Thursday, June 8, 2017

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against New York Man In Phony Bail Scheme That Targeted Elderly Victims


  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of a complaint charging PAUL IFEANYICHUKWU ONWUVUARIRI with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme that targeted and victimized elderly people across the United States.  As alleged, ONWUVUARIRI and his co-conspirators tricked victims, by phone, into believing that they were speaking to the NYPD or another law enforcement agency, and that the victims’ grandchildren or relatives had been arrested and needed bail money immediately to avoid prison.  ONWUVUARIRI was arrested last night and will be presented later today in federal court in Manhattan.  
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “As alleged, Paul Ifeanyichukwu Onwuvuariri and his co-conspirators targeted vulnerable grandparents, callously preying on their emotions by convincing them that their loved ones were in trouble. Participants in this scheme allegedly swindled elderly victims out of thousands of dollars by pretending to be members of law enforcement, including the NYPD, and falsely claiming that victims’ family members were in custody and needed bail. We urge victims of this type of fraud to contact law enforcement, including our Office’s Victim/Witness unit.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “As alleged, the defendant and his co-conspirators exploited victims’ trust in law enforcement to defraud the elderly.  Tricking someone into thinking that a family member is in trouble, to further their fraud, is a particularly low bar.  I want to thank the US Attorney’s Office, the Utica Police Department, and the detectives from the NYPD for their work on this case.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:[1]
Beginning in approximately 2015, ONWUVUARIRI and his co-conspirators perpetrated a scheme to defraud elderly people around the United States by tricking them into believing their grandchildren or other relatives had been arrested and needed immediate bail money.  A member of the conspiracy typically contacted the victim by phone, purported to be either the relative or a law enforcement official, and falsely claimed that the victim’s grandchild or relative had been taken into custody for a narcotics offense and would not be released unless the victim paid thousands of dollars in purported bail money.  A member of the conspiracy also frequently posed on the call as the victim’s grandchild, pleading with the elderly victim to send money to secure the grandchild’s release from jail, and asking the victim not to contact any other family members because the grandchild felt ashamed.  In each case, the defrauded victim has sent thousands of dollars, at a minimum, as instructed, to certain individuals who, among other things, have provided that money to ONWUVUARIRI.  After paying the “bail” money as directed, victims have learned that their grandchild or relative had not, in fact, been arrested, that the grandchild or relative knew nothing about the claims made on the call to the victim, and that the call appeared to be fraudulent.
For example, among the examples set forth in the complaint, one 82-year-old victim in Brooklyn, New York, received a phone call in November 2015 from an individual who identified himself as the victim’s grandson and claimed that he had been arrested.  The victim then spoke to an individual who identified himself as an NYPD sergeant and said the victim’s grandson would be released if the victim wired $7,600 in bail money.  The victim deposited the money as directed, and then received additional calls the next day asking for additional money and the victim’s credit card number.  The victim subsequently spoke with the victim’s daughter, and learned that the victim’s grandson had not been arrested, and knew nothing about the purported sergeant or the basis for his request for bail money.    
In fact, the victim’s money was wired to an individual working with ONWUVUARIRI who collected the wired funds on ONWUVUARIRI’s behalf and provided the money to ONWUVUARIRI.
ONWUVUARIRI, 29, of Utica, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prisonThe maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the Criminal Investigators for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the New York City Police Department.  He also thanked the Utica Police Department for its assistance.
If you believe you were a victim of this crime, including a victim entitled to restitution, and you wish to provide information to law enforcement and/or receive notice of future developments in the case or additional information, please contact Wendy Olsen-Clancy, the Victim Witness Coordinator at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at (866) 874-8900, or Wendy.Olsen@usdoj.gov
(link sends e-mail)
. For additional information, go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/victimwitness.html.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Nicolas Landsman-Roos is in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, 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.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Brooklyn Man Who Preyed On Vulnerable Victims At A Manhattan Bar


  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of a complaint charging WILLIE WHITE with access device fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme that targeted vulnerable young men and women whom he met at a bar in Manhattan. As alleged, WHITE identified intoxicated victims he met at the bar, and then took them to an apartment in Brooklyn where he forced them to inhale a controlled substance that appeared to be crack cocaine. WHITE took the victims’ credit and debit card information and made unauthorized purchases for his own benefit. WHITE was arrested this morning and will be presented later today in federal court in Manhattan.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Willie White allegedly took advantage of intoxicated men and women at a Manhattan bar by taking them to another location and then further incapacitated them by forcing them to take drugs. White then allegedly stole their debit and credit cards and made unauthorized purchases. We thank the NYPD for their work in putting a stop to White’s crimes.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court:[1]
Between April and May of 2017, WHITE stole or otherwise improperly obtained the credit or debit cards of individuals whom he met in a Manhattan bar, and then used the stolen bank information to make purchases and cash withdrawals without the authorization or consent of the victims. In connection with the scheme, WHITE took at least two victims to an apartment in Brooklyn, where he forced the victims to ingest what they believed to be crack cocaine. While the victims were under the influence of the controlled substance, WHITE used the victims’ credit and debit cards to make purchases of clothing, shoes, and cash withdrawals without the victims’ knowledge or consent. WHITE detained the victims without their consent for hours, and in one case for over a day, while engaged in shopping sprees at the victims’ expense.

WHITE, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison that must be imposed consecutively to any other sentence. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, particularly Detective John McAuliffe and Detective Gregg Licari.

If you believe you were a victim of this crime, including a victim entitled to restitution, and you wish to provide information to law enforcement and/or receive notice of future developments in the case or additional information, please contact Wendy Olsen-Clancy, the Victim Witness Coordinator at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at (866) 874-8900, or Wendy.Olsen@usdoj.gov
(link sends e-mail)
. For additional information, go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/victimwitness.html.



The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, 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.

News From Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.


Reminder: Break the Fast with BP Diaz



Celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month


BP DIAZ, DA CLARK AND SAFE HORIZON PARTNER ON ANTI-STALKING CAMPAIGN


  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and Safe Horizon have launched an anti-stalking campaign, which aims to use relevant social media content to enhance stalking victim safety and awareness of available resources for domestic violence victims.

The social media campaign, supported by federal funds under the Grants to Encourage Arrest and Enforcement of Protection Orders, seeks to educate the public on the early warning signs of stalking and where to get help.  The campaign will take an innovative approach towards disseminating the information through the use of social media platforms.

"Stalking and cyber-stalking are very serious issues, and this campaign is designed to use popular internet culture to find those who need help distancing themselves from a stalker and potential abuser and to connect them to resources on domestic violence, stalking and related issues. I am proud to partner with Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark's office and Safe Horizon on this innovative initiative to fight abusive behavior," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “Last year, we prosecuted 278 cases with stalking-related charges. This crime makes people feel defenseless, and cyber-stalking magnifies victims’ fear and vulnerability. This is why we have extended our outreach through social media with this essential campaign that primarily targets the younger people in our borough. I’m thankful to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and to Safe Horizon for collaborating in our efforts to educate the public and eradicate this hi-tech form of domestic abuse.”

Ariel Zwang, Safe Horizon CEO said, “Stalking is a crime that can get more serious over time, and may leave a victim feeling paralyzed or afraid to perform their normal, everyday routine. With the rise of social media and GPS apps, abusers have learned to utilize these platforms to further intimidate their victim in the form of cyber-stalking. But social media can also be a powerful tool to connect victims to services. That's why we are proud to partner with the New York City Police Department, New York City Department of Probation and the offices of the Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark's and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. on this anti-stalking social media campaign to connect victims to resources and services that can keep them safe online and in real life.”

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, stalking is a public health concern known to affect millions of people in the United States. Stalking not only creates immediate emotional and physical damage, and impairs mental health; it also results in long-term outcomes such as mental disability, social isolation, and sometimes death. Stalking has become a national epidemic. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence(NCADV) found that 81 percent of women who were stalked by a current or former husband or cohabitating partner were also physically assaulted by that partner, and that 31 percent of women were also sexually assaulted.

Additionally, an estimated 6.5 million men have experienced stalking victimization during their lifetimes. Nationally, 7.5 million people file stalking police reports every year (NADW). Furthermore, approximately one in four stalking victims reported some form of cyberstalking such as e-mail (83 percent) or instant messaging (35 percent) (BJS). These statistics demonstrate the demand for enhanced public safety and policy reformation that address stalking.

This online campaign provides an opportunity to go beyond the confines of printed material and leverage social media. The campaign allows service providers to target specific groups while also reducing exposure to harm, as an abuser may become violent if they notice printed material about domestic violence in a victim’s possession. In addition, a data-driven, more personalized approach to communications can help work through stigma to better reach and serve populations at-risk.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CHANCELLOR FARIÑA ANNOUNCE 115 MORE HIGH SCHOOLS TO OFFER NEW ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES THROUGH EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE FOR ALL


Over 100 New York City business leaders urge Albany to pass long-term mayoral control extension

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced that 115 high schools have committed to offer new Advanced Placement courses this fall, including 38 offering the AP Computer Science Principles course. Of these 115 high schools, 32 offered no AP courses during the 2016-17 school year.

Earlier today, over 100 New York City business leaders sent a letter to Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Flanagan, Assembly Speaker Heastie and Leader Klein voicing their support for mayoral control and urging the legislature to grant a long-term extension. New York City business and community leaders, including Blackstone CEO and Co-Founder Steve Schwarzman and Chairman and CEO of Infor Charles Phillips, flanked the Mayor at today’s announcement to reiterate their support and again call on the legislature to pass a multi-year extension.

The new AP courses are part of AP for All and Computer Science for All, two key initiatives in Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda, which is only possible because of mayoral control of New York City public schools. The new AP courses build on record numbers of New York City students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams. By fall 2018, 75 percent of high school students will have access to at least five AP classes and all high school students will have access to at least five AP classes by fall 2021. By 2025, the City will provide computer science education in every elementary, middle, and high school.

“Under mayoral control, we are transforming New York City’s schools to ensure equity and excellence for every student,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are changing the game, and giving every student the courses they need – including Computer Science and Advanced Placement – to succeed in college and prepare for 21st century careers.”

“As a New York City educator for over 50 years, I know mayoral control is the only system that works,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “We’re sending a message to our high school students that we believe in them, and to business leaders that we are preparing the next generation of students to thrive in the local and global economy.”
  
The Equity and Excellence for All agenda aims to ensure that by 2026, 80 percent of students graduate high school on time and two-thirds of graduates are college ready. Building on record-high graduation rates, record-low dropout rates, and a high-quality pre-K seat for every New York City 4-year-old – all achievements under mayoral control – Equity and Excellence for All is creating a path from pre-K to college and careers for every child in every neighborhood in New York City.

Earlier this year, Mayor de Blasio announced record numbers of New York City students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams. The number of students taking at least one Advanced Placement exam in 2016 rose 8.4 percent, from 41,419 students to a record 44,906 students compared to the year prior. The number of students passing at least one Advanced Placement exam rose 8.2 percent, keeping pace with the increase in participation.

In its first year, AP for All has built on this work, and in the 2016-17 school year, 63 high schools are offering new Advanced Placement courses through the initiative, including 31 that offered no AP courses during the 2015-16 school year.

Many of the high schools selected for the expansion currently offer few or no AP courses, and they have demonstrated readiness to begin offering additional AP coursework. They include 39 high schools in the Bronx, 32 in Brooklyn, 21 in Manhattan, 20 in Queens, and three on Staten Island.

88 of these schools have committed to offer new AP courses as part of AP for All. 38 of these schools have committed to offer the AP Computer Science Principles course and exam through Computer Science for All, which is bringing Computer Science to every elementary, middle, and high school by 2025 through public-private partnerships facilitated by the Fund for Public Schools. The expansion of the new AP Computer Science Principles course includes a National Science Foundation funded partnership between New York City, the Education Development Center (EDC), and the University of California, Berkeley; as well as a program partnership with Code.org and Code/Interactive. Additional elementary, middle, and high schools will also offer a variety of new computer science coursework this fall.

Among the 115 high schools, 22 schools across 8 high school campuses will utilize a “campus model,” sharing courses with co-located schools to provide increased opportunity across the school building. In 2017-18, the 115 high schools have committed to offer over 200 new AP courses, including approximately 100 in STEM subjects.

From Pre-K for All to College Access for All, the Equity and Excellence for All initiatives are building a pathway to success in college and careers for all students. Our schools are starting earlier – free, full-day, high-quality education for three-year-olds and four-year-olds through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All. They are strengthening foundational skills and instruction earlier – Universal Literacy so that every student is reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade; and Algebra for All to improve elementary- and middle-school math instruction and ensure that all 8th graders have access to algebra. They are offering students more challenging, hands-on, college and career-aligned coursework – Computer Science for All brings 21st-century computer science instruction to every school, and AP for All will give all high school students access to at least five Advanced Placement courses. Along the way, they are giving students and families additional support through College Access for All, Single Shepherd, and investment in Community Schools. Efforts to create more diverse and inclusive classrooms through Diversity in New York City Public Schools, the City’s school diversity plan, are central to this pathway.

Senate passes Klein’s “Ildefonso Romero Jr.’s Law” to create new felony charge for one-punch crimes


Bill would create charge for aggravated assault leading to serious injury or death

The New York State Senate on Thursday  passed “Ildefonso Romero, Jr.’s Law,” sponsored by Senator Jeff Klein. The law  would create a new felony charge for an aggravated assault that results in serious injury or death.

It is now three years after the tragic death of Ildefonso Romero, Jr. who was killed as he attempted to break up a fight in front of his Bronx home. Romero, Jr. tried to protect a young woman in danger, when a 17-year-old man fatally punched him in the head.

“Ildefonso Romero, Jr. tried to help a young woman under attack and with one punch, his life was senselessly ended. Every year the Senate has sent a message in Ildefonso Romero, Jr.’s name, that when a perpetrator uses his fist as a weapon to cause serious injury or death there will be a serious price to pay. No family should ever go through the grief of losing a loved one and then watch his killer get a slap on the wrist. This legislation would finally close a glaring loophole in the penal code,” said Senator Klein.

Also known as the “one-punch bill,” “Ildefonso Romero, Jr.’s Law” arms prosecutors with a tool to charge and convict perpetrators who use their fists as deadly weapons. It creates a new class E felony offense that carries a maximum prison term of four years.

Police reports indicate that “one-punch” crimes are on the rise and videos illustrating “one-punch” or sucker punch techniques are proliferating online.
Romero Jr’s perpetrator received only five-months imprisonment for the deadly blow, because the court could only charge his attacker with a misdemeanor. The lack of justice devastated his family.

Romero, Jr., who worked at Lincoln Hospital,  was a father of five and just about to celebrate his 34th wedding anniversary at the time of the deadly attack. His family had been planning a surprise 60th birthday party for him on the day he intervened in the fatal June 21, 2014 fight. They were heartbroken.

“My family and I are extremely grateful for the continuous support from Senator Klein, Assemblyman Sepulveda, the Senators  and all the Assembly Members. We are so happy that we have reached the passage of the bill in the Senate. We are hoping that with the passage of this bill in my father’s name that there will be justice for families and no one will go through what our family has endured. There will be nothing that will bring my father back, but a bill being passed in his name will at least bring some peace to our hearts. We want to make a difference in the lives of others. That is what my dad would have wanted,” said the victim’s daughter, Jennifer Perez.

News From Congressman Eliot Engel


Engel, House Dems Write to White House Warning of Cybersecurity Deficiencies at Trump Properties

  Congressman Eliot Engel, the Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a top Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, penned a letter to White House Counsel Donald McGahn signed by 23 of his House colleagues urging the White House to take immediate action to secure vulnerable networks at Trump properties, including Mar-a-Lago.

Recent reports have highlighted network vulnerabilities at several Trump properties where the President often spends time vacationing, taking meetings, and hosting foreign leaders. Among other deficiencies, these reports uncovered weakly encrypted wifi networks at Mar-a-Lago, unsuitable for protecting vital information. 

Engel Opposes Financial CHOICE Act

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on the Financial CHOICE Act:

“The Financial CHOICE Act is yet another bill designed by the GOP to dismantle key consumer protections under the false pretense of ‘consumer choice.’ If signed into law it will undo significant portions of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, threatening to send our economy back to a time when reckless behavior in the financial sector was the norm. This bill could trigger another financial crisis, which as we all know can take years to fix, and do untold harm to the job market and working-class families in New York. I strongly oppose this bill and any action that could drag our economy back to the brink of collapse.”   

Senator Marisol Alcántara Passes Bill Establishing Commission on Adolescent Mental Health


Council will Monitor Statewide Mental Health Programming, Suggest Policy Solutions for Youth with a Special Focus on Latinos

Senator Marisol Alcántara on Tuesday passed The Strong Minds, Strong Communities Act (S.5500C) that establishes a council to tackle the ongoing adolescent mental health crisis with a special focus on the disproportionate rates of mental health problems faced by Latinos in the state.

“We must address the mental health needs of the Latino community, particularly Latino adolescents, who face a higher rate of depression and suicide than their peers. This council will not only help deliver much needed services to this community, but also hopefully shed light on the sources of disparities between minority adolescents and their peers,” said Senator Alcántara.

In 2015, one in four of New York State’s Hispanic youth considered suicide and one in seven attempted suicide. At the same time, only 35% of Hispanics with depression received care as opposed to 60% of whites. Furthermore, just 1% of the American Psychology Association identified themselves as Latino, and many bilingual Latinos are unable to find mental health treatment in their native language.

This bill will establish a nine-member council with duties that include coordinating the delivery of mental health resources, monitoring the implementation of mental health agencies’ action plans, and determining further services and policies that will address the needs of adolescents at risk of suicide.

This final mandate will be conducted with an eye towards the special needs of minority groups, especially Latina and Latino adolescents who face higher rates of depression and suicide than their peers. In the course of their duties, the members of the council will prepare a report with policy recommendations that will be submitted to the governor and the legislature no later than October 2018.