Brooklyn High School Paraprofessional Charged with Production of Child Pornography and Sextortion Scheme

 

Defendant Allegedly Enticed a Minor to Send Sexually Explicit Videos on WhatsApp and Threatened to Publicly Release Them – “I’m Ready to Make U Famous. Any Last Words?”

 An 11-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Brian Quinones, a paraprofessional at Midwood High School, with sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child of pornography, cyberstalking, and related offenses. The charges relate to sexually explicit videos of a child that the defendant allegedly requested and received from a boy he met over the Internet, as well as other sexually explicit images and videos that the defendant possessed and distributed. Quinones was arrested today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrest and charges.

“As alleged, Quinones was a prolific trader of child pornography who posed as a woman in order to solicit sexually explicit videos from a minor boy, then blackmailed the victim with cruel threats to post the material on the Internet,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office is working diligently with our law enforcement partners to address the online exploitation of minors and protect our children from predators like Quinones. Today’s prosecution should also serve as a reminder to parents and caregivers to remain vigilant about your children’s communications over the Internet and the importance of educating our children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers.”

Mr. Peace thanked the FBI/NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force for its investigative work on the case.

“Sexual predators often prey on the terror children experience when they are coerced and manipulated into creating explicit photos and videos,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. “We allege Quinones threatened to expose the images his victim created if the child didn't continue to send him more. Children often fear going to an adult to report what's happened because they're humiliated, and they believe the threats. The FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force believes Quinones may have more victims, and we ask anyone with information to contact us at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov so we can hold him fully accountable for his actions.”

“Any kind of sexual exploitation of a minor is absolutely detestable behavior,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “But when the suspect has also been entrusted with our communities’ children, it is especially disturbing. Decades ago, predators would go to a playground or a park to find young victims. Now, there’s an entire virtual world full of potential targets. These types of crimes have devastating effects on children and their families, and I commend and thank all of the investigators at the NYPD, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District who are dedicated to identifying and bringing to justice those who commit such offenses.”

As set forth in court filings, between September 2019 and January 2020, Quinones used an instant messaging mobile application to trade dozens of videos and images depicting child pornography with another individual who has since been charged with child pornography-related offenses. Following a court-authorized search of Quinones’s residence and the seizure of his electronic devices, FBI Special Agents discovered a series of sexually explicit messages between Quinones, who was impersonating a woman, and a minor male victim (John Doe), who Quinones lured into creating and sending sexually explicit videos. Quinones then threatened to post the victim’s material on the Internet unless the victim agreed to make additional sexually explicit content. The defendant stated in a WhatsApp message: “I got everything you sent,” adding that he would “ruin” John Doe. The defendant directed John Doe to do “[e]verything I tell u to do” and to “behave.” He then wrote, “Get on your hands and knees.” When John Doe declined to do so, the defendant threatened, “I’m ready to make u famous[.] Any last words?’

If convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, Quinones faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment.

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Governor Hochul Announces New Watchdog Bureau to Tackle Prescription Drug Costs

New Pharmacy Benefits Bureau to Supervise Unregulated Pharmacy Benefit Manager Industry    

Directs the Department of Financial Services to Establish Standards to Protect Consumers and Independent Small Businesses  

Pharmacy Benefit Managers Required to Register with New Bureau by June 1st and Submit Annual Report by July 1st 

Guidance on PBM Registration and Reporting now available on the DFS website

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the first-in-the-nation approach to bring much needed oversight to Pharmacy Benefit Managers with the creation of the Department of Financial Services' Pharmacy Benefits Bureau. Pharmacy Benefit Managers are key intermediaries in the prescription drug supply chain that have, without regulatory oversight, long controlled the price of drugs for health plans and reimbursement rates for pharmacies. The new bureau will be tasked with licensing and supervising the industry, keeping a watchful eye on Pharmacy Benefit Managers' impact on consumers and the cost of health care. 

"As we continue our comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's crucial that we take every opportunity to improve the health care system and reduce costs for New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "This landmark regulatory body will provide careful oversight to protect consumers from predatory practices in the largely unregulated Pharmacy Benefits Managers industry. My administration remains committed to doing everything in its power to reduce the burden of health insurance and prescription drug costs on New Yorkers."   

Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the most comprehensive regulatory regime for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the country, assigning DFS new authority to license and supervise the industry. DFS now has the power to address the widely reported problematic practices in the PBM industry which in turn will help lower drug and health insurance costs, protect New Yorkers accessing those drugs, and support New York's pharmacies, many of which are independent small businesses.  

Additionally, with the passage of the enacted 2023 State Budget, Governor Hochul secured a $5 million appropriation to fund and staff the new bureau. As the program fully develops, costs to administer this initiative will be offset through the application of fees, assessments, and penalties directly on the PBM industry, ensuring the cost of regulating this industry will fall on the PBMs, not on the taxpayers.  

In addition to the regulation of PBMs, DFS' existing authority to investigate drug price spikes now falls under the supervision of the new Pharmacy Benefits Bureau. DFS will continue to review reporting, monitor the market conduct and ensure proper enforcement of consumer protections in New York. 

DFS has met with external stakeholders in preparation for the registration deadlines. DFS reminds all PBMs of their requirement to register with the Bureau by June 1, 2022 and to submit their first annual report by July 1, 2022. The bureau has releases guidance on both registration and the annual report on the DFS website. 

DFS will soon file regulatory amendments reflecting the creation of this Bureau. More information will be available in the State Register.

MAYOR ADAMS, COMMISSIONER SEWELL, EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY CALL ON ATF TO REVOKE LICENSE OF NATION’S LARGEST SUPPLIER OF GHOST GUNS

 

Polymer80 Largest Source of Ghost Guns Used in Crimes and Recovered by Law Enforcement

 

Letter: Polymer80 “Repeatedly and Willfully Violated Federal Gun Laws…Presents a Clear and Present Danger to Public Safety”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant Sewell, and Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund today called on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to revoke the federal firearms license of Polymer80, the largest source of ghost guns used in crimes, citing the company’s willful violation of federal gun laws.

 

Ghost guns have been a growing contributor to gun violence and gun-related homicides in New York City. Since January alone, the NYPD has already taken approximately 200 ghost guns off the streets, up from 148 in 2020. NYPD also reports that approximately 90 percent of ghost guns year after year include Polymer80 parts.

 

Polymer80, a Nevada based company, is, by far, the largest source of ghost guns used in crimes and recovered by law enforcement nationally, accounting for over 86 percent of the 1,475 ghost guns entered into ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network database in 2019. 

 

“We must get ghost guns out of our communities, and those that manufacture them must be shut down,” said Mayor Adams. “Polymer80’s entire business operation presents a clear and present danger to public safety through New York and the entire country — not only selling guns, but also marketing an entire lifestyle brand that celebrates violence and lawlessness. As mayor of the largest city in America, a former police officer, and co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, I have a message for Polymer80: We will not surrender our city to a violent few. No one is above the law. And the law is coming for you.”

 

“Our job is to keep people safe, and we will do everything possible to keep that promise we make each day, to every New Yorker,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “And as we continue to tackle this public safety crisis head-on, our focus and attention is clear: Seize the guns and arrest the individuals who possess them. Stop the shootings, and save lives.”

 

“Ghost guns are a dream come true for criminals, so it should come as little surprise that Polymer80, the largest maker of these untraceable weapons, has shipped its deadly goods to felons,” said John Feinblatt, president, Everytown for Gun Safety. “Now that President Biden has taken action against ghost guns, it’s time for ATF to do its job and shut down Polymer80.”

 

“Ghost guns are the fastest-growing gun safety threat in the nation, and Polymer80 leads the pack in flooding our streets with these deadly, untraceable firearms,” said Nick Suplina, senior vice president of law and policy, Everytown for Gun Safety. “This manufacturer has operated with impunity for far too long. The ATF should shut down Polymer80 now and put an end to this clear and present danger to public safety.”

 

Last month, President Joseph Biden announced the finalization of a new ghost guns rule, which confirms that gun-building kits and their core components are subject to the same firearms regulations as fully functional firearms — including the requirements of serialization and background checks when sold by a federal firearms licensee.

 

In today’s letter, Mayor Adams and Everytown for Gun Safety cited substantial evidence of the connection between Polymer80’s reckless business practices and gun violence in communities not only in New York, but across the country. For example, the number of untraceable ghost guns recovered by the Los Angeles Police Department saw a leap from 813 recoveries in 2020 to 1,921 recoveries in 2021 — and of those 1,921, Polymer80 supplied 90 percent. In Philadelphia, the police reported recovering 571 ghost guns, compared to 95 in 2019 and 250 in 2020.

 

The letter also cites evidence from ATF’s own search warrant application of numerous examples of Polymer80 violating federal firearms laws. As outlined in that application, Polymer80 never affixed serial numbers to the frames sold as part of its Buy Build Shoot kits and failed to run background checks on purchasers of these kits — despite the ATF chief counsel’s determination that those all-inclusive kits are firearms and require serialization and background checks. Additionally, even though ATF has also concluded that the Buy Build Shoot kits are handguns under federal law, there is no indication that Polymer80 ever included storage or safety devices with these kits that it sold, in apparent violation of the Child Safety Lock Act of 2005. Polymer80 also allegedly sold Buy Build Shoot ghost gun kits to minors and felons, and broke California law by allegedly shipping illegal large-capacity magazines into the state.  

 

Polymer80 is currently facing numerous lawsuits for its alleged contributions to gun violence. Two Los Angeles sheriffs’ deputies who were shot and wounded with a Polymer80 ghost gun are suing the manufacturer, as is the city of Los Angeles. Polymer80 is also being sued by the Washington, D.C. attorney general.

 

Governor Hochul Announces RFP to Develop North Aud Block in Buffalo

 

Canalside Project Will Include Residences, Restaurants, Shops, Parking and Historic Street Grid

See Proposed Renderings Here

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a request for proposals to redevelop the North Aud Block in Buffalo, the State’s final remaining parcel to be developed at Canalside. This RFP presents an opportunity for experienced real estate developers to transform the nearly two-acre site, which is key to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Buffalo. New York State previously committed $10 million in funding to transform the North Aud Block, which will be made available to the selected developer to support site infrastructure. Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, a state entity, envisions that the project will include retail, restaurants, office space, apartments, a hotel and structured parking within several buildings. The project will incorporate portions of the 19th-century street grid while allowing modernization that acknowledges the site’s 21st-century surroundings and infrastructure, blending historic details with the current surrounding City. See concept renderings and a map of property here. Proposals are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 1.

 “Canalside has become a destination location and catalyst for renewal of Buffalo’s historic waterfront,” Governor Hochul said. “Redeveloping the North Aud Block will help boost the economy, open new public spaces and make the Buffalo waterfront an even more popular place to live, work and play. The Erie Canal was a bold and audacious undertaking that no one thought was possible, and New York continues to build on our proud legacy with this transformative project.” 

The site is primarily vacant and was once part of a superblock and home to Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, which the state demolished in 2009. This RFP permits respondents to propose a variety of uses, though proposals are required to include certain mandatory design features, as per the Canalside Design Guidelines.  

The assumed development plan includes nearly 425,000 gross square feet in several buildings with an estimated 200 residential apartments and commercial spaces, office/operations space for ECHDC, and up to 450 parking spaces located in a structured ramp that would be constructed both below and above grade. The multiple building development is encouraged to be set within a reconstructed historic street pattern, allowing more of Lloyd Street and Commercial Street to be reconstructed to complete missing sections.

Former Chief Of Honduran National Police Extradited To The United States On Drug Trafficking And Weapons Offenses

Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares Allegedly Abused His Official Position to Protect Cocaine Shipments and Murder a Rival Drug Trafficker as Part of a Conspiracy Involving High-Ranking Honduran Politicians and Members of the Honduran National Police 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Anne Milgram, the Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced today the extradition of JUAN CARLOS BONILLA VALLADARES, a/k/a “El Tigre,” on charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and related weapons offenses involving the use and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.  BONILLA VALLADARES arrived from Honduras in the Southern District of New York yesterday, and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Rather than use his high-powered position as the Chief of Honduran Police to combat drug trafficking, Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares, a/k/a ‘El Tigre,’ corruptly exploited his position to protect and assist the drug trafficking organizations he was obligated to disrupt.  With his support and protection, Bonilla Valladares’s associates became a critical pipeline for the Central American drug trade to the United States.  His extradition demonstrates that no one is exempt by virtue of their title or position of authority – even foreign Presidents and police chiefs – from criminal prosecution for contributing to the flood of illegal narcotics into this country that causes so much harm.” 

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said:  “Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez would not have risen to power and successfully benefited from massive drug proceeds had it not been for his expansive network of corrupt associates.  These associates, including Bonilla Valladares, likewise exploited their positions to traffic cocaine to the United States and violently protect other politically connected drug traffickers, all for their own personal gains. Bonilla Valladares further betrayed the Honduran people by using his law enforcement badge to cover for his crimes. Bonilla Valladares’s extradition shows the world once again that corrupt officials cannot hide behind their positions. DEA, in coordination with our U.S. and international partners, will stop at nothing to bring to justice anyone who threatens the safety and health of Americans.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint charging BONILLA VALLADARES, evidence presented at the October 2019 trial of Juan Antonio Hernandez Alvarado (“Hernandez Alvarado”) in the Southern District of New York, and statements in open court during the prosecution of Hernandez Alvarado[1]:

Between approximately 2003 and 2020, multiple drug-trafficking organizations in Honduras and elsewhere worked together, and with support from certain prominent public and private individuals, including Honduran politicians and law enforcement officials, to receive multi-ton loads of cocaine sent to Honduras from, among other places, Colombia and Venezuela via air and maritime routes, and to transport the drugs westward in Honduras toward the border with Guatemala and eventually to the United States.  For protection from law enforcement interference, and in order to facilitate the safe passage through Honduras of multi-ton loads of cocaine, drug traffickers paid bribes to public officials, including certain presidents, members of the National Congress of Honduras, and personnel from the Honduran National Police, including BONILLA VALLADARES. 

BONILLA VALLADARES was a member of the Honduran National Police between approximately 1998 and approximately 2016.  During his tenure, he held high-ranking positions, including Regional Police Chief with authority over locations in western Honduras that were strategically important to drug traffickers, and Chief of the Honduran National Police for all of Honduras between approximately 2012 and approximately 2013.  BONILLA VALLADARES corruptly exploited these official positions to facilitate cocaine trafficking, and used violence, including murder, to protect the particular cell of politically connected drug traffickers he aligned with, including former Honduran congressman Hernandez Alvarado and former president of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez (“Hernandez”), who is referred to in the Complaint charging BONILLA VALLADARES as “CC-4.” 

For example, in exchange for bribes paid in drug proceeds, BONILLA VALLADARES directed members of the Honduran National Police, who were armed with machine guns, to let cocaine shipments pass through police checkpoints without being inspected or seized.  BONILLA VALLADARES, in coordination with Hernandez Alvarado and others, also provided members of their conspiracy with sensitive law enforcement information to facilitate cocaine shipments, including information regarding aerial and maritime interdiction operations.

In or about 2010, Hernandez Alvarado told a cooperating witness (“CW-1”) that Hernandez Alvarado and Hernandez helped BONILLA VALLADARES advance his position within the Honduran National Police, and that BONILLA VALLADARES protected their drug-trafficking activities in return.  Hernandez Alvarado also told CW-1 that BONILLA VALLADARES was very violent, and that Hernandez Alvarado and Hernandez trusted BONILLA VALLADARES with special assignments, including murder.  For example, in or about July 2011, BONILLA VALLADARES participated in the murder of a rival drug trafficker at the request of Hernandez Alvarado and others because the rival trafficker had attempted to prevent Hernandez Alvarado and other members of the conspiracy from transporting cocaine through a region of western Honduras near the border with Guatemala. 

The Complaint charges BONILLA VALLADARES, 62, with: (1) conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, (2) using and carrying machine guns and destructive devices during and in relation to, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine-importation conspiracy; and (3) conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices during and in relation to, and to possess machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine-importation conspiracy.  If convicted, BONILLA VALLADARES faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison on Count One, a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison on Count Two, and a maximum term of life in prison on Count Three. 

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, New York Strike Force, and the Tegucigalpa Country Office.  The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing BONILLA VALLADARES’s arrest and extradition.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations, and BONILLA VALLADARES is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

Notice to Voters and Designating Petition Filers For Congress and State Senate

 

New York State Board of Elections

June 18 – 26 Days of Early Voting for the Primary Election. §8-600(1)

PRIMARY ELECTION DATES June 28 Primary Election §8-100(1)(a) 

The Supreme Court has ordered Congressional and State Senate elections to be held Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022. The Court is working to develop a new Political Calendar to reflect this primary date. Petitioning, submission and other dates will be announced.

At this time, we do not foresee the June 28th primary changing for our statewide offices, the State Assembly, Judicial Delegates and Alternates and any local offices that are scheduled to be on the primary ballot. We will continue to keep voters informed as additional information becomes available.

1 Bronx Pride: Sunday June 19th, 2022 - 1 - 6 PM

 

1 Bronx Pride Celebration - The Fight Continues.     Third Avenue Business Improvement District and Clearview Festivals are pleased to present the 2022 Bronx Pride calendar of events and programs.  The culmination of year-long planning based on a platform of equity for the LGBTQ community in the Bronx has resulted in a multi-faceted policy and program agenda that will be celebrated during the 1 Bronx Pride Festival on Sunday, June 19, 2022 in the heart of the downtown Bronx Civic Center at 149th Street and Third Avenue. For June 2022 1 Bronx Pride information, please click here 1 Bronx Pride Guide Sponsor Opportunities Want to join the Advisory Council? Click here List in formation

NYS DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION WARNS CONSUMERS OF HEALTH AND WEIGHT LOSS SCAMS

 

New Yorkers Looking to Lose Weight or Improve Their Health May Unwittingly Purchase Products That Provide no Meaningful Results

 The NYS Division of Consumer Protection today reminded consumers of the dangers of deceptive ads for products that promise weight loss or improved health. Misleading ads, with false promises and unsubstantiated health claims, prey on peoples desires for a quick fix or miracle cure, but they may only cheat you out of your hard-earned money, and worse, be dangerous to your health.

“Weight-loss scams can place consumers at risk of losing more than cash since dietary supplements can jeopardize one’s health. The Division of Consumer Protection warns New Yorkers looking to meet their health and fitness goals to be careful and not fall for the myriad of fraudulent products advertised” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Health care fraud includes fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive claims for weight loss products or services, health spas and equipment, and over the counter or prescription drugs.  According to the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Sentinel Network data, it was one of the top 10 fraud categories in 2021, costing U.S. consumers $17 million dollars in losses. New Yorkers are warned to be critical of any new products prior to purchase.

"Nothing can replace the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise for safe and effective weight loss," said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. "Be aware of products that over-promise unrealistic results that may be detrimental to your wallet and to your health."  

New Yorkers should be careful and do research before purchasing a new health or weight loss product and follow these tips:

• Look out for bogus claims: A health product is fraudulent if it is deceptively promoted as being effective against a disease or health condition, but not scientifically proven safe and effective for that purpose. Consumers may see exaggerated claims in ads, such as “a proven cure”, a “scientific breakthrough” or promising “instant results.” Fraudulent products also use vague buzzwords such as “all-natural” or “herbal.” Often these claims cannot be verified, and they offer no evidence within the ad. Remember: There is no proven quick and easy way to lose weight or get healthy – don’t fall for the deception.
• Look out for fake guarantees: Always read the fine print before purchasing a health or weight loss product. A common tactic in health care scams is the money-back guarantee, giving the appearance of a risk-free investment. However, often buried in the fine print are conditions that consumers miss, like agreeing to a subscription service for a period or being billed for more product that the consumer intended to use.

• Look for trustworthy reviews before purchase: Before trying a new product, search for its name online through a trusted search engine. Fake reviews are common so seek verified reviews from a variety of sources. If all you find are glowing reviews, consider if the authors may have been paid or received free product for writing the review. Also look for complaints or lawsuits about the product. If you see the product on social media but the comments are turned off, beware; it’s a red flag that the company is trying to hide honest feedback. Many ads include dramatic before-and-after photos, however, the photos may be doctored or altered or may show a person who never used the advertised product at all. If you can’t find information beyond the product’s advertisements, it is probably a scam.

• Consult a health professional: Always consult with a primary care physician or certified health practitioner before beginning a new medicine or dietary supplement, particularly if the product is not approved by the FDA. These products may contain unknown ingredients, have harmful health effects, or interfere with your prescriptions.

• Seek reliable information for getting healthy: There are places to seek more information on your own if you are interested in treating diseases and ailments, backed by certified doctors and scientists. Sites such as the National Institute of Health's MedlinePlus and MyHealthFinder by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offer a wealth of information easily accessible to consumers. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health offers information about alternative and complementary medicine. To learn about healthy eating, visit gov, ChooseMyPlate.gov, or the Weight-control Information Network. While these sites are verified, consumers should always consult their health professional with any questions.

Consumers who see fraudulent weight loss product claims or false advertising should report it to the Federal Trade Commission and the New York Office of the Attorney General.

Consumers who believe they have been victims of a health scam can file a complaint with NYS Division of Consumer Protection at https://dos.ny.gov/file-consumer-complaint. 

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. For more consumer protection information, call the DCP Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, and by visiting the website at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

For more information on consumer-related topics, connect with the Division on social media via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.