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Thursday, February 13, 2020
Third Avenue Business Improvement District - Building Bronx Businesses and Community - Training and Workshops
Third Avenue Business Improvement District - 1 Bronx Pride 2020
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Two Men Charged With Bronx Murder
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging RALPH BERRY and FRANK LOPEZ with the murder of Caprice Jones in the vicinity of 751 East 161 Street, Bronx, New York. BERRY was arrested on Friday in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry S. Perkin. LOPEZ was arrested on Friday in Plano, Texas, and was taken into federal custody on Monday. He will be presented tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine A. Nowak. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Many years have passed since Caprice Jones was murdered, but the detectives of the NYPD continued investigating, working to see that justice would be done. Now, thanks to their extraordinary efforts, in partnership with the Special Agents of our Office, Ralph Berry and Frank Lopez face federal murder charges.”
As alleged in the Indictment[[1]] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
On June 21, 2000, BERRY handed LOPEZ a gun and LOPEZ fired shots in the vicinity of 751 East 161st Street in the Bronx, New York. The shooting was in furtherance of a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Jones was hit during the shooting, and ultimately died from his wounds in 2010 at the age of 42.
BERRY, 52, and LOPEZ, 43, are each charged with murder through use of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and murder in connection with a drug trafficking crime, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the NYPD and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. He also thanked the United States Marshals Service and the Plano Police Department for their assistance with the arrests.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Jermaine Myrie, a/k/a “Rapp,” Sentenced To Over 11 Years In Federal Prison For Sex Trafficking Of A Minor
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JERMAINE MYRIE was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for sex trafficking of a minor female. MYRIE was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood, before whom he previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor. As part of his plea, MYRIE acknowledged that he trafficked a minor female.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Jermaine Myrie previously admitted to unconscionable conduct involving the exploitation of a minor girl who had resided in New York State’s social services system. Today’s lengthy prison term exemplifies the seriousness of Myrie’s crimes against his vulnerable minor victim. We will continue to advocate for the victims of these crimes and urge anyone who might have information that may be relevant to this investigation to contact the FBI at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and other court documents filed in Manhattan federal court:
From at least in or about January 2016 to in or about April 2016, JERMAINE MYRIE, a/k/a “Rapp,” the defendant, participated in a conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of one minor victim (“Minor Victim-1”). The defendant recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, and maintained Minor Victim-1 for the purpose of commercial sex. Prior to being trafficked by MYRIE, Minor Victim-1 previously resided at a residential treatment facility located in Westchester County, which provided housing for at-risk troubled children and adolescents on behalf of department of social services for certain counties in New York State.
The defendant recruited Minor Victim-1 to engage in commercial sex by conveying that he was romantically interested in her. Subsequently, the defendant used the website Backpage.com, an online classifieds website, to post advertisements of Minor Victim-1 for commercial sex. MYRIE directed Minor Victim-1 to engage in commercial sex in particular locations in the Bronx, New York. The defendant used physical violence with Minor Victim-1, including to discourage Minor Victim-1 from working directly for any other pimps.
In addition to his prison sentence, MYRIE, 35, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
MYRIE is the second defendant to be sentenced in this case by Judge Wood for his participation in the sex trafficking of minors.
- Reuben Sands, who pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, was sentenced on December 18, 2019, to a term of 60 months in prison.
This case is part of an ongoing prosecution of 19 defendants, set forth in eight indictments, for the sex trafficking of at least 20 minor girls and young adults in New York State’s social services system. All 19 of the defendants have been convicted, either via guilty plea or following trial. In addition to MYRIE and Sands, three other defendants have also been recently sentenced:
- Christopher Bullock, who pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman on December 6, 2019, to 54 months in prison.
- Cimmie Wright, who pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John F. Keenan on January 15, 2020, to 51 months in prison.
- Dariel Braham, who pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, was sentenced by Judge Furman on January 29, 2020, to 48 months in prison.
Any individuals who believe that they have information that may be relevant to this investigation should contact the FBI at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov.
Mr. Berman thanked the FBI and the NYPD for their outstanding work in this matter and, in particular, the New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Former President Of Labor Union Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison For Demanding And Accepting Bribes
$150,000 in Bribes Demanded from an Employer in Exchange for Not Representing Union Members’ Interests
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GLENN BLICHT, the former president of a labor union (the “Union”), was sentenced to 24 months in prison for violating the Taft-Hartley Act by demanding and accepting approximately $150,000 in bribe payments from an employer (the “Employer”). In exchange for these bribes, BLICHT did not represent Union members’ interests. BLICHT previously pled guilty before United States District Judge Analisa Torres, who also imposed today’s sentence.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As the president of a labor union, Glenn Blicht’s duty was to fight for his union members. Instead, he repeatedly sold them out in exchange for cash bribes, which he spent on luxury items. For this betrayal, he has been sentenced to federal prison.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment to which BLICHT pled guilty, public court filings, and statements made in court:
From 2009 through 2019, BLICHT served as an officer of the Union, including as its president for many years. In that role, BLICHT had a duty to act in the best interests of the Union and its members, including by avoiding personal financial conflicts of interest with the Union. Nevertheless, BLICHT demanded and received cash payments from the Employer, which employed a number of members of the Union. For instance, on July 26, 2019, BLICHT received a $10,000 cash bribe from an official of the Employer at a restaurant in New York, New York; BLICHT was arrested outside this restaurant, in possession of the $10,000 bribe.
In exchange for these bribes, BLICHT repeatedly declined to represent Union members’ interests, such as declining to pursue arbitration claims on their behalf. In total, BLICHT received approximately $150,000 in bribes from the Employer over about 10 years.
BLICHT used the monies he received to purchase luxury items, such as designer watches, custom clothing, tickets to sporting events, meals at expensive restaurants, and cigars.
In addition to his prison term, BLICHT, 57, of Wilton, Connecticut, was ordered to serve two years of supervised release. BLICHT was also ordered to forfeit $150,000 in criminal proceeds. Under the terms of his plea agreement, BLICHT has also agreed to a 13-year ban, which generally prohibits him from, among other things, being employed by a labor union or employee benefit plan, pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §§ 504 and 1111.
Mr. Berman praised the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their outstanding work on the investigation. Mr. Berman also thanked the Department of Justice’s Labor-Management Racketeering Unit of the Organized Crime and Gang Section for its assistance in this case.
NEW JERSEY MAN INDICTED FOR MURDER IN RANDOM STABBING OF BRONX MAN IN UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a New Jersey man has been
indicted on Murder and Manslaughter in the death of a 20-year-old Bronx man.
District Attorney Clark said, “During an unprovoked attack, the defendant stabbed the
victim in the chest, leaving him brain dead. The victim’s family made the tortuous decision to
remove this 20-year-old man from life support. We will pursue justice for the heartbroken family
and friends of the victim.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Edwin Portes, 19, of Elizabeth, N.J., was
arraigned today on second-degree Murder and first-degree Manslaughter before Bronx Supreme
Court Justice George Villegas. The defendant was remanded and is due back in court on April
21, 2020.
According to the investigation, at approximately 2:30 a.m. on December 21, 2019 the
victim, Giovanny Pimentel, 20, was at 2170 University Avenue hanging out with friends. The
defendant allegedly approached with a knife and lunged at the victim, stabbing him once in the
chest. The defendant also lunged at another individual but missed. Pimentel was declared brain
dead on December 22, 2020 at St. Barnabas Hospital and was taken off life support six days later.
The defendant fled to New Jersey and was arrested on January 10, 2020.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Rafael Guzman
and William Seligson of the 46th Precinct Squad, and Police Officer Jacqueline Saturnino of the
Elizabeth, N.J. Police Department for their assistance in the case.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
An update on AOC’s opponents:
Just yesterday, we learned that yet another person jumped into the race to defeat AOC — bringing the grand total to 13 opponents.
Last quarter, they raised nearly $650,000. We believe they could raise even more this quarter. This is money that will be funneled into attack ads, negative mailers, and brazen lies about AOC and our movement. But you can help us fight back.
Here’s the logic: Keeping AOC focused on the issues in Congress is critically important. We want her fighting for a Green New Deal, not batting down brazen lies by corporate Democrats or Republicans on the campaign trail.
If we can match what these opponents have raised in just a month, then we’ll be ready to defend ourselves against most of what they throw our way. Then, we can keep AOC fighting for progressive legislation on Capitol Hill and electing progressive allies across the country.
We knew that the establishment and corporate special interests would try to strike back. But our progressive movement is stronger than they could ever imagine. We’re ready for this.
In solidarity,
Team AOC
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
OcasioCortez.com - New Hampshire Primary
According to the latest national poll, Bernie Sanders is in the lead to WIN the Democratic nomination for President. This movement has incredible momentum.
As we speak, voters are casting their ballots in New Hampshire. If Bernie can pull off a strong victory there, we’ll be in great shape to win this whole race.
Now that Bernie is leading, special interests are going to turbo-charge his opponents to try and buy their way into the lead.
That means new attack ads, negative mailers, and more. Bernie needs our help to make sure we can win this fight for social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
This is our time. We’re not waiting for another one.
Team AOC