Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MAY 5, 2022

Central New York — First Region in State to See Recent Uptick — Continues Downward Trend, Case Rate Down 12.1% Compared to Last Week

Neighboring Regions — Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier — Case Rates Down Compared to Last Week

COVID-19 Hospital Admissions Declining in Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier

21 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19, while also announcing that the State has now distributed more than 75 million over-the-counter COVID-19 tests as part of the administration's ongoing efforts to keep communities safe during the Spring and Summer months. At-home rapid tests continue to be distributed at regular intervals to New Yorkers, including at schools and nursing homes, throughout the state.

"We have the tools to protect against and treat this virus -- let's use them," Governor Hochul said. "Vaccinations are readily available and highly effective - whether it's your first dose, second, your booster or you're eligible for a second booster, if you have yet to get yours, do so immediately. If you're feeling sick, get tested, and ask your doctor about getting treatment if you test positive. By using these tools, we can continue to move forward safely through this pandemic."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Cases Per 100k - 52.46
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 39.74
• Test Results Reported - 132,139
• Total Positive - 10,251
• Percent Positive - 7.53%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.17%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,143 (+24)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 426
• Patients in ICU - 205 (+1)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 69 (-2)
• Total Discharges - 297,935 (+388)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 21
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,557

** 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.    

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.  

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 70,928

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 - 38,440,174
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 25,410
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 156,895
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.8%
• 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) - 86.9% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.0%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.2% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.2% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.0%  

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

Borough	Monday, May 2, 2022	Tuesday, May 3, 2022	Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Bronx	2.73%	2.92%	3.09%
Kings	3.64%	3.72%	3.75%
New York	4.82%	5.32%	5.75%
Queens	5.03%	5.41%	5.76%
Richmond	4.28%	4.55%	4.32%

MAYOR ADAMS COMMITS $47.6 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR NYC PARKS AND NYC DOT TO CONNECT GREENWAYS ACROSS BROOKLYN AND QUEENS

Milestone Investment In Outer-Borough Greenways Will Fill Gaps In Existing Greenway Routes With Focus On Connecting Communities to New York City’s Greater Park System 

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Executive Budget includes $47.6 million for Brooklyn and Queens greenway improvements outlined in Destination: Greenways!, a plan by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT). The investment will fill gaps in existing greenway routes in central Queens and along Brooklyn’s southwest shoreline, with a focus on connecting communities to New York City’s greater park system.  

 

“Every New Yorker deserves access to open space, transportation options, and parks — and greenways are the key to making all that a reality,” said Mayor Adams. “This investment of more than $47 million will connect communities that have historically been underserved by our existing system to bike paths and New York’s 520 miles of shoreline, building a greener and more connected city for all.” 

 

“The substantial investment by this administration to complete gaps along the city’s greenways helps connect communities and expand New Yorkers’ access to our waterfronts,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Greenways are wonderful recreation and transportation corridors and I am thankful to the partnership with Parks and DOT for realizing this vision.”

 

“Greenways are critical components of our city’s park system, and thanks to Mayor Adams we are improving outer-borough access and enhancing equity with key routes along southern Brooklyn and in central Queens. This investment will fill gaps in existing greenways, strengthen connections between neighborhoods and parks, and make the experience safer and more inviting for all New Yorkers,” said Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We look forward to working with DOT on our Destination: Greenways! projects as we continue to enhance the greenway network citywide.”

 

“Enhancing the greenway experience is a key initiative of DOT and our sister agencies — as we know cyclists especially love riding along their waterfronts and parks,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We know there is great demand for more and better connections to greenways. And we are proud to be working alongside Mayor Adams and Parks Commissioner Donoghue to improve and finally connect existing greenways in central Queens and Brooklyn. Equity has been at the forefront of DOT's decision making when it comes to expanding and improving the safety of all pedestrians and cyclists, and with the mayor’s steadfast support and funding, we can make accessing these beautiful greenways safer and more convenient for all.” 

 

Mayor Adams’ milestone investment in outer-borough greenways will fund a total of six projects in Brooklyn and Queens, led by Parks with on-street work by DOT. In Brooklyn, work will improve access to the waterfront by building new greenway segments in Leif Ericson Park and reconstructing the existing greenway in part of Shore Road Park. In Queens, projects will build new segments in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Kissena Corridor Park, and Kissena Park, helping to close greenway gaps in neighborhoods that have been historically disconnected.  

 

Full project details will be determined during the design process, where community members will have the chance to share additional input. 

 

These projects were identified in the 2022 Destination: Greenways! study to improve and connect greenway segments within parks, making them both destinations and thoroughfares to increase access. As part of the study, Parks and DOT reviewed two routes in the city’s greenways network, held public meetings and engaged community stakeholders to determine key needs, and set priorities for new park amenities along each route. The studies were made possible with a $1 million grant through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. 

 

“The greenway projects funded in the mayor’s executive budget will increase access to Queens’ beautiful green spaces and make them even more attractive and connected to our communities,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “This improved connectivity will enhance safety and draw more people to our wonderful parks. As the design process for these projects moves ahead, I look forward to supporting a robust community outreach effort that will gauge the needs and thoughts of Queens residents.” 

 

“I’m pleased to support the ongoing and critical infrastructure needed to create a more multi-modal transportation system that reconnects diverse communities to their waterfront,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “We look forward to working with locally elected officials, DOT, and other stakeholders to support the community engagement efforts for these critical transportation projects.” 

 

Brooklyn-Based Manager Of Money Laundering Operation Pleads Guilty In Connection With $5 Million Online Vehicle Sale Scam

 

Three Other Defendants Connected to Scheme Recently Extradited from Lithuania

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ricky Patel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today that NATALIA KORZHA pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with a scheme to launder money derived from an online vehicle sale scam that generated at least $5.3 million from dozens of defrauded consumers.  KORZHA pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As she admitted today, Natalia Korzha managed a group of co-conspirators who opened bank accounts that were used to launder millions of dollars in criminal proceeds from an online vehicle sale scam.  Without her money laundering operation, online fraudsters would not be able to profit from their illegal schemes.  Korzha will now face a term of imprisonment and be required to forfeit her ill-gotten gains.”

As alleged in the Complaint and the Indictments, and based on statements made in court:    

From at least March 2019 through approximately March 2021, KORZHA managed a money laundering operation based in Brooklyn that included co-defendants VLADISLAV NECEAEV, ANASHON KAMALOV, KAROL KAMINSKI, STANISLAV TUNKEVIC, and SVETLANA VAIDOTIENE, among others.  With KORZHA as coordinator, NECEAEV, KAMALOV, KAMINSKI, TUNKEVIC, VAIDOTIENE, and other co-conspirators opened numerous bank accounts in the name of shell companies for the purpose of laundering money stolen from consumers who were trying to buy vehicles online.  In exchange, the defendants received a cut of the victims’ money. 

Other members of the conspiracy, pretending to represent car dealerships, advertised vehicles that they did not own and were not authorized to sell on fake websites with domain names that sounded like legitimate car dealerships, or through online marketplaces like Craigslist and eBay.  Victims who responded to those advertisements and negotiated a purchase price were instructed by the purported sellers to wire payment to accounts that NECEAEV, KAMALOV, KAMINSKI, TUNKEVIC, VAIDOTIENE, and other co-conspirators opened.  Once the payments cleared, the defendants quickly withdrew the funds before the victims realized they had been defrauded.  The victims never received the vehicles they thought they had bought or any refunds from the fake sellers.  In total, dozens of victims were defrauded of a total of at least $5.3 million. 

KORZHA, 49, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and agreed to forfeiture of $5,386,538 and restitution of $5,386,538.  KORZHA is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres on September 7, 2022.

NECEAEV, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on March 14, 2022, before Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.  He has agreed to forfeit $526,000.  NECEAEV is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on June 8, 2022.

TUNKEVIC, 47, was extradited to the United States from Lithuania on March 25, 2022, and presented in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave on March 28, 2022.

KAMINSKI, 32, was extradited to the United States from Lithuania on April 4, 2022, and presented in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis on April 5, 2022.

VAIDOTIENE, 54, was extradited to the United States from Lithuania on April 8, 2022, and presented in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on April 11, 2022.

TUNKEVIC, KAMINSKI, and VAIDOTIENE are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The charges against each of them are pending.   They have been ordered detained pending trial.

The offense of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.  The crime of conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction.

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York Police Department. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division, the United States Marshals Service, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau for their assistance in this investigation.

Attorney General James Recovers More Than $2.9 Million for Hundreds of New York City Marriott Workers Denied Full Severance Pay

 

Workers Fired Due to COVID-19 Crisis to Receive Additional Severance Pay

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced an agreement with Marriott International, Inc. that will provide hundreds of previously terminated workers with more than $2.9 million in undelivered severance pay. Management at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square promised non-unionized employees the same or better benefits as unionized hotel workers, but when more than 800 workers were fired in March 2021, non-unionized former employees received less severance pay than those who were members of a union. As part of the agreement, Marriott will pay $2.95 million to more than 500 individual workers who would have received greater amounts of severance had they been unionized.

“Marriott fired hundreds of employees last year due to the pandemic and to add insult to injury, deprived them of the financial security they needed during that critical time,” said Attorney General James. “No individual should ever feel the hopelessness that these workers felt when Marriott failed to deliver the severance pay they were promised. I will always protect the fair, equal treatment of New York’s workers and ensure they get the benefits they are entitled to.”

The Marriott Marquis announced plans to furlough 1,000 employees in March 2020 due to COVID-19's impact on New York City and the New York hotel business. The hotel fired more than 800 workers in March 2021, and in April 2021, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) launched an investigation into the firings. Through interviews conducted with Marriott’s former employees, OAG found that managers and supervisors at the Marriott Marquis promised their hourly employees equal or better benefits than unionized employees at other New York City hotels. However, when Marriott fired the workers, Marriott offered severance that was capped at 10 weeks of pay, while the severance available to unionized workers is not capped. By not fulfilling Marriott’s promise of same or better benefits as unionized workers, Marriott violated section 63(12) of the Executive Law, which gives OAG the authority to investigate allegations of civil fraud. 

The agreement with Marriott requires the company to pay $2.95 million to workers who would have received greater amounts of severance had they been unionized.

“We would like to thank New York Attorney General Letitia James, her office's Labor Bureau, and our attorney Richard Corenthal for all the hard work that they put in, and for reaching the agreement providing for additional severance to hundreds of workers laid off from the Marriott Marquis in Times Square during the pandemic,” said Piotr Szewczyk, a former worker at Marriot Marquis. “By requiring Marriott to pay more fair severance that the company initially promised to its long time, dedicated laid-off workers, Attorney General James has let the greedy corporations know that they must keep their promises and treat their hard-working employees fairly.” 

“As one of the many non-Unionized workers in New York City who have very few protections when working for large corporations, I would like to thank New York Attorney General Letitia James, her office, Richard S. Corenthal, and the office of Archer Byington Glennon & Levine LLP for helping the terminated workers of the Marriott Marquis negotiate a proper severance agreement,” said Jonathan Peter Dorton, a former worker at Marriot Marquis. “It restores my faith that we do have a voice and it’s our right as citizens of the United States of America and as a New Yorker to stand up and fight for what we were promised.”

“It is notoriously difficult for low-wage workers to recover lost and stolen wages, particularly when they work outside of the protection of a collective bargaining agreement,” said State Senator Jessica Ramos. “I’m grateful that those workers have the unwavering support of our attorney general. Management at Marriott Marquis employed a nefarious strategy, pitting union and non-union employees against each other and making both groups of workers more vulnerable to exploitation in the process. That will not stand in New York. The Attorney General’s office and I are committed to ensuring that no employer pads their bottom line with wages stolen from working people.”

“This agreement is a massive win for workers across New York and sends a strong message to corporations who do business in our state: You will be held accountable,” said State Senator Brad Hoylman. “Attorney General Letitia James is a champion of the law and our working populations, and this victory is entirely hers and the workers who advocated for themselves throughout this process.”

“Wage theft is a problem endemic in New York state, and each year workers are deprived of $1 billion of wages they are owed,” said State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal. “I applaud Attorney General Letitia James for ensuring that workers at the Marriot Marquis did not fall into the category of workers who were stiffed. Corporations should realize that actions that break the law will be noticed by our attorney general.”

The agreement announced today marks Attorney General James’ most recent effort to ensure that New Yorkers receive the pay they deserve. Last week, Attorney General James recovered $175,000 for employees of Gotham Pizza who were cheated out of their pay. Earlier in April, Attorney General James secured nearly $900,000 for more than 200 NYCHA construction workers who were underpaid by Lintech Electric. In March, she announced agreements with two home health agencies for cheating employees out of wages and submitting false Medicaid claims. That same month, she secured an agreement with Sanford Apt. Corp (Sanford), a cooperative residential apartment building in Flushing, Queens that refused to pay its superintendents for their work.

The OAG's Labor Bureau enforces worker protection laws that protect workers from wage theft and other exploitation and investigates alleged violations of minimum wage, overtime, prevailing wage, and other labor laws throughout the state. If anyone has questions or believes that they have been a victim of wage theft or other labor law violations, please contact OAG at 212-416-8700 or Labor.Bureau@ag.ny.gov.

Long Island Woman Indicted for Stealing $135,000 from New York City’s Retirement System

 

Defendant Allegedly Impersonated Cousin to Claim Death Benefit

 Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, announced that a Long Island woman has been indicted for stealing $135,178 in ordinary death benefits from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS). As part of the theft, the defendant is alleged to have impersonated a cousin who was the rightful beneficiary of the benefit following the death of the cousin’s father, a New York City transit worker.

 District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant allegedly attempted to defraud New York’s retirement system by impersonating a relative and claiming benefits to which she was not entitled. I would like to thank Department of Investigation and my prosecutors for all the work they did to bring this defendant to justice.”

 Commissioner Strauber said, “As charged in the indictment, this defendant impersonated her own cousin, including through the use of fraudulent documents, to obtain a $135,000 death benefit. In so doing, she stole from her cousin, the legal beneficiary, and from the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS). I thank NYCERS for promptly alerting DOI so that we could uncover this alleged scheme, and the dedicated prosecutors at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in holding accountable those who improperly enrich themselves with City funds at the expense of legitimate beneficiaries.”

 The District Attorney identified the defendant as Akosua Agyeman, 48 of Oceanside, New York. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser on an indictment in which she is charged with second-degree grand larceny, first-degree identity theft, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, and first-degree falsifying business records. She was released without bail and ordered to return to court on June 29, 2022.

 The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, beginning in December 2017, the defendant allegedly made a series of fraudulent filings with NYCERS in which she purported to be the daughter of Kwaku Duah, a longtime employee of the New York City Transit Authority who died on November 18, 2017. Duah had previously designated his daughter – the defendant’s cousin – as the beneficiary of the ordinary death benefit that is paid when a member of NYCERS dies before retiring. Duah’s daughter, the rightful beneficiary, changed her name prior to being designated as Duah’s beneficiary. This allegedly allowed the defendant to impersonate her cousin to obtain the death benefit. The filings the defendant submitted to NYCERS are alleged to include a Ghanaian passport; a birth certificate, which was invalid for not reflecting the amended name; and an IRS taxpayer identification number in the cousin’s name. Furthermore, according to the investigation, on May 1, 2020, NYCERS mailed a check in the amount of $135,178 to the defendant’s address in Oceanside. The defendant is alleged to have then deposited the check at a Bethpage Federal Credit Union bank account. Investigators from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Investigation later determined the defendant opened the account using a fake Delaware driver’s license. Additionally, the defendant is alleged to have visited the NYCERS customer service center in Brooklyn on December 1, 2017, where she submitted an invalid copy of her cousin’s birth certificate while inquiring about the process of receiving Duah’s death benefit.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt