MAYOR ADAMS TAKES EXECUTIVE ACTION TO PROMOTE HEALTHY FOOD IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE MERCY CENTER IN THE BRONX

 

Mayor Signs Two Executive Orders to Formalize City’s Commitment to Good Food Purchasing and Promote Healthy Food Advertising on City Property

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed two executive orders signaling his administration’s commitment to procuring, preparing, and serving healthy and nutritious food citywide. The orders — signed at the Mercy Center Bronx, an emergency food pantry — further underscore Mayor Adams’ commitment to food justice and to reducing diet-related health inequities and disease outcomes.

“If we want to encourage New Yorkers to be healthier, the city must set the tone,” said Mayor Adams. “The executive orders we are signing today build on the progress we have made to better align our policies with our public health priorities, and show that New York City continues to lead the nation on food policy that centers equity and justice.”

Executive Order 8, Commitment to Health and Nutrition: Food Standards and Good Food Purchasing repeals Executive Order 122 of 2008, which set forth standards for meals served by city agencies. It will task the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy with revising the City Agency Food Standards, which will be circulated to agency heads on April 1, 2022, and every three years after that.  

The order also formalizes the city’s commitment to the Good Food Purchasing principles through transparency about how mayoral agencies’ procurements impact core values relating to local economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, animal welfare, and nutrition affecting the health of all New Yorkers.

Executive Order 9, Promotion of Healthy Foods in City Publications and Advertising on City Property requires that all promotional materials put out by agencies and advertisements on city property regarding food — to the extent practicable — feature healthy food.

Both orders build on the mayor’s bold food policy agenda, including the recent introduction of vegan options in all public schools and six new plant-based lifestyle medicine clinics in NYC Health + Hospital throughout the city. 

Also announced at the event was the publication of the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) new Food Distribution Program procurement, which will include fresh fruits and vegetables for the first time in the 30-year history of the program. Established in 1983, Emergency Food Assistance Program purchases and distributes food items to more than 600 food pantries and soup kitchens across the five boroughs. As a part of the city’s response to the COVID-19 emergency, DSS also began to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables through a parallel program, known as Pandemic Food Reserve Emergency Distribution. This procurement will streamline these efforts to ensure the safe, consistent, and reliable supply of nutritious, healthy, and culturally appropriate food to emergency food providers across the city, and direct public dollars to vendors that reflect the administration’s values of equity, public health, and minimizing environmental impact.  

“Today’s executive orders are another important step in supporting children and families in their lifelong heath journey,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Aligning the city’s procurement and offering transparency in this area demonstrate that the city is committed to food system reform to put the city on a healthier, more sustainable path.” 

“Access to healthy, nutritious food in a dignified manner is essential for every New Yorker,” said Deputy Mayor of Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “Today’s executive orders are critical steps in creating a healthier, more equitable, and transparent food system. We have dedication and commitment in this administration to making this happen and are proud of this important moment.” 

“Nutrition is one of the keys to a happy and prosperous life, and this administration is committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to healthy, quality food,” said DSS Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins. “As the mayor has said, if we want to encourage New Yorkers to eat healthier, the city must lead by example, which is why we are excited to release our new Food Distribution Program RFP that will help us distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to nearly 600 food pantries and community organizations across the five boroughs via our Emergency Food Assistance Program.”

“Mayor Adams has been clear and steadfast in his stated commitment to reshaping our food systems to make them healthier and plant-forward for all New Yorkers, and especially those that bear the disproportionate burden of chronic diseases,” said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, senior health advisor and incoming commissioner, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “As a primary care doctor, I know that healthy, plant-forward diets are as important as the medications I prescribe for my patients with chronic illnesses. And as an epidemiologist I know that heart disease continues to be the leading killer of New Yorkers, especially people of color, with diabetes not far behind. These executive orders and food assistance programs are crucial steps in the long-term work of making healthy food choices the standard, easy, and affordable choice for New Yorkers, and will save lives.”

“All New Yorkers deserve access to healthy and nutritious food that is good for both our bodies and our planet,” said Kate MacKenzie, executive director, Mayor's Office of Food Policy. “The mayor's announcement today of these two executive orders and the new Emergency Food Assistance Program procurement that includes fresh produce for the first time in the program's history makes it clear that New York is paving a food-forward path that is values-driven. I am grateful to the mayor for his leadership and excited to hit the ground running.” 

“Our multi-sector Good Food Purchasing Program  coalition is comprised of over 40 food system advocates that represent five value areas — animal welfare, environmental sustainability, labor, local economies, and nutrition,” said Ribka Getachew, director, New York Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) Campaign at Community Food Advocates. “We are incredibly excited to have a mayor that is a champion of the Good Food Purchasing as is reflected by Mayors Adams' singing of Executive Order 8. This coalition has been advocating for a formal codification of GFPP since the inception of the Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign in 2016, so this is an especially historic day for food system advocates. We look forward to deepening our partnership with the administration to expand the reach of GFPP in New York City and ensure the long-term and sustainable success of the program. There is strength in our collective power so working with the Adams administration to maximize the city’s massive institutional purchasing power of half of a billion dollars will radically transform our local and regional food economies!”

Above - Mayor Adams speaks about getting more fresh fruits and vegetables into city programs, schools, jails, and any other place the city distributes fresh food to. Mayor Adam holds up a fresh Green Squash.

Below - Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson speaks about the importance of Healthy eating, and being a participant in the Healthy Lifestyles program of Parkchester last year. She mentioned that she will bring the Bronx from #62 meaning first in unhealthy things, and last in good things.

Mayor Adams shows off the two proclamations he just signed at the Mercy Center located at 377 East 145th Street in the Bronx.

Above - Mayor Adams does his impression of Bronx Borough President Gibson by trying to place this box of food in this woman's wagon. 

Below - An actual photo of Bronx Borough President Elect Gibson placing a box of food into a wagon for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Above - Mayor Adams places Celery and other produce into this woman's bag. 

Below - Mayor Adams with staff and volunteers from the Mercy Center.

New York City Comptroller’s Office Releases Pre-Pandemic Audit of Repeated Family Shelter Application Denials

 

The New York City Comptroller’s Office released an audit, conducted prior to the pandemic, that found that the Department of Homeless Services (DHS)’s Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) intake center personnel denied 42% of 46,200 family applications during the audit period without adequately investigating housing history. DHS has since begun to implement the audit’s recommendations to prevent wrongful application denials.

“Families seeking shelter should not have to face homelessness and be subjected to a revolving door of denials due to the failure of PATH intake personnel to run an online search,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “I applaud DHS for implementing necessary policy updates in order to secure a shelter spot for families, especially as we headed into a pandemic that caused immense housing insecurity and highlighted our need for housing to avoid severe illness.” 

DHS is required to verify two-year housing histories through phone calls, interviews, and online searches that include New York State Welfare Management System, Worker Connect, and LexisNexis in order to determine that no other residences are available to these families. The audit, conducted during the prior administration, closely sampled fifty applicant families. Out of those 50, DHS rejected twenty-one families due to non-cooperation, but auditors found that DHS did not adequately track down the information needed to verify housing history.

Those twenty-one families filed on average fifteen reapplications, and DHS ultimately found fourteen of the families eligible. One family was denied thirty-eight times before finally having their application accepted. According to a recent analysis by THE CITY, sixty-two percent of families accepted into a shelter had applied more than once, 31% more than three times obtaining shelter.

DHS has begun adopting four of the audit’s recommendations, including:

• Properly investigating all applicant families’ housing histories.
• Revising intake staff guidelines and procedures who report a hospital stay as part of the family housing history and to assist in obtaining hospital records.
• Updating guidelines and procedures to ensure staff run web-based database searches.
• Regularly distributing clear and updated policies to all of its employees and conducting new trainings.

Prior to the pandemic, families with children seeking emergency shelter were required to bring their children to the PATH intake center in the Bronx to be evaluated and unable to stay in shelter while re-applying. During the COVID-19 pandemic, family evaluations were allowed to move to online video chat and families were allowed to stay in shelter while re-applying. Family shelter providers and homelessness advocacy organizations released a letter calling on the Mayor and the agencies to make these changes permanent. Comptroller Lander joins the advocates’ call.

“Hauling children repeatedly to the Bronx while their family seeks shelter is destabilizing and overly burdensome to families in desperate need of stability,” continued Comptroller Lander. “Our shelter providers and housing advocates are absolutely right — these pandemic procedures should be made permanent. The City needs to focus on removing barriers to emergency shelter and permanent housing, not adding more unnecessarily.”

“Homelessness is an especially difficult, destabilizing process for families with children,” said David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York. “The city must make the intake process for accessing emergency shelter and permanent housing as straightforward as possible.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

As is stated in this report, it is pre pandemic, and does not account for the year 2020 where only about 66% of families were turned away from placement in a NYC shelter. Also 2021 when 76% of families were turned away from placement in a NYC shelter. 

Defendant Pleads Guilty To April 2020 Murder

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Andres Bello pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to the April 18, 2020 murder of Jorge Miguel Cabrera.  U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel accepted the defendant’s guilty plea.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “In the early morning of April 18, 2020, Andres Bello was involved in a shooting that ultimately killed Miguel Cabrera in connection with a failed drug transaction.  This case is yet another tragic reminder of the violence that often accompanies narcotics trafficking. We continue our daily work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe by vigorously investigating and prosecuting acts of violence and drug trafficking.”

According to the allegations in the Second Superseding Indictment and other documents filed in federal court, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:

On or about April 18, 2020, BELLO and other members of a Bronx-based narcotics trafficking organization, including Humberto Rodriguez, a/k/a “El Bori,” and Jason Tavarez, a/k/a “RATATAA,” attempted to purchase one kilogram of cocaine on East 175th Street in the Bronx.  After obtaining the buyers’ money, the sellers attempted to flee the scene.  At that point, BELLO passed a firearm to Humberto Rodriguez who fired the gun at the sellers’ vehicles, striking Cabrera in the spine.  Cabrera ultimately died from the gunshot wound. 

BELLO, 32, pled guilty to one count of murder through the use of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(j) and 2, which carries a maximum term of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years’ imprisonment. 

On February 9, 2022, co-defendant Jason Tavarez, a/k/a “RATATAA,” 38, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute five kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

On November 22, 2021, co-defendant Humberto Rodriguez, a/k/a “El Bori,” pled guilty to one count of murder through the use of a firearm. On July 27, 2021, co-defendant, Alex Melendez, pled guilty to narcotics and firearms offenses.  On November 11, 2021, co-defendant, Sharone Lewis pled guilty to a narcotics offense. 

The maximum and minimum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.  

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.  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.

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Meeting With City Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez on Proposed Men's Shelter at 2028 White Plains Road

 

The meeting held Tuesday opened up with Pelham Parkway neighborhood Association President Edith Blitzer criticizing a flyer that was made up that the PPNA knew of the Adult Men's Shelter proposed for 2028 White Plains Road. Ms. Blitzer said when the public knew the PPNA did. The scheduled guest for the meeting was new City Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez. 

The councilwoman arrived a little late saying that she was held up as the council is working on a revised Outdoor dining guide that includes sidewalk and street dining. She included the proposed new fee structure, as there was no collection of fees during the two years of the pandemic. She then asked if there were any questions, whereas the subject of a proposed 140 bed single adult men's shelter to be located at 2028 White Plains Road was introduced. Councilwoman Velazquez stated that the building was not in her council district the 13th, but in the neighboring 15th council district. 

There were claims that the councilwoman did not care about the community, and there were demands that she take a position, but she again said that this proposed shelter was not in her council district. She said what does the community want? Some said no shelter, others said a family shelter, a couple of people said the men's shelter, and there was even a call to move it to Bronx Park East by a community leader from there. 

The conclusion was that the PPNA will coordinate with other neighborhood organizations in the area of the three proposed shelters, both city council members, and the Bronx Borough President's office to provide a united front against the single adult men's shelters, and to come up with one strategy to be used against the Department of Homeless services. 

About one hundred people total attended the PPNA meeting.

Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez speaks as members of the Executive Board of the PPNA are around her. This reporter who took these photos, is also a member of the PPNA Executive Board. 

Five Defendants Charged In $8.4 Million “Boiler Room” Fraud And Money Laundering Scheme

 

The Defendants Operated Boiler Rooms Overseas and Shell Companies in the United States to Defraud Victims Around the World of Millions of Dollars

 Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), and John Condon, Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ROBERT LENARD BOOTH, a/k/a “Trevor Nicholas,” MICHAEL D’URSO, ALYSSA D’URSO, JAY GARNOCK, and ANTONELLA CHIARAMONTE with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and operate unlicensed money transmitting businesses, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and operation of unlicensed money transmitting businesses, in connection with a scheme to defraud victim investors in countries around the world and launder the proceeds of the fraud.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

BOOTH was arrested in August 2021 at John F. Kennedy International Airport and was previously indicted for his role in the scheme.  MICHAEL D’URSO, ALYSSA D’URSO, and CHIARAMONTE were arrested in Glen Cove, New York this morning and will be presented before the Honorable Debra Freeman, United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York, later today. GARNOCK was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida this morning and will be presented before the Honorable Bruce E. Reinhart, United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Florida later today.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Hiding behind fake investment firms and a network of shell companies, these defendants preyed on victims around the world and cheated them of their hard-earned savings. In selling their victims fake investments in American companies, the defendants abused the confidence and trust that investors worldwide have in American securities and American banks. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners, these defendants now find themselves in hot water, being held accountable for their crimes.”

HSI Tampa SAC John Condon said: “This case is an example of how HSI is uniquely positioned to disrupt transnational criminal organizations allegedly profiting from cross-border crime. Thanks to the partnership with HSI and IRS-CI, an international criminal conspiracy has been stopped.”

IRS-CI SAC Thomas Fattorusso said: “Criminals have become extremely sophisticated in preying on unsuspecting victims, and this alleged boiler room scheme is no exception. This team of fraudsters allegedly went to great lengths to create fake marketing materials, fake contact information, and fake companies to dupe victim-investors and then laundered the funds for personal gain. This case demonstrates that IRS-CI, and its law enforcement partners like Homeland Security Investigations, will work across the globe to track down perpetrators of financial crimes.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today[1]:

Beginning in at least June 2019 and lasting through August 2021, ROBERT LENARD BOOTH, a/k/a “Trevor Nicholas,” MICHAEL D’URSO, ALYSSA D’URSO, JAY GARNOCK, and ANTONELLA CHIARAMONTE participated in a sophisticated international mass-marketing investment fraud scheme to defraud investors from around the world of millions of dollars, and to launder the fraud proceeds and distribute those proceeds among the conspirators.

BOOTH ran a boiler room operation in Thailand that lied to investors and told them the boiler room was in fact a Manhattan-based investment firm. BOOTH and his co-conspirators propped up their lies with fake identities and false and misleading webpages, email addresses, and phone numbers. While purporting to sell investors from around the world securities in privately held and publicly traded American companies, BOOTH stole more than $1 million from victim-investors, depriving them of their savings.

MICHAEL D’URSO, ALYSSA D’URSO, GARNOCK, and CHIARAMONTE (the “D’URSO Crew”) ran a network of shell companies and associated bank accounts in New York. Using these shell companies, the D’URSO Crew partnered with multiple boiler rooms, including BOOTH’s, to receive the stolen “investment” funds from victims and then launder the money and distribute it to the various conspirators. All told, the D’URSO Crew used its shell companies to receive more than $8.4 million that was stolen from victims of the scheme. They then used their shell companies to launder more than $4.6 million of the stolen money and send it back overseas.

BOOTH, 68, of Brooklyn, New York, MICHAEL D’URSO, 54, of Glen Cove, New York, ALYSSA D’URSO, 28, of Glen Cove, New York, GARNOCK, 75, of Glen Cove, New York, and CHIARAMONTE, 36, of Glen Cove, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and operate unlicensed money transmitting businesses, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. MICHAEL D’URSO is further charged with three counts, and ALYSSA D’URSO, GARNOCK, and CHIARAMONTE are further charged with one count each, of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1960, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of these defendants would be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and IRS-CI. Mr. Williams further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which today filed a parallel civil action, for its assistance and cooperation in this investigation.

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

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating Covid-19 - FEBRUARY 9, 2022

 

Statewide COVID-19 Cases Down 93% Since January 7 Peak

Statewide COVID-19 Hospitalizations Down 63% Since January 12 Peak 

67 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.

"Our priority has always been to keep New Yorkers safe. We will continue to do exactly that, and let the data and science guide our decision making," Governor Hochul said. "As we look forward to continued progress with downward trends in cases and hospitalizations, we need to remain vigilant and continue using the tools at our disposal to protect ourselves and our loved ones. That means getting vaccinated, getting the booster, getting tested, and staying home, if you're not feeling well." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 164,612
• Total Positive - 6,041
• Percent Positive - 3.67%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 4.11%
• Patient Hospitalization - 4,670 (-349)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 495
• Patients in ICU - 755 (-35)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 418 (-8)
• Total Discharges - 278,542 (+626)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 67
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 53,858

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 67,709

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.

• Total vaccine doses administered - 36,294,015
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 47,254
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 306,337
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 91.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 82.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 84.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 80.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 70.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 80.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 72.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 88.0%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 74.6% 

Third Avenue Business Improvement District News

 

Third Avenue BID Community Survey Each year Third Avenue Business Improvement District uses a survey to evaluate work & identify community priorities to help chart the vision of the organization and deploy resources. Questions focus on services like sanitation, open space, public safety, public health & homeless outreach, & community programming. As neighbors, we are here to listen Take the 2022 Community Survey Testimony: Permanent Outdoor Dining Program There are some genuine concerns to creating a permanent outdoor dining program. Many of which fall on the City of New York and the provision of adequate municipal services; with some concerns falling on business owners, especially those in hybrid commercial and residential areas. View Third Avenue Business Improvement District's Testimony: Read 2/8/2022 Testimony to NYC City Council Where we were. Where we are going. The District has experienced unprecedented public and private investment.  We have grown from burned out buildings and empty lots to seeing hundreds of millions of dollars in investment serving over 300,000 visitors and residents daily.  We have made activating upper floors a priority as well as enhancing the streetscape and lighting. Rain or Sleet or Snow - We got this. Taking care of BIDness. Our team doesn't take a day off because of snow and ice. We were out ensuring public spaces, crosswalks, MTA entrances, catchbasins and pedestrian ramps were cleared and salted. No credit, but super essential to keeping our City safe & running. Conveniently located along the 4, 5, and 6 lines, the South Bronx is currently at a cultural crossroads, where old hip-hop culture blends with a new creative and entrepreneurial spirit. Four neighborhoods make up the southernmost part of the borough—Concourse, Melrose, Mott Haven, and Port Morris—and each offers an abundance of largely undiscovered restaurants, cultural institutions, hotels, and shops. Today, along with the rest of the borough’s thriving Latinx population (currently 54.8 percent), the South Bronx is home to large Puerto Rican and Dominican enclaves, in addition to a growing Mexican community. From blocks lined with murals like a tribute to hometown hero and rapper, Big Pun, to countless Latinx-owned businesses or open mics and talent showcases fostering future creatives, the area is the epicenter to some of the city’s best Latinx culture, and the signature greeting is a loud and welcoming “YERRRR!” Read More Calling All Tech & Transit Entrepreneurs Hey Tech Entrepreneurs! Partnership for New York City has launched two new challenges alongside the MTA, PANYNJ, NYC DOT, and NJ Transit w/ Transit Tech Lab  for solutions that reduce the region’s carbon footprint & restore customer confidence in public transit. Apply at https://transitinnovation.org Get Involved. Upcoming Events & Activities See an overdose? Save a Life.  2/17/22 Join @ThirdAvenueBID @sachr_nyc @AcaciaNetwork @CMSalamancaJr @nycHealthy for the launch of our Spring Public Health series - community health & wellness. Everyone has a role in saving lives & building community. Register: https://bit.ly/3opdVli Arts & Culture 1/29 - 3/20/2022 Current #exhibition 'Storming of the Capitol' features the work of Nina Berman, Gabriela Bhaskar, Victor J. Blue, Balazs Gardi, Adam Gray, Shuran Huang, Christopher Lee, Luke Mogelson, Mark Peterson, & others. Details: https://bit.ly/3FD2wUS

Former Director Of Accounting And Human Resources Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Embezzlement From Employer And Aggravated Identity Theft

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment in White Plains federal court charging SUSANA RIVERA, the former Director of Accounting and Human Resources for a kitchen remodeling firm located in Westchester County and Greenwich, Connecticut, with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with her embezzlement of more than $550,000 from her employer.  RIVERA was arrested this morning and will be presented in White Plains federal court later today. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Susana Rivera abused the trust her employer placed in her by stealing more than $500,000 in hundreds of individual thefts over 22 months.  She stole and used her employer’s identity to further her scheme.  She will now be held accountable for her thefts.”

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “No more than one month after joining the company she allegedly defrauded, Susana Rivera started down a path of embezzlement that would eventually result in more than half a million dollars in losses to her victim. Spending this money on a variety of luxury and personal items, she jumped headfirst into this scheme with seemingly no signs of slowing down—until we showed up to levy the charge. Financial fraud schemes wreak havoc on private businesses and the economy alike. Any attempt to defraud a victim in this way will most certainly be met with consequences in our justice system.”

According to the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court:[1]

In October 2019, RIVERA was hired as the Director of Accounting and Human Resources at the victim company, a family owned kitchen design and remodeling business in Mamaroneck, Bedford and Greenwich, Connecticut.  Starting in November 2019, RIVERA made hundreds of unauthorized charges in a total amount exceeding $175,000 to the victim company’s credit cards for personal expenses, including jewelry, beauty treatments, laser treatments, travel, pets, cosmetic surgery, clothing and cars, including a partial payment on a  $100,000 Corvette.  RIVERA also caused the victim company’s payroll company to make unauthorized payments in a net amount of more than $370,000 to a fake vendor that RIVERA created to receive the money.  RIVERA also caused unauthorized transfers from the victim company’s bank account in an amount exceeding $2,900 to pay her personal utility bills.  To get restrictions on the use of the victim company’s credit cards removed, RIVERA posed as an owner of the victim company in telephone calls with the company’s credit card company.  RIVERA also sent the credit card company photographs of the owner’s driver’s license to cause credit card company personnel to believe she was the owner.

RIVERA, 40, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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