“Pure Armenian Blood” Member Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Fraud Offenses

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DAVIT YEGHOYAN pled guilty today to his role in a coast-to-coast racketeering enterprise referred to as “Pure Armenian Blood” or “P.A.B.,” in connection with the charges filed in United States v. Narek Marutyan, et al., 20 Cr. 652 (VM).  YEGHOYAN pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave, and will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero on a date to be determined. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a member of a sophisticated coast-to-coast organized criminal enterprise, Davit Yeghoyan enriched himself by stealing others’ identities, falsifying documents, and spending other people’s money, as he admitted in court today.” 

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, and statements during court proceedings:

Pure Armenian Blood was an organized criminal group operating under the direction and protection of an unindicted co-conspirator (“CC-1”), a “vor v zakone” or “vor,” which are Russian phrases translated roughly as “Thief-in-Law” or “Thief,” and which refer to an order of elite criminals from the former Soviet Union who receive tribute from other criminals, offer protection, and use their recognized status as vor to adjudicate disputes among lower-level criminals.  Members and associates of Pure Armenian Blood operated under the direction and protection of CC-1, a vor of Armenian descent previously based in Los Angeles before being deported in or about 2018.  Pure Armenian Blood operated through groups of individuals, often with overlapping members or associates, dedicated to particular criminal tasks, particularly identity theft, access device fraud, and credit card fraud, among others.  While Pure Armenian Blood exploited victims and the financial system in New York City, it had operations in various locations throughout the United States and abroad, including through the use of purportedly legitimate business entities operating under the control and in conjunction with members of P.A.B. at various points throughout the conspiracy.

As a member of P.A.B., YEGHOYAN participated in and facilitated P.A.B’s various illicit activities, including the use of counterfeit credit cards and stolen personal identifying information, selling goods purchased with counterfeit credit cards for profit, fraudulently opening and exhausting lines of credit, and then falsifying documents to “clean” the credit of account holders in whose names the lines of credit were opened, and making purchases at collusive businesses with counterfeit credit cards or credit cards that were fraudulently opened.

YEGHOYAN, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to participating in a racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of FBI New York’s Eurasian Organized Crime Squad, as well as the FBI’s Newark, Los Angeles, and Miami offices, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York City Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Customs and Border Protection for their investigative efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case.  This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance November Meeting

With one day before election day the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance had Democratic City Council candidate Marjorie Velazquez address the community. Candidate Velazquez with her arm in a sling, and bandaged finger stood up front to explain why people voting the next day should choose her. 

A question and answer period came afterwards, in which candidate Velazquez had little trouble answering the questions. A question about the massive housing complex which is proposed where a Foodtown Supermarket currently sits with a large parking lot, was answered where she said the community is opposed to this, and so is she and the community board. 

Senior Advisor to VNNA Robert Nolan then went over the ballot, reminding those in attendance to turn the ballot over, because there were five Ballot Proposals on the back. Representatives of State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Assembly members Karines Reyes and Nathalia Fernandez then spoke. As VNNA President Bernadette Ferrara was about to introduce Republican City Council candidate Alex Mici, he stormed out of the room saying why did you wait and not have me speak after his opponent. Ms. Ferrara replied to him that he was the speaker at last month's meeting, but did not show up. The conservative Party candidate for Bronx Borough President Sammy Ravelo asked to speak, and was given time to plead his case as to why he should be elected. 

One more piece of business was handled, which was the president giving her personal opinion on VNNA letterhead. One community member objected to that, and requested that a letter be sent to the city council stating the mistake, that it was only one person's opinion, and not that of the VNNA. The matter was about a street in Community Board 11 to be co-named for the slain former President of Yemen.

Democratic candidate for the 13th City Council district Marjorie Velazquez standing in front of VNNA's Executive Board tells the crowd why they should choose her on election day.

Candidate Velazquez answers a question brought up by Senior Advisor Bob Nolan.

Friends of Mosholu Parkway plant Daffodil Bulbs For Spring Thaw

 

The friends of Mosholu Parkway planted hundreds of Daffodil bulbs so they can settle into the soil, and when spring comes with the warm weather the Daffodil bulbs will come out all over Mosholu Parkway.

Since it was Halloween Community Activist Christian Amato gave out Halloween candy with his friend Ramdal Singh another Community Activist. 

Elizabeth Quaranta shows how to plant Daffodil Bulbs. It takes a little hard work, some gardening tools, and Daffodil Bulbs, as she shows here. A helper also makes the job a little easier. 

Here this volunteer plants Daffodil Bulbs near this tree by the roadway, as you can see the New York City Bus go by.

Scarecrows are set up so no birds try to eat the Daffodil Bulbs.

Here at the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and the parkway, Community Activists Christian Amato and Ramdal Singh hand out bags of candy to children who passed by. 

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Allowing Individuals Initially Eligible but Denied Youthful Offender Status to Reapply for Retroactive Designation

 

Legislation (S.282/A.6769) Allows Individuals Who Were Convicted Of A Crime and Eligible for Youthful Offender Status But Initially Denied the Designation, to Reapply For Retroactive Designation

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation (S.282/A.6769) that allows individuals who were under the age of 19 when they were convicted of a crime, and therefore eligible for youthful offender status, but denied the designation to reapply for youthful offender status retroactively.

"Far too many New Yorkers who made poor choices at a young age are forced to deal with the lifelong consequences of criminal convictions that deny them a second chance at a productive, fulfilling life," Governor Hochul said. "Communities thrive when every member has the opportunity to contribute and it's time for New York to make the changes necessary for ensuring everybody has a fair shot at success. Thanks to this legislation, we can now support those who have learned from their mistakes by doing away with the stigma of a criminal conviction, and giving them the opportunity to get back on their feet."

For those convicted of a crime when they are under the age of 19, New York's Youthful Offender law provides the opportunity for their conviction to be replaced by a confidential, non-criminal adjudication and reduced prison sentence. A criminal record has lasting effects, including societal bias and limited access to employment - two significant barriers to rehabilitation that dramatically increase the likelihood of recidivism. Many of those under the age of 19 when convicted and eligible for youthful offender status are still not granted it. This legislation allows those who were not granted that designation and who have not been convicted of another crime in at least five years since their original sentence to apply for retroactive designation of youthful offender status. 

Three Defendants Indicted For Narcotics Conspiracy

 

Law Enforcement Seized Approximately 920 Kilograms of Cocaine

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Thomas A. Gleason, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, announced that JORGE APONTE-GUZMAN, NELSON AGRAMONTE-MINAYA, and CARLOS MAISONET-LOPEZ were indicted yesterday for their participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy.  The defendants were arrested on September 29, 2021, and were presented before United States Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on September 30, in the cases of AGRAMONTE-MINAYA and MAISONET-LOPEZ, and on October 1, in the case of APONTE-GUZMAN.  The case is assigned to United States District Judge Alison J. Nathan. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This investigation has yielded the seizure of approximately 920 kilograms of cocaine, disrupting an alleged narcotics trafficking organization.  Thanks to our partners at the DEA, this massive quantity of dangerous drugs has been kept off the streets.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan said: “A multimillion-dollar storm of cocaine was seized before it could wreak havoc in the Northeast.  Over one ton of cocaine was seized, making it the largest cocaine seizure destined for the streets of New York in over a decade.  This seizure signifies a shift in the illegal drug landscape in New York, with cocaine seizures rising more than 150% in the last year.  DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to guard against drug trafficking organizations’ tactics and techniques to smuggle drugs into our country.”

Westchester County Police Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said: “A seizure of this magnitude underscores the critical importance of working together with our federal and local law enforcement partners in the DEA Westchester Task Force.  The tremendous work and dedication of the DEA and Task Force Investigators has interrupted a major drug distribution operation and prevented approximately one ton of dangerous, illegal narcotics from being distributed on the streets of our area.” 

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed yesterday in Manhattan federal court and in other public court documents[1]:

On or about September 29, 2021, APONTE-GUZMAN traveled in a rental van from a loading dock in New Jersey to the area of a New Jersey residence, where he was met by MAISONET-LOPEZ and AGRAMONTE-MINAYA.  Inside the rental van driven by APONTE-GUZMAN, law enforcement seized approximately 460 kilograms of cocaine that were packaged inside 10 large metal lawn rollers.  Records relating to the shipment of the lawn rollers indicate that the lawn rollers were shipped from Puerto Rico to New Jersey, with a consignee in the Bronx, New York. 

The next day, on or about September 30, 2021, DEA agents seized a substantially similar shipment of 10 large metal lawn rollers from the loading dock that APONTE-GUZMAN had visited the day before.  In that second shipment, agents found an additional approximately 460 kilograms of cocaine. 

APONTE-GUZMAN, 33, AGRAMONTE-MINAYA, 37, and MAISONET-LOPEZ, 32, are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.   

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York Division of the DEA, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, and the Mt. Vernon Police Department.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Westchester Resident Office of the DEA, the Port Authority Police Department, the New Rochelle Police Department, the Portchester Police Department, the White Plains Police Department, and the Yonkers Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

The charges 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 other assertions in public court documents, and the descriptions of those documents set forth in this release, constitute allegations only, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND NYCHA ANNOUNCE KICKOFF OF HEAL-THE-VIOLENCE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO PREVENTING CONFLICTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

 

The $720,000 violence prevention program will serve young people at more than 20 NYCHA campuses 

 Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced the launch of the Heal-the-Violence program. Funded through a larger $2 million grant provided by the City, this pilot program will support a localized anti-violence curriculum, training young people to develop solutions for curbing violence, using techniques like Healing Circles, Asset Mapping, Conflict Mediation, and other prevention-based responses.  

"A recovery for all of us is rooted in public safety, and one central way to keep our city safe is by uplifting our young people," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "NYCHA's innovative Heal-the-Violence program will reach young people where they are and create a safer future for our neighborhoods."

 

“NYCHA is committed to taking a holistic approach towards public safety that’s predicated on providing our young people with expanded programming, public space improvements, and robust engagement, said NYCHA Chair & CEO Greg Russ. “We are grateful to the Mayor’s Office for joining with us to develop new approaches for addressing this vital issue.” 

 

“Young people living in underserved and under-resourced public housing communities are especially impacted by traumatic violence, and this program is designed to center their voices in finding meaningful solutions for creating safer neighborhoods,” said NYCHA EVP for Community Engagement and Partnerships Sideya Sherman and Executive Director for the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity. “Heal-the-Violence is one of several long-term strategies that will support community health, security, and opportunity at NYCHA campuses.” 

 

"Public safety begins and ends with communities. These interventions work because they strengthen our neighborhoods. We look forward to working with our partners in the community and in government to continue our City’s recovery," said Marcos Soler, Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice.

 

“For the NYPD, crime fighting and community service are intrinsically linked in all we do and we applaud this program as enhancing all of our strategies to engage with and support New York City kids,” said Chief of Housing David Barrere. “The men and women of the NYPD’s Housing Bureau are unwavering in their commitment to public safety – which is a collective mission we pursue every day with our New York City Housing Authority partners.”

 

Heal-the-Violence will target young people ages 14-24. Those selected to participate in the program must live at one of the participating NYCHA campuses across the five boroughs and are eligible to receive up to $150 for their participation, with designated youth leaders eligible for $300. The program follows the large-scale renovation of more than a dozen basketball courts at NYCHA campuses earlier this year, and the roll-out of a youth basketball league organized in partnership with the New York Knicks and NYPD that concluded this past month.

 

Selected vendors will host onsite activities such as workshops and classes 1-2 times per week. NYCHA sought applications from Anti-Violence providers including those in the New York City Crisis Management System: a network that deploys teams of credible messengers who mediate conflicts on the street and connect high-risk individuals to services that can reduce the long-term risk of violence. According to the New York City Office to Prevent Gun Violence, the Crisis Management System helped contribute to a 40 percent reduction in shootings across program areas – compared to a 31 percent reduction in comparison sites – from 2010 to 2019. 

 

60 Days and Counting

 

Good news - 92% of the New York City workforce has gotten vaccinated against #COVID19, with 2,000 more in the last 24 hours alone.

Question from a pesky reporter - Mr. Mayor how can all these people who just took their first vaccine shot be vaccinated, when it takes two shots with the second shot at least twenty - one days after the first shot? Aren't you fudging the numbers, what is the percentage of city workers that are fully vaccinated, and we saw that you, Mr. Mayor took the Johnson and Johnson vaccine so you would only have to take one shot. However it was proven that anyone who took the J & J vaccine had to get a second shot, so even you Mr. Mayor were not fully vaccinated until you got that second shot of the COVID vaccine which was Moderna not the J & J.

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND WORKER PROTECTION SETTLES NYC PAID SAFE AND SICK LEAVE CASE WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Peter A. Hatch today announced a settlement agreement with American Airlines to resolve violations of the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. As part of the settlement, American Airlines’ federal lawsuit arguing that the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law does not apply to airport workers will be dropped. The settlement also requires American Airlines to pay $220,000 to 598 ground crew workers whose rights had been violated, including its management and support staff, fleet service and mechanical employees, and passenger service employees, and to comply with the law going forward by updating their safe and sick policy which will improve access to leave for thousands of ground crew workers. 

DCWP’s workplace-wide investigation found that American Airlines illegally assigned disciplinary points for each sick day used by ground crew workers and therefore illegally retaliated against employees for using sick leave. The airline also failed to pay employees for sick leave at the required rate, failed to allow employees to use accrued sick leave, illegally required advance notice of the unforeseeable need to use sick leave, illegally required medical documentation for sick leave absences of three or fewer days, and failed to provide employees with the Notice of Employee Rights.

“American Airlines denying its workers sick leave and putting their health at risk is just inhumane,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Paid safe and sick leave is critical for the safety and well-being of employees and we will continue to hold corporations accountable if they choose to violate the law. I applaud DCWP for getting these workers the money they deserve.” 

“Today’s settlement is a clear statement that NYC airport workers are entitled to the protections of our Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law,” said DCWP Commissioner Peter A. Hatch. “These employees work in major transportation hubs where tens of thousands of people are passing through daily. Forcing them to choose between going into work sick or getting in trouble for taking a sick day is not only illegal but a risk to public health. Paid sick leave is especially critical right now during this pandemic and no worker should face retaliation for exercising their right to sick leave. We thank the brave workers who came forward and urge any worker facing these problems at work to file a complaint with us.” 

The settlement requires American Airlines to: 

·         Pay $220,000 in restitution to 598 workers;

·         Implement a safe and sick leave policy that is compliant with the Law and corrects the violations in the company’s prior policy;

·         Post and distribute the Notice of Employee Rights to all staff;

·         Train all human resources personnel with direct oversight of the employees on the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law; and

·         Appoint a compliance officer to monitor and report on compliance with the Law.

Under the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, employers with five or more employees and employers of domestic workers in New York City must provide paid safe and sick leave to employees. Employers with fewer than five employees and a net income of $ 1 million or more, and employers with between five and 99 employees must provide 40 hours of paid leave. Employers with 100 or more employees must provide up to 56 hours of paid leave. Employers with fewer than five employees and a net income of less than $1 million must provide unpaid safe and sick leave. Safe and sick leave is accrued at a rate of one hour of leave for every 30 hours worked, and begins on the employee’s first day of employment. Employers of five or more employees who do not front-load safe and sick leave on the first day of a new calendar year must allow employees to carry over up to 40 or 56 hours of unused safe and sick leave from one calendar year to the new calendar year, depending on the size of the employer. 

If the need to use leave is foreseeable, employers can require up to seven days advance notice to use accrued leave. If the need is unforeseeable, employers may require notice as soon as practicable. Employers can require documentation for more than three consecutive workdays of leave, but it is illegal to require that documentation specify the reason for using it. Employers may not engage in or threaten retaliation against employees, which includes firing and any act that punishes an employee for or is likely to deter an employee from exercising their rights under the Law.

Since the Law went into effect, DCWP has received more than 2,470 complaints about Paid Safe and Sick Leave, closed more than 2,175 investigations, and obtained resolutions requiring more than $13.9 million in combined fines and restitution for more than 37,515 workers.

DCWP’s case was handled by Supervising Investigator Juana Abreu, Senior Enforcement Counsel Emily Hoffman under the supervision of Litigation Director Claudia Henriquez of DCWP’s Office of Labor Policy & Standards, which is led by Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Holt, and Law Department Senior Counsel Annette Lalic. 

Employers and employees can visit nyc.gov/workers or call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside NYC) for more information about the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, including the required new Notice of Employee of Rights, which is available in 26 languages, one-page overviews for employers and employees, and the complaint form.