A.G. Schneiderman Offers Important Tips For Charitable Donations In Light Of Hurricane Matthew

    Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today encouraged New Yorkers to assist    relief efforts and released important information for New Yorkers planning to    donate to organizations that are helping victims of Hurricane Matthew.

“During the past few days, New Yorkers have seen images of people leaving their homes and belongings behind as they wade through flood waters left in Matthew’s path. Many New Yorkers are eager to help the people who are victims of the hurricane’s devastation as they seek safety and face the challenges of rebuilding their lives,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “This office encourages such generosity, and will work with New Yorkers to ensure that their donations are protected.  People who plan to contribute to charities that provide disaster relief should be sure to review these tips to protect themselves and ensure help goes where it is intended.”

The Attorney General offers the following tips for those contributing to the relief effort:

Give to Established Charities.  Donate to organizations you are familiar with, or have an experience assisting in disaster relief. Get information about charities that pop up solely in response to the hurricane or those with unfamiliar names.

Look Charities Up. Review information about the charity before you give. If the charity is soliciting in New York, the charity must be registered with the Office of the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau. Check the Attorney General’s website – www.charitiesnys.com – to review tax returns and audit reports. Confirm that the charity is a recognized tax-exempt organization. 

The following websites contain helpful information to evaluate charities:

• American Institute of Philanthropy - charitywatch.org
• Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance -  bbb.org
• Charity Navigator - charitynavigator.org
• GuideStar - guidestar.org
  
  

Be Cautious With Telephone Solicitations. Ask if the person soliciting is “a paid fundraiser.” If yes, ask if they are registered in New York. If not, do not contribute.

Before You Text A Contribution. Check the charity’s website or call the charity to confirm it has authorized contributions to be made via text message. One thing to keep in mind is that donations via text messaging may not reach the charity until after your phone bill is paid. It may be faster to contribute directly to the charity.

Ask How Your Donation Will Be Used. Ask specifically how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and organizations your donation will support. Ask if the charity already has worked in the local area or has relationships with any local relief organizations. Also, ask what the charity plans to do with any excess donations. Avoid charities that make emotional appeals but are vague in answering your questions. Be wary if an organization will not provide written information about charitable programs and finances upon request. Any legitimate organization will be glad to send you this information.

Avoid Unsolicited Spam Emails. These formats are usually not associated with legitimate charities. Check the Department of Homeland Security’s tips, such as Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks that are posted at http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-014.

Never Give Cash. Give your contribution by credit card or a check made payable to the charity.

Be Careful About Personal Information. Avoid giving credit card or personal information over the phone or by text message. In all cases, make sure you are familiar with the organization and check to see that the fundraising campaign is legitimate.

Report Suspicious Organizations. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a scam is taking place, please contact the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau atcharities.complaints@ag.NY.gov or 212-416-8401. 

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman - Preventing Smog, Protecting New Yorkers

   Attorney General Schneiderman, along with five other states, sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to force long-overdue action on controlling smog pollution that blows into New York and other downwind states. The EPA has not made a decision in three years on whether it will use its legal authority to require upwind states to stem their contribution to smog pollution, which threatens the the health of millions of New Yorkers.

    Attorney General Schneiderman, along with five other states, sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to force long-overdue action on controlling smog pollution that blows into New York and other downwind states. The EPA has not made a decision in three years on whether it will use its legal authority to require upwind states to stem their contribution to smog pollution, which threatens the the health of millions of New Yorkers.

   

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website atag.ny.gov. You can also call our General Hotline: 800-771-7755. 

Broadway Bash to Feature Vanessa Trouble & The Red Hot Swing

Tickets on Sale Now!  Click the Link Below to Purchase Tickets and Get More Info
Gala16

Event to Feature Vanessa Trouble
& The Red Hot Swing 

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Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj - Save the Date-Albanian Independence Day Celebration

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STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO & FIRST LADY CHIRLANE MCCRAY

from:

Mayor's Press Office

date:

Sat, Oct 8, 2016 at 2:53 PM

subject:

STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO & FIRST LADY CHIRLANE MCCRAY mailed-by: cityhall.nyc.gov THE CITY OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE MAYOR NEW YORK, NY 10007 STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO & FIRST LADY CHIRLANE MCCRAY “In public, Donald Trump’s a racist, misogynist and xenophobe. Now we know that in private he brags about sexually assaulting women. He has proven himself a danger to our country and a stain on our democratic process. We must never forget the hate and misogyny he’s brought us – nor those who have refused to condemn it.”  Editor's Note: This was put up to show how elected officials use their office for private views. While the mayor and his wife are entitled to their private opinions of people, New York City resources should not be used to foster an opinion of someone with connections to a candidate for office.  The use of the Mayor's Press Office, and the use of the name of the City of New York for personal views.  The Department of Investigation needs to look at this as it would with any other New York City employee.

Former New York City Human Resources Administration Supervisor Sentenced To 23 Months In Prison For Defrauding Two Public Assistance Programs Of More Than $1.8 Million

  Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that CHERRISE WATSON-JACKSON, a/k/a “Reesie,” a former supervisor with the New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”), was sentenced in Manhattan federal court today to 23 months in prison for defrauding two public assistance programs, which she helped to administer, of more than $1.8 million.  WATSON-JACKSON, who pleaded guilty in early May 2016 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.

U.S. Attorney Bharara stated: “In schemes that netted more than $1.8 million, Cherrise Watson-Jackson looted the very public assistance programs that she was responsible to administer.  Not only did Watson-Jackson siphon money meant to assist those less fortunate, by doing so, she committed federal crimes that now leads her to prison.”

According to the Complaint, Superseding Indictment, sentencing submissions, other information in the public record, and today’s proceeding:

HRA is an agency of the City of New York responsible for administering various public assistance programs.  Among other things, HRA provides temporary help to individuals and families with social service and economic needs to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency.  Its services include, among other things, administering the federally-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) (more commonly known as “food stamps”), and providing rental assistance to low-income families and individuals.

Starting in 1993, WATSON-JACKSON worked at HRA, most recently as a supervisor in a job center in Queens, New York.  In that capacity, she supervised a group of other supervisors who in turn were responsible for teams of employees who review and determine eligibility for public assistance clients.  Since early 2012, and continuing until December 2013, WATSON-JACKSON abused her position by engaging in a scheme to defraud two of the public assistance programs that she was charged to help administer.  The first of the two schemes involved WATSON-JACKSON fraudulently loading electronic benefit transfer (“EBT”) cards

with funds from SNAP, and the cards were then used by co-conspirators throughout the New York City area.  The second scheme involved WATSON-JACKSON fraudulently causing rental assistance checks to be mailed to co-conspirators who posed as “landlords” of low-income tenants.  Co-conspirators then cashed and/or assisted others to cash the fraudulently obtained checks.  The two schemes resulted in the loss of more than $1.8 million in public funds.

In addition to her 23-month prison term, WATSON-JACKSON, 45, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervise release, and ordered to forfeit $1,809,811.75 and to pay restitution in the same amount.

WATSON-JACKSON was arrested in early December 2015, along with Maurice Cromwell, a/k/a “Reese,” 40, of Staten Island, New York; Derrick Williams, a/k/a “Blood,” 35, of Queens, New York; Isaac Allen, 40, of Brooklyn, New York; Corey Brock, a/k/a “Cee,” 36, of Queens, New York; Vernecka Petersen-Fowler, 44, of Brooklyn, New York; Kevin Williams, 38, of Queens, New York; Jaron Annuziata, 36, of Brooklyn, New York; Beverly Franklin, 38, of Queens, New York; Beverly Lord, 54, of Queens, New York; Yesenia Depena, 25, of Brooklyn, New York; and Gerard Stokes, 32, of Queens, New York.  To date, all defendants except Lord, Depena, and Stokes have pleaded guilty to their participation in one or both fraudulent schemes, and Cromwell, Derrick Williams, Allen, Brock, Petersen-Fowler, Annuziata, and Franklin have been sentenced.  Cromwell and Derrick Williams, who served in managerial roles in both schemes, were sentenced to 27 months in prison and 37 months in prison, respectively; Allen was sentenced to 18 months in prison; Brock was sentenced to five years of probation with special conditions of nine months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service; Petersen-Fowler was sentenced to three years of probation with a special condition of eight months of home confinement; Annuziata was sentenced to three years of probation with a special condition of eight months of home confinement; and Franklin was sentenced to three years of probation.  All of the defendants that have been sentenced were also ordered to forfeit proceeds of the fraud and to pay restitution.

U.S. Attorney Bharara praised the work of the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Richenthal and Andrew D. Beaty are in charge of the prosecution.

The pending charges against Beverly Lord, Yesenia Depena, and Gerard Stokes are merely accusations, and these defendants are presumed innocent.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney To Host Education Forums On Opioid Abuse Epidemic

  Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that he, along with representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), the medical field, and representatives from the community, will host a number of education forums to discuss how best to confront the epidemic of opioid abuse that is ravaging so many of our communities, and the federal government’s response. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said:  “Close to 80 Americans die every day from opioid abuse.  Indeed, more people die from drug overdoses now than automobile accidents or guns.  This growing epidemic is everywhere – in our cities, our suburbs and our rural communities.  This problem will not be solved by prosecutions alone, although law enforcement certainly must play its part.  All of us – law enforcement, pharmaceutical companies, schools and parents – must work together to combat the scourge of opioid abuse.  And that effort starts with education.  That is why, over the coming weeks, I will be holding education forums in communities throughout our District to discuss this evolving challenge and will be talking about how our Office, the DEA, and others can help.”   

Since 2000, the rate of deaths from drug overdoses has increased 137 percent, including a 200 percent increase in the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids (prescription opioid pain relievers and heroin).  Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes and deaths from firearms.  Each day, 78 Americans die of an opioid overdose.  This increase mirrors large increases in heroin use across the country and has been shown to be closely tied to opioid pain reliever misuse and dependence.  Past misuse of prescription opioids is the strongest risk factor for heroin initiation and use, specifically among persons who report past-year dependence or abuse.  The increased availability of heroin, combined with its relatively low price (compared with diverted prescription opioids) and high purity, are major drivers of the upward trend in heroin use and overdose.[1]

Mr. Bharara will host the first educational forum on Thursday, October 20, 2016, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at New York University School of Law.  Parents, teachers, medical professionals, and members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the urgent challenge of opioid addiction.  Attendees are encouraged to RSVP here[external link].

A second forum will be held Thursday, December 1, 2016, at Pace Law School in White Plains, New York, and a third forum will be held Thursday, December 8, 2016, at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. 

CORRECTION OFFICER SENTENCED FOR SMUGGLING CELL PHONE TO RIKERS ISLAND INMATE

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a New York City Department of Correction Officer has been sentenced for bringing a cell phone into a Rikers Island jail for an inmate with whom she had a personal relationship. 

   District Attorney Clark said, “The actions of this defendant, whose job is to help maintain order in an often chaotic environment, are what fuel lawlessness both inside and outside Rikers Island.”  

  District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Tessie Clifton, 53, of Manhattan, a DOC Officer for three-and-a-half years, was sentenced today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett to one year in jail. Clifton pleaded guilty to first-degree Promoting Prison Contraband on September 20, 2016. According to the investigation, Clifton and inmate Tyrone Williams developed a personal relationship. 

  According to the indictment, Clifton placed a black cell phone into a garbage can inside of AMKC Quad 11 Lower housing area on May 8, 2015, per Williams’ instructions. 

   The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ann Lee of the Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Omer Wiczyk, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Wanda Perez-Maldonado, Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau.