Comptroller Pleads Guilty To Embezzling From Manhattan Financial Publishing Company

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ERIC IAN WHITEHEAD pled guilty to wire fraud for his role in a years-long scheme to embezzle approximately $1.3 million from a financial publishing company (the “Company”), where he was then employed as comptroller.  The plea was entered in front of U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As he admitted in court today, Eric Ian Whitehead exploited his position of trust as comptroller of a publishing company to embezzle more than $1 million from the company.  Now he awaits sentencing for his admitted theft.”

According to the Informationand other filings and statements at public court proceedings in the case:

From at least in or around 2015 through in or around 2020, WHITEHEAD used wire transfers and cash deposits from the victim Company to benefit himself without authorization from the Company.  Specifically, WHITHEAD used Company assets to pay for personal credit card expenses, overpay personal credit cards to receive cash balance refunds, write checks to cash for deposit into personal bank accounts, and purchase precious metals to sell for his own profit.  WHITEHEAD consistently embezzled Company funds from in or around 2015 through in or around 2020, for a total loss amount of approximately $1.3 million.

WHITEHEAD, 53, of Smithtown, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  WHITEHEAD will be sentenced by Judge Abrams on April 9, 2021.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. 

Attorney General James and State Police Acting Superintendent Bruen Announce Felony Conviction in Million-Dollar Construction Fraud Scheme

 

Owner of Upstate Construction Companies Convicted of Multi-Year Money Laundering Scheme That Defrauded Homebuyers Out of More Than $1 Million

 New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen today announced the felony conviction of Shawn M. VanVeghten (39, of Saratoga Springs) for defrauding homebuyers, business owners, a financial lender, and the beneficiary of a special needs trust, between 2016 and 2020, out of more than $1 million to finance his own personal and business expenses. VanVeghten’s fraud not only left his victims in financial distress, but left many homebuyers across upstate New York without the ability to get into their homes when promised, if ever at all. Today, before the Honorable James A. Murphy, III in Saratoga County Court, VanVeghten entered a plea of guilty to Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a class C felony, and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony. VanVeghten faces up to 3 to 9 years in state prison.  

“Shawn VanVeghten stole and defrauded more than a million dollars from New Yorkers and left homebuyers, workers, and other victims in the lurch,” said Attorney General James. “For years, his victims scraped and saved to afford their dream homes, but VanVeghten’s crimes left them locked out. This conviction should send a clear message that my office will not hesitate to fight for New Yorkers as we protect their wallets at every turn. Those who attempt to steal and profit off the backs of New Yorkers will be held accountable. I thank the New York State Police for its continued partnership in bringing accountability and justice to such duplicitous schemes.”

“Shawn VanVeghten defrauded homebuyers and other businesses in an illegal scheme that netted him hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen funds, which he then used for his own benefit,” said Acting Superintendent Bruen. “We will not tolerate this type of reprehensible behavior, and I commend the outstanding work of our members and our partners in the Attorney General’s Office for obtaining a measure of justice for the victims.”

Today’s conviction was the result of a joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) and the New York State Police’s (NYSP) Financial Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department and both the Saratoga County and Warren County District Attorneys’ Offices. The joint investigation revealed that VanVeghten engaged in a money laundering scheme aimed at promoting his businesses at the expense of homebuyers, business owners, a financial lender, and the beneficiary of a special needs trust. According to the OAG’s felony complaint, VanVeghten laundered over $1 million through two construction companies he owned or operated — VanVeghten Construction, LLC and Union Modular Homes, LLC — both based in Wilton, New York. 

VanVeghten was arraigned in Wilton Town Court in September 2020 on a series of felony and misdemeanor complaints before the Honorable Matthew Coseo. Subsequently, on December 8, 2020, VanVeghten was arraigned on the charges of Money Laundering and Scheme to Defraud, covering the time period from July 2016 through May 2020, also before the Honorable Coseo in Wilton Town Court.

As part of his guilty plea today, VanVeghten admitted that, from at least July 2016 to May 2020, he engaged in a scheme to defraud homebuyers and others and laundered monies embezzled from these victims. During this time period, VanVeghten received monies from homebuyers that were intended to build their dream homes, as well as from a lender in connection with other property development projects.

However, instead of using these funds for designated projects, VanVeghten diverted the monies for personal use, as well as to pay off business expenses. VanVeghten also engaged subcontractors and suppliers for labor and materials for various construction projects, while failing to pay them. Additionally, over a three-year period, VanVeghten misappropriated almost $200,000 from a special needs trust established for the benefit of a disabled family member. VanVeghten used these stolen monies to replenish more than $1 million in funds that he had previously misappropriated from homebuyers in order to satisfy his outstanding business debts, to repay loans, and to pay his own personal expenses. In total, VanVeghen diverted over $400,000 for his own personal use, including to purchase and renovate an investment property in Schenectady County, pay for office space in the Town of Wilton, pay down his personal mortgage, and cover various other personal expenses including dining, entertainment, and clothing.

In one instance, a homebuyer paid over $500,000 for the construction of a modular home in the Town of Adirondack, New York. Following numerous delays, in late 2018, the manufacturer finally delivered the components to the homebuyer’s property and found there was not even a sufficient foundation upon which to build. As a result, the homebuyer had to hire a subsequent contractor and still has yet to have his home built. In reality, this homebuyer’s funds were misappropriated by VanVeghten to further other projects where funds had been previously stolen. A NYSP audit of VanVeghten’s bank accounts revealed he conducted hundreds of similar transactions on a near-continuous basis, utilizing new funds received from homebuyers, a lender, and the special needs trust in a Ponzi-like scheme to replace previously embezzled funds. As a result, homebuyers were unable to get into their homes when promised, if ever at all.

On April 14, 2021, VanVeghten is scheduled to be sentenced to up to 3 to 9 years in state prison, with restitution ordered for all his victims. The final sentence the court will impose will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, how much up-front restitution will be paid to victims. The OAG asks any individual who may have been defrauded by VanVeghten and who has yet to be repaid in full to contact the NYSP’s Financial Crimes Unit by emailing FCU@troopers.ny.gov.

The OAG recommends practicing the following tips to protect against becoming a victim of a home improvement scam: 

• Shop around: Get at least three estimates from reputable contractors that include specific information about the materials and services to be provided for the job.
• Get it in writing: Insist on a written contract that includes the price and description of the work needed.
• Don't pay unreasonable advance sums: Negotiate a payment schedule tied to the completion of specific stages of the job. Never pay the full price up front.
• Get references: Check with the Better Business Bureau, banks, suppliers, and neighbors. Always contact references. Residents of New York City, or Westchester, Nassau, or Suffolk Counties can check their local consumer affairs office.
• Know your rights: Consumers have three days to cancel after signing a contract for home improvements. All cancellations must be made in writing.

Any New York resident who believes they have been scammed as part of a home improvement contract, should submit a complaint to the OAG immediately with as many details as possible.

The OAG wishes to thank the Financial Crimes Unit of the NYSP for their invaluable assistance and audit work throughout this case, as well as their help in the investigation. The OAG also wishes to thank the Wilton County and Saratoga County Sheriff’s Departments for their help in this investigation.

VISION ZERO: DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION TO INCREASE TRAFFIC SAFETY MEASURES, CALL ON STATE TO APPROVE OVERNIGHT AND WEEKEND SPEED CAMERA ENFORCEMENT

 

NYPD will focus holiday enforcement and education efforts on speeding and DWI

 

Public awareness campaigns to keep New Yorkers informed on critical traffic safety laws

 As year-end data proves the COVID-19 pandemic led to unsafe driving speeds on emptier city streets, Mayor Bill de Blasio today joined the Department of Transportation (DOT) and NYPD to announce major initiatives to bolster speed camera enforcement, crack down on drunk driving, and increase public awareness of traffic safety laws.

 

Three quarters of traffic fatalities this year happened in times or places where no automated speed enforcement is allowed under current State law, and over a third of non-highway fatalities occurred in school-camera zones during hours when the cameras could not issue tickets. The City will call on the State to amend the state speed-camera law to allow cameras to operate around the clock. And as the holiday season reaches its peak, NYPD will focus its annual holiday enforcement – including for DWI – along corridors that have seen high rates of speeding crashes. 

 

The administration also released speed camera enforcement data from 2014 to 2019, which demonstrates the cameras’ effectiveness as a safety tool, and shared new seasonal public-education campaigns focused on driver and motorcyclist safety.

 

“Emptier streets are not an invitation to drive at unsafe speeds, and we will not let drivers threaten New Yorkers’ safety without consequence,” said Mayor de Blasio. “I’m proud to stand with partners in government across the city and state to increase enforcement and call for commonsense traffic safety reforms that let us catch bad actors, no matter when they choose to put this city at risk.”

 

While pedestrian fatalities are on pace to be their lowest ever this year, total fatalities have risen. This year saw a marked increase in deaths among motorists and motorcyclists, and NYPD collision reports frequently cite excessive speed as a contributing factor in fatal crashes.

 

Despite those setbacks, this year is on track to conclude as the sixth-safest in New York City’s recorded history. Seven of the eight safest years in the City’s history have all happened since Vision Zero was adopted in 2014.

 

“The NYPD is as focused as ever this holiday season on ensuring safe roads for all New Yorkers,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “Our officers’ ongoing work to enforce speeding laws and target drivers who needlessly endanger others reflects the Police Department’s precision policing philosophy and commitment to Vision Zero. As 2021 begins, the NYPD remains committed to protecting pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists alike.”

 

“In line with Vision Zero, the NYPD remains committed to ensuring the safety of every pedestrian, cyclist and motorist in the city,” said NYPD Transportation Chief Kim Royster. “Our officers work vigilantly to enforce the laws against speeding and driving while intoxicated. With education, enforcement and a close alignment with our Vision Zero partners, we are continuing our work to reduce fatal collisions this holiday season — just as we do throughout the entire year.”

 

“New York City has faced so many challenges in 2020, including on our roadways,” said NYC DOT Acting Commissioner Margaret Forgione.  “But as this difficult year comes to a close, we appreciate the Mayor’s leadership in proposing changes to the hours when we can operate speed cameras, which we have hard evidence have contributed to safer streets. We also look forward to our continued productive partnership with Vision Zero sister agencies, including the NYPD, working together to make sure that this holiday season is a safe one for all New Yorkers.”

 

“Drinking and driving can be deadly. In New York City, Taxis and Car Services operate around the clock every day of the year,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk. “Instead of getting behind the wheel, the safest decision anyone who has been drinking can make is to hail, call, or request a TLC-licensed vehicle.”

 

Today’s Vision Zero announcement includes:

 

NYPD Holiday Enforcement

NYPD will be actively enforcing laws against speeding and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) throughout the holiday season and beyond. Enforcement will occur along highways and on local streets where excessive speeds have been observed, including by DOT speed cameras. Enforcement will be conducted by NYPD Highway Patrol as well as by local precincts, each of which now has a radar detector.  

 

Proposed Major Amendment to State Speed-Camera Law

In the wake of the large number of high-speed crashes overnights and on weekends this year, the Mayor today proposed expanding the State law that governs the hours during which speed cameras are operational. Under the current law passed in 2019, cameras are limited to 750 school zones Citywide – and can only operate during the hours of 6 am to 10 pm on weekdays. This proposal would make cameras operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

An analysis of 2020 fatal crashes shows that 36% of all traffic deaths this year that were not on highways occurred within school speed zones where permanent cameras are located, but happened during hours – on nights and during weekends – when the automated enforcement cameras were not legally allowed to issue summonses.

 

DOT also today released its detailed report on the speed-camera law, which continues to change dangerous behaviors. Among the highlights of the report:

• Latest data shows that speeding has been reduced on average by over 70% at locations where speed cameras are installed.
• Injuries are down 17% at these same locations.
• Two-thirds of vehicle owners who received a notice of liability in 2019 did not receive another within the calendar year.

 

As part of the current law, vehicle owners who exceed posted speed limits by more than 10 MPH are mailed a $50 fine per violation. During 2020, the de Blasio administration installed 720 new cameras – more than had been installed in the previous six years combined. For the next year, DOT will continue installing speed cameras at the rate of 60 per month, with the goal of over 2,000 cameras by the end of 2021– which will make the program the largest in the country.

 

New Public-Service Education Campaigns

DOT and NYPD announced that they would be using social media in the coming weeks to highlight major trends in high-speed fatal crashes during 2020. This public awareness campaign will include:

 

• “Legit and Alive” – Vision Zero agencies are working with the Motorcycle Advisory Council to encourage safe and legal riding. Motorcyclists will be offered safe driving tips and encouraged to license and fully register their vehicles. As the City prepares for increased ridership of motorcycles and other forms of micro-mobility in the coming year, safe operation of motorcycles will be even more critical.
• “Move Over for Stopped and Emergency Vehicles” – This campaign will remind New Yorkers that under New York State law, when a vehicle is disabled or otherwise stopped on the roadway, drivers are legally obligated to move as far away as possible in a moving lane from the stopped vehicle, including police and emergency vehicles.
• “Everybody, Every Seat” – A new campaign will continue to remind drivers that in November, New York State began mandating that all motor vehicle passengers, including adults, must buckle up, no matter where they sit within the vehicle.

 

"To achieve safe streets, we have to change our laws, driving culture and infrastructure,” said Senator Andrew Gounardes. “I'm proud to have been a champion for the expansion of speed cameras in New York City because they save lives. Period. But there is more we can do to improve this program and to build upon its success. No one should fear for their life crossing the street, let's work toward a city free from vehicular violence."

"We must continue to work to protect the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists here in NYC" said Assembly Member Kenny Burgos. "This is a welcomed step forward in the Vision Zero initiative and I look forward to safer streets during this unprecedented holiday season."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This is why we don't print comments from elected officials, it is not that we don't like the future assemblyman, but Mayor de Blasio, Kenny Burgos is the Assemblyman Elect who takes office next month.

Third Avenue Business Improvement District remains committed to our small businesses and community residents and will continue to provide enhanced support and services during the 2nd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with the Bronx Business Organization Coalition we have synthesized top line items from the recent passed Congressional stimulus package. We realize this stimulus is not perfect and does not go deep enough to support small businesses and families - but it is what we have to work with for now. Implementation of specific pieces of this bill are still being negotiated and we will continue our work with the U.S Small Business Administration & U.S Department of Treasury to negotiate items that we have flagged during the process. As more information becomes available from the United States Small Business Administration we will provide user friendly, language ready tools to assist you. In the meantime we are sharing topline information regarding the bill, specific small business provisions, and a webinar to Paycheck Protection Program 2.0 - what is different and how do I access funds. Top line Stimulus Briefing - CLICK HERE Paycheck Protection Program 2.0 Accessing the Next Round of Funding Congress recently passed a new round of COVID-19 Stimulus - this included a new round of funds for the Paycheck Protection Program - forgiveable loan product. Learn about changes in the Paycheck Protection Program, how you can access and apply for funding, and what new regulations and paperwork you need to prepare. Facilitated by:

Happy Holidays from NYC Parks - Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver

 

NYC Parks wishes you a healthy, joyful  holiday season and a new year filled with  peace and happiness.

Governor Cuomo Announces British Airways and Delta Airlines Agree to Test All Passengers Before Entering New York State, and COVID-19 Indicators DECEMBER 21, 2020

 

Asks Virgin Atlantic to Join British Airways and Delta Airlines in Voluntarily Testing Passengers Before Boarding Flights to New York

6,331 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide 

1,095 Patients in the ICU; 613 Intubated 

Statewide Positivity Rate is 5.75%

109 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that in the wake of a new, highly contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus found in the United Kingdom, British Airways and Delta Airlines have voluntarily agreed to require a COVID-19 test before allowing passengers to board planes traveling from the United Kingdom to New York. With this move, New York joins the list of 120 countries with a similar requirement on flights from the U.K. The Governor has asked Virgin Atlantic, the other airline that runs flights from the U.K. to New York, to do the same. The Governor is also continuing to call on the federal government to impose enhanced travel restrictions, as 120 other countries have done, to avoid the same grave mistakes of the spring where the virus entered New York from Europe with no warning.

"When you do not require flights from the U.K to be tested, you are allowing thousands of U.K. passengers to arrive here every day and based on New York's experience in the spring, I believe this new, highly contagious strain of COVID-19 is already here," Governor Cuomo said. "This is another disaster waiting to happen and all efforts must be placed into averting another crisis. Now, it's on the federal government to do its job, correct the wrongs of the past and take swift action to impose enhanced travel restrictions just as 120 other countries have done." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 156,510
• Tested Positive - 9,007
• Percent Positive - 5.75%
• Patient Hospitalization - 6,331 (+146)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 700
• Hospital Counties - 55
• Number ICU - 1,095 (+50)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 613 (+13)
• Total Discharges - 95,779 (+472)
• Deaths - 109
• Total Deaths - 28,709

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Settlement With Substance Abuse Treatment Center And Its Owner For Enrolling Patients Through Kickbacks And Using Falsified Patient Admissions Forms

 

Addiction Care Interventions Chemical Dependency Treatment Centers and Owner Steven Yohay Agree to Pay $6 Million and Admit Misconduct; Yohay to be Excluded from Participating in Federal Healthcare Programs and Must Divest Ownership of ACI

 Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), announced today a $6 million settlement of a civil healthcare fraud lawsuit against A.R.E.B.A.-CASRIEL, Inc. d/b/a ADDICTION CARE INTERVENTIONS CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT CENTERS (“ACI”), a substance abuse treatment provider in New York City, and STEVEN YOHAY, ACI’s primary owner and former CEO.  This settlement resolves allegations that ACI and YOHAY provided kickbacks and engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with the enrollment of Medicaid beneficiaries into ACI’s inpatient treatment program.  Specifically, the Government’s complaint alleges that ACI’s drivers targeted homeless individuals and offered them food, cash, money to purchase drugs, and/or alcohol in order to induce them to enroll in ACI’s inpatient treatment program.  The lawsuit further alleges that ACI paid an individual a kickback in the form of a sham job for which she was compensated more than $75,000 to induce her to refer patients to ACI programs.  The lawsuit also alleges that ACI used medical admissions forms containing photocopied physician signatures to make it appear that new patients had been evaluated by a qualified health care professional as required by law. 

Under the settlement approved December 17 by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, ACI agreed to pay $3 million, and YOHAY personally agreed to pay an additional $3 million.  Of the $6 million total, $2.4 million is being paid to the United States and the remaining amount is being paid to the State of New York.  The amount paid by ACI is based on the Office’s assessment of ACI’s ability to pay based on the financial information it provided. 

ACI and YOHAY admitted and accepted responsibility for conduct alleged in the Government’s complaint as further described below.  YOHAY also agreed to divest ownership and control of ACI, and ACI agreed to implement procedures designed to ensure that its patient transportation services comply with legal requirements.  In addition, YOHAY has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement with HHS-OIG, under which he will be excluded from participation in Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs for a period of 15 years. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strass said:  “ACI and Steven Yohay engaged in unscrupulous and illegal practices – including hiring drivers to scour the streets for potential patients – to fill the beds at their facilities and maximize the payments they received from Medicaid.  This Office will continue to act aggressively to ensure that substance abuse treatment providers and those who run them are held accountable when they cheat the system to fraudulently obtain federal health care funds.” 

HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert said:  “ACI and Stephen Yohay operated a fraud scheme that targeted some of the most vulnerable people in our society and diverted valuable Medicaid funds that millions of New Yorkers depend on for vital services.  This settlement should send a message that this behavior will not be tolerated, and we will hold those that attempt to steal from federal health care programs accountable for their actions.” 

The Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court alleges three forms of illegal conduct:

First, from January 2014 to December 2019, ACI and YOHAY improperly induced Medicaid beneficiaries to be admitted into ACI’s inpatient treatment program by employing drivers, who were compensated based in part on the volume of patients they recruited for admission into the treatment program, to solicit and transport potential new patients to ACI’s facility.  The drivers routinely targeted homeless individuals and sometimes offered them food, cash, money to purchase drugs, and/or alcohol to persuade them to enroll in the program.  The drivers were expected to pick up a certain number of potential patients in order to be eligible for a pay raise.  Most of the new enrollments into ACI’s inpatient program resulted from the ACI drivers’ solicitation efforts.

Second, in October 2012, ACI created a sham part-time Spanish “translator” position so that it could employ an individual whose real job was primarily to provide a stream of patient referrals.  The individual was simultaneously employed at an organization that refers individuals to substance abuse clinics.  ACI placed the individual on its payroll to receive referrals to its treatment programs.  The individual translated only a few times, even though she remained on the payroll until March 2017 and was paid more than $75,000.

Third, from July 2012 through July 2013, ACI admitted Medicaid patients into its inpatient treatment program who were not evaluated by a qualified health care professional to determine the appropriate level of care, as required by applicable state law.  ACI staff fraudulently created medical forms containing a photocopied physician’s signature to make it appear that a physician had conducted the evaluation.  The falsified forms were used to support claims for reimbursement, for the indicated level of care, from Medicaid.

In the settlement agreement, ACI and YOHAY admit, acknowledge, and accept responsibility for the following conduct:

Role of Drivers:

• From January 2014 to December 2019, ACI employed drivers who were involved in identifying, recruiting, and providing transportation services for new patients who were admitted into ACI’s inpatient treatment program.  During the relevant period, ACI employed approximately five to 10 drivers at any given time.
• ACI drivers rode in unmarked vehicles and picked up individuals, who were often homeless, from a wide range of locations, including parks, train stations, shelters, hospitals, under bridges, and from other substance abuse treatment centers. 
• ACI financially incentivized its drivers to bring in new patients.  ACI paid the driver who brought in the most new patients during the relevant period an annual salary of more than $200,000, as well as a bonus consisting of thousands of dollars.
• ACI’s management, including YOHAY, were made aware of allegations that certain ACI drivers gave some potential new patients money, drugs, and/or alcohol to induce them to enroll in ACI’s inpatient program.  However, ACI and YOHAY failed to investigate these allegations adequately or take appropriate corrective actions in response.

Use of Paid Employee to Make Patient Referrals:

• In October 2012, ACI created a part-time “translator” position and hired an individual to fill the position who was simultaneously employed at an organization that refers individuals to substance abuse clinics, like ACI, for treatment as an alternative to incarceration. 
• Throughout the course of her employment with ACI, the individual provided ACI managers with lists of individuals who were being referred by the organization to ACI for substance abuse services. 
• Although the individual was hired to be a “translator,” she rarely was asked by ACI to provide any translation services.  The individual translated for ACI only a few times in 2012, and thereafter, she did not perform any translation services for ACI but continued to be paid by ACI until 2017.
   

Medical Assessments Not Completed by Physicians:

• From July 2012 through July 2013, ACI admitted certain patients into its inpatient program who were not properly evaluated by a qualified health professional as required. 
• During the relevant period, ACI admissions staff, who were not qualified health professionals, conducted the patient assessment and completed the admissions criteria forms.  These forms, which were part of a patient’s file used to support claims for reimbursement from Medicaid, contained a photocopy of a physician’s signature.

In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and settlement, the Government joined a private whistleblower lawsuit that had previously been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act.

Ms. Strauss thanked HHS-OIG, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports for their assistance with the case. 

Governor Cuomo Announces New York Has Administered 38,000 Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine - Highest Total in the Nation

 

346,000 Doses of Moderna Vaccine and 120,000 Additional Doses of Pfizer Vaccine Arriving this Week

New York Launches Vaccine Equity Task Force Chaired by Secretary of State Rosado, Attorney General James, National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial, and Healthfirst President & CEO Pat Wang

New York Developing Community Vaccination Kits - Self-Contained Units Which Include All Items Necessary for Setting Up a Vaccination Site, Will Be Used Particularly in Health Care Deserts 

Federal Program to Vaccinate Nursing Home Residents and Staff Began Today

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than 38,000 vaccine doses have been administered in New York State as of Monday morning - the highest reported total in the nation thus far. 

Bolstering this effort, the first 346,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine are expected to begin arriving in New York today, with an additional 120,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine expected later this week.

The Governor also announced the launch of New York's Vaccine Equity Task Force chaired by Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, Attorney General Letitia James, National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial, and Healthfirst President & CEO Pat Wang. The Task Force will work to ensure vulnerable and underserved communities are not left behind by breaking down the barriers to vaccination and ensuring there is equitable distribution of the vaccine across the state

Governor Cuomo also announced that New York is developing Community Vaccination Kits to provide communities, particularly those located within health care deserts, with the supplies and resources needed for standing up vaccination sites.

The Governor also announced that a federal program to vaccinate nursing home residents and staff began today in New York State and is expected to vaccinate residents and staff at 618 facilities across the state, with first doses administered starting today and over the next two weeks. 

"We're now talking about who's getting vaccinated, and let me be clear: there is no politics in the vaccination process," Governor Cuomo said. "We went through this with COVID testing, with big shots, celebrities, and affluent people getting to the front of the line. This preferential treatment in COVID testing undermines our entire sense of democracy, equality and a government that works for all people. And in this time of COVID where we've seen gross injustices, politics has nothing to do with it. There's no governor, no county executive, and no mayor who controls the process, and anyone who says that is not telling the truth or violating the law. This is entirely done by medical professionals and our hospitals have already vaccinated more people than any state in the nation."