United States Citizen Who Conspired To Assist North Korea In Evading Sanctions Is Sentenced To More Than 5 Years And Fined $100,000

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that VIRGIL GRIFFITH, a U.S. citizen who conspired to provide services to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK” or “North Korea”), including technical advice on using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to evade sanctions, was sentenced to 63 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated: “There is no question North Korea poses a national security threat to our nation, and the regime has shown time and again it will stop at nothing to ignore our laws for its own benefit. Mr. Griffith admitted in court he took actions to evade sanctions, which are in place to prevent the DPRK from building a nuclear weapon. Justice has been served with the sentence handed down today.”

According to the Complaint, Indictment, other documents in the public record, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:

Pursuant to the IEEPA and Executive Order 13466, United States persons are prohibited from exporting any goods, services, or technology to the DPRK without a license from the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”).

GRIFFITH, a cryptocurrency expert, began formulating plans as early as 2018 to provide services to individuals in the DPRK by developing and funding cryptocurrency infrastructure there, including to mine cryptocurrency. GRIFFITH knew that the DPRK could use these services to evade and avoid U.S. sanctions, and to fund its nuclear weapons program and other illicit activities.

In April 2019, GRIFFITH traveled to the DPRK to attend and present at the “Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference” (the “DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference”). Despite the fact that the U.S. Department of State had denied GRIFFITH permission to travel to the DPRK, GRIFFITH delivered presentations at the DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference, tailored to the DPRK audience, knowing that doing so violated sanctions against the DPRK.

At the DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference, GRIFFITH and his co-conspirators provided instruction on how the DPRK could use blockchain and cryptocurrency technology to launder money and evade sanctions. GRIFFITH’s presentations at the DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference had been approved by DPRK officials and focused on, among other things, how blockchain technology such as “smart contracts” could be used to benefit the DPRK, including in nuclear weapons negotiations with the United States. GRIFFITH and his co-conspirators also answered specific questions about blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies for the DPRK audience, including individuals whom GRIFFITH understood worked for the North Korean government.

After the DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference, GRIFFITH pursued plans to facilitate the exchange of cryptocurrency between the DPRK and South Korea, despite knowing that assisting with such an exchange would violate sanctions against the DPRK. GRIFFITH also attempted to recruit other U.S. citizens to travel to North Korea and provide similar services to DPRK persons and attempted to broker introductions for the DPRK to other cryptocurrency and blockchain service providers. At no time did GRIFFITH obtain permission from OFAC to provide goods, services, or technology to the DPRK.

In addition to the prison sentence, GRIFFITH, 39, was sentenced to three years supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its New York Field Office, Counterintelligence Division, and thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Singapore Police Force for their assistance.

MANHATTAN MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR FATAL 2015 SHOOTING

 

Jury Convicted Defendant of Murder

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Manhattan man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the 2015 shooting death of a man in Melrose.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant approached the victim from behind and shot him twice in the head. He fled the scene and was caught months later. If you shoot someone in the Bronx, you will be held accountable. He faces many years in prison for taking a life.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Unique Woodfin, 43, last of 2660 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Manhattan, was sentenced on April 11, 2022 by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio to 22 years to life in prison on second-degree Murder and 18 years to life on seconddegree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, both sentences to run consecutively.

 The defendant was convicted after a jury trial.

 According to the investigation, on July 23, 2015 at approximately 8:40 a.m. at 650 Westchester Avenue, the defendant fired two gunshots at Luis Garcia, 40, striking him in the head. It was determined that Florencio Pinos, who was a co-defendant in the case before he passed away from illness in 2017, had a dispute with Garcia a month earlier, which included Garcia menacing Pinos with a gun and stealing his vehicle.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Javish Ortiz of the 40th Precinct and Detective Peter Cullen, now of the NYPD Safe Streets Task Force.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Fiscal Stress Scores for Villages and Cities

 

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that 10 villages and two cities were designated in fiscal stress under his Fiscal Stress Monitoring System. DiNapoli evaluated all non-calendar year local governments and designated one city and two villages in “moderate fiscal stress” and eight villages and one city as “susceptible to fiscal stress.” While no municipalities were in the highest category of “significant fiscal stress,” 73 villages and cities have not filed their financial information, as required. These scores also largely reflect the period when local governments in New York received federal relief funds to assist them in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. “The financial landscape for many local governments has improved with the infusion of federal aid and stronger economic activity,” DiNapoli said. “The relief funds are temporary, so it is critical that local communities make changes, including carefully managing debt and engaging in long-term planning, that help improve their financial outlook for years down the road.” The latest round of fiscal scores evaluated local governments with fiscal years ending between Feb. 28 and July 31. DiNapoli’s office evaluated the fiscal health of 522 villages, which predominantly have a fiscal year ending on May 31, based on self-reported data for 2021. The scores also cover the 17 cities with non-calendar fiscal years, including the “Big 4” cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers, each of which have fiscal years ending on June 30. Amsterdam (Montgomery County) was the only city in “moderate fiscal stress” with a score of 58.3. Last year, Amsterdam was ranked in “significant fiscal stress” with a score of 75. The villages of Addison (Steuben County) and South Dayton (Cattaraugus County) were also in “moderate fiscal stress.” Both villages were ranked in “susceptible to fiscal stress” last year but jumped in score this year with Addison going from 53.8 to 61.7 and South Dayton going from 47.5 to 55.4. The system, which has been in place since 2012, assesses levels of fiscal stress in local governments using financial indicators including year-end fund balance, cash position, short-term cash-flow borrowing and patterns of operating deficits. It generates overall fiscal stress scores, which ultimately drive final classifications. The system also analyzes separate environmental indicators to help provide insight into the health of local economies and other challenges that might affect a local government’s or school district’s finances. This information includes population trends, poverty and unemployment. DiNapoli’s office also has a self-assessment tool that allows local officials to calculate fiscal stress scores based on current and future financial assumptions. Officials can use this tool to assist in budget planning, which is especially helpful during periods of revenue and expenditure fluctuations. In January, DiNapoli released fiscal stress scores for school districts. In September, his office will release scores for municipalities with a calendar-year fiscal year, which includes all counties, towns, most cities and a few villages. List of Villages and Cities in Fiscal Stress Municipalities in Fiscal Stress List of Villages and Cities that Failed to File Financial Information Municipalities that Failed to File or Inconclusive List Complete List of Fiscal Stress Scores Data Files FSMS Search Tool Tool

Governor Hochul Commutes on the Subway and Visits Victims of Sunset Park Shooting

 

Governor Kathy Hochul commuted on the New York City subways and visited the victims of the Sunset Park subway shooting. 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The governor and her aides better get tested for COVID-19 putting their bare hands on a subway pole that others have touched, coughed, and sneezed on. 

Permits Filed For 497 East 166th Street In Morrisania, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an eight-story mixed-use building at 497 East 166th Street in Morrisania, The Bronx. Located between Washington Avenue and Third Avenue, the lot is one block north of the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Anthony Verrelli is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 39,960 square feet, with 31,392 square feet designated for residential space, 8,199 square feet for commercial space, and 369 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 46 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 682 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar and a 56-foot-long rear yard.

Badaly Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet for the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

WILLIAMS' STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF LT. GOVERNOR BRIAN BENJAMIN

 

“As Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul denied knowledge or awareness of Andrew Cuomo’s wrongdoing — now she’s repeating the same posture and strategy with her own Lieutenant. Either she’s consistently shamefully out of the loop, or shamefully enabling through her inaction, and either way it’s clear that unless we elect leadership outside of the old ways of Albany, these patterns of scandal and corruption will keep repeating.

“Throughout our campaign we've highlighted how the Hochul administration represented Albany's dysfunctional status quo. She claims to have cleaned up the Capitol. But just this week, with historic handouts to Buffalo billionaires, donor-driven scandals, and resignation, it’s never felt more familiar, or more clear that we need drastic change.”

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul Re: Brian Benjamin

 

"I have accepted Brian Benjamin's resignation effective immediately. While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as Lieutenant Governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them."

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - APRIL 12, 2022

 

As New Yorkers Make Preparations to Travel and Gather with Loved Ones ForEaster and Passover Holidays, Remember to Use the Toolkit: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

8 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday   

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

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.

"As we approach the Easter and Passover holidays and we see more New Yorkers travel and gather together, let's continue to use the tools to keep each other safe and move forward through this pandemic safely," Governor Hochul said. "Make sure you get tested before you travel, and if you test positive, isolate from others and talk to your doctor about treatments. The number one way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Second booster doses have been authorized for individuals 55 and up, so make sure to sign up for your booster today if you're eligible."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 18.76
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 25.62
• Test Results Reported - 85,815
• Total Positive - 3,666
• Percent Positive - 4.12% **
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 4.13% **
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,128 (+68)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 185
• Patients in ICU - 138 (+8)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 63 (-3)
• Total Discharges - 292,483 (+122)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 8
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,240

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.

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 - 70,455

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 - 37,823,031
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 25,250
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 235,114
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.5%
• 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) - 86.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.5%

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:

Borough	Saturday, April 9, 2022	Sunday, April 10, 2022	Monday, April 11, 2022
Bronx	1.40%	1.41%	1.39%
Kings	2.75%	2.79%	2.60%
New York	4.16%	4.19%	4.25%
Queens	2.37%	2.36%	2.39%
Richmond	2.61%	2.64%	2.79%