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Former Correctional Officer Sentenced To 36 Months In Prison For Obstructing Investigation Into Smuggling Of Firearm Into Metropolitan Correctional Center

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GREG MCKENZIE, a former Bureau of Prisons correctional officer, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for obstructing a federal investigation into the smuggling of a firearm into the Metropolitan Correctional Center (“MCC”) by lying to federal investigators about using a prepaid cellphone to communicate secretly with Deejay White, the inmate who possessed the firearm in the MCC, and his wife Dawntiana White, who helped smuggle in the firearm.  The loaded firearm was recovered from inside the MCC on March 5, 2020.  MCKENZIE pled guilty before United States District Judge P. Kevin Castel on September 14, 2022.  Judge Castel sentenced MCKENZIE earlier today.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Greg McKenzie, a former correctional officer, obstructed an investigation into the smuggling of a firearm into the MCC that endangered the safety of inmates, prison staff, and the greater community.  By lying about his secret communications with the very inmate who possessed a firearm in the MCC and that inmate’s wife, who helped smuggle the firearm into the MCC, McKenzie thwarted a serious criminal investigation and sacrificed the integrity of the institution he swore to protect.  McKenzie’s sentence underscores this Office’s commitment to holding public servants accountable and ensuring that no one is above the law.”

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court proceedings:

On or about March 5, 2020, a loaded .22 caliber firearm (the “Firearm”) was recovered from inside an MCC prison cell that had last been occupied by two inmates, including Deejay White.  Approximately five weeks earlier, on January 30, 2020, MCKENZIE purchased a prepaid cellphone (the “McKenzie Prepaid Cellphone”) and used it to communicate with Deejay White and his wife Dawntiana on multiple occasions on January 31, 2020, and February 1, 2020.  In addition, cellphone location information indicated that on the evening of January 31, 2020, MCKENZIE and Dawntiana each traveled to the same vicinity in the Bronx at about the same time, after which MCKENZIE drove to lower Manhattan and started a shift at the MCC at midnight.  MCKENZIE’s assignment for that shift was to work on the unit where Deejay was housed. 

Surveillance video and call detail records further established that, upon entering the MCC for his shift, MCKENZIE circumvented a metal detector.  Shortly after MCKENZIE’s shift began, Deejay White used a contraband cellphone to call and then text the McKenzie Prepaid Cellphone.  Within minutes, MCKENZIE returned to Deejay White’s cellblock – alone – while appearing to carry an object under his left arm. 

On July 23, 2021, Deejay White pled guilty to possessing the Firearm inside the MCC before Judge Castel, and on July 13, 2021, Dawntiana White pled guilty to conspiring to smuggle the Firearm into the MCC before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.

On November 4, 2021, two federal agents conducted a voluntary interview with MCKENZIE.  During the interview, MCKENZIE falsely denied ownership, possession, and use of the McKenzie Prepaid Cellphone, and falsely denied ever using any prepaid cellphone to communicate with an MCC inmate or inmate’s associate.   

In addition to his prison sentence, MCKENZIE, 35, of Danbury, Connecticut, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General, Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New York.

Governor Hochul Announces $100 Million to Repave Roads Impacted by Extreme Weather

 

Investment Funds Repaving Work at 64 Project Locations Across New York State

Complements Record Level of Investment in the State-Owned Highway System

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $100 million in State funding has been released to support the renewal of State roadways impacted by extreme weather. The funding supports repaving projects at 64 locations, totaling almost 520 lane miles of pavement, and complements the record level of investment in infrastructure across New York State.

"We are making historic investments in transportation infrastructure to create safer roads and smooth, hassle-free commutes for all travelers," Governor Hochul said. "New York is home to extreme weather year-round, and this $100 million in funding will be vital to helping ensure that our road conditions are safe for our hardest-hit communities." 

Through sustained investment in transportation infrastructure, New York State is enhancing quality of life for all New Yorkers, making State highways safer and more efficient while encouraging local commerce and tourism. The current Department of Transportation five-year capital plan provides historic funding for road and bridge repair and modernization, and this critical infrastructure funding will help restore hundreds of lane miles of highway impacted by extreme weather.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "Weather in New York is getting more intense more often, necessitating the need for vital and timely maintenance of our infrastructure. Governor Hochul understands the critical need to keep our infrastructure in a state of good repair, and this funding will renew vital travel corridors across the state while restoring hundreds of miles of roads to help them better withstand Mother Nature's challenges."

A complete list of paving locations, which will begin this year, is available below.

Capital Region

• $759,000 to resurface Route 23 from the bridge over Schoharie Creek to Route 23A in the Town of Prattsville, Greene County.
• $448,800 to resurface Route 23A from 0.3 miles east of Route 23 to 0.2 miles west of Airport Road in the Town of Prattsville, Greene County.
• $2.1 million to resurface Route 22 from Route 346 to the bridge over Hoosick River in the Towns of Hoosick and Petersburgh, Rensselaer County.
• $1.9 million to resurface Route 67 from Route 9 to Mechanicville City Line in the Towns of Stillwater and Malta, Saratoga County.
• $828,000 to resurface Route 30 from Schoharie County Line to Easton Road in the Town of Duanesburg, Schenectady County.
• $1.9 million to resurface Route 40 from Route 149 to Route 22 in the Towns of Fort Ann, Granville and Hartford, Washington County.
• $3.6 million to resurface Route 20 and Old Route 20 (Route 980C) from their Route 22 intersections to the Massachusetts State Line in the Town of New Lebanon, Columbia County.

North Country Region

• $3.6 million to resurface Route 22 from Lake Shore Road to Fish and Game Road in the Towns of Westport and Essex, Essex County.
• $800,000 to resurface Route 9 from 0.3 mile south of South Junction Road to Sunset Drive in the Towns of Peru and Plattsburgh, Clinton County.
• $1.4 million to resurface Route 11B from Bangor (0.3 miles east of Route 13) to Route 30 Intersection in the Towns of Bangor and Malone and the Village of Malone, Franklin County.
• $1.1 million to resurface Route 11 from Pierrepont Manor (just south of Route 193) to Adams Village South Line in the Towns of Ellisburg and Lorraine, Jefferson County.
• $202,500 to resurface Route 26 from the Route 12 Intersection to north Lowville Village Line in the Village of Lowville, Lewis County.
• $1.3 million to resurface Route 26 from Denmark (near Wilson Road) to Jefferson County Line in the Town of Denmark, Lewis County.
• $386,610 to resurface Route 812 from Dutton Road to Croghan/Diana Town Line in the Town of Croghan, Lewis County.
• $352,000 to resurface Route 11B from 0.8 miles east of Route 49 to just east of Route 458 in the Town of Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County.
• $1.1 million to resurface Route 345 from Potsdam West Village Line to 02 miles east of Route 35 in the Town of Potsdam, St. Lawrence County.
• $342,000 to resurface Route 411 from Route 180 intersection to 3/4 mile east of Route 13 in the Town of Orleans, Jefferson County.

Mohawk Valley Region

• $1.4 million to resurface Route 331 from the Montgomery County Line to Route 29 in the Town of Oppenheim, Fulton County.
• $1.4 million to resurface Route 5S from Steele Creek to the Mohawk Station (East Main St) in the Town of German Flatts and the Villages of Ilion and Mohawk, Herkimer County.
• $2.5 million to resurface Route 5S from the Montgomery - Otsego - Schoharie Solid Waste Authority Transfer Station to Fultonville in the Towns of Root and Glen and the Village of Fultonville, Montgomery County.
• $1.2 million to resurface Route 167 from 0.8 miles east of Route 46 to Route 168 in the Towns of German Flatts, Little Falls and Warren, Herkimer County.
• $1.5 million to resurface Route 20 from the Otsego County Line to Chestnut Street in the Town of Sharon and the Village of Sharon Springs, Schoharie County.
• $1.7 million to resurface Route 28 from Route 357 to Main Street in the Towns of Franklin and Oneonta, Delaware and Otsego Counties.

Central New York Region

• $2.3 million in additional funds to add resurfacing of Carrier Circle and Military Circle to the project resurfacing Route 635/Thompson Road from Route 290 to Route 298 and Route 298 from Route 598 to Carrier Circle in the Towns of DeWitt and Salina, Onondaga County.
• $3.4 million to resurface Route 31 from Cicero North Syracuse High School to South Bay Road in the Town of Cicero, Onondaga County.
• $5.3 million to replace pavement markings and audible roadway delineators on various state highways in Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca and Tompkins Counties.

Finger Lakes Region

• $2.5 million to resurface Route 383 from Village of Scottsville to Route 36, Route 36 from Route 383 to Monroe/Livingston County Line, Route 251 from Oatka Creek to the bridge over Genesee River, Route 940H from Route 251 to Monroe/Livingston County Line, and Route 253 from Route 383 to the bridge over Genesee River in the Town of Wheatland, Monroe County.
• $1.5 million to resurface Route 96 from the east Phelps Village Line to the Ontario/Seneca County Line in the Town of Phelps, Ontario County.
• $540,000 to resurface Routes 5 & 20 within the Village of Avon, Livingston County.
• $500,000 to resurface Route 31 from Village of Palmyra west village line to east village line and Route 21 from Route 31 to north Palmyra Village Line in the Village of Palmyra, Wayne County.
• $2.2 million to resurface Route 20A in the Village of Warsaw and Route 19 from the south Warsaw Village Line to the north Wyoming Village Line in the Towns of Warsaw and Middlebury, Wyoming County.
• $2 million to resurface Route 64 from Routes 5 & 20 to Taylor Road in the Towns of East Bloomfield and West Bloomfield, Ontario County.
• $2 million to resurface Route 20 from Route 77 to Route 98 in the Towns of Darien and Alexander and the Village of Alexander, Genesee County.
• $719,000 to resurface Route 31 from just east of Macedon Hamlet Line to just west of the Palmyra Village Line in the Town of Macedon, Wayne County.
• $575,000 to resurface Route 54A from Steuben County Line to 0.3 miles east of Route 32 intersection in the Town of Jerusalem, Yates County.

Western New York Region

• $1.5 million to resurface Route 270 from Erie County line to Route 31 in the Towns of Cambria, Pendleton and Lockport, Niagara County.
• $2.44 million to resurface Route 219 from 0.3 miles North of Irish Hill Road intersection to the 219 Expressway North bound ramp at Peters Road in the Towns of Ashford and Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County.
• $1.9 million to resurface Route 430 from Route 394 to Long Point Road in the Towns of Chautauqua and Ellery and the Village of Mayville, Chautauqua County.
• $650,000 to resurface Route 20 from Eden-Evans Center Road to Sturgeon Point Road in the Towns of Evans, Erie County.
• $2.2 million to resurface Route 5 (Buffalo Skyway) from Kane Street to the Buffalo Skyway Bridge in the Cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna, Erie County.
• $366,000 to resurface Route 18 from Off Ramps at Route 104 to On Ramps at Route 104 in the Town and Village of Lewiston, Niagara County.
• $841,000 to resurface Route 104 from Model City Road to Dickersonville Road in the Town of Lewiston, Niagara County.
• $1.1 million to resurface Route 18 from Hess Road to Route 148 in the Towns of Newfane and Somerset, Niagara County.
• $1.3 million to resurface Route 248A from the Pennsylvania state line to Route 248 in the Towns of Independence and Willing, Allegany County.

Southern Tier Region

• $500,000 to resurface Route 225 from South Corning Village Line to just west of the Route 44 intersection in the Village of South Corning, Steuben County.
• $550,000 to resurface Route 414 from Steuben/Chemung County Line to Kerrick Hollow Road in the Town of Hornby, Steuben County.
• $500,000 to resurface Route 409 from the Route 14 to Watkins Glen State Park upper entrance in the Village of Watkins Glen and Towns of Dix and Reading, Schuyler County.
• $850,000 to resurface Route 14 from West Broad Street to just south of Hickory Grove Road in the Village and Town of Horseheads, Chemung County.
• $500,000 to resurface Route 225 from Route 352 to 0.2 miles west of the Bennett Road intersection in the Hamlet of Golden Glow Heights and Town of Big Flats, Chemung County.
• $550,000 to resurface Route 367 from Route 427 to Pennsylvania State Line in Village of Wellsburg, Chemung County.
• $800,000 to resurface I-99 from Pennsylvania State Line to the bridge over Glendening Creek in the Town of Lindley, Steuben County.
• $1.5 million to resurface Route 12 from Theresa Boulevard to Oak Hill Road in the Town of Chenango, Broome County.
• $1.3 million to resurface Route 206 from Route 41 to just west of Cemetery Road in the Towns of Coventry and Bainbridge, Chenango County.
• $1.7 million to resurface Route 96 from Route 21 to Route 34 in the Towns of Candor and Spencer and the Village of Spencer, Tioga County.
• $1.5 million to resurface Route 97 from just south of Ferry Street to John Deck Road in the Towns of Fremont and Hancock, Delaware and Sullivan counties.

Mid-Hudson Region

• $5.2 million to resurface Route 35/202 from the Taconic State Parkway interchange to Route 118 in the Town of Yorktown, Westchester County.
• $3.6 million to resurface Route 52 from Route 311 to Fowler Avenue in the Towns of Carmel and Kent, Putnam County.
• $3.6 million to resurface Route 28 from Hurley Mountain Road to Waughkonk Road in the Towns of Ulster and Kingston, Ulster County.
• $1.2 million to resurface Route 97 from 0.5 miles north of Kirks Road intersection to Cochecton town Line in the Town of Tusten, Sullivan County.

Long Island Region

• $9 million to resurface Northern State Parkway from Meadowbrook State Parkway to Wantagh State Parkway in the Town of North Hempstead and the Village of Westbury, Nassau County.

Chiropractor Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Defrauding The NBA Players’ Health And Welfare Benefit Plan Of $1,300,000

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that PATRICK KHAZIRAN, a/k/a “Dr. Pat,” was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan (the “Plan”).  U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni imposed the sentence. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a medical provider, Patrick Khaziran had a responsibility not to abuse his position of trust.  Instead, Khaziran used his role as a licensed chiropractor to generate dozens of fraudulent invoices for at least 22 former NBA players.  He did this to enrich himself and his co-conspirators at the expense of the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.  This sentence sends a clear message that those who engage in health care fraud schemes, particularly medical providers, will face stringent penalties.”   

According to the Information, public court filings, and statements made in court:

The Plan is a health care plan providing benefits to eligible active and former players of the NBA.  KHAZIRAN is a chiropractor licensed in the State of California who owns and operates a chiropractic and rehabilitation office in Los Angeles, California (“Chiropractic Office-1”). Chiropractic Office-1 serves the general public and also provides rehabilitation services to professional athletes.

From at least in or about 2016, up to and including at least in or about 2019, KHAZIRAN participated in a scheme with several other former NBA players, including Terrence Williams and Keyon Dooling, to defraud the Plan.[1]  KHAZIRAN’s role in the scheme was to provide false documentation showing that former NBA players received certain medical services when, in truth and in fact, the medical services were never provided. 

KHAZIRAN accomplished his role in the scheme in two ways.  First, beginning in 2016, KHAZIRAN created, and caused others to create, fraudulent invoices for former NBA players.  The former NBA players that received fraudulent invoices, in turn, submitted the fraudulent invoices to the Plan to request reimbursements to which they were not entitled.  Second, KHAZIRAN charged, and caused others to charge, the Plan-issued debit cards of former NBA players.  The Plan-issued debit cards were intended to be used by Plan participants to pay for eligible medical services at the point of service.  However, KHAZIRAN charged the Plan-issued debit cards of former NBA players for medical services that were never actually provided.  In total, KHAZIRAN’s fraudulent invoices and fraudulent debit card charges resulted in approximately $1.3 million in losses to the Plan.  In return for his participation in the scheme, KHAZIRAN received approximately 33% of that amount, i.e., approximately $439,000.  The remaining fraud proceeds were kept by the former NBA players with whom KHAZIRAN conspired.

In addition to his prison term, KHAZIRAN, 40, of Los Angeles, California, was ordered to forfeit $439,000 and pay restitution of $1,300,000.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

[1] Williams and Dooling have plead guilty and await sentencing.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Resources for Your Business

 

Register - Click Here

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Bronx NYS Executive Budget Presentation by the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul. Hope Knight, President, CEO, and Commissioner of Empire State Development will outline the Governor's budget and policy priorities and how they impact the Bronx, New York City and New York State. The 2023 New York State of the State message included 147 initiatives to create a more affordable, more livable and safer New York – including the “New York Housing Compact”, a strategy to address New York’s housing crisis which includes the vision to build 800,000 new homes over the next decade; a transformational plan to strengthen mental health care; a plan to increase capacity for inpatient psychiatric treatment by 1,000 beds and add 3,500 housing units serving individuals with mental illness; and major public safety initiatives and investments to drive down gun and violent crime.   The presentation will highlight the Governor’s efforts to raise the minimum wage annually and index to inflation, her desire to help New Yorkers address rising cost of living, the launching of the cap-and-invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Chairperson Wright will also speak to the Governor’s plan to provide $165 Million in relief to more than 800,000 utility customers and plan to make child care More affordable, accessible, and fair in New York.   Please join us in welcoming Commissioner Knight as she shares the 2024 New York State Executive Budget & Policy Proposal.

For the complete Bronx Chamber Events Calendar, featuring educational workshops, networking events and other opportunities hosted by the Chamber, its members, & partners, please visit and bookmark our website events calendar link in your browser - new events are added weekly!

Thursday, February 9 from 11:30am to 12:30pm The Power of Capital All entrepreneurs need to inject cash into their businesses to either launch, grow or keep the doors open. Most businesses phase challenges acquiring financial assistance from lenders because their businesses are not bankable. The goal of this course is to help your business grow and become more bankable. Click HERE To Register Wednesday, February 15 at 6:00pm A Celebration of Black History Impact of Black Owned Businesses on the Bronx Speed Networking Event Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce to celebrate our borough's Black businesses and leaders.  Enjoy happy hour drink pricing and complimentary hors d'oeuvres while you meet and mingle with fellow Chamber members and new prospective members during Speed Networking. Click HERE To Register

Friday, February 24 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm Building Business Operations Many businesses fail not because of a bad business idea, but because there was no system that standardized, measured, and improved its operations. The goal of this course is to help you translate your business concept into an efficient operation that continuously improves and raises your bottom line. Click HERE To Register Wednesday, February 22 at 10:00am Coffee & Conversation w. NYC Councilmember Amanda Farias Chair, Committee on Economic Development Bronx Chamber President Lisa Sorin, and Legislative & Policy Chair, Michael Brady moderate a discussion with Councilmember Farias, on Bronx economic development, workforce development, women's health and wellness, and merchant organizing. Click HERE To Register

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