What You Should Know By State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

Oscar Rivera Lopez & Mark Gjonaj’s Assembly District 

You should know that since Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, has been elected to the seat previously occupied by Council Member Jimmy Vacca, has created a vacancy and there is already a brawl brewing about who will occupy his vacant seat in the New York State Assembly. 

It is important for you to know that Mr. Mark Gjonaj has been representing the 80^th Assembly District, which encompasses Allerton, Bedford Park, Morris Park, Mosholu Parkway, Norwood, Pelham Gardens and Van Nest areas in the Bronx. 

These are multi-cultural neighborhoods.  Its residents are honest, responsible and hard working African Americans, Hispanics, Whites, Albanians, Bangladeshi, as well as others who love this country.  I know this because I formerly represented them as their New York State Senator.  I’m very familiar with these neighborhoods and its residents. 

You should know that when Mark Gjonaj leaves for the City Council, a special election will be held to fill the vacancy.   Rumor has it that there are two women interested in filling the position in the Assembly.   

 One of them is Nathalia Fernandez.   Ms. Fernandez is well known in the district and in the Assembly because she has worked as Mark Gjonaj’s Chief of Staff.  Ms. Fernandez is well qualified educated, experienced, and well versed in the needs, problems, and the expectations of the residents of the district.   As a result some say that Ms. Fernandez is the right person to replace Mark Gjonaj in the Assembly due to her vast knowledge and experience within the district.   

But surprise, surprise, the other woman who is interested in the position is none other than Lorraine Cortez Vazquez, presently the President of the National Puerto Rican Parade, who just this year she brought shame and disgrace to the parade when she made the controversial decision to honor Mr. Oscar Lopez Rivera, as a “Hero of Liberty”, “Heroe De La Libertad” which resulted in disunity within the Puerto Rican Community.     

You should know that Oscar Lopez Rivera, according to Wikipedia is known to many as a “terrorist”.   He is one of the leaders of the clandestine paramilitary organization “The Fuerzas Armadas De Liberacion Nacional Puertorriquena” known as the terrorist group the “F.A.L.N.”.    This organization is devoted to the independence of Puerto Rico and they carried out more than 120 bomb attacks on the United States between 1974 and 1983 which resulted in the killing of six (6) people.   

On August 11, 1981 Mr. Lopez was found guilty of  “Seditious Conspiracy”, use of force to commit robbery,interstate transportation of firearms and ammunitions to aid in the commission of a felony.    He is released from prison and Ms. Lorraine Cortez Vazquez  hails him as a Hero of Liberty.   

Her association and close friendship with Oscar Lopez Rivera will not sit well with the district she hopes to represent.  Already many are commenting on their apprehension of having Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez as the person to fill Mark Gjonaj’s vacant seat.  Others are saying that the honest, hardworking residents of the 80^th Assembly district will not cast a vote for Ms. Vazquez.   

As you can see my dear readers, two well prepared, well educated women will be competing to fill the vacancy for the 80^th Assembly district.  This will be a very interesting and very divided contest, as was this years the National Puerto Rican Day Parade….. thanks to Oscar Lopez Rivera, and the actions taken by Ms. Lorraine Cortez Vazquez.   

This is Senator Ruben Diaz and this what you should know.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

 Is this another ploy by Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda in his quest to become the new "REVEREND SENATOR LUIS SEPULVEDA" by chasing away another formidable contender for the soon to be vacant 32nd State Senate seat? Why is it that current Councilwoman Anabelle Palma who was to have switched seats with State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (since she was term limited out at the end of this year) was taken out of the running when Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda announced his intention to run for the 32nd State Senate seat?

 Now, why is it that Assemblyman Sepulveda wants another woman who would be as good if not better a candidate than Ms. Palma out of the way? What is the connection between Anabelle Palma, Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez, and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda? The answer is Mayor Bill de Blasio. Mayor de Blasio has hired Ms. Palma to be Assistant Commissioner of the DHS, while Ms. Cortez-Vazquez currently works for Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

 Are Luis Sepulveda and Mayor Bill de Blasio playing Bronx politics? That should be left up to the Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, or do Mayor de Blasio and soon to be State Senator Sepulveda have other plans for Assemblyman Crespo?

Chanukah Celebration with the Bronx Borough President

NEWS FROM KRVC

Join Us this Saturday in Marble Hill 
for the Holiday Trolley of Fun!

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Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services - Young Adult Recovery Forum in the Bronx, 12/14

  Under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s leadership, New York State is taking bold and aggressive action to tackle the heroin and opioid crisis, and develop initiatives that promote the enhancement of the state’s nation-leading prevention, treatment, and recovery services model.

Please join Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez of the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) for a breakfast roundtable discussion on treatment and recovery supports for young adults and at-risk youth.

 Date: Thursday, December 14, 2017

 Time:              11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

 Location:       Odyssey House Recovery Center

Davidson Community Center

2038 Davidson Avenue

Bronx, New York

The Commissioner will discuss the state’s efforts support treatment and recovery supports for young adults and at-risk youth in New York State.   She will also look for input on the development of a statewide recovery network for young adults. This event is an opportunity to share your recommendations with representatives from New York State and community stakeholders.  

 R.S.V.P. to Tracey Collins at Tracey.Collins@oasas.ny. gov

MEETING BETWEEN MAYOR DE BLASIO AND NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR-ELECT MURPHY

  New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New Jersey Governor-elect Phil Murphy met this afternoon at Gracie Mansion in New York City. The Mayor and Governor-elect offered each other congratulations on their respective November election victories, before discussing a host of issues important to New York and New Jersey. The Mayor and Governor-elect outlined a shared vision for the region that includes an expansion of universal pre-K, upgraded transportation and infrastructure, and a focus on mental health investment and progressive taxation. The two pledged immediate cooperation in combating the Republican tax plan and in supporting grassroots progressive organizing locally and nationally. The meeting lasted 65 minutes. A portion of the meeting was attended by New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Could it be that Mayor Bill de Blasio is thinking of moving to New Jersey?

Two Men Charged In Theft Of Over $2 Million In Stock Certificates From Deceased Manhattan Woman

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging STEPHEN DECKER and LUIS MERCADO with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to steal more than $2 million in stock certificates from the apartment of a deceased Manhattan woman, and then use those stolen assets to attempt to purchase over $2 million worth of gold coins.  DECKER and MERCADO were arrested this morning in Manhattan.  The defendants will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott in Manhattan federal court this afternoon.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.   

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “As alleged, these defendants preyed on a deceased New Yorker’s estate by stealing millions in stock certificates from her home.  Then, in an attempt to cover their tracks, the defendants allegedly sold the certificates and tried to purchase more than $2 million in gold coins so that the ill-gotten gains couldn’t be traced to them.  Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the defendants will now be held accountable for their brazen actions.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “As alleged, when Decker and Mercado cashed out on stolen stock certificates, their right to ownership was nothing more than fool’s gold.  Not only did the certificates not belong to them, their rightful owner was an elderly deceased woman with no representatives to stake her claim.  Taking advantage of those who are powerless to defend themselves or their legacy has always been, and will always be, an inexcusable crime.”

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

From March 2016 to February 2017, DECKER and MERCADO engaged in a scheme designed to steal over $2 million from a deceased Manhattan woman (the “Victim”).  As part of the scheme, DECKER and MERCADO stole stock certificates valued at over $2 million from the Victim’s Manhattan apartment after the Victim’s death in March 2016.  In August 2016, based on false representations made by DECKER and MERCADO, a financial institution (“Company-1”) opened a brokerage account (the “Account”) in the Victim’s name.  DECKER and MERCADO then deposited the stolen stock certificates into the Account.  In September 2016, based on additional false representations made by DECKER and MERCADO, Company-1 sold the shares in the brokerage account opened in the Victim’s name, resulting in a cash balance in the Account of more than $2 million.  DECKER and MERCADO then attempted to purchase over $2 million in gold coins using the assets in the Account.            

The Indictment charges DECKER, 59, of Secaucus, New Jersey, and MERCADO, 53, of Manhattan, New York, each with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of 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 are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are 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 below constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Five Defendants Arrested In Bottle-Return Bust

Group Allegedly Used False Invoices and Kickbacks to Transform 5¢ Recycling Deposit Into Lucrative Fraud

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,  William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Leon Hayward, Acting Director of the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced that ELDAR RAKHAMIMOV, NASIM RAKHAMIMOV, VLADIMIR ZABRODIN, RUSLAN KADIROV, and JOSEPH FINNERAN were taken into federal custody today for participating in a scheme to defraud beverage bottling companies and the State of New York.  The defendants were presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.

According to the allegations in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

From September 2016 to December 4, 2017, ELDAR RAKHAMIMOV, NASIM RAKHAMIMOV, ZABRODIN, KADIROV, and FINNERAN conspired to defraud bottling companies and the State of New York through a scheme involving recyclable containers.

The defendants’ scheme exploited recycling incentives created by New York State’s Returnable Container Act (the “RCA”).  The RCA created a $.05 deposit on bottled soft drinks, beer, and water sold in New York State to promote the recycling of bottles and cans by bottlers, beverage distributors, and container redemption centers.  Under the RCA, the first bottler, distributor, or dealer to collect the required deposits on beverage containers is required to reimburse the $.05 deposit to redeeming individuals or entities and to pay a handling fee of $.035 per empty beverage container redeemed by redemption centers.

ELDAR RAKHAMIMOV and NASIM RAKHAMIMOV managed a bottle collection company (“Company-1”) that focused on aggregating recyclable containers and delivering them, in exchange for payment, to redemption centers in the New York City area.  ELDAR RAKHAMIMOV and NASIM RAKHAMIMOV, along with ZABRODIN, KADIROV, and FINNERAN, worked together to falsely inflate the number of bottles delivered by Company-1 to induce redemption centers to overpay bottle deposits and handling fees to Company-1.

Using an assortment of deceptive techniques, ranging from doctored invoices to “redeeming” the same bottles twice to impermissibly collecting bottles from New Jersey to paying (or receiving) kickbacks, the defendants extracted hundreds of thousands of dollars from victim companies – and, ultimately, the State of New York.

ELDAR RAKHAMIMOV, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, NASIM RAKHAMIMOV, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, ZABRODIN, 32, of Staten Island, New York, KADIROV, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, and FINNERAN, 64, of Bay Shore, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding work of the FBI, the CBP, and the NYPD for their investigative efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case.

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

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

A.G. Schneiderman Statement On Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act

  New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released the following statement upon House passage of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act:

“Today, the House voted to strip New York law enforcement of their right to enforce common sense policies that keep New Yorkers safe from the scourge of gun violence. 

New York has some of the strongest gun laws in the country. This bill could return New York to the bad old days, by rolling back the protections that have reduced gun-related deaths in New York State to some of the lowest rates in the nation.

This lowest-common-denominator approach would undermine states’ basic responsibility to protect our communities – including by determining who may carry a concealed, loaded gun within our borders. It would risk the lives of our families and our law enforcement officers, while facilitating gun trafficking and promoting mass violence.

With each tragedy, we lament the loopholes in our federal gun laws. Today, the House just voted to create a huge new one.  

I urge the Senate to reject this disastrous legislation.”

This fall, Attorney General Schneiderman led a coalition of 17 Attorneys General in opposing the legislation.