NYC Excessive Heat Warning

WITH PROLONGED HEAT CONTINUING INTO THE WEEK NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE URGE NEW YORKERS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO STAY COOL 

Excessive Heat Warning in effect through Monday morning

Cooling centers remain open through Wednesday 7/4. To find the nearest cooling center call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/beattheheat 

Parks department will extend daily NYC pool hours to 8 p.m. through Tuesday 7/3 for Olympic and Intermediate pools

   With high heat and humidity continuing to affect New York City into the week, the New York City Emergency Department and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are urging New Yorkers to continue to take steps to beat the heat. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for New York City in effect through 6 a.m. Monday, 7/2. An Excessive Heat Watch for New York City will be in effect from 6 a.m. through 9 p.m. Monday 7/2. According to the latest National Weather Service forecast, temperatures today are in the upper 90s, with heat index values in excess of 100 degrees.  Temperatures are forecast in the mid to upper 90s through Wednesday, with heat index values in the mid to upper 90s.

An Excessive Heat Warning is issued when a combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 105 degrees or greater. New Yorkers should use air conditioning to stay cool at home or go to a place that has air conditioning. New York City cooling centers will remain open throughout the five boroughs through Wednesday, July 4. Cooling centers are air-conditioned facilities such as libraries, community centers, senior centers, and NYCHA facilities that are open to the public during heat emergencies. To find a cooling center, including accessible facilities closest to you, call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or visit the NYC Cooling Center Finder atwww.nyc.gov/beattheheat.

“The hot weather will continue into the week and we urge people to keep safe,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “Drink plenty of water, use air conditioning or go to an air-conditioned place, and avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the periods of intense heat.”

“Hot and humid weather like what we’re experiencing this weekend can cause heat illness, and even death,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “If you have air conditioning and you have not used it up until now, now is the time to turn it on. Setting it to “low” or 78 degrees Fahrenheit will keep you cool and keep your bills in check. For those without air conditioning, especially older adults and people with chronic health conditions, we urge you to seek an air-conditioned place in your neighborhood or go to a NYC Cooling Center. As always, we urge New Yorkers to Be A Buddy and check on your neighbors, family and friends who may be at greater risk for heat illness and make sure they are safe and cool.”

Extreme heat is defined by temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region, last for prolonged periods, and are accompanied by high humidity. The New York City Emergency Management Department urges New Yorkers to take steps to protect themselves and help others who may be at increased risk from the heat. Those at increased risk are people who do not have or use air conditioning AND:

·      Are 65 years or older;

·    Have chronic medical, mental health, or cognitive/developmental conditions;

·  Take certain medications, which can disrupt the regulation of body temperature;

·    Are confined to their beds, have limited mobility, or are unable to leave their homes;

·    Are obese; or

·    Misuse alcohol or drugs.

CHECK ON THOSE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THE HEAT:

·  In New York City, most heat-related deaths occur after exposure to heat in homes without air conditioners. Air conditioning is the best way to stay safe and healthy when it is hot outside. Encourage at-risk New Yorkers to use air conditioning. Help them get to an air-conditioned place, even if for a few hours, if they cannot stay cool at home. Make sure they are drinking plenty of water.

· Get to know your neighbors.  During extreme heat, call or visit at-risk neighbors, friends and family, such as older adults and anyone with a pre-existing medical condition. This small but crucial gesture can help ensure that we all have a safe and healthy summer.

·  During extreme heat, the Department of Social Services (DSS) issues a Code Red Alert, initiating enhanced outreach efforts. During Code Red periods, shelter is available system-wide to accommodate anyone who is reasonably believed to be homeless. Homeless individuals experiencing heat-related discomfort are also able to access the designated cooling area at any shelter; and transportation to cooling centers is available via DSS outreach teams, who are out 24/7/365, checking on and engaging vulnerable clients with greater frequency.

· The Parks department is extending general swim hours to 8 p.m. at all outdoor Olympic and Intermediate pools beginning through Tuesday 7/3. City beaches are open and will operate on a normal schedule from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. Parks has more than 600 spray showers, which will remain available until sundown, or later if actively in use by the public. Free SPF 30 sunscreen is available at all City pools and beaches.

ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE HEAT:

·  Stay out of the sun and avoid extreme temperature changes.

·  Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.

·  Drink fluids, particularly water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Those on fluid-restricted diets or taking diuretics should first consult their physician.

·  Water is the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies. Avoid beverages containing alcohol and/or caffeine.

·  Eat small, frequent meals.

·  Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.

· If possible, go to an air-conditioned location for several hours during the hottest parts of the day.

·  Cool down with a cool bath or shower.

·  Participate in activities that will keep you cool, such as going to the movies, shopping at a mall, or swimming at a pool or beach.

·  Cover all exposed skin with an SPF sunscreen (15 or above) and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and head.

·  Never leave your children or pets in the car.

For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/health 

FACTS ABOUT HEAT ILLNESS:

 Heat illness is serious. Prolonged exposure to the heat can be harmful and potentially fatal. The added stress caused by heat can also aggravate heart or lung disease even without symptoms of heat illness.

Know the warning signs of heat stress. If you or someone you know feels weak or faint, go to a cool place and drink water. If there is no improvement, call a doctor or 911.
Call 911 immediately if you have, or someone you know has:
·   Hot dry skin.
·   Trouble breathing.
·   Rapid heartbeat.
·   Confusion, disorientation, or dizziness.
·   Nausea and vomiting.

KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE
·  Avoid dehydration: Pets can dehydrate quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water.
·  Exercise early and late: When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Your pet’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn.
·  Know when your pet is in danger: Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor, or even collapse. Animals with flat faces like pugs and Persian cats are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. They should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
·   Keep cats safe by installing screens in your windows: Unscreened windows pose a real danger to cats, as they can fall out of them often during summer months.

IMPROPER FIRE HYDRANT USE:

The improper opening of fire hydrants wastes 1,000 gallons of water per minute, causes flooding on city streets, and can lower water pressure to dangerous levels and hamper the ability of FDNY to fight fire safely and quickly.

Properly used “spray caps” reduce hydrant output to a safe 25 gallons per minute while still providing relief from the heat. To obtain a spray cap, an adult 18 years or older with proper identification can go to his or her local firehouse and request one.

For more information, visit NYC.gov/beattheheat. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program. To sign up for Notify NYC, download thefree mobile application, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter 

MAYOR DE BLASIO, SPEAKER JOHNSON AND NYC HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE NEW MEASURES TO FURTHER REDUCE LEAD EXPOSURE

New York City will become one of the first jurisdictions in the country to conduct environmental investigations for all kids with a blood lead level of 5mcg/DL and above

Lead poisoning has gone down by nearly 90 percent since 2005

  Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Johnson and the NYC Department of Health today announced more stringent measures to reduce childhood lead exposure. New York City will become one of the first jurisdictions in the country to conduct environmental investigations for all children under 18 years old with a blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter. The Health Department has already begun to conduct these investigations for children in public housing and will begin implementing beyond that by the end of the year. This new measure will significantly expand the City’s robust lead prevention programs, which has already contributed to a nearly 90 percent reduction in the number of children under age 6 with blood lead level at or above 5 mcg/dL.

“Lead poisoning is down almost 90 percent since 2005. But that’s not good enough. We’ve already made our testing protocols stricter for kids in public housing and we are now extending that standard to the entire City. It’s our job to always push the envelope when it comes to our kids’ health,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"Nearly 4,300 children a year test positive for high amounts of lead in their system in 2017, which is 4,300 too many. This expansion of the investigation program by the Health Department follows the introduction of City Council legislation aimed at revamping the city's current lead laws to make children safer, including lowering the threshold for intervention by the city to align with the Centers for Disease Control standard of 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). These measures, along with strict enforcement of existing laws, will help bring the number of children with high lead levels in the city down to the ultimate goal of zero," said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. 

“New York City has been at the forefront of protecting children from lead exposure through the implementation of strong laws, policies and programs, and this next step will ensure that our progress continues,” said Dr. Herminia Palacio, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. “This new policy builds upon the Health Department's comprehensive lead prevention services to children and their families.”

“New York City has long been at the vanguard of protecting children from lead poisoning, and we have made tremendous progress in reducing childhood lead poisoning. This significant expansion of our work will enable the Health Department to reach even more children with elevated blood lead levels.” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “Expanding our environmental investigations to address children with lower blood lead levels will allow us to reduce disparities and reduce the risk of lead poisoning for many more children.”

New York City already has one of the most robust lead poisoning prevention programs in the country.  The Health Department reviews results of blood lead tests every day, and contacts the family of every child who has an elevated blood lead level. DOH is mandated to conduct environmental investigations for all children under 18 years old with a BLL of 15mcg or above, but also performs inspections for younger children with lower blood lead levels. During these environmental investigations, a Health Department investigator interviews a family and inspects a child’s home to determine possible sources of lead exposure, which can include lead-tainted cooking ware or toys, peeling paint, food products or contamination from a parent’s place of work.

Currently, the families of children with a BLL of 5 mcg/dL and their health care providers receive guidance from the Health Department on how to reduce exposure. With this program expansion, these families will receive an environmental investigation. This expansion will be implemented as a policy change and further codified by City Council legislation.

The Health Department has already begun conducting these investigations for children under 6 years old who reside in public housing and have a blood lead level at or above 5 mcg/dL. There has been a nearly 70 percent decrease in the number of children in public housing with blood lead levels at 5 mcg/dL and up.

With this newly expanded program, the Health Department will now visit the home of all children under the age of 18 with blood levels of 5 mcg/dL and above to help identify possible sources of lead exposure. If a lead paint hazard is found during the investigation, the Health Department issues a Commissioner’s Order to Abate, directing the property owner to fix the hazard.

Following a City Council-led overhaul of the city's lead laws, New York City has seen an 89 percent reduction in the number of children under age 6 with blood lead level at or above 5 µg/dL since 2005. To reduce these rates even further, the City Council has introduced a package of 23 bills earlier this year to expand and strengthen New York’s existing lead laws, which is the biggest proposed overhaul of these laws since their original passage.

Preliminary data on lead poisoning in children show that between 2016 and 2017 there was a 13 percent drop in the number of children under age 6 with blood lead levels at or above 5 mcg/dL, from 4,928 to 4,293.

NYC DOH HEALTHY HOME TIPS:

The Health Department’s Healthy Homes Programs recommends the following tips to parents and caregivers on how to protect children from lead exposure:

·         Keep children away from peeling paint and home repairs that disturb paint.

·         Report peeling paint to your building management. Building owners are required to safely fix peeling paint in homes where young children live. If repairs aren’t made, call 311.

·         Remind your health care provider to test children for lead poisoning at one and two years of age—it’s required by law. Ask about testing older children who may be at risk of lead exposure. All families can receive free lead testing at any NYC Health + Hospital location.

·         Wash floors, window sills, hands, toys and pacifiers often to remove lead dust that may be present in the home.

·         Use safe work methods to reduce dust when doing home repairs that disturb paint. For information on lead-safe work methods, call 311.

·         Avoid using imported foods, spices, medicines, pots, dishes, cosmetics or toys known to contain lead.

·         Use only tap water for baby formula, drinking and cooking. Run the water for 30 seconds first thing in the morning to remove water sitting in pipes overnight. 

For more information on preventing childhood lead poisoning, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/lead. 

Community and Councilman Protest Soundview Triple Homicides

 

  At the site of the recent triple homicide outside a Castle Hill strip mall across from the Castle Hill House, Sheikh Musa Drammeh (the CEO of the Parkchester Times), Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., and 87th Assembly candidate Sgt. John Perez demonstrated with community members to stop the violence in the community. Among those calling for an end to the violence were two former gang members who have become  mentors to try to keep local children out of gangs. 

 Police have an alert out for the shooter who killed the three people, including a photo which has been distributed throughout the community. Police searched the Castle Hill Houses directly after the shootings, but were unable to apprehend him. Now the community is calling for an end to the violence. 

Above - Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. tells Mr. Drummeh that he is giving $5,000 for an anti violence program, and will introduce legislation in the city council.

Below - 87th Assembly candidate former Army Sergeant John Perez tells the people that he will be on the street with them, to fight for them, as he did as a soldier, should he be elected to the State Assembly.

Above - Former gang member Darney K Born Rivers, and founder of I Am My Community Inc. talks about keeping children active and out of gangs.

Below - Only called TINY, another former gang member now mentoring children about the evils of gang membership also spoke. 

  Julian Sepulveda the son of former Assemblyman now State Senator Luis Sepulveda lights a memorial candle at the spot of the triple homicide. 

New York City Police Foundation Establishes New Scholarship To Honor Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz

New Scholarship Will Provide Tuition Assistance To Two Graduates Of The NYPD’s Explorer Summer Camp

  The New York City Police Foundation today established a new scholarship that will honor Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, the 15-year-old resident of The Bronx who was tragically murdered on June 20th in New York City. On an annual basis, The New York City Police Foundation Lesandro Guzman-Feliz Memorial College Fund will provide two NYPD Explorer high school graduates up to $5,000 each in reimbursement of tuition and school supplies upon enrollment in an accredited school for the fall semester.

 

“The murder of Junior has sent shockwaves of sadness across our city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Junior’s life was taken too soon, but it will not be in vain. This scholarship will help more young New Yorkers learn about law enforcement and public service, and ensure that Junior’s legacy will never be forgotten.”

 

"NYPD Explorers come from the communities in which they volunteer and learn about the importance of higher education, self-discipline in reaching their goals, and the rewards of a career in law enforcement," Police Commissioner O'Neill said. "There is no better way to honor a young man whose stated dream was to become one of the greatest detectives in the world than by establishing a memorial scholarship in his honor. I thank the Police Foundation for its generosity in funding this annual award in the name of Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz. The work Explorers do makes our communities stronger, it makes our neighborhoods safer, and it makes our police department better. The people we serve, in every corner of New York City, will surely be the largest beneficiaries in all of this." 

 

“Out of this tragedy, future students like Junior will be able to pursue their dreams and, just as importantly, his name will live on,” said Susan Birnbaum, President & CEO of the New York City Police Foundation. “The New York City Police Foundation joins all of the members of the NYPD and the City of New York to extend our deepest sympathies to his family.”

U.S. Attorney Announces Lawsuit Against The City Of Mount Vernon For Clean Water Act Violations

Suit Alleges That The City of Mount Vernon Discharges Raw Sewage and Other Illicit Pollutants from Its Storm Sewer System into the Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Peter D. Lopez, Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today that the United States has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Mount Vernon, New York (“Mount Vernon”) for violating the Clean Water Act.  The lawsuit alleges that Mount Vernon has long failed to comply with Clean Water Act storm sewer permit requirements designed to prevent raw sewage and other illicit pollutants from flowing from the City’s storm sewer system to the Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “For years, Mount Vernon has discharged raw sewage and other illicit pollutants from its storm sewer system into the Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers.  Mount Vernon has consistently failed to comply with permit requirements intended to prevent these discharges, and has flouted EPA administrative orders intended to address the problem.  Today’s lawsuit will protect the waters of this district by obtaining a judicial order compelling Mount Vernon to bring its sewers into compliance with the Clean Water Act.”

EPA Regional Administrator Peter D. Lopez said:  “The City of Mount Vernon must take the appropriate actions to protect its residents and downstream communities from threats posed by raw sewage and other pollutants.  EPA and New York State will continue to work together with the city to ensure that Mount Vernon understands how to fix the problems with its storm sewer system.  In addition, we support efforts by the city to seek funding to assist Mount Vernon in getting the necessary work completed.  This complaint gets to the core of EPA’s mission of protecting people’s health, and we will continue to work with the state and city to carry out that mission.”

As alleged in the complaint filed today in White Plains federal court, the Clean Water Act generally prohibits discharges of pollutants into navigable waters, absent a permit.  Many municipalities, like Mount Vernon, operate “municipal separate storm sewer systems” that carry storm water and discharge it without treatment into nearby waters.  Because separate storm sewer systems do not treat the water they discharge, a municipality is required by its Clean Water Act permit to maintain a program for identifying and eliminating any sewage or other illicit pollutants that are flowing into the storm sewers.

The lawsuit filed today alleges that since at least January 2012, Mount Vernon has failed to comply with these permit obligations and, as a result, has allowed raw sewage to flow into its storm sewer system, and then to be discharged into the Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers.  Mount Vernon has also failed to comply with two EPA Administrative Orders issued to compel the City’s compliance with these requirements. 

The lawsuit seeks an injunction compelling Mount Vernon to comply with applicable Clean Water Act requirements and an order imposing civil penalties for Mount Vernon’s violations to date.

The State of New York and the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are co-plaintiffs in this lawsuit, asserting parallel claims under state law. 

Mr. Berman thanked EPA for its invaluable efforts in this matter.

Two Men Charged With Schemes To Defraud Medicare As Part Of Nationwide Health Care Fraud Takedown

The Two Men Are Responsible For More Than $1 Million In Losses To Medicare

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent in Charge for the New York Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS-OIG”), announced charges today against JAMES WOODSON and ANTHONY PALMIERI for their participation in separate fraudulent schemes that resulted in more than $1 million in losses to the Medicare program.  These charges are part of a nationwide health care fraud takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 601 individuals for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $2 billion in fraudulent claims. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “By allegedly falsely obtaining HIV medication, and by billing Medicare for diagnostic tests that were never provided, these individuals have cost American taxpayers more than $1 million, and, in the case of the HIV medicine, also endangered the lives of those who unwittingly bought medication that had been re-sold on the black market.  These prosecutions show that those who defraud our nation’s health care programs will be brought to justice.”   

HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert said:  “Health care fraud is costly to vulnerable patients and the federal health care programs that serve them.  Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we are sending a clear message that actions can have serious consequences.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint[1] in United States v. James Woodson (“WOODSON”), unsealed on Monday in Manhattan federal court, WOODSON obtained prescriptions for complete regimens of human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) medications from both the Veterans Administration (“VA”), and the Medicare Part D (“Medicare”) program.  WOODSON allegedly sold the excess medication on the black market.  In an effort to avoid detection, WOODSON changed Medicare plans at least 16 times.  He also utilized at least 34 different pharmacies and 40 different doctors, to maximize the amount of HIV medication he could obtain.  As a result of these actions, WOODSON defrauded the Medicare program by at least $815,000.

According to the allegations in the Complaint in United States v. Anthony Palmieri (“PALMIERI”), which was unsealed on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, from November 2014 through May 2016, PALMIERI conspired with others to use his company’s position as an enrolled participant in Medicare to submit, or cause to be submitted, to Medicare numerous claims that falsely represented that certain health care services, such as ultrasounds, had been provided to patients.  As a result of the fraudulent scheme, Medicare paid for services that were never performed.  As a result of these actions, PALMIERI and his co-conspirators defrauded the Medicare program by at least $481,000.

WOODSON, 54, of Manhattan, New York, is charged with one count of health care fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.  PALMIERI, 40 of Holmdel, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and one count of health care fraud, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in these cases are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. 

These cases, he Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Louis A. Pellegrino is in charge of United States v. Woodson, and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy V. Capozzi is in charge of United States v. Palma part of the Department of Justice’s National Healthcare Fraud Takedown, are being handled by tieri.        

The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

Two Defendants Sentenced For Fatal 2012 Home Invasion Robbery

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JUDIE OLIVERA was sentenced today to a term of 40 years in prison for her role in the May 2012 home-invasion robbery of victim Miles Klein, which resulted in Klein’s death.  On June 26, 2018, GIBRON LOPEZ was sentenced to a term of 40 years in prison, which must run consecutively to a prior prison sentence of five years, for his role in the home-invasion robbery.  Both sentences were imposed by United States District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.  LOPEZ and OLIVERA were convicted of Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy following a jury trial in October 2017 before Judge Failla.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “The defendants committed a violent home-invasion robbery, resulting in the brutal death of Miles Klein.  Having been convicted at trial, the defendants will now spend decades in prison for this horrific crime.  We thank our remarkable partners at the ATF and NYPD for their tireless efforts to bring these defendants to justice.”                       

According to the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and the evidence admitted at trial: 

In May 2012, OLIVERA, who had a preexisting relationship with Klein, set up a home invasion robbery, which targeted Klein’s drugs and drug proceeds.  OLIVERA recruited LOPEZ and another man to commit the robbery.  On May 15, 2012, OLIVERA gained access to Klein’s apartment in the Bronx, and LOPEZ and the other man, armed with a wrench and a rubber mallet, respectively, followed her there.  LOPEZ and the other man struggled with Klein at the door, striking him in the head repeatedly with the wrench and the mallet, binding his eyes and mouth with duct tape, and gagging him.  During the assault, OLIVERA stole a safe containing cash, among other items, from Klein’s apartment.  LOPEZ and the other man then dragged Klein’s body to the bathroom, where they left him.   They discarded the murder weapons and their bloody clothes in a sewer, and later split the proceeds of the robbery.  Police responded to the scene on May 16, 2012, after receiving a 911 call from concerned family members.  Klein was ultimately pronounced dead as a result of the blunt force trauma to the head and obstruction of his airway.

In addition to prison terms, LOPEZ, 37, and OLIVERA, 40, both of the Bronx, New York, were each sentenced to three years of supervised release. 

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Task Force, and the New York City Police Department. 

MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON IN 1993 MURDER OF 20-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN THE BRONX

Cold Case Solved in 2015 When Defendant’s DNA Linked to Strangling of Victim

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison following his conviction for second-degree Murder in the 1993 killing of the mother of his child. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The sentence proves that criminals cannot escape justice. The defendant strangled and stabbed the 20-year-old Michelle Page, who was the mother of his child and was working and studying business at Manhattan Community College. It took two decades but, thanks to DNA science, the defendant will go to prison for many years for this heinous crime.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Jonathan Jolivert, 49, of 338 Forbell Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Michael A. Gross to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was found guilty by a jury on June 5, 2018 of second degree Murder. 

 According to the investigation, on March 24, 1993, Jolivert had stopped by Michelle Page’s apartment on Morris Avenue in order to give her some child support money. The victim’s mother subsequently entered the apartment and found her daughter lying on the floor with a scarf on her neck that had been used as ligature to strangle her. She was also found with a kitchen knife plunged into her throat. The 14-month-old son she shared with Jolivert was not at home at the time.

 The defendant was linked to the murder by the NYPD’s Cold Case Squad through DNA that was found under Page’s fingernails. Jolivert was arrested and indicted on second-degree Murder in 2015.