BRONX COUPLE INDICTED FOR IMPRISONING, ENDANGERING TWO GIRLS, AGES THREE AND FOUR YEARS OLD

 

Left Alone Without Food, Children Began to Eat Foam Mattress; Apartment Was in Deplorable Condition 

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx woman and her boyfriend have been indicted for the horrific neglect of the woman’s two young daughters, who were found by police locked in a feces-dotted room, naked and bruised and eating bits of a foam mattress.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants allegedly kept these little girls in a house of horrors. They illegally occupied an apartment and left the children alone without food or clothing. Fortunately, police rescued the girls, and a nurse discovered signs of abuse for which they are being treated. The situation is beyond the pale.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Stephanie Grabowski, 40, and Mark Russell, 45, who were squatters in apartment at 300 East 138th Street, were indicted on two counts of second-degree Kidnapping, two counts of second-degree Unlawful Imprisonment, second-degree Burglary, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, for conduct that occurred on or about May 3, 2023 in the apartment. Grabowski additionally was indicted on two counts of firstdegree Kidnapping for conduct occurring on or about and between, November 14, 2022 through May 3, 2023 at 420 East 169th Street and the 138th Street apartment.

 They were arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio and bail was continued for Grabowski at $150,000 cash/$400,000 bond/$400,000 partially secured bond at 10%, and for Russell at $100,000 cash/$200,000 bond/$200,000 partially secured bond at 10%. They are due back in court on September 13, 2023.

 According to the indictment, on May 3, 2023 at approximately 10:30 a.m., NYPD Officers from PSA 8 and Field Intelligence Detectives were vacating a NYCHA apartment at 300 East 138th Street that was inhabited by known squatters, and upon entry were determined to be Russell and Grabowski. The apartment was in terrible condition with urine and feces about the place and there did not appear to be sufficient food, amenities, clothing or clean diapers. The officers observed the doorknob of a bedroom and doorknob of an adjacent closet door tied together with a ropelike cord. They kicked in the bedroom door and found two girls naked and bruised on a filthy spongelike mattress on the floor, and feces, dirty diapers and garbage throughout the room. One officer observed the children to be eating pieces of the mattress.

 Officers discovered that Grabowski had a Family Court warrant after absconding from Administration for Children’s Services in November 2022, and brought her to Family Court. Orders of Protection were issued at that time. The officers brought the children to the Children’s Advocacy Center on May 4, where a nurse examined the children and enhanced the case, and alerted the NYPD Bronx Child Abuse Squad. On May 5, the girls were examined at Jacobi Medical Center, where they were observed to have significant bruising and marks in various stages of healing, rashes throughout their bodies and difficulties walking, standing and speaking.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Johnathon Concepcion and Christina Flores of the Bronx Child Abuse Squad, and NYPD Field Intelligence Officer, Detective Michael Heinz for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES EFFORT TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, ALLEVIATE FLOODING, BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES IN JEWEL STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD

 

Adams Administration Plan Includes Over $75 Million Investment, Urgent Infrastructure Improvements in Area Plagued by Excessive Flooding and Sewage Problems That Have Gone Unaddressed for Decades

 

City Agencies and Community Leaders Will Kick off Community Planning Process to Prepare Comprehensive, Long-Term Plan for Affordable Housing and Economic Opportunity

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today kicked off the Jewel Streets Neighborhood Plan, an effort to deliver much-needed quality of life improvements — including infrastructure improvements to alleviate flooding as well as new affordable housing — to the “Jewel Streets” neighborhood, also known as “the Hole,” on part of the Brooklyn/Queens border. Backed by more than $75 million in initial funding, the Adams administration’s planning process aims to bring resiliency measures to this chronically flood-prone area, improve street infrastructure and pedestrian safety, and create new, affordable housing and economic opportunity for residents of this community that has long suffered from flooding and been deprived of public investment.

 

Building on more than a year of engagement with elected officials, community members, and local organizations like the East New York Community Land Trust and the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other city agencies, will present ideas to the community for alleviating flooding, build stable and affordable housing on vacant city-owned land, and create economic opportunities.

 

“The decades of government ignoring this community and leaving residents to fend for themselves against regular flooding ends now,” said Mayor Adams. “The infrastructure, quality-of-life improvements, and economic opportunities we are prepared to deliver for this community would be a game-changer. We are excited to bring this plan to the residents, get their feedback, and chart a path forward together.”

Flooding on Amber Street in the Jewel Streets neighborhood. Credit: New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development

New York City Department of Environmental Protection workers making construction improvements on drainage upgrades in the Jewel Streets neighborhood. Credit: New York City Department of Environmental Protection

The Sweet Brook Bluebelt on Staten Island, one kind of tool being considered for the Jewel Streets area. Credit: New York City Department of Environmental Protection

“No community in our city should suffer from the chronic flooding and lack of basic infrastructure that has persisted in the Jewel Streets neighborhood for years,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “With the city’s planning effort, we will make critical investments in resilient infrastructure and facilitate the creation of jobs, housing, and community services to ensure that this is an inclusive ‘jewel’ of an area for years to come.”

 

“The community of Jewel Streets urgently deserves the basic infrastructure foundation and reliability that the rest of New York City takes as a given: proper drainage after storms and a connected sewer system,” said Deputy Mayor of Operations Meera Joshi. “The time is now to meet these needs and go beyond by also developing affordable housing and economic opportunities. Working together within government and with the community, we will build a stronger and broader world for the current and future residents of Jewel Streets, rendering the infamous name ‘the Hole’ a distant memory.”

 

“Residents of the Jewel Streets have endured conditions no New Yorker should have to face, and the city is honored to work with them to build the neighborhood they deserve,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “Following through on the housing and homelessness blueprint’s vision to keep New Yorkers safe in their homes in a changing climate, the Jewel Streets plan will be a model to create a climate resilient future for the city.”

 

“When we talk about investing in the Jewel Streets, what we’re really talking about is treating Black and Brown New Yorkers with dignity and respect. Having visited the Jewel Streets myself, I’m outraged at the deplorable conditions people live with right here in one of the wealthiest cities in the world, and we have the opportunity to change that now,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “In collaboration with the impacted community, we are working on immediate infrastructure solutions and a master plan that is driven by how best we can serve these New Yorkers, reverse decades of environmental injustice, and build more affordable housing and a better quality of life. Rather than being called ‘the Hole,’ the Jewel Streets must be a shining example of resiliency and heathy living. I look forward to the first workshop later this month.”

 

“The Jewel Streets neighborhood sits in a bowl roughly 10 to 15 feet below the surrounding streets, which makes building a functional drainage system challenging, but the short-term upgrades we have made over the last year have provided some real relief to residents,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “We will continue to work with our partners and the community as our engineers study the feasibility of other longer-term drainage solutions, including the use of green infrastructure or more traditional sewer upgrades.”

 

“Jewel Street residents know far too well the impacts that climate hazards such as flooding can have on housing, safety, and quality of life,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Acting Executive Director Victoria Cerullo. “We look forward to our continued partnership with elected officials and community members on resilient stormwater infrastructure, affordable housing, and economic opportunity to advance environmental justice and deliver on our PlaNYC initiatives.”

 

The effort to bring quality-of-life improvements and economic opportunity to the Jewel Streets neighborhood delivers on a key strategy in “PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done” to implement multilayered strategies for flood resilience. It also builds on central planks of Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors” blueprint focused on fostering resilient neighborhoods and keeping New Yorkers safe in their homes amid climate change.

 

The Jewel Streets is a 12-block neighborhood that straddles East New York in Brooklyn and Lindenwood in Queens. Because the neighborhood is a low-lying area without comprehensive stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure, residents experience year-round flooding, even on sunny days. Most streets in the neighborhood today contain open industrial uses or overgrown, vacant lots, including a 17-acre city-owned site. And though wild plants grow tall along street edges, industrial uses and septic tank leaks have contaminated the land and groundwater. Pedestrian safety has also been an ongoing challenge, with few sidewalks or crosswalks available for pedestrians and tractor trailers, recreational vehicles, and other abandoned vehicles frequently stored on the street.

 

Beginning this month, the Adams administration will kick off a holistic community planning proposal where residents will be able to weigh in on a series of tools to address flooding, including a bluebelt and a drainage pond to divert rainwater from sewers; green infrastructure, like rain gardens to provide additional capacity to absorb rainwater; upgraded sewers with expanded capacity to serve as the first line of defense against flooding from rain events; and additional supportive tools such as raised streets. Community members will also have an opportunity to share perspectives on ways the city can make streetscape upgrades to improve safety and connectivity to nearby neighborhoods, create affordable housing on city-owned land, stimulate the creation of good jobs and community amenities, and develop a long-term land use and zoning plan.

 

In partnership with the community, the Adams administration will develop targeted resiliency strategies for the respective areas north and south of Linden Boulevard. The city has received $2.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds that will go towards planning work around resiliency measures and affordable housing creation. For the northern area, the administration is investing $72.8 million in new and upgraded resiliency infrastructure. In the southern area, community engagement will inform efforts to redirect water to Jamaica Bay and reduce current and future flood risk, explore green infrastructure to further reduce flooding, build new affordable housing, and create retail space and good-paying jobs.

 

The planning process, which will cover both sides of Linden Boulevard, is organized around five core goals:

• Build resilient, green infrastructure and improve community resilience.
• Outline a community-supported vision for city-owned land, including a 17-acre vacant lot.
• Improve street infrastructure, pedestrian safety, and connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods.
• Facilitate the creation of jobs, community services, and amenities.
• Develop a long-term land use plan for the Jewel Streets.

 

This stage of the process will begin with the first of five public workshops on June 24, 2023, with the Adams administration planning to bring final recommendations to the community by early 2024 and a final neighborhood plan in place later in 2024. Community members will have additional opportunities to learn about the process and share feedback both in person and online. Anyone interested in participating can find more information or submit questions or comments online.

 

Since April 2022, the Adams administration has been working closely with a community coalition led by New York City Councilmember Charles Barron, the East New York Community Land Trust, and the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation to develop solutions to the long-term challenges facing residents of the Jewel Streets. Since then, DEP has completed projects in 2022 and 2023, installing new storm sewer infrastructure and catch basins both north and south of Linden Boulevard. Photos of the project completed this year are available online.

 

In addition, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) are working jointly to tow illegally parked cars and conduct targeted clean-ups of vacant lots. Since February 2023, the agencies together have removed more than 400 vehicles in 26 coordinated joint agency operations. Overall, the NYPD this year has towed 220 large trucks parked illegally overnight on residential streets across the city.

 

“This administration is committed to equity, and DOT is proud to join in this effort to deliver services to the residents of the area,” said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We look forward to this planning process and working with our partner agencies to enhance resiliency and accessibility in the Jewel Streets area and to continue delivering projects in historically underserved communities.”

 

“The NYPD fully embraces our city’s ongoing mission to foster safe and secure environments that enable communities to prosper,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “Our officers work tirelessly to ensure that New Yorkers are safe and that they feel safe, too. And this seamless, multiagency effort advances the very best of our cohesive public-safety vision.”

 

“New Yorkers who live in the Jewel Streets neighborhood deserve clean, safe streets, and ‘New York’s Strongest’ have been proudly running targeted clean-ups of this area throughout 2023,” said DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “Mayor Adams’ investment will make a meaningful difference in the quality of life of this long-ignored community.”

 

“This interagency effort is starting to correct the mistakes of the past and is charting a path towards a better, brighter future for this community,” said New York City Department of City Planning Director and City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick.

 

Glaziers Recruit Apprentices

 

The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Finishing Trades Institute of New York will conduct a recruitment from July 14, 2023 through July 27, 2023 for 50 glazier apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today.

Please note that the openings listed for apprentices represent the total number for three recruitment regions – the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and New York City regions.

Applications can be obtained, in person only, from the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Finishing Trades Institute of New York, 45-15 36th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the recruitment period. This is a limited-application recruitment. Only 500 applications will be distributed, on a first-come, first-serve basis. The recruitment will be offered for 10 business days or until 500 applications have been issued, whichever comes first.

The Committee requires that applicants:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as TASC or GED). Proof will be required after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.
• Must be physically able to perform the work required, as determined by a site evaluation and personal statement. More information will be provided during a mandatory 3-day orientation.
• Must sign an affidavit stating that they are physically able to perform the work of a glazier, which may include:
  • Lifting and carrying material and equipment up to 70 pounds.
  • Working from ladders, scaffolds, lifts, and suspended scaffolds
• Must be able to read, hear, and understand instructions and warnings in English.
• Must take a mandatory drug testing after selection and prior to enrollment and random throughout apprenticeship.

For further information, applicants should contact Finishing Trades Institute of New York at (718) 937-7440. Additional job search assistance can be obtained at your local New York State Department of Labor Career Center (see: dol.ny.gov/career-centers).

Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the Commissioner. Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status. Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs. Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities.

Attorney General James Secures $6.9 Million from Bayer and Monsanto for False Advertising of Roundup® Weedkillers

 

Bayer CropScience and Monsanto Allegedly Falsely Claimed Certain Roundup® Consumer Products Were Safe and Non-Toxic, Violating an Agreement with OAG

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a settlement with Bayer CropScience LP (Bayer) and Monsanto Company (Monsanto) for allegedly making false and misleading claims regarding the safety of certain Roundup® consumer weedkillers. Bayer and Monsanto repeatedly claimed in advertising that Roundup® consumer products containing the active ingredient glyphosate were safe and non-toxic without adequate substantiation. These claims violated state laws against false and misleading advertising, and also breached a previous settlement the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) reached with Monsanto in 1996, in which Monsanto committed to stop making unsubstantiated claims regarding the safety of Roundup® products that contained glyphosate.

“Pesticides can cause serious harm to the health of our environment, and pose a deadly threat to wildlife, including pollinators and other species vital to agriculture,” said Attorney General James. “It is essential that pesticide companies — even and especially the most powerful ones — are honest with consumers about the dangers posed by their products so that they can be used responsibly. Once again, Monsanto and the company’s current owner, Bayer, made false and misleading claims about the safety of their products, but we will not allow them to get away with endangering our environment. My office will continue to protect the health of New York’s environment by ensuring our laws are respected and followed.”

Roundup® is among the leading brands of weedkillers in the United States. For many years, glyphosate was the most common primary active ingredient in Roundup® brand products. Scientific studies have determined that some formulations of Roundup® brand pesticides may be toxic to wildlife, particularly pollinator species such as honeybees and butterflies, as well as fish, amphibians, and other aquatic organisms. According to a 2022 report of the Empire State Native Pollinator Survey, at least 40 percent — and as many as 60 percent — of pollinator species native to New York are at risk of disappearing from the state, potentially threatening the future growth of crops and wildflowers statewide.

In 2020, Attorney General James began an investigation into whether Monsanto, and its current owner Bayer, were again engaging in false advertising of their Roundup® products, in violation of Monsanto’s 1996 settlement with OAG. The investigation found that a number of claims made in advertising, including promises that Roundup® products “won’t harm anything but weeds,” and “do not pose a threat to the health of animal wildlife,” were not adequately substantiated. The investigation also revealed that the companies made claims that implied Roundup® products were safer and less toxic than dish detergent and soap, a practice Monsanto had agreed to cease in the 1996 settlement. Following the investigation, Attorney General James concluded that the companies’ claims about these products violated New York laws against persistent business fraud and false and misleading advertising, and breached Monsanto’s obligations under the prior settlement.

The OAG’s investigation and settlement are related to the environmental impacts of Roundup® products; the impact of Roundup® products on human health is currently the subject of ongoing nationwide private-party litigation.

As a result of the settlement announced today, Bayer and Monsanto will pay $6.9 million to OAG, which will be used to prevent, abate, restore, mitigate, or control the impacts of toxic pesticides such as those containing glyphosate on pollinators or aquatic species. The specific programs and projects that will be supported with these funds have yet to be determined, but may include research, monitoring, and education, as well as habitat management, restoration, and enhancement.

The settlement also requires Bayer and Monsanto to immediately remove or discontinue any advertisements that represent Roundup® consumer products containing glyphosate as safe, non-toxic, harmless, or free from risk to pollinators and other wildlife. Bayer and Monsanto must also direct distributors and retailers of these consumer Roundup® weedkillers to cease the dissemination of any marketing materials that contain these allegedly false representations. Per the agreement, Bayer and Monsanto will submit an annual report and certification of compliance with the agreement to OAG, and the companies will be subject to a $100,000 penalty for each failure to uphold the obligations of the settlement.

Construction Company Owners Charged With $5.4 Million Fraud Scheme

 

Rawinder Dhillon and Amninder Singh Allegedly Submitted Fraudulent Surety Bonds to New York State to Obtain Construction Payments on False Pretenses

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging RAWINDER DHILLON and AMNINDER SINGH, the owners of a construction company, with participating in a scheme to submit fraudulent bonds to the New York State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (“GOSR”) in order to obtain payments on false pretenses in connection with construction projects funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”).  The defendants were arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “The defendants allegedly conspired to obtain over five million dollars from the state of New York based on phony construction surety bonds.  Unfortunately, this is another example of a program intended to help communities recover from disaster being targeted for manipulation and fraud.  The FBI is committed to ensuring that individuals who conspire to commit fraud against the government face the consequences for their schemes.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]

GOSR was established in 2013 – following Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and Superstorm Sandy – to centralize recovery and rebuilding efforts in impacted areas of New York State.  GOSR utilizes federal funding to provide aid for housing recovery, small businesses, community reconstruction, and infrastructure.  DHILLON and SINGH owned and operated a construction company based in Staten Island, New York (“the Construction Company”).  The Construction Company was awarded contracts by GOSR in connection with certain construction projects (the “Construction Projects”) funded by HUD. 

For each of the Construction Projects, the Construction Company was required to obtain surety performance bonds (meant to ensure satisfactory completion of a construction company’s contractual obligations) and payment bonds (meant to ensure payment by a construction company to subcontractors and/or vendors supplying labor and/or materials).  In or about April 2021, the Construction Company emailed to GOSR documents purporting to be the required performance bonds and payment bonds for the Construction Projects.  Following the submission of the purported bonds, GOSR paid the Construction Company more than approximately $5.4 million in connection with the Construction Projects.

In or about February 2022, a subcontractor (the “Subcontractor”) that had contracted with the Construction Company to perform roofing work in connection with one of the Construction Projects contacted GOSR to report that the Construction Company had not paid the Subcontractor for its work.  In response, GOSR provided the Subcontractor with a copy of one of the purported bonds so that the Subcontractor could obtain payment from the insurance carrier.  However, when the Subcontractor contacted the insurance broker that allegedly issued the bond, the insurance broker informed the Subcontractor, in substance and in part, that the insurance broker had no record of issuing the bond and that the bond was fraudulent.  Thereafter, the insurance broker informed GOSR, in substance and in part, that each of the purported payment and performance bonds provided by the Construction Company to GOSR were fraudulent.  Accordingly, on or about February 20, 2022, GOSR terminated its contracts with the Construction Company.

DHILLON, 32, of Staten Island, New York, and SINGH, 37, of New Hyde Park, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence. 

The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARCEL D. CLARK ANNOUNCES TWO INDICTMENTS FOR FRAUD AGAINST ELDERLY VICTIMS; ON WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY, CLARK WARNS SENIORS TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST SCAMMERS

 

Disbarred Bronx Lawyer Allegedly Stole $700,000 From 5 Clients in Riverdale; L.I. Man Allegedly Cashed $120,000 in Checks, Nearly Depleting Woman’s Account

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that two men have been charged in separate indictments for stealing from elderly people, highlighting economic abuse of seniors who put their trust – and life savings – in the hands of fraudsters.

 One indictment charges a disbarred Bronx attorney for stealing from the living and the dead—in a real estate fraud scheme and from estates that left funds to charities.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly ingratiated himself with mostly elderly clients in Riverdale, gaining power of attorney or becoming executor of their wills, and took profits from selling their homes or kept money that was left to charities. His alleged actions led to unsurmountable financial harm, as well as stress for people of advanced age. It is elderly abuse.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Paul Frieary, 69, of Shendaken, NY, who had a law office on Riverdale Avenue, is charged with second-degree Grand Larceny, third-degree Grand Larceny, fourth-degree Grand-Larceny, fourth-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, first-degree Scheme to Defraud, and second-degree Scheme to Defraud. Frieary was arraigned June 1, 2023, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. The defendant was placed on supervised release and is due back in court on August 23, 2023.

 According to the investigation, between July 2014 to January 2021 the defendant took thousands of dollars from victims in retainer fees to represent them in their real estate closing, and allegedly never dispersed money to clients when he received money from buyers. Frieary was disbarred from the practice of law in October of 2020 following the Attorney Grievance Committee’s investigation into predatory practices by him while acting as an attorney on behalf of multiple interested parties to various land sale contracts and probate petitions.

 In one incident, Frieary represented buyers of a home owned by a couple in their 90s. He allegedly gave them some $329,000 but kept more than $277,000. They passed away after trying for years to no avail to get the rest of the money owed to them.

 In another incident, an elderly woman, whose husband predeceased her and who had no family in the U. S., hired Frieary and gave him full power of attorney and made him the executor of her estate. In her will, she left $350,000 to seven charities including the Bowery Mission, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Food Bank for New York City, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In 2014 she passed away, and the charities listed confirmed that there were never any donations given by the woman’s estate, Paul Frieary, nor any of his companies.

 In the second case, the defendant nearly depleted a 95-year-old woman’s savings by alleged check fraud.

 District Attorney Clark said, “A 95-year old woman who does not speak English entrusted her checkbook to someone. Allegedly, the checks wound up in the hands of the defendant, who cashed over $120,000 worth of checks. The victim bravely testified to the grand jury. It’s a cautionary tale for everyone, particularly seniors, that no one should give their account information to anyone unless they have made sure the person is trustworthy.”

 District Attorney Clark said Rudolf Drauch, 60, of West Babylon, NY, is charged with second-degree Grand Larceny, third-degree Grand Larceny, fourth-degree Grand Larceny, second-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, third-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, fourth-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, first-degree Offering a False Instrument for Filing, fourth-degree Criminal Tax Fraud, and fifth-degree Criminal Tax Fraud. He was arraigned on June 13, 2023 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He is due back in court on September 28, 2023.

 According to the investigation, between February and August 2022, the victim, a 95-yearold Bronx woman who does not speak English, gave blank checks to someone to pay bills for her. While she was temporarily in a nursing home, the defendant allegedly cashed 72 of them totaling $120,263. The defendant allegedly withdrew almost all the victim’s savings. The victim’s nephew, who grew suspicious over his aunt’s finances, contacted the Bronx DA’s Office in 2022 and a joint investigation with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance uncovered the check fraud and failure to report the income on tax returns.

 District Attorney Clark thanked the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Criminal Investigations Division, for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE CALLS ON STATE GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE SPECIAL SESSION ON HOUSING BILLS

 

After the 2023 state legislative session failed to produce any meaningful action on housing, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today called for legislators to continue working toward and enacting a deal, rather than leaving New Yorkers without relief until next year.  In a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the Public Advocate urged the state legislature to return to the Capitol for a special session to pass a package of housing legislation that would provide both immediate and long term relief to tenants across the city and state. 

Specifically, the Public Advocate is calling on the state legislature to pass, and the governor to sign, a package of tenant protection and support bills that have needlessly stalled in Albany, including the Right to Counsel 2.0, create of a Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) , and Good Cause Eviction. This comes after the Assembly announced Tuesday that it would reconvene next week to finalize legislative business.

“I ask, on behalf of New Yorkers struggling to find and remain in their homes, that the three of you work together imminently to discuss and finalize an agreement around Right to Counsel, HAVP and Good Cause Eviction protection,” Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams wrote. “This includes any needed special session, with assurance that the governor will immediately sign these bills into law. With rents spiking to historic highs, and thousands facing eviction, Albany has a moral and governing mandate to not let these issues go unaddressed for months that New Yorkers cannot afford.”

The housing and homeless crisis that has long impacted New York City has only worsened in recent months and years. There are an estimated 92,000 people in the city without a home, rents have made this city the most expensive in the nation, and half of all New York families are unable to afford even the minimum costs of living here. About one in ten children in New York City are without a home, and in some areas, one in five. The reality of this crisis is present, the call to action urgent.  

The full letter from the Public Advocate to state leadership is below.

Dear Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie,

This letter is in regards to the state’s failure to pass meaningful housing legislation. 

In the midst of a housing crisis, the New York State government failed to deliver much needed housing relief to the people of New York. First we watched the Governor’s Housing Package collapse, without any community input. After the NYS Budget passed, it was disappointing to not see the Right to Counsel 2.0, the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), and Good Cause Eviction legislation voted on this session. However, I understood the housing coalition’s support of the end-of-session amended versions, despite these versions gutting the full weight of the bills, as concessions were necessary to secure votes for passage. Even given these concessions, the session ended with no consensus on housing legislation, leaving the people of New York without vital protections and resources in the midst of a historic housing crisis.

While building income-targeted affordable housing is desperately needed, it is also a longer term solution. Preserving units that already exist is paramount to helping right now. Right to Counsel 2.0, HAVP and Good Cause Eviction protections are the most immediate solutions. To be clear, the proposals as presented were watered down and filled with items supporting real estate interests, the very same entities responsible for and contributing to the housing crisis, and were hard to accept. Still failing to pass a single housing bill, when New Yorkers’ need for housing is so dire should not be where we end up.

I ask, on behalf of New Yorkers struggling to find and remain in their homes, that the three of you work together imminently to discuss and finalize an agreement around Right to Counsel, HAVP and Good Cause Eviction protection. This includes any needed special session with assurance that the governor will immediately sign these bills into law. With rents spiking to historic highs, and thousands facing eviction, Albany has a moral and governing mandate to not let these issues go unaddressed for months that New Yorkers cannot afford.

Sincerely, 

Jumaane D. Williams 

Public Advocate for the City of New York

MAYOR ADAMS, NYC AGING, NYPD ANNOUNCE PLACEMENT OF OLDER ADULT LIAISON IN EVERY POLICE PRECINCT CITYWIDE

 

Announcement on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Emphasizes Steps Being Taken by Adams Administration to Keep Older Adults Safe

 

Older Adult Liaisons Will Coordinate with Police Officers and Community Leaders to Connect Victims to Support Services, Review Crime Reports to Determine Local Needs

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by announcing that an older adult liaison has been designated to every police precinct in the city, as well as every police service area covering New York City Housing Authority developments in the five boroughs. The liaisons will be tasked with connecting victims with support services, educating the public on older adult programs available to them, and informing older New Yorkers on steps they can take to keep themselves safe.

 

“Sadly, one in 10 adults over age 60 suffers from abuse or neglect or is financially exploited, and, too often, these crimes can often go unreported. But we’re working to end that,” said Mayor Adams. “On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we are announcing our latest initiative to protect older New Yorkers: Designating an older adult liaison in every police precinct and service area citywide. These new liaisons will connect victims to support services and work closely with the elder community to identify and address their needs. Older New Yorkers should know that you are not alone, and you do not have to suffer in silence. Your city is here for you, and we will keep you safe. I want to thank NYC Aging Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez, NYPD Commissioner Sewell, and all our partners for their outstanding work in making this new position possible.”

 

“Establishing older adult liaisons at every police precinct across the five boroughs is yet another step toward making New York City the most age-inclusive city possible,” said Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “With more than 1.6 million older adults across the city, this new partnership will connect law enforcement with older adult communities to ensure they have the knowledge, support, and connections they need to stay safe and continue thriving.”

 

“Over 6,000 police officers have gone through trainings to make sure they can identify elder abuse when they see it, and this announcement today is just another step that solidifies our shared commitment to supporting older New Yorkers,” said NYC Aging Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez. “These police liaisons will put a face to the resources and programs available to help keep residents safe. At the same time, we will be using data to identify what crimes against older New Yorkers are occurring and adjust our policies to act accordingly so these residents can continue living independently and safely.”

 

“Throughout the five boroughs, the women and men of the New York City Police Department are focused on ensuring that the promise we make to our older residents to maintain their safety and well-being is never broken by incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “And today, together with our government and community partners, we are reaffirming our commitment to preventing and ending elder abuse in all of its many forms.”

 

The idea of new older adult liaisons stemmed from discussions that took place within the “Cabinet for Older New Yorkers,” which Mayor Adams created last year. The NYPD and over 20 other city agencies are members of the Cabinet, and the interagency collaborative aims to realize and institutionalize an age-inclusive New York through structural and systematic solutions.

 

The older adult liaisons will:

• Connect older adults to NYC Aging and other city programs and services that they can benefit from;
• Review complaint reports made to the NYPD involving older adults to provide assistance and follow-up;
• Educate older adults on the latest crime prevention tips; and
• Attend precinct community council meetings to help keep the public informed.

 

Since last August, a similar pilot program has been taking place in NYPD Patrol Borough Manhattan North and in the 5^th Police Precinct located in Chinatown, where there have been about 300 referrals a month to NYC Aging’s Elder Justice Program. While NYC Aging’s Elder Justice Program has received over 2,000 referrals throughout the city over the last year, studies still show cases of elder abuse are consistently underreported nationwide.

 

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day began 17 years ago by the United Nations’ World Health Organization to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, and other crimes that older people across the globe face.

 

“Since it was launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day has helped people throughout the world to understand elder abuse in all its forms, including but not limited to financial, physical and mental/emotional abuse,” said William Dionne, executive director, Carter Burden Network. “With awareness comes understanding and an ability to help elders who are either being abused or who are at risk for abuse. Because elder abuse is often hidden with abused elders reluctant to come forward due to fear of reprisals from their abuser or fear of getting their abuser in trouble or embarrassment at having been abused, an initiative like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day helps bring the abuse of elders to the forefront of the general public and thereby encourage outreach and events to reach those elders being abused so that they know they are not alone and that they can get help.”

 

“Neighborhood SHOPP marks World Elder Abuse Day with renewed commitment to protecting Older Adults,” said Katherine Martinez, president and CEO, Neighborhood Self Help by Older Persons Project (SHOPP). “SHOPP is dedicated to serving older adults and operating an Elder Justice program. This significant day serves as a reminder to raise awareness about the prevalence of elder abuse and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of older adults in our community. As a leading nonprofit organization serving the Bronx for over 40 years, SHOPP strives to prevent and respond to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, advocating for the rights and dignity of older adults. With our comprehensive support services, community engagement, and collaborative efforts, we aim to create a safe and inclusive environment for older adults to thrive.”