A.G. Schneiderman Announces Election Day Hotline To Ensure Voter Access During September Primary

Voters Experiencing Problems Can Call 800-771-7755 Or Email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov Between 6AM And 9PM Tuesday

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman reminded voters today that his office has created a hotline to help troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues and barriers encountered by voters at the polls during the primary election on Tuesday, September 12, 2017. The Attorney General urges voters experiencing problems or issues at the polls to call the office’s hotline at 800-771-7755 or email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov at any time between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Tuesday. The hotline will be staffed by attorneys and staff in the office's Civil Rights Bureau.

“The right to vote is at the heart of American democracy, and my office is deeply committed to ensuring that all eligible voters have equal access at the polls,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “I urge all New Yorkers to immediately contact my office should they face any barriers or issues when trying to cast their vote.”

Voters registered in New York City trying to find their poll site, click here.

Voters registered outside New York City trying to find their poll site, click here. 

New Yorkers should be aware that New York has a closed primary system. In order to vote in a party’s primary election, a voter must be affiliated with that party. 

In New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie, polls open at 6:00 AM and close at 9:00 PM. In all other counties, polls open at 12:00 PM and close at 9:00 PM. 

Attorney General Schneiderman has operated the voter access hotline since November 2012. During previous efforts, the office fielded hundreds of complaints from voters across the state and worked with local election officials and others to promptly address issues encountered by voters at the polls. The Election Day hotline is part of Attorney General Schneiderman's ongoing effort to reduce barriers to voting.

Attorney General Schneiderman also reminds all registered voters that they have the right to accessible elections. This means that voters with disabilities or language access issues have the right to request assistance from any person of their choice. In addition, all registered voters have the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation, whether by election officials or any other person.

The office will receive and respond to election-related complaints relating to any of the statutes that the office enforces. The Attorney General’s Election Day Hotline is being coordinated by Assistant Attorneys General Ajay Saini and Diane Lucas of the Civil Rights Bureau, led by Bureau Chief Lourdes Rosado. The Social Justice Division is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Alvin Bragg.

Statement From A.G. Schneiderman On The Anniversary Of 9/11 Attacks

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released the following statement today on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks:

  "As New Yorkers and Americans, we stand united in remembering the lives lost 16 years ago today. We grieve alongside those who lost loved ones; we pledge never to forget their names, and recommit to honoring their memory. 

September 11^th was an affront to all that New York represents. Yet through the hurt and devastation of the tragedy, we have healed together, grown stronger together, and rebuilt together. Each and every New Yorker was impacted – but as we've shown, we are stronger than the hate and terrorism that sought to tear us apart.

The strength and heroism of New Yorkers on that day and in its aftermath – including that of our first responders – should inspire us all to continue to work towards a more just and peaceful world." 

ASSEMBLYMAN LUIS SEPULVEDA, SENATOR RUBEN DIAZ ANNOUNCE $4 MILLION IN SCHOOL FUNDING

   Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda and Senator Ruben Diaz today announced $4 million in funding for schools in their overlapping districts, and said they wished more schools had applied.

The money will go for a wide variety of classroom equipment, security cameras and much needed physical upgrades.

Sepulveda said that while his 87th Assembly District, covering mostly Parkchester, Castle Hill and West Farms, has a large number of schools, only 15 school principals met with him to discuss their school's needs and apply for the funding, through the State and Municipal Facilities Program.

"It is a shame that many other schools passed on this opportunity," said Sepulveda. "I hope that as we go into the next legislative session in Albany that more school principals will join in seeking funds on behalf of their students."

Sepulveda said a lion's share of the funding will go to buy laptop computers and Smart Boards for classrooms at the schools.

 

"We need to help our students learn to live in the new digital world," said Sepulveda. "That is so important not just for jobs, but for their future lives in general."

The Assemblyman added that "I can't imagine a classroom where a teacher still has to work with a blackboard and chalk, rather than a computer-connected Smart Board. That is shameful."

He noted that Mayor de Blasio recently announced the $81 million Computer Science for All educational initiative requiring all city public schools to office computer science to all students by 2025.

"Children in the Bronx and other poor neighborhoods across the city are in danger of being left behind in this rapidly changing digital society," said Senator Diaz.

 "I want to see the day come when the schools in my district receive the same funding and resources as children in more affluent districts across the city," said Diaz. "It is urgent that they are prepared to be competitive in the rapidly changing work place.We need to catch up now."

Both electeds thanked a number of school principals who attended the press conference for "their dedication and hard work on behalf of their students."

 

Assemblyman Sepulveda represents the 87th Assembly District covering Parkchester, Castle Hill, West Farms, Van Nest and Stratton Park.

Senator Diaz represents the 32nd Senate District covering Castle Hill, Parkchester, Morrisania, Hunts Point, Melrose, Longwood and Soundview.

SCHOOLS RECEIVING STATE FUNDING:

PS 119X, Principal Michelle Montana; PS 182, Principal Anne O'Grady; Bronx Community High School (08X377), Principal Flora Greenaway; Emolior Academy, Principal Michael Abbey; P.S. 138 The Samuel Randall School, Principal Jeanna  A. Dickerson.

The Parkchester School - PS 106, Principal Eugenia Montalvo; P.S. 36X, Principal Elvira Maresca;The Lorraine Hansberry Academy - Public School 214, Principal David Cintron; The Bronx Compass High School,Principal Brett Roer; The Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy.

 Principal Nalini Singh.

  J. H. S. 125 Henry Hudson, Principal Michael Collins; Blueprint Middle School, Principal Tyneka Harrington; Public School 47, Principal Thomas Guarnieri; Archer Elementary School PS 531, Principal Zakariah Haviland, and PS 6X- The West Farms School, Principal Tiawana Perez.

Reserve your Table Now at Early Bird Prices for The Bronx Chamber of Commerce 2017 Bronx Biz & Information Expo

Bronx Chamber of Commerce's MEET UP! Breakfast Business Card Exchange and Networking Event

Join us this coming Thursday morning! 

Mercy College Bronx Campus Lecture Series

Bronx Man Charged With Providing Material Support To Isis By Facilitating Another Individual’s Travel To Join Isis Abroad

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Dana J. Boente, the Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced the filing of a Superseding Indictment charging ADAM RAISHANI, a/k/a “Saddam Mohamed Raishani,” with conspiring to provide, providing and attempting to provide, and aiding and abetting the provision and attempted provision of material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS” or the “Islamic State”), a designated foreign terrorist organization, by allegedly facilitating another ISIS supporter’s travel to join ISIS overseas.  RAISHANI had already been charged, in an Indictment filed on June 29, 2017, with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, by allegedly attempting to travel abroad to join ISIS himself.  RAISHANI was arrested on June 21, 2017, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (“JFK Airport”) in Queens, New York, as he allegedly attempted to travel overseas to join ISIS.  The Superseding Indictment adds charges against RAISHANI for allegedly agreeing to facilitate, and facilitating another individual’s travel to join ISIS abroad in the fall of 2015.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “As alleged, Adam Raishani provided material support to ISIS by helping a co-conspirator travel abroad to fight for that terrorist organization.  A year later, Raishani himself attempted to travel overseas to join ISIS.   Fortunately through the outstanding work of law enforcement, Raishani’s travel plans were detected and thwarted before he was able to inflict any further harm.”

Acting Assistant Attorney General J. Dana Boente said:  “According to the charges, Raishani conspired to provide material support to ISIS and helped another individual travel to join the designated terrorist organization before attempting to do the same. The National Security Division’s highest priority is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who conspire to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations. I would like to thank all of the agents, analysts and prosecutors who are responsible for this case.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “As we allege, Raishani not only provided support to another individual located in the US who was determined to join ISIS overseas, but arranged for his departure, and expressed disappointment for not being able to travel with that individual at that time. Along with our partners on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, we'll continue to identify those who support terrorist organizations and their agenda in any way, as we've done here today(link is external)

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “Over the past several weeks, there have been a number of defendants charged with helping others travel to Syria or prepare to engage in their own Jihad,” said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “This is the latest—troubling—example. My thanks for the detectives and agents whose investigation on the original Joint Terrorism Task Force here in Manhattan led to today’s arrests.”

As alleged in the Superseding Indictment filed today in Manhattan federal court and the criminal Complaint[1] initially filed against RAISHANI:

Beginning in at least the fall of 2015, RAISHANI conspired with another ISIS supporter (“CC-1”) to provide material support to ISIS by means of CC-1 traveling abroad to join and fight for ISIS.  On or about October 30, 2015, CC-1 departed from JFK Airport for Istanbul, Turkey.  RAISHANI arranged for the transportation of CC-1 from the Bronx, New York, to JFK Airport, and RAISHANI accompanied CC-1 from the Bronx to JFK Airport.

RAISHANI continued communicating with CC-1 following CC-1’s departure.  For example, on or about January 2, 2016, RAISHANI sent an email to CC-1 stating:  “Glad tidings brother. Its [sic] been some time since your voyage. I pray to Allah The ALL MIGHTY to grant you success. Until next time.”[2]  On or about April 1, 2016, RAISHANI sent another email to CC-1 stating:  “I hope Allah has bestowed you what you were seeking. . . . May Allah grant you sincere and clean intentions and make you among the righteous in Janatal Firdaus [a reference to Islamic paradise]. . . . Please return this email and respond to what we agreed upon before your departure. Until next time.”  On or about May 3, 2016, CC-1 responded to RAISHANI, informing RAISHANI that CC-1 was “fine and well,” that CC-1 “wished you [RAISHANI] were here with me,” and that “here we are living with izza [honor].”

Also in May 2016, CC-1 posted content on a particular social media application (“Application-1”) indicating that CC-1 was living in the Islamic State and fighting on its behalf.  For example, CC-1 sent messages to another user of Application-1 stating:  “I’m living in the Islamic state safely and secure by the permission of Allah,” “[h]ere we are fighting the kuffars [non-believers],” and “I left the land of kuffars now I’m living in the khilafah [the caliphate].”  CC-1 also posted a photograph on Application-1 that shows CC-1 carrying an assault rifle and a flag representative of ISIS. 

Between January and June of 2017, RAISHANI engaged in a series of meetings with an individual who was, unbeknownst to RAISHANI, a confidential source working at the direction of law enforcement (the “CS”).  In the course of those meetings, RAISHANI admitted to the CS that, some time ago, he had helped another person to travel overseas to join the Islamic State.  RAISHANI told the CS, among other things, that he took that person to JFK Airport and gave him money on the day of his departure for the Islamic State.  RAISHANI expressed regret to the CS at not having traveled himself to join ISIS at that time, and RAISHANI revealed that, as of April 2017, he was actively planning to travel abroad to join and serve ISIS.  RAISHANI indicated that he aspired to join ISIS in Syria and that he aimed to travel before the end of Ramadan, an Islamic holy month that ran from approximately May 26 through June 24 of this year.  In June 2017, RAISHANI made preparations to leave, including by paying off debts and purchasing clothing that he intended to wear for training with ISIS overseas.  On June 21, 2017, RAISHANI attempted to board a flight bound for Turkey (via Portugal) at JFK Airport, where he was arrested by the FBI and the NYPD. 

RAISHANI, 30, of the Bronx, New York, is charged in the Superseding Indictment with three counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339B, by allegedly conspiring to provide, providing and attempting to provide, and aiding and abetting the provision and attempted provision of material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.  Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD, and the NYPD’s Intelligence Division.  Mr. Kim also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, as well as the New York Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment 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 Superseding Indictment and Complaint, and the descriptions of the Superseding Indictment and Complaint set forth below, are only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. 

[2] Communications and conversations discussed herein are described in substance and in part.

Bronx Pharmacist Pleads Guilty To Illegally Selling Millions Of Prescription Pills On The Internet And Agrees To Forfeit $9 Million

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Carl J. Kotowski, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New Jersey Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced that MAURICE MALIN pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck to conspiring to illegally sell over 5 million prescription Butalbital pills to customers across the United States who did not have valid prescriptions for the drugs. MALIN also agreed today to forfeit $9 million to the United States, which represented his proceeds from the illegal scheme. MALIN’s case is before U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As Maurice Malin admitted today in court, he made millions of dollars illegally dispensing drugs over the Internet to customers who had no valid prescriptions and had never seen a doctor. Pharmacists entrusted with the sale of controlled substances must safeguard the health of consumers, not scheme to profit from illegal drug sales.”

DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Carl J. Kotowski said: “Unfortunately, this is another example of a pharmacist who was more interested in making fast money than he was in helping the public. His actions help to erode the public’s trust in those in positions of responsibility.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and the Information filed against MALIN and statements made in court filings and proceedings, including at today’s guilty plea:

MAURICE MALIN, the defendant, was a licensed pharmacist who operated pharmacies in the Bronx, New York (the “Malin Pharmacies”). Between at least March 2014 and July 2016, MALIN engaged in a scheme to dispense Butalbital, a Schedule III controlled substance, to customers who had not consulted with a physician and did not possess a valid prescription for the drug. Specifically, customers ordered Butalbital pills by filling out online medical questionnaires that typically posed a series of “yes” or “no” questions (the “Prescription Websites”). Customers ordered the drugs on the Prescription Websites without ever seeing or speaking to a physician or medical practitioner and without obtaining a valid prescription.

After the orders were placed by customers on the Prescription Websites, these orders were then sent to pharmacies, including the Malin Pharmacies, that dispensed the prescription drugs to customers. The Malin Pharmacies filled the prescriptions for customers who had placed orders via the Prescription Websites, and then sent the drugs, specifically Butalbital, through the mail to customers located across the United States. Customers paid for the drugs by, among other means, money orders made out to business entities associated with the Malin Pharmacies and MALIN.

During the course of the investigation, undercover agents made numerous purchases of Butalbital on the Prescription Websites that were fulfilled by the Malin Pharmacies. In certain instances, MALIN’s name was listed as the fulfilling pharmacist on the Butalbital bottles agents received. In addition, many of the bottles that were received as a result of the undercover buys did not bear the name of any doctor who had prescribed the Butalbital, and instead repeated the name of the patient in the location on the label where the doctor’s name should have appeared had there been a valid prescription. MALIN was also captured on recorded phone calls with undercover agents acknowledging that he was aware that customers who placed orders on the Prescription Websites had not met with or consulted with a physician prior to placing their online order.

MALIN was arrested on August 10, 2016.

MALIN, 83, of Suffern, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison. 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. MALIN’s sentencing date will be set by Judge Wood. In connection with his guilty plea, MALIN agreed to forfeit to the United States $9 million and certain specific property including funds in bank accounts and real property representing the proceeds of the scheme.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding work of the DEA New Jersey Division in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their assistance.