TWO DEFENDANTS, INCLUDING AN HRA EMPLOYEE, ARE CHARGED IN SCAM THAT STOLE $1,500 FROM A NEW YORKER ON THE VERGE OF HOMELESSNESS

 

 Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), issued a statement on the indictment unsealed today that charges an employee of the City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”), and another individual, for their participation in a scam that tricked an HRA client seeking rental assistance to provide them with blank money orders valued at a total of $1,500, which the defendants allegedly cashed and stole. DOI began its investigation after it was alerted by HRA about allegations involving the scam, and then worked with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting this matter. 

 LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 56, of the Bronx, N.Y., an Associate Job Opportunity Specialist employed by HRA, and ELSIE MERCADO, 50, of the Bronx, N.Y., were each charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, and Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor. RODRIGUEZ was also charged with Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison and a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year’s incarceration.

 RODRIGUEZ has been employed with HRA since February 1988 and receives an annual salary of approximately $69,996. He works for HRA’s HomeBase program, a homelessness prevention program. 

 DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said, “This indictment highlights the damaging and deeply personal toll that corruption and greed can cause. Here, a New Yorker on the verge of homelessness sought assistance from the City and instead became the unwitting target of a theft scheme perpetrated by two defendants, including the very City employee assigned to help her, according to the charges. To anyone, most especially City employees who use City services as a way to con others, today’s arrests are a stark warning that criminal conduct will be exposed and those associated with it held accountable. DOI thanks HRA for reporting these allegations and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its partnership on this investigation.”

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “New Yorkers in need must be able to trust City employees whose job it is to help them get assistance. We will hold accountable those who would cheat vulnerable people and betray that trust.” 

 According to the indictment and the investigation, between May 4 and 6, 2017, RODRIGUEZ directed a client of HRA’s HomeBase program, which assists tenants on the verge of eviction, to provide him with two signed money orders left blank in the payee section, to show that she could provide some funding for rent. As requested, the client provided to RODRIGUEZ the two money orders, each valued at $750. RODRIGUEZ worked with MERCADO to cash the money orders at a check cashing establishment in the Bronx and then pocketed the money, according to the indictment and investigation.

 Please note that HRA will never ask rental assistance clients to provide a money order that is left blank in the payee section.

 Commissioner Garnett thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, and her staff, for their prosecution of the case, specifically Assistant District Attorneys Sean McCauley and Rossana Gallego-Manzano of the Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Omer Wiczyk, Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Ilya Kharkover, Deputy Bureau Chief. Commissioner Garnett also thanked HRA Commissioner Steven Banks for his and his staff’s cooperation in this investigation

 The investigation was conducted by DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for HRA, specifically Assistant Inspector General Jeremy Reyes, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General Audrey Feldman, Inspector General John M. Bellanie, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella, and First Deputy Commissioner Daniel Cort; and with the assistance of DOI’s Squad of NYPD Detectives.

 An indictment is an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty

7 Defendants In Nationwide Money Laundering Organization Charged For Laundering Over $28 Million For Drug Trafficking Organizations

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced charges today against seven individuals involved in laundering tens of millions of dollars for drug trafficking organizations selling illegal narcotics throughout the United States.  YING SUN, JIAN WANG, FRANK LIU, DIELONG WU, LARRY LAI, and JIE LIN, are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business; STEVEN WOO was also charged as part of the conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business.  SUN, LIU, and WOO were arrested in California and will be presented in the Central District of California this afternoon before Magistrate Judge John D. Early.  WU and LAI were arrested today in New York and will be presented in the Southern District of New York before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.  WANG and LIN remain at large.  During the investigation, law enforcement agents seized over $6.5 million from the defendants’ money laundering organization, and, in coordination with unsealing the charges today, seized an additional $8 million in assets traceable to the illicit proceeds laundered by the organization.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Like drug dealers, those who launder the proceeds of drug trafficking profit from the sale of dangerous narcotics that wreak havoc in communities throughout the United States.  As alleged, the individuals arrested today facilitated drug traffickers by concealing millions of dollars of their ill-gotten profits.  Our Office will continue to work closely with the DEA and our law enforcement partners to go after the money networks that are necessary to the operations of the international drug trade.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan said: “One of the most powerful criminal elements of transnational drug trafficking organizations is money laundering. Like any business, the ultimate goal of drug trafficking is to profit. These money laundering networks provide an invaluable service to traffickers, transferring their ill-gotten gains across the globe. The men and women of the DEA are focused on bringing to justice not only drug traffickers, but anyone who facilitates the drug trade.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today[1]:

From at least November 2019 through May 2021, SUN coordinated the activities of a money laundering organization (“MLO”), communicating with drug trafficking organizations (“DTOs”) throughout the United States and in Mexico to receive large quantities of cash to be laundered.  From April 2020 through April 2021, SUN organized more than 130 money pickups in 23 states involving over $20 million in drug trafficking proceeds.  WANG, LIU, WU, LAI, LIN, and WOO facilitated the MLO’s operations by conducting these money pickups, transporting the cash, depositing the money into the retail banking system, and/or transferring the money to different individuals or entities.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement agents conducted numerous seizures of bulk currency in connection with the money pickups conducted by the MLO, and seized over $6.5 million.

SUN, 65, of Arcadia, California, WANG, 52, of Rosemead, California, LIU, 65, of Yorba Linda, California, WU, 58, of Staten Island, New York, LAI, 69, of Queens, New York, and LIN, 58, of Upland, California, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and, along with WOO, 69, of Montebello, California, one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case 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 outstanding work of the DEA.  She also thanked the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their assistance.

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.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic

 

35,832 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

5 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19.

"Getting vaccinated is more crucial now than it's ever been before. As the Delta variant makes its way through the nation, it is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against the virus," Governor Cuomo said. "The vaccine is safe, effective, free and accessible. There's no excuse not to get yours as soon as possible. This is steadily becoming a pandemic amongst the unvaccinated - utilize the weapon we have." 

  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 83,082 
• Total Positive - 1,452 
• Percent Positive - 1.75% 
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.41% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 462 (+38) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 96 
• Patients in ICU - 100 (+11) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 36 (+3) 
• Total Discharges - 186,006 (+61) 
• Deaths - 5 
• Total Deaths - 43,041 
• Total vaccine doses administered - 21,881,692 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 35,832 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 234,252 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 71.3% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 66.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 74.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 67.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 59.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 54.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 61.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 56.1%

Manhattan Investment Fund Manager Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison For Securities Fraud And Misappropriation Scheme

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DONALD LAGUARDIA was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for his securities fraud and misappropriation scheme.  LAGUARDIA was the chief executive and co-founder of a New York-based investment firm, L-R Managers, LLC, which managed the LR Global Frontier Master Fund and two related feeder funds (collectively, the “Frontier Funds”).  LAGUARDIA was found guilty of securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, and wire fraud following a trial last November before United States District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Donald LaGuardia pitched his clients on frontier market investments, but the Frontier Funds turned out to be a front for fraud.  LaGuardia betrayed his clients’ trust by diverting millions to other uses, including his own personal and business expenses.  Now LaGuardia has been sentenced to prison for his crimes.”

According to statements in the Indictment, evidence presented during the trial, and other filings and statements at public court proceedings in the case:

From in or about 2013 through in or about 2017, LAGUARDIA solicited approximately $6.4 million from investors for Frontier Funds, which had a stated focus on investments in “frontier” markets in Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.  Contrary to LAGUARDIA’s representations, and in breach of his duties to investors in the Frontier Funds, LAGUARDIA misappropriated investors’ money to finance L-R Managers’ payroll, pay rent for its office space on Park Avenue in Manhattan, and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in charges on the firm’s credit card, among other unauthorized expenses.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars went to the benefit of LAGUARDIA personally.

In one example, in 2013, LAGUARDIA solicited an $800,000 investment in the Frontier Funds from an investor (“Investor-1”).  Upon receipt of Investor-1’s money, an L-R Managers employee sent an email to LAGUARDIA and another person asking for approval to forward the $800,000 to the Frontier Funds.  LAGUARDIA responded, “Dont [sic] wire anything yet!”  LAGUARDIA then caused approximately $390,000 of Investor-1’s investment never to be transmitted to the Frontier Funds, but instead to be used to pay himself approximately $52,000 and for various other personal and business expenses.

By September 2015, L-R Managers faced substantial financial difficulties.  On September 1, 2015, an L-R Managers principal sent an email to LAGUARDIA and others at the firm stating that it would be “ethically troubling to accept money into the [Frontier Funds] when [L-R Managers] can no longer support . . . payroll and mission critical services.”  Nevertheless, just a few days later, a new investor solicited by LAGUARDIA (“Investor-2”) made a $2 million investment into the Frontier Funds.  Prior to this investment, LAGUARDIA concealed his firm’s near insolvency from Investor-2 and did not disclose that the Frontier Funds had been paying substantial expenses for L-R Managers, contrary to the representations in the funds’ offering documents.  LAGUARDIA then proceeded, over the course of several months, to use a substantial portion of Investor-2’s investment in the Frontier Funds to continue paying himself and subsidizing his firm’s business expenses.

LAGUARDIA, 54, of Lavallette, New Jersey, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.  He was further ordered to forfeit $2,571,500 and pay restitution to victims in the amount of $4,039,872.46.

Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES HEALTH WORKER COVID-SAFE REQUIREMENT

 

Beginning August 2, City will require proof of vaccination or weekly COVID-19 tests for employees at city-run health care facilities 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi and NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announced the Health Worker COVID-Safe Requirement. Beginning August 2, the City will require employees of NYC Health + Hospitals and employees working in Department of Health and Mental Hygiene clinical settings to provide either a one-time verification of immunization, or weekly proof of a negative COVID-19 test.   

 

“Vaccination is the key to beating COVID-19 and bringing our city back strong,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The Health Worker COVID-Safe Requirement will ensure our hospitals and clinical settings are safe from COVID-19 and able to continue to serve all New Yorkers.”

“The path to New York City’s recovery runs through vaccination,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “If you’re vaccinated, virtually every activity is safer and it continues to be the single most important precaution we can take to safely interact with the public and our colleagues.”

“I am proud of the role NYC Health + Hospitals has played during the COVID pandemic. Our facilities came together as a system to serve, help, and save New Yorkers,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “Now we must do everything possible to protect our patients and each other.  We hope the example of health care workers protecting their patients and protecting others will inspire others who have not yet gotten vaccinated to do so.”

 

Approximately 4.9 million New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the vaccine. There have been over 100,000 doses given from mobile vaccination sites, 280,000 doors knocked by canvassers, and 20,000 doses given in-home to anyone who needs it. There have also been more than $80,000 in Referral Bonuses given to community organizations. 

 

166 Days and Counting

 

No I am not getting vaccinated again, but it looks like the COVID-19 number are starting to inch up, and as we say it is among the non-vaccinated people. I the mayor of New York City am telling those of you who have not been vaccinated to get vaccinated so those who are now in charge of me, can control you also.

Stand Up Against Gun Violence Rally at Bronx Borough Hall

 

Monday's rally against Gun Violence at the Bronx Courthouse drew over one hundred people, including presumed Bronx Borough President, Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, State Senator Luis Sepulveda, Councilman Oswald Feliz, the parents of Jaryan Eliot the thirteen year old shot down in Belmont, and many anti gun violence groups from around the Bronx.

The event opened with a prayer, and a very passionate mother of another thirteen year old boy who spoke of her worries that her son may get shot and killed by what she said was uncontrolled gun violence in the Bronx. Ms. Mona Davids touched on that the uptick in this gun violence, grew after certain state legislation to empty the jails under the No Cash Bail Law, and new Discovery Laws that gives suspects peoples names and address. She said that people are now afraid to testify because of that. She wanted better protection by revising the new state laws, and federal gun control laws. The parents of Jaryan Eliot were overcome with grief, and not able to speak.

Councilwoman. and presumed next Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, echoed the words of Ms. Davids. Councilwoman Gibson said that this gun violence must come to an end. No young man must be gunned down by another on the streets of the Bronx. More programs are needed to help teach the youth not to be violent, and she finished by saying that five million dollars was set aside for the Saturday Night program by the city in twenty-five Bronx sites, and by thanking the African community for coming together to show what the future needs to be. 

State Senator Luis Sepulveda spoke next, defending the new state laws, saying that less than one percent of gun violence is by those released under the new laws, but it is the parole system that is returning criminals to streets that are doing this gun violence. He added that it is a federal problem when guns can come from other states, and it is the gun manufacturers who are at fault. Councilman Oswald Feliz also spoke about not letting this gun violence continue, and that something must be done to end it.

Syracuse police officer Brandon Hanes spoke of how he would play basketball with inner city kids, buying them popular sneakers as a prize if they won a game with him out of his own money as a program to help, but that the Syracuse police department was against what he was doing. He now has a lawyer because the police department was against him now. Others who spoke were directors of nonprofits who have programs for children, people who lost friends or even family members to gun violence, calling for something to be done. 

Ms. Mona Davids, a parent of a thirteen year old boy, speaks about her worries of what may happen to her son with the current out of hand gun violence in the Bronx. 

Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, the presumed next Bronx Borough President calls for an end to the out of control gun violence in the Bronx.

State Senator Luis Sepulveda, the only state legislator at the event, says that it is not the new state laws No Cash Bail and Discovery that are to blame for the rise in gun violence, but the parole system that is putting the violent people back on the streets. 

Syracuse police officer Brandon Hanes tells of the harassment he has received from the Syracuse police department for trying to engage in a one on one basketball effort of his own with children, to fight gun violence. His lawyer stands to his right.

 Ms. Gloria Alfinez of the nonprofit RTG South speaks about her job as a therapeutics service provider to families of gun violence.

Ms. Althea Stevens the winner of the Democratic primary, and presumed next Councilwoman in the 16th Council District, where the Bronx Courthouse iss located, also gives a passionate speech as to why this gun violence has to stop. 

DEC TO HOST 10th ANNUAL GREAT HUDSON RIVER FISH COUNT ON JULY 31

 

Fish Count at Multiple Sites on Hudson River Shores and Piers

 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that the tenth annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count will take place at multiple sites along the banks and piers of the Hudson River on Saturday, July 31. “I encourage New Yorkers and visitors to get outdoors or go online and enjoy this opportunity to learn about the fish living in the Hudson River,” Commissioner Seggos said. “With sites from the New York Harbor to Waterford, there are plenty of great spots to choose from to participate in the annual fish count close to home.”   The public is invited to join naturalists from the Capital Region to New York City to explore the variety of creatures usually hidden below the river’s surface. Fresh upriver and salty at New York City, the Hudson River’s estuary and watershed are home to more than 200 fish species, including several that migrate into the river from the Atlantic Ocean each spring to spawn. Eleven sites will offer in-person opportunities for the public and three will livestream the fish count on DEC’s Facebook page at 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. During the fish count, participating organizations encourage visitors to help collect fish using seine nets, minnow traps, or rods and reels. Seining involves pulling a 30-foot net through the water and checking out the fish, crabs, and other river-life caught in its mesh. Participants may watch from shore or jump into available waterproof waders and help pull in the net. The fish are released after everyone has a chance to see them up close. Participating groups share their catch results by posting to the DEC Twitter feed with the hashtag #hudsonriverfishcount. Comparing notes builds understanding of the diversity of fishes and habitats in the Hudson, the vitality of the estuarine ecosystem in urban and rural settings, and the influence of salinity and tides. A list of participating public and virtual sites follows. For more information, visit the Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count page on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/97891.html and watch a clip about seining in the Hudson River on DEC’s YouTube Channel. All Fish Count programs are family-friendly and free of charge. The event is sponsored by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program in partnership with the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and other environmental organizations. For more information email hrteach@dec.ny.gov. Sites and Participating Organizations (South to North) Queens Gantry Plaza State Park, Pier 4: 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. Register on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fishing-at-the-gantries-tickets-152127999943 New York State Parks Manhattan Dyckman Pier, Inwood Hill Park: 10:00 a.m. NYC Parks, Urban Park Rangers Fort Washington Park 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Riverside Park NYC/DEC Region 2 Pier 40, Hudson River Park: 11:00 a.m. Hudson River Park Trust Westchester Habirshaw Park, Yonkers: 11:00 a.m. DEC Facebook Live: 12 noon Center for the Urban River at Beczak Rockland Piermont Pier, Piermont: 11:00 a.m. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University Putnam Little Stony Point, Cold Spring: 11 a.m. NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program Ulster Hudson River Sloop Clearwater: Livestream at 9:30: https://www.facebook.com/sloopclearwater/ Dutchess Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg: 1:30 p.m. DEC Facebook Live: 2:30 p.m. Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve/Hudson River Estuary Program Columbia Nutten Hook, Stuyvesant, 12:00 p.m.  Hudson River National Estuarine Reserve/Hudson River Estuary Program Rensselaer Schodack Island State Park: 6:00 p.m. River Haggie Outdoors Saratoga Peebles Island State Park, Waterford: 9:00 a.m. DEC Facebook Live: 10:30 a.m. DEC Region 4 Fisheries