Brooklyn Man Charged with Covid-19 Related Fraud

 

Defendant Falsely Claimed that He Owned a Car Wash and Stole Emergency Relief Funds Earmarked for Small Businesses Suffering Economic Effects of the Pandemic

 A criminal complaint has been filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Jeremy Trapp with wire fraud in connection with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.  Trapp is in federal custody on other charges, and made his initial appearance on the new charge yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon.  The defendant remains detained pending trial.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charge.

“As alleged, Trapp filed an application containing outright lies in order to steal government funds intended to help small businesses and their employees survive the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “The Department of Justice will ensure that taxpayer and pandemic relief funds are not misappropriated, but are used for their intended purpose and deserving recipients.”

"While small business owners around the country were scrambling to make ends meet and find ways to compensate their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Trapp blatantly lied on an application for economic stimulus, as alleged today,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “Without a legitimate business to claim or any employees to pay, he wasn’t at all eligible for the funding he eventually received. Stealing federal aid reserved for those suffering from the pandemic's economic fallout is an easy way to rack up criminal charges. As a result, the one thing Trapp is now eligible for is the chance of spending a significant amount of time behind bars.”

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) provides qualifying small businesses with low-interest loans.  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act expanded EIDL to provide economic support to help offset the temporary loss of revenue experienced by businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As alleged in the complaint and other court documents, Trapp applied for an EIDL loan and grant in June 2020.  In the application, Trapp claimed that he was the sole proprietor of a car wash business located at his home address in Brooklyn, a multi-unit residential building.  Trapp further represented that he employed ten individuals and that his gross revenue for the 12 months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was $150,000.  Based on Trapp’s false representations, the Small Business Administration approved a $42,500 loan and $10,000 grant to Trapp, and these funds were deposited into Trapp’s bank account.  On July 13, 2020, Trapp withdrew approximately $9,000 in cash from the bank account. 

The government’s investigation revealed that Trapp did not operate a commercial car wash business, did not employ anyone and had no gross revenue from the purported business. 

The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Trapp faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the fraud charge.

Attorney General’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Opens Investigation Into Death of Sofia Gomez

 

 The New York Attorney General’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit has opened an investigation into the death of Sofia Gomez, who died on October 8, 2020, following an encounter with law enforcement in Bronx County on October 5, 2020, pursuant to the Attorney General’s authority under Executive Order No. 147.

Executive Order No. 147 confers upon the Attorney General exclusive authority to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute cases in which a law enforcement officer causes the death of an unarmed civilian, as well as cases in which the Attorney General has determined that there is a significant question as to whether the civilian was armed and dangerous at the time his or her death was caused.

Brian Melford Announces his Candidacy for the 12 Council District Special Election

 

More than 100 people came to The Gun Hill Houses to hear the announcement that Brian Melford was running for the 12th City Council seat in the upcoming Special Election to replace Councilman Andy King who was expelled from the City Council Monday October 5, 2020. 

Uptown Community Party is the name candidate Brian Melford has chosen for his petition to run for the 12th City Council Special Election to be held on December 22, 2020. Candidate Melford explained that the 12th City Council District is Uptown, and that the Community will elect him in the Special Election. Brian said that he has almost seven years of experience in City Council matters, and several years as the Budget Director for Councilman King. No other candidate has the experience that he has with the City Council he added.

There are only twelve days to collect signatures, and as of Sunday October 11, 2020 four days into petitioning there was nothing on the Board of Elections website about the 12th City Council Special Election. The only mention was during the October 6, 2020 BOE commissioners meeting where it was mentioned that the mayor had three days to call a special election that would occur right before the Christmas holiday, and would not involve Rank Choice Voting. 

Above - 12th City Council candidate Brian Melford announcing his candidacy for the December Special Election.

Below - Brian Melford with supporters Ms. Laura Capos from the Lion King, and her mother Diana.

Brian Melford with  supporters Ana Rivera and her son Johnathan. 

Bronx Community Board 8 = FY 2022 Capital & Expense Budget Requests - Public Hearing on Tuesday, 10/13 @ 6:30pm

 

NOTICE OF FULL BOARD MEETING 

& PUBLIC HEARING  

Bronx Community Board 8  

 

*PUBLIC HEARING: Capital & Expense Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2022, Tuesday, October 13^th, 2020 from 6:30PM to 7:00 PM via Zoom. 

 

The regular Full Board Meeting of Bronx Community Board 8 will follow the Public Hearing at 7:00 PM. 

 

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82537437613 

 

Phone: +16465588656       Pin: 82537437613# 

 

 

AGENDA 

 

1. 1  Public Gallery Session 
2. 2 Report from the Bronx Borough President’s Office  
3. 3 Report from the 50^th Police Precinct 
4. 4  Chairperson’s Report 
5. 5  Treasurer’s Report 
6. 6  District Manager’s Report 
7. 7  Report from the Department of City Planning 
8. 8  Committee Reports: 
                                                                             
   
   a. Parks & Recreation
   b. Public Safety 
   c. Traffic & Transportation 
   d. Youth 
   e. Aging 
   f. Budget 
   g. Economic Development 
   h. Education, Libraries & Cultural Affairs 
   i. Environment & Sanitation 
   j. Health, Hospitals & Social Services 
   k. Housing 
   l. Land Use 
   m. Law, Rules & Ethics 
   n. Special Committee on Racial Equity 
   
    
9. 9 Discussion of Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2020 
10. 10 Approval of Board Meeting Minutes of September 8, 2020 
11. 11 Miscellaneous Business 

Bronx Community Board No. 8

5676 Riverdale Avenue, Suite 100

Bronx, NY 10471-2194

Tel: 718-884-3959  Fax: 718-796-2763

Email: bx08@cb.nyc.gov

Visit us on the web: www.nyc.gov/bronxcb8

 

Serving the neighborhoods of Fieldston, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Marble Hill, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, and Van Cortlandt Village

...

Governor Cuomo Announces State Police Columbus Day Weekend Traffic Enforcement

 

Troopers will focus on Speeding and Impaired Motorists in North Country, Capital Region, Central New York and Hudson Valley

Statewide Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign to Run October 8 through October 12 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Police will conduct special traffic enforcement efforts for the upcoming Columbus Day Weekend to crackdown on speeding and impaired motorists. The Columbus Day campaign will begin on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 and run through Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. Troopers expect increased traffic volume during the period due to the holiday weekend and fall tourism, which poses additional risks on our roadways. This enforcement detail will take place in the North Country, Syracuse region, Capital Region and the Catskills.

The targeted Columbus Day Weekend enforcement coincides with the statewide "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." mobilization to keep distracted drivers off the road. During this high-visibility campaign, State Police and local law enforcement from across the state will be cracking down on distracted driving throughout the holiday weekend.

"A fall foliage sightseeing trip is a great way for families to enjoy a safe and social distanced excursion, and our Troopers will be out patrolling to prevent needless tragedies caused by those who choose to speed or drive while impaired," Governor Cuomo said. "New York has zero tolerance for impaired and distracted drivers. I am urging all motorists to drive responsibly and save lives."

Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, "We want drivers to understand that speeding and distracted driving can bring tragic consequences. Our Troopers will be highly visible during this traffic enforcement period to ensure that drivers are following the posted speed limits and removing reckless drivers from the road. We encourage drivers to do their part by obeying traffic laws, staying alert and designating a sober driver if they have been drinking. Together, we can keep our roadways safe for those who travel them." 

Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Governor's Traffic Safety Commission Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "This weekend is a great time to see the changing fall colors in New York State but one thing that should never change is being a safe driver. Distracted driving, speeding and impaired driving are preventable and needlessly put everyone on the road in danger. This weekend and whenever you travel, please follow the speed limit, put your phone away and always drive sober. If you're celebrating, have a plan to get home safely."

Motorists who are traveling this weekend can also expect a number of sobriety checkpoints and additional DWI patrols. Law enforcement will also be looking for motorists who are using their phones and other electronic devices while behind the wheel. Drivers should also remember to "move over" for stopped emergency and hazard vehicles stopped on the side of the road. 

Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who are violating the law. CITE vehicles allow the Trooper to better observe driving violations.  These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated. 

The State Police are reminding all motorists to be safe, don't drink and drive, stay off your mobile phones while driving, drive the speed limit, and buckle up all occupants. The main goal of this initiative is to deter unsafe driving behaviors and raise awareness of the importance of traffic safety.

During the 2019 "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." mobilization, which is supportedby the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, more than 5,000 tickets were issued for distracted driving and more than 46,000 tickets were issued for other serious traffic violations such as impaired driving and speeding.

Tickets issued during last year's "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." enforcement campaign:

Violations	Number of Tickets
Distracted Driving	5,184
Impaired	1,298
Move Over Law	398
Seat Belt	1,768
Speeding	9,194
Other Violation	34,288
Total	52,130

To help deter motorists from talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device, texting, or using an electronic device while driving, New York State has set strict penalties. The penalties can range from $50 to $450 in fines, 5 driver violation points, and suspension or revocation of license.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - OCTOBER 9, 2020

 

"Red Zone" Focus Areas in Four Counties, with 2.8 Percent of State Population, Have Had 19.7 Percent of All Positive Cases in New York State over Past 3 Weeks

Over Past 3 Weeks, "Red Zone" Focus Areas in Four Counties Positivity is 6.4 Percent; New York State Positivity Without Red Zones Included is 0.91 Percent

6 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 635 Establishments; Observes 7 Establishments Not in Compliance

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor detailed testing results from areas where the state is seeing upticks in cases over the past weeks. In "Red Zone" focus areas in four counties, the positivity rate over the past three weeks has been 6.4 percent, compared to the rest of the state at 0.91 percent. These "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of state's population, yet have been where 19.7 percent of all positive cases statewide have come from over the past three weeks.

"Our response to these clusters shows just how advanced our testing system is. We do more tests per day than most states do per week. When you do 140,000 tests, you get data that is so granular that you can track it to the block," Governor Cuomo said. "Whenever there is a cluster, we have attacked it, so this situation is nothing new. Our numbers statewide remain positive, but we must work together to protect our progress: It's going to take all of us to keep washing our hands, wearing our masks, remaining socially distant, getting our flu shots and staying New York Tough."

In addition to monitoring the testing results from areas designated as "Red Zones," New York State also tracks testing results on a ZIP code level in areas where there are hot spot, cluster situations. Within the top 20 ZIP codes in counties with recent outbreaks - Brooklyn, Queens, and Rockland and Orange Counties - the average rate of positive test results reported yesterday was 5.4 percent. The rate of positive tests for the remainder of New York State, not counting these 20 ZIP codes, was 0.90 percent. These 20 ZIP codes contained 25 percent of all positive cases in New York State yesterday, but represent only 6.6 percent of the state's population. In these ZIPs, 7,307 test results were reported to New York State yesterday, yielding 398 positives. In the remainder of the state, 131,993 tests were conducted yielding 1,194 positives.

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 635 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 7establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

• Queens - 1
• Nassau - 5
• Suffolk - 1

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization - 779 (+25)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 122
• Hospital Counties - 38
• Number ICU - 168 (-4)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 78 (+11)
• Total Discharges - 77,432 (+81)
• Deaths - 6
• Total Deaths - 25,561

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES $450 MILLION IN LABOR SAVINGS

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City has reached an arbitration agreement with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) that will result in $450 million in savings in fiscal year 2021. The agreement includes partial payment of lump sum payments which were scheduled to be paid this month, and a commitment the City will not layoff teachers through at least June 30, 2021. The Adopted Budget announced in June included $1 billion in labor savings for FY21 and these savings will account for nearly half of that commitment. The City still needs a minimum of $5 billion in federal or state relief in order to avoid drastic action such as layoffs for FY22.

 

“The City faces the gravest fiscal crisis since 9/11, but we will build on our record of strong financial management by making the tough decisions and sacrifices we need to keep the City running,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This agreement allows us to avoid laying off the teachers who’ve done so much for New York City’s schools and students. But make no mistake, the need for the Federal and State governments to step up and provide us with aid is as pressing as ever.”

 

The agreement includes:

 

Partial payment: Half of scheduled payment (approx. $450 million) to be paid in October 2020, remaining half to be paid in July 2021.

 

Commitment on layoffs: No layoffs of teachers through June 30, 2021. If the City receives State and Federal assistance of $5 billion or more, the no-layoff pledge is extended to June 30, 2022.

 

Facing an economic downturn driven by COVID-19, the de Blasio Administration has built on its record of strong fiscal management to ensure a robust recovery for New York City:

Increased annual budget reserves to record levels: Along with the City Council, City Hall amassed a record level of $6 billion in budget reserves before the pandemic hit, which were key to savings lives as COVID hit.
Historic cuts and savings in Adopted Budget: The Administration had $7 billion in reserves and savings to balance this year’s budget due to careful planning and savings.
Hiring freeze and vacancy reduction savings: City Hall generated over $600 million citywide in FY20 and FY21 since June 2019 and reduced budgeted headcount by over 5,300 in FY21.
Workforce actions: Furloughs of all managerial and non-represented City employees generated $22 million in savings. On top of other actions, this helped us cut this fiscal year’s Mayor’s Office budget by 12%.
Debt service savings: Achieved $604 million in debt service savings since June 2019 and can achieve hundreds of millions more depending on City Comptroller action.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

While the mayor mentions a $450 Million Dollar savings in Fiscal Year 2021, the mayor fails to mention that Fiscal Year 2021 began on July 1, 2020, and closes out on June 30, 2021, Thus the mayor is pushing half of this payment back one year into Fiscal Year 2022, which the city could be in worse shape than it is currently in. The mayor will be laying off all other city workers except teachers by this agreement. That means all other none UFT personal can be laid off from schools including administrators of any school. 

Good going Mayor de Blasio, would you like to play some poker with me. 

The Bronx Tourism Council - Tour de Bronx 2020

 

OFFICIAL NEWS FROM THE BRONX TOURISM COUNCIL OCTOBER 9, 2020 WEBSITE           VISITOR GUIDE           GO BX POD            OCTOBER 10 to NOVEMBER 8 Choose from 3 different routes Ride at your own pace ... in your own time ... with your own crew! Click here for more information Leonard Jerome of JEROME AVENUE in The Bronx, also had a very famous grandson who played a pivotal role in World War II. Who was he? CLICK HERE and Listen to Episode 7 of Go Bronx Pod today.