Bronx Man Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To Over 24 Years In Prison For Conspiracy To Commit Sex Trafficking Of A Minor

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JAMEL GODDARD, a/k/a “Payroll,” was sentenced today by United States District Judge Loretta A. Preska to 292 months in prison for his role as the leader of a sex trafficking conspiracy.  GODDARD pled guilty on February 26, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “For years, Jamel Goddard preyed on vulnerable victims and exploited them for financial gain.  For his brazen and violent conduct, Goddard now faces a substantial prison term.  Today’s sentence should serve as a powerful message to the sex trafficking industry that such reprehensible conduct will not be tolerated.”

According to the Indictment filed in Manhattan federal court, previous court filings, and statements made at public court proceedings:

Between approximately 2012 until approximately July 2017, GODDARD operated and led a sex trafficking and prostitution enterprise (the “Enterprise”) that recruited vulnerable women and a 15-year-old girl and subsequently exploited them for GODDARD’s personal financial gain.  GODDARD typically recruited victims who lacked education, a stable home, and family support.  He required the women he trafficked to engage in sex acts with multiple customers in a single day, operating from hotel rooms in the Bronx, Brooklyn, upstate New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Florida, and using classifieds websites to advertise for commercial sex.  GODDARD kept all or most of the victims’ earnings, which sometimes amounted to thousands of dollars in a single day, for himself.

Throughout the course of the Enterprise, GODDARD employed physical violence and threats of force to exert control over his victims.  On multiple occasions, GODDARD hit or punched victims for, among other things: being, in GODDARD’s view, disrespectful; owing GODDARD money; or holding back their earnings from commercial sex from GODDARD.

During prior periods of imprisonment, GODDARD continued to operate the Enterprise while incarcerated, communicating directives and threats to his victims by phone.  On one such occasion, GODDARD warned a victim to “watch what I do when I get out.”

In addition to his prison sentence, GODDARD, 32, was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release. 

Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.

A.G. Underwood Announces Win In Lawsuit Against Bronx & Westchester Car Dealerships For Illegally Overcharging Consumers For Bogus Theft Protection Product

Court Order Permanently Enjoins Victory Mitsubishi of Larchmont and Victory Suzuki of the Bronx from Engaging in Deceptive Business Practices; Requires Dealerships to Pay Restitution, Damages, and Civil Penalties

Since 2015, the Attorney General’s Office Has Obtained Approximately $19 Million in Restitution and Penalties from Fraudulent Auto Dealers

  Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced a court order that permanently enjoins Victory Motors, LLC (Victory Mitsubishi of Larchmont in Westchester) and Victory Auto Group, LLC (Victory Suzuki of the Bronx) from engaging in persistent fraudulent, deceptive, and illegal business practices in the sale of a passive security system and requires the dealerships to pay restitution, damages, and civil penalties. The court order is the result of a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General in December 2017, alleging that the car dealerships deceptively charged as many as 1,100 consumers for an unwanted and bogus anti-theft product that cost up to $4,000 per consumer. Known as an “after-sale” product, this item was often added onto the final cost of the vehicle without the consumer’s knowledge or consent – after the customer had agreed upon the purchase price of a vehicle but before the sale transaction was finalized.

Since 2015, the Attorney General’s Office has obtained approximately $19 million in restitution and penalties from auto dealers; nearly 29,000 consumers have been eligible for restitution under these settlements.

“This court order is a victory for New Yorkers who were ripped off by these car dealerships,” Attorney General Underwood said. “The dealerships’ deceptive conduct led consumers to sign contracts that did not reflect the negotiated sale terms, frequently including unwanted aftermarket add-ons that they did not agree to. My office will continue to protect New York’s consumers and ensure that car dealerships comply with state law.”

In April 2015, the Attorney General received a complaint from a consumer who, after purchasing a vehicle from Victory Mitsubishi in Larchmont, noticed that there was a puzzling charge of $1,995 labeled “Etch” on the bill of sale. When contacted by the Attorney General’s office, the dealership explained that the charge was for a glass etch product – a security add-on in which a serial number, often the vehicle identification number (“VIN”), is etched onto each of the vehicle’s windows. However, the consumer said that she had not been made aware by the dealership that she was purchasing the etch product, and that if she had been made aware, she would have declined to purchase it. After the Attorney General’s inquiry, the dealership made a full refund.

Concerned that other consumers could have been charged for the product without their knowledge or consent, the Attorney General’s office then launched an investigation that found both Victory Mitsubishi of Larchmont and Victory Suzuki of the Bronx – another dealership with common ownership – had charged as many as 1,100 consumers for a product called the Etch Guarantee. 

Consumers were charged amounts ranging from $129 to $3,998. In many instances, the two Victory dealerships added this fee onto the final sales price without the knowledge or consent of the consumers. As a result, the final price paid by the consumers was inflated by the amount charged for the after-sale product.

The two Victory dealerships also failed to clearly disclose the nature of the after-sale product to their customers. The “Vehicle Replacement Discount Allowance,” also known as the “Etch Guarantee,” is supposed to include a permanent etch or engraving of the vehicle’s VIN on the windows of the vehicle – supposedly to deter theft. However, in many instances, the Victory dealerships did not actually etch the VIN onto the windows of the vehicles.

Consumers were also led to believe that there would be a guaranteed credit of up to either $2,500 or $5,000 towards the purchase of a new vehicle should their car be stolen. However, there were numerous conditions and limitations – such as that the credit would not be applied if it eliminated the dealership’s profit on the sale – which rendered the “credit” illusory.

In December 2017, the Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against both Victory dealerships because they failed to offer full refunds to the 1,100 consumers who had been charged.

As sought by the 2017 lawsuit, the court order permanently enjoins the Victory dealerships from engaging in fraudulent, deceptive, and illegal sales tactics, and other deceptive practices. Both dealerships are also directed to pay restitution to consumers, damages, and civil penalties after an accounting is provided. 

This case is part of the Attorney General’s wider initiative to end the auto dealer practice of “jamming,” or unlawfully charging consumers for products and services without their knowledge or consent. 

Two Defendants Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Carjacking

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Shawn Harris, Commissioner of the Mount Vernon Police Department (“MVPD”), announced today the unsealing of a complaint charging two defendants with allegedly engaging in carjacking and, in furtherance of the carjacking, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms.  The defendants, CHESTER BROWN and TRAVIS SINCLAIR, were presented in White Plains federal court this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison and ordered detained.  BROWN was taken into federal custody on August 15; SINCLAIR was previously in federal custody based on prior pending criminal charges.

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

On or about July 27, 2018, BROWN and SINCLAIR, the defendants, entered a car in Mount Vernon carrying guns.  The defendants threatened and punched the driver; BROWN hit the driver with his gun, which discharged.  When the driver ran from his vehicle, at least one of the defendants fired gun shots toward him.  These shots injured a person sitting in another car. 

BROWN and SINCLAIR each face a maximum term of life in prison, and a mandatory term of 10 years in prison. 

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

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Mount Vernon Police Department.

The charges contained in the Complaint 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 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. Underwood Announces Lawsuit Against Three Employment Agency Operators For Scamming Vulnerable New Yorkers

  Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced a lawsuit against employment agency operators Jose M. Ortiz (a/k/a Jose M. Velez, Jose M. Ortiz-Velez, Joseph Ortiz), 44, of New Jersey; Maritza M. Quinones (a/k/a Ms. Velez), 42, of Pennsylvania; and Johanna Y. Miranda (a/k/a Lisa Garcia, Julia, Isabella, Carmen, Karol), 42, of the Bronx, for allegedly conducting deceptive business practices in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens that targeted unemployed and financially vulnerable individuals looking for low-wage cleaning and maintenance jobs. The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks a court order enjoining Ortiz, Quinones, and Miranda from engaging in fraudulent conduct; restitution for complainants; and over $300,000 in fines and penalties.

“It is shameful to steal money from vulnerable New Yorkers looking for honest work,” Attorney General Underwood said. “We allege that these scam artists set up their business to target unemployed and financially vulnerable New Yorkers with the promise of a job. My office will continue to investigate and prosecute businesses and individuals that try to scam New Yorkers.”         

As alleged in the petition filed in Bronx County Supreme Court today, the Attorney General’s investigation found that Ortiz, Quinones, and Miranda falsely advertised cleaning and maintenance jobs that purportedly paid $13.50 to $29.00 an hour and charged upfront fees for these employment opportunities they knew were fake. The three agency operators targeted unemployed and financially vulnerable individuals looking for low-wage cleaning and maintenance jobs by putting advertisements in Spanish-speaking newspapers such as El Diario, and online classified jobs exchanges such as “Clasificado” and “Especialito.” They also advertised in the New York Post, AM New York, and Metro New York.

The respondents charged between $140 and $499 for “guaranteed jobs” and “immediate hire” cleaning and maintenance employment opportunities, but then allegedly failed to obtain jobs for any of their clients. One of their agencies, Empire Services, allegedly sent customers to job interviews with companies that were unfamiliar with the agency and did not have available jobs.

Consumers were also allegedly told they had to pay upfront fees for an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) training course, an OSHA course completion certificate, and an OSHA license, in order to secure a job. Victims were led to believe that under New York State law, it is illegal to work as an office cleaner or maintenance worker without an OSHA license. The course certificates and licenses were all a scam – there is no New York State or federal requirement that office cleaners and maintenance workers be OSHA certified.

Once consumers realized they had been scammed and demanded refunds, Ortiz, Quinones, and Miranda allegedly disconnected their phones and abandoned their offices without issuing any refunds. A few weeks later, they would allegedly relaunch the same business under a different name and in another New York City neighborhood. 

Ortiz and Quinones operated Empire Services in the South Bronx from June 2015 through December 2015. Ortiz and Miranda operated Empire Safety Services from midtown Manhattan and the South Bronx from June 2017 through November 2017. Ortiz and Miranda operated Global Training Services in the South Bronx from October 2017 through January 2018 and have been operating National Safety Training Services from Jamaica, Queens since February 2018.

ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND ADVOCATES LAUNCH SIGNATURE DRIVE FOR ADA ELEVATOR AT MOSHOLU PARKWAY #4 ELEVATED SUBWAY STATION

Community Board 7 Chair Jean Hill and District Leader Eric Dinowitz are organizing a signature drive following today’s rally to support installation of an elevator at the Mosholu Parkway #4 Train station.

  An age-old battle for accessible transit has begun anew in the Northwest Bronx as community leaders and advocates descended on the Mosholu Parkway 4 Train station to launch a month-long effort to lobby the MTA to install an elevator to the subway platform.  The train station is in close proximity to a number of community institutions that service populations with mobility disabilities, including two major hospitals, three nursing homes, a senior center, and several high density residential buildings including Tracey Towers and Scott Tower. The Bronx also has the fewest number of ADA compliant stations among the four boroughs connected to the subway system. In April, the MTA Board announced that they added $300 million to the current 2015-2019 capital plan for ADA station improvements at up to five additional subway stations.

  Over the next six weeks, District Leader Eric Dinowitz and Community Board 7 Chair Jean Hill will be leading a signature drive to demonstrate to the MTA that there is widespread community support for an elevator at this location in addition to a confluence of important demographic and geographic factors which cause Mosholu Parkway to be an ideal location for an elevator. These signatures will be delivered to the MTA Board at their next public meeting on September 26.

Bronx Community Board 7 Chair and President of Tracey Towers Tenants Organization Jean Hill said:“An ADA elevator at the Mosholu Jerome Avenue Station is long overdue. This area covers a large area of seniors, young parents from Tracey Towers, Scott Towers, North Central Bronx and Montefiore Hospital patients. This neighborhood deserves consideration.”

State Senator Jamaal Bailey said: “Ensuring that all residents have the ability to use the public transportation system should never be up for debate. The Mosholu Parkway 4 Train Station is one of the most populated stations in the city, that is consistently used by a large senior population that lives in the area and by patients from the nearby Montefiore Hospital. I urge the MTA to install an elevator at the Mosholu Parkway station and to comply with ADA regulations at all of its stations.”

District Leader Eric Dinowitz said: “The MTA has a duty to serve all New Yorkers and for far too many years they have failed to do so. Across the city, we need to ensure that all subway stations and buses are in compliance with the ADA and accessible to all New Yorkers. The Mosholu Parkway 4 Train station in particular has an urgent need for an elevator to meet the needs of our community, and I am committed to ensuring that residents of the Northwest Bronx have our voices heard by the MTA in our demand for an elevator in the current capital plan.”

The Mosholu Parkway elevated station on the #4 Jerome Avenue line might need two separate elevators however, since there are two flights of stairs to get to the entrance point to pay ones fare. After paying your fare it is another flight of stairs to the train platform.

It should be noted that this elevated station is in the 80th Assembly District, where Ms. Nathalia Fernandez is the Assemblywoman. Eric Dinowitz is the Democratic District Leader of the 81st Assembly District, where his father Jeffrey Dinowitz is the Assemblyman. 

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - FREE Breakfast to discuss proposed Commercial Waste Zones

Members of the Bronx business community are strongly encouraged to attend this important meeting and voice your position on the proposed Commercial Sanitation Zones. 

A Free Breakfast to discuss Proposed Commercial Waste Zones

Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Time:   9:30-10:30am (doors open at 9:00)

Where: Residence Inn by Marriott, 2nd floor conference room

        1776 Eastchester Road in the Hutch Metro Center Atrium

Admission is free and open to all businesses that utilize commercial trash, recycling,  and/or organics carting services.

RSVP before August 17th to Phil Cardone at 718-828-3900 or phil@bronxchamber.org.

About the Business Roundtable:

• The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is proposing reforms to the commercial waste hauling industry that will promote a cleaner environment, ensure efficient and  orderly collection of commercial waste, and improve the quality of life for New Yorkers.

• The new trash and recycling pickup system will ensure that businesses like your own  will have fair, transparent pricing and the peace of mind knowing that all carters have  been vetted by the city to provide safe and reliable service.

• You will get a chance to hear more about the commercial waste zone proposal and  discuss how the City can work to maximize benefits to businesses. 

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Position on

Proposed Commercial Waste Zones

Prior to the establishment of the Business Integrity Commission (BIC), private sanitation in NYC was a zoned system allegedly run by the mob. Carters split up neighborhood zones into which only one company was allowed to collect business waste. BIC changed that, promoting the model that allowed carters to compete for customer business. Prices came down and service levels improved.

The City's new proposal is a return to the bad old days. The Department of Sanitation (DOS) is proposing a new zoned program - controlled by the City - where carters must bid for neighborhood collecting zones, much like the old mob run system. The laws of economics dictate that along with decreased competition comes increased pricing. The past two years have already seen an increasing in pricing brought on by minimum wage increases, huge hikes in the cost of healthcare, and general government fees as a whole. This new artificial "improvement" in a system that doesn't warrant City control beyond BIC, is sure to make prices rise again on the backs of mostly small businesses. These costs will surely be passed along to consumers (as all increases must be to assure survival). In the end, the people of NYC will pay again while small mom-and-pop microbusinesses will weaken and disappear for no legitimate reason.

ELECTED OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE THE ANNUAL MORRISON AVENUE FESTIVAL

For Immediate Release 
August 15, 2018
Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz

ELECTED OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE THE ANNUAL MORRISON AVENUE FESTIVAL
 

New York City Councilman Rubén Díaz, together with Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Senator Luis Sepulveda, City Council Member Rafael Salamanca invite the community to the seventeenth (17th) Anniversary of the Morrison Festival in Bronx County.

This Saturday, August 18th, more than five thousand (5,000) people are expected during the annual Morrison Avenue Festival, beginning at 12 noon to 6 pm, between Westchester and Watson Avenue in Bronx County.

For the past 17 years, the Morrison Avenue Festival has been a day of fun, free games, free rides for children/families, and entertainment. This year’s main entertainment will be Puerto Rico’s own “NG2 & Orchestra”, among others.

At 3pm, honored guests, dignitaries, and elected officials will address the public.

I look forward to another successful Morrison Avenue Festival, and to seeing our Bronx families and children enjoy this very special event.
Transportation: Train #6, Buses #4 & 27 to Morrison Avenue Station.
 
For more information, please contact Leila Martinez at 718-792-1140.

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ADVISE NEW YORKERS TO BEAT THE HEAT

Heat Advisory in effect for New York City Wednesday, August 15 and Thursday, August 16

Cooling centers will be open across the city Wednesday and Thursday. To find the nearest location call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/beattheheat beginning at 12 p.m.Wednesday

  The New York City Emergency Management Department and the Health Department today advised New Yorkers to take precautions to beat the heat. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in effect for New York City from 12 p.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Thursday. High heat and humidity are in the forecast, with heat index values in the mid to upper 90s. A heat advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees for two or more consecutive days, or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time. 

To help New Yorkers beat the heat, NYC Emergency Management will open cooling centers on Wednesday, August 15, and Thursday, August 16. Cooling centers are air-conditioned facilities such as libraries, community centers, senior centers, and NYCHA facilities that are open to the public during heat emergencies. To find a cooling center, including accessible facilities closest to you, call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or visit the NYC Cooling Center Finder atwww.nyc.gov/beattheheat beginning at 12 p.m. Wednesday.

“We are expecting high heat and humidity during the next few days, and we want to remind people to stay cool and hydrated,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “Drink plenty of water, use air-conditioning or visit a cooling center, and check in on your friends, family, and pets.”

The New York City Emergency Management Department reminds New Yorkers to take steps to protect themselves and help others who may be at increased risk from the heat. Those at increased risk are people who do not have or use air conditioning AND:

·         Are 65 years or older;

·  Have chronic medical, mental health, or cognitive/developmental conditions;

·         Take certain medications, which can disrupt the regulation of body temperature;

·         Are confined to their beds, have limited mobility, or are unable to leave their homes;

·         Are obese; or

·         Misuse alcohol or drugs.

HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE HEAT:

·         Stay out of the sun and avoid extreme temperature changes.

·         Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.

·         Drink fluids, particularly water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Those on fluid-restricted diets or taking diuretics should first consult their physician.

·         Water is the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies. Avoid beverages containing alcohol and/or caffeine.

·         Eat small, frequent meals.

·         Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.

·         If possible, go to an air-conditioned location for several hours during the hottest parts of the day.

·         Cool down with a cool bath or shower.

·         Participate in activities that will keep you cool, such as going to the movies, shopping at a mall, or swimming at a pool or beach.

·         Cover all exposed skin with an SPF sunscreen (15 or above) and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and head.

·         Never leave your children or pets in the car.

For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/health.

FACTS ABOUT HEAT ILLNESS:

Heat illness is serious. Prolonged exposure to the heat can be harmful and potentially fatal. The added stress caused by heat can also aggravate heart or lung disease even without symptoms of heat illness.

Know the warning signs of heat stress. If you or someone you know feels weak or faint, go to a cool place and drink water. If there is no improvement, call a doctor or 911.

Call 911 immediately if you have, or someone you know has:

·         Hot dry skin.

·         Trouble breathing.

·         Rapid heartbeat.

·         Confusion, disorientation, or dizziness.

·         Nausea and vomiting.

KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE

·         Avoid dehydration: Pets can dehydrate quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water.

·         Exercise early and late: When the temperature is very high, do not let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Your pet’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn.

·         Know when your pet is in danger: Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor, or even collapse. Animals with flat faces like pugs and Persian cats are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. They should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

·         Keep cats safe by installing screens in your windows: Unscreened windows pose a real danger to cats, as they can fall out of them often during summer months.

IMPROPER FIRE HYDRANT USE:

The improper opening of fire hydrants wastes 1,000 gallons of water per minute, causes flooding on city streets, and can lower water pressure to dangerous levels and hamper the ability of FDNY to fight fire safely and quickly.

Properly used “spray caps” reduce hydrant output to a safe 25 gallons per minute while still providing relief from the heat. To obtain a spray cap, an adult 18 years or older with proper identification can go to his or her local firehouse and request one.

For more information, visit NYC.gov/beattheheat.