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Saturday, February 12, 2022
Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use
Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded Gun on Chicago Street
A man has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun on a Chicago street.
TERRANCE WEATHERSBY illegally possessed the gun on the afternoon of Oct. 6, 2018, in the 5800 block of West Fulton Street in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Shortly after 1:00 p.m., Chicago Police officers responding to the sound of gunfire approached the area and observed a man subsequently identified as Weathersby firing a gun multiple times at unidentified individuals down the street, in the presence of bystanders. Weathersby ran from the police and tossed the gun into a backyard before fleeing in a vehicle. Other officers pulled over the vehicle a few blocks away and apprehended Weathersby. Police then searched the area where Weathersby ran and discovered the gun, which was equipped with a high-capacity magazine.
Weathersby, 32, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of illegal possession of a firearm. He had previously been convicted of felonies in state court, including a firearm offense, and was prohibited by federal law from possessing the gun.
U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin imposed an 87-month prison sentence Thursday after a hearing in federal court in Chicago.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen de Tineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
“A felon carrying a gun fitted with a large capacity magazine, walking down our residential streets and shooting, strikes fear into the hearts of ordinary people,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri H. Mecklenburg argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s offense conduct was brazen, dangerous, and adversely affected public safety.”
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State’s Progress Combating COVID-19 - FEBRUARY 12, 2022
Statewide Positivity Rate is 2.5%
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Below 4,000 - Lowest Since December 19
Hospitalizations Drop 69% Since January 11 Peak (12,671)
Nearly 30% Decline in Hospitalizations Over Past Week, Continue to Decline Across All Regions
60 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.
"New Yorkers should be proud of our continued progress in bringing down the numbers since the Omicron peak in January, but this is no time to let up," Governor Hochul said. "The vaccine is our best defense, and it's safe, effective and doctor-recommended for all New Yorkers ages five and up. Parents and guardians, please talk to your child's pediatrician or health care provider about getting your child vaccinated if you haven't already."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Test Results Reported - 169,476
- Total Positive - 4,232
- Percent Positive - 2.50%
- 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.37%
- Patient Hospitalization - 3,883 (-266)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 432
- Patients in ICU - 635 (-33)
- Patients in ICU with Intubation - 369 (-32)
- Total Discharges - 280,374 (+587)
- New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 60
- Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 54,073
The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
- Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 67,779
This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
- Total vaccine doses administered - 36,436,580
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 47,847
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 294,688
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 91.3%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 82.5%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 85.1%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 80.6%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 70.5%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 80.7%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 72.6%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 88.2%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 74.8%
Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 2/7/22-2/11/22
Dear Community,
New York’s indoor mask mandate expired this Thursday, February 10th. New York joins a number of states across the Northeast who are now ending their mask mandates, especially as the number of COVID-19 cases decreases. Although COVID-19 cases have been down compared to the Omnicron surge in January, COVID-19 still remains a threat, especially for immunocompromised, elderly, and young New Yorkers. I still plan on wearing my mask, especially indoors, for the safety of myself and others. Our best protection against COVID-19 remains wearing a mask, getting vaccinated and boosted, and social distancing. I strongly encourage you to continue to do what is necessary for you to keep yourself and your community safe from this virus.
It is also important to note that the state’s mask mandate will remain in effect at the following locations:
- Schools and childcare centers
- Public transit
- Correctional facilities
- Homeless shelters
- Domestic violence shelters
- Nursing homes
- Health care facilities
With Gratitude,
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi
Statement by NYC Comptroller Brad Lander on Federal Court Ruling Upholding NYC’s Fast Food Just Cause Law
“The fast food industry fought in court to preserve their ability to fire people at will, but the court sided with workers and upheld New York City’s fast food just cause law. Having protections against unfair firings can mean the difference between making the rent or confronting harassment or blowing the whistle on unsafe conditions. I’m glad the federal court agreed to uphold our fast food worker just cause law, and I hope the City Council can act to extend these important protections to workers in other industries, so that no one can be fired without cause.”
Final Defendant Sentenced To 28 Years In Prison For 2011 Murder Of Joshua Rubin
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that KEVIN TAYLOR was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jed S. Rakoff to 28 years in prison for his role in the October 31, 2011, murder of Joshua Rubin in Brooklyn, New York. Judge Rakoff previously sentenced co-defendants GARY ROBLES and MICHAEL MAZUR to 28 and 18 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in Rubin’s murder.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This sentencing brings long-awaited closure to the family of Joshua Rubin for the horrific events from more than a decade ago when Taylor, Robles and Mazur killed Rubin during a planned drug robbery, and then burned and abandoned Rubin’s body in a deserted field in Pennsylvania. This case is another example of this Office’s commitment to seeking justice for victims, even if the road to justice is long. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for persevering in this case until justice was achieved for the victim’s family.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:
On or about October 31, 2011, KEVIN TAYLOR, GARY ROBLES, and MICHAEL MAZUR planned to rob Joshua Rubin of a pound of marijuana. ROBLES agreed to bring a firearm to the robbery. TAYLOR lured Rubin to a Brooklyn apartment where, under the guise of purchasing the marijuana, the trio planned to rob Rubin of the drugs. On the night of the robbery, TAYLOR and ROBLES waited inside the apartment while MAZUR was positioned outside to serve as a lookout. After Rubin entered the apartment, TAYLOR and ROBLES demanded that Rubin surrender the marijuana. When Rubin refused, ROBLES shot and killed him.
After the murder, TAYLOR, ROBLES, and MAZUR placed Rubin’s body into the trunk of a car and drove to rural Pennsylvania. Once there, TAYLOR, ROBLES, and MAZUR placed Rubin’s body in a garbage can, doused it with an accelerant, and set the body on fire. TAYLOR, ROBLES, and MAZUR then drove back to New York in the early morning hours of November 1, 2011. After the murder, TAYLOR arranged to have Rubin’s credit cards used to purchase items from retail establishments in Orange County, New York.
In addition, in 2019 and 2020, TAYLOR attempted to impede the federal murder investigation by paying thousands of dollars to a potential witness, and offering another witness hundreds of thousands of dollars if that witness refused to speak with law enforcement.
TAYLOR, 29, pled guilty to one count of robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and one count of conspiracy to commit witness tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. In connection with his guilty plea, TAYLOR admitted to his role in the murder. In addition to his prison sentence, TAYLOR, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
ROBLES, 39, pled guilty to one count of robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and one count of narcotics conspiracy, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(D). In connection with his guilty plea, ROBLES admitted to his role in the murder. In addition to his prison sentence, ROBLES, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
MAZUR, 27, pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951, and in connection with his guilty plea admitted to his role in the murder. In addition to his prison sentence, MAZUR, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. He also thanked the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the South Whitehall Township Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul on Protests Near Canadian Border
"Today I visited the interagency command center in Buffalo to ensure we're prepared for any impacts from protests near the Canadian border. We are ready to address any potential travel and commerce disruptions, and also ensure we can protect everyone's right to peaceful protest."