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Thursday, May 12, 2022
Bronx Dems - Join Us for Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez's Birthday!
High-Ranking Member Of MS-13 Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison
Prior to His Indictment, Amilcar Romero, a/k/a “Soldado,” was the Highest Ranking, Incarcerated Member of the “L.A. Program” of MS-13 in the United States
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that AMILCAR ROMERO, a/k/a “Soldado,” a high-ranking member of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick to 13 years in prison. ROMERO previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Broderick ordered ROMERO’s sentence in this case to run consecutively to a prior sentence for attempted murder imposed in California state court in 1997 and another prior sentence for conspiring to participate in the affairs of a racketeering enterprise, namely MS-13, imposed in the District of New Jersey in 2016.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Amilcar Romero, a senior leader of the L.A. Program of MS-13, helped plan a cross-border methamphetamine distribution network. He did this by communicating with other members of the gang through a contraband cellphone in state prison while serving a lengthy sentence for a violent crime. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold accountable those like Romero who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities, even if they do so from prison.”
According to the Indictment, other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings:
ROMERO is a member of MS-13, a transnational racketeering enterprise which operates throughout North and Central America, including in El Salvador, Mexico, New York, California, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. To enrich the enterprise, protect and expand its criminal operations, enforce discipline among its members, and retaliate against members of rival gangs, members and associates of MS-13 committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence; distributed and possessed with intent to distribute narcotics, including methamphetamine; and obtained, possessed, and used firearms.
MS-13 is organized into chapters called “cliques.” Groups of cliques, in turn, are aligned as “programs.” Each program is governed by a group of senior gang leaders known as the “table.”
ROMERO is a high-ranking member of the table of the “L.A. Program” of MS-13. In 2019, ROMERO participated in the transnational and nationwide affairs of MS-13 through a contraband prison cellphone while he was incarcerated in Calipatria State Prison in California, including by communicating with and relaying orders to other members of MS-13 throughout the United States and in El Salvador.
In the summer and fall of 2019, ROMERO helped plan, with other high-ranking members of MS-13, for the establishment of a methamphetamine distribution network that started in Mexico and operated throughout the United States, including North Carolina, New York, Virginia, and Tennessee.
In addition, in September 2019, ROMERO and other senior members of MS-13 conspired to extort another gang member, who was told that he either had to repay money or be “green lit” (i.e., killed) for introducing a “bad connection” who supplied poor quality narcotics to the gang.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Broderick sentenced ROMERO, 52, to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF..
MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO BRING FULL RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE OF CITY GOVERNMENT TO REMEDY RIKERS ISLAND CRISIS
Task Force Will Bring Together City Hall, Eight City Agencies to Urgently Address and Implement Reforms
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed Executive Order 16, creating an interagency task force that formalizes the whole-of-government approach the Adams administration has already been applying to the crisis plaguing Rikers Island. With the full support of City Hall, the task force will coordinate and implement the multi-agency solutions needed to support the New York City Department of Correction (DOC), surge resources where needed, and provide Mayor Adams with real-time information regarding the city’s efforts. The goal is clear: to implement the recommended reforms as swiftly and efficiently as possible to keep those in custody and correctional officers safe, and to build a functional, safe, and humane jail system. The task force will be chaired by Chief Counsel Brendan McGuire and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phillip Banks.
“Rikers Island has been mired in dysfunction and plagued by parallel crises for decades. We cannot — and will not — allow that to continue,” said Mayor Adams. “Since taking office, and working with the monitoring team, we have seen reductions in use of force and assaults on staff, increased searches for weapons and contraband, and fewer officers out on sick leave, but we must go further. This interagency task force puts the full weight of city government behind fully and immediately addressing these challenges. To the people in our care and those officers and non-uniformed personnel working there: I have your back. The city will not rest until this dysfunction is rooted out, these reforms are implemented, and the people in our care and working on the island are safe.”
“To adequately address the parallel crises facing Rikers, we must coordinate a swift and immediate response from across city government,” said Chief Counsel McGuire. “We cannot allow the same legal and bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented meaningful change for decades to stand in our way any longer. This task force will be laser-focused on cutting through red tape and overcoming those hurdles to deliver safer jails for all.”
“Dysfunctional government and agencies operating within silos is an unacceptable excuse for the dangerous conditions that have persisted on Rikers for years,” said Deputy Mayor Banks. “This task force, bolstered by the full backing of City Hall, will enhance communications among agencies that have historically hindered past attempts at progress. We will reform Rikers, we will build safer jails, and, together, we will build a safer city for all New Yorkers.”
“This vital support from City Hall finally gives this agency the help it needs to bring safety and security to our jail system and fulfill the requirements of the consent judgment in both spirit and letter,” said DOC Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “I am looking forward to working with the dedicated and talented partners at our sister agencies. Together, we are going to transform our jail system into model of safety and humanity.”
In addition to the co-chairs, the task force will include representatives from the DOC, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the New York City Law Department, the New York City Office of Labor Relations, the New York City Office of Management and Budget, the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and the New York City Department of Design and Construction. Additional agencies will be added as needed.
The task force will meet weekly to take direct, concrete, and immediate action to resolve the issues identified by the Nunez monitoring team and to accomplish the objectives of the implementation plan in a timely, efficient, and effective manner. The task force will seek to quickly and fully address any and all issues related to the implementation plan and the concerns of the court, the monitoring team, the U.S. Attorney’s office, and the Nunez plaintiffs. And, finally, this task force will ensure that every relevant city agency prioritizes all Rikers-related matters brought to their attention and cooperates fully.
Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MAY 12, 2022
Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment
18 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.
"Being fully vaccinated and keeping up to date with booster doses is still the most effective way to combat this virus," Governor Hochul said. "As we mark the unthinkable milestone of one million American lives lost to COVID, let's remain vigilant and continue using the tools we have available to us - get vaccinated, get boosted, test often, and if you test positive talk to your doctor about available treatments. This is how we move forward safely through the pandemic."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Cases Per 100k - 69.06
- 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 51.03
- Test Results Reported - 171,125
- Total Positive - 13,495
- Percent Positive - 7.45%**
- 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.19%**
- Patient Hospitalization - 2,331 (-27)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 428
- Patients in ICU - 225 (+3)
- Patients in ICU with Intubation - 101 (+7)
- Total Discharges - 300,358 (+414)
- New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 18
- Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,690
** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.
The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.
- Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 71,103
This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
- Total vaccine doses administered - 38,588,363
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 24,869
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 148,189
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.5%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.8%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 87.1%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.3%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.3%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.0%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.3%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.3%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.1%
Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:
Borough | Monday, May 9, 2022 | Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | Wednesday, May 11, 2022 |
Bronx | 3.62% | 3.75% | 3.77% |
Kings | 3.66% | 3.86% | 4.17% |
New York | 6.62% | 6.56% | 6.40% |
Queens | 5.08% | 5.16% | 5.13% |
Richmond | 5.28% | 5.35% | 5.91% |
Man Charged With April 2018 Mount Vernon Murder
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Division (ATF), Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), and Glenn Scott, Commissioner of the Mount Vernon Police Department, announced the unsealing of a federal Indictment charging JAMES BAZEMORE, a/k/a “TJ,” with the broad daylight murder of Tasheen Williams on April 30, 2018 in Mount Vernon, New York. The Indictment also charges JARED MUJAAHID, a/k/a “Jay,” with aiding and abetting assault with a deadly weapon by providing BAZEMORE with the gun BAZMORE used to commit the murder. The Indictment also charges BAZEMORE and MUJAAHID with racketeering conspiracy. BAZEMORE is detained pending trial on other federal charges brought by this Office and MUJAAHID is serving a sentence from a prior federal conviction in this District. The defendants will be brought to the federal courthouse in White Plains, New York to be presented before a United States Magistrate Judge.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “In April 2018, Tasheen Williams was shot dead in broad daylight just as a local school was letting out, the victim of senseless gang-related violence. As alleged in the Indictment, James Bazemore is responsible for that murder, and Jared Mujaahid gave him the murder weapon. Thanks to the work of our remarkable law enforcement partners, Bazemore and Mujaahid now stand charged in federal court for this terrible crime.”
ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito said: “ATF’s top priority is investigating and apprehending those who commit firearms violence and those who provide firearms for use in violent crimes. This indictment demonstrates the commitment of ATF and our great partners at DEA and the Mount Vernon Police Department to relentlessly pursue justice for victims of violent gun crime and hold those responsible accountable no matter how long it takes.”
DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino said: “This cold-blooded murder is another example of drug-related violence plaguing our cities. DEA’s priority is making our communities safer through investigations and arresting members of criminal organizations responsible for drug-related overdoses, drug trafficking, and violent crime. I thank the ATF and US Attorney's Office Southern District of New York for their partnership and diligent work on this investigation.”
MVPD Commissioner Glenn Scott said: “This arrest again shows that Mount Vernon continues to benefit from the partnership the MVPD has formed with its Federal Law Enforcement partners. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, NY Field Office has shown how dedicated they are to assisting the MVPD with closing violent crime investigations. Mount Vernon Police has had Detectives assigned as Task Force Officers with the ATF for several years and this is just one of the many violent crimes that has been solved as a result of the hard work of the Detectives and the Special Agents from ATF. In cases of this magnitude the MVPD always strives to bring justice to the families effected by violence and we will utilize any and all resources and partnerships that we can do achieve that goal.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment[1]:
BAZEMORE and MUJAAHID were members or associates of a racketeering enterprise known as Big Paper. In order to fund the enterprise, protect and expand its interests, and promote its standing, members and associates of Big Paper committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence against rivals, including murder and assault; conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics; and obtained, possessed and used firearms, including by brandishing and discharging them.
On or about April 30, 2018, BAZEMORE acquired a gun from MUJAAHID, and then BAZEMORE stalked and shot Tasheen Williams dead in Mount Vernon, New York.
BAZEMORE is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison, one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; and one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.
MUJAAHID is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, one count of aiding and abetting assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of twenty years in prison; and one count of aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison.
The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the Mount Vernon Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
[1] As the introductory phase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE EXPANSION OF DYSLEXIA SCREENING AND SERVICES
"As a student, I struggled with Tourette Syndrome, which is very visible, and ADHD, which like dyslexia is not – both undiagnosed until high school. Once I could put a name to it, and develop a learning plan, it immensely improved my educational outlook.
"Early screening of all students for risk of dyslexia, and providing targeted resources and focus for those who need it, will help our schools meet the individual educational needs of each student, and each student reach their full potential. This effort will improve educational opportunity, and in a way that will promote educational equity.
"Many adults also struggle with undiagnosed dyslexia, disproportionately in our criminal legal system, and I urge the City Council to pass my legislation instituting screenings in our jails. By screening and servicing affected people, we can provide better support for incarcerated New Yorkers and help prevent them from re-entering the criminal legal system in the future. This would help correct an educational services gap that should have been addressed long ago, and one that today’s announcement is a major step toward closing in the future.
"Dyslexia is under-discussed, and likely under-diagnosed, in our city, but with today’s announcement we can help to make sure New Yorkers struggling with it have access to the services they need to succeed."