Attorney General James Continues Oversight of Green National to Protect Tenants

 

During OAG Compliance Period, Green National Corrected Many Violations, But Issues Remain

OAG to Retain $250,000 Penalty and Install Independent Monitor to Continue Oversight of Remaining Violations

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office will continue oversight of Syracuse-based property owner, Green National, for failing to fully comply with all the requirements of an agreement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). Since Green National entered into the agreement two months ago, it has corrected many housing violations at all its properties within the 60-day compliance period. These corrected violations include broken door locks, infestations, unsanitary conditions, and more. However, there are still a number of serious violations that remain uncorrected at properties owned by Green National — including an out-of-service elevator at the James Apartments and inadequate security at the Skyline Apartments. As a result, OAG will continue to retain Green National’s $250,000 penalty in escrow and install an independent monitor for a year until these issues are resolved.

“For years, Green National grossly neglected its properties and put tenants in danger,” said Attorney General James. “Since our enforcement action began two months ago, Green National finally started to make repairs and address some of the hazardous and troubling issues that impacted its tenants. While some changes have been made, there are still serious issues that must be addressed. Green National is not off the hook, and we will continue our oversight until the remaining violations are resolved to ensure tenants have the dignified housing they deserve.”

As part of the agreement with OAG, Green National was required to correct many housing code violations, including: fixing broken doors, repairing broken elevators, responding to tenant repair requests in individual units, replacing and installing smoke detectors, addressing roach and mice infestations, and properly cleaning their buildings. The agreement also required Green National to comply with the city of Syracuse’s Nuisance Abatement Order, which required fulltime security at the Skyline Apartments.

Since the 60-day compliance period started in late February, Green National has made necessary repairs in individual tenant units in all of its properties.

However, serious issues remain at two specific properties, the Skyline and James Apartments. After neglecting the problem for years, last month, Green National finally engaged with contractors to replace the out-of-service elevator at the James Apartments and to install security cameras in the stairwells at the Skyline Apartments. Because the elevator replacement will be a long process, OAG required Green National to notify tenants of reasonable accommodations available to them — such as relocation to lower floors or to other buildings and assistance with groceries and moving — in compliance with the American Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act. Green National has complied and has issued these notices to all tenants. The OAG is working closely with tenant legal services organizations and fair housing groups to ensure tenants’ accommodation needs are met.

The OAG is requiring Green National to install an independent monitor to oversee and report on the status of the elevator repair and inadequate security, as required by the agreement. The monitor will review Green National’s code compliance procedures and submit monthly reports to OAG. To ensure that Green National is complying with its obligations under the ADA and the Fair Housing Act, the monitor will review tenant requests for reasonable accommodations, including the nature of the request, the date filed, the date of Green National’s response to the tenant, and the outcome.

“The city of Syracuse welcomes Attorney General James’ enforcement assistance on Green National,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “The city will continue to use every authority it has to ensure the company meets its responsibilities to its residents and our community.”

“Green National's continued violation of the law and failure to take care of their properties and maintain accessibility is simply unacceptable,” said Sally Santangelo, executive director, CNY Fair Housing. “CNY Fair Housing is grateful for the Attorney General's continued efforts to hold them accountable for the way they treat their tenants.”

In February, Attorney General James announced an agreement with Green National requiring them to correct housing code violations in all their properties within a 60-day period. If Green National failed to comply with the terms of that agreement, OAG would withhold $250,000 as a penalty and install a monitor.

Green National owns and manages more than 1,000 apartments in buildings throughout the Syracuse area. The tenants in these buildings are mostly people who earn modest or fixed incomes, people with health challenges, people receiving aid from government programs, and the elderly. The OAG started its investigation into Green National in March 2021 in response to reports of rampant crime, unsafe conditions, and unabated code violations at some of their Syracuse area properties, including but not limited to the Skyline Apartments, the Vincent Apartments, and the James Apartments. 

The agreement also required that, prior to the sale of any of its New York properties, Green National had to correct all open code violations or include in any contract of sale a provision that requires the new owners to fix outstanding code violations. Within 14 days of selling any of its properties, the company must notify OAG of the sale. Additionally, if Green National purchases any additional property in New York within the next five years it must notify OAG.

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.