INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR MAYOR ERIC ADAMS

 

On Wednesday, November 30, New York City Mayor Eric Adams will travel to Athens, Greece, to participate in the 2022 Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism. The trip comes following a recent attack against the Jewish community thwarted by local, statewide, and federal law enforcement last weekend.

 

On Thursday, December 1, the mayor will travel to Doha, Qatar, where he will meet with a number of government officials, as well as security and economic development leaders. The trip is intended to learn more about the 2022 World Cup as New York City/New Jersey prepare to serve as a host city to the games in 2026.

 

The mayor will be back in New York City on Sunday, December 4.

 

Board of Directors, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Passing of Joseph Kelleher, Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

VCJC News & Notes 11/25/22

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful! Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 11/25/22 @ 4:13 pm Shabbos morning services at 8:45 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely.  Shabbos Ends Saturday date @ 5:16 pm   Reminder - Membership Meeting 11/27!  There will be a membership meeting on Sunday, 11/27/22 at 10AM to vote on and, hopefully, approve sale of property in Suffolk County.  Only paid members for 2022-2023 may attend and vote. The meeting is set up for both in person and Zoom/phone attendance.  If you are a member, please make every effort to attend this important meeting.  It should be short.   Van Cortlandt Jewish Center 3880 Sedgwick Ave Bronx, NY 10463

Real Estate Developer and Attorney Both Admit to Multimillion-Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme

 

 A New Jersey real estate developer and attorney each admitted to conspiring to orchestrate a mortgage fraud scheme that led to over $3.5 million in losses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Victor Santos, aka Vitor Santos, 63, of Watchung, New Jersey, and Fausto Simoes, 69, of Millington, New Jersey, each pleaded guilty by videoconference to Count One of an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit bank fraud before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From September 2007 through November 2008, Santos, a real estate developer, and Simoes, an attorney, conspired with each other and others to fraudulently obtain mortgage loans with a total value of more than $4 million. Santos orchestrated the scheme to recruit fake, or “straw” buyers to purchase 12 properties in Newark. Using the identity and credit of these straw buyers allowed Santos, Simoes, and their conspirators to conceal their identities from the lender as the actual purchasers of the properties. Santos and others induced people to be straw buyers by agreeing to pay each straw buyer at least $5,000, secure tenants to lease the purchased properties, and cover costs associated with the property, including fees associated with the real estate purchases and the mortgage payments on each of the fraudulently obtained mortgages. Santos, Simoes, and others also caused the submission of fraudulent and false loan applications and documents to the mortgage lender.

Simoes conducted the closings of 10 of the fraudulent transactions and helped perpetuate the fraud by falsely reporting that the straw buyers were providing the cash required at closing when, in fact, Simoes received those funds from a shell company controlled by Santos and another conspirator. For several transactions, Simoes also failed to disclose to the lender that the shell company controlled by Santos and another conspirator would receive a substantial payout from the loan proceeds.

Shortly after the properties were acquired, Santos and his conspirators broke their promises to pay the mortgages. The straw buyers, in whose names the mortgages were obtained and thus were responsible for the payments, did not have enough money to pay the fraudulently obtained mortgages and defaulted, which caused the lender, Fannie Mae, and insurers to lose more than $3.5 million. 

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain to the defendants or twice the gross loss to others whichever is greatest. Sentencing for Santos is scheduled for April 12, 2023, and for Simoes, April 13, 2023.

Two other conspirators previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE RESPONDS TO NEW POLL SHOWING WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR BANNING SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

 

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement in response to new polling that shows broad nationwide support for policies to restrict and end the use of solitary confinement. His bill with Committee on Criminal Justice Chair Carlina Rivera to create an enforceable ban on solitary in New York City has supermajority support in the City Council in spite of continued efforts to advance misconceptions and misinformation about the legislation.

"This new polling shows that there is nationwide bipartisan support for ending solitary confinement, a torture that is currently permitted and practiced within our city. Furthermore, this support falls in line with the framework our bill codifies – prohibiting the harm of isolation, while allowing for separation to ensure safety, de-escalation, and investigation of misconduct.

"Americans are united against continuing torture. Yet here in New York City, purported to be a progressive beacon, some still deny not just the need for an enforceable ban, but the existence of solitary confinement in our jails at all. If the city wants to ‘own’ the problems on Rikers, it has to admit that this problem still exists. Continuing to repeat falsehoods about solitary, and the bill to ban it, is harmful to people on both sides of the bars. 

"Our bill has supermajority City Council support, and it’s time to pass it. As elected leaders, we need to stand up for our values and stand behind the facts and data, not the hysteria and misinformation. Rikers is in crisis, and changing that status quo will require coming together to address the reality of the harm, not ignoring it."

Read the full poll and methodology from Data For Progress here.

 

Good news has been in short supply in recent days. Hatred has been rearing its ugly head on social media and in real-world violent attacks. Many of us are entering this Thanksgiving holiday with a heaviness of heart. We have no choice but to directly confront the great challenges of this moment—and the good news is that we can. Through policies that protect vulnerable communities. By directly challenging bigotry and intolerance wherever it’s spread. By standing with open arms to welcome and support all New Yorkers regardless of where they come from or what background they have.  New York City at its best does these things better than anywhere else in the world. We’ve proven it again and again. It’s something to be truly thankful for, today and every day. I hope that those of you who are celebrating this holiday are able to share and receive love with your family, your community, and all those around you. May that spirit guide us in our important work ahead. Happy Thanksgiving, Mark

Release of BWC Footage from an officer involved shooting that occurred July 9 2022 in the confines of the 113rd Precinct

 

The NYPD is releasing body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on July 9, 2022, in the confines of the 113th Precinct.

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in Nassau County

 

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Miguel Romero, who died on November 19, 2022, in a motor vehicle incident involving members of the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD).

On the evening of November 19, Mr. Romero was walking near the intersection of Front Street and New York Avenue in Uniondale when he was struck by an NCPD vehicle. Mr. Romero was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change.