Bronx Democratic Party - Upcoming Events

A Community Conversation With First Lady of New York City  Chirlane McCray When: Tues. 4/25/17, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Latino Pastoral Action Center, 14 W. 170th St. Join First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray, ThriveNYC and Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, in a frank and open conversation about mental health in our communities.  For more information, please refer back to the flyer.  Click to Enlarge

NYC Commission on Human Rights 5th Annual Fair Housing Symposium When: Weds. 4/27/17, from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Hostos Cafe, East Academic Complex 450 Grand Concourse, 3rd Fl. Co-sponsored by Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Council Members Vanessa L. Gibson, Rafael Salamanca, Ritchie Torres & Mark Levine, Assembly Member Latoya Joyner and Senator Jose Serrano, the 5th Annual Fair Housing Symposium, hosted by the NYC Commission on Human Rights, is a day dedicated to the tenants, organizers, attorneys, advocates and service providers who strive to eliminate housing discrimination in New York City.  For more information on this event, please visit: NYC.gov/fairhousingNYC and NYC.gov/HumanRights Click to Enlarge

The Bronx Tech SummitWhen: Friday, 4/28/17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Where: Metropolitan College of New York, 463 E. 149th Street Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. invites you to attend The Bronx Tech Summit, which dedicates an entire day to panels, sessions and guest speakers from leading tech leaders, including: Google, Verizon, and LinkNYC.  To see a list of speakers and to RSVP, visit: BronxTechSummit.SplashThat.com Click to Enlarge

5th Annual Bronx Day in AlbanyWhen: Mon. 5/1/17, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Where: Empire State Plaza, NY, Albany  New York State Assembly Member Mark Gjonaj, New York State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and The Bronx Democratic Party Chairman Marcos A. Crespo invite you to the 5th Annual Bronx Day in Albany. For more information please contact Lilyanna Pekic at 718-409-0109 or email bronxdayinalbany@gmail.com. Click to Enlarge

The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club's 57th Annual Dinner  When: Thurs. 5/4/17 at 6:00 p.m. Where:  CSAIR - Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale, 475 W. 250th Street The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club invites you to join them in honoring New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, 1199SEIU Executive Vice President Neva Shillingford-King, Manhattan College Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Center Director Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, and BJ's Wholesale Club, during their 57th Annual Dinner. For more information, please refer back to the flyer.  Click to Enlarge

The 48th Annual Herbert H. Lehman Memorial LectureWhen: Friday, 5/5/17, at 11:00 a.m.  Where: Lovinger Theatre, 50 Bedford Park Lehman College President Jose Luis Cruz cordially Click to Enlarge invites you to attend the 48th Annual Herbert H.  Lehman Memorial Lecture with Congressman  Adriano Espaillat.  To RSVP, email Lehman.Lecture@lehman.cuny.edu or call, 718-960-6906.

Click to Enlarge 12th Annual Cinco De Mayo Celebration When: Sat. 5/6/17, from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Where: Crescent Avenue, between 187th Street and Belmont Avenue Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., the Mexican-American Community and C-Town Supermarket have partnered together to commemorate the 12th Annual Cinco De Mayo Celebration. Join the celebration for a chance to win multiple giveaways as well as a free raffle for a new bike! For more information, please refer back to the flyer.

Click to Enlarge Anti-Bullying & Public Safety Wall Ball Tournament When: Sat. 5/6/17, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Where: Claremont Park, 170th Street and Clay Avenue Entrance Join Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson and the U.S. Wall Ball Association in their fight to combat  violence in communities while striving to create  stronger bonds with our youth and law enforcement  officials, during the Anti-Bullying and Public Safety  Wall Ball Tournament.  For more information on this event please contact  Vanessa L. Gibson's office at, 646-548-8872.

Click to Enlarge Bronx Week's Health Day Stickball Game When: Fri. 5/19/17, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Where: Joyce Kilmer Park, Grand Concourse & 161st Street Join Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and City and State NY for a classic game of Stickball as part of Bronx Week's Health Day.  To RSVP, please visit: http://bit.ly/2pBWT38

Click to Enlarge Jackson Democratic Club Fundraiser to Washington D.C. When: Saturday, 6/3/17, buses board at 6:45 a.m. Where: Buses will depart from 161st, River Avenue  Join the Jackson Democratic Club Fundraiser on an all day trip to Washington D.C. for a day filled with monument sightings, a visit to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Giveaways, and more!  For more information, please contact: Cynthia Cox   at 917-450-5192, Diana Diaz at 917-535-5295, Tee Lawton at 646-463-9917, and Ernestine  Jackson at 347-224-2002

In solidarity,   Hon. Marcos A. Crespo, Chair The Bronx Democratic Party 1640 Eastchester Rd.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney And FBI Assistant Director Announce Insider Trading Charges Against Investment Bank Vice President

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that AVANEESH KRISHNAMOORTHY, who works as a vice president and risk management specialist for a Manhattan-based investment bank (the “Investment Bank”), was arrested this morning and charged with insider trading. KRISHNAMOORTHY made approximately $48,000 in connection with stock and options trading based on material nonpublic information he misappropriated from the Investment Bank and its parent company (the “Company”), about a private equity fund’s potential acquisition of a publicly traded company.

KRISHNAMOORTHY was presented today in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Avaneesh Krishnamoorthy is charged with violating his duty to his company and trading on insider information. He allegedly exploited his access to information about a pending acquisition to purchase stock and options, making tens of thousands of dollars in illegal profit for himself. This Office remains committed to enforcing the nation’s securities laws to protect the fairness and integrity of the markets.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “When one has access to material nonpublic information, they are afforded significant knowledge that could give them a competitive edge in stock and options trading. But, as we all know, it’s illegal to use this information in furtherance of personal gain. As alleged today, Krishnamoorthy ignored these rules, using the information at his fingertips to his advantage, and made personal profits in the tens of thousands. The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and prosecute those who cheat the system in this way.”

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

As a vice president and risk management specialist, KRISHNAMOORTHY had access to material nonpublic information concerning mergers and acquisitions for which the Investment Bank might potentially provide financing. In November 2016, a private equity fund (the “Fund”) contacted the Investment Bank concerning financing for the Fund’s acquisition of Neustar, Inc. (“Neustar”), a publicly traded company whose shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Around that time, KRISHNAMOORTHY received multiple emails regarding the Investment Bank’s potential involvement in the transaction, including emails that summarized the details of the deal. In violation of the Company’s policies and in breach of his duties to the Company, KRISHNAMOORTHY used this material nonpublic information to acquire Neustar stock and options. In the days and weeks after receiving the emails, and prior to the public announcement of the Fund’s acquisition of Neustar, KRISHNAMOORTHY purchased numerous Neustar call options and shares of Neustar stock. Purchases of Neustar securities took place in brokerage accounts held in the names of both KRISHNAMOORTHY and his spouse. Contrary to the policies of the Company, KRISHANMOORTHY did not reveal these trades or the existence of these brokerage accounts to the Company.

The public announcement of the Fund’s acquisition of Neustar on December 14, 2016, resulted in an approximately 20 percent increase in the value of Neustar stock in the hours following the announcement, resulting in a corresponding increase in the value of the call options and equity stock held by KRISHNAMOORTHY and his spouse. As a result of the insider trading alleged in the Complaint, KRISHNAMOORTHY generated at least $48,000 in profits.

KRISHNAMOORTHY is charged with one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the investigative work of the FBI and thanked the SEC, which has filed civil charges in a separate action. He added that the FBI’s investigation is ongoing.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan F. Quigley is in charge of the prosecution.

The allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is 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 Announces Settlements With 104 Auto Dealerships To Provide Notice Of Dangerous Safety Defects

Investigation By AG’s Office Found Hundreds Of Vehicles Had Been Sold With Serious Safety Recall Issues, Including Unintended Acceleration, Airbag Problems, Vehicle Fires, Steering And Brake Loss, And More

AG’s Settlement Requires Dealers To Provide Consumers With Notice Of Vehicles’ Safety Defects Prior To Purchase

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today that he reached settlements with 104 auto dealerships that sold vehicles to New Yorkers without disclosing that the vehicles were under recall for dangerous unrepaired safety issues such as unintended acceleration, airbag problems, vehicle fires, steering and brake loss, and more. The settlement requires the auto dealers to provide consumers with advance notice of any existing and unrepaired recall, among other measures.

An investigation by the AG’s office found that while many prospective car buyers reasonably assume that any known and existing safety issues have been repaired or disclosed by the dealer, that is often not the reality of car buying in New York. As part of its investigation, the Attorney General’s office surveyed advertisements, monitored vehicles covered by safety recalls, and identified auto dealers that advertised vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls.

As part of the settlements, the participating auto dealers are required to adhere to a set of guidelines in order to alert consumers that their vehicles may have unrepaired recalls, including the following:  

• Dealers that advertise used vehicles online must include information that enables consumers to check the recall status of advertised vehicles; that information includes the SaferCar.gov website operated by NHTSA.
• Dealers who advertise in print or other media must also disclose in the advertisement that the vehicle is subject to a safety recall.  
• Dealers must place a decal notice in the window of used cars that include information that allows consumers to check the recall status of the vehicles, including the SaferCar.gov website and mobile application operated by NHTSA.
• Two days prior to any sale, dealers must provide consumers with a copy of the NHTSA recall status report for a vehicle with an unrepaired safety recall, and obtain a written acknowledgment from the consumer.
• Dealers must send notices to customers who have purchased vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls that are still unrepaired, from January 2016 to present. Manufacturers’ franchise dealers must also cover up to five days of a loaner car for consumers if their vehicle requires repairs that will take longer than one day.
• Each auto dealer will also pay a fine of $1,000 to New York State.

“The safety recalls we uncovered were serious — and potentially deadly," said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Consumers deserve to know of any unresolved safety issues before buying a car for themselves or their family. I am pleased that thanks to our investigation and today's settlement, more New Yorkers will finally receive the critical safety information they need to make an informed decision. I encourage all auto-dealerships across the state to follow our guidelines to ensure that they too uphold the highest standards of consumer safety. This is an important first step towards making all cars on New York’s roads safer.”

Under Federal Law, used car dealers, as well as new car dealers who sell used cars from unrelated auto makers, are required to either have a manufacturer authorized repair person on their premises or transport the vehicle to a dealer related to the vehicle’s maker to have the recall work done.

The Attorney General’s office investigation is ongoing.

Consumers who purchased vehicles after January 1, 2016 who believe they have possibly unrepaired safety recalls should contact the Attorney General’s office at 1-800-771-7755 or via web form at https://ag.NY.gov/complaint-forms.

Consumers can check the recall status of your vehicle by entering its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA website https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.

The list of 104 dealerships is as follows, broken down by the OAG regional offices that reached the settlements.

BINGHAMTON REGIONAL OFFICE – 15

1. Butler Auto Sales
   304 State Highway 7, Sidney, NY

2. Chambers & O’Hara Truck Center, Inc.
   268 State Highway 7, Sidney, NY

3. North Norwich Motors & Trailer Sales, LLC
   7044 State Highway 12, North Norwich, NY

4. SHB Associates LLC (Serafini Nissan Volvo)
   3103 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal, NY

5. VanDervort Service Center, Inc.
   1694 State Route 26, Vestal, NY

6. Ridge Road Imports, LLC
   2025 East Shore Dr., Lansing, NY

7. Milller Motor Car Corp (2 Dealerships)
   4477 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal, NY

8. Royal Ford Motors, Inc./Royal Chrysler Motors, Inc. (2 Dealerships)
   3964 Waverly Rd, Owego, NY

9. Gault Auto Mall, Inc. (3 Dealerships)
   North St., Endicott, NY

10. Gene Balmer’s Auto Sales
    400 South Walnut St., Elmira, NY

11. Jeff Kies Auto Sales, Inc.
    8768 Route 434, Apalachin, NY

BROOKLYN REGIONAL OFFICE – 2

1. Compass Luxor
2. Hamilton Avenue Auto Sales

BUFFALO REGIONAL OFFICE - 12

1. Basil Ford, Inc
2. SCGA Holdings, LLC DBA Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram
3. CrazyCheapCars, Inc
4. Northtown Automotive Companies, Inc
5. Landmark Chevrolet, Inc
6. Olean Class Cars, Inc
7. Ontario Sales, Inc
8. Pellegrino Auto Sales, LLC
9. Riverfront Auto Sales, Inc
10. Shults Management Group, Inc
11. Superior Auto Sales, Inc
12. V&A Enterprises, Inc DBA Buffalo Auto Group

HARLEM REGIONAL OFFICE – 4

1. Best Auto Group
   4053 Boston Rd, Bronx, NY

2. Boston Road Best Motors
   4064 Boston Road, Bronx, NY

3. New York Motors Group Solutions
   2803 A Boston Road Bronx, NY 10469

4. Manhattan Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
   678 Eleventh Avenue New York, NY 10019

NASSAU REGIONAL OFFICE – 1

1. LA Auto Sales

POUGHKEEPSIE REGIONAL OFFICE – 5

1. Hudson Valley Auto Sales
2. Ruge’s Automotive, Inc. (2 Dealerships)
3. Autos by Joseph, Inc.
4. Frank Siena Auto Sales, Inc.

ROCHESTER REGIONAL OFFICE – 16

1. Auction Direct USA, L.P.
2. Best Value Auto
3. Cavallaro Neubauer Chevrolet Buick:
4. Doan Buick, Inc.
5. Doan Chevrolet, LLC
6. Doan Kia
7. Good Buy Auto
8. J & J Auto, Inc"
9. Pioneer Truck Sales, Inc.
10. Pool Auto Sales, Inc.
11. Ralph Honda
12. Santa Motors, Inc
13. Stone Road Auto Inc
14. Tiffany Transportation Services, Ltd
15. Websmart Auto, Inc.
16. Websmart Imports

SYRACUSE REGIONAL OFFICE – 25

1. Bill Rapp, Inc (2 Dealerships)
2. Bridgeland Auto Brokers
3. Cortland Used Cars
4. Liverpool World Car, LLC
5. Par-K Enterprises
6. TDK Property Company of Oneida, LLC
7. TDK Property Co. LLC
8. TRK-2 Operating Company, LLC (3 Dealerships)
9. Tecforce Automotive, LLC
10. Drivers Village, Inc. (13 Dealerships)

WATERTOWN REGIONAL OFFICE – (15)

1. FX Caprara Dealerships (14 Dealerships)
2. Waite Motor Sales, Inc.

WESTCHESTER REGIONAL OFFICE (8)

1. JC Lopez Auto Sales Corp.
   305 Willet Avenue, Port Chester, NY 10573

2. Croton Auto Park
   1 Municipal Place, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520

3. New Rochelle Chevrolet, Inc.
   291 Main Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801

4. The Rivera Auto Group, Inc. d/b/a Rivera Toyota
   325 N. Bedford Road, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549

5. Rockland Motors, Inc.
   85 Route 303 North, West Nyack, NY 10994

6. Rye Subaru
   1175 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY 10580

7. Saw Mill Auto Sales
   12 Worth Street, Yonkers, NY 10701

8. Westchester Auto Exchange Inc.
   2311 Crompond Road, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10523

OVERALL TOTAL – 104

A.G. Announces Indictment Of Brooklyn Dentist For Allegedly Billing Medicaid For Dental Work Performed By Unlicensed Individuals

Joseph Shyknevsky Is Alleged To Have Hired At Least Four Unlicensed Individuals To Act As Dentists

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the indictment, arrest, and arraignment of Joseph Shyknevsky, 46, of Brooklyn, and four other individuals on charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud Medicaid. It is charged that Shyknevsky, a licensed dentist, hired individuals with no dental license, allowed them to perform dental work on Medicaid recipients, and billed the State for the dental work performed by those unlicensed individuals.

“Exploiting Medicaid by using unlicensed medical professionals not only drains the system of resources, it endangers the well-being of New Yorkers,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “New York has strong licensing requirements for healthcare, and those who think they can skirt these important safety rules will be held accountable.”

Prosecutors allege that, relying on the truth of Shynknevsky’s claims, Medicaid, either directly or through Managed Care providers, paid the Shyknevsky over $48,000 for dental work performed upon 110 Medicaid recipients by individuals who did not possess a license to practice dentistry.  A Kings County grand jury returned an indictment against Shyknevsky; his corporation, JS Atlantic Dental PC; and four unlicensed individuals whom Shyknevsky hired to practice dentistry:

• Ilya Zolotar, 50, of Staten Island;
• Konstantin Shtrambrand, 46, of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania;
• Sergi Tolokolnikov, 57, of Staten Island; and
• Valerian Kverenchkhiladze, 43, of Brooklyn. 

Zolotar, Shtrambrand and Tolokolnikov were previously arrested by the Attorney General’s office in 2014 for allegedly performing complicated dental procedures on patients, including filing and root canals, without a proper license. The Attorney General’s Office captured some of these procedures on video surveillance.  The investigation into the alleged unlawful billing remained ongoing, which led to the indictment of Shyknevsky and his employees.

The Grand Jury charged each defendant with Healthcare Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” felony.  The indictment also charges Shyknevsky, his company J.S. Atlantic Dental P.C., Zolotar, and Shtrambrand with other related charges including Unauthorized Practice a Profession (Dentistry), Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree; and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, all of which are class “E” felonies.  The defendants pleaded not guilty when arraigned before Justice Suzanne Mondo of the New York State Supreme Court, Kings County and were released on their own recognizance.  If convicted, each defendant faces up to seven years’ incarceration. 

The Attorney General thanks Fidelis Care, DentaQuest, and United Healthcare of New York for the assistance they provided during the investigation.

The Attorney General also thanks the US Department of Health And Human Services—Office of the Inspector General for referring the investigation to our office.

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

FORMER RIKERS ISLAND PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT INDICTED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE, RAPE AND RELATED CRIMES AGAINST INMATES

Defendant Offered Fast Food And Other Goods In Exchange For Sex Acts

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a former physician’s assistant employed by Corizon Health to work in a Rikers Island jail has been indicted on 43 counts of Rape, Sexual Abuse and related crimes for sexual acts allegedly committed against four inmates spanning more than a year. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly used his position of trust to sexually abuse female inmates who came to him seeking medical attention. We will prosecute any staff member who commits crimes against inmates in our push to stem corruption and fear in our jails.” 

  Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters said, “This is the second arrest from DOI’s intensive investigation into sexual assault at Department of Correction facilities. As charged, this defendant exploited his position as a medical professional, soliciting sexual favors from his inmate patients in exchange for providing contraband. Our investigations into sexual assault at DOC facilities are continuing.” 

  District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Sidney Wilson, 60, of 6506 Avenue N, Brooklyn, was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio. Bail was set at $7,500 and he is due back on July 18,2017. He was indicted on two counts of third degree Rape, two counts of third-degree Criminal Sexual Act, 12 counts of second-degree Sexual Abuse, 12 counts of third-degree Sexual Abuse, 13 counts of Official Misconduct, Forcible Touching and second-degree Promoting Prison Contraband. He faces up to four years in prison for each top charge.

  According to the investigation by DOI, between October 2013 and December 2014, Wilson exchanged items such as gum, socks and fast food for sexual acts from four female inmates housed at the Rose M. Singer Center. A person is incapable of consent to sexual acts if he or she is in the custody of a correctional facility. Wilson resigned from his job in 2015, unrelated to this case.

  The investigation was conducted by DOI’s Inspector General for DOC, under the supervision of Inspector General Jennifer Sculco, Associate Commissioner Paul Cronin, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Michael Carroll and First Deputy Commissioner Lesley Brovner.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.