Bronx Veterans Day Parade

  Saturdays Bronx Veterans Day Parade began at the Crotona Park Mall at East 175th Street and Crotona Parkway, marching up Crotona Parkway to East 180th. The parade turned right onto East 180th Street to the West Farms Old Soldiers Cemetery (East 180th Street and Bryant Avenue) where a memorial service was held. The parade then continued to Bronx River Park (East 180th Street and Boston Road) for enjoyment of the day. The parade Grand Marshal was former U.S. Army Sergeant John Perez, who was dedicating the parade to Private Emmanuel Mensha who gave his life here in a Bronx fire while saving thirteen other lives. 

Above - Members of the armed forces congratulate Sergeant John Perez on being chosen the Grand Marshal for the 2018 Bronx Veterans Day Parade.

Below - The Bronx Veterans Day Parade was given a police escort along the parade route.

Above - Parade Grand Marshal Sergeant John Perez marched carrying a large photo of Private Emmanuel Menza. Local business owners are behind Sergeant Perez.

Below - Part of the large contingent of marchers in the 2018 Bronx Veterans Day Parade up Crotona Parkway.

Above - Another group marching were the NABVETS.

Below - Video buff Assemblyman Jose Rivera marched with Grand Marshal Sergeant John Perez while doing an interview as the parade was nearing the West Farms Old Soldier Cemetery.

Above - The Theodore Roosevelt High School ROTC were part of the parade as they near the West Farms Old Soldier Cemetery on East 180th Street.

Below - Grand Marshal Sergeant John Perez and others wait for everyone to enter the cemetery and assemble. 

Above - Grand Marshal Sergeant John Perez waits to speak as those who marched in the parade are called to attention. 

Below - After the ceremony in the West Farms Old Soldier Cemetery the parade moved to Bronx River Park to celebrate. 

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WESTCHESTER'S ENGEL, LATIMER & PAULIN URGE VOTE FOR BIAGGI FOR STATE SENATE

  Congressman Eliot Engel, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Assemblymember Amy Paulin jointly urged Westchester residents to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6 for Alessandra Biaggi, the Democratic Party candidate for State Senate in District 34. 

"Alessandra is going to do a tremendous job as our new State Senator," Congressman Engel said. "I've spoken and met with her several times already, and I can tell that she will be a great partner in government. As elected officials, whether it be at the federal, state, or local level, the fight to advance our progressive values is at the forefront of everything we do, and I look forward to working together to better our shared communities in the Bronx and Westchester which we are both so fortunate to represent.”

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, "As a former State Senator working under Republican control of the chamber, I can’t stress to you enough the importance of getting out the vote for Alessandra Biaggi. We need Alessandra and the rest of the Democrats running to win so we can finally have control of the New York State Senate. In Albany, Alessandra will work with her colleagues to protect voting rights, a women’s right to make choices regarding her own body, and strengthen environmental protections - three issues that are under assault from Donald Trump and the Republicans nationwide. Make sure you bring a friend - or 10 - to the polls and get out the vote for Alessandra Biaggi." 

Assemblymember Paulin said, "Alessandra Biaggi has my full support on Election Day. She has the intelligence, the persistence, and the empathy to make a real difference on the critical issues facing our communities, including reducing gun violence, making healthcare more affordable, holding perpetrators of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence accountable, and standing up for women, children, and families. I can't wait to work together with her on behalf of our constituents in Pelham and on policies to help all New Yorkers."

"I thank Rep. Engel, County Executive Latimer and Assemblymember Paulin for their important support," Biaggi said. "I am campaigning every day so that I can win in November and join them in working for the people of Westchester and the Bronx."

Al Shaib Community Meeting

  You can see by Friday night's meeting at the Al Shaib Community Center there was a large crowd, elected officials, and good times. Almost one-hundred people were in attendance to listen to various speakers led by future State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Assemblyman Jose Rivera, and District Leader John Perez. Also on hand were Sergeant Major of the 45th precinct to talk about the new NCO program at the precinct, and other community leaders who spoke. 

Above - Future State Senator Alessandra Biaggi speaks, and answered some tough questions from the audience.

Below - 87th A.D. John Perez talks about his role in the community. 

Above - Assemblyman Jose Rivera speaks to the audience, giving some valuable information.

Below - Standing in for future Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is Ms. Ilona Duverge who was key to Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez's victory. 

Chancellor Carranza Visits District 10 Education Council Meeting

  It was billed as a Town Hal;l meeting with Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza. People were given slips of paper in order to write down questions that were prescreened for CEC 10 President Marvin Shelton to ask of the chancellor. At the beginning people were told that every question might not get asked, but to expect an answer from the chancellor in the coming weeks. 

  Chancellor Carranza opened up by talking about the Five-Year Capital Plan the DOE was embarking on. He went into generalities such as $750 million dollars will be spent to make all school ADA complaint, more classroom seats for district 10 (but not how many), and the Bronx Plan to bring an investment to under served schools (but again no figures were given). The Bronx Plan will give teachers an added incentive of $6,000 to $8,000 to teach in under served schools in Bronx schools where teachers have historically refused or transferred out of. Of the dozen teachers in the audience I was able to asked if they would take the added incentive, all replied no. 

  This also seems to be a copy of a previous program years ago where teachers were paid extra money to teach in disadvantaged schools, which failed in its second year. Teachers who signed up for the added incentive program soon transferred out leaving newer teachers in the schools. 

  Questions included class size, why the unproportinal number of certain classes of students are receiving suspensions, the common core, specialized high schools, and school food. On most of the questions Chancellor Carranza was on the parents side, and he did want to mention what he was doing as the chancellor to help solve some of the problems. School kitchens were being modernized for better food appeal, class size was going to be addressed by the five-year plan, he and the mayor were against one test being the sole criteria for getting into certain high schools, and that he wanted to know more from the schools on how suspensions were being handed out. 

  The ninety minutes went fast but the chancellor will do it again in two years as per the education law which states that he must meet with every Community District Education Council every two years.

Chancellor Richard Carranza is seated between School District 10 superintendent Hola, and CFC 10 President Shelton.

Bronx Tax Preparer Convicted At Trial For Aggravated Identity Theft And Tax Fraud

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that REBECCA BAYUO, a Bronx tax preparer, was convicted in Manhattan federal court yesterday of preparing false tax returns on behalf of her clients, filing false tax returns in the names of victims whose identities she had previously stolen, and filing false tax returns on her own behalf.  BAYUO was convicted after a two-and-half week jury trial before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “Rebecca Bayuo now stands convicted of multiple counts of tax fraud after she abused her position of trust as a tax preparer by systematically violating the nation’s income tax laws.  By repeatedly filing fraudulent tax returns for her clients, including using stolen identities to increase tax refunds, Bayuo stole tens of thousands of dollars directly from the U.S. Treasury.  For these egregious crimes, Bayuo now faces significant time in federal prison.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint, Indictment, and the evidence presented at trial:

BAYUO owned and operated Breakthrough Insurance Brokerage, a tax preparation business, located in the Bronx, New York.  From 2010 through 2014, BAYUO used stolen identifying information of victims to file fraudulent federal income tax returns, which generated tax refunds to which BAYUO was not entitled.  Specifically, BAYUO repeatedly used stolen identities of dozens of victims, including 11 New York residents who testified at trial, to file false tax returns and unlawfully collect tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) in their names for herself.  As a result of BAYUO’s criminal conduct, many of the victims were unable to file tax returns as required by law, and were deprived of tax refunds to which they were entitled.

In addition, from 2011 through 2012, BAYUO prepared and submitted to the IRS fraudulent tax returns for her clients that resulted in increased tax refunds, to which her clients were not entitled.  Among other things, BAYUO charged her clients an additional fee in exchange for providing them with the stolen identities of children as false “dependents” to claim on their tax returns.  BAYUO recycled the same stolen identities as false “dependents” for numerous tax returns, over at least a four-year time period.   

Finally, from 2014 to 2015, BAYUO filed false personal income tax returns in her own name, and included in those filings personal identifying information belonging to other individuals that she had stolen.  Specifically, on her own tax returns, BAYUO included false “dependents,” whose identities she had stolen, in order to obtain a larger tax refund to which she was not entitled.  Three of the victims of this scheme testified at trial.

BAYUO, 48, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of 12 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns, each of which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison; one count of theft of government funds, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison; and two counts of subscribing to false tax returns, each of which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

BAYUO is scheduled to be sentenced on April 12, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.

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

Former Reality Television Series “Bad Girl” Pleads Guilty To Fraud

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SHANNADE CLERMONT pled guilty to one felony count of wire fraud for making and attempting more than $20,000 in fraudulent charges using the stolen debit card information of a deceased man she had visited for a prostitution date.  CLERMONT pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Former reality TV ‘Bad Girl’ Shannade Clermont stole debit card information from a man she visited for a prostitution date in his Manhattan apartment.  When he died of an overdose, Clermont used the deceased man’s identity to make tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases.  She has now pled guilty to fraud and faces time in federal prison.  This case demonstrates that in reality, those who commit debit card fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”      

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and Indictment to which CLERMONT pled guilty:

The NYPD and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York have been investigating the overdose death of a male individual (the “Victim”), who was found dead on the morning of February 1, 2017, in his apartment at 250 East 53rd Street in Manhattan, New York (the “Victim Apartment”).  During the course of that investigation, law enforcement learned that CLERMONT visited the Victim for a prostitution date at the Victim Apartment the previous evening (January 31, 2017), and stole two debit cards from his wallet.  CLERMONT then used the stolen debit card information to make or attempt to make more than $20,000 in fraudulent purchases during the months following the Victim’s death, including to pay her rent and phone bills, purchase flights, and make several online purchases of thousands of dollars of clothing and other merchandise.

CLERMONT also created and used a fake email account in the Victim’s name to falsely represent to third parties that she was the Victim, in order to commit fraud using the Victim’s identity.  Specifically, on or about April 3, 2017, approximately two months after the Victim’s death, the fake email account was used to register an account with Western Union in the name of the Victim, which was used to initiate a fraudulent money transfer of $1,000 from the Victim to CLERMONT.                                                                                                                                                                               CLERMONT, 24, of Georgia, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.  Sentencing before Judge Buchwald is scheduled for February 13, 2019 at 2:30pm.

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

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

Four Individuals Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Participating In A Scheme To Defraud Users Of A Dating Website

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the filing of charges against DAVID JONES, DAVID DUWAYNE TAYLOR, KRISTIN KNIGHT, and DESTINY BISHOP for engaging in a scheme by which they fraudulently duped their victims into believing that they had sent sexually explicit images to underage children and faced criminal prosecution if they did not pay to avoid involvement by law enforcement. 

TAYLOR, KNIGHT, and BISHOP were presented in federal court in South Carolina on October 18 and 19, 2018.  BISHOP was presented on Friday, October 26, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison in White Plains federal court and released on a personal recognizance bond.  KNIGHT was presented on October 29, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith McCarthy in White Plains federal court and released on a personal recognizance bond.  JONES was presented this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.  TAYLOR is expected to appear in federal court in White Plains in the next several days.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants scared their victims into sending them money by fraudulently convincing them they were in peril of criminal prosecution for child exploitation.  This alleged fraud was not only cruel, it was also profitable for the defendants – until they were arrested.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “These individuals allegedly chose their targets specifically to create vulnerabilities, seeking simply to make a profit through deceit and extortion.  Anyone can fall victim to a criminal scheme, so it is important to remain diligent in text messaging and online communications, and to contact law enforcement if criminal activity is suspected.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed October 18, 2018, in White Plains federal court[1]:

Beginning in August 2017, HSI began identifying various individuals who reported that they had been extorted after using a dating website (the “Website”).  In general, each victim reported communicating on the Website with an individual the victim believed was an adult.  Then, after the victim received and shared sexually-explicit photos with the person the victim believed was an adult, the victim was contacted by a person who claimed that the victim had communicated with an underage minor and needed to pay the minor’s family to prevent law enforcement involvement.  The victims made payments via money transfers through Western Union and Walmart and/or through the purchase of Green Dot MoneyPak cards.

JONES, 28, of Greenville, South Carolina, TAYLOR, 28, of Easley, South Carolina, KNIGHT, 28, of Greer, South Carolina, and BISHOP, 21, of Greenville, South Carolina, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalties 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 efforts of Homeland Security Investigations; the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Police Services Unit; and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in connection with this investigation.

Mr. Berman stated that the investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Homeland Security Investigations at 866-DHS-2-ICE.                        

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