Recording Artist Casanova Sentenced To 188 Months In Prison For Gang-Related Racketeering And Narcotics Offenses

 

  Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that recording artist CASWELL SENIOR, a/k/a “Casanova,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern to 188 months in prison for racketeering and narcotics offenses arising out of his leadership role in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods Gang (“Gorilla Stone”).  As part of the racketeering conspiracy, SENIOR participated in a shooting in Florida on July 5, 2020, and a robbery in New York City on August 5, 2018, and conspired to traffic over 100 kilograms of marijuana.

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

Since at least 2004, Gorilla Stone has been a brutally violent street gang with a national presence that was founded by SENIOR’s co-defendant Dwight Reid, a/k/a “Dick Wolf.”  Gorilla Stone has many members across New York State, including throughout New York City, Westchester, and the New York State Prison System, and all over the country — such as in Florida, where SENIOR engaged in substantial criminal conduct.  Gorilla Stone is comprised of various sets (or “Caves,” as they are called by gang members).  Gorilla Stone is a highly organized and efficient street gang with an organizational commitment to violence that strictly enforces its internal laws.

SENIOR’s Gorilla Stone co-defendants were charged with a host of crimes committed in furtherance of their joint enterprise.  Some of the charges against Gorilla Stone members include racketeering conspiracy, various frauds, a large-scale narcotics conspiracy that SENIOR actively participated in, myriad firearms offenses, and numerous acts of violence, including a daytime murder of a juvenile in the middle of a Poughkeepsie street; multiple attempted murders and shootings, including two in Florida in which SENIOR was involved; a gunpoint drug-related robbery; and a brutal slashing. 

For over a decade, SENIOR participated in and was associated with the Gorilla Stone racketeering conspiracy.  SENIOR was a powerful, respected, high-profile member of the gang.  SENIOR admitted that he was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants.  SENIOR joined the gang while incarcerated over a decade ago and has remained an active member ever since, including upon his release from custody from a prior case in 2013.    

As part of the racketeering activity, on or about July 5, 2020, while in Florida for a gang member’s birthday, SENIOR shot a gun at a gang member with whom he was having a gambling dispute, hitting one gang member in the leg/calf area and a second, different gang member in the foot when the bullet ricocheted.  A victim suffered serious bodily injury because of the shooting and was treated at a Miami-area hospital for a gunshot wound to the foot.  Thereafter, other party attendees, including a member of Gorilla Stone, discharged multiple firearms. 

Additionally, as part of an August 5, 2018, robbery at a Manhattan diner that SENIOR participated in, a victim was restrained and suffered serious bodily injury.  The robbery started when SENIOR appeared to believe that a female victim took a photo of him from the booth where the victim was sitting.  SENIOR then proceeded to forcefully take the victim’s cellphone.  SENIOR’s gang member associate then came up behind the victim and put her in a headlock until she fell to the floor unconscious from lack of oxygen.   

SENIOR further agreed to traffic at least 100 kilograms of marijuana.  During an approximately nine-month period, SENIOR was responsible for distributing between 100 kilograms and 400 kilograms of his personally branded “2x” marijuana.

SENIOR, 36, of Montville, New Jersey, previously pled guilty on May 11, 2022, before Judge Halpern to one count of conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of conspiring to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana.  In addition to the prison term, SENIOR was sentenced to four years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $50,000.

SENIOR is the 12th defendant in the Gorilla Stone case to have been sentenced. 

Five additional defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing: DESHAWN THOMAS, a/k/a “Don,” AHMED WALKER, a/k/a “Ammo,” BRANDON SOTO, a/k/a “Stacks,” ROBERT WOODS, a/k/a “Blakk Rob,” and BRINAE THORNTON, a/k/a “Luxury.”

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of special agents and task force officers from the FBI, U.S. Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, New York City Police Department, Westchester County Police Department, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockland District Attorney’s Office, and the Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, White Plains, Peekskill, Ramapo, and Clarkstown Police Departments.

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on Deaths of Marcelo Pelaez and Leonardo Rodriguez-Mendoza

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its report on the deaths of Marcelo Pelaez and Leonardo Rodriguez-Mendoza in Queens County. Following a thorough and comprehensive investigation, which included crash reconstruction analysis, review of security camera video, and witness interviews, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer committed a crime, and therefore criminal charges could not be pursued in this matter. 

On May 24, 2021, around 12:30 a.m., an off-duty member of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) was driving home with his wife and daughter after visiting friends. While driving northbound on Woodhaven Boulevard at the intersection with Rockaway Boulevard, the officer hit Mr. Pelaez and Mr. Rodriguez-Mendoza, who were crossing Woodhaven Boulevard from east to west in the northern crosswalk. The officer and multiple bystanders called 911 to request medical assistance. Mr. Pelaez and Mr. Rodriguez-Mendoza were transported to a local hospital. Mr. Pelaez was pronounced dead upon arrival. Mr. Rodriguez-Mendoza was in critical condition and unresponsive; he died in the hospital on July 14, 2021. 

Collision reconstruction analysis by the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad (CIS) and corroborated by an independent expert engaged by OSI determined that the officer had the green light and was driving approximately five to nine miles above the posted speed limit of 30 MPH when the collision occurred.  

Security camera video secured from earlier in the evening shows the officer and his family meeting friends on Myrtle Avenue in Queens around 9:30 p.m. The video shows the officer drink from what appeared to be three beers from a few minutes before 10 p.m. until almost 11 p.m. The officer and his family left around 11:22 p.m., and security camera video from a gas station next to a Burger King on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens shows the family enter the restaurant before getting back in the car with bags of food at 12:04 a.m.  

Officers at the scene reported that the officer did not smell of alcohol and showed no signs of impairment. When CIS arrived nearly two hours after the incident occurred, the officer submitted to three field sobriety tests. He passed all three tests but declined to submit to a breathalyzer test, which resulted in a 30-day suspension from NYPD. 

Under New York law, proving criminally negligent homicide requires proving beyond a reasonable doubt that a person failed to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that death would occur; that the failure to perceive the risk was a gross deviation from a reasonable person’s standard of care; and that the person engaged in blameworthy conduct.  

In this case, though the officer was driving five to nine miles above the speed limit, this does not qualify as “dangerous speeding” under precedent. Further, while he was drinking alcohol earlier in the evening before the collision, there is no direct evidence of the amount of alcohol in his system at the time of the incident, and the multiple witnesses who saw and spoke with the officer after the collision did not identify any signs of impairment. Given the circumstances and the evidence, a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer had engaged in “risk-creating behavior” or “seriously blameworthy carelessness.” 

The NYPD’s patrol guide requires that if qualified to do so, the patrol supervisor must administer an alcohol test to any police officer involved in a collision that results in a death. CIS did not attempt to breath-test the officer involved in this incident until almost two hours after the collision, when CIS arrived on the scene. OSI therefore recommends that all patrol supervisors be trained in the administration of breathalyzer tests and field sobriety tests so that any on-duty or off-duty police officer, or any civilian, involved in a motor vehicle collision can be tested on scene as soon as practicable to ensure the most accurate results.

Governor Hochul Announces $121.6 Million Available for Rail and Port Infrastructure Projects Statewide

 

Funding Supports Reliability and Resiliency Enhancements to Major Trade Corridors

Applications Accepted through October 6, 2023

Learn More and Apply for Funding Here

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $121.6 million in state funding is available through the Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program. This program funds rail and port projects across the state, boosting New York’s trade corridors and its position as a global commerce destination, while enhancing safety. Applications will be accepted through October 6, 2023.

“Sustained commerce is the lifeblood for our regional and state economy, and investing in our trade routes ensures that New York State can remain competitive on a national and global scale,” Governor Hochul said. “I urge anyone with qualifying projects to apply for this funding because modernizing our freight rail and port infrastructure is crucial - not just for the many businesses who depend on safe, reliable commerce routes - but for the quality of life of New Yorkers.”

The Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation. Winning projects will be selected through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria that include a benefit cost analysis, adherence to regional economic development plans, safety enhancements, compatibility with other private and public investments, and actions that enhance resilience and reduce climate risk.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Freight rail is a key component of our state’s transportation network, and by making these smart investments we are creating jobs, ensuring continued economic growth, and reducing New York’s carbon footprint by helping to take trucks off our roads. I commend Governor Hochul for her commitment to modernizing and fortifying New York’s freight rail infrastructure, ensuring New York’s economic competitiveness.”

Eligible project activities include track and bridge rehabilitation; yard, terminal and siding construction; elimination of clearance obstructions; wharf, dock and bulkhead construction and reconstruction; dredging; at-grade crossing railroad crossing resurfacing; material handling equipment storage facilities; wayside detectors and other projects that enhance the safe movement of goods, economic competitiveness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The New York State Department of Transportation will be accepting application forms for this funding opportunity through October 6, 2023. Program guidance and application materials may be found at: dot.ny.gov/railgrants.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON NEW FUNDING FOR THE CRISIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

 

"I am heartened by this investment, and hope the principle behind it is the same that will guide the final negotiations of this budget process. This is what the administration should be focused on funding when it comes to public safety — proven, community-driven efforts to prevent violence and strengthen wraparound services. The Crisis Management System is a program I’ve advocated for over a decade, and it must be a foundation of our strategy to stop gun violence. This funding should be the new floor, not a ceiling — we need to fund other initiatives that build on the success of CMS. 

"In these final days before the final budget, we have a chance to invest deeply in public safety policies that will meet our mandate to help New Yorkers be safe and feel safe, and last beyond any news cycle or administration."

MAYOR ADAMS TO FUND CRISIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AT RECORD LEVEL OF $86 MILLION NEXT FISCAL YEAR

 

Additional $8.5 Million Investment Takes Total Funding to Historic Level

 

Over 40 Organizations Will Operate in 31 Neighborhoods That Account for More Than Two-Thirds of Shooting Incidents Citywide

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the administration will fund the city’s Crisis Management System (CMS) at a record level of $86 million in Fiscal Year 2024 via an investment of an additional $8.5 million. The CMS strategy brings teams of credible messengers to mediate conflicts on the street and connect high-risk individuals to services that can reduce the long-term risk of violence. Overall, the city will invest nearly $200 million for programming in the upcoming fiscal year to reduce gun violence in communities and connect New Yorkers with city-funded services, including school conflict mediation, violence interruption, non-traditional therapeutic services, and more.  

 

Mayor Adams also announced that the Office of Neighborhood Safety, which manages the city’s community violence intervention work, will transition from being overseen by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice to the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). DYCD is uniquely equipped to integrate this work, based on its proven track record of community programming, existing presence in CMS communities, a long-standing relationship with the New York City Police Department, robust agency data collection, and demonstrated capacity to pay out contracts expeditiously. This shift will also enable DYCD to integrate community violence intervention programming into the existing programs it runs, providing a more coordinated suite of services to New Yorkers who are at risk of gun violence. DYCD’s leadership will help ensure the continuation of programs that have a positive impact in an expanded number of targeted communities. Newer and emerging community-based providers will also have an opportunity to engage in city contracting and provide direct services to New Yorkers who need them the most.

 

“We’re proud to make a record investment in community violence intervention programs, because the best time to stop gun violence is before a gun is ever fired,” said Mayor Adams. “These programs are part of how we’ve driven shootings down by double-digits over the course of this administration and make our city safer. We need to dam every river that feeds the sea of gun violence in this city, and community violence intervention is a key tool in our toolbox.”

 

“This administration’s model to address gun violence is focused on prevention — how to stop the violence from happening in the first place,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “Today’s record investment is a reaffirmation of Mayor Adams’ belief that the only way of solving gun violence is by addressing the root causes. With our crisis management system partners who bring real lived experience and deep ties to impacted communities, our city is turning the page on finally bringing peace to our streets and delivering on safety for our young people.”

 

“Today’s record investment in gun violence prevention is about building a better future for our young people,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar. “When we invest in local organizations with built in community trust and proven track records, we are able to speak directly to the people most impacted by gun violence. I applaud Mayor Adams and the Department of Youth and Community Development for their continued investment in addressing the root causes of gun violence in New York City.”

 

“It’s simply not possible to break the cycles of violence through traditional law enforcement methods alone,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “People need to have support from and feel connected to their communities in order to make a positive change in their lives, and that’s what CMS teams provide. Instead of waiting for violence to fester, this administration looks upstream and makes the necessary investments for a better, safer future for our city.”

 

“DYCD is excited to oversee the Office of Neighborhood Safety and integrate violence intervention organizations into our larger network of community partners,” said DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard. “This record investment will create new partnerships, encourage the sharing of space and expertise, and expand the mission of our brave violence interrupters into even more communities. Together, we can elevate our work in addressing youth safety, mental health, community engagement, and family trauma. I thank Mayor Adams for his confidence in DYCD as we align with our community partners to make New York City safer for everyone.”

 

“The Crisis Management System plays a vital role in curbing violence across the city’s high-risk neighborhoods,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. "This commitment reflects the administration’s dedication to implementing a holistic approach to public safety and a dedication to supporting preventative initiatives for youth. We are delighted to stand alongside DYCD, other sister agencies, and community partners to deliver innovative, comprehensive services that address the needs of New Yorkers."

 

The Office of Neighborhood Safety is comprised of CMS, the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety, Atlas, and the Precision Employment Initiative.

 

CMS is a partnership of organizations — including a network of residents, credible messengers, and community leaders — that mediate community conflicts, connect young people aged 16 to 24 most at risk of gun violence to mentorship and risk reduction plans, and mobilize the community to promote peace and shift norms around the use of violence. It is comprised of a street outreach and violence intervention model, with wrap-around services that improve quality of life, address trauma, and promote peace among those most affected by violence, while also ensuring historically disenfranchised New Yorkers have access to opportunities needed to thrive.

 

Teams of “violence interrupters” — typically credible messengers who have turned their lives around — engage individuals most likely to be involved in gun violence. The teams work to deescalate disputes before crises or violence erupt and connect high-risk individuals to extensive networks that provide job training, employment opportunities, mental health services, and legal services to increase the likelihood of long-term violence reduction.

 

“With these much-needed additional financial commitments supporting our model of community-driven, public health-focused approaches to public safety, we can expand the strategies of our credible messengers into other parts of the city stricken by gun violence,” said A.T. Mitchell, co-chair, New York City Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and founder and CEO, Man Up! “We are extremely grateful for Mayor Adams’ support of the Crisis Management System, and for keeping his promise to not only sustain our citywide efforts, but to build on our successes. We also look forward to continuing our outstanding partnership with DYCD, which will help strengthen and build the capacity of our grassroots organizations. The courageous men and women who do this work are excited about ‘CMS 2.0’ and saving even more lives in the neighborhoods that we love and have the honor to serve.”

 

“Keeping our young people close helps to keep them safe,” said Iesha Sekou, CEO and founder, Street Corner Resources. “This funding will allow us to work with young people who are at a higher risk of becoming engaged in gun and gang violence and other criminal activity if they are not properly engaged and employed. We are also excited to receive funding for non-traditional mental health services to support our young participants and their families. Street Corner Resources thanks Mayor Eric Adams for his support of the Crisis Management System, the folks at DYCD, and of course those who are on the ground continuing to do the work. We look forward to safer neighborhoods and a safer New York City.”

Former New York City Department of Education CEO of School Support Services and Three Executives of SOMMA Food Group Convicted of Extortion Conspiracy and Bribery

 

 Today, a federal jury in Brooklyn returned guilty verdicts on all counts of a superseding indictment against Eric Goldstein, the former Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Department of Education’s (NYC DOE) Office of School Support Services, and Blaine Iler, Michael Turley and Brian Twomey, operators of a food services company, with conspiring to commit extortion under color of official right and solicitation and giving of bribes relating to programs receiving federal funds.  The verdict followed a 4-week, trial before Visiting U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin.  When sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Extortion, Hobbs Act Extortion, Conspiracy to Commit Federal Program Bribery, Federal Program Bribery, Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud, and Honest Services Wire Fraud, the defendants each face up to 20 years in prison as well as forfeiture and restitution penalties.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the verdict.

“The defendants’ criminal conduct is a textbook example of choosing greed over the needs of our schools and the well-being of our children.  Our children depended on nutritious meals served in schools and instead, got substandard food products containing pieces of plastic, metal, and bones, which is unacceptable,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Today’s verdict demonstrates the consequences of corruptly placing personal profit over the public interests.”

Mr. Peace expressed his thanks to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, for their outstanding investigative work on the case.

As proven at trial and contained in court filings, between 2008 and September 2018, Goldstein oversaw the management, budget, and operations of several NYC DOE departments, including the Office of Food and Nutrition Services (SchoolFood), which was responsible for managing the overall food service operation for all New York City public schools.  In early 2015, Iler, Turley, and Twomey created a food services company called SOMMA Food Group (SOMMA), to provide food products to retail and food service markets, including to K-12 schools across the United States. SOMMA promoted and sold yogurt, hamburgers, and antibiotic-free chicken products marketed under the brand name Chickentopia.

At or about the same time SOMMA was founded, Goldstein, Iler, Turley, and Twomey co-founded Range Meats Supply Company (RMSCO), to purchase grass-fed beef products that SOMMA, in turn, would then promote and sell under the brand name Range Meats to retail markets and New York City schools. At the same time, Iler, Turley, and Twomey partnered with Goldstein in RMSCO, Iler, Turley and Twomey began to promote SOMMA’s products to SchoolFood officials and employees, all of whom reported to Goldstein in his role as OSS Chief Executive.  During a meeting with Iler in New York in July 2015, Goldstein told him, “I’m going to buy a lot of f---ing chicken from you guys, let’s do the beef.”

Between 2015 and December 2016, defendants Iler, Turley, and Twomey provided numerous benefits to Goldstein, including enticing Goldstein with potentially lucrative business opportunities and monetary payments to RMSCO for Goldstein’s benefit. In exchange, Goldstein used his influence as head of SchoolFood to help Iler, Turley, and Twomey in SOMMA’s business dealings before SchoolFood.  Goldstein helped ensure that SchoolFood accepted SOMMA’s products for purchase, expedited the approval process and resolved disagreements between SOMMA and SchoolFood officials in SOMMA’s favor. The defendants purposefully concealed Goldstein’s ownership interest in RMSCO from the NYC DOE while Goldstein was using his influence and public position at NYC DOE to benefit SOMMA.

In the fall of 2016, SchoolFood stopped serving SOMMA’s chicken tenders after a NYC DOE employee choked on a bone that had not been removed from a chicken tender supplied by SOMMA.  Goldstein, who had final approval as to whether and when the chicken tenders would be allowed back in schools, delayed approving the reintroduction of the tenders until Iler, Turley, and Twomey agreed to transfer SOMMA’s ownership interest in RMSCO to Goldstein as well as to transfer $66,670 to a bank account in RMSCO’s name that Goldstein had opened and controlled.  Following weeks of negotiations, on November 29, 2016, Iler, Turley and Twomey agreed to pay the bribe Goldstein was soliciting and one day later, on November 30, 2016, Goldstein approved reintroduction of SOMMA’s chicken products in schools.  The products were served in schools until April 2017 when, following repeated complaints from students and staff that the chicken tenders continued to contain foreign objects. SchoolFood decided to remove all of SOMMA’s food products from New York City public schools.

MAYOR ADAMS, CHANCELLOR BANKS, AND COMMISSIONER VASAN BRING MINDFUL BREATHING PRACTICES TO ALL NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

All New York City Public schools will soon be required to offer Mindful Breathing Practices Every School Day  

Announcement Will Make Department of Education Only Public School System Nationwide With Yoga Alliance-Approved School-Based Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher Training Curriculum

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks, and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today announced that all New York City public schools — from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 — will soon be required to facilitate two-to-five minutes of mindful breathing practices in schools every day. Today’s announcement aims to increase physical and mental health, enhance social-emotional learning, and improve New York City public schools’ culture. As part of this initiative, the city has already begun a rollout of a citywide professional development program for educators in mindful breathing practices.  

 

Yoga and mindfulness integration into school communities addresses and supports significant social and emotional needs of the youngest New Yorkers. Studies show that mindful breathing practices support students’ ability to feel secure and receptive while learning — leaving positive impacts from the integration of these practices into the school experience. 

 

“We live in a time of toxic social media communities, constant news flashes, and unfiltered alerts, all leaving a toll on the mental health of our students. But, today, it is time for our students to calm their nervous systems down,” said Mayor Adams. “Mindful breathing can be done by anyone, anywhere, and anytime. We are proud to announce another promise delivered on from our State of the City speech earlier this year that will soon engage all students in mindful breathing practices. Mindful breathing is another way we are teaching our young people healthy habits that will last a lifetime.” 

  

“The mental wellbeing of our students is a top priority for New York City public schools. These are the future leaders of tomorrow, and it’s important that our young people have a robust tool belt of practices to guide them inside and outside the classroom,” said DOE Chancellor Banks. “I’m thrilled that we’re enabling our educators to support our kids in this way, and I look forward to continuing to partner with our school leaders and partners across the city in furthering this essential work.”  

   

“We all have a responsibility to support the well-being of young people,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan. “Incorporating mindfulness into the school day — where they spend the majority of their time — will benefit our young people in their daily lives and for the future, teaching them healthy coping skills which will help them navigate the unpredictable journey of life. I’m proud to work with an administration dedicated to supporting mental health and wellbeing, especially of our children, and commend New York City public schools on this initiative.” 

“The guiding priority of school leaders is to ensure the well-being of their school communities, and the impacts of the pandemic have understandably led to an even greater focus on the mental and emotional health of students and staff,” said Henry Rubio, president, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators. “We commend Mayor Adams and his administration for highlighting the benefits of mindfulness and providing an opportunity for all students to participate in mindful breathing practices next school year. The city’s investment in professional development programs aimed at healthier habits can provide lifelong value for our children, and we look forward to collaborating on the implementation of this initiative.”

Today’s announcement follows through on another commitment Mayor Adams made in his State of the City address earlier this year, in an effort to ensure that young people have access to the tools they need to develop habits for good mental health and overall wellness throughout their lives.  

 

The DOE’s Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Preparation Program is the first Yoga Alliance-approved yoga and mindfulness program in a public school system nationwide. Yoga Alliance is the nation’s largest nonprofit association representing the yoga community. The Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Preparation Program is building the capacity of school staff to integrate yoga and mindfulness into DOE public schools to engage students, teachers, and staff. 

 

In March 2023, in partnership with the Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Preparation Program, DOE began to roll out a professional development program to train educators and other school staff in the implementation of mindfulness breathing practices and tools that can be used in the classroom to support the social and emotional needs of students and the wellness of their entire school community. The professional development sessions are virtual and available to all staff.  Educators also have access to online resources to aid in facilitating these practices. In order to ensure schools are free to implement this work in the ways that best suit their school community, school leaders will be empowered to implement this initiative in individualized ways, but all New York City public schools will soon be required to offer all students mindful breathing practices in school every day.  

 

Bronx Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Enticement Of Multiple Minors To Engage In Illegal Sexual Activity

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MICHAEL BARRETO was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla to 20 years in prison for repeatedly enticing minors to meet him for illegal sexual activity over the course of more than a decade and receipt of child pornography.  BARRETO previously pled guilty to three counts of enticement and three counts of receipt of child pornography. 

According to court filings and statements made in court proceedings:

In 2008, BARRETO, age 19 or 20, had sex with one victim, age 14, and then told the victim to run away from home and lie about their relationship.  In 2017, BARRETO, age 29, met a second victim, age 13, at a store in the Bronx, New York.  BARRETO lied about his age and began an illegal sexual relationship with him.  Two years after meeting, BARRETO surreptitiously recorded illegal sexual activity between himself and the victim.  In 2018, BARRETO, age 30, exchanged sexual Facebook messages with a third victim, age 14, lied about his own age, and encouraged the victim to travel to BARRETO’s apartment in the Bronx.  This victim in fact traveled to BARRETO’s apartment, where BARRETO engaged in illegal sexual activity with him.  In 2018 and 2019, BARRETO exchanged sexual messages with three other victims, each age 14 or 15, lied about his age to each, and eventually received nude photographs constituting child pornography from the victims.

Apart from these victims, from approximately 2017 through 2019, BARRETO attempted to entice more than a dozen other minors using social media chat platforms.  In these chats, BARRETO frequently lied about his own age, sent flirtatious and sexual messages, and expressed an interest in meeting with the minor victims in person to engage in sexual activity.

In addition to the prison term, BARRETO, 34, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release, ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution, and ordered to pay a $300 assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of New York City Police Department.  He also thanked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, for its assistance.