Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Submits Over 5,000 Signatures to Board of Elections, Demonstrating Ballot Strength Against Rep. Joe Crowley

Breaking with New York City political convention, 100% of Ocasio-Cortez’s petition signatures were collected by volunteer canvassers.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez submitted more than 5,400 signatures to the Board of Elections today for New York 14’s Democratic Congressional primary, demonstrating grassroots strength in her race for NY-14, covering parts of The Bronx and Queens. Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign organized an all-volunteer grassroots field campaign, which mobilized more than 140 volunteer witnesses to collect the campaign’s signatures. In a remarkable feat for New York City politics, not a single paid petitioner was used in the effort.

The effort alone is historic, as Ocasio-Cortez’s candidacy is creating the first primary election for NY-14 in 14 years.

Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez is a third-generation Bronxite, educator, and organizer mounting a historic grassroots candidacy in the Bronx and Queens. Ocasio-Cortez grew up experiencing the reality of New York’s rising income inequality, inspiring her to organize and run on a progressive platform rejecting Corporate PAC funds. As a member of a large Puerto Rican extended family, she saw the differences in the education and opportunities available to family members living in the Bronx versus family living in Westchester County. After graduating Boston University with degrees in Economics and International Relations, she worked in the office of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, seeing firsthand the heartbreak and family separation caused by the unaccountable tactics of ICE. After this, she was passionate about returning to work with Latinx youth in the Bronx and across the United States to eventually work as an Educational Director with the National Hispanic Institute, a role in which she helped Americans, DREAMers and undocumented youth in community leadership and college readiness. After the financial crisis of 2008, tragedy struck when her father, Sergio Ocasio-Roman, passed away, forcing her family to sell their home. Alexandria pulled extra shifts to work as a waitress and bartender to support her family during this time, deepening her commitment to issues impacting working-class people. During the 2016 presidential election, she worked as a volunteer organizer for Bernie Sanders in the South Bronx, expanding her skills in electoral organizing and activism that has taken her across the country and to Standing Rock, South Dakota to stand with indigenous communities, then back to New York’s 14th Congressional District to launch her people-funded, grassroots campaign for Congress. Today, her filing creates the first primary in this district for 14 years.

Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza Visit PS 25

  The above photo is what the Mayor and Schools Chancellor's visit to PS 25 located in District 7 was all about. Children learning, and the Pre k and PrePre K programs at the school. This class was a PrePre K class made up of three year old children who are getting a real head start on learning. You can see interaction with the Mayor and Chancellor by children who are learning. PS 25 has a school uniform code as you can see, which also can benefit the children on how to dress properly for their future. The principal of PS 25 Carmen Toledo is a well experienced principal and for the past eight years PS 25 has been rated a school in 'Good Standing". As a matter of fact I remembered Principal Toledo  from PS 3 in District 10 when I was a parent leader many years ago. Ms. Toledo also remembered me, but she was a little busy with the Mayor and Schools Chancellor.

  After interacting with most of the children in this class the Mayor and Schools Chancellor went to another class, this time a PreK class. Thee the children were learning about the different modes of transportation. there was a story board set up with three different areas, and the children were asked what mode of transportation does this thing do. There was an airplane, which one child said 'the airplane flies in the sky'. There was a bicycle, where one child said 'I ride my bike on the sidewalk'. There was a boat, where one child said "the boat rides on top of the water".  

  After the second class the Mayor and Schools Chancellor were joined by DEputy Mayor J. Philip Thompson for a mini press conference. Mayor de Blasio opened by saying that he was amazed at what we all saw. The passion of the children for learning and their energy. They wanted to answer every question he added. He then reminded everyone that the children were three and four year olds. He then spoke of his 'Vision of equity and excellence" for all students. 

  The Mayor then introduced Chancellor Carranza, who praised Principal Toledo for her leadership at the school. The Chancellor went on to say that currently only two boroughs have the PrePreK program that being Brooklyn and the Bronx, but that he intends to bring the program to every borough. The Chancellor then went on to praise the mayor and his administration, and said that this will have its rewards further down the educational line. Chancellor Carranza then became a little political as the mayor grinned when he said "Can you imagine if adults worked cooperatively like our children do?"

  Deputy Mayor Thompson also spoke, saying that he like the chancellor is relatively new to the administration, while he also praised the work of PS 25 Principal Carmen Toledo. He said that his mission (and the administrations clear vision) is to have 3-K available to every child in New York City from Central Brooklyn to the South Bronx.

  Mayor de Blasio then concluded by saying that he could feel the warmth of PS 25 when he came through the doors, that learning could be seen in all the classrooms that he and the chancellor visited, and that PS 25 is a positive place full of possibilities. It takes a lot to build that kind of community, but it has been built here at this school. He then left for his next school visit with the chancellor without taking any questions.

U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Additional Charges Against Athletic Apparel Company Executive And Others For Allegedly Defrauding Four NCAA Division I Universities

  Robert S. Khuzami, the Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, announced the filing of a Superseding Indictment against defendants JAMES GATTO, a/k/a “Jim,” MERL CODE, and CHRISTIAN DAWKINS in United States v. Gatto, 17 Cr. 686 (LAK).  The Superseding Indictment (“the Indictment”) expands the scope of the charged wire fraud conspiracy to include alleged payments to the families of six student-athletes in connection with those players’ decisions to attend four different NCAA Division I Universities – the University of Louisville, the University of Miami, the University of Kansas, and North Carolina State University – all of which were sponsored by the same major athletic apparel company (“Company-1”).[1]

The investigation remains ongoing.  The FBI strongly encourages anyone with information they believe to be relevant to contact the FBI by calling a special hot line established to receive tips in connection with this investigation: 212-384-2135.

[1] As the paragraph above indicates, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.

FARC Members And Associates Charged With Conspiring To Import Cocaine Into The United States

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jesse Garcia, Assistant Andean Regional Director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced today that four members and associates of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the “FARC”)—SEUXIS PAUCIS HERNANDEZ-SOLARTE, a/k/a “Jesus Santrich,” MARLON MARIN, ARMANDO GOMEZ, a/k/a “El Doctor,” and FABIO SIMON YOUNES ARBOLEDA—were arrested yesterday in Colombia for conspiring and attempting to import cocaine into the United States.  The United States is seeking the defendants’ extradition from Colombia. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants conspired to ship thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to the streets of the U.S.  Thanks to the investigative work of the DEA, they are now under arrest and face significant criminal charges.”

Assistant Regional Director Jesse Garcia said:  “This significant enforcement operation demonstrates that there remains within the Government of Colombia willing partners, determined to support the United States and DEA’s counter drug mission in Colombia, who are also willing to pursue justice no matter where the investigations lead.  This investigation was heavily supported by DEA’s Sensitive Investigative Unit (SIU) program and Colombian Attorney General Nestor Humberto Martinez.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed in federal court:

From June 2017 up to April 2018, HERNANDEZ-SOLARTE, MARIN, GOMEZ, and YOUNES ARBOLEDA worked together to produce and distribute approximately 10,000 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to the United States and elsewhere.  During this time, the defendants were members and associates of the FARC.  HERNANDEZ-SOLARTE was a high-ranking member of the FARC leadership and a candidate to be seated in Colombia’s House of Representatives.  During the course of their cocaine trafficking, HERNANDEZ-SOLARTE, MARIN, GOMEZ, and YOUNES ARBOLEDA represented that they had access to laboratories to supply the cocaine and to U.S.-registered airplanes to transport the drugs within and through Colombia.  The defendants also supplied kilograms of cocaine to others as, among other things, a demonstration of their access to ton quantities of cocaine. 

The Indictment charges HERNANDEZ-SOLARTE, 51, MARIN, 39, GOMEZ, 70, and YOUNES ARBOLEDA, 72, all of Colombia, with one count of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, and two counts of attempting to import cocaine into the United States.  If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison on each count. 

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, Bogota Country Office, and Miami Field Office, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.  He also thanked the Criminal Division’s Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section Judicial Attaches in Colombia, who provided substantial assistance. 

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  The potential mandatory minimum and maximum sentence in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

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

Previously Convicted Physician Arrested For Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SPYROS PANOS, a former orthopedic surgeon, who was previously convicted of health care fraud, was charged with wire fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a scheme in which he assumed the identity of a licensed orthopedic surgeon and obtained over $860,000 in payments for reviewing patient files in Workers Compensation cases.  PANOS was arrested this morning at his home in Hopewell Junction, New York, and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison in White Plains federal court this morning.

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

SPYROS PANOS, the defendant, was an orthopedic surgeon practicing in Dutchess County and residing in Hopewell Junction (the “PANOS Residence”).  In or about August 2013, PANOS surrendered his license to practice medicine, and on or about October 31, 2013, he pled guilty, in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, to a health care fraud charge (the “Health Care Fraud Charge”).  In or about April 2014, PANOS began serving a 54-month sentence.  On or about September 16, 2016, PANOS was released to a halfway house and then, about a month later, to home confinement.  Since March 2017, he has been serving a two-year term of supervised release. 

In connection with medical treatment relating to Workers’ Compensation claims, a peer review may be conducted when a treating physician requests a variance in treatment.  The doctor performing the peer review is a licensed independent doctor who reviews the patient file but does not examine the patient, and writes a report opining whether the variance is appropriate.  There are companies that supply doctors who conduct such peer reviews.  Prior to being assigned to perform peer reviews, the doctor must establish that he/she has the proper credentials by providing, among other things: the schools from which the doctor earned his/her degrees and other educational credentials, the states in which he/she is licensed to practice medicine, and other pedigree and background information such as birth date and social security number.

In or about December 2013 (which was after PANOS pled guilty on October 31, 2013, and before he surrendered to serve his sentence on April 2, 2014) a company called Excel O LLC (hereafter “Excel O”) was formed.  The registered agent for Excel O is a family member of PANOS and is not a licensed physician (“Family Member-1”).

An orthopedic surgeon purporting to be practicing medicine at “Excel Orthopedics” (the “Excel Doctor”) performed peer reviews for several review companies.  The same credentialing information for the Excel Doctor was submitted to five of the Review Companies (the “Five Review Companies”), and they paid for the Excel Doctor’s peer review services by checks made out to Excel O LLC or Excel Orthopedics.  The Excel Doctor communicated with them using the same email address (the “Email Account”) that is subscribed to by the Excel Doctor and was created on or about September 13, 2013, approximately one month before SPYROS PANOS, the defendant, pled guilty to the Health Care Fraud Charge.  Thereafter, PANOS communicated with at least two of the companies by email and logging on to the companies’ secure servers through an IP address assigned to PANOS’s residence.

On or about December 21, 2013, approximately six months before PANOS surrendered to serve his prison sentence, an account in the name of Excel O was opened at a local credit union (“Excel O Account-1”).  Family Member-1 is the only name associated with the account. Between the time Excel O Account-1 was opened until about three months after PANOS surrendered to serve his sentence for the Health Care Fraud Charge, checks totaling over $239,000, issued by one of the above review companies, as well as a sixth review company, made out to Excel O LLC or Excel Orthopedics, were deposited into Excel O Account-1.  No further checks from peer review companies were deposited into Excel O Account-1.

On or about December 2, 2016, approximately two months after PANOS was released from prison, a second Excel O account was opened at the same credit union (“Excel O Account-2”) and, again, Family Member-1 is the only name associated with the account.  Between in or about December 2016 and in or about October 2017, over $636,500 in checks issued by the Five Review Companies, made out to Excel O LLC or Excel Orthopedics, were deposited into Excel O Account-2.

After the Review Companies’ checks were deposited into these accounts, money was removed through withdrawals of cash or checks that were made out to Family Member-1, drawn on the accounts, and then deposited into a third account (the “Family Account”).  The Family Account is in the name of Family Member-1 and two other members of PANOS’s family, neither of whom is a licensed physician.  From the Family Account, some money was withdrawn and over $100,000 was transferred to bank accounts in Hong Kong.  A member of PANOS’s family deposited Review Company checks into Excel O Account-2, withdrew money from that account, and transferred money into the Family Account.  And, on several occasions in September and October of 2017, PANOS and Family Member-1 went to the credit union and wire transferred money out of the Family Account. 

The doctor whose credentialing information was submitted to the review companies and represented to be the Excel Doctor’s credentials (“Doctor-1”) is a licensed physician who is an orthopedic surgeon employed by a practice in Westchester County, not Excel Orthopedics. Doctor-1 did not submit his/her credentialing information to the review companies referred to above, did not conduct any peer reviews, did not authorize PANOS or anyone else to use his/her credentialing information to conduct peer reviews, and did not receive any of the review company fees for services he/she was falsely represented to have performed.  

PANOS, 49, is charged in three counts.  The first count charges him with wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.  The second count charges him with health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.  The third count charges him with aggravated identity theft, which requires a two year prison term to be served consecutive to a sentence imposed for the wire and health care fraud charges.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the New York Inspector General for their assistance.

[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 should be treated as an allegation.

Bronx DA Scheduled Cases of Interest Week of April 9th

Monday, April 9, 2018
ADA Judge Part # Status	Defendant Name	Case Details
Powers,M. Barrett 60 Appearance	KEITH WALTON	Walton, an NYPD Deputy Inspector in the Bronx, is charged with Sexual Abuse and additional crimes for allegedly grabbing a female subordinate and ordering her to kiss him.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018
ADA Judge Part # Status	Defendant Name	Case Details
Brady, A. 96 Discovery	ALEN CALIFANO	Bronx man charged with Assault, Robbery and related crimes for allegedly breaking into a Jewish assisted-living facility and threatening to kill an 84-year-old man.
Kleinman, B. Fabrizio 92 Appearance	MICHAEL JENKINS	Bronx after-school worker charged with Rape and other sexual crimes for allegedly raping a 13-year-old student.
Suminski, G. Michels 77 Decision on Motions	MICHAEL QUILES	Charged with Attempted Murder and other crimes for allegedly shooting a 5-year-old boy in the head with the intention of firing at another man on June 5th, 2017 near East 167th Streeton Washington Avenue.
Navia, J. Barrett 60 Conference	NAOKI YAGUCHI	NYPD officer charged with Official Misconduct and four counts of Operating a Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol for driving while intoxicated while he was on duty and responding to a police call in the 52nd Precinct.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018
ADA Judge Part # Status	Defendant Name	Case Details
NO	CASES OF INTEREST

Thursday, April 12, 2018
ADA Judge Part # Status	Defendant Name	Case Details
Kharkover, I. Neary 70 Sentencing	SHAKUR CARRASQUILLO	Bronx man to be sentenced for stabbing woman and trying to bribe her to no testify against him.

Friday, April 13, 2018
ADA Judge Part # Status	Defendant Name	Case Details
NO	CASES OF INTEREST

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES PROGRESS CONSTRUCTING NYC FERRY LANDING FOR SOUNDVIEW MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES PROGRESS CONSTRUCTING NYC FERRY LANDING FOR SOUNDVIEW

Sixth NYC Ferry Route: Bronx route projected to serve 400,000 riders traveling to and from the Soundview community and Manhattan’s East 90^th Street, East 34^th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced progress constructing a new NYC Ferry landing in Soundview for a new route launching this summer. Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, the City’s Economic Development Corporation, elected officials and community leaders toured the construction site.

The Soundview route is anticipated to serve 400,000 riders a year travelling between the South Bronx and a new landing at East 90^th Street, as well as existing landings at East 34^th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11 in Manhattan. Riders on the new route will be able to make free connections at East 34^th Street and Pier 11/Wall Street to the existing Astoria, Rockaway, East River, Lower East Side and South Brooklyn lines.

“NYC Ferry is a transit success story. It’s reducing commuting times for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and bringing direct access to jobs, schools, parks and cultural institutions to the doorstep of our most underserved neighborhoods. NYC Ferry is helping us make this the fairest big city in America,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

“From the Bronx to Far Rockaway and South Brooklyn, NYC Ferry opens up our waterways and connects New Yorkers as never before. As we work to keep our city diverse and prosperous, we want to be sure opportunity is accessible to everyone,” said Alicia Glen, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development.

“Extending NYC Ferry service to the residents of communities in the South Bronx is essential as we work to make New York a more equitable and traversable city,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President James Patchett. “The two new routes that will start ferrying passengers this summer are a welcomed addition to the already wildly popular system.”

 “A thriving city requires us to consider new, alternative modes of transportation. Soundview is the perfect community to host new ferry service, and it is my hope that this new transit option will not only ease commutes for Bronx residents, but will provide travelers with a new way to visit and explore The Bronx. I thank NYCEDC and the administration for their work to expand ferry service to Soundview, and I look forward to bringing this service to other Bronx communities in the future,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

The Lower East Side route, the other new route coming online this summer, is projected to serve nearly one million riders annually traveling to and from Manhattan’s Wall Street/Pier 11, Corlears Hook, Stuyvesant Cove, East 34th Street; and Long Island City, in Queens.

Initial projections had NYC Ferry carrying more than 4.6 million trips per year on 23 vessels across six routes – providing a new and easily accessible transit option to traditionally underserved communities where jobs and housing are growing rapidly.

In 2017, NYC Ferry served nearly 3 million riders across all four routes currently in operation. The total exceeded the projected number of riders by approximately 34%, or 800,000 riders. In response to the high demand, NYC Ferry announced construction of six higher-capacity boats, outfitted with larger engines and designed to hold up to 349 passengers per vessel.

At $2.75 a ride, and free transfers across the ferry system, the cost is the same as a subway ride.

In its inaugural year, NYC Ferry has employed more than 250 people, and is currently hiring for 75 new jobs, including captains, deckhands, customer service agents, ticketing, operations and other positions. New Yorkers of all backgrounds and skill levels are welcome to apply. For more information or to apply for a job with NYC Ferry, please visit ferry.nyc.

MY FIVE DAYS JOURNEY TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz

District 18 Bronx County, New York

  You should know that I just returned from a trip of five (5) days to the Dominican Republic. On Monday April 2, we arrived at Santo Domingo accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez the newly elected president of Radio Vision Cristiana Internacional, his wife Ana Martinez, Dr. Kittim Silva Bermúdez the Vice-President of Radio Vision Cristiana Internacional and Bishop Nicolas Angustia from the Mennonite Church who also serves as the presidential liaison between the New York Hispanic Ministers.  That same night we were welcomed with a tremendous dinner, which consisted of succulent typical Dominican cuisine at the Criselio Sánchez (FUNCRIS) Foundation chaired by Minister Felicia Valera Sanchez.

On Tuesday April 3 we were greeted at the National Palace for a private meeting with the President of The Dominican Republic the honorable Danilo Medina. That afternoon the Rev. Jose Martinez invited us to his condo where we played dominoes, and feasted on dinner prepared by Sister. Ana Martinez.

On the following day, Wednesday we met with the Hon. Ruben Maldonado Diaz the President of the Chamber of Deputies. There we were treated to a hearty lunch accompanied with other deputies.

Thereafter, we headed to the Chancellery where we were greeted by the Hon. Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado and Ms. Peggy Cabral de Peña the widow of Peña Gómez.   From the Chancellery we were greeted at the television studio as guests of program "Punto y Coma" directed by my friend Juan Cruz Trifolio via T.V. station “Super Canal Caribe”.  Our events ended on Wednesday with an evening at The "Todos Unidos" Foundation directed by Ms. Dinamarca Reynoso de Pastrano.   We were very impressed with Foundation staff and humanitarian work to benefit the poor and needy of the country.

Thursday April 5th, we were up early to attend a television interview at the home of  Ms. Peggy Cabral by 8:00 a.m.   From the home of Ms. Cabral we headed to San Cristobal to the estate of former President Hipolito Mejia’s who invited us to feast on a meal where he personally and graciously served us a Dominican Dish (Asopao) that would raise the dead.

From the home of former President Mejia’s we headed towards the (FUNGLOBE) Foundation to meet with former President Leonel Fernandez, who welcomed shared pleasantries with us.   Our final day Friday April 6^th,  we returned to New York City to retake the reins of our responsibilities.

I want to thank Lic. Hector Mojica the Director of (OMSA) The Metropolitan Bus Services Office, Lic. Pedro Aguiar, Dinamarca Reynoso, Caonabo Muñoz, Pedro Sanchez, Gersan Sánchez and Mr. Geraldo Rosario for all their support, services and courtesy bestowed upon us during our visit to D.R.. 

The express purpose of our meeting with the diverse leaders of D.R., the interviews, and dialogues, where Mr. Antonio Cabrera President of the New York Taxi Federation, and Ms. Bertha Almonte and Ms. Felicia Valera were in attendance, was for the purpose of addressing the problems confronted by the Dominican Diaspora, exclusively the problems which affect the taxi industry and its drivers.  I explained the great participation and the creation of the industry leaders known as " The Group of 25".

It is important that you know that we intend to continue these dialogues with those leaders upon their visits to New York City in the future.

I am Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz, and this is what you should know.