Bronx Man Charged With Unlawful Possession Of Defaced Firearms And Firearms Silencers, And Narcotics Distribution

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ashan M. Benedict, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (“ATF”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced that RICHARD LAUGEL was arrested yesterday and charged with firearms and narcotics offenses.  LAUGEL will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in Manhattan federal court.  

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, Richard Laugel had accumulated an arsenal of dangerous weapons in his Bronx apartment, including a grenade launcher and an assault rifle.  Thankfully, the local and federal law enforcement officers were able to arrest Laugel without incident, and his trove of dangerous weapons has been seized.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “It is important to note the collaborative efforts that went into locating and apprehending this individual.  And from what was found during this investigation, he appears to be a threat to public safety and someone we don’t want on the streets.  This collaboration, brought together by HSI’s Border Enforcement Security Taskforce, is paramount to finding the criminals who bring in goods from abroad to support their criminal activity in our local communities.”

ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan M. Benedict said:  “Laugel’s alleged conduct once again demonstrates the dangerous intersection between the distribution of narcotics, the illicit possession of firearms, and violent crime.  Laugel’s alleged conduct presented an extreme danger to the community, and we are grateful that he will now face prosecution in the Southern District of New York.  I would like to express my appreciation to our law enforcement partners for their work on this investigation.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

On May 22, 2018, HSI and the NYPD executed a search warrant at LAUGEL’s home in the Bronx in connection with an alleged illegal operation to distribute controlled substances.  During the search, law enforcement officers recovered from LAUGEL’s home and garage, among other items, firearms silencers, a grenade launcher, an AR-15 Rifle, three handguns, two of which had defaced serial numbers, plastic molds used to make the lower receiver of handguns, firearms barrels, drill press and milling machines, ammunition, and a teddy bear that contained approximately 30 grams of cocaine.   

LAUGEL is charged with the unlawful possession of firearms silencers, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; possession with intent to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and the unlawful possession of firearms with defaced serial numbers ,which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. 

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, ATF, and the NYPD.

The charges 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.

11 Defendants Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Multimillion-Dollar Identity Theft And Fraud Scheme

Jamal Simon and his Co-Conspirators Stole Other Individuals’ Identities Fraudulently To Obtain More Than $3.5 Million in Cash, Gift Cards, and Merchandise

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the 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 the unsealing of an Indictment charging JAMAL SIMON, DAVID BOYD, a/k/a “Fresh,” MELVIN BROWN, a/k/a “Flint,” DARREN DAVIDSON, a/k/a “Eddie Gray,” DWIGHT FORDE, YVETTE LUBRUN, RASHAUN McKAY, a/k/a “Buster,” MEGAN MONTOYA, DEMALI MOSELY, DWAYNE NORVILLE, a/k/a “Lux,” and JILLIAN WALCOTT with conspiring to commit access device fraud and wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  SIMON and WALCOTT also are charged with wrongfully obtaining and disclosing individually identifiable health information.  Eight of the defendants were arrested on these charges yesterday in California, New Jersey, and New York.  BROWN, LUBRUN, McKAY, MOSELY, and WALCOTT were presented and arraigned yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in Manhattan federal court.  BOYD and DAVIDSON will be presented and arraigned today before Judge Parker.  MONTOYA will be presented today in federal court in the Northern District of California.  In addition, NORVILLE is currently in custody on state charges in Brooklyn, New York, and will be transferred to federal custody.  SIMON and FORDE remain at large.  The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Paul A. Crotty.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “These 11 defendants allegedly developed a sophisticated scheme to steal from financial institutions and their customers.  Through brazen identity theft and fraud, the defendants allegedly stole millions of dollars from credit card companies and banks to line their own pockets.  Thanks to the skilled investigative work of the FBI, the defendants’ alleged crime spree has been brought to a halt.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “While most people are careful to secure their financial accounts and personally identifiable information, there are others who are skilled at finding this information, despite any safeguards that have been put in place to protect it, and using it to their advantage.  Today’s defendants are charged with doing just that.  At the end of the day, more than $3.5 million was swindled from innocent victims and financial institutions.  While we work to bring these criminals to justice, the public should be reminded to remain aware and report any suspicious activity that could serve as an attempt to exploit their identity.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment[1]:

From March 2017 through at least July 2017, SIMON, BOYD, BROWN, DAVIDSON, FORDE, LUBRUN, McKAY, MONTOYA, MOSELY, NORVILLE, and WALCOTT carried out a wide-ranging fraudulent scheme that involved unlawfully obtaining individually identifiable information of other individuals (including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, birthdates, bank account numbers, credit and debit card numbers, and cellphone service provider account numbers); impersonating those individuals in order to obtain unauthorized access to their bank accounts, credit and debit card accounts, and cellphone service provider accounts; and then using such access to, among other things, facilitate the fraudulent transfer of funds to bank accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy and the unauthorized purchasing of merchandise and gift cards at retail stores.  The defendants’ scheme defrauded financial institutions and individual victims of more than $3.5 million.

SIMON and his co-conspirators obtained individually identifiable information of prospective victims from, among other sources, WALCOTT, who stole patient information during her employment at an urgent care clinic in Manhattan, New York.

SIMON, 30, BOYD, 29, BROWN, 33, DAVIDSON, 33, FORDE, 31, LUBRUN, 27, McKAY, 35, MOSELY, 29, NORVILLE, 30, and WALCOTT, 34, each of Brooklyn, New York, and MONTOYA, 27, of Oakland, California, are each charged with one count of conspiring to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of seven-and-a-half years in prison; one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 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.  SIMON and WALCOTT also are each charged with one count of wrongfully obtaining individually identifiable health information and one count of wrongfully obtaining and disclosing individually identifiable health information, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 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 defendants will be determined by the judge.  

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

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 the Victim/Witness Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at (866) 874-8900.  For additional information, go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/victimwitness.html.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1]   As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Nixon Campaign Responds to Cuomo's Convention Address

  Cynthia Nixon's campaign responded to Governor Cuomo's address to the Democratic State Party in a statement, today. Cynthia spent the morning speaking with community leaders in the Bronx about affordable housing, criminal justice reform and community-driven development. She also received the endorsement of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee today. 

"The Governor's attempt to reset his campaign this week failed," said campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt. "His highly choreographed convention inflamed old divisions, and provided a series of bizarre, tone-deaf moments. Simply put, the Governor did little to push back on the growing realization among New Yorkers that he has more much in common with his wealthy Republican donors than Democrats."

The Nixon campaign released a new video this morning highlighting the numerous steps the Governor took to help Republicans maintain control of the State Senate, a claim the Governor tried to refute at the start of his speech today. The campaign also released a series of fact checks throughout the Governor's convention remarks, setting the record straight on Cuomo's claims that he's been a good ally to women, labor unions, public school teachers, and the middle class.  Throughout his speech, Cuomo also repeatedly criticized President Trump, in an attempt to nationalize his race and distract from local failings, but the Governor has much more in common with Trump than he'd care to admit (fact check).  

FIVE-BOROUGH BIKE SHARE: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES DOCKLESS BIKESHARE THIS SUMMER IN THE ROCKAWAYS, CONEY ISLAND, THE CENTRAL BRONX AND ON THE NORTH SHORE OF STATEN ISLAND

Communities in four boroughs will all see bike share by July; Pilot will allow City to evaluate a range of different dockless companies, including those offering pedal-assist bikes

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced neighborhoods in boroughs outside Manhattan that would host dockless bike share pilots this summer.  Starting in July, the pilots will roll out in two beach communities that have not been reached by bike share: Coney Island in Brooklyn and the Rockaways in Queens.   Later in the summer, the two boroughs to never before host a bike share program, the Bronx and Staten Island, will receive bike share pilots, in the neighborhood near Fordham University in the Bronx and on Staten Island’s North Shore.

“We are bringing new, inexpensive transportation options to neighborhoods that need them. Dockless public bike sharing starts this summer, and we're excited to see how New Yorkers embrace this new service,” said Mayor de Blasio.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) laid out the preliminary timeline for the pilot of dockless bike share, which unlike Citi Bike will not require physical docking stations, instead allowing bikes to be rented using a mobile phone, usually for $1 or $2 per ride:

·         June: DOT will go to the geographically relevant community boards in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and on Staten Island to present plans and establish final boundaries (proposed boundaries are above) for each of the pilot areas.  During this period, DOT will also select the companies assigned to each of the areas.

·         July: Pilot will begin as bikes start to arrive on a rolling basis to neighborhood streets, with the ultimate goal to have a total of 200 bikes that offer half-hour rides and that remain within the boundaries of each of the four catchment areas during the pilot period.  Some of the dockless bikes are expected to be pedal-assist bicycles, whose legal treatment was recently clarified by New York City.

·         During Pilot Period (timing may vary by area): DOT will carefully evaluate companies’ compliance with pilot requirements around data accessibility and user privacy. Evaluation criteria will also include the safety, availability and durability of the bikes themselves.

·         Fall 2018: After September, DOT will work with local stakeholders to extend or discontinue pilots based on performance.  In evaluation period, DOT will also make a determination on future steps, including the possible addition of pilots in different or expanded geographic areas.

“With no better time than summer to hop on a bike, we at DOT are excited to bring bike share to more of New York City,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “We will start in July on a small scale in each borough outside Manhattan, and we will take what we learn over the next few months to make informed, clear-eyed decisions as to whether New York City’s bike-share future is dockless.  In the meantime, we strongly encourage New Yorkers to get out this summer and explore some great neighborhoods by bike -- and of course give us their feedback on the dockless experience.” 

"Bronx residents have consistently shared with myself and my office a tremendous desire to see bike sharing services expanded to their borough,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This pilot program is welcome news and a great first step towards the goal of readily-available bike-sharing across the borough. I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation and the local community to plan and implement this pilot program."

“By bringing the bike share program to Rockaway, the city is taking a positive step towards allowing residents in all boroughs to participate and enjoy in the successful dockless bike service," said State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. "I thank the city administration, especially the NYC DOT and NYC Parks Department, for selecting Rockaway and enabling our residents to expand their enjoyment of the peninsula and its boardwalk.”

"It is exciting to have the dockless bikeshare pilot program come to our district. This program will allow Bronxites to get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and contribute to a healthier environment while traveling around the Fordham neighborhood," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. "This is a first step towards bringing healthier transportation options to the Bronx and I look forward to seeing this program expanded throughout our borough."

“As an enthusiastic bike rider myself, I welcome this latest addition to the city's efforts to get people out there on bikes, exploring the city and enjoying the fresh air and the exercise,” said State Senator Luis Sepulveda.  “Bringing this pilot program to the Fordham University area is a great start in the Bronx. I hope it soon expands to some other great locations in the borough, as well in the rest of the city.”

“The dockless bike share program will bring a new level of mobility to our Bronx neighborhoods,” said Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo. “I want to extend my gratitude to Mayor de Blasio for championing an alternative transportation method for New York City residents. I have no doubt this new venture will help protect the environment, encourage a healthier lifestyle and give people another way of getting around.”

“With summer around the corner, I am thrilled that Bronxites will now have an opportunity to participate in this program where they can enjoy bicycle rides without the cumbersome docks. Hopefully this program will pave the way for increased used of bicycles by Bronxites and allow for safer, cleaner, and healthier neighborhoods that everyone can enjoy,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

“Bike share has been a success in the city and definitely key in shifting towards a society less dependent on car ownership. It is exciting to see it expand, especially in the summer when more New Yorkers are likely to ride bikes and, therefore, give us a good idea of what broader use would look like,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Council Committee on Transportation. “In this process, we must ensure that our experience with dockless bikes is as orderly and safe as it has been with Citibike so far.”

The dockless pilot is a result of a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) issued by DOT last December that sought ideas around next-generation “dockless” public bike share systems. Twelve different dockless companies responded to the RFEI.  The City will continue to support and strengthen Citi Bike, which has had nearly 60 million trips since its 2013 launch. All of the new dockless systems will be required to operate entirely outside of the Citi Bike area in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, thereby not duplicating or undermining current bike share service.

For more information on New York City’s bike share system, please see www.nyc.gov/bikeshare

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We clicked on the link and got the following.

It appears that with the Bike Share in the Bronx, more protected bike lanes will be put on the streets of the Bronx as is happening to Broadway outside of Van Cortlandt Park.

New York City Bike Share

Bike share provides New Yorkers with a convenient and affordable option for getting around the City. The majority of all transportation trips made in the city are shorter than two miles, a good distance for cycling, bike share gives New Yorkers a cheap, easy, and efficient option for these trips by providing access to sturdy bikes without having to worry about storage or maintenance.

New York City’s bike share system, Citi Bike, is a public-private partnership between the City of New York, represented by NYC DOT, and Motivate, a private company that owns and operates bike share systems around the country. Citi Bikes can be unlocked from one station and returned to any other station in the system, making the program ideal for short, one way trips. A wide range of people use the program for a variety of trips – getting across town, traveling in neighborhoods with few transit options, shortening commuting times, and exploring the city. Citi Bike has had more than 50 million trips since its launch in 2013. As Mayor de Blasio has said, “Citi Bike has become part of our public transportation system".

On December 15th, NYC DOT released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) seeking opinions, research, and knowledge to evaluate the feasibility of new dockless models for bike share service in areas of New York City not served by Citi Bike. In addition the RFEI seeks information, expertise, equipment, and software from the industry to potentially pilot dockless bike share in NYC. The City will continue to support and strengthen Citi Bike, while investigating new and developing technologies to complement its existing service. For more information on the RFEI, visit News & Events.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

When We clicked on the link for the RFEI this is what came up. We tried several times, but this kept coming up.

We wonder Mr. Mayor, Borough President Diaz Jr. State Senator Gustavo Rivera, State Senator Luis Sepulveda, Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Council Committee on Transportation. What happened to the RFEI? 

NYC Resources

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Office of the Mayor

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You have reached an outdated page on NYC.gov, the Official New York City website. View a list of city agencies.

NFL BANS PLAYERS FROM KNEELING IN PROTEST

Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, released the following statement after the NFL announced that players will no longer be permitted to kneel in protest during the playing of the national anthem.

  "Wednesday, the NFL announced their intention to smother protest and strangle activism. By forcing players to stand for the national anthem while on the field, and relegating those who chose to protest during the anthem to the locker room, they are effectively creating an other, hiding dissenting voices from the public eye to maintain their own corporate interest and public image."

"With this action, the NFL has made its intentions clear and revealed the character of the organization. They have given in to hateful voices who responded to peaceful protest with vitriol and misinformation. At best they ignore the the crucial issues of police misconduct and racial inequity for which players engaged in protest, at worst they endorse them. This is unsurprising from an organization that routinely seeks to bury anything that they feel is bad for business, and views its players as commodities rather than individuals."

"I stand with Colin Kaepernick, and with all players who choose to take a knee. In exercising his right to free speech and non-violent protest, Kaepernick ignited a movement and has now joined Nelson Mandela and other heroes in receiving Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award. This movement extends far beyond Kaepernick himself and forces the country to acknowledge and address the daily injustices of police misconduct and racial bias. It cannot be ignored that the NFL's ruling was established mere hours before the nation saw video of another black athlete, Sterling Brown, inexplicably abused and attacked at the hands of Milwaukee police."

"Such instances are pervasive and disturbing, whether for a well known athlete or the many more with less prominent profiles and less national outrage. Athletes who choose to kneel perform the vital duty of ensuring that these systemic injustices do not fade from the public consciousness. Disruption is essential to protest, and neither the actions of player protest nor the issues for which they kneel can be hidden away."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We disagree with Councilman Williams on the issue, and say that since Mr. Kaepernick is an employee of the NFL, he must adhere to company policy unless it is illegal. 

New York City and the City Council have certain rules to follow. Does Councilman Williams follow every single rule, or does he kneel in the council chambers when a vote is taken?

We would challenge Councilman Williams to kneel every time a vote is taken in the council, and see what course is taken by the speaker or other council members. Yes let's see how many other council members would kneel with Councilman Williams during a council vote. 

Councilman Williams has made history in his political career, and it is a novel idea to stand with Mr. Kaepernick, but put your political career where your mouth is Councilman Williams kneel down in the council chamber every time a vote is to be taken.

Comptroller Stringer Statement on MTA Subway “Fast Forward” Plan

 “Today’s Fast Forward Plan is a big step in the right direction, but now it’s up to the MTA to make sure it’s implementation is not slow-walked. New Yorkers have waited long enough for trains and buses to run on time, and any more delay will only serve to further hurt straphangers and further drag down our economy.

“As my office has documented, the decades-long deterioration of our subways exerts an economic toll on our city every single day, draining the city of up to $400 million dollars in lost productivity and wages per year. It also exerts a painful human toll, causing New Yorkers to miss doctor’s appointments and job interviews, to miss out on child care options, and to lose wages or even their jobs.

“I am greatly encouraged that President Byford has addressed so many of the recommendations we have advocated for in the Comptroller’s Office – from increasing off-peak service to help the growing legions of New Yorkers who work outside of the 9-to-5 day, to redesigning the bus network in all five boroughs to help working people get where they need to go, to increasing dedicated bus lanes and making more subways stations accessible to the elderly and disabled.

“It’s a great start, but this plan is only as good as its funding, and we are ready to see action.”

To read Comptroller Stringer’s report from last summer, The Human Cost of Delays, click here.

To read Comptroller Stringer’s report on the economic cost of delays, click here.

To read Comptroller Stringers report on the MTA’s failure to keep pace with the growth in off-peak ridership, click here.

Comptroller Stringer Releases Agency Watch List Report: Department of Education

To ensure spending gets results, Stringer calls for increased transparency at DOE

Agency Watch List report to be released quarterly on City agencies that raise the most budgetary concerns

   As the New York City Council Committees on Education and Finance hold a hearing on the Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2019, Comptroller Stringer released the first “Agency Watch List” report on the City’s spending at the Department of Education (DOE), calling for greater transparency from the agency on its spending and results.

The Comptroller’s report finds that while agency spending has risen rapidly in the last few years, the availability of data to monitor progress in achieving the goals set out by the Administration, and oversight of the agency’s several billion dollar procurement budget – which Comptroller Stringer has audited for waste and mismanagement – are insufficient for real accountability.

Such a massive agency, which educates over 1 million New York City children and will spend more than $25 billion this year, requires a particular level of oversight and accountability to ensure that resources are being deployed effectively and efficiently.

“The investments we make in education have long lasting impacts not just on our children – but on our city. That’s why we have a responsibility to ensure efficiency with every dollar. This is money that should be going to kids in the classroom, and not the bureaucracy at Tweed,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “When it comes to our kids, every penny counts. But the DOE has a history of losing track of its spending, at the expense of our children. That’s why we’ve audited DOE extensively and are paying close attention to the agency’s budget with our Agency Watch List. There is nothing more important than making sure we keep our promises to our children, and that means making sure that spending gets results and programs are being run efficiently and effectively. All students deserve a strong education, so we’re speaking out and paying close attention to make sure they’re getting the opportunity they deserve.”

The Agency Watch List, first announced in the Comptroller’s Preliminary Budget Presentation, spotlights City agencies – the Department of Correction (DOC), Department of Education (DOE), and Department of Homeless Services (DHS) – that raise the most budgetary concerns due to rapidly increased spending without sufficient transparency around results. Reports, to be released on each department quarterly, will review trends and recommend indicators that should be reported and monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of agency spending in achieving the Administration’s stated goals.

Lack of Procurement Oversight Remains a Risk for Waste

• The Department of Education is budgeted to spend $9.5 billion on non-personnel services (known as OTPS) in FY 2018, including a contractual services budget of $6.95 billion which itself is projected to rise to $7.16 billion in FY 2019;
• Although the DOE’s OTPS spending constitutes fully one-quarter of the total citywide OTPS budget, and its contractual services budget constitutes 44% of the entire City Contract Budget, these expenditures are not included in the annual Agency Procurement Indicators report published by the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS); and
• This is of particular concern for waste, as numerous audits and analyses by the Comptroller’s Office have documented deficiencies in management and accountability in DOE’s procurement practices, including the overuse of non-competitive and emergency procurement methods, retroactively evaluated contracts, and lack of review systems for vendors.

Renewal Schools Show Moderate Improvement but Actual Spending Not Reported

• Reporting on spending and outcomes at Renewal Schools as a group is not provided, inhibiting adequate oversight and evaluation;
• Renewal schools have demonstrated moderate progress among some important and reported indicators such as declining chronic absenteeism and improved graduation rates, although about two-thirds of high schools in the program still failed to reach their targeted graduation rates;
• However, students at most Renewal Schools still struggled to perform up to standards on State reading and math exams in 2017, as only 15.9 percent and 9.4 percent of Renewal School students in grades 3 through 8 passed the 2017 reading and math exams respectively, in comparison to Citywide average rates of 40.6 percent in reading and 37.8 percent in math.

Investment in Other Important New Programs Expands, But Reporting on Progress is Not Systematically Reported

DOE projected spending $372 million in FY 2019 on programs and initiatives to improve student outcomes. These investments are crucial in helping to level the playing field for all students, but must be monitored to ensure the spending is going to benefit the students as promised. To determine whether these investments are working for students, the DOE should provide clear reporting on the programs’ progress and that of the students who participate in them.

• The Equity and Excellence initiatives were budgeted for $149 million in spending in FY 2018, rising to $221 million in FY 2019;
• Progress in the Equity and Excellence initiatives, such as Universal 2nd Grade Literacy, AP for all, and Algebra for all, are not routinely reported;
• A series of other initiatives, including expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE), summer programming, mental health access and guidance counselors, were budgeted for $136 million this year, rising to $151 million in FY 2019; and
• Actual spending and results for these initiatives should be reported separately by DOE.

Key Indicators Currently Not Reported

A number of key indicators regarding the Department of Education spending on critical programs are not currently publicly reported. As part of the Agency Watch List report, the Comptroller’s Office is calling on the Administration to immediately make these statistics publicly available, and incorporate them into the Mayor’s Management Report.

• Number of active Renewal Schools and spending;
• Measure of 2nd grade literacy;
• Percentage of students with access to AP classes;
• Percentage of students with algebra instruction;
• Number of graduates enrolling in college.

To read the Comptroller’s full report, click here.

BRONX MAN INDICTED ON 146 COUNTS FOR SELLING 18 FIREARMS

Defendant Sold Weapons to Undercover Officer; Sales Recorded on Video 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted on 146 counts involving a gun dealing operation that sold dozens of firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle, to an undercover cop in the Bronx. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “A months-long investigation uncovered the defendant’s alleged actions, which attempted to contribute to the illegal guns on the streets of the Bronx. Each gun intercepted is a life saved and we will vigorously prosecute anyone who promotes danger in our community.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Jorge Pichardo, 29, of East Clarke Place, was indicted on 146 various counts, with the top charge of first-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm. He was also indicted on: three counts of second-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm; 15 counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon; 17 counts each of Criminal Possession of a Firearm and fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon; 18 counts of third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon; 16 counts of Disposition of Ammunition; 40 counts of third-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm; four counts of Attempted Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the third-degree; seven counts of third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon; two counts of seventh-degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and one count each of Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Rifle or Shotgun; third, fourth and fifth-degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance; Resisting Arrest and second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration.

 The defendant was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice William Mogulescu and is due back in court on May 29th, 2018. If convicted of the top charge, he faces up to 25 years in prison with possible consecutive sentences for additional charges.

 According to the investigation, from July 5, 2017 to January 16, 2018, the defendant allegedly sold eighteen firearms, sixteen of which were operable, to an undercover officer during a long-term investigation into gun violence. One of the weapons sold is a Norinco SKS semi-automatic rifle.

 He was arrested on January 17, 2018 after being found with over eight grams of cocaine.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Christopher Shaughnessy and Douglas Lansing, formerly of the NYPD Firearms Investigation Unit, and currently assigned to the NYPD-DEA Drug Enforcement Task Force.