Former Public Administrator Employee to be Sentenced for Stealing Over $78,000 From Estates of Eight Decedents

Used Stolen Funds on a Cruise, Bills, Shopping and More

  Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett, today announced that a former case manager at the Office of the Kings County Public Administrator has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced to make full restitution and serve five years’ probation following a 60-day jail term that he began today. He admitted stealing more than $78,000 from the eight deceased individuals whose estates his agency was administering.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “I am committed to thwarting corruption and abuse of power and holding accountable those who betray the public trust. This defendant was entrusted to administer the estates of deceased individuals, but shamelessly chose to steal from them instead – causing additional grief to their loved ones.”

Commissioner Garnett said, “This public servant abused his authority as a representative of the Public Administrator’s Office by stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the estates of several deceased persons and lining his own pockets. Now, he has a criminal felony conviction and will pay back in full the money he stole. DOI thanks the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their partnership and prosecution of this case.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Fitzroy Thompson, 37, of Park Slope, Brooklyn. He pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny on January 9, 2019 before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, who today remanded the defendant to serve 60 days in jail. When he completes the jail term, he will be formally sentenced on May 15, 2019, to five years’ probation and must make full restitution by the end of the probationary term.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant was employed as a case manager at the Office of the Kings County Public Administrator, which administers estates of those who die without a last will and testament or without family members able to administer their estates. Between July 2017 and April 2018, the defendant stole a total of $78,325 in funds from estates being administered by the Public Administrator.

The defendant used credit cards and checking accounts belonging to estates of eight decedents whose cases he handled or could access to make various purchases and payments. In January 2018, he booked a cruise with Carnival Cruise Line, using one of the decedent’s credit cards to pay a $2,741 fee, the investigation found. He also used estate funds unlawfully to make ATM withdrawals exceeding $35,000, to make lease payments on a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder and a 2016 Nissan Altima, to make rent payments in connection with two properties, to pay phone and cable bills, to buy JetBlue airline tickets to Nassau, Bahamas and to make purchases at Walmart, Fingerhut and other retailers.

The defendant was arrested in March 2018 after the executor of one estate noticed charges on his deceased relative’s account, including the cruise payment, and filed a police report. A subsequent investigation discovered the additional larcenies. The defendant was suspended upon his arrest and resigned from the Office of the Public Administrator.

District Attorney Gonzalez thanked the Kings County Public Administrator’s Office, its staff and Public Administrator Richard Buckheit for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation. The case was also investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Mitchell Eisenberg of the 60th Precinct Detective Squad.

Long Island Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud

Admits Billing Under Names of Other Providers to Evade Review

 Raymond R. Pellegrino, a chiropractor, pleaded guilty to health care fraud.  The plea took place before United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.  When sentenced, Pellegrino faces up to 10 years in prison, as well as restitution of $2,110,000, forfeiture of $504,444 and a fine to be determined.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the guilty plea.

“Pellegrino abused his position of trust as a health care provider by billing millions of dollars in fraudulent claims for services that doctors never provided,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “Today’s guilty plea sends the message that those who engage in such criminal conduct will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”  Mr. Donoghue expressed his grateful appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York State Department of Financial Services for its assistance in the case.

Pellegrino operated chiropractic offices in West Hempstead and Hicksville, New York.  He hired medical doctors for part-time work and then billed Anthem Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield under the taxpayer identification numbers of those doctors for osteopathic manipulation and other services purportedly provided to beneficiaries.  Between December 2013 and September 2014, Pellegrino was paid over $2 million for fraudulent claims filed with Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, billing for medical services that he knew the doctors had not provided.

The Defendant:

RAYMOND R. PELLEGRINO

Age:  50

McKinney, Texas

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY EXECUTIVE INDICTED FOR DEFRAUDING NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY

Defendant Allegedly Failed to Pay Workers the Prevailing Wage on Public Works Projects

 A 22-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Rakesh Kumar, the President of Orba Construction Company (“Orba”), with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and 21 counts of mail fraud and wire fraud.  The charges stem from Kumar’s alleged misrepresentations to the New York City School Construction Authority (“SCA”) regarding the number of hours worked and wages paid by Orba to employees on New York City public school construction projects.  Kumar was arrested today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr.     

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Margaret Garnett, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation, and Michael Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, announced the charges.

As alleged in the indictment, between 2014 and 2018, Kumar submitted false certified payrolls to the SCA for work performed by Orba employees on SCA-funded projects.  These payroll forms falsely stated that Orba had paid its employees the prevailing wage, as required by the New York State labor law and labor agreements with the SCA, when in fact the employees had been paid far less, often in cash or by checks issued by a related company owned by Kumar.

“As alleged, through his actions, Kumar cheated laborers, who toiled many long days at manual labor, out of their honest and hard-earned wages,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “This Office and our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue employers who illegally enrich themselves at the expense of their workers.”

“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to union members’ wages and benefits,” stated DOL OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Mikulka.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations.”

“Theft of wages has far-reaching effects – stripping hard-working employees of their rightful pay, jeopardizing the financial security of all those who rely on the wage-earner’s income, and creating unfair advantages over companies that do right by their workers,” stated DOI Commissioner Garnett.  “In this case, Orba Construction Corporation for five years siphoned workers’ pay through underreporting hours on doctored payroll reports, according to the charges. DOI will continue working with its partners like the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York to investigate bad actors who steal their employees’ wages.”

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If convicted, Kumar faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the mail and wire fraud charges.

The Defendant

RAKESH KUMAR (also known as “Rikki”)

Age:  64

Basking Ridge, New Jersey

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER OF INNOCENT FATHER OF THREE

Defendant Shot Victim Thinking He Was a Rival Gang Member 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a man he thought was a rival gang member. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant senselessly took the life of a man who happened to be in his mini-van in front of a corner deli. The defendant shot the victim six times because he thought he was in a rival gang. We hope today’s sentence brings some closure to the victim’s family in this brutal killing.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Fredrick Jones, 29, of 1106 Adee Avenue, a Bloods gang member, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice David Lewis to 25 years to life in prison for second-degree Murder and 15 years in prison for second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, to run concurrently. The defendant was found guilty of the charges by a jury on October 12, 2018.

 According to the investigation, in the early morning of May 4, 2016, in front of 706 Faile Street, the defendant shot Jose Ingles, 37, of Manhattan, causing his death. The victim was sitting in his car double-parked in front of a deli when the defendant approached the vehicle and shot him six times, striking him in the face, chest and abdomen. Jones shot the victim thinking he was a rival gang member, but he was actually a father of three who was looking for alternate side of the street parking at the time. The incident was caught on video surveillance.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Francis Orlando from Bronx Homicide and NYPD Detective Frank Diaz of the 41st Precinct for their assistance in the investigation.

Bronx Democratic Party Chair Marcos Crespo, and Elected Officials from Across the Bronx Endorse Darcel Clark for Re-Election as Bronx District Attorney

  The Bronx Democratic County organization came out in force Friday to endorse current Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark for re-election. There were members of the City Council, New York State Assembly, various District Leaders, State Committee members, and civic activists in the crowd. The State Senate, and NY Assembly Speaker (and former Bronx Democratic County Leader) Carl Heastie were in Albany as the State Senate was in session and Speaker Heastie working on the state budget. The date of the primary has been moved up from its usual September date to match the federal primary date in June. Petitions are being gathered for Bronx DA Clark and three judges along with slates of Judicial Delegates and Alternates. The petition period began the end of February and runs through the beginning of April just after opening day for the baseball season.   

Above - Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson speaks as to why Bronx DA Darcel Clark should be re-elected. 

Below - City Councilman Ritchie Torres also tells why Bronx DA Clark should be re-elected.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark spoke about her accomplishments as Bronx DA, some of the items she still would like to do, and thanked those gathered for their support and the endorsement of the Bronx Democratic County organization. 

It is unlikely that incumbent DA Clark will have a June Primary, as no other Democratic petition has surfaced. DA Clark is also likely to face token opposition in the November General Election. 

Bronx Borough President Ruben O'Diaz Jr. Irish Heritage Celebration

  Thursday night at the Rambling House in Woodlawn Bronx Borough President Ruben O'Diaz Jr. used one of his little known powers to proclaim that everyone who attended was Irish for the event. BP Diaz Jr. broke from the normal of just handing out awards to the honorees by bringing out a table and chairs so he and the Master of Ceremony Derek Woods could interview the honorees before presenting them their awards. The photos below should tell the rest of the story.

Above - The New York State Courts Fife and Drum unit led the way into the Banquet Room.

Below - Master of Ceremonies Derek Woods greeted everyone.

Above - BP O'Diaz Jr. with Aoife Fleming who sang the Irish National Anthem. 

Below - BP O'Diaz Jr. and MC Derek Woods interview the first honoree ninety-two year old Mr. Michael Fogarty, who went on a tear with his Irish rapping. 

Above - BP O'Diaz Jr. and MC Derek Woods interview the Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. 

Below - BP O'Diaz Jr. and MC Derek Woods interview the Chief of police for the NYPD Chief Terrance A. Monahan. 

A group photo of the Honorees with BP O'Diaz Jr., and the representative of the Irish Consulate. 

One Book One Bronx - Up Next: Training School for Negro Girls

One Book One Bronx returns on Tuesday, March 19, 6:30pm. We'll discuss pages 61-120 (Chapters 6-10) of Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi. We hope to see everyone back at BronxArtSpace, 305 E. 140th St. at 6:30pm

The dates and locations are set for One Book One Bronx's next two books before our summer hiatus. RSVP and join us.

Tuesdays, 6:30pm to 8:00 pm 

April 16, 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2019 

Training School for Negro Girls by Camille Acker 

Location: BronxArtSpace, 305 East 140th St. Bronx 

In her debut short story collection, Camille Acker unleashes the irony and tragic comedy of respectability onto a wide-ranging cast of characters, all of whom call Washington, DC, home. A “woke” millennial tries to fight gentrification, only to learn she’s part of the problem; a grade school teacher dreams of a better DC, only to take out her frustrations on her students; and a young piano player wins a competition, only to learn the prize is worthless. 232 pages >> Click here to RSVP

Tuesdays, 6:30pm to 8:00 pm 

May 28, June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2019 

The Crazy Bunch by Willie Perdomo 

Location: BronxArtSpace, 305 East 140th St. Bronx 

In his fourth collection, The Crazy Bunch, Perdomo returns to his beloved neighborhood to create a vivid, kaleidoscopic portrait of a “crew” coming of age in East Harlem at the beginning of the 1990s. In poems written in couplets, vignettes, sketches, riffs, and dialogue, Perdomo recreates a weekend where surviving members of the crew recall a series of tragic events: “That was the summer we all tried to fly. All but one of us succeeded.” 128 pages >> Click here to RSVP

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 22, 6pm. Join One Book One Bronx and BX Writers for the Bronx launch of Willie Perdomo’s new book, The Crazy Bunch at The Lit.Bar, 131 Alexander Ave, Bronx

Literary Freedom Project is a Bronx-based 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit arts organization that seeks to restore the importance of social and cultural identity through reading. Towards this goal, LFP publishes Mosaic Literary Magazine; develops literature-based lesson plans and workshops; and presents One Book One Bronx and Mosaic Literary Conference.

LFP is a member of the Urban Arts Cooperative.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj Prom Dress Giveaway April 12th