MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT FOLLOWING GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after New York Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her 2024 State of the State Address:

 

“Governor Hochul and I have been true partners throughout our time in office, and in her State of the State Address today, she laid out a clear vision that will make New York City a stronger, safer, and more affordable city. Her proposals on housing, public safety, mental health, education, our economy, and more will help us deliver on our commitments to working-class New Yorkers.

 

“Here in New York City, we’ve established a moonshot goal of building 500,000 new homes by 2033, and we’ve made or introduced nearly every change in our power to ‘Get Stuff Built’ and ensure that all New Yorkers can afford to live in the five boroughs. We’re becoming a ‘City of Yes’ — yes to building on my block, yes to building in my neighborhood, yes to building in my community — but we can’t do it alone. With the governor’s support, we’re confident that our lawmakers will also say yes to the legislation that our city needs to address our housing crisis with the urgency New Yorkers demand.

 

“There is no question that our partnership has been centered around public safety, and the governor and I agree that public safety and justice are the prerequisites to prosperity. Governor Hochul has continued to prioritize keeping New Yorkers safe, and by investing in our criminal justice system, we will break the logjams and simultaneously deliver both safety and justice to New Yorkers. With the additional authority that the governor has proposed, we’ll also have new tools to tackle the illegal smoke shops that have popped up on too many corners in our city, giving us the opportunity to get cannabis right in the five boroughs.

 

“We’re also proud that Governor Hochul is bringing the reading revolution we started in New York City public schools to schools across New York state. We’re thrilled to have her support in giving our teachers the training they need to teach the science of reading to young New Yorkers.

 

“Finally, by zeroing in on medical debt, Governor Hochul continues to prove that she is a champion for working-class New Yorkers — particularly Black and Brown New Yorkers who are burdened by a disproportionate amount of medical debt.

 

“We eagerly await Governor Hochul’s budget address next week, where we’re hoping to hear details on how New York state will offer additional financial support to its largest city and the heart of the nation’s economy as we continue to manage the asylum seeker crisis.”

 

Justice Department Releases Information on Efforts to Protect the Right to Vote, Prosecute Election Crimes, and Secure Elections

In advance of this year’s federal election cycle, and consistent with longstanding Justice Department practices and procedures, the department today is providing information about its efforts, through the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Division, National Security Division (NSD), and U.S. Attorneys’ offices throughout the country, to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted free of discrimination, intimidation, or criminal activity in the election process, and to ensure that our elections are secure and free from foreign malign influence and interference.

Civil Rights Division

The department’s Civil Rights Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, and with the criminal provisions of federal statutes prohibiting discriminatory interference with that right. This work is often performed in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ offices.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of a wide range of federal statutes that protect the right to vote including: the Voting Rights Act; the National Voter Registration Act; the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; the Help America Vote Act; and the Civil Rights Acts. Among other things, collectively, these laws:

• prohibit election practices that have either a discriminatory purpose or a discriminatory result on account of race, color, or language minority status;
• prohibit intimidation of voters;
• allow voters who need assistance in voting because of disability or inability to read or write to receive assistance from a person of their choice (other than agents of their employer or union);
• require minority language election materials and assistance in certain jurisdictions;
• require accessible voting systems for voters with disabilities;
• require that provisional ballots be offered to voters who assert they are registered and eligible to vote in the jurisdiction, but whose names do not appear on poll books;
• require states to provide for absentee voting for uniformed service members serving away from home, their family members also away from home due to that service, and U.S. citizens living abroad; and
• require covered states to offer the opportunity to register to vote through offices that provide driver licenses, public assistance, and disability services, as well as through the mail, and to take steps regarding maintaining voter registration lists.

The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination in voting based on disability. The ADA applies to all aspects of voting, including voter registration, selection and accessibility of voting facilities, and the casting of ballots on Election Day or during early voting, whether in-person or absentee.

The Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter interference based on race, color, national origin, or religion.

• Throughout the election cycle, Civil Rights Division attorneys in the Voting, Disability Rights, and Criminal Sections in Washington, D.C., will be ready to receive complaints of potential violations of any of the statutes the Civil Rights Division enforces. The Civil Rights Division will work closely with counterparts at U.S. Attorneys’ offices and other department components to review and take appropriate action concerning these complaints. 
• Individuals with complaints related to possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can call the Justice Department’s toll-free telephone line at 800-253-3931, and can also submit complaints through a link on the department’s website at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
• Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY), or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at ada.gov.

Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. They should also be reported to the department after local authorities are contacted. 

Criminal Division and the Department’s 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices

The department’s Criminal Division oversees the enforcement of federal laws that criminalize certain forms of election fraud and vindicate the integrity of the federal election process.

The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and U.S. Attorneys’ offices are responsible for enforcing the federal criminal laws that prohibit various forms of election crimes, such as destruction of ballots, vote-buying, multiple voting, submission of fraudulent ballots or registrations, alteration of votes, and malfeasance by postal or election officials and employees. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorneys’ offices are also responsible for enforcing federal criminal law prohibiting unlawful threats of violence against election workers, and prohibiting voter intimidation and voter suppression for reasons other than race, color, national origin, or religion (as noted above, voter intimidation and voter suppression that has a basis in race, color, national origin, or religion is addressed by the Civil Rights Division often in partnership with the U.S. Attorneys’ offices).

U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country designate Assistant U.S. Attorneys who serve as District Election Officers (DEOs) in their respective districts. DEOs are responsible for overseeing potential election-crime matters in their districts, and for coordinating with the department’s election-crime experts in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Attorneys’ offices work with specially trained FBI personnel in each district to ensure that complaints from the public involving possible election crimes are handled appropriately. Specifically:

• In consultation with federal prosecutors at the Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C., the DEOs in U.S. Attorneys’ offices, FBI officials at headquarters in Washington, D.C., and FBI special agents serving as Election Crime Coordinators in the FBI’s 56 field offices will be on duty while polls are open to receive complaints from the public.
• Election-crime complaints should be directed to the local U.S. Attorneys’ office or the local FBI field office. A list of U.S. Attorneys’ offices and their telephone numbers can be found at www.justice.gov/usao/districts/. A list of FBI field offices and accompanying telephone numbers can be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us.
• Public Integrity Section prosecutors are available to consult and coordinate with the U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the FBI regarding the handling of election-crime allegations.

All complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should be reported first to local police authorities by calling 911. After alerting local law enforcement to such emergencies by calling 911, the public should contact the Justice Department.

National Security Division

The department’s NSD supervises the investigation and prosecution of cases affecting or relating to national security, including any cases involving foreign malign influence and interference in elections or violent extremist threats to elections. In this context:

• NSD oversees matters involving a range of malign influence activities that foreign governments may attempt.
• NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section oversees matters involving covert information operations (e.g., to promulgate disinformation through social media); covert efforts to support or denigrate political candidates or organizations; and other covert influence operations that might violate various criminal statutes.
• NSD’s National Security Cyber Section oversees such matters when they are cyber-enabled (i.e., when online platforms, such as social media and other online services, are central to the commission of the offense), as well as those involving computer hacking of election or campaign infrastructure.
• NSD’s Counterterrorism Section oversees matters involving international and domestic terrorism and supports law enforcement in preventing any acts of terrorism that impact Americans, including any violent extremism that might threaten election security.

As in past elections, the National Security Division will work closely with counterparts at the FBI and our U.S. Attorneys’ offices to protect our nation’s elections from any national security threats. Attorneys from National Security Division sections will be partnered with FBI Headquarters components to provide support to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and FBI field offices to counter any such threats. The Department of Homeland Security also plays its own important role in safeguarding critical election infrastructure from cyber and other threats.

Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911 and, after local authorities are contacted, then should be reported also to the department.

Protecting the right to vote, prosecuting election crimes, and securing our elections are all essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our democratic system of government. The department encourages anyone with information regarding concerns in these subject areas to contact the appropriate authorities.

For more information about the department’s work to ensure compliance with federal civil and criminal laws related to voting, please visit Voting | Department of Justice and Election Crimes Branch | Department of Justice. 

NYC Comptroller Lander Announces Investigation Into Adams Administration’s 60-Day Shelter Limit for Asylum Seeking Families

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced the launch of an investigation into the City’s implementation of its 60-day shelter limit, reviewing the protocols and processes being undertaken, the effects of those policies, and their financial impact on the City.

In a letter sent to City Hall, Lander requested information about “the protocols City agencies will use to implement” the 60-day shelter limit and reassignment and warned of “the potentially harmful impacts of the policy on families seeking asylum, especially on children who may be displaced from their public school as a result of being transferred to a shelter far from their school.”

“The Administration is implementing one of the cruelest policies to come from City Hall in generations, evicting families from shelter in the middle of winter, and displacing kids from their schools in the middle of the school year,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “How much will the City spend on so-called ‘re-ticketing,’ transfers, and busing? What will happen to the families? How many kids will be displaced from their schools? How will this affect the effort to help new arrivals get the work authorizations they need to secure jobs? That’s what we’ll be investigating.”

The Adams Administration announced the 60-day notice for families to leave their shelter in October, 2023, which would have initially evicted families around Christmas, but postponed displacing families until the new year with an expected start date of January 9.

Due to poor communication from the City to asylum seekers at risk of eviction, some families are uncertain about when they are expected to leave, and when and where a new bed will be available. The Administration expanded the 30-day limit for single adults at the end of November which led to long lines of people waiting in the cold for hours to re-apply for shelter.

Read the full letter Lander sent to City Hall.

Governor Hochul Announces Groundbreaking Medicaid 1115 Waiver Amendment to Enhance New York State’s Health Care System

 

$7.5 Billion Waiver Will Enable New York to Invest Nearly $6 Billion of Federal Funding into State’s Health Care System Over the Next Three Years

Waiver Amendment to Improve Health Equity and Address Health Disparities Throughout State

Waiver Will Deliver Critical Support to Address Health-Related Social Needs, Support Safety Net Hospitals, and Address Workforce Shortages

New York Plans to Submit an Amendment to its Demonstration in Early 2024 to Provide Continuous Medicaid Eligibility for Children Up to Age Six

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a groundbreaking amendment to New York’s Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration that will be catalytic in New York’s continuing efforts to build a health care system that benefits all New Yorkers. The demonstration bundles a comprehensive series of actions to advance health equity, reduce health disparities, and strengthen access to primary and behavioral health care across the state, and will be supported through $7.5 billion in funding over the next three years.

“This amendment allows New York to make investments in critical Medicaid initiatives that will enhance health equity in this state,” Governor Hochul said. “CMS’ approval of the amendment will help us to continue to support underserved communities, provide New Yorkers with critical services such as nutrition and housing support, and improve access for individuals and families affected by substance use.”

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “This Medicaid 1115 waiver amendment will help the Department continue to invest in the health and well-being of New Yorkers. I thank CMS for giving us the opportunity to continue to invest in high quality health services and programs, expand the health care workforce, and strive towards true health equity.”

State Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri said, “After many months of negotiations, we have secured an agreement that is critical to the state’s health care system. Approval of this demonstration amendment will allow the state to advance health equity, reduce health disparities, support the delivery of health-related social needs, sustain critical safety net hospitals, and establish career pathways training programs for front-line health and social care professionals that will target workforce shortages throughout the state.”

CMS’ approval allows New York to make large investments across a series of wide-ranging Medicaid initiatives, including establishing Social Care Networks to integrate health, behavioral, and social care services that connect high-need members to critical nutritional and housing support services; enhancing access to coordinated and comprehensive treatment for substance use disorders; investing in primary care and making long-term, sustainable investments in the state’s health care workforce.

The demonstration amendment also includes funding to support a Medicaid Hospital Global Budget Initiative for a subset of financially distressed safety net hospitals looking to transition to payments that reward value rather than volume of care provided. This initiative will support essential safety net hospitals that help serve the most vulnerable populations and have significantly more adverse health risk factors and poorer health outcomes.

The demonstration will address significant health care workforce shortages in safety net settings through innovative career pathways training programs for front-line health and social care professionals that will increase access to culturally appropriate services. These career pathways training programs will train and educate for the purpose of creating a reliable healthcare workforce pipeline to address workforce shortages, as well as increasing opportunities for employment and career advancement.

The workforce initiatives also include a loan repayment program for certain healthcare workforce professionals who commit to working in community-based practices in underserved areas, including dentists, psychiatrists, and clinical nurse specialists.

By the end of the demonstration, the state’s goal is to have made significant progress in its Value-Based Payment (VBP) strategies and alignment across Medicare and Medicaid to advance primary care and population health outcomes.

CONSUMER ALERT: With Employment Scams on the Rise, New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Offers Job Seekers Tips on How to Spot the Imposters

 

Employment Scams Targeting Job Seekers to Steal Money and Personal Information 

Secretary Robert J. Rodriguez: “For many, a new year is the time to rethink their careers and start fresh, but it also means scammers will prey on unsuspecting job seekers looking for that perfect job”

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for “Tuesday’s Tips” – Practical Tips to Educate and Empower New York Consumers on a Variety of Topics 

For this week’s “Tuesday’s Tips,” the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is warning job seekers to avoid common employment scams. Job scams have been a growing problem in recent years. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the number of reported scams for business and job opportunities quadrupled from 25,068 in 2018 to 95,399 in 2022, and that number continued to grow in 2023 compared to the prior year. The FTC recently released an alert warning college students about a variation on the “job interview” scam.

“For many, a new year is the time to rethink their careers and start fresh, but it also means scammers will prey on unsuspecting job seekers looking for that perfect job in this tight economy,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. Scammers will promise you a great job, but what they really want is your money and your personal information. Don’t fall for it and learn how to spot the imposters by following these tips from our Division of Consumer Protection.”

As you navigate the job market, use the following tips to avoid job scams and fraud.

Be wary of potential employers who:

1. Want personal information prior to an interview.
2. Offer to hire you without an interview or meeting.
3. Only communicate via text message or messaging app.
4. Charge up-front placement fees or impose other charges or fees as a condition of your employment.
5. Ask you to transfer, receive and/or deposit money or receive/send packages (especially from outside the United States).
6. Ask you to download any applications.
7. Do not provide a job description or cannot describe the position about which you are inquiring. 

Protect your personal information: Never give out personal information (such as your social security number, date of birth or bank account information) to potential employers until you know the opportunity is legitimate.

Research organizations before applying: Scammers often promote non-existent job opportunities. To verify a job posting is legitimate, go to the company’s official website to confirm the employment opportunity exists. If you don’t see the job posting on their site, call the company directly to confirm.

Watch out for “too good to be true” offers: Be wary of postings for high-paying and fully remote jobs requiring “no resume” or “no experience.” Always ask questions about the role and take the time to ask questions and confirm details outlined in the job description. Scammers often dodge questions or provide vague answers to pressure you to comply with their requests.

Don’t pay for the promise of a job: Never send money for the promise of landing a job. Legitimate employers or recruiters will never ask candidates to pay to get a job or for a background check.

Beware of check cashing scams: If a potential employer sends you a check instructing you to deposit it and send part of the money back to them, do not deposit that check. This is a scam.

Confirm contact methods: Make sure email communications match the company’s official website and domain. Scammers often pose as a real company using unaffiliated or personal phone numbers and emails.

Use secure and reputable sites when searching for jobs online: The following links include some reliable sources to start or continue your job search.

1. New York State Department of Labor includes resources for job seekers in New York including training opportunities, job openings, and civil service exam information.
2. USAJobs.gov includes job openings nationwide.
3. CareerOneStop lists job openings and employment training programs in each state. The United States Department of Labor sponsors this site.
4. USA.gov includes links to county and local government websites which can list any local open positions or civil service exams available.

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

Housing Lottery Launches For 286 East 163rd Street In Concourse Village, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 286 East 163rd Street, a six-story residential building in Concourse Village, The Bronx. Designed by Dario Architecture and Design and developed by Armin Jadadic under the 286 East 163rd Street LLC, the structure yields 18 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are six units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $74,778 to $198,250.

Amenities include pet-friendly policies, an elevator, bike storage lockers, and a shared laundry room. Units come with air conditioning and hardwood floors. Tenants are responsible for electricity with electric stove, electric hot water, and electric heat.

286 East 163rd Street in Concourse Village, The Bronx via NYC Housing Connect

At 130 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a monthly rent of $2,181 for incomes ranging from $74,778 to $146,900; two one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,209 for incomes ranging from $75,738 to $165,230; and three two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,463 for incomes ranging from $84,446 to $198,250.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than January 23, 2024.

Five Companies Agree to Pay $7.2 Million to Settle Allegations of Natural Resource Damages to Watershed Areas in Toledo, Ohio

 

Five companies – Ohio Refining Co., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Energy Transfer (R&M) LLC, Pilkington North America Inc. and Chemtrade Logistics Inc. – agreed to settlements totaling in excess of $7.2 million to resolve claims of natural resource damages at the Duck & Otter Creeks Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) site.

A complaint filed with the settlements alleges that the five companies are liable for historic industrial discharges of oil or hazardous substances – including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic and lead – at the Duck & Otter Creeks NRDA site near Toledo, Ohio. The site is just east of the Maumee River and encompasses the creeks, adjoining wetlands, floodplain areas and uplands. Duck and Otter Creeks flow into Maumee Bay in Lake Erie.

In the aquatic environment, oil spills directly cause PAH pollution, and PAHs and metals were identified in creek sediments at different locations throughout the site and in concentrations that could cause injury including to invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals. 

“These settlements will enable restoration work that will significantly improve the environment in the area of the Maumee River and nearby Lake Erie,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Addressing the harm caused by releases of toxic contaminants will benefit local communities and restore important habitat.”

“The Maumee River watershed, including Duck and Otter Creeks, provides key habitats for migratory birds and fish, and supports hunting and fishing activities for local residents,” said Midwest Regional Director Will Meeks of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). “We are excited to work with our partners in the Maumee Area of Concern Advisory Committee and the City of Toledo on restoring this incredible resource. The proposed project will provide additional benefits to the local community and this important river and coastal area.”

“For decades, these companies released toxic industrial pollutants into Ohio waterways, damaging our local wildlife and ecosystem,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Our office is proud to assist the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and the Department of the Interior in taking this critical step to protect our residents’ health, preserve our environment and ensure compliance with CERCLA and other environmental laws.”

A draft Restoration Plan, also being made available today by the USFWS for a 30-day public review and comment period, recommends restoration work at the Delaware and Clark Island Complex within the Maumee River. This project will improve water quality in the Maumee River and includes restoring approximately 23 acres of alluvial islands and constructing shoreline enhancements to reduce further island erosion. The project also includes the creation and restoration of island, wetland and submerged habitat for aquatic and bird wildlife as well as vegetation, including plantings of native plants.

Attorneys from ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling the case in conjunction with the Department of the Interior and USFWS.

The proposed consent decrees were lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The settlements are subject to a 30-day comment period and final court approval. The consent decrees will be available for viewing on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.

U.S. Navy Sailor Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Transmitting Sensitive U.S. Military Information to Chinese Intelligence

 

A U.S. Navy service member was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay a $5,500 fine for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to an intelligence officer from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in exchange for bribery payments.

According to court documents, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, aka Thomas Zhao, of Monterey Park, California, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of conspiring with the intelligence officer and one count of receiving a bribe.

“Mr. Zhao betrayed his solemn oath to defend his country and endangered those who serve in the U.S. military,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “He is being held to account for those crimes. The Justice Department is committed to combatting the Chinese government’s efforts to undermine our nation’s security and holding accountable those who violate our laws as part of those efforts.” 

“Zhao betrayed his country and disgraced himself when he accepted bribes from an intelligence officer with the People’s Republic of China,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “As a result, he has now been removed from the military and will serve time in federal prison. Today’s sentence shows that my office will swiftly act to root out and punish those who seek to undermine our nation’s security.”

“Make no mistake, the PRC is engaged in an aggressive effort to undermine the national security of the U.S. and its partners,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Zhao chose to betray the oath he took to our country and put others at risk by providing sensitive U.S. information to a PRC intelligence official. The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly shown it will freely break any law or norm to achieve a perceived intelligence advantage. Today’s sentencing demonstrates, yet again, the inability of China’s Intelligence Services to prevent the FBI and our vital partners from apprehending and prosecuting the spies China recruits.”

“Mr. Zhao betrayed his oath to the United States and deserves to be held fully accountable for accepting bribes in exchange for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to an intelligence officer from the People’s Republic of China,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Angel Cruz of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Office of Special Projects. “NCIS will continue to leverage its unique law enforcement and counterintelligence authorities to vigorously pursue those who attempt to compromise our national security information. We are grateful to the FBI and Department of Justice for their substantial assistance to this lengthy investigation and greatly appreciate our continued partnership.”

Zhao, who worked at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme and held a U.S. security clearance, engaged in a corrupt scheme to collect and transmit sensitive U.S. military information to the intelligence officer in violation of his official duties.

Between August 2021 and at least May 2023, Zhao received at least $14,866 in at least 14 separate bribe payments from the intelligence officer. In exchange for the illicit payments, Zhao secretly collected and transmitted to the intelligence officer sensitive, non-public information regarding U.S. Navy operational security, military trainings and exercises, and critical infrastructure. Zhao entered restricted military and naval installations to collect and record this information.

Zhao transmitted plans for a large-scale maritime training exercise in the Pacific theatre, operational orders and electrical diagrams and blueprints for a Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system located in Okinawa, Japan.

He used sophisticated encrypted communication methods to transmit the information. He also destroyed evidence and concealed his relationship with the intelligence officer. Zhao’s conduct violated his official duties to protect such information and the oath he swore to protect the United States.

The FBI Los Angeles Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division and NCIS conducted the investigation. IRS-Criminal Investigation provided substantial assistance.