in Franklin County, Virginia and charged with forcible intercourse with a victim under the age of 13 and SIX counts of possession of child pornography.
• In May, ICE arrested Eduardo Perez-Legra, an illegal alien from Cuba with prior felony convictions for drug trafficking and cocaine possession, in Newport News, Virginia.
• In May, ICE arrested Walvin Victor Hugo Garcia, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he was released by sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County despite facing charges of raping a child under the age of 13.
• In May, ICE arrested Josue Saul Garcia-Lopez, an illegal alien from El Salvador and MS-13 gang member, in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
• In April, Roni Mendez-Escobar, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested by ICE after previously being released by Fairfax County, despite being charged with possession of child porn with intent to distribute.
• In April, ICE lodged a detainer asking sanctuary politicians in Arlington County to not release Luzvin Orvando Garcia Moran, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he was arrested for attempted rape.
• In April, Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was convicted for NINE counts of assault and battery after he groped multiple underage girls at a high school in Fairfax County.
• In April, the Fairfax County District Attorney’s Office offered an insane plea deal of just 5 years to two illegal aliens who murdered a man at a park and walking trail in Oakton, Virginia in July of 2024.
• In April, Misael Lopez Gomez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with murder and felony child abuse after bludgeoning his own 3-month-old daughter to death in Fairfax County.
• In March, Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with second degree murder after fatally stabbing a man inside his home in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia.
• In February, Abdul Jalloh, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone with more than 30 prior arrests, was charged with murder after fatally stabbing 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a bus stop in Hybla Valley, Virginia.

Daleville Resident Receives 35 Year Prison Sentence for Role in Large‑Scale Methamphetamine and Cocaine Conspiracy

 

Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott of the New Orleans Field Division announced that a Daleville, Alabama man has been sentenced for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Alabama’s Wiregrass region.

On June 3, 2026, Eric Demetrius King, 42, was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. King will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together,” said United States Attorney Thomas Govan. “Our partners played a critical role in dismantling this drug trafficking network, and we will continue working side by side to combat the flow of illegal narcotics into the Middle District of Alabama.”

"Today's announcement reflects the tireless dedication of investigators who spent years unraveling a sophisticated network responsible for trafficking vast quantities of meth and cocaine into Alabama,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. “With the organization's leader facing 35 years in federal prison, and 18 additional defendants being held accountable, we have dealt a substantial blow to drug trafficking in the Wiregrass region. The DEA New Orleans Field Division remains deeply committed to keeping our communities safe and ensuring that those who profit from the illicit drug trade face the full weight of federal justice."

According to court documents, in the spring of 2022, DEA, working in coordination with multiple local law enforcement agencies, began investigating a suspected drug trafficking operation in southeast Alabama. Investigators determined that at least 19 individuals, including King, were part of a conspiracy responsible for transporting and distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into the Wiregrass.

During the investigation, agents identified King as a major participant who exercised a leadership role within the conspiracy.

To date, eight of King’s co-conspirators have been sentenced:

• Marco Lionel Agee, 51, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida – 276 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Curtis Antonio Fitzpatrick, 44, of Elba, Alabama – 151 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Alexander Travarez Richardson, 34, of Daleville, Alabama – 135 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Cristion Martinez, 32, of Ellenwood, Georgia – 120 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Steven L. Cole, 50, of Enterprise, Alabama – 97 months in prison; four years of supervised release

• Benjamin Maurice Sanders, 51, of Chancellor, Alabama – 78 months in prison; five years of supervised release

• Tavon Marquis Davies, 30, of Enterprise, Alabama – 48 months in prison; four years of supervised release

• Freddy Rodriguez, 68, of Daleville, Alabama – 15 months in prison; two years of supervised release

Sentencing hearings for the remaining ten defendants are pending.

Ahead of FIFA World Cup, NYC Council Calls for Public Education and Enforcement Against Tourism Scams Following Investigation into Unlicensed Taxis, Pedicabs, and Ferry-Ticket Vendors

 

Investigators found inflated prices, deceptive advertising of services, and illegal operations plague high-traffic tourist areas

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other high-profile events this summer, the New York City Council released the details of a new investigation into the practices of unlicensed taxis and rideshares, pedicab operators, and unauthorized ticket vendors operating in and around Battery Park, Midtown Manhattan, and Coney Island. Through undercover fieldwork, observations, and dozens of interactions, investigators from the City Council’s Oversight and Investigations Division (OID) identified consistent patterns of deceptive activity, aggressive solicitation, and unlicensed operations designed to take advantage of consumers and avoid regulations.

The investigation was announced in a new report, Taken For a Ride.

“As New York City prepares to welcome millions of visitors for the NBA Finals, 2026 FIFA World Cup, America 250, and other major events, protecting tourists from scams and fraudulent activity must be a top priority,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and driving billions of dollars in economic activity across the five boroughs. To remain the world’s premier destination, visitors must feel safe, informed, and confident that they will be treated fairly. The Council investigated and issued a report that makes clear that stronger enforcement, better coordination, and improved public education are needed to crack down on bad actors and protect both tourists and New York City’s reputation. I thank the Council’s Oversight and Investigations Division for its important work on this issue.”

Throughout the investigation, Council investigators observed and documented the following:

•   Operators presented themselves as legitimate while bypassing required licensing, registration, or safety standards. Investigators found that participants in each of the reviewed industries often falsely represented themselves as being licensed. Investigators observed that:
  •   Ticket vendors in Battery Park often wore clothing that gave the appearance of being official licensed ticket vendors, but many did not display the required license and were operating illegally.
  •   Pedicab drivers solicited passengers and operated pedicabs without proper Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) licensure or a valid driver’s license.
•   Prices were often unclear or inflated. Investigators observed instances where quoted prices differed from final charges or were structured in ways that obscured the true cost, such as when:
  •   Pedicab drivers intentionally covered the mandatory per-minute rate sign or stated that the ride was charged by time but failed to provide the rate.
  •   Battery Park Statue of Liberty ticket vendors quoted one price but failed to state that there were additional charges for transportation to the pier where their tour boats launched.
•   Vendors and operators routinely misrepresented what was being sold. Vendors and operators often described one service and delivered another, often actively seeking to represent themselves as the legitimate service.
  •   Ticket vendors selling Statue of Liberty tours often misled customers into believing that the tours included disembarkation at the Statue of Liberty, but instead, the boats only circled Liberty Island.
  •   Non-TLC vehicles used signs claiming to be official rideshare vehicles when they were not registered with the TLC.

To reduce scams and protect New Yorkers and visitors to the city, the Council recommends the mayoral administration take the following actions:

Enforcement

•   Coordinate with relevant enforcement partners, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NYPD, Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Department of Transportation (DOT), and other agencies, to create a unified enforcement strategy for areas where jurisdictions overlap.
•   Increase targeted enforcement in high-traffic tourist areas, particularly against unlicensed taxi and rideshare solicitation, misleading pedicab pricing, and unauthorized ticket vending.
•   Track complaints and enforcement outcomes during the World Cup period and other key tourist events to identify recurring locations, operators, and practices, and to assess whether additional enforcement or public education is needed.

Education

•   Prioritize the implementation of Introduction 847-A, sponsored by Deputy Leader Sandra Ung, which requires the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to create and promote tourist-focused consumer protection materials addressing common deceptive trade practices. The Council passed Introduction 847-A in May.

Mayor Mamdani Completes First Phase of Battery Coastal Resilience Project

 

First phase of landmark $200 million project protects Lower Manhattan from rising seas and lays groundwork for comprehensive waterfront protection for 100,000 residents, 300,000 jobs and 12,000 businesses

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) and the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) announced the completion of phase one of Battery Coastal Resilience, a landmark $200 million investment in the long-term safety and resilience of Lower Manhattan.

Phase one of the Battery Coastal Resilience project rebuilds and elevates a portion of the wharf promenade in The Battery, helping protect one of New York City’s most iconic public parks from projected sea-level rise through 2100.

Battery Coastal Resilience is part of more than $2.7 billion in Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency (LMCR) capital investments designed to reduce flood risk from coastal storms and rising seas. Once completed, the full LMCR strategy will help protect more than 100,000 residents, 300,000 jobs and 12,000 businesses.

“The Battery is one of the most treasured public spaces in New York City, but it is also on the front lines of the climate crisis,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We cannot treat climate resilience as something we can put off until tomorrow. This project is a reminder that protecting New Yorkers requires action today. With phase one now complete, we are taking a major step toward safeguarding Lower Manhattan’s residents, workers, small businesses and public spaces from rising seas and stronger storms.”

“We must build a resilient city with a clear focus on the waterfront communities that have already experienced catastrophic coastal flooding and continue to face rising sea levels year after year,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “This project reflects years of coordination across agencies and community partners that will continue as we pursue phase two. I am thrilled that New Yorkers and visitors can now enjoy a safer, stronger waterfront and see firsthand what climate resilience looks like in action.”

“The completion of phase one of the Battery Coastal Resilience project marks an inspiring milestone for Lower Manhattan and all of New York as we continue the transformation of our city’s waterfront into a more resilient, vibrant and welcoming public space that will serve New Yorkers for generations to come,” said NYCEDC Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak. “NYCEDC is proud to work alongside our partners at NYC Parks to deliver crucial coastal resilience projects — like The Battery — to safeguard critical infrastructure, historic landmarks and thousands of residents, jobs and businesses. We look forward to continuing this all-important work as additional climate resilience projects advance and come online after years of planning, design and construction.”

“The completion of phase one of Battery Coastal Resilience marks a major step forward in protecting Lower Manhattan from the growing impacts of climate change while preserving and enhancing one of New York City’s most iconic public spaces,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “By rebuilding and elevating this historic waterfront, we are strengthening critical infrastructure, improving public access to the shoreline and ensuring that The Battery can continue serving New Yorkers and visitors well into the future.”

“Finishing the first phase of the Battery Coastal Resilience project is a major step toward strengthening New York City’s coastal defenses and reducing the impacts of flooding and storm surge caused by extreme weather events,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “Climate change is already reshaping our shoreline, and Lower Manhattan is on the front lines. This work is transforming The Battery into a safer, more adaptable public space that will better protect New Yorkers against future storms.”

“The completion of phase one of the Battery Coastal Resilience project marks a major milestone in New York City’s efforts to protect communities from the growing impacts of climate change,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. “As sea levels rise and storms become more intense, investments like this are critical to safeguarding New Yorkers, strengthening our waterfront and building a more resilient city for future generations.”

NYS LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL THAT WILL PROVIDE FULL, INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT OF THE NYC ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES (ACS) BY GRANTING DOI ACCESS TO CRITICAL ACS RECORDS

Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), thanked State Senator Jabari Brisport and State Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi for their sponsorship and support of S8205A/A8428A, which provides DOI critical access to records at the City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). With this access, DOI will be able to conduct full, independent investigations as it does at other City agencies. The legislation, which passed the Assembly unanimously and the Senate in a 59-1 vote, must still be signed by the Governor.

DOI Commissioner Nadia I. Shihata said, “As New York City’s independent Inspector General, DOI’s core mission is to find the facts, expose wrongdoing and corruption at City agencies and entities, and improve government for all New Yorkers. This includes the children of New York City. This legislation empowers DOI to fulfill its mission and conduct the rigorous and independent oversight that it does at other City agencies. I want to thank the State Legislature – in particular State Senator Jabari Brisport and State Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi – for their sponsorship and support of the bill. The Governor’s signature would be a win for the children of New York City and for advancing oversight over the City’s child welfare system.”

In May, DOI issued a Report on the obstacles to its independent oversight of the City’s child welfare system due to the New York State Social Services Law (SSL) and the discretion provided by certain provisions of the SSL to a state entity. The Report sought to bring to the public’s attention the impediments presented by State law and the interpretation of these laws by state regulators that consistently hinder DOI investigations and the fulfillment of DOI’s legal mandate. 

Justice Department Moves to Strip U.S. Citizenship from 17 Naturalized Sex Offenders, Fraudsters, Drug Dealers, and More

 

The Department of Justice announced today that it filed denaturalization actions in various U.S. district courts against 17 individuals accused of serious offenses—including sexual abuse of a minor, wire and bank fraud, and distributing drugs wholesale without a license.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a naturalized U.S. citizen’s citizenship may be revoked, and certificate of naturalization canceled, if the naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.

“When criminal aliens exploit the naturalization process by breaking the law, there are consequences. Criminal aliens are lying about their past crimes, including drug dealers, sexual predators, and fraudsters. Gaining U.S. citizenship is a privilege and under the steadfast leadership of President Trump, this Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse of this process,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We continue to work around the clock with our interagency partners to make sure U.S. citizenship is granted to those who truly deserve it.”

“American citizenship is a privilege, and it must be earned honestly. If you come here break our laws, and lie in your immigration proceedings, you forfeit that privilege,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “DHS will not stand idly by while Americans are harmed by criminals including sex offenders, perpetrators of fraud, and drug traffickers who have exploited our generosity and gamed our immigration system. We will continue to use every lawful avenue to denaturalize and remove aliens.” 

“We will not turn a blind eye to those who unlawfully obtained U.S. citizenship,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Anyone thinking they can defraud the naturalization process should think again. We will continue to pursue anyone who unlawfully or fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship.”

1. Leidys Delmas Garcia (Age 54/Cuba): Delmas Garcia is a native of Cuba who was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  The U.S. seeks an order revoking Delmas Garcia’s naturalization based on her admission in criminal proceedings that she and her co-conspirators established and operated 30 physical therapy clinics in Florida that fraudulently billed commercial insurance provider Blue Cross, Blue Shield approximately $36,728,595 for physical therapy services that were not medically necessary and/or never provided.  During her naturalization interview, Delmas Garcia represented under penalty of perjury that she had not committed crimes for which she had not been arrested and that she had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. government official while applying for any immigration benefit.  Neither was true.
2. Jean Claude Alfred (Age 68/Haiti): The United States filed a denaturalization action against Jean Claude Alfred, a native of Haiti who naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1994. Beginning in September 1993, approximately one month before filing his naturalization application, Alfred repeatedly sexually abused his minor daughter and continued that conduct during the pendency of his naturalization proceedings. During the naturalization process, Alfred represented in his application and under oath that he had not committed any crime for which he had not been arrested and concealed his ongoing criminal conduct. In 1996, a Florida jury convicted Alfred of attempted sexual battery upon a child in a familial or custodial relationship and lewd, lascivious, and indecent assault upon a child under the age of 16 for Alfred's criminal conduct that began in September 1993, before he naturalized. The denaturalization complaint alleges that Alfred illegally procured his citizenship because he provided false testimony which prevented him from establishing good moral character required for naturalization. The complaint further alleges that Alfred obtained citizenship through the concealment and willful misrepresentation of material facts concerning his sexual abuse of a minor.
3. Andrea Marroquin (Age 44/Colombia): Marroquin is the daughter of a major Colombian drug trafficker who inherited his money when he died. She obtained permanent residence in the United States by concealing her bigamous marriage to a United States citizen. Between 2003 and 2011, she conspired to engage in wire and bank fraud and money laundering, using her late father’s drug money to finance fraudulent real estate transactions in Miami, Florida. She became a naturalized citizen in 2009 by concealing her crimes. The United States has brought four claims against Marroquin seeking her denaturalization, including claims she knowingly lied to immigration authorities and lacked the good moral character to become a U.S. citizen.
4. Maria Lourdes Montoya (Age 63/Mexico): On June 4, 2026, the United States brought a denaturalization action against Maria Lourdes Montoya, who misrepresented her husband’s identify to secure permanent residence and later citizenship. In support of both her application for permanent residence and naturalization, Montoya represented herself to be the spouse of a U.S. Citizen—Gilberto Montoya. But Montya was never married to Gilberto Montoya, who died decades earlier. Instead, Montoya was marred to Ernesto Orozco-Viramontes, a Mexican national who had assumed the identity of Gilberto. Montoya was aware of her husband’s deception and leveraged it to obtain immigration benefits, including naturalized citizenship. The United States filed a five-count complaint against Montoya seeking to cancel her naturalized citizenship.
5. Tahir Lekaj (Age 43/Yugoslavia): Lekaj was admitted to the United States in August 1999 and subsequently obtained permanent residence.  When he applied to naturalize in 2004, Mr. Lekaj wrote in his application that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested.  He later repeated that claim orally and under oath during his naturalization interview.  His application was approved, and he naturalized in May 2005.  However, in 2022, the State of Connecticut convicted Mr. Lekaj of two counts of sexually abusing a child under the age of 15 in January 2003.  Evidence at trial indicated that the victim was 10 years old when the abuse began.  The United States filed a complaint seeking to revoke Mr. Lekaj’s citizenship because he illegally procured his citizenship because he was unable to demonstrate the good moral character required of naturalization because of the sexual abuse.  Additionally, Mr. Lekaj is subject to denaturalization because he willfully misrepresented or concealed the sexual abuse while seeking United States citizenship.
6. Talman Harris (Age 49/Jamaica): Over an eight-year period, including during his 2012-2014 naturalization proceedings, Talman Harris, a native of Jamaica, conspired to manipulate the price and volume of shares of stock in publicly traded companies, causing more than $54 million to be invested in artificially controlled shares and an ultimate loss to investors of approximately $39 million from the scheme.  In 2016, after Harris naturalized, a jury found him guilty of wire fraud and conspiring to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, with his fraudulent wire transfers and the conspiracy occurring during the period in which Harris was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character to naturalize.  The denaturalization complaint against Harris alleges that, during the period in which he was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character, he committed a crime involving moral turpitude, committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on his moral character, and falsely testified about his crime.  The complaint additionally alleges that Harris willfully misrepresented the material fact of his crimes during his naturalization proceedings.
7. Armando Mendoza (Age 39/Mexico): Before Mendoza naturalized, he began knowingly receiving sexually explicit images of minors as early as 2009.  In his 2011 naturalization application and interview, however, Mendoza, a Mexico native, claimed that he had never committed a crime or offense for which he had not been arrested.  In 2013, after he naturalized, Mendoza pled guilty to the receipt of such images.  The denaturalization complaint against Mendoza alleges that, during the period in which he was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character, Mendoza was precluded from doing so because he had committed a crime involving moral turpitude, committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on his moral character, and falsely testified about his crime.  Additionally, the complaint alleges that Mendoza willfully misrepresented the material fact of his crime during his naturalization proceedings.
8. Neeraj Sharma (Age 50/India): Neeraj Sharma, a native of India, was both the owner and chief executive officer of Magnavision LLC, a staffing company located in New Jersey.  As an officer of Magnavision LLC, Sharma signed and filed eleven fraudulent H-1B visa petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).  Each petition included false representations that the visa beneficiaries would be employed with a particular global financial institution, and also included letters on official corporate letterhead with forged signatures of the executives. In 2017,  Sharma applied for naturalization, and under penalty of perjury, falsely asserted that he had never:  (a) committed a crime or offense for which he was not arrested; (b) given any U.S. Government officials any information or documentation that was false or misleading; and (c) lied to any U.S. Government official to gain immigration benefits.  Based on these material falsehoods, USCIS approved his application, and Defendant became a U.S. citizen in December 2017.  Subsequently, Defendant was convicted of Fraud and Misuse of Visas, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1546, with the date of offense between April 25, 2015, through April 27, 2017.  The United States seeks to revoke Defendant’s naturalization, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1451(a), as an alien who illegally procured his naturalization by:  (1) failing to disclose unlawful acts; (2) providing false testimony; and (3) concealment of a material fact and willful misrepresentation.
9. Federico Michel Fermin (Age 54/Dominican Republic): From September 2004 through August 2005, Federico Michel Fermin, a native of the Dominican Republic, conspired with others to distribute more than $1.7 million in prescription drugs wholesale without a license.  As part of the criminal conspiracy, Fermin altered drug packaging and caused it to be altered so that the prescription drugs that were distributed to pharmacies would appear to have been purchased from persons who were licensed to distribute them.  On May 12, 2011, a jury convicted Fermin of conspiracy to distribute prescription drugs wholesale without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.  He was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment.  However, during his naturalization process, Fermin represented, under penalty of perjury, that he had never knowingly committed any crime for which he had not been arrested and testified under oath to the same at his naturalization interview.  Accordingly, Fermin illegally procured is naturalization as a United States citizen because he misrepresented and concealed facts that were material to determining his eligibility for naturalization.
10. Abdikadir Ali Kadiye (Age 54/Somalia): On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota filed a civil denaturalization complaint in District of Minnesota against Abdikadir Ali Kadiye. Beginning in April of 1997, Kadiye sought admission to the United States by filing applications under two separate identities. Kadiye initially sought admission to the United States under the identity Liban M. Degel and he claimed that he was married with no children. After an immigration judge denied his application for immigration benefits, Kadiye submitted a second application under the identity of Abdikadir Ali Kadiye. After his naturalization, Kadiye admitted to a customs and border patrol agent that he had previously used two identities for admission for admission.
11. Victor San Shing Kwok (Age 50/People’s Republic of China): On June 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the District of the Northern District of Georgia filed a civil denaturalization complaint against Victor San Shing Kwon in the Northern District of Georgia. In September 1994, Kwok sought admission to the United States under the identity of Xin Cheng Guo. After an immigration judge denied his application for an immigration benefit, Kwok sought admission to the United States by marrying a U.S. citizen. In his application to adjust his resident status, Kwok failed to disclose the prior denial of his prior application for an immigration benefit and his pending order of removal. There is no record that Kwok departed the United States as ordered by the immigration judge.
12. Louise Hunkporti (Age 64/Congo): In 1995, Hunkporti applied for and was denied an immigration benefit. When he was denied the immigration benefit, Hunkporti adopted a new identity and submitted a falsified application using the new identity. Hunkporti naturalized as a U.S. citizen on March 2, 2010 under the adopted identity. After USCIS digitized its paper fingerprint cards, the U.S. Department of Justice discovered that the fingerprints Hunkporti submitted when she naturalized matched those she submitted when she applied for the immigration benefit in 1995. The complaint alleges eight counts for her numerous misrepresentations and unlawful acts that adversely reflect her moral character.
13. Fernando Cristancho (Age 69/Colombia): Cristancho, an ordained Roman Catholic priest, entered the United States as a religious worker and then used his leadership position in the church to gain access to minor victims. In that capacity, Mr. Cristancho sexually groomed and abused a minor parishioner from when the victim was 11 to 13 years old. Mr. Cristancho later admitted to the crime—and egregious conduct involving other minor victims—and pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), resulting in a 22-year prison sentence. The denaturalization complaint filed against Mr. Cristancho charges that he hid his ongoing crime from immigration officials, thereby illegally procuring his naturalization by concealing material facts and willfully misrepresenting his unlawful sexual activity and by his inability to demonstrate the requisite good moral character in support of his application. (Park/Burley)
14. Ronnie Price (Age 40/Trinidad and Tobago): Before his naturalization in 2016, 30-year-old Ronnie Price had sexual intercourse with a female who was under 16 – a statutory rape crime to which he eventually pled guilty.  During his naturalization proceedings, however, Price claimed he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested, he falsely testified to the same, and he concealed facts that would have uncovered his criminal activity.  The denaturalization complaint alleges that Price engaged in unlawful conduct during a critical statutory period during which he was required by law to maintain good moral character, that he provided false testimony during his naturalization interview, and that he did so in order to conceal his crimes and willfully misrepresent material facts that would have revealed his ineligibility for the privilege of United States citizenship.
15. Rodger George Gurdon (Age 55/Jamaica): Prior to naturalizing in 2011, Rodger George Gurdon, a native of Jamaica, engaged in a conspiracy to steal and resell medical products from military hospitals operated by the Department of Defense.  Gurdon likewise engaged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 100 kilograms of a substance containing marijuana.  In 2013, after he naturalized, Gurdon pled guilty to Conspiring to Steal Pre-Retail Medical Products, Interstate Receipt of Stolen Property, and Conspiring to Distribute Marijuana, with the conspiracies occurring during the period in which Gurdon was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character to naturalize.  The denaturalization complaint against Gurdon alleges that, during the period in which he was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character, Gurdon was precluded from doing so because he had committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on his moral character, and falsely testified about his crimes.  Additionally, the complaint alleges that Gurdon willfully misrepresented the material fact of his crimes during his naturalization proceedings. (McManus/Bic)
16. Jheromell Obejera Arcilla (Age 39/Philippines): On Friday, June 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland filed a civil denaturalization complaint in the United States District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, against Jheromell Obejera Arcilla, a native of the Philippines who, prior to his naturalization, began sexually abusing the 15-year-old daughter of his biological cousin, with whom he lived. The sexual abuse lasted for over a year, during which time Mr. Arcilla successfully naturalized. In 2020, a grand jury indicted Mr. Arcilla on three counts of sexual offenses in violation of the Maryland criminal code, and in 2021, Mr. Arcilla pleaded guilty to one of those counts, sex abuse of a minor. Mr. Arcilla lied about the commission of this crime in connection with his naturalization application. The United States has brought three claims against Mr. Arcilla seeking his denaturalization, including claims that he lacked the good moral character to become a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly lied to immigration authorities.
17. Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres (Age 40/Cuba): Before Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres naturalized, she was part of a larger conspiracy to defraud a tribal casino in Florida.  Her husband and several others stole millions of dollars from the casino by creating false credit vouchers.  Acosta Torres subsequently engaged in various financial transactions involving the criminal proceeds to disguise the fact that they were obtained though fraud and to circumvent transaction reporting requirements imposed by federal and state law.  But in her naturalization application and interview, Acosta Torres falsely claimed that she had never committed a crime or offense for which she had not been arrested.  The denaturalization complaint against Acosta Torres alleges that she is subject to denaturalization because during the period in which she was statutorily required to demonstrate good moral character, she committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on her moral character and falsely testified about her crime.  Additionally, she willfully misrepresented the material fact of her crime during her naturalization proceedings.

These cases were prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, with assistance from USCIS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, and New Jersey.

The claims made in the complaints are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.