MAYOR ADAMS CONCLUDES TWO-DAY SUMMIT ON FENTANYL CRISIS IN AMERICA

 

Two-Day Summit With Local Leaders From Across Country Worked Towards National Strategy To Combat Fentanyl Overdoses Through Education, Enforcement, Prevention, and Treatment 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today marked the conclusion of a two-day summit on the fentanyl crisis in America that brought elected leaders, public health officials, and law enforcement professionals from across the country to New York City to work towards a national strategy to combat fentanyl overdoses. The summit was held yesterday and included representatives from major cities across the nation, including Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC; New Orleans, LA; and more, and included strategy sessions focused on education, enforcement, awareness, prevention, and treatment.  

  

“The national fentanyl crisis has taken far too many New Yorkers and Americans far too soon — including one-year-old Nicholas Dominici last month. But, as we are alarmed by the dangers of this drug, this group of local leaders is not going to sit back and let what happened to prior generations happen to our babies and families,” said Mayor Adams. “I am grateful to everyone who traveled across the country to share the best practices and creative ideas we’ll need to tackle this urgent epidemic. Together, we can work towards a day when we can stop the flow of fentanyl into our cities, hold bad actors accountable, and protect New Yorkers and all Americans from this dangerous drug so no family needs to be devastated by this poison again.” 

  

“Throughout the last two days, leaders from across New York City and key cities across the country came together to discuss the opioid crisis,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Opioids claim the lives of thousands here in the city and tens of thousands across the country every year, and this summit provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from intervention models across municipalities, and help build a strategy to tackle one of the most important public health and public safety issues of our time. Ultimately, the summit is a meeting full of hope for what is possible, as we build out interventions that we know work and that have helped us slow the pace of overdoses.” 

  

“Behind every statistic, every policy, and every solution we discussed over the past two days, there are real lives at stake,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “We had cities here from across the country reeling from the same devastating impacts that we’re feeling here but who are taking different approaches than we are to address it, so this conversation was extremely valuable. A crisis of this magnitude cannot be solved overnight, and we look forward to continuing this work together.” 

  

“The fentanyl crisis has cut across a wide swath of our nation, affecting people from all walks of life in every neighborhood,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “To combat this scourge locally, the NYPD and our law enforcement partners are relentless in our efforts to shut down illegal narcotics manufacturers and suppliers, to hold those involved in drug operations fully accountable, and, ultimately, to save lives. The ideas discussed at this valuable summit can surely help form the basis for a national strategy that keeps all Americans safe.” 

  

“This is a crisis that demands imagination, ingenuity, and intentional strategy and partnerships,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “By bringing together leaders from across the nation, we can share information about what New York City can teach as well as learn. By bringing together public health and public safety officials, Mayor Adams demonstrates the need to address downstream treatment, harm reduction, and overdose prevention, while cutting off upstream supply. Overdose affects all of us — in our respective cities, as well as our personal lives. We can and must do everything in our power to save lives, and cities will lead the way.” 

  

“As the largest municipal hospital system, we are on the front lines of this crisis every day,” said NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “We are engaging people wherever they are touching our system — in our hospital settings such as the emergency departments, in the community, or on the street through our Street Health Outreach and Wellness vans. Our goal is to get patients connected to care wherever they are most comfortable. I want to thank Mayor Adams for his commitment to this issue as we address this together with our city partners.” 

  

“Stationed at the intersection of public health and safety, our office recognizes that collaboration and innovation are needed to solve the fentanyl crisis ravaging communities across the country,” said New York City Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham. “The fentanyl summit convened by Mayor Adams presents a powerful opportunity to work with our colleagues across jurisdictions and disciplines on meaningful strategies to end overdoses and save lives.” 

  

“The fentanyl crisis in our cities demands sustained, long-term strategies that tackle the problem at its root,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. “Mayor Adams’ leadership has brought together jurisdictions across the country to share the law enforcement and public health best practices and innovative strategies that save lives. I look forward to continued partnership with our fellow cities as we confront this crisis.” 

  

At this week’s summit, health care professionals, elected leaders, and law enforcement officials from across the country shared best practices on education and prevention strategies, treatment, harm reduction, law enforcement, funding strategies, and legislative action. Practitioners discussed innovative strategies for tackling the dire circumstances surrounding the fentanyl crisis and developing and implementing effective cross-sector approaches to the fentanyl emergency. 

  

Topics specifically included harm reduction programs that are designed to lead to less risky activity and better health outcomes, engagement with community members and law enforcement, recovery strategies directed at young people, and the combination of law enforcement and public health strategies to reduce overdose deaths.  

  

At the conclusion of the summit, participants agreed on several action items to guide the development of a national strategy to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis: 

•   Formalizing a multi-city task force that will pilot innovative strategies; 
•   Drafting a white paper outlining national best practices and opportunities; 
•   Enhance data-sharing on a national level to ensure accurate and timely coordination around lab and overdose data, including neighborhood-level data; 
•   Defining terms for cities across the nation to reduce the stigma around addiction and substance abuse and standardize communication among policymakers, public health professionals, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders; 
•   Increasing collaboration and communication among key public health and public safety stakeholders in municipalities across the country; and 
•   Identifying city, state, and national funding and legislative needs to prevent overdose deaths and save lives. 

  

The summit included New York City officials on the front lines of this crisis including DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan, H+H CEO Dr. Katz, and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Graham, who opened the summit with a panel conversation on the prevention of overdoses and overdose deaths. New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan discussed her office’s efforts to combat fentanyl from a law enforcement perspective. The summit concluded with consideration of steps to advance the most effective strategies for tackling the fentanyl crisis. 

  

In addition to members of the Adams administration, the summit included representatives from Los Angeles County, CA; Philadelphia, PA; New Orleans, LA; Dallas and Laredo, TX; New Haven, CT; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York division. New York City district attorneys were also represented, including Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon. 

  

Fentanyl is now the most common drug involved in overdose deaths in New York City, including the death of a one-year-old Nicholas Dominici in the Bronx last month. Drug overdoses killed 2,668 individuals in New York City in 2021 — a 78 percent increase since 2019 — with fentanyl detected in 80 percent of those deaths. 

  

“The New York City Mayoral Fentanyl Summit focused on two of the most urgent public safety and health threats in our city,” said Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “Fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic drugs are taking too many lives too soon and the DEA New York Division embraced the opportunity to participate in this important event to collaborate with representatives from New York public health, law enforcement, educators, first responders, and drug prevention and treatment specialists.  The DEA commends Mayor Adams and his team for their hard work throughout this summit and continued focus on saving lives from fentanyl poisonings.”     

  

“The overdose crisis continues to cause immeasurable, irrevocable harm to our communities – both in Philadelphia and nationally,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “While cities strive to make progress on many fronts, more work is needed to stay ahead of this evolving, deadly crisis. The rise in fatal overdoses and rapidly emerging racial disparities require our cities to pivot in our overdose response. We need new tools, new awareness, and new information to stay ahead of this fast-evolving crisis, and we are grateful to the City of New York for convening us to amplify and accelerate this work.” 

  

“We know opioid abuse is a relentless battle in the City of Yonkers and in cities across the country,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “Thank you to Mayor Adams and his administration for leading the charge in uniting our cities to strategize against this nationwide crisis. The City of Yonkers looks forward to continued collaboration with our partners to help improve the quality of life for our residents and their families.” 

  

“We know that harm reduction saves lives and in Washington DC we are keenly aware that interventions across the harm reduction spectrum are vital in reducing and preventing fatalities from opioid overdoses,” said Washington, D.C. Interim Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Ciana Creighton. “The double endemic and pandemic of fentanyl and COVID-19 created new challenges that we believe we can overcome with the right approach.” 

  

“I just attended a national fentanyl summit in New York City called by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, to talk with and learn from my colleagues around the county about ways to address this horrible drug called fentanyl,” said Louisville Deputy Mayor for Emergency Services David James. “I want to thank Mayor Adams for organizing this very important summit and thank Mayor Greenberg for sending me.” 

  

“Mayor Adams’ fentanyl summit affirmed what we’ve seen in Dallas — this is a national public health crisis,” said Dallas City Councilmember Adam Bazaldua, co-chair, City of Dallas Opioid Response Strike Force. “Bringing everyone together is the only way to move forward effectively. Breaking down silos not only affords us the opportunity to learn best practices, but also helps streamline consistency in our efforts to combat this epidemic. I look forward to hosting our peer cities in Dallas in January.” 

  

“The summit was a phenomenal opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the country to learn more about best practices and have the space to brainstorm common solutions to a very complex issue,” said Carlos Sosa-Lombardo, executive director, New Haven Department of Community Resilience. 

Laborers Recruit Apprentices

 

The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) for Construction and General Building Laborers, Local Union #79, will conduct a limited recruitment November 3, 2023 to November 16, 2023 for 200 Skilled Construction Craft Laborer apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today.

The recruitment for JATC for Construction and General Building Laborers, Local Union #79 will be offered online from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., during the recruitment period (11/3, 11/6, 11/7, 11/8, 11/9, 11/10, 11/13, 11/14, 11/15 and 11/16/2023), excluding legal holidays. This is a limited-application recruitment. Only 2,000 applications will be distributed, on a first-come, first-serve basis. The recruitment will be offered for 10 business days or until 2,000 applications have been issued, whichever comes first. Applicants who do not have internet access may visit their local library or visit local New York State Department of Labor Career Center (see: dol.ny.gov/career-centers).

All applications must be received no later than November 17, 2023.

The Committee requires that applicants:

• Must be at least 18 years old (at the start of the program).
• Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as TASC or GED).
• Must attest that they are physically able to perform the work required of a skilled construction craft laborer, which may include:
• Working at heights.
• Working in confined spaces.
• Working in extreme temperatures, both indoors and outdoors.
• Lifting and carrying 94 pounds of material for a distance of 30 feet and stacking it to a height of approximately 54 inches.
• Using a shovel to load approximately half of a cubic yard of sand into a wheelbarrow, wheeling it 100 feet, and depositing it into a sand container.
• Must pass a drug screening, at the applicant’s expense, after acceptance into the apprenticeship program.

Application Instructions:

• Go to http://www.mttf.org.
• Follow the links for Local Union #79.
• You will see directions on how to complete your request for an application.
• Fill out the required fields. Do not add any information outside of the fields.
• Applicants may only apply once during the recruitment period.
• Once your request has been completed and accepted, you will receive a confirmation email.
• Applicants who received a confirmation email will receive an application in a separate email.
• The first 2,000 applicants, who are placed into the pool of applicants, will receive an application in a separate email.
• Download, print, complete, sign and return the application.
• Applications must be returned, in person, within 10 business days from the date the application was requested to Construction & Building Laborers Local #79, 42-53 21st Street, Long Island City, NY 11101, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (excluding lunch hour 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.), excluding legal holidays, on the following dates: November 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 2023. All applications must be received no later than November 17, 2023.
• Applicants who do not come in with a competed application will be considered to have voluntarily removed themselves from the pool of applicants.
• Everyone who successfully applies will receive a date and time for an interview on the day they drop off their completed application.

Please understand that if a greater number of applicants apply than Local # 79 can accept into their pool of candidates, some applicants may not get through this time. However, Local #79 hopes that work will be plentiful, and another recruitment can be held in the near future.

For further information, applicants should contact JATC for Construction and General Building Laborers, Local Union #79 at (718) 383-6863. Additional job search assistance can be obtained at your local New York State Department of Labor Career Center (see: dol.ny.gov/career-centers).

Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the Commissioner. Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status. Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs. Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities.

DEC and Partners Join 5,000 Student Scientists at 21st Annual 'Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor'

 

Scientific Data Collection Connects Students with River and New York Harbor

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that on Thursday, Oct. 5, shorefronts along the Hudson River Estuary and the piers of New York Harbor will be busy with activity as thousands of students equipped with seine nets, minnow pots, and water testing gear collect data on the Hudson’s fish and invertebrates, track the river’s tides and currents, and examine water chemistry and quality during the 21st annual celebration of A Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor.

“DEC’s annual ‘Day in the Life’ event gives student scientists up and down the river the unique opportunity to experience the tidal Hudson’s diverse habitats, fish, and wildlife,” said Commissioner Seggos. “From the Troy dam to New York Harbor, the Hudson’s bounty is ecologically invaluable to our state and much of the Atlantic coast. This annual event gives students of all ages the chance to go down to the river and learn about the environment up close, and it’s just one of the ways New York is inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.”

New York students from elementary school through college partner with DEC and environmental education centers to collect scientific data using hands-on field techniques to capture a snapshot of the river’s ecology at more than 80 sites along the Hudson River Estuary, New York Harbor, and the Mohawk River. The data collected by students provides insights into the river’s ecosystem and is posted online after the event. Participating classes represent the diversity of the school population in urban and rural communities along the estuary. This year, more than 5,000 students and educators from more than 90 schools will participate.

“Day in the Life” gives students the opportunity to don waders or use a fishing rod to collect data on many of the Hudson’s 200-plus species of fish. Most are young fish, evidence of the Hudson’s importance as a nursery habitat. In some years, students catch surprising fish like seahorses, conger eels, and needle fish. Students also examine the physical and chemical aspects of the river with a wide range of equipment from basic dissolved oxygen and pH kits, to high-tech refractometers and plastic hydrometers to measure salinity and find the salt front – the leading edge of dilute seawater pushing up the estuary.

Estuary program staff connect the field day with the classroom by conducting pre- and post-visits in numerous schools that participate in “Day in the Life.” Lessons onsite and in the classroom fulfill state learning standards in a variety of subjects. Post-trip activities connect students to other sites through collected data, helping them better understand the dynamic factors that are constantly impacting the Hudson River ecosystem.

“Day in the Life” is sponsored by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program, in partnership with the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Columbia Climate School Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. To schedule a visit to a site, please contact the DEC Press Office at 518-402-8000 or pressoffice@dec.ny.gov. A list of six of the participating schools, partners, and event locations follows:

• Albany County: Corning Preserve Boat Launch, Colonie and Water Street Albany, NY 12207: RiverRun Montessori School and Berkshire Waldorf High School, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. (DEC);
• Albany County: Hudson Shores Park, 2 Selke Dr., Watervliet, NY 12189: North Colonie Central School, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (School’s teachers);
• Dutchess County: Norrie Point Environmental Education Center, Margaret Norrie State Park, Staatsburg, NY 12580: Poughkeepsie High School, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (DEC);
• Dutchess County: Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum Pavilion, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601: Haviland Middle School, 9 m. – 1 p.m. (DEC);
• Manhattan: Swindlers Cove, 3703 Harlem River Dr., New York, NY 10034: Dos Puentes Elementary School, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (DEC); and
• Westchester County: Piermont Pier, Ferry Rd., Piermont, NY 10968: Clarkstown High School North, Tappan Zee High School, Spring Valley High School, and Pearl River High School, 8 a.m. – 2 m. (Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory).

Governor Hochul Launches $60 Million Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program to Support Delivery of Critical Services to New Yorkers

Eligible Nonprofit Human Services Organizations Can Receive Up to $500,000 in Capital Grant Funding to Support Large- and Small-Scale Construction Projects

Builds on Governor’s Previous Investments to Protect and Support Nonprofits, Including Funding for Nonprofit Colleges and Universities and Organizations Supporting Veterans and New Yorkers With Developmental Disabilities

Request for Applications Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a minimum of $60 million in capital grant funding will be available to nonprofit human services organizations through the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program to support the delivery of critical services to New Yorkers. Eligible nonprofit organizations that provide direct programs and services to New Yorkers may receive grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 for the completion of small- and large-scale construction projects. The Request For Applications is available here.

“The Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program is one of our state’s most powerful tools to strengthen and preserve New York’s social safety net,” Governor Hochul said. “Nonprofit organizations are an essential partner in delivering critical services to individuals in need, but far too often, infrastructure needs and a lack of capital funding stretch these organizations to capacity. By making transformative investments in our nonprofit sector, my administration is committed to maintaining the vital resources and services that New Yorkers rely on.”

The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), which will administer the program for the State, will also post the Request For Applications (RFA) on its website in addition to the funding opportunities availability on the New York State Grants Gateway. DASNY will also provide essential information to prospective nonprofit applicants through an informational Webinar Video to be posted in both locations on October 18, 2023.

This NICIP opportunity will utilize a first come, first served process for this competitive grant program. Applications can be submitted at any point from December 1, 2023 through January 12, 2024. Applications will be scored as they are received and scoring the applications will begin as early as December 2, 2023. All applicants scoring the minimum threshold will be advanced to DASNY for grant processing until all funding has been utilized. The emphasis for scoring applications will be on capital projects that are ‘shovel ready’ and expected to be completed on or before December 2026. If an advanced Qualifying NICIP Applicant cannot complete the required reviews or its proposed project, that funding would be returned to the NICIP pool and awarded to the next successive NICIP Qualifying Applicant on the list of Applications.

NICIP builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to protecting and supporting the nonprofit sector, which delivers critical resources and services to New Yorkers across the state. Last month, the Governor announced more than $63 million in capital funding awards for more than 30 New York colleges and universities to support major construction projects, new equipment, and other investments in university infrastructure The Governor also recently announced nearly $38 million to strengthen nonprofits’ facility security and overall preparedness, $13 million for organizations providing career training to New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, and $2.7 million in funding for organizations serving veterans.

 

Pharmacy Owner And Money Launderer Plead Guilty To Multiple Fraud Schemes

 

Nerik Ilyayev and Mukhiddin Kadirov’s Schemes Included HIV Medication Fraud, No-Fault Automobile Insurance Fraud, and Money Laundering

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty pleas of NERIK ILYAYEV and MUKHIDDIN KADIROV for their respective roles in HIV medication fraud, no-fault automobile insurance fraud, and money laundering schemes totaling over $6 million.  ILYAYEV pled guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud for using two different pharmacies to defraud Medicare and Medicaid in connection with HIV medication claims and to defraud no-fault automobile insurance providers in connection with other medication claims.  KADIROV laundered several million dollars in fraud proceeds in connection with the HIV fraud scheme.  ILYAYEV and KADIROV pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Nerik Ilyayev brazenly defrauded Medicare and Medicaid and New York’s no-fault automobile insurance providers of over $6 million.  To execute his schemes, Ilyayev sourced pharmaceuticals from illegitimate sources and worked with others to pay kickbacks to low-income individuals.  Mukhiddin Kadirov facilitated the Medicare and Medicaid fraud by laundering millions in crime proceeds through shell companies.  Both Ilyayev and Kadirov went to great lengths to conceal their role in these crimes, including using the identities of other people.  Ilyayev and Kadirov will now pay for their crimes, and this Office will not stop pursuing those who seek to profit by defrauding our healthcare system.”    

According to the Complaint, Information, and statements made in open court:

From approximately February 2021 through March 2022, ILYAYEV owned and operated a pharmacy in Manhattan (“Pharmacy-1”).  ILYAYEV used Pharmacy-1 to pay illegal kickbacks to low-income HIV patients to recruit them to fill prescriptions for expensive HIV medications at Pharmacy-1 and to obtain HIV medications from unlawful sources.  ILYAYEV, on behalf of Pharmacy-1, then submitted fraudulent insurance claims to Medicare and Medicaid to cover the cost of the HIV medications.  In order to conceal his role in the fraud scheme, ILYAYEV used the identity of another person (“Individual-1”) and pretended to be Individual-1 to own and operate Pharmacy-1 using Individual-1’s identity.  Medicare and Medicaid collectively paid approximately $5.2 million in fraudulent claims for HIV medications to Pharmacy-1.      

After shutting down Pharmacy-1, ILYAYEV took control of another pharmacy in Queens, New York (“Pharmacy-2”).  Again, to conceal his role in the fraud, ILYAYEV used the identity of another person (“Individual-3”) and pretended to be Individual-3 to own and operate Pharmacy-2.  Pharmacy-2 submitted fraudulent insurance claims to no-fault automobile insurance providers.  Pharmacy-2 defrauded the no-fault automobile insurance providers of approximately $1.2 million.  In addition, Pharmacy-2 unlawfully sold pharmaceuticals to other pharmacies that ILYAYEV had obtained from illegitimate sources.      

KADIROV participated in a money laundering network that primarily launders healthcare fraud proceeds (the “Money Laundering Network”) that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) has been investigating since approximately 2020.  Members of the Money Laundering Network typically deposit checks from healthcare companies that represent healthcare fraud proceeds into New York-based bank accounts held by shell companies.  The shell companies often purport to be wholesale companies and use terms like “wholesale” in the company name to make the check deposits from the healthcare companies appear less suspicious to banks and law enforcement.  The conspirators controlling the shell companies collect cash typically from U.S.-based individuals who want to remit funds, often to Uzbekistan, through unlicensed channels.  The conspirators controlling the shell companies then provide that cash, minus a fee, to the conspirators providing the healthcare checks.  The conspirators controlling the shell companies next typically wire the check deposit proceeds from the shell companies to Chinese or other foreign companies to purchase goods from those foreign companies.  The foreign companies ship the goods to importers in Uzbekistan.  The importers pay the Uzbekistan-based partners of the conspirators operating the shell companies in U.S. Currency for the goods.  Those Uzbekistan-based partners would then give the U.S. currency to the families and friends of the individuals who had provided the cash to the conspirators controlling the shell companies in New York.

As part of his participation in the Money Laundering Network, KADIROV laundered approximately $4.2 million of Pharmacy-1’s fraud proceeds.  KADIROV used three bank accounts in the name of three shell companies that were purportedly wholesale companies (the “Shell Companies”) to launder Pharmacy-1’s fraud proceeds.  The Shell Company bank accounts were opened in the name of another person (“Individual-2”), although KADIROV controlled the bank accounts.  KADIROV took other steps to conceal his role in the money laundering scheme, including using a burner phone in connection with the Shell Company bank accounts, and he concealed his face when using ATMs to conduct transactions using the Shell Company bank accounts.  Pharmacy-1 deposited approximately $4.2 million in checks with the Shell Companies.  Consistent with the operations of the Money Laundering Network, the Shell Companies wired most of the check deposits to companies abroad, including China, Ukraine, and Russia.

ILYAYEV, 36, of Queens, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

KADIROV, 44, of Queens, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison. 

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.  Mr. Williams also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor for their assistance in the investigation.

Justice Department Announces Eight Indictments Against China-Based Chemical Manufacturing Companies and Employees

The Justice Department today announced the unsealing of eight indictments in the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida charging China-based companies and their employees with crimes relating to fentanyl and methamphetamine production, distribution of synthetic opioids, and sales resulting from precursor chemicals. 

The indictments build on prosecutions announced in June and mark the second set of prosecutions to charge China-based chemical manufacturing companies and nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for trafficking fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States. 

The indictments complement actions taken by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to designate 28 individuals and entities involved with the international proliferation of illicit drugs. 

“We know that the global fentanyl supply chain, which ends with the deaths of Americans, often starts with chemical companies in China,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The United States government is focused on breaking apart every link in that chain, getting fentanyl out of our communities, and bringing those who put it there to justice.” 

“The international dimension to the deadly scourge of fentanyl requires the all-of-government response that we are delivering today,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “Through the dedication and investigative abilities of agents and officers from HSI, CBP, and our federal partners, we are bringing accountability to ruthless organizations and individuals resident in the People’s Republic of China and to the cartel members that seek to profit from the death and destruction that fentanyl causes.” 

“The charges announced are another down payment on the Justice Department’s pledge to every American family that has lost a loved one to fentanyl poisoning,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Just as we did in the fight against terrorists and cybercriminals, we are deploying a whole-of-government approach – sharing intelligence, combining resources, and relentlessly pursuing justice – to attack the global supply chain fueling the fentanyl crisis. We will not rest until we have rid our communities of this poison.” 

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our nation has ever faced. These eight cases are the result of DEA’s efforts to attack the fentanyl supply chain where it starts — in China. Chinese chemical companies are fueling the fentanyl crisis in the United States by sending fentanyl precursors, fentanyl analogues, xylazine, and nitazenes into our country and into Mexico. These chemicals are used to make fentanyl and make it especially deadly,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram. “DEA will not stop until we defeat this threat. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners whose collaboration and dedication have made these actions possible. I am also deeply grateful for the incredible work by the DEA Miami Field Division. Their pursuit of these organizations demonstrates the drive and determination of the men and women, who are working as one DEA, to defeat the cartels and their entire global supply chain.” 

“This investigation of a narcotics trafficker utilizing counterfeit postage labels highlights the unique jurisdiction of the Postal Inspection Service,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). “This indictment is a win in our battle against counterfeit postage and those seeking to use the nation’s mail system to distribute dangerous substances.” 

The DEA led the investigations brought in both districts and used its unique authority to specially schedule protonitazene and metonitazene as Schedule I controlled substances, which was necessary as their adverse health effects, including death, pose an imminent threat to public safety. As a result of that order, the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to Schedule I controlled substances can be imposed on persons who handle or propose to handle these substances. In addition, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized more than 1,000 kilograms of fentanyl-related precursor chemicals, and the USPIS also traced packages containing the precursor chemicals mailed through the U.S. mail and analyzed their contents after seizure. 

Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat facing the United States. Not only is fentanyl 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, a dose of as little as two milligrams can kill a grown adult. Fentanyl analogues are similar in chemical structure and effects as fentanyl. Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. From February 2022 to January, at least 105,263 Americans died of drug overdoses, the majority of which involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. 

Protonitazene and metonitazene are synthetic opioids that were emergency listed as Schedule I controlled substances in April 2022. There are no approved medical uses for protonitazene and metonitazene in the United States, or anywhere else in the world. Drug traffickers typically mix protonitazene and metonitazene with other opioids, such as fentanyl, to create new and more powerful cocktails of dangerous opioids. Methamphetamine overdose deaths are also surging in the United States. Methamphetamine is becoming more deadly because it is more frequently being mixed with highly potent fentanyl. There are currently no FDA-approved medications for treating methamphetamine use disorder or reversing overdoses. Drug overdose deaths involving psychostimulants, primarily methamphetamine, rose from 547 deaths in 1999 to 32,537 deaths in 2021.  

The manufacture of fentanyl and methamphetamine begins with raw chemicals, known as precursors. Fentanyl and methamphetamine precursors, opioid additives, and synthetic opioids are manufactured and distributed by China-based chemical companies, many of which openly advertise on the internet. These China-based manufacturers ship fentanyl and methamphetamine precursors, opioid additives, and synthetic opioids around the world, including to the United States and Mexico, where drug cartels and traffickers combine the chemicals and then distribute fentanyl and methamphetamines throughout the United States to individual users.  

These China-based chemical companies often attempt to evade law enforcement by using re-shippers in the United States, false return labels, false invoices, fraudulent postage, and packaging that conceals the true contents of the parcels and the identity of the distributors. In addition, these companies tend to use cryptocurrency transactions to conceal their identities and the location and movement of their funds. 

The primary distributors of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues in North America are the Sinaloa Cartel based in Sinaloa, Mexico, and the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación based in Jalisco, Mexico. These two transnational criminal organizations have significant presences throughout Mexico, maintain distribution hubs in various cities across the United States, and control smuggling corridors into the United States. 

Organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación receive fentanyl precursors from China that are then synthesized within clandestine laboratories into finished fentanyl at scale. China-based precursor chemical manufacturers ship precursors from mainland China by, among other methods, mislabeling the products being shipped and using containers and other packaging to mask their illicit contents. 

Middle District of Florida 

Five indictments were unsealed in the Middle District of Florida charging five Chinese corporations and eight Chinese nationals with the illegal importation of fentanyl and fentanyl-related chemicals into the United States. 

According to the indictments, the defendants openly advertised their ability to thwart U.S. customs and deliver the chemicals used to make fentanyl to the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere in the United States. The defendants used fake shipping labels and special delivery procedures to ensure the illicit chemicals went undetected. The defendants played various roles, such as coordinators and suppliers, and eight defendants are also charged with international money laundering. According to the indictments, the Chinese companies demonstrated past success delivering a stable supply of product to clients in Mexico for years.   

“The protection of our country from the deadly scourge of fentanyl is a key priority of the Department of Justice and my office,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to pursue cases against Chinese chemical companies who are knowingly manufacturing and exporting fentanyl precursors to profit on the pain and suffering of people in the United States. We thank our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration for their tireless efforts in support of these prosecutions.” 

Hebei Shenghao Import and Export Company, based in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, is charged with fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, along with Chinese nationals Qingshun Li, 29, who allegedly negotiates the sale of precursor chemicals and maintains a bank account for the receipt of payments; Qingsong Li, 32; and Chunhui Chen, 33, both of whom allegedly maintain cryptocurrency wallets for the remittance of payments of precursor chemicals; Chunzhou Chen, 30, who allegedly received Western Union payments on behalf of Hebei Shenghao. 

Lihe Pharmaceutical Technology Company, based in Wuhan, Hebei Province, China, was charged with fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and international money laundering, along with Chinese nationals Mingming Wang, 34, who is the alleged holder for three bitcoin accounts shared by sales agents for Lihe Pharmaceutical, and Xinqiang Lu, 40, the alleged recipient of funds via Western Union on the company’s behalf. 

Henan Ruijiu Biotechnology Company, based in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of fentanyl precursor and attempted international money laundering, along with Chinese national Yongle Gao, 30, who is the alleged registered owner of the bitcoin wallet associated with Henan Ruijiu. 

Xiamen Wonderful Biotechnology Company, based in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of fentanyl precursor and attempted international money laundering, along with Chinese national Guo Liang, 34, the alleged registered owner of the bitcoin wallet associated with Xiamen Wonderful. 

Anhui Ruihan Technology Company, based in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of fentanyl precursor and attempted international money laundering. 

DEA investigated these cases. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Baeza and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Leath for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the cases. 

Southern District of Florida 

Three indictments were unsealed in the Southern District of Florida charging three Chinese companies and four officers and employees with fentanyl trafficking, synthetic opioid trafficking, precursor chemical importation, defrauding the U.S. Postal Service, and making and using counterfeit postage. 

“Targeting those who fuel the opioid epidemic, regardless of who they are and where they are operating from, is one of our district’s top priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Today, we announced charges against the Chinese companies and employees that manufacture and introduce the raw chemicals at the start of the fentanyl and methamphetamine supply chain. This is only the beginning of our fight. The precursors and synthetic opioids that are being marketed, sold, and shipped to the United States and Mexico are being mixed and re-distributed into our local communities as powerful and potentially deadly cocktails of controlled substances. We commend our partner agencies for their skill and resourcefulness, as we work collectively to prosecute the sources of the poison and protect the public.”

Hanhong Medicine Technology Company, a pharmaceutical company located in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, was charged in a four-count indictment, along with Chinese nationals Changgen Du, 30, and Xuebi Gan, 28. According to the indictment, Hanhong has exported large quantities of fentanyl precursors and non-opioid additives, like xylazine, to the United States and Mexico, including to a drug trafficker in Pennsylvania and to a drug trafficker in the Sinaloa cartel for the manufacture of fentanyl in Mexico for eventual distribution in the United States. Xylazine is often mixed with fentanyl to increase the effects of the drug for users. Xylazine is a non-opioid drug approved for veterinary use for purposes of sedation, anesthesia, muscle relaxation, and pain relief in horses, cattle, and other animals. It is not approved for human use. Many opioid users are unaware they are taking xylazine. Overdose deaths involving xylazine have steadily increased year over year. Drug users who inject xylazine, or drug mixtures containing xylazine, often develop necrotic tissue resulting in disfiguring wounds or amputation.  

The Du Transnational Criminal Organization is listed on the United States Attorney General’s Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) list. The CPOT list identifies the most significant transnational criminal organizations presenting a priority threat to the United States, including those international drug and money laundering organizations affecting the illicit drug supply of the United States. The CPOT list identifies those criminal organizations by the name(s) of their leaders. Du, as the criminal organization’s leader, is the director of Hanhong and allegedly negotiates sales with customers. Gan is an alleged sales representative. Du and Gan each operated a crypocurrency wallet that accepted payment for Hanhong’s sales. The four-count indictment charges Hanhong, Du, and Gan with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute a fentanyl precursor with intent to unlawfully import it into the U.S.; manufacturing and distributing a fentanyl precursor with intent to unlawfully import it into the U.S.; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

Jiangsu Bangdeya New Material Technology Company, a pharmaceutical company located in Jiangsu, China, was charged in an eight-count indictment, along with Jiantong Wang, 40, a Chinese national and alleged owner and operator of Bangdeya. The indictment alleges that Bangdeya advertises openly online as an export company for chemicals, including synthetic opioids protonitazene and metonitazene. The introduction of these synthetic opioids into the illicit drug market threatens to exacerbate the overdose problem in the United States. Drug traffickers typically mix protonitazene and metonitazene with other opioids, such as fentanyl, to create new and more powerful cocktails of dangerous opioids. Bengdeya has imported large quantities of these synthetic opioids into the U.S., including to a drug trafficker in the Southern District of Florida. 

Bangdeya and Wang were charged with conspiracy to import protonitazene and metonitazene; conspiracy to distribute protonitazene and metonitazene; multiple counts of distribution of protonitazene; conspiracy to defraud the United States and make and use forged and counterfeited postage; and making and printing unauthorized postage meter stamps. 

Hubei Guanlang Biotechnology Company, a chemical company located in Shijaizhuang, Hebei Province, China, was charged in a two-count indictment, along with Chinese national Wei Zhang, 28, who allegedly runs the day-to-day operations of the company and operates a cryptocurrency wallet that accepts payment for the company’s sales of fentanyl precursors and opioid additives.  

According to the indictment, Guanlang openly advertises online and sells an array of chemicals, including methamphetamine precursors like methylamine HCL, to customers in the United States and Mexico. Methylamine HCL is an essential precursor chemical that Mexican cartels use to manufacture highly pure and potent  methamphetamine. Currently, most of the methamphetamine supply in the United States is produced by drug trafficking cartels in Mexico. 

Guanlang and Zhang are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute a methamphetamine precursor and unlawfully import into the U.S. and conspiracy to unlawfully import a methamphetamine precursor into the U.S. with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine; and the manufacture and distribution of a methamphetamine precursor that was unlawfully imported into the United States. 

The DEA Miami Field Division, HSI Miami, USPIS-Miami, IRS-CI Miami, and FBI Miami Field Office investigated these cases.   

Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero and Jon Juenger for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. 

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) provided assistance with the indictments brought in both districts. 

The indictments are a result of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations. The OCDETF mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task force approach. OCDETF synchronizes and incentivizes prosecutors and agents to lead smart, creative investigations targeting the command-and-control networks of organized criminal groups and the illicit financiers that support them. Additional information about the OCDETF Program may be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 

Members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force carried out this case and prosecution. HIDTA was established in 1990. This program, which is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, fosters intra-agency cooperation among law enforcement agencies in South Florida and involves them in developing a strategy to target the region's drug-related and violent crime threats to public safety, as with the opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and the cocaine threat to our nation. The South Florida HIDTA uses the funding provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, out of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, that sponsors a variety of law enforcement initiatives that target the region's illicit drug and violent crime threats to our community. 

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON CALLAHAN DECREE COURT FILING

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement after the City of New York filed a revised application in court to modify the 1981 consent decree in Callahan v. Carey related to the city’s Right to Shelter law: 

“In accordance with the judge’s request, our lawyers filed a revised application to seek relief from Callahan. As we have said before, the Callahan decree — entered over 40 years ago, when the shelter population was a fraction of its current size — was never intended to apply to the extraordinary circumstances our city faces today. With more than 122,700 asylum seekers having come through our intake system since the spring of 2022, and projected costs of over $12 billion for three years, it is abundantly clear that the status quo cannot continue. We must be flexible to respond to this crisis effectively and continue to lead with the compassion and care we have consistently shown those arriving here.

“To be very clear, the city is not seeking to terminate Callahan; we are simply asking for the city’s obligations to be aligned with those of the rest of the state during states of emergency. For more than a year now, New York City has shouldered the burden of this national crisis largely alone. We have opened more than 210 emergency sites, have spent more than $2 billion to date, and expect to spend $5 billion by the end of this fiscal year without significant and timely help from our state and federal partners. And throughout this crisis, not a single family with children has been forced to sleep on the streets. But as we have said repeatedly, with upwards of 10,000 asylum seekers continuing to arrive every month, New York City cannot continue to do this alone.”

Community Town Hall Meeting on Illegal Smoke Shops Hosted by Assemblymember John Zaccaro Jr.

Neighbors and Community Partners,

I along with my colleague in the New York City Council will be hosting an important Town Hall meeting to address a growing and critical issue in our community.

Date: Wednesday, October 18th

Time: 6PM - 8PM

Location: Bronx House Community Center ( 990 Pelham Parkway South, BX, NY 10461)

To RSVP and submit questions: click here 

Many of you have voiced concern about the increased number of smoke shops in our community and those who may be circumventing the law through the illegal sale of tobacco and cannabis products. Similarly, many neighbors have contacted my office about cannabis law and the legality of certain proposed cannabis locations that have applied for a license.

This is your time to ask questions and make your voice heard. Please join us on October 18th to hear directly from local officials, the New York City Sheriff's Department, and NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Together, these agencies are tasked with regulating the businesses that sell tobacco and cannabis products and will be available to field your questions and share their expertise.

For more information about this event and how to participate, please see the flyer below. 

Looking forward to seeing you on October 18th!

Your Neighbor,

John Zaccaro Jr. 

New York State Assemblymember, 80th Assembly District