29 ALLEGED “MAC BALLA” GANG MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES INDICTED FOR CRIMES INCLUDING ATTEMPTED MURDER, ASSAULT, SMUGGLING SCALPELS INTO JAILS

COPS THWARTED KILLING, SEIZED .357 MAGNUM FROM DEFENDANTS 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, NYC Department of Correction Commissioner Cynthia Brann and Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett today announced that 29 people have been indicted in an enterprise of violence emanating from Rikers Island to the city’s streets, as well as other crimes. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants allegedly stoked the violence inside the jails by smuggling in scalpels and meting out slashings to inmates. They allegedly stalked robbery victims they saw wearing jewelry on social media, and allegedly ran a crack cocaine business. In a cold-blooded incident, two defendants allegedly set out to shoot a man who had an altercation with the mother of a jailed gang member. Fortunately, investigators on this case got the information, the shooting was thwarted and a loaded firearm was recovered. 

 “This case illustrates the ongoing fight to dismantle the brutal criminal network which has its hub in Rikers Island, and shows how dangerous this battle can be for our law enforcement officers. I thank them for their dedication and diligence.” 

 NYPD Commissioner O’Neill said, “Today's indictments are another product of the close partnership between the NYPD and the Bronx District Attorney's Office, which continues to make New Yorkers even safer. The people we serve will never stand for gang activity or the violence it foments, either on our streets or inside our jails. Together, we are relentless in our pursuit of true public safety in every corner of New York City.”

 DOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann said, "This investigation and the resulting indictments send a very clear message to anyone who attempts to bring weapons, violence, and drugs into our jails. You will be prosecuted if you commit crimes in custody, and if convicted you will face prison time, even if you beat the charges that originally got you here. Our Correction Intelligence Bureau works tirelessly to keep our officers and those in our custody safe, and that work takes place not only in the jails, but out on the streets, in partnership with our fellow law enforcement agencies."

 DOI Commissioner Garnett said, “Today’s indictments reflect how vitally important law enforcement partnerships are to proactively addressing crime in our City’s jails and protecting the safety of staff and inmates. This investigation successfully targeted the gang and drug activity which fuels violence on Rikers. DOI provided foundational assistance in this investigation, monitoring recorded inmate phone calls and identifying individuals attempting to engage in contraband smuggling and other dangerous criminal activity. DOI thanks the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the New York City Police Department and the Department of Correction for their valuable partnership and commitment to pursuing crimes that threaten to undermine our City’s jail system.”

 District Attorney Clark said 13 of the 29 defendants were arrested during a takedown on December 6-7, 2018, and one was arrested on December 10, 2018. They were arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Lester Adler. Six are not yet apprehended and the remaining nine are currently incarcerated. They were variously charged in seven indictments. The defendants are due back in court on March 15, 2019.

 The investigation by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, NYPD Bronx Gangs, NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Division, NYC Department of Correction and the NYC Department of Investigation began a year ago and involved wiretapping and electronic surveillance.

 According to an indictment, defendants Donte Joe and Michael Winn are charged with second-degree Conspiracy, Attempted Murder second-degree, and Attempted Assault and Criminal Possession of Weapon charges in the June 29, 2018 incident. The two defendants allegedly set out to kill an individual who had an altercation with defendant Althea Michelle Hogan, mother of defendant Michael Robinson. They drove to Harlem in search of the individual, and when they could not find the target they said in a phone call that they saw the target’s brother, and would “just do him in.” Police officers on patrol apparently unnerved the defendants and they headed back to the Bronx, where they were stopped by members of the investigative team and a loaded .357 Magnum revolver was recovered. If convicted of the charges, the two defendants could face up to 25 years in prison.

 According to an indictment, Jamar Williams, alleged member of the “Mac Balla” set of the Bloods who was incarcerated in Rikers Island, allegedly directed assaults on three inmates. Defendants Earin Sistrunk, Edwin Toussaint, Keith Rawlins, Jacob Ramirez, Davell Marthone and Michael Hunt allegedly slashed the faces of two “Mac Ballas” who broke gang rules, and sliced open the cheek of a Trinitarios member. He required about 26 stitches for the 8-inch gash. If convicted of Attempted Assault first-degree, they could face up to 15 years in prison. Jacob Ramirez also is charged with Attempted Assault second-degree for trying to slash a Correction Officer.

 The indictment also charges inmates and two women on the outside with conspiring to smuggle 30 scalpel blades and marijuana into the George R. Vierno Center and the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Rikers Island and the Vernon C. Bain Center jail barge.

 According to an indictment, defendants Tashawn Murray and Rodelle Murray allegedly scoured Instagram for photos of people wearing expensive jewelry to develop potential robbery victims. In one incident, on October 12, 2018, they had a female accomplice arrange to meet a man in a hotel, and planned to rob him in the room, then go to the man’s home to steal additional valuables. Investigators alerted the man and he did not meet with the woman. A second robbery was also pre-empted.

 According to an indictment, two defendants are charged with smuggling Suboxone strips into an upstate prison. Suboxone strips are prescribed to treat heroin addiction but are misused to get high. They sold for in excess of $100 each inside Southport Correctional Facility, an ultramaximum security prison in Pine City, NY.

 Other indictments charge defendants with operating crack cocaine operations in the 42nd Precinct in the Bronx, near East 169th Street and Boston Road; and in the 46th Precinct, on Morris Avenue between East 181st Street and Burnside Avenue; and with counterfeiting twenty, and fifty and hundred dollar bills.

 District Attorney Clark thanked her Detective Investigators: Lt. Brian O’Loughlin, DI Marco Conelli, Lt. Rocco Galasso, DI Anthony DeLeon, DI Madelyn Ulerio, DI Therone Eugene, DI Gregory Maloney, DI Nicholas Cavalcanti and DI John Might; and Detective Andro Stambuk of the Bronx DA Squad, Deputy Chief Carlton Starling and Chief Frank Chiara, for their assistance in the investigation.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Adlai Pinney, Don Ramrikhi and Michael Roberts, Sergeant Leo Nugent, Lieutenant Joseph Orrechio and Captain Igor Pinkhasov of the Bronx Gang Squad; as well as Detectives Maria Lopez and John Stoltenborg, Sergeant Joe DeCandia and Sergeant Michael DeCandido of the NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Division, and Detectives Nicholas Ciuffi and Mitchell Geist of Bronx Homicide.

 An indictment is an accusatory instrument and is not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Defendants 

Michael Robinson, 34, Bronx, N.Y. 

Damian Johnson, 56, Bronx, N.Y. 

Michael Winn, 36, Bronx, N.Y. 

Donisha Riggins, 30, Bronx, N.Y. 

Isaac Abban, 24, Bronx, N.Y. 

Sadarielle Creer, 32, Bronx, N.Y. 

Sasha Edwards, 22, Bronx, N.Y. 

Shawn Niblack, 19, Bronx, N.Y. 

Devon McFarlane, 23, Bronx, N.Y. 

Orlen Moodie, 27, Bronx, N.Y. 

Curay Gray, 23, Bronx, N.Y. 

Charisma Gonzalez, 21, Bronx, N.Y. 

Eric Summers, 27, Bronx, N.Y. 

Tashawn Murray, 25, Bronx, N.Y. 

Tyshaun Frazier, 28, Bronx, N.Y. 

Althea Hogan, 52, Manhattan, N.Y. 

Edwin Toussaint, 25, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Erick Olegea, 20, Bronx, N.Y. 

Keith Rawlins, 29, Manhattan, N.Y. 

Rodelle Murray, 29, Bronx, N.Y. 

Defendants Already in Custody 

Donte Joe, 38, Bronx, N.Y. 

Ricky Lott, 33 

Kimani Stephenson, 26 

Michael Hunt, 33 

Earin Sistrunk, 24 

Jeffrey Simon, 36 

Davell Marthone, 22 

Jamar Williams, 32 

Jacob Ramirez, 24

A.G. Underwood Announces Settlement With EmblemHealth To Ensure Health Insurance Coverage For Gender Reassignment Surgery

As Part of Settlement, EmblemHealth Changes Coverage Criteria, Will Pay Full Restitution to Members Plus Penalties to State

  Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood announced a settlement with EmblemHealth, requiring the health insurance company to cover gender reassignment surgery for its members. An investigation by the Attorney General revealed that EmblemHealth’s process of updating criteria for gender reassignment surgery was deficient; that the criteria included in the 2014-2017 Guidelines were outdated and not medically accurate or evidence-based during the time they remained in effect; and that EmblemHealth’s review of member requests, including coverage for mammoplasty as part of gender reassignment surgery, was deficient. 

As part of the settlement, EmblemHealth has updated its Gender Reassignment Surgery Guidelines and will maintain the changes and continue to update its criteria in accordance with formal reviews. EmblemHealth will also provide restitution to members who were improperly denied coverage for gender reassignment surgery, and pay $250,000 in civil penalties to New York State.

“Health plans have a basic obligation to cover medically necessary health care for their transgender members,” said Attorney General Underwood. “My office will continue to protect the rights of transgender New Yorkers and ensure they’re treated with the fairness and dignity they deserve.”

The Attorney General’s office initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint that EmblemHealth improperly denied coverage of gender reassignment surgery to a member based on failure to meet EmblemHealth’s unlawful criteria. 

The Attorney General’s investigation revealed that between January 2014 and July 2017, EmblemHealth received 79 requests for pre-authorization of gender reassignment surgical procedures and that EmblemHealth denied 22 of those requests. The investigation found that EmblemHealth provided misleading and deceptive information to plan members indicating that its 2014-2017 Gender Reassignment Surgery Guidelines were based on current clinical information and standard medical guidelines when they were not – constituting repeated violations of Executive Law § 63 (12) and General Business Law § 349. 

As part of the agreement, EmblemHealth will provide full restitution to members who paid out-of-pocket for gender reassignment surgical procedures after denial of coverage by EmblemHealth. 

New Yorkers with complaints regarding denial of coverage for gender reassignment surgical procedures or other health-care related issues may contact the Attorney General’s Health Care Helpline at 1-800-428-9071.

Bronx Progressives Holiday Mixer

   It was a good year for Bronx Progressives, helping on two key races and getting in County Committee members. That hard work will be built on in 2019 with trying to get people onto community boards. Ms. Samelys Lopez (r) gave a brief review of the Bronx Progressives accomplishments in 2018, then introduced Alama, Omar, and Michael Beltzer who also spoke of the accomplishments of 2018, and what to look forward to in 2019. 

  On hand was John Sanchez the District Manager of Community Board 6, and Ischia Bravo the District Manager of Community Board 7. Over fifty people from across the Bronx had a great time of networking, setting up for 2019, and celebrating the holidays. 

Morris Park Metro North Station Workshop

  

  Above is the map of the four scheduled new Metro North stations for the East Side of the Bronx. Stations are to be located at Coop-City, Morris Park, Parkchester, and Hunts Point to serve the under served East side of the Bronx, and to have train service to the midtown area in less than thirty minutes. 

Tuesday's workshop was at Einstein Hospital, and was well attended. There were many areas set up where peoples opinions of what the community was looking for in and around this new Morris Park Metro North Station could be noted. City agencies such as City Planning, Department of Transportation, Economic Development, and even the Department of Housing preservation were on hand to answer questions and write down suggestions from the people who live, work, or visit the area.

Above - A detailed map of the area as it currently stands was set up across several tables, where people could make notes on post its,and put them on the map for the city to see what the community wanted and where. 

Below - Al D'Angelo (Chair of CB 11, and President Of the Morris Park Community Association) is at one site to give his opinion of what should be done.

Former Commanding Officer of the 50th Precinct says Good-Bye to Community Board 8

  Former 50th Precinct commanding officer Deputy Inspector Terrence O'Toole (L) now Chief O'Toole, and new 50th Precinct commanding officer Captain Emilio Melendez were at Tuesday night's Community Board 8 monthly general board meeting. Chief O'Toole had been the commanding officer at the 50th precinct for three and a half years. Chief O'Toole said his good-byes, and introduced his replacement Captain Melendez. Captain Melendez then took over right where Chief O'Toole had left off.

  This was a very smooth and one of the quickest board meeting for CB8, but the chair of the board Ms. Rosemary Ginty took offence with the local newspaper the Riverdale Press for a very unkind article, and several requests of Freedom of Information Requests (FOIL), which she said were uncalled for. She added that CB 8 and her have nothing to hide, and the FOIL requests will be handled by the District Manager of CB 8 in a timely manner. 

Coop-City 50th Anniversary Gala

   Monday night was the 50th Anniversary of the opening of Coop-City. There were several special guests who showed up to help celebrate this half century mark of Coop-City, and Ms. Linda Berle the President of the Riverbay Board of Directors introduced Mayor Bill de Blasio. The mayor had only good things to say about Riverbay, and Coop-City, while saying that he likes coming to the Bronx especially for events such as this. 

Above - Mayor de Blasio has some words of advice for Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Below - New State Attorney General Letitia James was in the audience with a proclamation for Coop-City on its 50th Anniversary.

Before he left, Mayor de Blasio posed for this picture with Councilman Andy King and his daughter. On his way out I asked the mayor about a Community Benefits Agreement for the Queens community where the new Amazon site is to be located. The mayor just went past, and one of his aides got mad that I asked the question about a CBA of the mayor.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO RENOVATE NYCHA APARTMENTS AND PRESERVE PUBLIC HOUSING

NYCHA 2.0 will resolve $24 billion in repairs, and improve health and safety conditions for all residents

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today unveiled NYCHA 2.0, a comprehensive plan to preserve public housing. This plan will resolve $24 billion in vital repairs to New York City’s aging public housing and ensure residents have the safe, decent and affordable homes they deserve. The ten-year plan will deliver top to bottom renovations for 175,000  residents, fund essential capital repairs across the rest of NYCHA’s portfolio, and launch aggressive new repair strategies to tackle lead paint, mold, elevators, heat and vermin.

Expanding on last month’s Section 8 Conversion plan of 62,000 units, the New York City Housing Authority will also launch three new programs, Build to Preserve, Transfer to Preserve, and Fix to Preserve. Build to Preserve will deliver roughly $2 billion in capital repairs through new development on NYCHA land, while Transfer to Preserve will deliver approximately $1 billion in capital repairs through the sale of unutilized development rights, also known as air rights. Fix to Preserve will improve services, infrastructure maintenance, and immediately address health and safety issues including heating, mold, pests, and lead.

BTP and TTP, along with the Section 8 Conversion plan announced in November, will address an estimated $16 billion in capital need at NYCHA developments. This funding, on top of the expected $8 billion in Federal, state and city capital funding, will enable the Authority to address nearly $24 billion in capital need over the next decade, or up to 75% of NYCHA’s massive $31.8 billion overall capital need. More information on these strategies can be foundhere and here.

“These are the kind of top-to-bottom renovations NYCHA residents have waited decades to see. They will make an enormous difference in the lives of the 400,000 New Yorkers who call NYCHA home and make up the backbone of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor de Blasio. “With new leadership, new resources and new programs, we are going to deliver the change NYCHA residents deserve.”

“NYCHA’s long-deferred capital and maintenance needs are among the greatest challenges we face as a city. NYCHA 2.0 addresses these challenges forcefully and at scale, leveraging public and private resources to make critical improvements both in individual units and in structures, as well as committing the agency to improve service to residents,” said Alicia Glen, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development.

“NYCHA residents need fixes in their homes, and they need them as soon as possible," saidNYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff. “With the release of NYCHA 2.0, we now have a comprehensive plan to deliver nearly $24 billion in major repair needs over the next decade. I thank Mayor de Blasio and his Administration for their staunch support of public housing and look forward to our continued work to make NYCHA a better and more responsive landlord.”

“NYCHA is facing an existential crisis and the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who live in public housing need innovative solutions to big problems. I am happy to see we are getting creative and exploring all possibilities to make things better for residents. They deserve better conditions and they deserve them now,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

PACT to Preserve: Announced in November, the City is addressing $12.8 billion in overdue repairs in 62,000 NYCHA apartments – a third of NYCHA units, housing approximately 140,000 people – through public-private partnerships, including the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. All 62,000 apartments will be converted to Section 8 funding with permanent affordability, and will be maintained and operated by quality private developers. Renovations under this program have already been completed at the 1,395 apartments of Ocean Bay, with 8,900 more units in the process of resident engagement, predevelopment, or development leading to full conversion. All 62,000 units will be completed on a rolling basis by 2028.

Build to Preserve: The City and NYCHA will use a new model to build on underused public-owned land and dedicate 100 percent of the proceeds to make repairs at the surrounding development. The new building program will fund $2 billion in capital repairs across approximately 10,000 NYCHA apartments. New buildings will be subject to Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (“MIH”) levels of affordability and increase the permanently affordable housing stock. NYCHA and the City remain committed to the 10,000 new affordable units, including new senior housing, that were announced in NextGen, in support of the Mayor’s Housing New York 2.0 Plan.

Transfer to Preserve: For the first time, NYCHA will tap into its extensive unused development rights, or “air rights.” By transferring only a portion of the Authority’s approximately 80 million square feet of air rights, NYCHA expects to generate $1 billion in capital repairs for adjacent developments. The first deal is expected to be completed by mid-2019 at Ingersoll Houses.

Fix to Preserve: Building on ongoing improvements to maintenance at NYCHA, Fix to Preserve rapidly addresses five categories of problems immediately affecting residents’ daily lives:

·         Elevators: By 2027, NYCHA will replace 405 elevators at 30 developments, providing reliable service to over 58,000 residents.

·         Heating: NYCHA will expand on previous heat upgrades with the addition of five mobile boilers by 2019 – and full replacement of the 297 lowest-performing boilers by 2026. Further, by next year outages will be restored within an average of twelve hours.

·         Pests: With the installation of door sweeps and rat slabs, and the onboarding of 20 new exterminators, NYCHA will cut the rat population by a quarter by the end of 2019, and by half by the end of 2020.

·         Lead: NYCHA will test over 135,000 apartments built before 1978 by 2020. 

·         Mold: NYCHA will bring all roofs into a state of good repair by 2026. Under the Baez Agreement, complex repair time will drop to 15 days.

The de Blasio Administration has made an unprecedented commitment to preserve and strengthen public housing. This investment is part of the Administration’s total commitment to $2.1 billion to support NYCHA’s capital infrastructure from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2027 and $1.6 billion to support NYCHA’s operations from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2022. This investment includes $1.3 billion to fix over 900 roofs, over $500 million to repair deteriorating exterior brickwork at nearly 400 buildings, and $140 million to improve security at 15 NYCHA developments.

The City has also waived NYCHA’s annual PILOT and NYPD payments to the City, relieving NYCHA of nearly $100 million in operating expenses a year. In January 2018, the Mayor announced $13 million to improve NYCHA’s response to heating emergencies this winter, followed by an additional $200 million for long-term heating improvements at 20 NYCHA developments. 

Crips Gang Member Charged with Attempted Murder of an On-Duty FBI Agent

Defendant’s Girlfriend Also Charged with Lying to the FBI about Witnessing the Shooting

  A criminal complaint was filed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Ronell Watson with attempting to murder a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent and with using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  A separate criminal complaint was also filed today charging Molissa Gangapersad with making false statements to the FBI.  At their initial appearances this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione, Watson was ordered detained and Gangapersad was released on a $500,000 bond.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges.

“Watson showed an utter disregard for human life when he fired multiple shots without provocation at an on-duty FBI Special Agent,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “Despite sustaining a serious gunshot wound, the agent courageously returned fire, hitting Watson, which ultimately led to the defendant’s capture when he sought medical treatment.  Gangapersad will be prosecuted for lying to federal agents after she witnessed her boyfriend’s cold-blooded attack.  The shooting on Saturday should serve as a reminder to all about the danger members of law enforcement face in the course of performing their duties and the debt of gratitude they are owed for putting their lives on the line to protect the community from violent criminals.”  Mr. Donoghue expressed his grateful appreciation to the FBI and the New York City Police Department for its assistance during the investigation and thanked the skilled medical professionals who treated the agent.

“The unprovoked assault of a law enforcement officer is a grievous crime that threatens the safety and security of our communities.  As alleged, Watson demonstrated callous disregard for life when he targeted and then deliberately opened fire on a fellow citizen.  In this instance, that citizen was an FBI Special Agent who fought back.  Today’s charges demonstrate that the FBI and our partners will identify and apprehend anyone and everyone who participated in this violent attack – whether you are the person who pulled the trigger or helped cover up after the fact.  We will pursue every possible investigative lead and legal charge to ensure justice is served,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.  “I also wanted to personally thank our fellow citizens who called 911 in order to get aid dispatched for our agent, and we are very appreciative of the talented medical team who worked on him.  The FBI New York office is tremendously grateful for the superb NYPD response out in Brooklyn, where our agent was treated like one of their own, and for the swift and decisive action by EDNY to bring charges in this case.  Thank you for your professionalism and partnership.”    

As alleged in the complaints and other court documents, on December 8, 2018, an FBI Special Agent was on-duty and parked in an unmarked car on Canarsie Road, a one way street, in Brooklyn.  Watson, a member of the Crips street gang, drove his vehicle the wrong way on Canarsie Road and partially blocked the agent’s car.  Watson approached the driver side door of the agent’s car with one hand inside the front pocket of his hooded sweatshirt.  As the agent maneuvered his car around Watson’s vehicle, Watson pulled out a gun and began firing at the agent as he drove away.  The agent was hit in the torso by one bullet.  The agent then exited his car, drew his firearm and fired at Watson striking him in the hand.  Watson fled the scene in his car and drove to a nearby auto body shop where he left the vehicle.  Watson then sought treatment for his wounds at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center where he falsely claimed that he had been a bystander victim of a gunfight between other individuals.  Law enforcement officers at the hospital then overheard the defendant telephone a female, believed to be Gangapersad, and tell her to go to the house and “get the jewelry and get rid of it.” 

Law enforcement officers responded to Watson’s and Gangapersad’s shared residence.  Gangapersad agreed to a voluntary interview and falsely told FBI agents that she had not seen the shooting.  After being confronted with surveillance video showing that she was on her front porch during the shooting and in a position to observe it, Gangapersad admitted that she had witnessed the incident.  Members of law enforcement searched the residence and found approximately 1.5 pounds of marijuana, $15,000 in cash and a large amount of jewelry in the defendants’ bedroom.  Both defendants were arrested that evening.

The charges in the complaints are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 If convicted of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, Watson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment.  If convicted of lying to the FBI, Gangapersad faces up to five years’ imprisonment.

The Defendants: 

Ronell Watson

Age:  31

Brooklyn, New York

Molissa Gangapersad

Age:  30

Brooklyn, New York