CONSTRUCTION COMPANY EXECUTIVE INDICTED FOR DEFRAUDING NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY

Defendant Allegedly Failed to Pay Workers the Prevailing Wage on Public Works Projects

 A 22-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Rakesh Kumar, the President of Orba Construction Company (“Orba”), with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and 21 counts of mail fraud and wire fraud.  The charges stem from Kumar’s alleged misrepresentations to the New York City School Construction Authority (“SCA”) regarding the number of hours worked and wages paid by Orba to employees on New York City public school construction projects.  Kumar was arrested today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr.     

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Margaret Garnett, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation, and Michael Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, announced the charges.

As alleged in the indictment, between 2014 and 2018, Kumar submitted false certified payrolls to the SCA for work performed by Orba employees on SCA-funded projects.  These payroll forms falsely stated that Orba had paid its employees the prevailing wage, as required by the New York State labor law and labor agreements with the SCA, when in fact the employees had been paid far less, often in cash or by checks issued by a related company owned by Kumar.

“As alleged, through his actions, Kumar cheated laborers, who toiled many long days at manual labor, out of their honest and hard-earned wages,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “This Office and our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue employers who illegally enrich themselves at the expense of their workers.”

“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to union members’ wages and benefits,” stated DOL OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Mikulka.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations.”

“Theft of wages has far-reaching effects – stripping hard-working employees of their rightful pay, jeopardizing the financial security of all those who rely on the wage-earner’s income, and creating unfair advantages over companies that do right by their workers,” stated DOI Commissioner Garnett.  “In this case, Orba Construction Corporation for five years siphoned workers’ pay through underreporting hours on doctored payroll reports, according to the charges. DOI will continue working with its partners like the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York to investigate bad actors who steal their employees’ wages.”

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If convicted, Kumar faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each of the mail and wire fraud charges.

The Defendant

RAKESH KUMAR (also known as “Rikki”)

Age:  64

Basking Ridge, New Jersey

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER OF INNOCENT FATHER OF THREE

Defendant Shot Victim Thinking He Was a Rival Gang Member 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a man he thought was a rival gang member. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant senselessly took the life of a man who happened to be in his mini-van in front of a corner deli. The defendant shot the victim six times because he thought he was in a rival gang. We hope today’s sentence brings some closure to the victim’s family in this brutal killing.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Fredrick Jones, 29, of 1106 Adee Avenue, a Bloods gang member, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice David Lewis to 25 years to life in prison for second-degree Murder and 15 years in prison for second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, to run concurrently. The defendant was found guilty of the charges by a jury on October 12, 2018.

 According to the investigation, in the early morning of May 4, 2016, in front of 706 Faile Street, the defendant shot Jose Ingles, 37, of Manhattan, causing his death. The victim was sitting in his car double-parked in front of a deli when the defendant approached the vehicle and shot him six times, striking him in the face, chest and abdomen. Jones shot the victim thinking he was a rival gang member, but he was actually a father of three who was looking for alternate side of the street parking at the time. The incident was caught on video surveillance.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Francis Orlando from Bronx Homicide and NYPD Detective Frank Diaz of the 41st Precinct for their assistance in the investigation.

Bronx Democratic Party Chair Marcos Crespo, and Elected Officials from Across the Bronx Endorse Darcel Clark for Re-Election as Bronx District Attorney

  The Bronx Democratic County organization came out in force Friday to endorse current Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark for re-election. There were members of the City Council, New York State Assembly, various District Leaders, State Committee members, and civic activists in the crowd. The State Senate, and NY Assembly Speaker (and former Bronx Democratic County Leader) Carl Heastie were in Albany as the State Senate was in session and Speaker Heastie working on the state budget. The date of the primary has been moved up from its usual September date to match the federal primary date in June. Petitions are being gathered for Bronx DA Clark and three judges along with slates of Judicial Delegates and Alternates. The petition period began the end of February and runs through the beginning of April just after opening day for the baseball season.   

Above - Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson speaks as to why Bronx DA Darcel Clark should be re-elected. 

Below - City Councilman Ritchie Torres also tells why Bronx DA Clark should be re-elected.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark spoke about her accomplishments as Bronx DA, some of the items she still would like to do, and thanked those gathered for their support and the endorsement of the Bronx Democratic County organization. 

It is unlikely that incumbent DA Clark will have a June Primary, as no other Democratic petition has surfaced. DA Clark is also likely to face token opposition in the November General Election. 

Bronx Borough President Ruben O'Diaz Jr. Irish Heritage Celebration

  Thursday night at the Rambling House in Woodlawn Bronx Borough President Ruben O'Diaz Jr. used one of his little known powers to proclaim that everyone who attended was Irish for the event. BP Diaz Jr. broke from the normal of just handing out awards to the honorees by bringing out a table and chairs so he and the Master of Ceremony Derek Woods could interview the honorees before presenting them their awards. The photos below should tell the rest of the story.

Above - The New York State Courts Fife and Drum unit led the way into the Banquet Room.

Below - Master of Ceremonies Derek Woods greeted everyone.

Above - BP O'Diaz Jr. with Aoife Fleming who sang the Irish National Anthem. 

Below - BP O'Diaz Jr. and MC Derek Woods interview the first honoree ninety-two year old Mr. Michael Fogarty, who went on a tear with his Irish rapping. 

Above - BP O'Diaz Jr. and MC Derek Woods interview the Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. 

Below - BP O'Diaz Jr. and MC Derek Woods interview the Chief of police for the NYPD Chief Terrance A. Monahan. 

A group photo of the Honorees with BP O'Diaz Jr., and the representative of the Irish Consulate. 

One Book One Bronx - Up Next: Training School for Negro Girls

One Book One Bronx returns on Tuesday, March 19, 6:30pm. We'll discuss pages 61-120 (Chapters 6-10) of Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi. We hope to see everyone back at BronxArtSpace, 305 E. 140th St. at 6:30pm

The dates and locations are set for One Book One Bronx's next two books before our summer hiatus. RSVP and join us.

Tuesdays, 6:30pm to 8:00 pm 

April 16, 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2019 

Training School for Negro Girls by Camille Acker 

Location: BronxArtSpace, 305 East 140th St. Bronx 

In her debut short story collection, Camille Acker unleashes the irony and tragic comedy of respectability onto a wide-ranging cast of characters, all of whom call Washington, DC, home. A “woke” millennial tries to fight gentrification, only to learn she’s part of the problem; a grade school teacher dreams of a better DC, only to take out her frustrations on her students; and a young piano player wins a competition, only to learn the prize is worthless. 232 pages >> Click here to RSVP

Tuesdays, 6:30pm to 8:00 pm 

May 28, June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2019 

The Crazy Bunch by Willie Perdomo 

Location: BronxArtSpace, 305 East 140th St. Bronx 

In his fourth collection, The Crazy Bunch, Perdomo returns to his beloved neighborhood to create a vivid, kaleidoscopic portrait of a “crew” coming of age in East Harlem at the beginning of the 1990s. In poems written in couplets, vignettes, sketches, riffs, and dialogue, Perdomo recreates a weekend where surviving members of the crew recall a series of tragic events: “That was the summer we all tried to fly. All but one of us succeeded.” 128 pages >> Click here to RSVP

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 22, 6pm. Join One Book One Bronx and BX Writers for the Bronx launch of Willie Perdomo’s new book, The Crazy Bunch at The Lit.Bar, 131 Alexander Ave, Bronx

Literary Freedom Project is a Bronx-based 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit arts organization that seeks to restore the importance of social and cultural identity through reading. Towards this goal, LFP publishes Mosaic Literary Magazine; develops literature-based lesson plans and workshops; and presents One Book One Bronx and Mosaic Literary Conference.

LFP is a member of the Urban Arts Cooperative.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj Prom Dress Giveaway April 12th

State of the District and Women's History Month Celebration by Councilman Andy King.

  Councilman Andy King likes to do things in a big way. He is waiting to march into his Annual State of the 12th City Council District Address, but the day was also his Woman of Excellence Awards Saluting Women in Education. To top off the day it was Councilman Andy Kings birthday. 

  Former Councilman, and newly elected NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams stopped by to thank Councilman King for his help in winning the 82nd and 83rd Assembly districts in the Bronx that make up the 12th City Council district. Public Advocate Williams also won the 81st Assembly District. 

  The Thirteen honorees included Dr. Claudia V. Schrader President of Kingsborough Community College, Deputy Chancellor Cheryl Wattson-Harris, Principal Celina Gutierrez  PS 111, Assistant Principal Esmie Gaynor Bronx Aerospace H.S., Assistant Principal Luz Libiano H,S, for Contemporary Arts, Assistant Principal Theresa Wyre H.S. for Writing and Communications, Librarian Myra Kinkle Evander Childs H.S. Campus, Teacher Felicia Passarella MS 118, Teacher Audrey Cooper PS 121, Parent Coordinator Marilyn Cattouse Cronx Alliance M.S., School Secretary Iris Tirado H.S. for Contemporary Arts, and Khema Chan Leaders for Tomorrow M.S.

 Councilman Andy King was introduced by First Lady Neva Shillingford-King and First Grandchild Kaitlyn King. There was a video of the many accomplishments of the Andy King years, and what improvements have come to the district. Councilman Andy King came in with the Evander Campus Cheerleaders to give out the Women of Excellence awards. 

Above - Newly elected NYC Public Advocate Williams came to the Bronx to thank Councilman Andy King for helping him win the 82nd, 83rd, and even 81st Assembly districts in the Bronx.

Below - Members of Councilman King's Bronx Youth Empowerment Program. 

Above - Kaitlyn "The Council Girl, and Neva Shillingford-King introduce Councilman Andy King.

Below - The presentation of the Women of Excellence Awards in the 12th City Council District by Councilman Andy King.

161st Street BID - Welcome Back Yankees Parade, March 29th

  Aaron Judge’s postcard will be distributed as a free souvenir to schools marching in the Welcome Back Yankees Parade, March 29. World-famous muralist and Bronx native, Andre Trenier, painted Judge in his rookie year and added the emblem when Aaron was named Rookie of the Year. Schools can still register by requesting an application from 161parade@gmail.com.

  The Judge mural, which sits on River Avenue near 158th Street, is only one of two murals of current Yankees. The other, of CC Sabathia, is in honor of his retirement and for the parade.

 Other murals include Mariano, Derek Jeter, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio.

 A set of the 14 original murals is in the collection of the Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown.

 “The parade will connect this generation with the players from as far back as Babe Ruth,” noted Dr. Cary Goodman of the 161 st Street BID. “We’ve invited today’s greats like Aaron Judge to join the parade like The Babe did.”

 The parade is comprised of student athletes, elected officials, bands and celebrities. It will step off from 167th Street and the Grand Concourse at 10 AM. It will finish in front of Yankee Stadium around noon.