CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General James Warns New Yorkers of Tracking Threat From Malicious Apple AirTag Users

 

AG James Offers Tips to Protect New Yorkers from Being Tracked by Apple AirTags

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert with safety recommendations to protect New Yorkers from bad actors using Apple AirTags to track individuals’ locations and their belongings for harmful purposes. Individuals have reported finding unknown AirTags attached to their cars, and in their purses, coat pockets, and other personal property. Others have reportedly received alerts on their phones that their location information is being shared, even when the targets do not find an AirTag or another connected accessory. 

“Across the country, Apple AirTags are being misused to track people and their belongings to cause harm,” said Attorney General James. “Tracking people without their awareness or consent is a serious felony and will not be tolerated by my office. I urge all New Yorkers to pay close attention to their belongings and follow the tips provided by my office to stay safe. New Yorkers’ safety is my top priority and my office will continue to do everything in its power to protect New Yorkers.”

Apple AirTags are small tracking devices intended to act as a key finder to help people locate their personal items. However, malicious individuals have been placing the small devices on people’s personal belongings without their awareness to track them.

Attorney General James recommends consumers take the following steps to protect themselves and their belongings:

• Listen for unfamiliar beeping. When an AirTag is separated from a familiar device for some time, the AirTag will start to make a beeping noise. If you hear this beeping noise, try to locate its source. AirTags can be stuck in various places including in bags and pockets, under cars, inside of bumpers, and the back of license plates. If you find an unfamiliar AirTag, hold your smartphone up to it to receive information about the AirTag including its serial number. Write down this information, then disable the AirTag by using the instructions on the screen or by removing the AirTag’s battery, and call your local law enforcement for assistance.
• Watch for “Item Detected Near You” notifications on iPhones. If your iPhone has been close to an unfamiliar AirTag or other accessory for a prolonged period of time, you may receive a notification on the Find My application stating, “Item Detected Near You.” Tap this message and it will allow you to play a sound on the AirTag in order to find it. You will also be able to use the app to receive information about the AirTag and disable it. Be sure to write down any information you learn about the AirTag before disabling it and call your local law enforcement for assistance. This Find My feature only works if your device is running iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later, so be sure to keep your device’s operating system up to date.
• If you have an Android device, download Tracker Detect from the Google Play Store. If you hear unfamiliar beeping, you can use Tracker Detect on your Android device to find any unfamiliar AirTags within your Bluetooth range. Please note that you will have to manually scan the area using the app, it will not scan for devices automatically.
• Know that not all unfamiliar AirTags are malicious. While it is important to be careful, AirTags are sometimes legitimately lost by their users, and your device will alert you regardless. If an AirTag has been reported lost, your Find My notification will give you information to allow you to return it.
• Check for updated guidance. Apple has issued guidance on how to deal with unknown AirTags or Find My alerts. If you come across any issues, check with Apple for updated guidance.
• Update your Apple device’s operating system. Apple is implementing new safety measures, so make sure you update your Apple device’s operating system regularly.

To report a misused Apple AirTag found in your belongings, please contact the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) immediately by filing a complaint with the OAG Internet and Technology Bureau.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 PRELIMINARY BUDGET

 

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE

FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK

JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS

"In discussions with the administration, I’ve stressed that the coming budget needs to build toward a new normal, a new era, and new philosophy, building on the strength of what has worked and learning from the errors of what hasn’t. In many ways, what the mayor outlined today acknowledges that need. 

"Fiscal responsibility must be paired with human responsibility – we cannot cut for the sake of cutting without consideration of the cost to New Yorkers. In this year’s budget, we need to invest in what the government can do, and has an obligation to do, to improve the lives and protect the futures of its people. I appreciate that across a range of issues, the administration recognizes the role that strengthening successful programs and launching new initiatives can play in the immediate and long term health of our city’s people and economy.

"New York’s budget is still bolstered by federal spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis – how those funds are allocated and managed is critical to our recovery. This funding should be used not only to respond to immediate needs, but to bolster and build new physical and programmatic infrastructure that will set a foundation for the future – as will the record reserves this budget allocates.  

"This emphasis on long-term investment is reflected in the need to invest heavily in climate resiliency and other infrastructural improvements, which I am glad to see well-represented in the mayor’s budget. We need to go further, working to prevent as well as prepare for the kind of climate emergencies which were once extraordinary but are increasingly more common. Construction and conversion must also be devoted to safe, sustainable, deeply affordable housing across the city, and the city must provide DOB and HPD with the funding necessary to protect tenants across the city from bad landlords and dangerous violations.

"Key among areas of investment is community-centered public safety solutions. While law enforcement has a role to play, it is critical that we expand the scope of and budget for non-police alternatives, whether for mental health crises, traffic enforcement, homelessness outreach, gun violence intervention, harm reduction services, or roles within the NYPD which can be civilianized. I will continue to guide our budget and our city toward a reimagining of public safety.

"It is essential that our budget prioritizes the needs of and services for children and families. I am proud that after many years of advocacy from myself and others, the Summer Youth Employment Program will be essentially universal under this budget. We fought for this goal for many years, and it’s very encouraging and vindicating to see it highlighted so early in this process and administration. It is important that we expand opportunities and strengthen support for young people in their homes, communities, and schools. Expanding the number of school counselors and the resources available for restorative justice in schools will have an impact not only on the education of our young people, but the safety and stability of our neighborhoods.

"As my own family is experiencing now, focus on and investments in maternal health, both before and after children are born, is invaluable. I am glad that the mayor shares and reflects this commitment in the budget, and it should be paired with dramatic expansion in childcare services and affordability that will support families and strengthen our economy. Training medical workers before high-risk emergency deliveries and expanding at-home family visits will save lives. I am excited that the budget will invest in these critical programs for mothers and young families. 

"Our city’s investments must center both economic and community health, development, and growth, and I believe that this year’s budget can meet these goals. The mayor’s preliminary budget is just that, a starting point – and this is a good place to start. Over the next months of the budget process I look forward to working with the administration and the City Council to ensure that our city’s budget sets the city on course with the necessary resources for recovery and renewal."

Eight Defendants Charged In Manhattan Federal Court For Distributing Fentanyl Linked To Multiple Overdose Deaths In The Bronx

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Timothy Foley, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division (“DEA”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment today charging JESUS CABRERA, a/k/a “Gee,” MICHAEL AMAYA, a/k/a “Miz,” and ALBERTO CONCEPCION, a/k/a “Chino,” with participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that resulted in the August 25, 2021, death of Malik Rahman in the Bronx, New York. HUMBERTO BORGES, a/k/a “Berto,” FRANKIE CAPELLAN, a/k/a “Nitty,” WILLIE HARRIS, a/k/a “Light,” LUIS RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Flaco Construction,” a/k/a “Lou,” and JOSE FIGUEROA, a/k/a “Chelo,” were also charged in the Superseding Indictment as members of the conspiracy.  CABRERA, CONCEPCION, and BORGES were arrested today in the Bronx, FIGUEROA was arrested today in Brooklyn, and RAMIREZ was arrested today in West New York, New Jersey.  AMAYA, who was charged in the original Indictment, was already in federal custody.  CAPELLAN and HARRIS remain at large.  The defendants who were arrested today will likely be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants operated a network for the distribution of highly addictive and dangerous drugs.  Despite knowing about the deadly effects of fentanyl, Cabrera and his crew continued to sell countless doses throughout the Bronx.  As alleged, glassines stamped with the defendants’ logo were found at the scene of multiple overdoses over the past year.  Today’s arrests are part of our continued commitment, along with our law enforcement partners, to stop the flow of fentanyl onto the streets of New York City and to bring to justice the dealers and suppliers who push this poison.”

DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy Foley said: “Zeroing in on drug trafficking organizations responsible for fueling the increasing overdose death rates is our focus. This action marks the first arrests in New York under DEA's newly announced Operation Overdrive, which targets drug-related violence and overdose deaths across the United States. Allegedly, Jesus Cabrera and his criminal network built a foothold for drug distribution in the Bronx adding fentanyl to their fire and branded their drugs for distribution throughout the Bronx with labels like ‘Supreme,’ ‘Off-White,’ and ‘Thriller,’ to not only highlight the potency of their drugs, but to appeal to users. DEA will continue our important work with our law enforcement partners to remove these dangerous criminals from our streets and restore the safety and health of our communities.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said:  “When you allegedly brazenly peddle illegal narcotics that threaten the lives of innocent New Yorkers, the collective vigor of our law enforcement assets will find you and stop you — no matter who you are, where you operate, or who your illicit operations harm. This is critically important work and I praise our partners, and the leadership of the prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, for working together to achieve some measure of justice for the many victims affected in this case.”

As alleged in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and in other court papers and proceedings[1]:

CABRERA, AMAYA, CONCEPCION, BORGES, CAPELLAN, HARRIS, RAMIREZ, and FIGUEROA are members of a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) that operates principally from a block on 142nd Street between Brook Avenue and St. Ann’s Avenue in the Bronx (the “Set”), where its members sell glassines of fentanyl in bulk to dealers who then re-distribute the DTO’s product on the Set and in other areas of the Bronx. Members of the DTO also sell individual glassines to users who line up on the Set on an almost daily basis. CABRERA is the leader of the DTO, and, until recently, AMAYA managed and oversaw the DTO’s various street-level dealers, baggers, and lookouts, including the other charged defendants.  In the fall and winter of 2021 alone, the DTO distributed an estimated five to six kilograms of fentanyl per month. 

The DTO has frequently used a signature “stamp” on the glassines of fentanyl it sells. For many months, the DTO stamped its glassines with a “Supreme” logo.  Starting in or around December 2021, the DTO began using an “Off White” logo, and, recently, the DTO switched to a “Thriller” logo.  

Despite the DTO’s leadership’s awareness of the potential deadly impact of fentanyl, members of the DTO continued pushing the DTO’s product.  Indeed, as early as on or about January 2019, CABRERA sent AMAYA a link to a news article that described law enforcement’s crackdown on heroin dealers in the Bronx who were “pushing a deadly cut of heroin . . . using a new drug known as fentanyl,” which had led to a rash overdose deaths.

On or about August 25, 2021, CONCEPCION sold a quantity of loose “Supreme”-stamped glassines to an individual on the Set (“Individual-1”), who subsequently provided one of those glassines to Rahman. Rahman died from an overdose shortly after ingesting the substances in the “Supreme”-stamped glassine, the residue of which later tested positive for, among other things, fentanyl.  Both CABRERA and AMAYA were directly involved in overseeing CONCEPCION’s narcotics sales at that time.  Indeed, in the days leading up to Rahman’s fatal overdose, AMAYA and CABRERA exchanged text messages referencing certain quantities of narcotics that were going to CONCEPCION for resale on the Set.

Including Rahman’s fatal overdose, between in or around March 2021 and in or around December 2021, there were at least six confirmed fatal overdoses in the Bronx at which “Supreme”-stamped glassines were found on the scene and two additional suspected overdose deaths at which the “Supreme”-stamped glassines were found on the scene.   In or around January 2022, there was a ninth fatal suspected overdose in the Bronx at which a “Thriller”-stamped glassine was found on the scene.

During the course of this morning’s arrests and pursuant to judicially authorized search warrants and consent searches, law enforcement recovered, among other items, approximately 1.5 kilograms of mixtures and substances containing suspected fentanyl, numerous “Thriller” glassines, ledgers reflecting the DTO’s weekly drug inventory, a firearm, and over $120,000 in cash.

JESUS CABRERA, a/k/a “Gee,” 42, MICHAEL AMAYA, a/k/a “Miz,” 40, ALBERTO CONCEPCION, a/k/a “Chino,” 50, HUMBERTO BORGES, a/k/a “Berto,” 45, FRANKIE CAPELLAN, a/k/a “Nitty,” 40, WILLIE HARRIS, a/k/a “Light,” 52, LUIS RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Flaco Construction,” a/k/a “Lou,” 36, and JOSE FIGUEROA, a/k/a “Chelo, 57, are each charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. CABRERA, AMAYA, and CONCEPCION are also charged with causing the deaths of a victim in connection with the narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and DEA, and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”) Intelligence Analysts for their support and assistance in this matter.   He also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in the case.

The charge contained in the Superseding Indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and other court papers and proceedings, and the description of the Superseding Indictment Superseding Indictment and other court papers and proceedings set forth herein, constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - FEBRUARY 16, 2022

 

Yesterday Statewide Positivity is 2.37%, 7-Day Average Positivity Remains Below 3%

Statewide COVID-19 Hospitalizations Fall Below 3,500 - Lowest Since December 5

37 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.  

 "I want to thank New Yorkers for doing their part to bring cases and hospitalizations down during the recent Omicron wave,” Governor Hochul said. “However, this is no time to let our guard down. Let's continue to be vigilant, including getting your second dose and booster shot if you haven't already. Parents and guardians, please consult your child's pediatrician or health care provider about getting them vaccinated if you haven't already."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported - 138,125
• Total Positive - 3,274
• Percent Positive - 2.37%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.78%
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,265 (-239)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 334 
• Patients in ICU - 530 (-43)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 304 (-13)  
• Total Discharges - 281,970 (+427)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 37
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 54,280

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 – 68,439

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 – 36,574,552
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 39,412
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 280,537
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 91.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 82.6%
• 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) – 85.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 80.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 70.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 80.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 72.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 88.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.0%

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Corporate America Must Show Progress on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

 

NYS Comptroller Calls on Companies to Advance Racial Equity Strengthens Pension Fund’s Policy to Vote Against Boards That Lack Diversity

 New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s (Fund) efforts to increase corporate accountability for progress on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues. DiNapoli’s approach seeks action from corporations to ensure racial equity while holding them accountable for failing to ensure DEI throughout all levels of their companies.

“Corporate America must foster and protect racial and gender equity in the workplace, in company policies and in how it interacts with customers,” DiNapoli said. “When companies fall short and fail to address inequities, they put themselves and their shareholder value at risk. We’re seeing more and more companies do the right thing and make real progress on diversity, equity and inclusion, but there’s so much more work to do. The Fund will continue to expand its efforts to hold its portfolio companies accountable.”

Under DiNapoli’s leadership, the Fund engages with portfolio companies on a range of issues to address investment risks and opportunities. In order to identify and prioritize companies to engage with, the Fund researches and reviews corporate policies or practices that may run contrary to best practices or pose potential risks to the Fund, and monitors media and academic reports about controversies involving portfolio companies. Encouraging companies to have robust policies, practices, and data disclosure related to DEI is a priority for the Fund’s corporate governance engagement. Numerous studies have pointed to the material benefits of a diverse workforce, including a 2020 McKinsey study that shows diverse companies are more likely to outperform their less diverse peers.

Shareholder Proposals in 2022

The Fund employs shareholder proposals to raise issues directly to fellow shareholders and boards of directors. The Fund’s shareholder proposals seek new reporting and policies that would enhance transparency, mitigate investment risks, and improve shareholder value. When filing a shareholder proposal, the Fund seeks a productive dialogue with the company. If the company agrees to implement the proposal’s request, it is withdrawn by the Fund.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Reporting

DiNapoli announced that the Fund filed shareholder proposals at Electronic Arts Inc., Monster Beverage, Inc., Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., and HCA Healthcare Inc. seeking disclosure of their progress on improving workplace DEI. The disclosures sought in these proposals include the recruitment, retention, and promotion rates, as well as pay data of employees by gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability and veteran status.

Currently, these companies have released very limited or no information on their DEI programs and practices. DEI reporting would allow investors to compare and assess the effectiveness of companies’ efforts.

The Fund has since reached an agreement with HCA Healthcare Inc., one of the nation's largest healthcare providers, and the proposal has been withdrawn.

Board Diversity Commitments

Since 2010, DiNapoli and the Fund have filed 39 shareholder proposals asking companies to take concrete steps to increase board diversity. As a result, the Fund has secured 21 agreements to promote diversity, which helped add 29 diverse members to boards of directors.

This year, DiNapoli reached an agreement with First Community Bankshares to consider diversity inclusive of sex, race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation in nominating new board members, and include women and people of color in the candidate pool from which it chooses new directors. As a result of the agreement, the Fund withdrew its proposal, which had been filed for the second consecutive year after winning support from 71% of fellow shareholders at the company’s annual meeting in June 2021.

Another proposal calling for increased board diversity was co-filed, along with the State of Connecticut’s Retirement Plans and Trust Funds at Vicor Corp.

EEO-1 Reporting

The federal government collects information from companies detailing the race, ethnicity and gender of companies’ workforce, including their senior management. DiNapoli has asked the Kroger Company supermarket chain and Zoom Video Communications, Inc. to publicly disclose this data to increase transparency on DEI and provide comparable, reliable data versus peers and the market. Showing how the number of diverse employees and senior executives changes over time can provide insight into a company’s progress on DEI.

Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Disclosure

Corporate America must proactively address the corrosive effect that discrimination and sexual harassment have on workplace rights, morale, and company performance. DiNapoli recently announced proposals filed with Activision Blizzard, Inc., Tesla, Inc. and Starbucks Corporation — companies that have been impacted by allegations of discrimination or harassment.

Racial Equity Audits

In January, DiNapoli announced the filing of a shareholder proposal requesting independent and public examinations of corporations’ impacts on civil rights, equity, diversity and inclusion, and the impacts of those issues on the company’s business. The original proposal, filed with Amazon in 2021, won 44% support at the company’s annual meeting in May 2021. DiNapoli has re-filed with Amazon this year and filed similar proposals at Chipotle Mexican Grill, Dollar General Corp., Dollar Tree, Inc., and Match Group.

Board Director Votes

Voting on director nominees is a key tool that provides the most direct means for shareholders to hold companies accountable. The Fund believes its interests are best served by directors who demonstrate a commitment to sustainable long-term performance and responsible corporate governance.

Diversity Voting Guidelines

DiNapoli also announced today the adoption of updated Proxy Voting Guidelines that will expand the Fund’s scrutiny of board diversity, including diversity of age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, geography, and disability. As a result, the Fund will examine all Russell 1000 Index companies and vote against:

• All incumbent board nominees if there are no directors identifying as an underrepresented minority on the board (as defined by federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which includes one or more of the following: Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Native American or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or two or more of the preceding);
• All incumbent nominating committee nominees when a board does not have more than one director identifying as an underrepresented minority;
• All incumbent nominating committee nominees at companies that do not disclose the self-identified individual racial/ethnic diversity of their board directors; and
• All incumbent nominating committee nominees at companies that have not listed both gender and racial/ethnic diversity as explicit considerations in their search for directors.

The Fund will also vote against all incumbent Compensation Committee members of S&P 500 Index companies for failing to disclose EEO-1 data to investors.

The Fund continues to encourage its portfolio companies to disclose whether directors identify themselves as LGBTQ+ or as a person with a disability. The Fund also plans to further expand its voting policy during the coming years.

Since 2018, the Fund has voted against all incumbent board directors standing for re-election at companies that have no women on their boards. In situations where a company has just one woman on its board, the Fund has withheld support from all incumbent members of the board's nominating committee.

 

About the New York State Common Retirement Fund

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is one of the largest public pension funds in the United States with an estimated value of $279.7 billion as of Dec. 31, 2021. The Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million state and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries. The Fund has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation. The Fund's fiscal year ends March 31.

Virginia Man Pleads Guilty To Laundering Millions From Fraud Schemes Targeting Victims Across The United States Perpetrated By Ghana-Based Criminal Enterprise

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that FRED ASANTE pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in a criminal enterprise based in the Republic of Ghana (“Ghana”) involving the theft of tens of millions of dollars.  ASANTE was arrested on February 17, 2021 in Virginia and pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.  ASANTE has been detained since his arrest.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Fred Asante admitted today to laundering money from victims of various fraud schemes, including cruel scams targeting elderly online daters searching for companionship. Compounding the disappointment of learning their potential soulmate was indeed nonexistent, Asante’s victims later found they were also targets of a Ghana-based criminal enterprise netting over $35 million in illegal proceeds. We implore the millions of Americans looking for someone special online to use extra caution, and be especially beware if solicited for money or other personal information.”     

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

From at least in or about 2013 through at least in or about 2020, ASANTE was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in Ghana that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses located across the United States, including in the Southern District of New York.  The frauds perpetrated by the Enterprise have consisted of, among other frauds, business email compromises, romance scams, and fraud schemes related to the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.  First, the objective of the Enterprise’s business email compromise fraud scheme was to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds into accounts controlled by the Enterprise through the use of email accounts that “spoofed” or impersonated employees of a victim company or third parties engaged in business with a victim company.  Second, the Enterprise conducted the romance scams by using electronic messages sent via email, text messaging, or online dating websites that deluded victims, many of whom were vulnerable older men and women who lived alone, into believing the victim was in a romantic relationship with a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise.  Once members of the Enterprise had gained the trust of the victims using the fake identity, they used false pretenses to cause the victims to wire money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when in fact the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise.  Finally, the Enterprise submitted fraudulent loan applications through a loan program of the United States Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) designed to provide relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, namely the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Program.  The Enterprise submitted fraudulent EIDL applications in the names of actual companies to the SBA and when an EIDL loan was approved, the funds were ultimately deposited in bank accounts controlled by members of the Enterprise. 

ASANTE and other members of the Enterprise received fraud proceeds from victims of the Enterprise in dozens of business bank accounts that they controlled in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia.  The business bank accounts were opened in the names of companies formed by ASANTE and other members of the Enterprise that were purportedly involved in, among other things, automobile sales, food imports and exports, and freight trucking and shipping.  Once ASANTE received fraud proceeds in bank accounts under his control, he withdrew, transported, and laundered those fraud proceeds to other members of the Enterprise abroad.  The defendant primarily laundered the fraud proceeds through his business by using the proceeds to purchase automobiles, food products, and other goods from U.S.-based suppliers and distributors of such products and shipping those products to Ghana and elsewhere.  The defendant’s transactions had the appearance of legitimate business transactions when, in fact, the products had been purchased using the proceeds of fraud schemes.  This trade-based money laundering scheme was designed to obscure the origin of the fraud proceeds as well as the identity of the ultimate beneficiaries of these schemes.  In total, from in or about 2016 through in or about 2020, the defendant controlled over a dozen business bank accounts with deposits totaling over $35 million. 

FRED ASANTE, 36, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

Under the terms of his plea agreement, ASANTE agreed to pay a money judgment of $647,488 and to forfeit his interest in approximately $323,646 seized by the Government from his bank accounts as well as a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE AMG seized by the Government.

ASANTE will be sentenced on May 18, 2022, by Judge Rakoff.  ASANTE’s co-conspirator, LORD ANING, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on October 15, 2021, and will be sentenced on February 28, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. before Judge Rakoff. 

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. 

Governor Hochul Announces $500,000 Grant and Partnership with IMG to Support Independent Designers During New York Fashion Week

 

New York Fashion Week Highlights Safe Economic Reopening and Recovery of America's Fashion Capital 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a partnership with IMG to implement a $500,000 grant program to assist small, independent fashion designers with grants of $50,000 each to offset certain costs of their New York Fashion Week show productions for the September 2022 season. IMG will implement and manage an application process for a selection of ten grant recipients based on a set of criteria developed by IMG in partnership with Empire State Development.  

"Fashion Week is a celebration of New York's role as the fashion capital of the world, drawing and inspiring an unparalleled array of creative talent," Governor Hochul said. "As we make our comeback from the pandemic, it is essential that we prioritize the recovery of one of New York's most exciting and dynamic industries. By partnering with New York's best small and independent designers we are strengthening our economy and supporting vibrant development in this crucial industry."    

The grant program will help support the vibrant return of the New York fashion industry post-COVID-19, attract and retain New York's fashion talent, and enable more small and independent New York-based designers to participate in recovery efforts. The opportunity to debut new collections to buyer, media, industry and consumer audiences powers the continued success of fashion designers' businesses in America's fashion capital.

The public and private sectors are working together to support small businesses impacted while restoring and creating new jobs for New Yorkers. The fashion, retail and creative industries together represent a key economic engine for New York State that has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic New York City's fashion industry employed 4.6 percent of the city's workforce, generating approximately $11 billion in total wages. The Governor attended the Proenza Schouler show on Friday, February 11 to highlight the industry's contributions to the state economy.     

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Hope Knight said, "New York City is the creative soul, and economic engine, of the fashion industry. Governor Hochul's partnership with IMG to implement this grant program will give a group of small, independent designers access to the runway during Fashion Week, that in turn will support an entire network of creators and businesses, from tailors to support staff, who are at the vital heart of New York's signature style."    

President of IMG's Fashion Events and Properties Leslie Russo said, "We are grateful to Governor Hochul and New York State for their continued partnership in our initiatives to support the New York fashion community. Our state exemplifies leadership in the global recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is because of their guidance that we have been able to help the industry rebuild after the devastating impact of the last two years. Collaborating with Empire State Development will further diversify the voices of New York Fashion Week and ensure we continue to foster new generations of talent and represent American fashion on the global fashion stage for years to come. 

In September 2021, IMG formed the Fashion Alliance to create a cornerstone for New York Fashion Week's revitalization in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and provide support, funding, and resources for a group of New York Fashion Week's independent designer brands through 2022. This new grant funded by New York State will help to provide additional support to more independent designers based in New York.  

New York Fashion Week: The Shows takes place this season from February 11-16, live from Spring Studios in lower Manhattan, and is the official central event of New York Fashion Week. Proof of full-course COVID-19 vaccination, including via Excelsior Pass, Excelsior Pass Plus or alternate verification methods, is required at all NYFW: The Shows events this February.  

Statement from NYC Comptroller Brad Lander on Mayor Adams’ FY 23 Preliminary Budget

 

Following the release of Mayor Eric Adams’ FY 2023 Preliminary Budget on Wednesday, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander issued the following statement:

“The Fiscal Year 2023 budget is New York City’s chance to invest in the programs and infrastructure our city needs for an inclusive, resilient, long-term recovery.

“I’m pleased to see some of those needed investments in Mayor Adams’ first budget proposal, like 100,000 summer youth jobs and funding for the Fair Fares NYC program. As the budget process continues, I hope to see additional funding for evidence-based public safety interventions like supportive housing, a far more robust plan for long-term fiscal reserves, and more clarity about how we are spending one-time federal funds wisely to help vulnerable students, small businesses, and neighborhoods recover. We must also act now to address the climate crisis by investing in clean energy through our Public Solar NYC plan, as well as the infrastructure we need for the coming era of rising tides and temperatures.

“At a time of extraordinary challenges, there is reason for optimism about our city’s economic recovery, thanks in part to the $24 billion that our city is receiving in federal aid. My office is paying close attention to that spending, but I urge the administration to provide greater transparency and detail on the planned outcomes for those dollars so that we can better assess whether these resources are having the intended impact for every New Yorker.

“The mayor has rightly sought to reduce agency headcount, and I’m glad the budget does not rely on the illusory $500 million in labor savings. I’ll be looking closely at whether the planned savings achieve real efficiencies and will dig in, especially at agencies like the Department of Correction where reform is urgently needed.

“However, the current plan does not include a credible effort to build up the long-term reserves the city needs, with only a scant addition in FY23 and nothing in the remaining years of the plan. It remains urgent to codify deposits into the Rainy-Day Fund.

“Being prepared for a rainy day in 2022 means addressing not only our fiscal resilience, but also urgently our climate resilience. Six months after Hurricane Ida, and 10 years after Superstorm Sandy, we’ve done too little to get our sewers, streets, and coastal communities ready for the storms to come. I’ll be examining the status of these projects, urging the mayor to prioritize resiliency in plans for capital spending, and pushing for capital projects management reform to get projects done on time and on budget.

“As we confront the inequities that the public health and economic crises of these last two years underscored, we must make investments that secure a safe and sustainable future for all New Yorkers. My office is looking forward to reviewing the preliminary budget proposal in full and sharing detailed analysis with the Administration, the City Council, and the public in the coming weeks.”