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In Jewish religion the day begins at sundown, so Thursday night was the first day of Chanukah with Loreto Park as the site to light the Morris Park Menorah. Rabbi Saabia Pewzner was joined by Councilman Mark Gjonaj, New York State Assembly members Michael Benedetto and Nathalia Fernandez, Female District Leader Irene Estrada, Steve Glosser of the Bronx Jewish Community Council, and members of the Morris Park community.
Rabbi Pewzner showed a video of Chanukah around the world and then spoke about the holiday here. Councilman Gjonaj, Assemblyman Benedetto, Assemblywoman Fernandez, and District Leader Estrada all spoke, and then it was on to light the middle and ninth candle that is used to light the other candles one more each day of the holiday. Only one other candle to signify the first night of Chanukah was lit. Assemblywoman Fernandez lit the middle candle, and Rabbi Pewzner lit the end candle for day one of Chanukah. Each night another candle is lit until the eight day when all eight candles plus the middle candle are lit.
Above - Rabbi Pewzner explains the holiday of Chanukah as Councilman Mark Gjonaj stands next to him.
Below - Assemblyman Michael Benedetto whose district Loreto Park is located in says a few words about Chanukah , and what the holiday means to him.
Below - Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez goes up the ladder to light the middle candle of the Menorah.
Payments Are the Sixth Distribution in a Series of Payments That Together Will Constitute the Largest Payment of Forfeited Funds in the History of the Department of Justice’s Victim Compensation Program
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Attorney General Bill Barr, Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that the Madoff Victim Fund established by the Department of Justice began its sixth distribution to victims of funds forfeited to the United States Government in connection with the Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (“BLMIS”) fraud scheme. The distribution will include approximately $488 million in additional funds, bringing the total distributed to date to almost $3.2 billion. The funds will be sent to nearly 37,000 victims worldwide, the sixth payment to victims that will bring their total recovery from all sources of compensation to 80.05% of their losses. The Madoff Victim Fund will ultimately return to victims more than $4 billion in assets that have been recovered as compensation for losses suffered by the collapse of BLMIS, following the largest fraud in history. Another $5 billion in assets recovered by the U.S. Attorney’s Office are being separately paid to Madoff victims through the BLMIS Customer Fund administered by the Securities Investor Protection Act Trustee.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “This Office continues its efforts to seek justice for victims of history’s largest Ponzi scheme. Today’s additional payments of more than $488 million by this Office and the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section represent the sixth in a series of distributions that will leave victims with compensation for more than 80 percent of their losses. That is an extraordinary level of recovery for a Ponzi scheme—but our work is not yet finished, and the Office’s tireless commitment to compensating the victims who suffered as a result of Madoff’s heinous crimes continues.”
Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt said: “With the $488 million distributed today, the department has now returned almost $3.2 billion to Madoff’s victims, allowing them to recover more than 80 percent of what they lost. This exceptional work – and there is more to come – has been made possible by the department’s steadfast commitment to the pursuit of the proceeds of fraud through civil forfeiture.”
Since the early 1970s, BERNARD L. MADOFF (“MADOFF”) used his position as Chairman of BLMIS, the investment advisory business he founded, to steal billions from his clients. On March 12, 2009, MADOFF pled guilty to 11 federal felonies, admitting that he had turned his wealth management business into the world’s largest Ponzi scheme, benefitting himself, his family, and select members of his inner circle. On June 29, 2009, United States District Judge Denny Chin sentenced MADOFF to 150 years in prison for running the largest fraudulent scheme in history. Judge Chin ordered MADOFF to forfeit $170,799,000,000 as part of MADOFF’s sentence.
The Madoff Victim Fund is funded through recoveries by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in various criminal and civil forfeiture actions, and is overseen by Richard Breeden, the former Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, in his capacity as Special Master appointed by the Department of Justice to assist in connection with the victim remission proceedings.
Of the approximately $4.05 billion that will be made available to victims through the Madoff Victim Fund, approximately $2.2 billion was collected as part of the civil forfeiture recovery from the estate of deceased MADOFF investor Jeffry Picower. An additional $1.7 billion was collected as part of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. for MADOFF-related Bank Secrecy Act violations. Additional funds were collected through criminal and civil forfeiture actions against MADOFF and his co-conspirators, and certain MADOFF investors.
Ms. Strauss praised the work of the FBI and the Madoff Victim Fund, and thanked the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division for their assistance.
For more information about the Madoff Victim Fund, compensation to victims of BLMIS, eligibility criteria, and payment information, please visit www.madoffvictimfund.com.
5,164 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide
994 Patients in the ICU; 539 Intubated
Statewide Positivity Rate is 5.15%
92 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"As we continue to see the number COVID-19 cases surge across the nation, it is beyond critical that we ensure hospitals, and hospital systems as a whole, have developed additional capacity and are prepared to work cooperatively with each other to prevent any one facility from becoming overwhelmed. With this work already underway through the state's Surge and Flex program, we also continue to fight to ensure the vaccine's distribution is as fair and equitable as possible," Governor Cuomo said. "The distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine will undoubtedly go down as one of the most massive governmental operations in history, yet the federal distribution plan remains misguided and completely overlooks underserved communities. If this distribution of the vaccine is to truly be successful, the federal government must improve its plan immediately and ensure black, brown, and low income communities are not left behind. The time is now to make these corrections, we simply cannot wait any longer."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
Enterprise Members and Co-Defendants Charged with an Array of Crimes Including Extortion and Fraud on the Federal Paycheck Protection Program
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Eastern Region Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA-OIG”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging 16 defendants in counts including racketeering, gambling, extortion, fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice offenses. Of the 16 defendants, ABDURAMAN ISENI, a/k/a “Diamond,” ERVIN MAKISHTI, a/k/a “Vinny,” SOKOL GJONI, MIRALEM LJULJANOVIC, and JETMIR SULAJ, are associated with a racketeering enterprise referred to in the Indictment as the “Diamond Enterprise,” a criminal group overseen by ISENI, and are charged in United States v. Iseni, et al. (the “Indictment”), which has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Carter.
Eleven additional defendants are charged in the Indictment with various offenses, many relating to the operations of the overarching Diamond Enterprise, including extortion, operation of illegal gambling establishments, money laundering, bank fraud, fraud on the federal Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), and obstruction of justice. Specifically:
ISENI, ERVIN MAKISHTI, GJONI, LJULJANOVIC, SULAJ, ELDI MAKISHTI, DIMO, DANZIERI, JACOBS, TOLA, DJOKIC, KUKAJ, and SKRAPALLIU were taken into federal custody today and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn of the Southern District of New York. LITA, LAMCE, and BECOVIC remain at large.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Abduraman Iseni and his co-defendants allegedly operated a network of underground gambling establishments, and laundered the proceeds of that activity, to prop up a criminal enterprise under Iseni’s control. Going well beyond that racketeering activity, Iseni and others allegedly engaged in a variety of crimes, including extortion through violent threats, obstruction of justice, fraud on legitimate financial institutions, and fraud on the critical Paycheck Protection Program. They now face the possibility of serious time in prison for their alleged crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “The organization we’ve disrupted with our enforcement action today is a textbook example of an organized-crime group. As we allege, the crimes these men committed ran the gamut from running illegal gambling operations to making extortionate threats to defrauding the government of PPP benefits intended for honest Americans suffering economic harm during the pandemic. While these men did all they could to avoid making an honest living, the outstanding work done by the FBI’s New York Balkan Organized Crime team ensures they won’t be able to avoid facing justice.”
SBA-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite said: “The Paycheck Protection Program was developed to aide small businesses during these challenging times. Our Office will relentlessly pursue organized criminal enterprises that seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “The web of alleged crimes unveiled by this federal indictment victimized everyday New Yorkers, undercut a federal aid program and eroded the fabric of life in the city. I commend our NYPD detective and federal partners for their sustained work in this important case.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and statements made during Court proceedings:
As alleged, the Diamond Enterprise was an organized criminal group operating under the direction of ISENI, who had substantial influence in the criminal underworld. The Diamond Enterprise operated through groups of individuals, often with overlapping members or associates, dedicated to particular criminal tasks, particularly operation of illegal gambling parlors, sports gambling by wire, and money laundering, among others. For their roles in leading and managing the Diamond Enterprise’s criminal activities, ABDURAMAN ISENI, a/k/a “Diamond,” ERVIN MAKISHTI, a/k/a “Vinny,” SOKOL GJONI, MIRALEM LJULJANOVIC, and JETMIR SULAJ are charged in Count One of the Indictment with racketeering conspiracy. The Diamond Enterprise thrived in part on the revenues generated by a network of illegal gambling parlors – “Sports Café,” “Friendly Café,” and “Oasis Café” – located throughout Brooklyn, that hosted underground poker games and hosted illegal sports books. Some of these revenues, in turn, were laundered through a series of bank accounts in an effort to conceal and facilitate the Enterprise’s continued operations.
In addition to the Enterprise’s operations, ISENI allegedly engaged in a series of additional crimes ranging from extortion through threats of violence, to money laundering, to fraud on the PPP. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the SBA’s PPP. As alleged, defendant KUKAJ engaged in a fraud to obtain PPP loan funds, which ISENI then attempted to launder through bank accounts designed to conceal the source and ownership of those fraudulently obtained funds.
A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for each of the defendants is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of a defendant would be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of FBI New York’s Balkans and Middle East Organized Crime Squad, as well as the FBI’s Newark Office, the New York City Police Department, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the New York State Liquor Authority, and United States Customs and Border Protection for their investigative efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case.
The prosecution of this case is being overseen by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel L. Raymond and David R. Felton are in charge of the case.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Count | Defendants | Max. Penalty |
Count One: Racketeering Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” Ervin Makishti, a/k/a “Vinny,” Sokol Gjoni, Miralem Ljuljanovic, Jetmir Sulaj, | 20 years’ imprisonment |
Count Two: Conspiracy to Operate Illegal Gambling Businesses (18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1955) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” Ervin Makishti, a/k/a “Vinny,” Sokol Gjoni, Miralem Ljuljanovic, Jetmir Sulaj, Eldi Makishti, ENRI DIMO, a/k/a “Eni,” Darren Danzieri, AMIR BECOVIC, RAFAEL JACOBS | 5 years’ imprisonment |
Count Three: Conspiracy to Transmit Wagering Information (18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1084) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” Ervin Makishti, a/k/a “Vinny,” Sokol Gjoni, Miralem Ljuljanovic, Islam Lamce, a/k/a “Bachi,” BRAJAN TOLA, Gazmend Lita, SMAIL DJOKIC, a/k/a “Ismail Gjoka,” | 5 years’ imprisonment |
Count Four: Conspiracy to Commit Extortion and Interstate Threats (18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 875) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” BESIM KUKAJ | 5 years’ imprisonment |
Count Five: Extortion (18 U.S.C. § 875(b)) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” BESIM KUKAJ | 20 years’ imprisonment |
Count Six: Interstate Threats (18 U.S.C. § 875(c)) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” BESIM KUKAJ | 5 years’ imprisonment |
Count Seven: Bank Fraud Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1349) | Besim Kukaj | 30 years’ imprisonment |
Count Eight: Money Laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” | 20 years’ imprisonment |
Count Nine: Obstruction of Justice (18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)) | MELSA SKRAPALLIU | 20 years’ imprisonment |
Count Ten: Bank Fraud Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1349) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” MELSA SKRAPALLIU | 30 years’ imprisonment |
Count Eleven: False Statements to a Bank (18 U.S.C. § 1014) | Abduraman Iseni, a/k/a “Diamond,” MELSA SKRAPALLIU | 30 years’ imprisonment |
[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.
Three Family Members Arrested for Misrepresenting Employee Payroll Figures to Receive COVID-19 Loan Funds for Chain of Family-Owned Nail Salons in New York Metropolitan Area and Other Businesses
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Eastern Region Special Agent-in-Charge of the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA-OIG”), William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today the arrests of NGOC MANH NGUYEN, a/k/a “Peter Nguyen,” VICTORIA DIEUY HO, a/k/a “Vicky Ho,” and DAT TAT HO for a fraudulent scheme to obtain over $13 million in Government-guaranteed loans designed to provide relief to small businesses during the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. In connection with loan applications for COVID-19 relief available from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the SBA, the defendants falsely and grossly overstated the number of employees and payroll at their nail salons and other businesses through fraudulent and doctored payroll and tax records in order to obtain larger loans. The defendants were arrested this morning. VICTORIA HO will be presented tomorrow in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. NGUYEN and DAT HO will be presented in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in connection with these and other unrelated charges.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, these defendants conspired to rip off the SBA’s COVID-relief small business loan program and financial institutions by lying about how many people they employed in their family business and how much they paid those employees. They allegedly exploited a program designed to provide vital funding for small businesses that are legitimately struggling in the midst of the pandemic. Thanks to the combined efforts of the SBA, the FBI, and IRS-CI, the defendants face prosecution.”
SBA-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite said: “Falsifying documents to fraudulently gain access to SBA program funds is unconscionable. OIG and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue fraudsters and bring them to justice. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr said: “The benefits offered by the CARES Act for PPP loans were established to help small businesses survive during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the owners of Victoria Nails & Spa saw this program as their own personal piggy bank. Allegedly misrepresenting the number of employees on their payroll to obtain the funding, they deposited this money into accounts controlled solely by them. When the bank froze the funds, they froze as well, conducting Internet searches for topics related to PPP fraud. Today’s Internet search for ‘PPP Loan Fraud Arrests’ will certainly produce an unwanted result – one that includes the name of their company leading the headlines.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said: “In this difficult time when many Americans are struggling financially, it is repugnant that there are those who would fraudulently take advantage of relief efforts offered. IRS-Criminal Investigation remains dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that these types of fraud are investigated and the offenders are punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the SBA’s PPP. Pursuant to the CARES Act, the amount of PPP funds a business is eligible to receive is determined by the number of employees employed by the business and their average payroll costs. Businesses applying for a PPP loan must provide documentation to confirm that they have previously paid employees the compensation represented in the loan application.
NGUYEN, VICTORIA HO, and DAT HO are members of a family that owns a chain of over 15 nail salons called “Victoria Nails & Spa” and other companies (the “Victoria Companies”) in or around the New York metropolitan area, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Long Island. From at least in or about April 2020 through at least in or about June 2020, NGUYEN, VICTORIA HO, and DAT HO engaged in a scheme to submit online applications to at least two financial institutions for a total of over $13 million in government-guaranteed loans for the Victoria Companies through the SBA’s PPP. In connection with these loan applications, the defendants falsely and grossly overstated the number of employees at the Victoria Companies and wages paid to those employees in order to obtain larger loans. In order to support the false representations in the loan applications about the number of employees at, and the wages paid by, the Victoria Companies, the defendants submitted fraudulent and doctored payroll and tax records. In addition, the defendants falsely listed the same employees in applications for different nail salons to support the loan amounts applied for, and some purported employees were listed as employees of as many as seven different nail salons during the same time period.
Based on the fraudulent PPP loan applications submitted by NGUYEN, VICTORIA HO, and DAT HO, a total of more than $13 million in PPP loans were approved for the Victoria Companies and approximately $7.8 million in loan proceeds were disbursed into bank accounts controlled by NGUYEN, DAT HO, and other family members. After the defendants learned that a hold was placed on bank accounts of the Victoria Companies that received PPP loans issued by one financial institution due to suspicion of fraudulent activity, one of the defendants conducted Internet searches for “PPP Fraud,” “PPP Loan Fraud Arrests,” and “How to get rid of a PPP Loan.” The defendants thereafter withdrew the applications for and/or repaid the PPP loans for the Victoria Companies issued by that financial institution.
NGUYEN, 44, and VICTORIA HO, 31, both of Hicksville, New York, and DAT HO, 33, of the Bronx, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of major fraud against the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to make false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential 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.
Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the SBA-OIG, FBI, and IRS-CI, and noted that the investigation remains ongoing. Ms. Strauss also thanked Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their assistance with the investigation.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced charges against STEVE ROSADO, a registered sex offender, for attempted enticement of two minor girls in New York, New York. ROSADO was arrested yesterday evening and presented in Manhattan federal court today, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss stated: “Steve Rosado allegedly attempted to harm society’s most vulnerable – trying to engage in sexual activity with two young children, whom he believed to be 12 and 9 years old – even after he had been convicted of sex offenses in the past and required to register as a sex offender. I thank the FBI and the NYPD for their work in investigating and arresting Rosado before he could harm any more victims.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “As alleged, Mr. Rosado knew exactly what he was doing when he arranged to have sex with two children, one of whom he believed was only 9 years old. As a convicted sex offender, he knew the risk and allegedly took it anyway. He is now in federal custody and facing prosecution. It’s not easy to investigate sexual predators. The agents, detectives, and analysts who constitute the FBI/NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force do this work each and every day hoping to stop the next offender from harming another child.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “These charges, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York reflect our continuing commitment to keep those would who prey on children from stalking our streets. I praise our detectives and federal partners for their work in fighting on behalf of society’s most vulnerable individuals.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint charging ROSADO:[1]
On or about November 29, 2020, an undercover FBI agent (“UC-1”), posing as the mother of a 12-year-old girl and a 9-year-old girl, initiated a series of conversations on an instant messaging platform with an individual identified to be ROSADO. Thereafter, UC-1 and ROSADO had numerous communications via the instant messaging platform, text message, and telephone call.
In these conversations, ROSADO repeatedly expressed, in graphic and unambiguous terms, his desire to engage in sexual activity with both children – including both oral and vaginal sex. To help alleviate any concerns UC-1 might have regarding ROSADO having sexual relations with her young children, ROSADO provided UC-1 with his recent test results for COVID-19 and HIV, and he discussed what he and UC-1 could do if he were to impregnate one of the children.
UC-1 and ROSADO arranged to meet at a bar in Manhattan on the evening of December 7, 2020, with the understanding that they would return to UC-1’s apartment afterward and ROSADO would then engage in sexual activity with the children. On the evening in question, ROSADO met UC-1 at the agreed-upon location. After the two of them left the bar and began walking toward UC-1’s purported apartment, law enforcement arrested ROSADO. ROSADO was in possession of a backpack containing, among other things, a toothbrush, a change of clothes, and lubricant.
ROSADO is charged with one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(b) and 2, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of committing the aforementioned offense while being required to register as a sex offender, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A, which carries a mandatory sentence of an additional 10 years in prison.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Public-Private Partnership Between Empire State Development, Start Small Think Big and the New York State Bar Association
Will Provide Small Businesses and Landlords with Pro Bono Legal Assistance to Renegotiate Lease Terms in Wake of COVID-19
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of the New York Forward Small Business Lease Assistance Partnership. Recognizing the economic impact of COVID-19, this program will provide small businesses and their landlords with informational resources and pro bono assistance to help both parties reach mutually-beneficial lease workout agreements. This service is available to all New York State small businesses and landlords, and participation is voluntary. Over the next year, the partnership has the capacity to serve thousands of small businesses statewide.
"Small business are the backbone of any strong economy and it is critical that we work to find ways to support them during these difficult times," Governor Cuomo said. "The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the economy has been nothing short of devastating, and through partnerships such as this, we can help to alleviate the burdens many business owners are facing. While a moratorium on commercial evictions is currently in place, this new public-private partnership will help provide an additional level of stability for small businesses and ensure they are able to play a role in helping build New York's economy back better than before."
As part of this program, Empire State Development is partnering with the New York State Bar Association and Start Small Think Big, a New York-based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting small, under-resourced entrepreneurs with high-quality professional services. For this partnership, Start Small will be offering pro bono legal services from its network of more than 1,000 attorneys, to commercial tenants and landlords seeking lease amendments to cope with the impacts of COVID-19. The New York State Bar Association has served as the voice of the state's legal profession for more than 140 years and will support the recruitment and training of additional volunteer attorneys.
The Small Business Lease Assistance Partnership website includes information on the lease renegotiation process and details the different types of lease workouts available to help small businesses cope with the financial impacts of COVID-19. Those interested in pro bono assistance to initiate a lease renegotiation are encouraged to review and complete the partnership's intake form. After completing the form, each small business will receive an email detailing an estimated timeline for placement with a volunteer attorney. Once matched, the volunteer attorney will email the applicant to schedule an appointment.
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately created new and unforeseen economic challenges for small business owners and landlords across the state. Working together with Start Small Think Big and the New York State Bar Association to establish this partnership, our goal is to help commercial tenants and landlords reach mutually-beneficial agreements by engaging in productive discussions and taking advantage of the free legal assistance provided through this program."
New York State Bar Association President Scott M. Karson said, "While businesses want to stay current on their rent, the terms of leases that were established pre-COVID may make it financially impossible for them to do so as the pandemic drags on. The New York State Bar Association has enlisted the services of volunteer attorneys, who are ready to help willing businesses and landlords renegotiate and reach a solution that works for everyone. We are providing these services free of charge because a strong economy is in everyone's best interest and helping New Yorkers in need is the highest calling of our profession."
This partnership furthers the state's ongoing efforts to mitigate pandemic-related commercial evictions. On October 20, Governor Cuomo signed an Executive Order extending the state's moratorium on COVID-related commercial evictions and foreclosures through January 1. This extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the pandemic's financial toll on business owners. The extension of this protection gives commercial tenants and mortgagors additional time to catch up on outstanding rent or mortgage bills, or to renegotiate their lease terms to avoid foreclosure moving forward.
The partnership is also the latest resource that furthers New York State's commitment to supporting small businesses struggling in the wake of COVID-19. In October, Governor Cuomo launched Empire State Digital, a new initiative accelerating New York State-based small businesses' ability to grow their online presence through a first-in-the-nation program with leading global e-commerce enablers, offering specialized solutions unique to the needs of the state's small businesses. Additionally, the New York Forward Loan Fund continues to provide working capital loans of up to $100,000 to help small businesses and non-profit organizations reopen.
