Defendant Sentenced To 24 Years In Prison For 2015 Murder

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that BRYANT BROWN, a/k/a “Trigga,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer yesterday to 24 years in prison for the December 2015 murder of Albendris Nunez and a 2017 armed robbery.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “On a Sunday morning in 2015, Bryant Brown shot and killed Albendris Nunez in Devoe Park in the Bronx over $600 of marijuana.  For this senseless killing, Brown will serve a substantial sentence in federal prison.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and other filings and statements made in court:

On or about December 20, 2015, BROWN attempted to rob Nunez of approximately $600 worth of marijuana in Devoe Park in the Bronx, New York.  BROWN set up the purported drug deal with Nunez over Facebook and instructed Nunez to meet him in Devoe Park.  BROWN brought a gun and planned to rob Nunez during this meeting and, during the planned robbery, shot Nunez in the back, killing him.   

On or about November 18, 2017, BROWN and a co-conspirator robbed a victim of liquid promethazine with codeine, also known as “wock” or “lean,” inside a residential apartment building in the Bronx, New York.  BROWN brought a gun to this robbery and struck the victim in the face with it.   

In addition to his prison sentence, BROWN, 26, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. 

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department in this case. 

Attorney General James Announces Arrest and Indictment of Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin for Stealing Campaign Funds

 

County Executive Allegedly Used Campaign Funds to Pay Personal Debts  

 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest and indictment of Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, 58, for stealing thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. McLaughlin, following his election to County Executive but while still serving in the New York State Assembly, allegedly withdrew $5,000 from his campaign fund and directed that $3,500 of it be given to one of his staffers to pay the candidate’s personal debts.  

McLaughlin is charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree for the $3,500 campaign fund theft and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree for the related filing of a financial disclosure report with the New York State Board of Elections on December 4, 2017, claiming that the campaign expenditure was for “consulting,” though it was being diverted for his personal use. If convicted of the felony charges, McLaughlin will be removed from office pursuant to Public Officers Law Section 30(1)(e). 

“Elected officials are entrusted to protect and serve, but Mr. McLaughlin allegedly violated that trust by using his campaign funds as a personal piggybank,” said Attorney General James. “New Yorkers should have every confidence that the money they donate to their preferred candidates will fund that candidate’s campaign, not personal debts or expenses. My office will continue to root out corruption at every level of government and go after those who abuse public trust for private benefit.”

On November 7, 2017, McLaughlin won the race for Rensselaer County Executive and resigned his Assembly seat in January 2018. It is alleged that also in November 2017, a personal dispute erupted between McLaughlin and a staffer over a $3,500 personal debt owed to the staffer, as well as his possession of the staffer’s laptop computer and iPad. In response to the staffer’s payment demand, McLaughlin directed a $5,000 check to be drawn from the “Steve McLaughlin for County Executive” campaign fund, payable to Hudson Valley Strategies, a political consulting firm used by McLaughlin. On November 21, 2017, the $5,000 check was deposited into the consulting firm’s bank account. Later that day, a Hudson Valley Strategies principal drafted a $3,500 bank check from the account and delivered it, the laptop, and the iPad to the staffer. 

McLaughlin was arraigned today before Judge Jennifer Sober of Rensselaer County Court and was released on his own recognizance. Grand Larceny in the Third Degree carries a maximum sentence of 2 and 1/3 to 7 years in prison. 

Criminal charges are accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty at trial or by plea. 

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) wishes to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, the New York State Police and the NYS Board of Elections for their valuable assistance in this investigation. 

Statement by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer on November 2021 Financial Plan for Fiscal Years 2022 to 2025

 

“The first quarter update to the FY 2022 budget and financial plan reduces the expected outyear gaps while beginning to reduce the risks associated with the unspecified billion dollar labor savings in the financial plan baseline. This progress is in no small measure thanks to the stellar returns on our pension fund assets in FY 2021, which yielded savings of $800 million next year, $1.6 billion in FY 2024, and $2.4 billion in FY 2025. In addition, refunding of outstanding City bonds will yield savings of nearly $1.8 billion over the plan period.

“This financial plan improves the fiscal outlook—but with federal aid eventually depleting, there are economic uncertainties and substantial challenges ahead.”

Office of Mental Health Receives Grant to Expand Access to Fresh Healthy Produce to People with Mental Illness

 

Program will bring farmers' markets to congregate housing sites, expand the FreshConnect Checks program

 The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) has received a $200,000 award to help people with mental illness gain access to healthy, fresh produce. The grant, from the NYS Health Foundation, will be used to expand the FreshConnect Checks Program and bring mobile farmers markets to congregate housing sites for residents with serious mental illness. OMH will also develop a curriculum for residents focused on purchasing, preparing, and consuming healthy foods.

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “People with mental illness often have significantly shorter lifespans than the general population, in large part because of chronic diseases related to an unhealthy diet.  This new pilot program will allow us to not only teach people with mental illness about purchasing and preparing fresh healthy foods, it will also increase their access to farm-fresh foods. By partnering with local service providers and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, we can make a significant difference in the lives of New Yorkers living with mental illness.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We are proud of our FreshConnect Checks program, which helps ensure that New Yorkers have access to healthy, fresh produce while providing a boost to our farmers.  By bringing farmers markets that accept FreshConnect Checks directly to congregate housing sites, and providing the necessary support services, we can now better serve our populations living with mental illness. I want to thank OMH for leading this important initiative.”

In New York State, 45,000 people with serious mental illness live in congregate homes. These individuals often face challenges in accessing and using fresh, healthy foods. By bringing mobile farmers markets to these congregate settings and engaging residents and residential staff to learn about purchasing, preparing, and consuming healthy foods, OMH will help them build these important skills.

And by expanding the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets’ successful mobile markets and FreshConnect Checks Program, residents will have the physical access and purchasing power necessary to enjoy healthy foods.

The partners for the first phase of this pilot program will be the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers (BFNC) and Rehabilitation Support Services (RSS) in the Capital District. BFNC and RSS operate community residences and supportive housing programs, both of which offer opportunities to support food access, as well as hands-on food education and preparation.

OMH will work with these agencies to develop a range of workshops including healthy meal planning, shopping for fresh produce at the mobile market, making healthy snack choices, and using healthier preparation techniques.  OMH will also develop a training module for housing agency staff, who are key to ensuring residents’ access to and consumption of healthy foods. Lessons learned from this pilot will inform future possible expansion of OMH’s mobile market program across New York State.

OMH plans to expand the pilot program to additional OMH-licensed housing sites in the future.

Governor Hochul Launches "Boost Up, New York" Campaign Urging New Yorkers to Get Their Booster Shot for Better Protection Against COVID-19

 

Amidst Holiday Season and Threat of New Variant, Campaign Is Targeted at Adults across the State Who Qualify for Vaccine Booster Dose

Advertising Effort Includes Out-Of-Home and Digital Programming with Easy-To-Access QR Codes and Hyperlinks

All New Yorkers Can Help Family and Friends Get Vaccinated, Boosted, and Practice Good Public Health Behaviors for a Healthy Holiday

New Yorkers Can Schedule Their Free COVID-19 Vaccine Here or Booster Dose Here

 Governor Hochul today launched the statewide "Boost Up, New York" campaign to urge New York adults to get their booster dose for better protection against COVID-19. As the state monitors for the Omicron variant, the new education and advertising effort reminds New Yorkers that a boost against COVID-19 is needed to maximize protection, prolong the vaccine's durability, and help safeguard communities and loved ones against the virus.

"With this campaign, we are getting the message out with banners and displays to get people excited about booster shots as they get ready to celebrate the holidays," Governor Hochul said. "If you are over 18, you can get the free booster dose immediately. It will give you that extra protection, and it also helps to protect your loved ones. This is the ultimate act of kindness that you can exercise this holiday season."

The "Boost Up, New York" campaign will be featured at popular grocery stores, malls, and transit stations statewide including on bulletins, posters, and multimedia screens. The program will also span online advertising to reach adults on search engines and social media channels. All campaign activations will include a QR code or hyperlink so New Yorkers have easy-to-access scheduling information, as well as resources for those looking to learn more about the importance of getting a booster. With increased urgency and a timely message, the program will kick-off December 6 and run for four weeks.

In addition to getting a booster, Governor Hochul and the State's Department of Health encourage all New Yorkers to follow and share with others this important information for healthy holiday gatherings:

• All New Yorkers 5 and older should get fully vaccinated.
• All New Yorkers 18 and older who are two months past the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or 6 months past the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna initial vaccine series should get their booster dose.
• All New Yorkers 6 and older should also get their flu shot.
• New Yorkers should get tested after traveling and before seeing family.
• All travelers, domestic and international, should continue to follow all CDC travel requirements.
• New Yorkers who don't feel well should stay home
• Wear masks in public indoor spaces and wash hands regularly.

To date, over 2.5 million New Yorkers have already received their booster or additional dose, out of approximately 6.5 eligible. In addition to the new "Boost Up, New York" campaign, the State launched a dedicated website with information about booster doses, additional doses, eligibility, frequently asked questions, and resources for providers on-the-ground. The State continues direct-messaging outreach to eligible New Yorkers through SMS-based messages and local notifications to fully vaccinated New Yorkers through the State's Excelsior Pass platform.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses are free and widely available statewide at pharmacies, local health departments, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, state-run mass vaccination sites, and other locations across New York State.

New Yorkers can boost up or get vaccinated by visiting vaccines.gov, texting their ZIP code to 438829, or calling 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. New Yorkers can also visit the Am I Eligible page or call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX to schedule a booster or vaccine appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site.

Eligible New Yorkers can receive any of the FDA-approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines for their booster dose, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. If New Yorkers have questions, they should consult their health care provider or vaccine administrator.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON OMICRON VARIANT

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today released the following statement on the Omicron variant in New York City:

 

“We are aware of a case of the Omicron variant identified in Minnesota that is associated with travel to a conference in New York City, and we should assume there is community spread of the variant in our city. We are working closely with the State and the CDC, as well as the Javits Center’s event organizers, and our Test and Trace Corps will be contacting conference attendees. This conference required masks and complied with our Key2NYC requirement to mandate vaccination.

 

Anyone who attended the AnimeNYC conference, especially anyone experiencing symptoms, should get tested immediately and take additional precautions, including social distancing.

 

I urge all New Yorkers to get vaccinated, wear a face mask while indoors and in public, and help our city beat this virus once and for all.”

31 Days and Counting

 

They loved me in Morris Park when I marched in the Morris Park Columbus Day parade. I had my good friend Assemblyman Michael Benedetto marching with me. He put a hat on, because he said it was raining, but people told me that he put on a hat so people wouldn't recognize him marching with me. 

I am going to put out a statement about the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. It seems that the Omicron variant is in the United States, and here in New York City some people may have been exposed to it. My statement will tell more about it, but we still don't have a plan of action to combat the Omicron variant. Let me enjoy my extended weekend now.

49th Precinct Council November Meeting

Tuesday night was the meeting of the 49th Precinct Community Council, where Deputy Inspector Andrew Natiw announced that after three years at the helm, the 49th precinct would be getting a new commanding officer at the beginning of the new year. He could not say where he would be going or if he would be retiring. 

The meeting was held in person at Maestros Caterers on Bronxdale Avenue, and about thirty people were in attendance. In his Commanding Officer report, Deputy Inspector Natiw said that crime was up slightly, as it was citywide, but not as great as the citywide numbers. He said citywide numbers are going back to those last seen in the 1990's. 

Crime Prevention Officer Medero repeated what he has at previous meetings, and that was to lock your car and take the keys with you. Do not leave your car running, as your car can be gone quicker than you can come back out of the store. The Cop of the Month was Police Officer Eric Acosta, and the Civilian of the month was Ms. Joanne Panzarella. Neighborhood reports were last, where those areas reporting said there were more quality of life issues with panhandling, or homeless people. 

Deputy Inspector Natiw announces that after three years at the helm of the 49th Precinct, there will be a new commanding officer next year.

Gene De Francis of the Allerton International Merchants Association speaks of the rise in crime to shopkeepers, on the avenue. Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Vice-President Steve Glosser, seated, was next with a question of what can be done about the homeless people who hang out on the parkway and White Plains Road.

Mr. Yahay Obied announced that the Alliance of Yemenis businesses are opening their new office Saturday December 4th 3 PM at 1639 Bronxdale Avenue.

Councilwoman Elect Marjorie Velazquez addressed the council and audience.