MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS NEW COMMISSIONERS TO COMMISSION ON GENDER EQUITY

Mayor Bill de Blasio today appointed Beverly Tillery and Beverly Cooper Neufeld to the Commission on Gender Equity, the advisory body that works across City Agencies to help achieve the Mayor’s commitment to reduce gender-based inequity and build a safer, more inclusive and economically mobile city for women and girls. Tillery and Neufeld have strong track records advocating for the end of various forms of violence and empowering women and the LGBTQ community.

“New York City is built on the ideals that every single person, regardless of gender, should be given the tools necessary to succeed. This commission plays a key role in this pursuit, working to bring together all New Yorkers and to ensure that everyone in this city has the means to move up the economic ladder and reach their aspirations,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Both Beverly Tillery and Beverly Cooper Neufeld have a proven track record standing up for women and the LGBTQ community, making them great additions to this commission as we look to create a fairer and equitable city for all New Yorkers.”

“We are working hard to improve gender equity in New York City. Although we have made some progress, there is much more to do,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, co-chair of the Commission on Gender Equity. “The two women appointed to the Commission on Gender Equity today have spent their lives standing up for women, girls and the LGBTQ community. They will not stop fighting until every woman is paid fairly for her work; every transgender person feels safe living as their authentic selves, and women have full representation at every table and in every hall of power. New York City won’t stop fighting either. I look forward to working with these two fierce leaders as we continue marching toward equity in New York City for all.”

About Beverly Tillery:

Beverly Tillery is the Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP), an organization that works to address and end all forms of violence through organizing and education and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy. She is an experienced leader, advocate and national organizer with nearly three decades of experience working in social justice movements. Most recently, she was a Deputy Director of Education and Public Affairs at Lambda Legal, an organization dedicated to achieving full recognition of the rights of LGBTQ people and people living with HIV. There, she led national educational and advocacy campaigns and community-based research projects aimed at changing policies as well as hearts and minds. Prior to Lambda Legal, she worked as an organizer, popular educator, strategist and staff leader at organizations such as Amnesty International, Service Employees International Union and ACORN.

About Beverly Neufeld:

To address the slow advancement of women's economic issues, Beverly Neufeld envisioned and launched in 2014 PowHer New York, a community working across typical barriers to connect organizations and issues, energize a movement and accelerate progress. Neufeld also leads a decade long campaign for pay equity reform, now a signature project of PowHer New York, which influenced the passage of the NYS Equal Pay Act and the Women's Equality Act. In 2016, working with 2020 Women on Boards and Catalyst, she rallied passage of a NYC Board Diversity Law for contractors and is pursuing similar state legislation. In September 2016, “PowHer The Vote" was launched under Neufeld’s leadership along with the support of over 100 groups. “PowHer The Vote” is a 10-week interactive program and social media campaign aimed at igniting and empowering a state-wide legion of activists to champion women's issues during the 2016 election season and beyond. A member of the national Paycheck Fairness Taskforce and the steering committee of the 850-member NYS Women's Equality Coalition, Neufeld is working on the federal, state and local fronts.

Previously, as President of the New York Women's Agenda, Neufeld invigorated the 20-year old institution with innovative programming, including the New York Women's Business Principles Initiative. As Executive Director of The White House Project, she oversaw research on women's leadership, and helped develop SheSource and "Vote, Run, Lead." Beverly was Finance Director for Congresswoman Nita Lowey. Her board service includes 2020 Women on Boards, Free the Children, Sing for Hope, Women's Campaign Forum and Westchester Children's Association.

A Community Conversation on The Future of Healthcare in NYC

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NORTH BRONX

Date: Tuesday, December 13

Time: 6:30pm to 8pm

Location: CB 12 Office 

4101 White Plains Road, Bronx

(2,5 to 233rd St, Bx39, BxM11, B-L42) 

Refreshments will be served

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj - Winter Health and Wellness Fair

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj  & Senator Jeff Klein    in conjunction with      Proudly Present Winter Health and Wellness Fair

Monday, December 12th 2016 5:30pm - 8:30pm Bronx House 990 Pelham Parkway South Bronx, NY 10461 For more information, contact Lilyanna Pekic at (718) 655-5000 Please join us for an evening of health and wellness with these participating sponsors.

Featuring

A.G. Schneiderman And DEC Commissioner Seggos Announce Conviction Of Local Business Owner For Discharging Polluted Water Into Creek

Michael Jones And His Company, Coast Transportation And Recycling, LLC, Plead Guilty To Environmental Law Crimes; Will Pay $87,500 In Fines  

Schneiderman: Those Who Jeopardize The Safety Of New York’s Vital Waterways Will Be Held Accountable

   Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the conviction of Michael Jones, 44, of Skaneateles, and his company, Coast Transportation and Recycling, LLC (Coast), for environmental law crimes related to discharging polluted water into Ley Creek and failing to obtain appropriate state regulatory permits.  

Today, before the Honorable Anthony F. Aloi, Coast pleaded guilty to one count of Environmental Conservation Law Section 71-1933(3)(a)(i), a Class E felony, for knowingly discharging pollutants without first obtaining a New York State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit.  Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Section 71-2711(3) and one count of ECL Section 71-2703(2)(c)(i), Class A misdemeanors, for illegally discharging liquid containing hazardous substances and for storing petroleum-contaminated soil on the Coast property. 

“We will continue working to safeguard New York’s vital waterways from harmful pollution,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Guarding our state’s natural resources is critical to protecting both the health of New Yorkers and local economies, and those who jeopardize this will pay the price.”

Today’s convictions are the result of an investigation conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

“As this defendant showed a callous disregard for the health and safety of Ley Creek and it’s residents, this conviction sends a strong and clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated in New York State,” said DEC Commissioner Seggos. “I applaud the work of our Environmental Conservation Officers and the Attorney General’s office in pursuing this case and ensuring that the state's laws are enforced and our environment is protected.”

In July 2016, an Onondaga County Grand Jury charged Jones and Coast, an automobile salvage and scrap recycling facility located at 15 Dippold Avenue in the Town of Salina, in a 10-count indictment with violations of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law. 

According to court filings and statements made by the prosecutor, DEC’s investigation revealed that in February 2010, two underground storage tanks were removed from the Coast facility.  These tanks, which contained fuel oil, had leaked and contaminated the surrounding soil.  More than 500 tons of petroleum contaminated soil (“PCS”) was ultimately excavated from the areas surrounding the underground storage tanks and stored on Coast’s property.  The PCS was not removed from the Coast facility until October 2014, and neither Coast nor Jones ever applied for or obtained the necessary permit.  The ECL and DEC regulations allow the temporary storage of PCS on site, but only for a period of 60 days.  Storage of PCS for longer than 60 days constitutes the operation of a solid waste management facility and requires a permit issued by DEC.   Solid waste management facilities are subject to strict operational and closure requirements to avoid the adverse impacts to public health and the environment associated with solid waste. 

Also according to statements made by the prosecutor, DEC’s investigation further revealed that on May 15 and 19, 2011, liquid runoff from the soil pile flowed across the Coast property and into a storm water drain on Dippold Avenue, which ultimately discharged into a tributary of Ley Creek.  Laboratory testing by DEC revealed that the liquid flowing into the storm water drain contained the hazardous substances benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene.

Additionally, on September 18, 2012, Jones directed a Coast employee to set up and operate an electric pump to discharge storm water that had accumulated in the Coast parking lot into another storm water drain, which also ultimately discharged into a tributary of Ley Creek.  Laboratory testing by DEC revealed that this storm water contained motor oil.  Jones and Coast discharged the oil laden storm water without having obtained a SPDES permit or having a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan in place, both of which are required by the ECL. 

The DEC previously filed an administrative enforcement proceeding against both Jones and Coast in June 2011, related to improper dismantling of vehicles at the yard.  An Administrative Law Judge found that both Jones and Coast had failed to conduct proper “fluid draining, removal and collection activities” at the Coast facility and had intentionally released fluids and discharged “petroleum onto the ground at the facility.” Jones and Coast were assessed a civil penalty of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000). 

Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on January 24, 2017. Coast will be sentenced to an unconditional discharge; Jones will be sentenced to three years’ probation and will pay a fine of $87,500.

The Attorney General thanks the DEC for their assistance in this investigation. 

Also assisting in the investigation was Investigator Joel Cordone, Supervising Investigator Richard Doyle and Deputy Chief Investigator Antoine Karam. The Attorney General’s Investigations Division is led by Chief Dominick Zarrella. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Tarkowski with the assistance of Assistant Attorney General Hugh L. McLean of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau. The Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Gary Fishman and Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Swenton. 

If you witness an environmental crime, contact the NYSDEC 24-hour Poacher and Polluter hotline at 1-844-DEC-ECOS (1-844-332-3267). 

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Indictment And Arraignment Of Clinic Operator For Allegedly Defrauding Medicaid By Offering Bogus Substance Abuse Treatment

Natalia Dochim Allegedly Induced Patients Into Fake Substance Abuse Treatment, Then Pocketed Millions Of Dollars 

Schneiderman:  We Will Continue To Root Those Who Prey On New Yorkers In Need Of Substance Abuse And Addiction Treatment

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the indictment and arraignment of Natalia Dochim, 39, of Nyack, New York, and corporate entities Miromedical P.C. (“Miromedical”) and Ferrara Medical Care, P.C. (“Ferrara”), on charges of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Health Care Fraud in the Second Degree, Money Laundering in the Second Degree, and Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree.  Prosecutors allege that Dochim, Miromedical, and Ferrara submitted claims for reimbursement for substance abuse treatment services to Medicaid and to MetroPlus, a state-funded managed care organization (“MCO”), when they were not certified to provide such services and for medical services allegedly rendered to MFCU undercover investigators that never occurred.

“The opioid epidemic should not serve as an excuse for unscrupulous individuals to illegally line their own pockets,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Medicaid is intended to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens, and we will continue to root out those who prey on New Yorkers in need of substance abuse and addiction treatment.”

Prosecutors allege that Dochim, aided by co-conspirators in her scheme, lured Medicaid patients to Miromedical and Ferrara by paying kickbacks and offering prescriptions of Suboxone, a narcotic drug used to treat opioid addiction.  Once recruited, patients at Miromedical and Ferrara, prosecutors allege, encountered the façade of a substance abuse treatment program.  Medically appropriate and necessary medical histories were not always obtained, physicals were not taken, initial counseling did not occur, and there was a complete lack of appropriate follow-up and monitoring.  Consequently, all patients were treated the same; mandated to enroll in one particular MCO (MetroPlus), sent to a purported “detox” program, and prescribed Suboxone at the maximum dosage in lieu of legitimate substance abuse treatment.  If actually provided, prosecutors allege, the so-called “detox” treatment that patients were required to obtain was, according to the claims submitted by Miromedical and Ferrara, merely vitamin injections, which is not an approved treatment for opioid addiction. 

Thereafter, prosecutors charge, Dochim, through Miromedical and Ferrara, submitted claims to MCOs and to Medicaid that bore little to no resemblance to the medical services actually rendered.  Prosecutors allege services such as spirometry, a pulmonary function test, and allergy testing, were routinely billed but never provided.  Patient “recruiters” working inside Miromedical and Ferrara, it is alleged, also openly offered to buy back patient’s Suboxone prescriptions for cash.

Relying on the accuracy of substance abuse treatment claims submitted by Dochim, prosecutors allege that MetroPlus paid over $2.3 million and that Medicaid paid over $330,000 to Dochim, Miromedical and Ferrara, funds to which they were not entitled and which Dochim is alleged to have then laundered through various shell companies.

Bronx County Supreme Court Justice William Mogulescu arraigned Dochim, Miromedical and Ferrara Medical Care on the charges and adjourned the matter to December 9. If convicted, the defendant faces up to twenty-five years in prison.

Bail was set at $250,000 bond over $100,000 cash, with a condition that the defendant must wear an ankle monitoring bracelet should she make bail.

The Attorney General previously obtained an order freezing the bank accounts and other property held by the defendants and attaching up to $7,743,013.71 of those assets. The Attorney General also obtained a temporary restraining order preventing dissipation or transfer of the property controlled by the defendants. 

The Attorney General would like to thank the New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”), notably the work of HRA’s Medicaid Provider Investigations and Audit Unit, and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services for their partnership and valuable assistance throughout the investigation. In addition, the Attorney General thanks the United States Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General and the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, MFCU’s partners in combatting fraud against the Medicaid program. The Attorney General also thanks MetroPlus and Healthfirst for their cooperation in this investigation.

The investigation was led by Senior Investigator Albert Maiorano and Investigators David Ryan and Julie Clancy with the assistance of Supervising Investigators Dominick DiGennaro and Michael Casado under the supervision of Deputy Chief Investigator Kenneth Morgan. Audit support was provided by Principal Auditor-Investigator Patricia Iemma and Auditor-Investigator Coleman Williams under the supervision of MFCU NYC Chief Auditor Thomasina Smith.  Investigative support was provided by Confidential Legal Analyst Nicole Maher.  

The criminal case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorneys General Erin Kelsh and David Arias with the assistance of MFCU NYC Regional Director Christopher M. Shaw. Thomas O’Hanlon is MFCU’s Chief of Criminal Investigations-Downstate. The civil case is being handled by Special Assistant Attorneys General David Abrams, Gerri Gold and Elizabeth Silverman with the assistance of MFCU Civil Enforcement Chief Carolyn Ellis.  MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney.   

The charges filed in this case are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Indictment Of Former Village Justice For Allegedly Using His Position As Judge To Reduce Fines In Exchange For Sexual Favors

Delmar House Allegedly Reduced Fine For Defendant In Exchange for Sexual Favors While Serving As Justice For Village Of West Carthage

Schneiderman: Court Officials Who Exploit Position Will be Held Accountable

WATERTOWN – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the indictment of Delmar House, the former Village Justice for the Village of West Carthage Court in Jefferson County, charging him with one felony count of Bribe Receiving in the Third Degree and one felony count of Receiving a Reward for Official Misconduct in the Second Degree. 

House was the Village Justice for the Village of West Carthage Court from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2015.  He is charged with using his position as a judge during that time period to reduce a fine for a defendant who appeared before him, in exchange for sexual favors from that defendant. 

“Any court official who exploits their position to elicit sexual favors shows blatant disregard for the wellbeing of their victim, the trust of the public, and for the judicial system as a whole,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We will keep working to root out public corruption and hold those responsible accountable.”

According to filed documents and statements made in court today, in or about April 2015, House, 49, of Carthage, agreed to and did reduce the fine for a defendant appearing before him in the Village of West Carthage Court for Vehicle and Traffic Law offenses, in exchange for sexual favors from that defendant.  In addition, according to documents filed in court and statements made in court today, House paid a portion of that defendant’s fines in exchange for additional sexual favors.  The defendant faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted. He was arraigned today before the Honorable Kim H. Martusewicz in Jefferson County Court.  The defendant pled not guilty and was released on pre-trial release and will be back in court on January 17, 2017 for a court conference.

The charges against the defendant are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Attorney General thanks the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, New York State Police Investigator Joseph Maurer and the New York State Police for their work on this matter.

BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN 2013 SHOOTING Defendant Also Convicted Of Gun Charge: Distinctive Tattoo On His Arm Holding Murder Weapon In Photo On Facebook

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a 21-year-old Bronx man has been convicted by a jury of the top charge of second-degree Murder in the 2013 shooting of a 19-year-old man in the Tremont section of the Bronx. He was also convicted of gun possession based on a photograph of him holding the murder weapon posted on Facebook. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “A Bronx jury has convicted this defendant of shooting a young man during a dispute. They also found him guilty of the gun charge, after being presented with a photo he posted on Facebook of him holding the weapon. This sends a message to those who espouse the culture of guns and violence that it is not tolerated in the Bronx.” 

  District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Jesswill Perez, 21, of 67 West 175th Street, was convicted today after a four-week trial before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Nicholas Iacovetta of second-degree Murder and second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon with Intent to Use. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 15, 2016.

  According to trial testimony, at 7:30 p.m. on December 20, 2013, in front of a bank branch at 795 East Tremont Ave., Perez argued with Edwin Molina, 19, whom he knew. Perez pulled a .25-caliber pistol and shot Molina three times. Perez was arrested February 8, 2014 with the murder weapon and a 9-mm pistol in his possession. The firearms were suppressed at a pre-trial hearing but a Facebook photograph of Perez’ arm--with an ornate tattoo reading “Money Power Respect,” the hand holding the .25-caliber pistol--was entered into evidence.

  The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Kalman and Masateru Marubashi, under the supervision of Christine Scaccia, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and the overall supervision of Nicole Keary, Deputy Chief of the Trial Division and Jeremy Shockett, Chief of the Trial Division. District Attorney Clark also thanked 48th Precinct Detective Carlos Mena.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce 2016 Toy Drive will Donate Toys to Children in Need though BronxWorks