Fischer Senior Apartments Breaks Ground At 97 West 169th Street In Highbridge, The Bronx

 

Construction has kicked off on Fischer Senior Apartments, a senior housing property at 97 West 169th Street in Highbridge, The Bronx. Designed by Shakespeare Gordon Vlado Architects and developed by West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing (WSFSSH), the structure will yield 105 homes for seniors, including 54 units for the formerly homeless. All of the units will be reserved for households 55 years and older making less than 50 percent of the area median income.

To improve affordability, all of the units will be designated as project-based Section 8 from NYCHA, guaranteeing that no tenant pays more than 30 percent of their income to rent.

In addition, WSFSSH will pilot a new housing model to help seniors age in place. This includes two dedicated floors for enhanced care, where studio apartments will share a common lounge and terrace, with on-site caregivers offering supervision, reminders, assistance, activities, and meal preparation. Building staff will also help residents obtain and maintain medical and mental healthcare and counseling, manage their finances, and pay rent.

Residents will also have access to shared laundry facilities, two elevators, and indoor common areas.

“We are currently experiencing a housing crisis with many Bronxites struggling to pay rent and afford basic necessities,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “The Fischer Senior Apartments will ensure that our seniors, formerly unhoused residents, and other vulnerable New Yorkers receive the affordable, quality, and safe housing needed to age in place and with dignity in our communities.”

As described by the design team, the building will have a contextual brick façade that builds on the historic Art Deco designs in the neighborhood, a setback level with a landscaped terrace, maximized light and air to units and corridors, and a landscaped rear yard. At the ground floor, the building entry is flanked by large windows that engage the sidewalk and enhance the pedestrian experience.

Sustainable components include solar shading, energy-efficient windows and lighting, and rooftop solar panels. The building is also expected to achieve the 2020 Enterprise Green Communities standards.

Total construction costs hover around $69 million. The project received funding from Capital One, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development‘s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) program, and a nine percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity syndicated by the National Equity Fund. Additional funding sources include Reso A discretionary funds from New York City Council Member Althea Stevens and Bronx Borough President Gibson, the New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, and a Deferred Developer Fee.

Permits Filed For 233 East 202nd Street In Jerome Park, The Bronx

Permits have been filed for an eight-story residential building at 233 East 202nd Street in Jerome Park, The Bronx. Located between Grand Concourse and Valentine Avenue, the interior lot is one block from the Bedford Park Boulevard subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Franc Gjini under the 2625 Grand Avenue Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 25,846 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 44 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 585 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a cellar and a 30-foot-long rear yard.

Fred Geremia Architects & Planners is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed last month for the two-story residential building on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Miami-Based Businessman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate Russia-Ukraine Sanctions and to Commit International Money Laundering

 

Sergey Karpushkin Agrees to Forfeit Over $4.7 Million in Criminal Proceeds

Sergey Karpushkin, 46, of Miami, a resident of the United States and a citizen of Belarus, pleaded guilty to engaging in a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions and commit money laundering by conducting transactions for the purchase and acquisition of metal products valued at over $139 million from companies owned by Sergey Kurchenko, a sanctioned oligarch.

According to court documents, Kurchenko was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2015 for his role in misappropriating Ukrainian state assets or economically significant entities.

According to the allegations in the information and other public filings: between in or about July 2017 and in or about August 2020, Karpushkin conspired with others to purchase and receive over $139 million in metal products from two companies that Karpushkin knew were owned and controlled by Kurchenko. Karpushkin and his business associates, acting through the Florida-based company Metalhouse LLC, entered into contracts and purchase orders for pig iron, steel billets, and wire rods from these companies, received tens of thousands of tons of metal products from the companies, and agreed to share profits from these unlawful transactions. Karpushkin and his business associates intentionally concealed from U.S. banks and government officials the ultimate source and origin of the goods they sought to acquire, knowing that they did not have the necessary authorization or license from OFAC to transact with Kurchenko and companies owned and controlled by Kurchenko.

Karpushkin pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Embry J. Kidd in Orlando, Florida, to one count of conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and to commit international promotional money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Karpushkin also agreed to forfeit $4,723,625 in proceeds that he obtained as a result of the conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

An indictment charging alleged co-conspirator and Metalhouse president John Can Unsalan, aka Hurrem Can Unsalan, with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of IEEPA, 10 counts of violating IEEPA, one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, and 10 counts of international money laundering was unsealed on April 17, and Unsalan has been detained pending further court proceedings.

The FBI Tampa Field Office and the International Corruption Unit  of the FBI Washington Field Office are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI Miami Field Office.

The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Five Individuals For Over $20 Million Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering, And Kickbacks Scheme

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Naomi Gruchacz, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging acupuncturists JUNYI LIU, a/k/a “Jenny,” and HONGXING WANG, as well as physical therapists JONATHAN LAQUI and MITZY BALDOVINO and insurance company employee VICTOR MAN, a/k/a “Mr. Wen,” with operating an over $20 million health care fraud scheme at medical offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens (the “Offices”).  As part of the fraud scheme, MAN referred patients to the Offices in exchange for kickbacks and also assisted in paying kickbacks to the patients (the “Paid Patients”), who were insured by Medicare and/or other insurance providers (collectively, the “Insurance Providers”).  The defendants and their co-conspirators then billed the Insurance Providers for physical therapy and acupuncture services that were unnecessary or never performed.  LIU was additionally charged with unlawfully enriching herself and a family member through a COVID-19 unemployment benefit scheme.

LIU and WANG were previously indicted and arrested on these charges in September 2021.  LAQUI, BALDOVINO, and MAN were arrested earlier today and presented and arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendants allegedly perpetrated a lucrative scheme in which they fraudulently billed for physical therapy and acupuncture services that were never rendered.  Thanks to our law enforcement partners and the dedicated work of the prosecutors of this Office, the defendants are now facing an array of serious charges in federal court.”

HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz said: “Health care providers who submit fraudulent claims to federally funded insurance plans and bribe patients to participate in kickback schemes put health care benefits for older people and vulnerable populations at risk.  HHS-OIG will continue to hold accountable individuals who exploit federal health care programs for their own greed.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

Between 2018 and 2021, JUNYI LIU, a licensed acupuncturist, operated the Offices from which LIU and her partners fraudulently billed the Insurance Providers for physical therapy and acupuncture services that were not rendered in the manner represented or not rendered at all.  LIU partnered with other licensed medical professionals, including JONATHAN LAQUI and MITZY BALDOVINO, both of whom were licensed physical therapists, and HONGXING WANG, who was a licensed acupuncturist (collectively, the “Partners”).  The Partners’ roles in the scheme typically included: (i) allowing the Offices to use their enrollments with the Insurance Providers to submit to the Insurance Providers materially false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for physical therapy and acupuncture services; (ii) creating materially false medical documentation, which stated that certain physical therapy and acupuncture services had been rendered, when such services in fact were not rendered in the manner represented or were not rendered at all; and (iii) contributing financing for the Offices, including for the payment of cash kickbacks to the Paid Patients to induce those patients to provide their insurance information and receive medically unnecessary and/or non-existent services at the Offices. 

In furtherance of the scheme, LIU paid cash kickbacks to MAN and others in exchange for recruiting and referring the Paid Patients, all beneficiaries of the Insurance Providers, to the Offices.  The beneficiaries also received cash kickbacks, paid by MAN and others, in exchange for their insurance information and their signatures on sign-in sheets and other documents.  In some instances, these Paid Patients visited the Offices, signed in, and received unnecessary physical therapy and acupuncture services.  In other instances, the Paid Patients visited the Offices, signed a sign-in sheet and other documents, and then left without receiving any services at all.  In yet other instances, the Paid Patients did not visit the Offices at all and instead signed sign-in sheets and other documents brought to them elsewhere by MAN and others.  Regardless of whether the Paid Patients received any services or even visited the Offices at all, LIU and her co-conspirators used the Paid Patients’ insurance information to fraudulently bill the Insurance Providers for unnecessary and/or never rendered services.  

While LIU and her co-conspirators were defrauding the Insurance Providers of millions of dollars, from April 2020 through September 2021, LIU also engaged in a scheme to obtain COVID-19 unemployment benefits for herself and a family member (the “Family Member”) by fraudulently submitting and causing to be submitted to the New York Department of Labor materially false online applications and certifications for COVID-19 benefits.  Among other things, the applications and/or certifications represented that LIU was unemployed when, in fact, she continued to operate the Offices for all or nearly all of this period, and the applications and/or certifications represented that the Family Member was unable to work because of COVID-19 during a five-month period when the Family Member was in China. 

JUNYI LIU, 69, of Great Neck, New York, JONATHAN LAQUI, 46, of Rahway, New Jersey, MITZY BALDOVINO, 46, of the Bronx, New York, HONGXING WANG, 63, of Brooklyn, New York, and VICTOR MAN, 60, of Queens, New York, are all charged with conspiring to commit health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  LIU, LAQUI, WANG, and MAN are also charged with conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, which has a maximum penalty of five years in prison.  LIU is additionally charged with wire fraud, which has a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and theft of Government funds, which has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.  MAN is further charged with violating the Anti-Kickback Statute, which has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.   

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HHS-OIG’s New York Office and the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.  Mr. Williams also thanked the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General for their assistance.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment 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 Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

NYC Pension Funds Sue Fox Corporation Board for Breach of Fiduciary Duty in Connection with Defamatory Broadcasts

 

The five New York City pension funds filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit today against the board of directors and certain officers of Fox Corporation, the parent company of Fox News Network, for breach of fiduciary duty. The funds are long-term shareholders of Fox Corporation, with approximately 572,946 shares of Fox Class A stock and 285,338 shares of Fox Class B stock worth, valued at $27.7 million as of August 31, 2023.

“Fox’s board of directors has blatantly disregarded the need for journalistic standards and failed to put safeguards in place despite having a business model that invites defamation litigation,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “A lack of journalistic standards and a proper strategy to mitigate defamation has clearly harmed Fox’s reputation and threatens their bottom line and long-term profitability. Clear governance systems are absolutely necessary for the long-term health of a company. As Fox’s board continues to ignore these red flags, we are holding them accountable as long-term shareholders.”

The complaint alleges that the Board knew that Fox News’s promotion of political narratives without regard for whether the underlying factual assertions were true created defamation risk, starting with false claims that murdered Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich provided hacked emails to WikiLeaks and continuing through false claims that election technology companies U.S. Dominion, Inc. and Smartmatic USA Corp. rigged the 2020 presidential election.

The complaint further alleges that Fox had a business model of broadcasting stories that appealed to their viewers, regardless of the truth or factual basis for those claims, meaning that Fox’s Board needed to be particularly attuned to the risk of defamation litigation. Instead, the complaint alleges that defendants consciously disregarded that risk.

In the suit, the funds highlight Fox’s illegal business model of pursuing profits by committing actionable defamation and allege that the company undertook no good-faith efforts to monitor for or mitigate defamation risk. The funds also allege that the Defendants took no meaningful steps to protect the Company and are liable for the harm to Fox that has resulted from their breaches of fiduciary duty, including Fox’s $787.5 million settlement with Dominion. The Board’s failures have also brought increased scrutiny on Fox’s adequacy to hold an FCC broadcast license.

The lawsuit seeks to recover from Fox’s officers and directors damages that their misconduct has caused to the company, including amounts paid in settlement and legal fees arising out of lawsuits brought by Dominion and Smartmatic.

The New York City Funds are partnering in this lawsuit with the State of Oregon by and through the Oregon State Treasurer and the Oregon Department of Justice, on behalf of the Oregon Investment Council and the Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund. They are represented by the New York City Law Department as well as counsel at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Friedlander & Gorris, and Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein.

In addition to Comptroller Lander, the trustees of the five New York City pension funds are as follows:

New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS): Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Borough Presidents: Mark Levine (Manhattan), Donovan Richards Jr. (Queens), Vito Fossella (Staten Island), and Vanessa L. Gibson (Bronx); Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Richard Davis, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; and Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS): Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments; Chancellor’s Representative, Greg Faulkner, New York City Department of Education Panel for Educational Policy; and Thomas Brown (Chair), Victoria Lee, and David Kazansky, all of the United Federation of Teachers.

New York City Fire Pension Fund (Fire): Mayor Eric Adams’ Representative Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments;  New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh (Chair); New York City Finance Commissioner Preston Niblack; Andrew Ansbro, President, Robert Eustace, Vice President, Chris Viola, Treasurer, and Eric Bischoff, Staten Island Representative and Chair, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York; Sean Michael, Chiefs’ Rep., Joe Camastro, Lieutenants’ Rep. and Liam Guilfoyle, (Chair), Uniformed Fire Officers Association; and Peter Devita, Marine Engineers Association.

New York City Police Pension Fund (Police): Mayor Eric Adams’ Representative Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments; New York City Finance Commissioner Preston Niblack; New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban (Chair); Chris Monahan, Captains Endowment Association; Louis Turco, Lieutenants Benevolent Association; Vincent Vallelong, Sergeants Benevolent Association; Paul DiGiacomo, Detectives Endowment Association; and Patrick Hendry, Daniel Terrelli, Albert Alcierno and Arthur Egner all of the NYC Police Benevolent Association.

Board of Education Retirement System (BERS): Schools Chancellor David C. Banks, Represented by Karine Apollon; Mayoral appointees Lilly Chan, Marjorie Dienstag, Gregory Faulkner, Anita Garcia, Anthony Giordano, Dr. Angela Green, Alan Ong, Phoebe Sade-Arnold, Maisha Sapp, Venus Sze-Tsang, Gladys Ward; CEC appointees Naveed Hasan, Jessamyn Lee, Thomas Sheppard, and Ephraim Zakry; Borough President Appointees Geneal Chacon (Bronx); Tazin Azad (Brooklyn); Kaliris Salas-Ramirez (Manhattan); Sheree Gibson (Queens); Aaron Bogad (Staten Island); and employee members John Maderich of the IUOE Local 891 and Donald Nesbit of District Council 37, Local 372.

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Crack Down on Telemarketers

 

Legislation (A4456/S4617) Nearly Doubles the Maximum Fine for Telemarketers Who Violate the Do Not Call Registry

Increased Penalty Will Help Safeguard New Yorkers from Continuous, Unwanted Calls

 Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (A4456/S4617) to crack down on telemarketers and safeguard New Yorkers from continuous, unwanted calls. This legislation will help curb calls by nearly doubling the fine for telemarketers violating the Do Not Call Registry.

“Every day, hard-working New Yorkers are forced to field call after call from relentless telemarketers,” Governor Hochul said. “we’re raising the penalty for violators of the Do Not Call Registry to deter telemarketers, protect New Yorkers, and send a clear message that New York won’t tolerate these frustrating, unsolicited calls.”

Legislation (A4456/S4617) amends the general business law to raise the maximum fine for violators of the Do Not Call Registry from the current $11,000 penalty set in 2004 to $20,000. By raising the fine, this legislation will deter telemarketers and safeguard New Yorkers from incessant calls. This builds on legislation Governor Hochul signed into law in December 2022 to require telemarketers to give customers the option to be added to the company's do-not-call list at the outset of certain telemarketing calls.

DEC Adds 12 New Locations to New York State Birding Trail

 

New Locations Bring Total Number of Sites Statewide to 344

Trail Provides Birding Opportunities for All New Yorkers, Regardless of Age, Ability, Identity, or Background

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the addition of 12 new locations to the New York State Birding Trail. These new locations bring the total number of birding trail locations across the state to 344 and provide a wide variety of quality birding experiences for everyone, regardless of age, ability, identity, or background.

“The New York State Birding Trail is helping enhance access to nature for countless New Yorkers, from Long Island to Buffalo,” said Commissioner Seggos. “The 12 new birding trail sites announced today will help attract even more visitors to experience the outdoors close to home, particularly during key times of year for birders, like the current fall migration, and bring the total to more 340 diverse and unique birding opportunities available across New York State.”

Birdwatching has become one of New York’s fastest-growing recreation and tourism activities. DEC manages the New York State Birding Trail in collaboration with partners that include the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The statewide trail network includes promoted birding locations that can be accessed by car or public transportation, providing an inclusive experience for all visitors to enjoy birds amid beautiful natural settings with little or no cost or investment in equipment.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “The New York State Birding Trail helps people see and learn about our state’s diverse species of birds in their native habitats. These 12 new locations add to the all the great places New Yorkers and visitors can enjoy and appreciate the natural world – and we encourage all to check them out."

Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “This fall, as visitors and birds flock to New York, we are excited that there are even more areas on the New York State Birding Trail to appreciate our flying feathered friends. I LOVE NY is proud that there are so many prime locations that welcome birdwatchers of all ages and experiences. Coupled with the expanded Trail, there are countless opportunities for a fall getaway - from one of the longest foliage seasons in the country, to fall festivals, delicious food and craft beverages, and unique accommodations, making it easy to love New York.”

The new locations are located on public and private lands across the state:

• Central-Finger Lakes: Baltimore Woods Nature Center (Onondaga County)
• Greater Niagara:
  • Amherst Veterans Canal Park (Erie County)
  • Eight locations within the City of Buffalo (Erie County)
    • Cazenovia Park
    • Delaware Park
    • Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park
    • Ship Canal Commons/Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park
    • South Park / Buffalo Botanical Gardens
    • Unity Island
    • Broderick Park
    • Bird Island Pier

• Long Island: Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center (Nassau County)
• Southern Tier: Audubon Community Nature Center (Chautauqua County)

Now is an exciting time for birding with fall migration underway, and these new additions provide visitors with unique experiences, from large preserves and nature centers with diverse habitats to urban oases steeped in history and teeming with wildlife. As birds make their way back to their wintering homes, a favorite birding site can change within a few days, with different species traveling in and out of a region.

The New York State Birding Trail map is available at www.ibirdny.org and provides valuable information on each site such as location, available amenities, species likely to be seen, directions, and more. Digital information on the Birding Trail will be updated periodically, so budding outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to check back often. DEC encourages birding enthusiasts to visit I Bird NY for more information on where and how to observe birds, upcoming bird walks, a downloadable Beginner's Guide to Birding (available in Spanish), and additional resources.

DEC also reminds New Yorkers to turn off nighttime lights during fall migration. The ‘Lights Out’ initiative is aimed at keeping non-essential outdoor lighting from affecting the ability of birds to migrate successfully. Many species of shorebirds and songbirds rely on constellations to help them navigate to and from their summer breeding grounds through the State. Excessive outdoor lighting, especially in adverse weather conditions, can cause these migrating birds to become disoriented.

In addition to State-owned and managed locations for the Birding Trail, publicly and privately managed sites can complete a simple self-nomination process to be considered for inclusion on the trail. Nominations are reviewed and added to the Birding Trail on a quarterly basis.

Selected sites meet criteria to help ensure a positive experience for visitors throughout the state. Additionally, sites post signage noting them as official locations on the Birding Trail. For information on the nomination process and the updated form and guidelines, see www.ibirdny.org.

New segments of the Birding Trail were opened in a phased approach from October 2021 through August 2022. DEC continues to solicit input from a wide range of New Yorkers and organizations that represent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and is making trail information available in both English and Spanish. Bird walks will be held in collaboration with organizations working with BIPOC communities.

DEC manages and oversees five million acres of public lands and conservation easements and plays a vital role in both protecting New York’s natural resources and providing opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors. From fishing on scenic streams, hiking and rock climbing, swimming and boating, birding, and nature study, or simply relaxing in a tent under the stars, there are endless adventures to be found. Visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/.

Washington Man Sentenced for Bringing Box of Molotov Cocktails to Protest March in Summer 2020

 

A Washington man was sentenced in the U.S. District Court in Seattle to 40 months in prison for his role in a plot to burn the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) building in downtown Seattle in September 2020.

According to court documents, Justin Christopher Moore, 35, of Renton, made and carried a box of 12 Molotov cocktails in a protest march to the Seattle Police Officers Guild building on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2020. Ultimately, the marchers were moved away from the building in downtown Seattle. Police smelled gasoline and grew concerned about the intentions of protestors. The box containing the 12 gasoline devices was found in the parking lot next to the SPOG building. Using video from that day and from other protests, as well as information from the electronic devices of other co-conspirators, Moore was confirmed as the person seen carrying the box of destructive devices.

In June 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Moore’s residence. They seized clothing that is consistent with the images of what Moore was wearing when he carried the Molotov cocktails. From the basement storage area, they also recovered numerous items that are consistent with manufacturing explosive devices. Law enforcement recovered a notebook in which Moore had made entries related to the manufacturing of destructive devices and the ingredients necessary.

In asking for a 41-month sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg for the Western District of Washington noted that carrying and leaving the box of explosive bottles was inherently dangerous. “Moore’s offense was extremely dangerous and created a substantial risk of injury to numerous bystanders…. Moore carried the box of 12 Molotov cocktails in a crowd of over 1,000 people who were participating in the protest march. All of them were in harm’s way if one of the devices had exploded.”

The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department investigated the case.