18 Members Of International Fraud And Money Laundering Conspiracy Charged In Manhattan Federal Court

 Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Troy Miller, Director, Field Operations, New York, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), and James P. O’Neill, the Police Commissioner for the City of New York (“NYPD”), today announced the unsealing of an indictment and two superseding indictments charging 18 defendants with participating in an international conspiracy to commit a variety of offenses, including access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Defendants NIKOLAOS LIMBERATOS, a/k/a “Nicu Limberto,” CRISTIAN COSTEA, a/k/a “Momo,” THEOFRASTOS LYMBERATOS, ANDREW ELIOPOULOS, PETER SAMOLIS, KELLY KARKI LAM, and IULIANA MIHAILESCU were arrested this morning and will be presented in federal court in Manhattan before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang later today.  Defendants MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Sobo,”ALIN HANES CALUGARU, IONELA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Pitica,” and GEORGE SERBAN were also arrested this morning and will be presented in federal court in Miami before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren F. Louis later today.  Defendant FLORIAN CLAUDIU MARTIN, a/k/a “Florin Claudiu,” a/k/a “Johnny Ion,” a/k/a “Jane Hotul,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioaie,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioane,” was arrested this morning in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and defendant RAUL IONUT VIDRASAN, a/k/a “Michu,” a/k/a “The Boy,” was arrested this morning in Perugia, Italy.  Defendants VALENTIN PETRESCU, a/k/a “Gico Cosmin Giscan,” a/k/a “Zoltan Pruma,” DRAGOS DIACONU, MADLIN ALEXANDRU ANCA, a/k/a “Mateo Fernandez Alejandro,” and CRISTIAN ULMANU, a/k/a “Boris Moravec,” are currently in custody on other charges and will be transferred to federal custody in New York and presented at a later date.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, the defendants participated in a wide-ranging international ATM skimming and money laundering operation, using their technological know-how to steal tens of millions of dollars from financial institutions and individual victims.  Thanks to the FBI, CBP, and the NYPD, the defendants are in custody and facing felony charges for their alleged offenses.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “An extremely frustrating thing to experience, you grab cash from an ATM but then find out your bank information was stolen and your account drained.  The scheme detailed here cost victims money, time, and effort to get their finances returned and their identities restored, which can be an infuriating long process.  The FBI New York Cyber Crimes Task Force and our law enforcement partners have worked exhaustively to find the members of this criminal organization, and the arrests and charges are a testament to their hard work stopping these thieves from creating more havoc for anyone trying to access their hard-earned money.”

CBP Director of New York Field Operations Troy Miller said:  “This case serves as a great example of collaborative law enforcement efforts to combat international debit card schemes.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection in coordination with our partners at FBI and the NYPD will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that criminals associated with transnational criminal organizations are brought to justice.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “The NYPD and its law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that leverage attacks against our cyber infrastructure.  We comprehensively confront everything from highly-sophisticated transnational groups, like this one, to those criminals who exploit our citizens with cyber-enabled scams.  I want to thank our federal partners and NYPD detectives for their coordination and tireless efforts in bringing this important case.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and Superseding Indictments[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

From 2014 until September 2019, FLORIAN CLAUDIU MARTIN, a/k/a “Florin Claudiu,” a/k/a “Johnny Ion,” a/k/a “Jane Hotul,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioaie,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioane,” ALEX DONATI, RAUL IONUT VIDRASAN, a/k/a “Michu,” a/k/a “The Boy,” MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Sobo,” NIKOLAOS LIMBERATOS, a/k/a “Nicu Limberto,” CRISTIAN COSTEA, a/k/a “Momo,” ALIN HANES CALUGARU, IONELA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Pitica,” THEOFRASTOS LYMBERATOS, ANDREW ELIOPOULOS, VALENTIN PETRESCU, a/k/a “Gico Cosmin Giscan,” a/k/a “Zoltan Pruma,” PETER SAMOLIS, KELLY KARKI LAM, GEORGE SERBAN, DRAGOS DIACONU, MADLIN ALEXANDRU ANCA, a/k/a “Mateo Fernandez Alejandro,” CRISTIAN ULMANU, a/k/a “Boris Moravec,” and IULIANA MIHAILESCU participated in a transnational organization that engaged in what is colloquially referred to as “ATM skimming” (the “Skimming Organization”).  The Skimming Organization unlawfully obtained victim accountholders’ debit card account information by using advanced technological devices to surreptitiously record the debit card numbers and personal identification numbers at automatic teller machines (“ATMs”), and then manufacturing counterfeit and fraudulent debit cards that bore the victim accountholders’ account information.  The Skimming Organization’s members then used those cards to fraudulently withdraw cash from victims’ bank accounts.

Certain of the defendants directed, or worked in, teams that the Skimming Organization deployed across the United States in order to carry out ATM skimming attacks, casing ideal locations for the attacks, installing skimming devices on ATMs, removing those devices, and cashing out large numbers of fraudulent debit cards manufactured as a result of the skimming operations.  Other defendants assisted in receiving packages containing skimming devices or component parts that were shipped from other parts of the U.S. and from abroad.  Other defendants assisted in engineering the skimming devices that the Skimming Organization used.  Still other defendants laundered the proceeds of the skimming attacks through bank accounts, properties, businesses, and the transportation of bulk cash.

The defendants carried out hundreds of ATM skimming operations across the U.S., including in New York and at least 17 other states.  The scheme defrauded financial institutions and individual victims of more than $20 million.

Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 7 ½ years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed.  FLORIAN CLAUDIU MARTIN, a/k/a “Florin Claudiu,” a/k/a “Johnny Ion,” a/k/a “Jane Hotul,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioaie,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioane,” MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Sobo,” NIKOLAOS LIMBERATOS, a/k/a “Nicu Limberto,” CRISTIAN COSTEA, a/k/a “Momo,” ALIN HANES CALUGARU, and KELLY KARKI LAM are also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  FLORIAN CLAUDIU MARTIN, a/k/a “Florin Claudiu,” a/k/a “Johnny Ion,” a/k/a “Jane Hotul,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioaie,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioane” is also charged with two counts of bank fraud, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.  ALEX DONATI is also charged with one count of access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. 

The statutory maximum and minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.  A chart with the defendants’ ages, places of residence, and nationalities is below.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, CBP, and the NYPD, and thanked the United States Postal Inspection Service, INTERPOL-Rome, INTERPOL-Mexico City, and Mexico’s Agencia de Investigación Criminal and Instituto Nacional de Migración for their assistance.  

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

Defendant	Age	Place of Residence	Nationality
FLORIAN CLAUDIU MARTIN, a/k/a “Florin Claudiu,” a/k/a “Johnny Ion,” a/k/a “Jane Hotul,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioaie,” a/k/a “Petru Andrioane,”	44	Cabo San Lucas, Mexico	Romania
ALEX DONATI	51	Cabo San Lucas, Mexico	Romania
RAUL IONUT VIDRASAN, a/k/a “Michu,” a/k/a “The Boy”	27	Perugia, Italy	Romania
MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Sobo”	44	Cooper City, Florida	Romania
NIKOLAOS LIMBERATOS, a/k/a “Nicu Limberto”	53	Deer Park, New York	Greece
CRISTIAN COSTEA, a/k/a “Momo”	44	Queens, New York	Romania
ALIN HANES CALUGARU	39	Sunny Isles, Florida	Romania
IONELA CONSTANTINESCU, a/k/a “Pitica”	35	Cooper City, Florida	Romania
THEOFRASTOS LYMBERATOS	36	Queens, New York	United States
ANDREW ELIOPOULOS	34	Queens, New York	United States
VALENTIN PETRESCU, a/k/a “Gico Cosmin Giscan,” a/k/a “Zoltan Pruma”	32	Russellville, Arkansas	Romania
PETER SAMOLIS	30	Queens, New York	United States
KELLY KARKI LAM	42	New York, New York	United States
GEORGE SERBAN	32	Miami, Florida	Romania
DRAGOS DIACONU	41	Nashville, Tennessee	Romania
MADLIN ALEXANDRU ANCA, a/k/a “Mateo Fernandez Alejandro”	22	Nashville, Tennessee	Romania
CRISTIAN ULMANU, a/k/a “Boris Moravec”	54	Russellville, Arkansas	Romania
IULIANA MIHAILESCU	42	Queens, New York	Romania

 

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

Lev Parnas And Igor Fruman Charged With Conspiring To Violate Straw And Foreign Donor Bans

Defendants Orchestrated Scheme to Advance Their Business Interests and the Political Interests of At Least One Ukrainian Government Official Through Contributions and Donations to Multiple Candidates and Campaign Committees in Violation of Campaign Financ

 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 that LEV PARNAS, IGOR FRUMAN, DAVID CORREIA and ANDREY KUKUSHKIN were charged in a four-count indictment alleging that each of the defendants conspired to violate the ban on foreign donations and contributions in connection with federal and state elections.  In addition, PARNAS and FRUMAN were charged with conspiring to make contributions in connection with federal elections in the names of others, and with making false statements to and falsifying records to obstruct the administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”).  PARNAS and FRUMAN were arrested yesterday evening at Washington Dulles International Airport and will be presented at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff in the Eastern District of Virginia.  KUKUSHKIN was arrested yesterday in California and will be presented at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in the Northern District of California.  CORREIA remains at large.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken in the Southern District of New York.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants broke the law to gain political influence while avoiding disclosure of who was actually making the donations and where the money was coming from.  They sought political influence not only to advance their own financial interests but to advance the political interests of at least one foreign official – a Ukrainian government official who sought the dismissal of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.  Protecting the integrity of our elections – and protecting our elections from unlawful foreign influence – are core functions of our campaign finance laws.  And as this Office has made clear, we will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute those who engage in criminal conduct that draws into question the integrity of our political process.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Campaign finance laws exist for a reason.  The American people expect and deserve an election process that hasn’t been corrupted by the influence of foreign interests, and the public has the right to know the true source of campaign contributions.  These allegations aren’t about some technicality, a civil violation, or an error on a form.  This investigation is about corrupt behavior and deliberate law breaking.  The FBI takes the obligation to tackle corruption seriously – there are no exceptions to this rule.”

According to the Indictment[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

Through its election laws, Congress prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions, donations, and certain expenditures in connection with federal, state, and local elections.  The election laws also prohibit individuals from using straw donors to make legal contributions in their own names, rather than in the name of the true source of the funds.  The purpose of these laws is to prevent the electoral system from illegal foreign influence, and to further inform candidates, their campaign committees, federal regulators and the public of the true sources of contributions.  In or about 2018, the defendants violated these laws by, among other things, agreeing to facilitate foreign donations to federal and state candidates, and agreeing to make straw donations to federal candidates in an effort to conceal true sources of the funds. 

The Straw Donor Scheme

In or about March 2018, PARNAS and FRUMAN began attending political fundraising events in connection with federal elections and making substantial contributions to candidates, joint fundraising committees, and independent expenditure committees with the purpose of enhancing their influence in political circles and gaining access to politicians.  PARNAS and FRUMAN, who had no significant prior history of political donations, sought to advance their personal financial interests and the political interests of at least one Ukrainian government official with whom they were working.

In or about May 2018, to obtain access to exclusive political events and gain influence with politicians, PARNAS and FRUMAN made a $325,000 contribution to an independent expenditure committee (“Committee-1”) and a $15,000 contribution to a second independent expenditure committee (“Committee-2”).  Despite the fact that the FEC forms for these contributions required PARNAS and FRUMAN to disclose the true donor of the funds, they falsely reported that the contributions came from Global Energy Producers (“GEP”), a purported liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) import-export business that was incorporated by FRUMAN and PARNAS around the time the contributions were made.  In truth and in fact, the donations to Committee-1 and Committee-2 did not come from GEP funds.  Rather, the donations came from a private lending transaction between FRUMAN and third parties, and never passed through a GEP account.  PARNAS and FRUMAN deliberately made the contributions in GEP’s name in order to evade federal reporting requirements and to conceal that they were the true source of the contributions, including so as to hide from creditors the fact that they had access to funding.  When media reports about the GEP contributions first surfaced, an individual working with PARNAS remarked, “[t]his is what happens when you become visible . . . the buzzards descend,” to which PARNAS responded, “[t]hat’s why we need to stay under the radar. . . .” 

Among other donations alleged to have been made in furtherance of the scheme, in or about May and June 2018, PARNAS and FRUMAN committed to raise $20,000 or more for a then-sitting U.S. Congressman (“Congressman-1”).  At and around the same time PARNAS and FRUMAN committed to raising those funds for Congressman-1, PARNAS met with Congressman-1 and sought Congressman-1’s assistance in causing the U.S. Government to remove or recall the then-U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (the “Ambassador”).  PARNAS’s efforts to remove the Ambassador were conducted, at least in part, at the request of one or more Ukrainian government officials.  Moreover, in an effort to reach their contribution commitment to Congressman-1 and further their political goals, in or about June 2018, after FRUMAN had already made a maximum $2,700 contribution to Congressman-1, FRUMAN paid for another maximum $2,700 contribution to Congressman-1 that was made and reported in PARNAS’s name.

In response to a complaint filed with the FEC regarding the $325,000 contribution to Committee-1, and to further conceal the true source of the funds used to make certain of their donations, in or about October 2018, PARNAS and FRUMAN submitted sworn affidavits to the FEC that contained false statements, including that the contribution to Committee-1 “was made with GEP funds for GEP purposes” and that  “GEP is a real business enterprise funded with substantial bona fide capital investment; its major purpose is energy trading, not political activity.”

The Foreign Donor Scheme

Beginning in or around July 2018, PARNAS, FRUMAN, CORREIA, and KUKUSHKIN made plans to form a recreational marijuana business (the “Business Venture”) that would be funded by Foreign National-1, a Russian national, and required gaining access to retail marijuana licenses in particular states, including Nevada (the “Business Venture”).  To further the Business Venture, PARNAS, FRUMAN, CORREIA, and KUKUSHKIN planned to use Foreign National-1 as a source of funding for donations and contributions to state and federal candidates and politicians in Nevada, New York, and other states to facilitate acquisitions of retail marijuana licenses. 

In or about September and October 2018, CORREIA drafted a table of political donations and contributions, which was subsequently circulated to the defendants and Foreign National-1.  The table described a “multi-state license strategy” to make between $1million and $2 million in political contributions to federal and state political committees.  The table also included a “funding” schedule of two $500,000 transfers.  Foreign National-1 then arranged for two $500,000 wires on or about September 18, 2018, and October 16, 2018, to be sent from overseas accounts to a U.S. corporate bank account controlled by FRUMAN and another individual. 

PARNAS, FRUMAN, CORREIA, and KUKUSHKIN then used those funds transferred by Foreign National-1, in part, to attempt to gain influence and the appearance of influence with politicians and candidates.  For example, on or about October 20, 2018, PARNAS, FRUMAN, and KUKUSHKIN attended a campaign rally for a candidate for a statewide office in Nevada (“Candidate-1”), at which a different Nevada state candidate was present (“Candidate-2”). Following that event, on or about November 1, 2018, a donation in the amount of $10,000 was made to Candidate-2 in FRUMAN’s name, but it was funded with funds from Foreign National-1.  On or about November 1, 2018, a donation in the amount of $10,000 was made to Candidate-1 in FRUMAN’s name, but it was funded with funds from Foreign National-1.  On or about November 4, 2018, PARNAS asked KUKUSHKIN to arrange for additional funding from Foreign National-1 to make an additional donation to Candidate-1, to which KUKUSHKIN responded that the $1 million Foreign National-1 had already provided to GEP was “in order to cover all the donations whatsoever.”  Further communications confirm the defendants’ use of foreign funds – and, in particular, funds from Foreign National-1 – to make the donations described above.  For example, on or about October 30, 2018, Foreign National-1 wrote to PARNAS, FRUMAN, and KUKUSHKIN that he had “fulfilled all my obligations completely,” including “500 [for] Nevada” in order to “work on obtaining licenses [in] these states.”  KUKUSHKIN similarly noted in response that “Money transferred by [Foreign National-1] to [GEP] was to support the very specific people & states (per [FRUMAN’s] table) in order to obtain green light for licensing.” 

Although PARNAS, FRUMAN, CORREIA, and Foreign National-1 continued to meet into the spring of 2019, the Business Venture did not come to fruition.

PARNAS, 47, FRUMAN, 53, CORREIA, 44, all Florida residents, and KUKUSHKIN, 46, a California resident, are each charged with one count of conspiring to violate the ban on foreign donations and contributions in connection with federal and state elections, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  PARNAS and FRUMAN are also each charged with one count of conspiring to make contributions in connection with federal elections in the names of others, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of falsifying records to obstruct the administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the FEC, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

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

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

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations.  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 therein should be treated as an allegation.

Tech Start-Up Busted By AG James For Swindling Investors Out Tens Of Millions Of Dollars

Cardis Enterprises Falsely Claimed it Could Cut Costs for Small Businesses

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced she has secured default judgments in a securities fraud lawsuit against a host of entities and individuals associated with Cardis Enterprises International, Inc. for defrauding investors out of at least $30 million.

“Individuals who sell false promises and commit fraud will be held responsible for their misdeeds,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “We will continue to seek justice for small business proprietors who fall victim to the greed of those intent on breaking the law. New Yorkers can rest assured that my office will always fight to hold companies that aim to defraud investors and tarnish the name of honest businesses accountable for their lies and deceitful actions.”

Cardis, a now defunct Long Island-based technology startup, claimed to possess patented and proprietary technology that would make low-value credit card transactions less expensive for merchants. Historically, low-value credit card transactions have posed a problem for merchants because they include a fixed fee — regardless of the size of the transaction — which has had the effect of severely depressing margins. But Cardis raised tens of millions of dollars from investors in stock sales and loans through a steady drumbeat of false representations, including: 1) that it was on the verge of monetizing its technology through partnerships with prominent companies and 2) an initial public offering (IPO) or buyout of Cardis was on the horizon. 

In fact, many of Cardis’ purported partnerships did not advance beyond preliminary discussions, and there was never an IPO or buyout ever actually on the horizon. Cardis even failed to maintain basic books and records, making the notion of an IPO or buyout impossible.

In December 2018, the New York Attorney General’s Office filed suit against Cardis and company personnel Aaron Fischman, Stephen Brown, Steven Hoffman, and Seth Rosenblatt for participating in the fraudulent marketing of Cardis to investors. The complaint further alleged that, while Cardis was raising significant investor funds, Fischman was fraudulently diverting much of the proceeds to enrich himself, family members, and his favored charities. Additionally, the complaint alleged that Lawrence Katz — Cardis’ in-house attorney — aided in Fischman’s theft and diversion of investor funds from the company’s principal bank account, which was an Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) in the name of his law firm.

Last week, Attorney General James secured default judgments against Cardis and a number of Cardis-related entities, including Choshen Israel LLC, a company controlled by Fischman. Attorney General James also secured default judgments against a number of Fischman’s relatives, including Nina Fischman, Rafaela Fischman, Alexander Fischman, Anne Shimanovich, and Ethel Weissman — all of whom were personally enriched through Fischman’s fraud.

Prior to filing the lawsuit, the New York Attorney General’s Office entered into an assurance of discontinuance with Cardis’ then-current Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Nierenberg. Under the assurance of discontinuance, Nierenberg agreed to cease working for Cardis (or any affiliated entity) and to refrain from participating in any business activities related to Cardis, except for the winding down of the company. As part of his settlement with the New York Attorney General’s Office, Nierenberg incurred a monetary penalty of $100,000 and was barred from participating in the securities industry for five years. 

The case remains ongoing with several motions pending, including a motion for leave to amend the complaint to re-plead claims against Brown (who was previously dismissed from the case) and the remaining defendants. 

The investigation of Cardis was prompted by investor complaints to the Investor Protection Bureau in the Office of the New York Attorney General. Those with information about possible investment fraud are encouraged to submit a complaint online. Additionally, for those who wish to report fraudulent conduct without compromising their identity, the Office of the New York Attorney General launched a secure whistleblowing system — the N.Y.A.G. Whistleblower Portal — that allows for the simple and secure transmission of information and two-way anonymous communication.

Team Ritchie - Trump is STILL trying to build his wall

Team,

We know how chaotic the news cycle is right now. Such is life in the Trump era.

 

But as House Democrats grapple with how best to hold this lawless president accountable, we can’t forget that the Trump administration is still trying to erect a ridiculous wall on our southern border -- and they want to use funds intended for military projects and schools to do it. So much for Mexico paying for it?

 

We can’t let the Trump administration get away with using our tax dollars for a border wall that nobody wants. They’re counting on us being too distracted to notice. Please sign our petition today to show them that you‘re paying attention.

 

Donald Trump is still obsessed with a vanity project that only serves to appease the xenophobic faction of his base -- and it’s up to us to speak out against this border wall. Sign our petition today to let the Trump administration know where you stand.

-- Team Ritchie

Paid for by Ritchie Torres for Congress

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Here is another candidate running for the 15th Congressional District who can't wait for 2020 (if elected) to fight Donald Trump in his second term as president. Why is candidate Torres not trying to put a Democrat in the White House?

Links have not been put up because they lead to donations.

Michael Blake for Congress - Does He Want to Fight President Donald Trump in 2020

The following came from Michael Blake for Congress

I’ll make this short and sweet: I’m asking to keep up the fight against Donald Trump. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen this dangerous president: -- Obstruct justice and coerce staffers to avoid testifying -- Tell two foreign governments to tip the election to his favor -- Intimidate and threaten the whistleblower who called him out Enough is enough.  I called for impeachment months ago -- but the evidence has never been more clear. We need leaders who are willing to speak truth to power. Will you elect a Congress that will stop at nothing to hold Trump accountable?   Onward,   Michael Paid for by Michael Blake for Congress Editor's Note: We question why candidate for congress Michael Blake wants to hold President Trump accountable after the 2020 election, and there is no reference to electing a Democrat as President, What is Michael Blake trying to tell us, Any reference to donations were deleted.

THREE BRONX BROTHERS SENTENCED TO PRISON IN SEX TRAFFICKING OPERATION; PROMISED WOMEN JOBS AS DANCERS IN MUSIC VIDEOS, THEN FORCED THEM INTO PROSTITUTION

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that three Bronx men who are brothers have been sentenced to prison and must register as sex offenders after pleading guilty to Sex Trafficking and Kidnapping of women they lured with promises of video dancer jobs only to force them to be prostitutes. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “These defendants ran a brutal prostitution business. They preyed on teenage girls and young women, luring them with promises of a glamorous job and then holding them captive as prostitutes. Now they have been held accountable for demeaning and debasing their victims.” 

 District Attorney Clark said Mijsach Thompson, AKA “ATM Billz,” 21, of Melrose Avenue, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison and 10 years post-release supervision after pleading guilty to two counts of Sex Trafficking, second-degree Kidnapping and Criminal possession of a Firearm; Mizraim Thompson, AKA “Racked Up Rally,” 22, of Melrose Avenue, was sentenced to five years in prison and six years post-release supervision after pleading guilty to Sex Trafficking and second-degree Kidnapping; and Cordell Cooke, AKA “K, Kooli,” 29, of Melrose Avenue, was sentenced to eight years in prison and eight years post-release supervision after pleading guilty to two counts of Attempted Sex Trafficking. All three defendants must register with the state Sex Offender Registry.

The investigation began in April 2017 when one of the victims went to a Bronx hospital and told authorities she had been held captive by Mijsach Thompson and Cordell Cooke. The victim said she had been recruited to be a dancer in a music video, but when she arrived at the apartment she was kept there and forced to have sex with men who saw her advertised on the now-defunct website Backpage. During that time, she was choked by Cooke as well as raped by Cooke and Mijsach Thompson and subjected to other acts of violence, as were two other victims. There were numerous other victims identified in their prostitution enterprise.

District Attorney Clark thanked Anthony Scoma of the New York City Department of Correction; and Detective Judith Moreno and Analyst Anastasia Clark of the New York City Police Department’s Human Trafficking Team, under the supervision of Lieutenant Christopher Sharpe, Sergeant Faoud Zahirudin, Captain Thomas Milano, and Inspector James Klein, Commanding Officer of the Vice Enforcement Division, for their work on the investigation.

MAN INDICTED FOR POSSESSING FORGED CHECK AND STEALING $40,000 FROM ELDERLY BRONX WOMAN

Defendant Used Forged JPMorgan Chase Check; Withdrew Funds From Several TD Bank Locations

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a man has been indicted for possessing a forged a check and stealing $40,000 from an 85-year-old Bronx woman’s bank account. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly stole thousands of dollars from the victim by using a bogus check and possessing the victim’s forged signature. The elderly victim had to go through a terrible ordeal after realizing she was missing $40,000 from her bank account. We will prosecute anyone who preys on our vulnerable, elderly community members.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Daniel Brown, 29, of Saint John’s Avenue, Hicksville, N.Y., was arraigned today on third and fourth-degree Grand Larceny, Petit Larceny, second-degree Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, and first, second and third-degree Identity Theft, and third, fourth and fifth-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Margaret Clancy. The defendant is due back on December 18, 2019. 

According to the investigation, on February 8, 2018, the defendant stole $40,000 from an 85-year-old woman who resides in the Bronx. The defendant allegedly stole the funds by using the victim’s JPMorgan Chase account number, her name, address and supposed signature on a forged check. Brown deposited the check into his personal TD Bank account. Between February 9 and 11, 2018, the defendant went to a teller at five different bank locations and allegedly withdrew the funds. Brown also created an online checking account using the victim’s information. The defendant was arrested on April 25, 2019.

District Attorney Clark thanked Bronx DA Detective Investigator Louis Zanieri and Assistant District Attorney Jeannette Rucker, Chief of Support Staff Training and Professional Development, for their assistance. 

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

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION CRACKS DOWN ON E-CIGARETTE SALES TO MINORS WITH NEW LAWSUIT AGAINST 22 SELLERS

  Mayor de Blasio and Acting Corporation Counsel Georgia M. Pestana today announced that New York City has filed a federal lawsuit against 22 national online e-cigarette vendors for selling their products to underage New Yorkers in an effort to combat the surging use of e-cigarettes by minors. The complaint alleges the online retailers don’t have age verification systems in place and market their addictive goods to minors in violation of City law.

“The kids of New York are the pride of our city, but to these companies, they’re just a source of profit. Preying on minors and hooking them on a potentially lethal, lifelong nicotine addiction is unconscionable,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This lawsuit sends a message: we will do whatever it takes to protect our kids and the health of our city.”

“By selling their addictive and dangerous products to residents under 21 years of age, these defendants have violated a local law which was implemented to stem the epidemic of vaping among young residents and to prevent a new generation from being addicted to nicotine,” said Acting Corporation Counsel Georgia M. Pestana. “While the City Department of Health warns of a sharp rise in vaping among middle and high school students, defendants are targeting their products to these young people, further undermining the public health. We’ve asked the Court to require these retailers to comply with the law and pay damages towards the costs of abating the crisis of underage e-cigarette use within the City.”

“E-cigarette products threaten over a decade worth of progress in fighting nicotine use among kids,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “We don’t want to lose another generation of young people to Big Tobacco. These products are dangerous and we urge anyone who vapes to stop now.”

A joint investigation conducted by the New York City Sheriff’s Office and the New York City Law Department during July and August 2019 focused on the age verification practices of national online retailers and revealed that City residents under the age of 21 were able to freely access the websites of the companies named in the lawsuit and purchase e-cigarette products in violation of Local Law 94 of 2013.

Many of the websites did not use age verification services, which utilize databases of government records to verify the identity and age of purchasers before transactions can be completed. In many cases, purchases went through even though the buyers indicated that they were younger than 21. A number of the defendant companies have been previously cited by the Food and Drug Administration for illegally selling to minors.

New York City has faced the public health crisis caused by tobacco products for many years. Over the last decade, the City has seen a surge of e-cigarette use, especially by minors, even as rates of use of traditional cigarettes by both adults and youth in the City have consistently declined.

As recently as 2017, 1 in 6 New York City public high school students reported having used e-cigarettes within the past month, according to the City Department of Health. That number has likely climbed even further over the last two years in light of the dramatic increase in e-cigarette use nationwide. Preliminary results from a 2019 survey released just last month indicate that 27.5% of high school students nationwide are now current e-cigarette users.  In 2018, 1 in 15 (7%) of New York City public middle school students reported having used e-cigarettes within the past month.

Online e-cigarette retailers, including those named in the lawsuit, target their sales to young people by offering products that taste like candy, children’s breakfast cereals or sugary beverages.

The City has taken extensive action to prevent and discourage the use of e-cigarettes among minors. Retailers are prohibited from selling e-cigarettes and related products to those younger than 21 years old. Additionally, a separate license is required to sell e-cigarettes, and use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in all places where smoking is prohibited, including schools, parks, and many workplaces. Additionally, pharmacies are no longer allowed to sell any tobacco or e-cigarette products.

Literacy and education of the dangers of e-cigarettes is key to the City’s prevention efforts. Last week, The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene launched a bilingual, multi-platform digital media campaign—including Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, Hulu, Facebook, and Google search—to educate teens about the dangers of e-cigarettes. The fast-paced videos, which will run until the end of the year, alert young people to the dangers of nicotine addiction and vaping products, including the presence of toxic chemicals.