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Friday, November 11, 2016
Bronx Jewish Community Council - Breakfast of Champions Wed. Nov. 30th
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Gun License “Expediter” Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court To Bribery In Connection With NYPD-Issued Gun Licenses
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ALEX LICHTENSTEIN, a/k/a “Shaya,” pled guilty to bribery and offering a bribe in connection with his efforts to pay bribes to obtain gun licenses through the New York City Police Department’s (“NYPD”) License Division. LICHTENSTEIN pled guilty before United States District Judge Sidney H. Stein today.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As he admitted today, Alex Lichtenstein acted as a corrupt gun ‘expediter,’ bribing police officers to obtain gun licenses, offering thousands of dollars per license. In a recorded conversation, Lichtenstein bragged of using his NYPD connections to obtain 150 gun licenses. This type of corruption not only undermines public confidence in law enforcement, but it undermines public safety. And it cannot be tolerated. I thank the FBI and the NYPD for their dedication and commitment to this case and this important investigation.”
According to the Complaint and Indictment filed in Manhattan federal court and statements made during the plea proceeding:
LICHTENSTEIN is a member of the Borough Park Shomrim, a volunteer, ostensibly unarmed, Orthodox Jewish patrol society whose mission includes combating criminal activity and locating missing people. LICHTENSTEIN ran a business charging clients thousands of dollars to expedite their gun license applications. LICHTENSTEIN charged his clients as much as $18,000 per gun license.
In April 2016, LICHTENSTEIN approached an officer for the NYPD and offered the officer cash bribes in order for the officer to help LICHTENSTEIN obtain gun licenses for LICHTENSTEIN’s customers from the NYPD’s License Division. The License Division is responsible for reviewing, investigating, and approving or disapproving all applications for gun licenses in New York City. The License Division receives approximately 5,000 applications for gun licenses per year. LICHTENSTEIN told the officer that he charged customers thousands of dollars to help obtain License Division approval for their gun license applications, and that he was able to get the licenses approved using his own connections in the License Division, although those connections had recently cut him out.
The officer did not agree to assist LICHTENSTEIN, and reported the encounter to the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau (“IAB”). Working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and IAB, the officer set up and recorded a meeting with LICHTENSTEIN, at which LICHTENSTEIN offered the officer $6,000 per license application that the officer could help get through the License Division. In that recorded meeting, LICHTENSTEIN told the officer that he had obtained gun licenses for approximately 150 individuals in the past, and that his customers needed his services because the License Division would otherwise reject applications “for the biggest stupidity,” such as a history of moving violations. LICHTENSTEIN boasted that he was able to use his connections in the License Division to “expedite” the application process, i.e., to forego the full investigation typically conducted before the NYPD License Division approves or disapproves an application. The officer asked LICHTENSTEIN if his previous connections in the License Division were making money, to which LICHTENSTEIN responded, “now they cut down, now nobody’s making money.”
In fact, LICHTENSTEIN had substantial connections to a sergeant in the License Division, David Villanueva, who had worked at the License Division for more than a decade. A Commanding Officer at the NYPD with whom Villanueva was friendly introduced LICHTENSTEIN to the License Division and Villanueva in or about 2013. From that introduction through early 2016, LICHTENSTEIN spent significant time at the License Division with Villanueva, often on a near daily basis. From at least 2012 through 2016, LICHTENSTEIN gave Villanueva cash bribes and other benefits to pay for Villanueva’s work in expediting and approving gun license applications for LICHTENSTEIN’s clients. Richard Ochetal, a police officer who worked under Villanueva, did first-level review of many of these applications and was instructed to approve them. Ochetal was compensated in the form of some of the cash that LICHTENSTEIN gave to Villanueva. Villanueva[1] is currently charged in a case pending before Judge Stein, and Ochetal pled guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for the approval of gun license applications, and is cooperating with the Government in the investigation.
In reviewing and approving applications for LICHTENSTEIN’s clients, Villanueva and Ochetal omitted some of the required checks, such as criminal history checks, and in other instances ran checks only after they approved licenses. They also approved applications despite red flags that, had they not been bribed, may have led those applications to be rejected. For example, they approved applications of individuals with prior arrests and previous allegations of domestic violence. In addition, Villanueva and Ochetal approved applications for licenses to carry firearms, which require certain business-related justifications, in scenarios were there was no real business justification for the request. A review of the applications of LICHTENSTEIN’s clients reveals that Villanueva and Ochetal were able to secure licenses for those clients often within weeks, whereas the process normally takes months to, in some instances, over a year. Villanueva and Ochetal did this for LICHTENSTEIN’s clients because of the cash payments coming from LICHTENSTEIN, as well as other benefits, such as limousine rides, bottles of liquor, and a wine tour.
LICHTENSTEIN, 44, who now resides in Pomona, New York, has pled guilty to one count of bribery, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, and one count of offering a bribe, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau, and noted that the investigation is continuing.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Kan M. Nawaday, Russell Capone, Martin S. Bell, and Lauren Schorr are in charge of the prosecution.
Statement Of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara On The Presentment Of Ahmad Khan Rahami On Terrorism Charges In Manhattan Federal Court
“Ahmad Khan Rahami, the alleged Chelsea bomber, was brought today to Manhattan to face terrorism charges. Allegedly driven by a commitment to violent jihad, Rahami planted bombs in the heart of Manhattan and in New Jersey. One of the bombs exploded on a Saturday evening in Chelsea, injuring over 30 people and shattering windows hundreds of yards away. For his alleged acts of terror, Rahami will now face justice in a federal courthouse just blocks south of where he allegedly planted his bombs. Rahami will be presented on his federal terrorism charges today in the Southern District of New York before United States Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.”
Manhattan United States Attorney Announces Superseding Indictment Charging Turkish And Iranian National With Conspiring To Evade U.S. Sanctions Against Iran And Other Offenses
Superseding Indictment Further Alleges That Four Defendants Allegedly Used the U.S. Banking System to Conduct International Financial Transactions for Iranian Airline Sanctioned for Supporting Terrorist Groups
Mohammad Zarrab et al. S2 Indictment.pdfPreet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the filing of a superseding indictment charging MOHAMMAD ZARRAB, a/k/a “Can Sarraf,” a/k/a “Kartalsmd,” with using the U.S. financial system to conduct hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of transactions on behalf of the Government of Iran and other Iranian entities, which were barred by United States sanctions; laundering funds in connection with those illegal transactions; and defrauding several financial institutions by concealing the true nature of these transactions. The superseding indictment further alleges that MOHAMMAD ZARRAB’s co-defendants – REZA ZARRAB, a/k/a “Riza Sarraf,” CAMELIA JAMSHIDY, a/k/a “Kamelia Jamshidy,” and HOSSEIN NAJAFZADEH, who previously were charged in this case with the same offenses – participated in financial transactions for the benefit of Mahan Air, an Iranian Airline sanctioned for providing services for the Iranian Qods Force and Hizballah. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Richard M. Berman.
REZA ZARRAB was arrested on March 19, 2016, and is scheduled to begin trial on January 23, 2017, before Judge Berman. MOHAMMAD ZARRAB, JAMSHIDY, and NAJAFZADEH remain at large.
According to the allegations contained in the superseding indictment[1] filed today in Manhattan federal court:
Beginning in or about 1979, the president has repeatedly found that the situation in Iran constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and declared a national emergency to deal with the threat. Pursuant to these presidential declarations, the United States has instituted a host of economic sanctions against Iran and Iranian entities pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (the “IEEPA”). This sanctions regime prohibits, among other things, financial transactions involving the United States or United States persons that were intended for the Government or Iran or Iranian entities.
Between at least in or about 2010 and in or about 2015, REZA ZARRAB, MOHAMMAD ZARRAB, JAMSHIDY, and NAJAFZADEH conspired to conduct international financial transactions on behalf of and for the benefit of, among others, Iranian business, the Iranian government, and entities owned or controlled by the Iranian government. Among the beneficiaries of the defendants’ scheme were:
- Mahan Air, an Iranian airline designated by the United States Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) pursuant to Executive Order 13224 for providing financial, material, and technological support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (“IRGC-QF”), and providing transportation services to Hizballah, a Lebanon-based designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, including by transporting personnel, weapons and goods on behalf of Hizballah and omitting from Mahan Air cargo manifests secret weapons shipments bound for Hizballah;
- Bank Mellat, an Iranian government-owned bank designated as a SDN under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, the Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations, and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators Sanctions Regulations; Mellat Exchange, an Iranian money services business owned and controlled by Bank Mellat;
- the National Iranian Oil Company (“NIOC”), identified by OFAC as an agent or affiliate of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp; the Naftiran Intertrade Company Ltd., Naftiran Intertrade Company Sarl, and Hong Kong Intertrade Company, companies located in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Hong Kong that were acting on behalf of NIOC; and
- the MAPNA Group, an Iranian construction and power plant company.
REZA ZARRAB, MOHAMMAD ZARRAB, JAMSHIDY, NAJAFZADEH, and their co-conspirators used an international network of companies located in Iran, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”), and elsewhere to conceal from U.S. banks, OFAC, and others that the transactions were on behalf of and for the benefit of Iranian entities. This network of companies includes Royal Holding A.S., a holding company in Turkey; Durak Doviz Exchange, a money services business in Turkey; Flash Doviz Exchange, a money services business in Turkey; Al Nafees Exchange, a money services business in the UAE; Royal Emerald Investments, a company located in the UAE; Asi Kiymetli Madenler Turizm Otom, a company located in Turkey; ECB Kuyumculuk Ic Vedis Sanayi Ticaret Limited Sirketi, a company located in Turkey; Gunes General Trading LLC, a company located in the UAE; Hanedan General Trading LLC, a company in the UAE, and others. As a result of this scheme, the co-conspirators induced U.S. banks unknowingly to process international financial transactions in violation of the IEEPA.
Mahan Air provided transportation, funds transfers, and personnel travel services to the IRGC-QF, including by, among other things, providing travel services to IRGC-QF personnel flown to and from Iran and Syria for military training, aiding the covert travel of suspected IRGC-QF officers into and out of Iraq by bypassing normal security procedures, and facilitating IRGC-QF arms shipments. In addition, Mahan Air also provided services for Hizballah, transporting personnel, weapons, and goods on behalf of Hizballah. MOHAMMAD ZARRAB and his co-conspirators facilitated financial transactions through U.S. banking institutions that concealed that the transactions were for the benefit of Mahan Air. MOHAMMAD ZARRAB and his co-conspirators used their network of corporate entities in Turkey and UAE to conceal that Mahan Air was the true beneficiary of these transactions
REZA ZARRAB, 33, is a resident of Turkey and dual citizen of Turkey and Iran. MOHAMMAD ZARRAB, 38, is REZA ZARRAB’s brother, and is a resident of Turkey and dual citizen of Turkey and Iran. JAMSHIDY, 29, is a resident of Turkey and dual citizen of Turkey and Iran. NAJAFZADEH, 65, is a resident of Iran and the UAE and a citizen of Iran. Each defendant is charged with conspiracies to defraud the United States, to violate the IEEPA, to commit bank fraud, and to commit money laundering. The conspiracy to defraud the United States count carries a maximum term of five years in prison. The conspiracy to violate the IEEPA and money laundering conspiracy counts each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison. The bank fraud conspiracy count carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office, Counterintelligence Division, and the Department of Justice, National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Lockard, Sidhardha Kamaraju, and David Denton, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dean Sovolos, are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Elizabeth Cannon of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Assistant United States Attorney Jaimie Nawaday is principally responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case.
The charges contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“2Fly” Gang Member Pleads Guilty To Bronx Murder In Connection With Racketeering Conspiracy
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JAQUAN MCINTOSH, a/k/a “BJ,” pled guilty today to participating in a racketeering conspiracy in connection with his membership in the “2Fly YGz” (“2Fly”), a violent street gang that operated in and around the Eastchester Gardens public housing development (“ECG”) in the Bronx. As part of his guilty plea, MCINTOSH admitted to his participation in the murder of Donville Simpson on or about October 5, 2013 – Simpson’s 17th birthday – at ECG. MCINTOSH faces a maximum term of life in prison, and will be sentenced next year by United States District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “In today’s plea, Jaquan McIntosh admitted to killing a 17-year-old boy as part of his membership in 2Fly, a violent street gang, that has been terrorizing the Eastchester Gardens public housing development in the Bronx. Gang violence continues to threaten the safety and security of too many New Yorkers, particularly those in public housing. Thanks to the work of the NYPD, HSI, DEA and ATF, one more source of gang violence in the Bronx has been brought to justice.”
According to the Indictment and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the plea proceedings:
MCINTOSH was a member of 2Fly, a subset of the “Young Gunnaz,” or “YG” street gang, which operates throughout New York City. 2Fly is based in the Bronx, within and around ECG and in an area called the “Valley” or the “V,” which is in the vicinity of Gun Hill Road. ECG is a rectangular complex of residential buildings bordered by Burke, Adee, Yates, and Bouck Avenues, in the middle of which is a playground. The gang war between 2Fly and rival street gangs has led to an enormous amount of fatal and non-fatal violence between 2007 and 2016 in the Northern Bronx, including shootings, stabbings, slashings, beatings, and robberies. Members and associates of 2Fly controlled the narcotics trade at ECG, which took place in the open air at the playground and in apartments at ECG. 2Fly primarily sold marijuana and crack cocaine, but also sold powder cocaine and prescription pills, such as oxycodone. 2Fly members and associates stored guns at the playground or in nearby apartments or cars in order to protect the narcotics business and for protection against rival gangs.
As part of his involvement in 2Fly, MCINTOSH shot and killed Donville Simpson at ECG on or about October 5, 2013 – Simpson’s 17th birthday – during a shootout with a rival street gang.
MCINTOSH was arrested in this case as a result of a multi-year investigation by the New York City Police Department’s Bronx Gang Squad (the “Bronx Gang Squad”), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Violent Gang Unit (“HSI”), the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and the Joint Firearms Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) into gang violence in the Northern Bronx. On April 27, 2016, 57 members and associates of 2Fly were charged in the Indictment with racketeering conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, narcotics distribution, and firearms charges. To date, 19 of these defendants have pled guilty.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding work of the NYPD’s Bronx Homicide Task Force, the NYPD’s 49th Precinct Detective Squad, the Bronx Gang Squad, HSI, DEA, and ATF.
He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their support in this case.
MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS MARK CHAMBERS TO CITY’S INTEGRATED CLIMATE TEAM AS DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY
Chambers to lead City’s sustainability efforts as part of an integrated climate team – a new resiliency director to be appointed soon
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the appointment of Mark Chambers as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. Chambers brings years of clean energy management and resource conservation experience to the Office of Sustainability.
Mark Chambers is a nationally-respected expert in clean energy, inclusive climate action and sustainability. He will lead the City’s sustainability programs, working to reduce the City’s contributions to the causes of climate change and expand environmental quality across the city. This includes significant initiatives to meet the City’s aggressive greenhouse gas emissions targets – an 80 percent reduction from 2005 levels by 2050 – and achieve important air quality and renewable energy goals, aspects of Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC plan which aims to create a more equitable, resilient and sustainable city. Chambers most recently served as the Director of Sustainability and Energy in Washington D.C., and will start in his new role later this month.
Chambers will report to Daniel Zarrilli, Senior Director of Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer for the Office of the Mayor. Zarrilli will continue in his role leading the City’s integrated climate team, including overseeing the work of the Office of Recovery and Resiliency, the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Environmental Coordination and the OneNYC program.
“Our goals to cut the City’s greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 and prepare the city for the impacts of climate change are ambitious,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “However, with the right talent and experience, the City will be in a position to meet these commitments as part of our broader OneNYC program to create a more equitable, sustainable and resilient city. Mark Chambers and his years of nationally-recognized experience are joining a larger team of extremely talented climate experts. I’m confident we’ll be able meet our goals with this team, and I look forward to working with them.”
“Climate change continues to be one of the greatest challenges of our time, demanding creativity and leadership. New York City and the de Blasio Administration continue to lead the globe through our ground-breaking OneNYC program of inclusive climate actions,” said Daniel Zarrilli, Senior Director for Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer for the Office of the Mayor. “With the addition of Mark Chambers to our team, the City will expand its global leadership on inclusive climate action as we prepare for the future. I’m thrilled to have Mark join the team as we raise the bar and achieve our ambitious climate commitments.”
“At no other time have City governments played as pivotal a leadership role in a global imperative as we are witnessing now in the response to our changing climate. The de Blasio Administration continues to set the standard for inclusive urban policy and I am excited to lead the Office of Sustainability forward on behalf of our great city”, said Mark Chambers, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. “Reaching the Mayor’s OneNYC sustainability goals and responding to our global climate challenges will continue to require hard work, innovation and empathy for those most impacted and I’m excited to join this effort.”
Statements from New York City Officials on the Victory by President Donald Trump
MAYOR DE BLASIO DELIVERS REMARKS ON 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Like millions of New Yorkers, I'm deeply disappointed by the results of this election – but I’m equally dedicated to our democracy, and determined to preserve the values our City cherishes.
I congratulate the New Yorker who won the election, Donald Trump. And I honor the New Yorker who won our city’s vote and the popular vote nationally, Hillary Clinton.
I call on all New Yorkers to move forward together, resolute and determined to protect and preserve the City we love and the values we cherish.
It's no secret that I have profound political disagreements with president-elect Trump. But now comes the hard part – governing. And I commit to working with the new administration, positively and constructively, to rebuild our infrastructure, create more jobs, protect our residents and preserve the liberties that New Yorkers enjoy.
I take solace in the fact that the president-elect is a dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker, and I hope and trust he will remember the lessons of a life lived in New York City.
New York believes in economic opportunity. This has always been a place where everyone had a chance to make it. We know that our City’s future depends on lifting the floor for all, no matter your zip code or ethnicity or gender. We know that income inequality has to be tackled. We fight for the things that help working men and women, like paid sick leave, a higher minimum wage, affordable housing and paid parental leave. This was true in the time of Al Smith and Franklin Roosevelt, and it remains true today.
New York believes in liberty. We stand behind Lady Liberty with open arms to welcome immigrants and refugees. We always have and we always will.
New York believes in tolerance. We long ago showed the world that live and let live is the best policy. We embrace civil rights and religious diversity. We always have and we always will.
New York is the symbol of America to so much of the world. We are a showcase, but we are also a target because our values work. We embrace our role as America's greatest city. We will continue to keep our people safe – all our people, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
We will continue to bind up the wounds and heal the relationship between our police and our communities. In the ultimate city of neighborhoods, we embrace a vision of neighborhood policing that keeps us strong, and safe, and more unified.
These are the values New Yorkers share. And these values have never been dependent on any one person or any one office.
They are a part of our identity.
They always have been, and they always will be.
Today is a time of reflection. Tomorrow, resolutely and purposefully, the work begins again.
STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ
“For her entire professional career, Hillary Clinton has outlined a positive vision for the future of our nation, and I have been proud to support and work with her every step of the way.
“Like so many others I am both saddened and disappointed that Secretary Clinton was unsuccessful in her historic bid for the White House. This was an extremely divisive campaign, and I expect that President-Elect Trump is sincere when he claims to be ready to work with all sides for the betterment of this nation.
"So many are ready and willing to extend their hand to help President-Elect Trump reunite our nation. For the good our city, our state and all of America, let’s hope he takes it, and seizes on the opportunity to demonstrate that he can be a President for everyone,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Statement From Councilman Jumaane Williams
"As I gathered my thoughts I realized that now adding salt to the deep wound, are those trying to downplay the importance racism, xenophobia, jingoism, and misogyny played in this election. The very things that so many of us were consistently told weren't a part of America. And too many deny the impact it has on continually disenfranchising communities.
"I take some solace in history showing us that 'this too shall pass.' This is the expected backlash for progress being made. This type of response goes as far back as Reconstruction. After a period of lament those of good consciousness will step forward and organize to turn the ship back. I hope New York City will be a beacon for that fight. Unfortunately, it will not happen without tremendous damage to real human beings, families and communities. How much damage depends on how quickly we are honest with what happened on Nov. 8 and why it happened?
STATEMENT BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER SEPULVEDA
"I am humbled and proud to have earned the respect, good faith and thanks that the residents of my district have shown me with their ballots," Sepulveda said.
"I have constantly worked hard for them, their neighborhoods and in Albany to return that support and to improve their lives. For their faith in me, I pledge to continue working for them, if not harder."
This legislator drew a record 27,614 votes - or 80.18% of the total count - while his only competitor, on the Conservative Party line, came in with 1,116 votes.
Sepulveda's vote count was the highest among the borough's Latino legislators, with the second highest percentage of votes in any of the borough's other assembly races.
Mayor de Blasio Comes to the Bronx on Election Day
It was not your normal election day afternoon as polls were crowded, people were going to vote for a new president, and Mayor Bill de Blasio came to Fordham Road to get some last minute electioneering in for the Democratic candidate, or so it seemed.
As you can see by the photos below what started out to be a campaign stop on Fordham Road (complete with cardboard cutouts of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, along with what could have been the same for the 78th Assembly District, but Assemblyman Jose Rivera was real. This campaign stop however turned into a photo op with the mayor.
Above - Your favorite reporter (left) with cardboard cutouts of Hillary Clinton and Assemblyman Jose Rivera, correction Jose Rivera was there in person.
Below - Another sign of the beginning of a campaign stop by the mayor.
Above and Below - The campaign stop quickly turned into a photo op with the mayor.
Above and Below - More photos with the mayor.
Above and Below - The now photo op continued into the darkness.
