Mt. Vernon Man Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison For Four Armed Carjackings Of Cabs

  Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SAMIR SULLIVAN, a/k/a “S,” was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for four separate armed carjackings of cabs in Mt. Vernon and the Bronx in November 2018.  SULLIVAN pled guilty on January 28, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “Four hardworking cab drivers were simply doing their jobs when Samir Sullivan terrified them by pointing a gun at their heads.  After threatening to shoot all four drivers and hitting one with his gun, Sullivan took their cabs, as well as their cash, wallets, and phones. Today’s lengthy sentence sends a message that this violent behavior will not be tolerated in this district.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint, the Information, and statements made during court proceedings:

In the middle of the night and early morning on November 25 and 29, 2018, Sullivan and his partner committed four armed carjackings of cabs in Mt. Vernon and the Bronx.  To complete the carjackings, Sullivan pointed and held a gun at the heads of four scared cab drivers, pushed the gun against the sides of some of the drivers’ faces (at least one of whom pleaded for his life), demanded that the drivers give him everything they had, threatened to shoot if the drivers did not comply, threatened that he would kill one of the drivers, directed his partner to ransack the drivers’ pockets for cash, and hit the shoulders of one of drivers with the gun.  In addition to the cabs, which he would drive away and abandon before finding his next victim, SULLIVAN took the drivers’ cash, wallets, phones, and a jacket.

In addition to the prison term, SULLIVAN, 33, of Mt. Vernon, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit the proceeds of the offenses and pay restitution to his victims.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Mount Vernon Police Department.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STABBING EX-GIRLFRIEND’S SON WHILE HE SLEPT

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stabbing a 22-year-old man in 2018, leaving him with life altering injuries. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant entered the victim’s apartment through a window as he was sleeping in bed, and stabbed him multiple times over a previous fight. Thankfully the victim survived the vicious attack and has gone on with his life.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Roberto Ortiz, 48, of 4627 Park Avenue, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Hornstein to 10 years in prison and 5 years post-release supervision. The defendant pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the second degree on May 3, 2019. 

 According to the investigation, on the morning of July 26, 2018, the defendant climbed the fire escape of a building in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx, entered an apartment and stabbed Cory Smith, 22, multiple times in the neck, head, and torso with kitchen knives. Ortiz then dragged Smith out of the apartment and bashed his head against the walls as he forced him downstairs, leaving the hallway and stairway splattered with the victim’s blood.

 Smith, begging for help along the way, got outside and made his way into a neighboring building where someone called 911. First responding police officers applied pressure to the victim’s neck wound, saving his life. The defendant attempted to flee by re-entering the victim’s apartment and jumping off a fire escape. He landed on his head behind the building, where police found him.

 A month before the stabbing, the victim accused the defendant of stealing a friend’s wallet and they had physical altercation, which resulted in Smith’s mother ending her relationship with Ortiz.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Police Officers Ryan Duffany and Kyron de la Rosa, who first responded to the scene, and Detective Abraham Villavizar, all of the 47th Precinct.

Speaker Johnson and the City Council Launch Interactive Map of Parks in New York City

  Council Speaker Corey Johnson and the City Council launched an interactive map of public parks in New York City Map. The new interactive map offers detailed information on all of the 1,700 parks in the city, including amenities, funding information, and programming at each spot.

Launching just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the map shows where New Yorkers can find playgrounds, basketball and handball courts, running tracks, pools, barbecue areas, food concessions and dog runs. Additionally, the data includes upcoming events taking place at each location within the next 14 days.

This interactive and visual tool details the 2,856 playgrounds, 557 basketball courts, 546 handball courts, 95 pools, 34 running tracks, 69 barbecue areas, 112 food concessions, and 136 dog runs and leash areas. And it also gives New Yorkers information on how much their neighborhood parks receive for maintenance, both in public and private funds.

“It’s the unofficial start of summer, and so we wanted to get this out there for all New Yorkers. Public parks are the lungs of our metropolis and a vital part of our city. We have hundreds of these jewels across our city, and this interactive map will let you explore each one of them individually,” said Speaker Johnson.     

Find additional information at https://council.nyc.gov/data/parks-in-nyc/.

161st Street BID - PIANO PLAYERS WANTED

  A hand-painted piano will arrive at Joyce Kilmer Park Wednesday, June 5. The instrument is part of the citywide, Sing for Hope program, which places 50 pianos across the five boroughs in public spaces and parks. Visitors can play or listen to spontaneous concerts over the next three weeks.

  On June 21 st the 161 st Street BID will host a series of musical performances at the piano by artists affiliated with the Make Music New York program. The first day of summer will ring out with pop, R & B and standards from NYC musicians in front of the Lorelei Fountain.

  This is the seventh year that the 161 st Street BID has hosted a piano. The BID is one of 75 managed by the NYC Department of Small Business Services.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS SUPPORTS SENATOR BIAGGI BILL TO REMOVE ‘SEVERE AND PERVASIVE’ STANDARD

  Senate Majority Leader Andrea Steward-Cousins said that the Senate will move to pass bill S3817A, legislation sponsored by State Senator Alessandra Biaggi to eliminate the “severe and pervasive” standard applied to sexual harassment cases and harassment based on all protected categories.

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi issued the following statement:

"The Senate is not what it use to be – this body is ready to make changes that put survivors first and protect New Yorkers from future sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. The first step is to eliminate the 'severe and pervasive' standard once and for all, and make sure that employers are held accountable for creating safe work environments for their employees. I thank Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her fervent support on this issue.”

COUNCIL MEMBER TORRES & STUDENTS WILL HOST RIBBON-CUTTING & GRAND OPENING OF TAPCO SCHOOL’S ROOFTOP GARDEN PERFORMANCE SOUNDSTAGE

$2.5 Million Investment Will Allow Students to Utilize Digital Design Curriculum, Use Outdoor Space for Theatre Shows & Grow Produce for Local Food Pantry

Councilman Ritchie Torres presents a check for $2.5 Million Dollars to TAPCo Principal Ron Link.

  Council Member Ritchie Torres and students from the Theatre Arts Production Company School (TAPCo) held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the school’s innovative rooftop garden performance sound stage. This is the first school in the city with a rooftop garden and sound stage built into it that will allow students to hold performances outdoors, grow fruits and vegetables for the local food pantry POTS, and take drawing classes outside. The grand opening featured student performances on the sound stage. Council Member Torres invested $2.5 million in City Council funds towards this project. 

Above - Councilman Torres cuts the ribbon on the new outdoor roof space for TAPCo.

Below - TAPCO students perform on the special dance area of the roof.

Above - A dance presentation by one student on the new dance area.

Below - The band performs.

3rd Avenue BID Opens Business Work Area at 11 Bruckner Boulevard.

  In its quest to serve businesses better the 3rd Avenue Business Improvement District has reached out to businesses on and around Bruckner Boulevard by leasing the second floor of a building at 11 Bruckner Boulevard. The renovated mini business incubator allows owners of small stores such as Isabel Pradas owner of College Bridge Cafe, and Noelle Santos owner of the Lit Bar (above with 3rd Avenue BID Executive Director Michael Brady) to have a desk where to work on much of the needed paperwork they have no room for in their cramped businesses. There is a mini conference room where business owners can talk business to each other, come up with local events, and whatever else to make this area of the Bronx better.

Above - The cozy conference area complete with a large screen monitor and computer for power point presentations.

Below - How to find that office space your business may need.