NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S RAPID RESPONSE TEAM TO ASSIST WORKERS IMPACTED BY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED

 

Impacted Workers Can Visit NYSDOL’s Jobs and Careers Page for Help with Career Development, Job Searches, and More

Businesses Encouraged to Use the Shared Work Program to Avert Layoffs

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is continuing to deploy resources to assist any workers who will be impacted by announced layoffs following notices received through the Department’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) system. Notably, NYSDOL’s Rapid Response Team is offering resources to impacted employees at Tesla, which recently announced layoffs that include cutting 285 positions in Buffalo. Specialized regional Rapid Response teams with an in-depth understanding of the local economy prepare the impacted employees for employment transition. Employees are guided to the appropriate resources for their unique needs. 

“The sooner we know about layoffs, the sooner we can spring into action to help impacted workers," said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. "In addition to providing benefits to enable New Yorkers to support themselves and their families, the New York State Department of Labor has a trove of no-cost career resources to help workers make their career dreams come true.”

The New York State WARN Act requires businesses to give early warning of closing and layoffs, which allows NYSDOL to immediately collaborate with businesses and provide affected employees with vital information on Unemployment Insurance (UI) and workforce programs aimed at facilitating swift reemployment. Early notification also benefits businesses by potentially reducing UI charges associated with layoffs or closures.

NYSDOL provides a comprehensive array of no-cost resources for all New Yorkers, including those impacted by a recent layoff.

Services Include:

• Job search and networking tips
• Career resources through the Virtual Career Center
• Virtual and in-person Career Centers
• Access virtual and in-person Career Fairs
• Coursera
• Resume assistance
• Interview tips

New Yorkers can visit NYSDOL’s UI Webpage to apply for benefits the first week they become unemployed. By law, the UI program provides benefits to people who:

• Have enough employment to establish a claim
• Have lost employment through no fault of their own
• Are ready, willing, and able to work and
• Are actively seeking work

If you are deemed eligible for benefits, you will need to certify online or over the phone weekly to continue receiving payments.

Businesses are encouraged to explore alternatives to layoffs, such as the Shared Work Program, which enables employees to receive partial unemployment benefits while working reduced hours. This initiative aims to retain skilled employees during temporary downturns, facilitating a quicker recovery for businesses when conditions improve and maintaining job security for workers. Full-time, part-time and seasonal employees are eligible.

For more information on available resources and support, visit: https://dol.ny.gov/rapid-response-services-jobseekers.

SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED RAPE, MISCONDUCT AFTER UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jared Jeridore was charged with attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, attempted rape and other crimes following an undercover investigation during which the defendant, who was working as a school crossing guard in Jamaica, allegedly tried to lure an NYPD officer he believed to be 14 years old to participate in a sexual act.

District Attorney Katz said: “Young people need to be able to trust the adults who are charged with keeping them safe. This defendant is accused of violating that trust with someone he thought was a teenager. His arrest should serve as a warning to any sexual predator who thinks they will not be caught and held responsible. Thank you to our partners at the NYPD for their work on this.”

Jeridore, 24, of Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, was arraigned today on a seven-count criminal complaint charging him with attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, three counts of attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors in the first degree, attempted rape in the third degree, official misconduct and attempted endangering the welfare of a child.

Judge Julieta Lozano ordered Jeridore to return to court June 7. If convicted, Jeridore faces up to seven years in prison.

According to the charges:

• An undercover operation was started based on complaints about Jeridore — a crossing guard near a Jamaica school — from underage individuals to the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau.

• On March 28, 2024, at approximately 7:36 a.m., an undercover posing as a 14-year-old girl met Jeridore at the intersection of 108th Avenue and 167th Street near the school.

• On April 18, the undercover and Jeridore exchanged their Instagram screen names. At about 2:10 p.m. they walked together from the intersection of 108th Avenue and 167th Street to a nearby bus stop and he interlocked his arm with hers.

• At 11:22 p.m. on April 18, Jeridore had a video call with the undercover, whom he believed to be 14 with a birthday on April 20, and asked her to join him in a sexual act.

• From April 18 to April 21, Jeridore sent text messages through Instagram to another undercover officer, posing as the first one, describing sexual interactions he wanted to have with her. He also sent the officer nude photos and a sexually explicit video.

• On April 23, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the first undercover received multiple phone calls from Jeridore asking her to meet him at a hotel at 87-07 Van Wyck Expressing in order to have sex.

• Police were at the hotel, waiting for Jeridore. Jeridore arrived at the hotel room and was arrested on scene. Police recovered three condoms from him.

The investigation was conducted in conjunction with the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau.

Manhattan Fentanyl And Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced To 270 Months In Prison

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MOUNIR MRABET was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff to 270 months in prison for trafficking wholesale quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around midtown Manhattan.  On November 9, 2023, a jury convicted MRABET of narcotics conspiracy, narcotics trafficking, and a firearms offense. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant flooded the streets of New York with methamphetamine and fentanyl and kept a gun as part of his drug operations.  He sold these dangerous drugs to other dealers in wholesale quantities and even stored and sold these drugs in hotel rooms with abject disregard for those he endangered.  This sentence is a just punishment for an individual who chose to profit from destroying others and actively contributed to a drug crisis that continues to claim lives across our city and our nation.” 

According to public filings and the evidence presented at trial:

From at least late 2021 to January 2023, MRABET coordinated with suppliers in Mexico and California to receive boxes of crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl in the mail.  He then worked with co-conspirators to distribute wholesale quantities of these drugs to other drug dealers in New York City, and he kept a gun and used threats to promote his drug operations.  For example, in October 2022, he texted a fellow dealer, “I will fucking shoot u one day,” and “Now bring me a pound.”  MRABET’s voice was also captured on a video depicting stacks of cash, bundles of apparent drugs, and a revolver.  Additional videos, photographs, and text messages confirmed that MRABET stored and sold drugs out of hotel rooms.

After MRABET was recorded selling drugs to an undercover detective, including fake oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, law enforcement agents conducted a search of his Manhattan apartment and seized 24 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and, from the scaffolding outside his window, approximately half a pound of fentanyl powder.

The evidence at trial included the defendant’s own texts arranging sales to co-conspirators and texts from customers who described being sickened by his drugs.  The evidence also included numerous videos and photographs of drugs and drug proceeds, including some that depicted MRABET pouring and weighing containers of crystal methamphetamine and wrapping and spritzing a scented spray on stacks of cash.

In addition to the prison term, MRABET, 40, of New York, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York City Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Florida Man Sentenced for Racially Motivated Attacks on Two Black Women

 

A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for committing two federal hate crimes by attacking two Black women with a gun.

Frederick Eugene Pierallini III, 27, previously pleaded guilty to these crimes on July 6, 2023.

“The defendant is being held accountable for targeting two Black women with a gun on two separate days because of their race,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No one in this country should have to live in fear that when they use public spaces or work at their job, they risk attack by someone who hates them because of the color of their skin. The Justice Department is committed to protecting Black people from racially-motivated violence. We will continue to be relentless in investigating and prosecuting individuals who threaten or commit unlawful acts of hate.”

“The violent assaults committed against these two women because of their race are intolerable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “There is no place in our society for such heinous acts. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who target individuals and communities because of their race, ethnicity or beliefs.” 

“Hate crimes like these are not only attacks on the victims but are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue to prioritize investigating civil rights violations and work together tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.”

According to court documents, Pierallini willfully intimidated the victims and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities using force or a threat of force, because of their race and color. Victim 1 was enjoying her private employment and Victim 2 was enjoying a facility provided by the state of Florida.

Specifically, on Sept. 10, 2022, Pierallini went to a convenience store, located in Jacksonville, Florida. Victim 1 was working there as a clerk at the register. Pierallini attempted to buy snacks at the register, but his card was declined. He then attempted to walk out of the store with unpaid merchandise. Pierallini ultimately returned, scolding Victim 1 for not knowing how to do her job and directing racial slurs at her. Pierallini left the store, retrieved a shotgun from his car, pointed it at Victim 1 and cocked it by pulling the slide back to open the chamber and loaded a bullet into it. Victim 1 ran away in fear. Pierallini continued to use racial slurs throughout the encounter.

Two days later, on Sept. 12, 2022, Pierallini approached Victim 2 as she was sitting in her walker on the public sidewalk. He directed racial slurs at her and told her that she could not sit where she was. Pierallini also threatened to kill Victim 2. He then left, returned with a shotgun and fired a single shot. Victim 2 sustained injuries when she fell to the ground in response, but she was not hit by Pierallini’s shot.

The FBI Jacksonville Field Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.