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Sunday, June 12, 2022
What is Monkey Pox? Am I at risk? What do I need to know? Learn more this Monday with Manhattan BP Levine
Senior FARC Commander Extradited from Colombia to Face Charges of Operating a Violent Narcotics Distribution Organization
Martin Leonel Perez Castro Allegedly Led the FARC’s 30th Front and Oversaw the Distribution of Thousands of Kilograms of Cocaine
Martin Leonel Perez Castro, also known as “Richard,” was extradited to the United States from Colombia to face charges in the Eastern District of New York of leading a continuing criminal enterprise and participating in an international cocaine manufacture and distribution conspiracy. According to the indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court, the defendant was the commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 30th Front, a group that operated in southwestern Colombia. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Anne Milgram, Administrator, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Thomas Fattorusso, Executive Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office (IRS-CI), announced the extradition and arraignment.
“As alleged, the defendant was a senior leader within FARC and used armed violence to protect a sophisticated operation that produced and distributed thousands of kilograms of cocaine on a global scale, all to help finance the paramilitary group’s mission to overthrow the Government of Colombia,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The Department of Justice is committed to working with our international partners to dismantle destructive drug trafficking organizations, especially where their drug trafficking is used to finance violence and terrorism.”
Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the DEA’s office in Bogota, Colombia, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Department of State, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, the Colombian National Police, the Government of Colombia, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the New York State Police (NYSP).
DEA Administrator Milgram said, “The charges demonstrate that this violent narco-trafficking group imported tons of cocaine from Colombia into New York City. Through dedicated and tireless efforts, DEA and our global law enforcement partners have brought this senior FARC member to justice in the United States.”
“As an alleged senior FARC commander in Colombia, it’s charged that Martin Leonel Perez Castro used violence and terroristic tactics to expand the FARC’s narcotics empire while distributing thousands of pounds of cocaine across the United States and Europe. Today’s extradition is the beginning of a long road where Perez Castro will face American justice, and just as the FARC dissolved, so will his freedom,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Fattorusso.
The FARC was founded in 1964 as a left-wing paramilitary group dedicated to the violent overthrow of the Government of Colombia. Over decades of conflict, the FARC attacked Colombian government forces and used targeted killings, kidnapping, and other terrorist tactics to achieve its ends. In October 1997, the U.S. Secretary of State designated the FARC as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). After the Government of Colombia and the FARC entered into a peace accord in 2016, the FARC formally dissolved. On November 30, 2021, the U.S. Secretary of State revoked the designation of the FARC as an FTO. The defendant’s conduct occurred prior to the 2016 peace accord.
The 30th Front, allegedly led by Perez Castro, supplied many thousands of kilograms of cocaine to other drug trafficking organizations for distribution to locations in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere, sometimes attacking rival drug trafficking groups or Colombian government forces to protect or expand FARC territory. As part of the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized over 2,500 kilograms of cocaine attributable to Perez Castro’s drug trafficking enterprise. The seizures included more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine recovered at and near a large-scale laboratory that was co-owned by the defendant.
The extradition of Perez Castro is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the DEA. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to life in prison.
Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Senate Bipartisan Gun Safety Agreement
"News of the Senate bipartisan gun safety agreement represents an important step toward progress on combating the gun violence epidemic nationwide. I am proud that New York State is leading this effort — implementing new laws that will prevent those under 21 from acquiring semiautomatic rifles, keep guns away from dangerous people, provide new tools for law enforcement and protect our communities. This bipartisan agreement is a good start, and I urge our partners in Washington to follow our lead by advocating for even bolder and more substantive reforms. Lives depend on it."
MAYOR ADAMS' STATEMENT ON PROPOSED BIPARTISAN DEAL IN U.S. SENATE TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement in response to the proposed bipartisan deal struck in the U.S. Senate to tackle some of the causes of gun violence across the United States:
“If enacted, this framework would be an important step in the right direction, and one of the few productive measures Congress has taken in decades towards ending the scourge of gun violence facing our city and country.
“The measures included — incentives for red flag laws, enhanced background checks, stronger penalties to deter straw purchasing and trafficking, additional funding, and more — are part of the comprehensive actions I called for in my testimony on Capitol Hill last week and they begin to dam some of the rivers that lead to the sea of gun violence. Congress should pass them quickly, and then press for more progress.
“I am grateful to Senator Murphy and Senator Cornyn for their leadership, and for Senate Majority Leader Schumer for allowing them the space to reach this agreement. As usual he, and the entire New York delegation, are fighting fiercely for the gun safety measures we need.
“When it comes to gun violence, it is high noon in American, and today it looks like we’ll soon have one victory under our belt. But, to be clear, these bipartisan proposals must be the beginning of federal progress, not the end.”
Alessandra Biaggi - I Need Help in NY 17, While I Ignore my Current State Senate District.
Friends — here's the situation:
At the end of this month, we’re facing the first official FEC fundraising deadline since we launched our campaign against Sean Patrick Maloney — and the final deadline before votes are cast in the August primary.
When this deadline ends, we’re legally required to report not just how much money we’ve raised, but how many contributions make up that amount, too.
Everyone is going to be watching — our allies, our opponents, the media — across New York and the entire country.
They’re all going to be waiting to see if our people-powered, grassroots campaign has what it takes to win against one of the most well-funded corporate Democrats in Congress.
Our fundraising report will show whether or not we have the resources necessary to take on Sean Patrick Maloney.
Team Biaggi
EDITOR'S NOTE:
We have deleted any reference for solicitation, and would like to remind the voters of NY17 that current State Senator Biaggi has been involved in running for NY17, while ignoring her current position of State Senator for district 34 almost entirely in the Borough of the Bronx in the City of New York. If elected Ms. Biaggi will probably do the same to NY 17 while campaigning for a higher office if she is elected. Ms. Biaggi was elected to the State Senate Session beginning in 2018, less than four years ago.
Statement from NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy on WCBS Disallowing Andrew Giuliani from Participating in the GOP Gubernatorial Debate Without Proof of Vaccination
“It’s outrageous and completely unreasonable that WCBS won’t allow Andrew Giuliani to test out of their covid protocols in order to participate in tomorrow night’s gubernatorial debate. You don’t need to show vaccine proof to get on an airplane, go into a hospital or attend a concert or sporting event, so requiring it for a debate in a television studio without an audience is just plain ridiculous. We have highly accurate PCR tests that do far more to determine a person’s covid status than vaccine proof. If people want New York to come back, then its corporate leaders need to start acting with some common sense.”
EDITOR'S NOTE:
While we agree that at this time in the COVID-19 Pandemic when restrictions are being or have been lifted, we would agree with this statement.
However we did not know that Mr. Andrew Giuliani was not vaccinated when we saw him in areas requiring that a person be vaccinated while the COVID-19 restrictions were in place.
Permits Filed For 1405 Boston Road In Morrisania, The Bronx
Permits have been filed for a six-story affordable housing building at 1405 Boston Road in Morrisania, The Bronx. Located between Prospect Avenue and East 170th Street, the lot is within walking distance of the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Frederick Shack of Urban Pathways Inc. is listed as the owner behind the applications.
The proposed 60-foot-tall development will have a 51,687-square-foot footprint and 79 affordable housing residences. The concrete-based structure will also have a 24-foot-long rear yard but no accessory parking.
Monica Lopez Architect is listed as the architect of record.
Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW By Former NYC Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz -
EDITOR'S NOTE:
It appears that former City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. is either trying to promote a certain South Bronx city councilman for Bronx Borough President who will be term limited out office in three years, or the old man is off his rocker.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson Ignores Puerto Ricans
You should know that Puerto Ricans were the first Hispanic Group that migrated and open doors for other Hispanic ethnic groups that would later arrive in the City of New York. It was the Puerto Ricans who chewed the bone, endured punishments, discrimination, and were even arrested as they struggled to gain respect for the Hispanic Community in New York City. It was the Puerto Ricans who fought to bring about and institute bilingual education. They fought for the reduction in the required height standards that prevented Hispanics and other ethnic groups from qualifying to become police officers in the City of New York. Puerto Ricans fought for and established social services entitlement and educational programs to help improve the lives of Hispanics. They fought to build decent housing, especially the redevelopment and renovation of the Bronx, they were instrumental in the building of the new Lincoln Hospital, and they created the Eugenio Maria De Hostos Community College. Puerto Ricans fought for and struggled to improve the quality of life for all Hispanic groups of this City. You Should also Know that, today, other groups benefit from the work that Puerto Rican pioneers contributed to our society and the Bronx Community. We can never allow the sacrifices, and contributions made by Puerto Rican Pioneers to this city be forgotten and ignored. Puerto Rican Community Leaders such as Ramon S. Vélez, Herman Badillo, Evelina Antonetty, Gilberto Gerena Valentín, Damaso Emerick, Belén Denis, Armando Montano, Luis Nine, Roberto García, Olga Méndez, Carmen Arroyo, José Rivera, Federico Pérez, Gumersindo Martínez, Roberto "Bob" Muñoz, Michael Núñez and many others be relegated to oblivion especially during the week when Puerto Ricans have celebrated for decades The National Puerto Rican Day Parade, which is filled with "pride" for the Puerto Rican Culture in New York City. You should also know that the Bronx has always been the Political, Economic, Cultural, Social and Family Bastion for the Puerto Ricans in New York. For this reason, all the Previous Bronx County Presidents have rightfully recognized the valuable contributions made by Puerto Ricans to the Bronx and this City. Therefore, they have held activities to recognize and acknowledge Puerto Ricans during the week when the Puerto Rican Community is celebrated annually during the month of June. It has been a tradition for the Bronx Borough Presidents to conduct activities in recognition of diverse ethnic groups residing in the Bronx, during the month or week when they proudly celebrate their culture. The Bronx Borough Office traditionally partakes and conducts a moment to recognize their contributions to the Borough. Previous Bronx Borough Presidents from Robert "Bob" Abrams, Herman Badillo, Stanley Simon, Fernando Ferrer, Adolfo Carrión and Rubén Diaz Jr., all of them, recognized the importance of embracing the diversity of the borough they were elected to represent and did so by conducting an event or being present at an event that would celebrate their contributions. This tradition was so vital to me that I, without being Borough President, was glad to annually host a free banquet in honor of various ethnic groups in Bronx County. I conducted annual events like The Puerto Rican Embrace, The African American Embrace, The Garifuna Embrace, The Bangladeshi Embrace, and The Dominican Embrace, these were banquets organized by my office in recognition for the contribution each of these ethnic communities made to the development of the Bronx, and this City. This week when the Puerto Rican Community celebrates “The Puerto Rican National Day Parade”, the new Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson has totally ignored the Puerto Ricans, so much so, that she even failed to attend the Mayor’s Traditional Annual event held for Puerto Rican dignitaries. Mayor Eric Adams held at Gracie Mansion, a reception in honor of Puerto Rico’s Speaker of the House, the Senate and the delegation of Senators, Representatives and dignitaries that traveled from Puerto Rico to participate and attend The Puerto Rican Day Parade.
We now have (3) years until the next election when the Honorable Vanessa Gibson will seek out the Puerto Rican vote to be re-elected. For now, Ms. Gibson has the luxury of ignoring the Puerto Rican Community, we will nonetheless keep her and all the recently elected officials in our prayers. I Am Rev. Ruben Diaz, and This Is "What You Should Know."
EDITOR'S NOTE:Our take of this is, If Jumaane Williams becomes the next governor of New York State South Bronx City Councilman Rafael Salamanca will run for the office of Public Advocate. Otherwise I will support him for Bronx Borough President when he is term-limited out of the city council in three years.
You should know that Puerto Ricans were the first Hispanic Group that migrated and open doors for other Hispanic ethnic groups that would later arrive in the City of New York.
It was the Puerto Ricans who chewed the bone, endured punishments, discrimination, and were even arrested as they struggled to gain respect for the Hispanic Community in New York City.
It was the Puerto Ricans who fought to bring about and institute bilingual education. They fought for the reduction in the required height standards that prevented Hispanics and other ethnic groups from qualifying to become police officers in the City of New York. Puerto Ricans fought for and established social services entitlement and educational programs to help improve the lives of Hispanics. They fought to build decent housing, especially the redevelopment and renovation of the Bronx, they were instrumental in the building of the new Lincoln Hospital, and they created the Eugenio Maria De Hostos Community College. Puerto Ricans fought for and struggled to improve the quality of life for all Hispanic groups of this City.
You Should also Know that, today, other groups benefit from the work that Puerto Rican pioneers contributed to our society and the Bronx Community. We can never allow the sacrifices, and contributions made by Puerto Rican Pioneers to this city be forgotten and ignored. Puerto Rican Community Leaders such as Ramon S. Vélez, Herman Badillo, Evelina Antonetty, Gilberto Gerena Valentín, Damaso Emerick, Belén Denis, Armando Montano, Luis Nine, Roberto García, Olga Méndez, Carmen Arroyo, José Rivera, Federico Pérez, Gumersindo Martínez, Roberto "Bob" Muñoz, Michael Núñez and many others be relegated to oblivion especially during the week when Puerto Ricans have celebrated for decades The National Puerto Rican Day Parade, which is filled with "pride" for the Puerto Rican Culture in New York City.
You should also know that the Bronx has always been the Political, Economic, Cultural, Social and Family Bastion for the Puerto Ricans in New York. For this reason, all the Previous Bronx County Presidents have rightfully recognized the valuable contributions made by Puerto Ricans to the Bronx and this City. Therefore, they have held activities to recognize and acknowledge Puerto Ricans during the week when the Puerto Rican Community is celebrated annually during the month of June.
It has been a tradition for the Bronx Borough Presidents to conduct activities in recognition of diverse ethnic groups residing in the Bronx, during the month or week when they proudly celebrate their culture. The Bronx Borough Office traditionally partakes and conducts a moment to recognize their contributions to the Borough.
Previous Bronx Borough Presidents from Robert "Bob" Abrams, Herman Badillo, Stanley Simon, Fernando Ferrer, Adolfo Carrión and Rubén Diaz Jr., all of them, recognized the importance of embracing the diversity of the borough they were elected to represent and did so by conducting an event or being present at an event that would celebrate their contributions.
This tradition was so vital to me that I, without being Borough President, was glad to annually host a free banquet in honor of various ethnic groups in Bronx County. I conducted annual events like The Puerto Rican Embrace, The African American Embrace, The Garifuna Embrace, The Bangladeshi Embrace, and The Dominican Embrace, these were banquets organized by my office in recognition for the contribution each of these ethnic communities made to the development of the Bronx, and this City.
This week when the Puerto Rican Community celebrates “The Puerto Rican National Day Parade”, the new Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson has totally ignored the Puerto Ricans, so much so, that she even failed to attend the Mayor’s Traditional Annual event held for Puerto Rican dignitaries. Mayor Eric Adams held at Gracie Mansion, a reception in honor of Puerto Rico’s Speaker of the House, the Senate and the delegation of Senators, Representatives and dignitaries that traveled from Puerto Rico to participate and attend The Puerto Rican Day Parade.
We now have (3) years until the next election when the Honorable Vanessa Gibson will seek out the Puerto Rican vote to be re-elected. For now, Ms. Gibson has the luxury of ignoring the Puerto Rican Community, we will nonetheless keep her and all the recently elected officials in our prayers.
I Am Rev. Ruben Diaz, and This Is "What You Should Know."
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Our take of this is, If Jumaane Williams becomes the next governor of New York State South Bronx City Councilman Rafael Salamanca will run for the office of Public Advocate. Otherwise I will support him for Bronx Borough President when he is term-limited out of the city council in three years.