Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - AUGUST 11, 2022

 Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

21 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 NOTE: Beginning June 24, 2022, the Vaccine data will be updated weekly on Fridays to align with CDC's updated data refresh schedule. For additional information on COVID-19 Vaccination Data provided by CDC, see https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total.  

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

"As we navigate through this pandemic, remember that vaccinations, boosters, testing and treatment are the best tools we have to keep one another safe and healthy as we plan to respond to potential surges this fall," Governor Hochul said. "I encourage New Yorkers to take advantage of what's available to them and to talk to their doctors to discuss treatment options and preventative measures." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Cases Per 100k - 34.47
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 27.94
• Test Results Reported - 96,392
• Total Positive -  6,736
• Percent Positive - 6.45%** 
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.56% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,502 (-49)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 406
• Patients in ICU - 237 (+2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 87 (+10)
• Total Discharges - 330,277 (+436)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 21
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 57,296

** 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 - 73,198

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. 

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, Aug. 8, 2022	Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022	Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022
Bronx	8.47%	8.44%	8.36%
Kings	7.26%	5.78%	5.26%
New York	6.78%	6.82%	6.66%
Queens	9.43%	9.14%	8.89%
Richmond	8.14%	8.11%	7.80%

Four Defendants Indicted In Interstate Gun Trafficking Scheme

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), and Keechant L. Sewell, Police Commissioner for the City of New York (NYPD), announced that ABOUDULAYE KEITA, a/k/a “Abdoulaye,” MARQUISE DESHAUN AUSTIN, CEDRIC KEYON CHRISTOPHER, JR., and JAILYN HILLIARD were indicted yesterday with conspiracy to commit firearms offenses and gun trafficking, in connection with their involvement in a scheme to illegally obtain and transport firearms from Arkansas for resale to residents of New York. KEITA was also charged with interstate travel with intent to engage in gun trafficking. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska.

AUSTIN was arrested on March 11, 2022 in Arkansas and the complaint charging AUSTIN was unsealed yesterday in the Southern District of New York. CHRISTOPHER and HILLIARD were charged by complaint and arrested last month in Arkansas. KEITA is in state custody on unrelated charges and is expected to be transferred into federal custody.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged, the defendants are responsible for trafficking dozens of guns across state lines, including guns that were later used to commit violent acts extending all the way from Arkansas to New York. Let today’s arrests make clear that we will not tolerate gun traffickers and the devastating harm they inflict on our communities.”

ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John DeVito said:  “People who flood illegal guns on our streets are drivers of violent crime and put communities in danger. This case highlights how ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network is a crucial tool in the investigation and prosecution of gun crimes because it connects individual firearms to the violent criminal offenses in which they are used.  ATF will continue to work with our partners to identify and disrupt the schemes used to put illegal firearms into the hands of violent criminals and on our streets. Thank you to the partnership and hard work of the men and women of Little Rock Police Department’s Gun Crimes Unit and ATF NY’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said:  “The interstate flow of illegal guns into New York City is a grave threat to the public safety of everyone we serve.  Each gun seized is another step forward in our tireless pursuit to rid our streets of these deadly weapons – and anyone who traffics them must be held fully accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the ATF’s New York Field Division, and all of our law-enforcement partners who worked on this critical case.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and the Complaints[1]:

From at least October 2020 through December 2021, the defendants and others conspired to illegally purchase and traffic firearms across state lines. AUSTIN, CHRISTOPHER and HILLIARD each acted as straw purchasers to buy firearms from licensed gun shops in Arkansas—a total of at least 73 firearms—and then sold these firearms illegally to KEITA and others with the understanding the firearms would then be transported to New York. To date, nine of the defendants’ firearms have been recovered in the Bronx and Brooklyn, in addition to six recoveries in California and five in Arkansas.

Through lead information collected and maintained by the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), casings from the recovered firearms have been connected to a shooting that took place in the Bronx on June 20, 2021 and shootings that took place in Harlem on July 5, 2021 and October 6, 2021. Casings from one firearm recovered in Arkansas were found at the scene of a September 3, 2021 homicide in Little Rock.

KEITA, AUSTIN, CHRISTOPHER, and HILLIARD are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit firearms offenses, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and one count of gun trafficking, which also carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. KEITA is also charged with one count of interstate travel with intent to commit gun trafficking, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and the NYPD. Mr. Williams also thanked local law enforcement partners in Arkansas, the ATF’s Little Rock Field Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Arkansas for their assistance.

The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

Department of City Planning and Mayor’s Office of Food Policy Collaborate with Urban Design Forum Fellows on Food Equity in New York City

 

Video from Mayor Eric Adams invites the public to get involved in bringing better-quality food to neighborhoods and help us get stuff done for New Yorkers’ health

Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick, the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy (MOFP), and not-for-profit Urban Design Forum (UDF) today announced an important collaboration aimed at improving local food infrastructure and availability – the Neighborhood Fare toolkit.

To highlight the importance of community engagement in the discussion of healthy food and food security, the mayor made a video speaking to the toolkit and collaboration. All New Yorkers are encouraged to visit the website and get involved in this vital topic.

“If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then think about the benefits of a city where every community has equitable access to fresh produce. This toolkit looks at ways to increase the supply of local food and jobs that suit the needs of New York City’s many diverse communities,” said DCP Director Dan Garodnick.

“As the city moves towards a more equitable and sustainable food environment, it is vital to understand how infrastructure and local food systems operate. The research and recommendations outlined in Neighborhood Fare are an invaluable resource to City agencies, businesses, community organizations, and residents to help ensure every New Yorker has access to fresh, hearty, and culturally appropriate food,” said Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy.

“With the mayor’s endorsement, we are excited to share these tools with neighborhood leaders and elected officials across the city,” said Daniel McPhee, Executive Director of the Urban Design Forum. “New York City can support communities to shape their own food systems, invest in thriving small food businesses, and ensure every neighborhood has access to healthy and affordable food.”

Urban Design Forum’s annual Forefront Fellowship brings together leaders with different backgrounds and experiences to investigate how design can address a critical challenge facing New York City. This year, the fellows partnered with DCP and MOFP to strategize how New York City can build a healthier, more resilient, and more equitable urban food system. 

The fellows spent three months interviewing over 75 community leaders, nonprofit staff, business owners, food researchers, and city officials, primarily in the three neighborhoods of Mott Haven, The Bronx; East New York, Brooklyn; and Elmhurst, Queens, seeking to understand how local food systems and food infrastructure operate across different contexts.

Around 19 billion pounds of food flow through New York City every year, with this supply chain relying on a complex network of physical infrastructure and people power.

UDF’s fellows examined eight different kinds of food infrastructure and provided recommendations on improvements to create food-forward neighborhoods where all New Yorkers can access the food they need and want.

Their research takes a deep dive on eight aspects of a food-forward neighborhood:

• Bodegas – hyper-local, mostly owner-operated, and ubiquitous sources of healthy, fresh food, local produce, and household essentials
• Commercial Urban Agriculture – a growing sector of for-profit food operations that primarily serve urban residents
• Community Gardens & Farms – protected spaces for food production, community convening, and wealth-building
• Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens – sources that support emergency food needs for New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity
• Food Waste & Composting – a primary means of turning food waste into a productive use rather than ending up in a landfill
• Regional Farms – connections that shorten the distance between food producers and consumers
• Small-Scale Processing – facilities that transform raw agricultural products into readily consumable food items
• Transportation – a system of trucks, railways, water vessels, cars, and cargo bikes that move food supplies to every neighborhood

UDF’s recommendations offer potential paths forward to improve food equity in the city and will be a key part of conversations with our sister agencies and New York City communities. In addition to deep research on the infrastructure topics above, the UDF fellows also developed visualizations that help articulate the ideal “Food Forward Neighborhood” and built a Food-Forward Assessment Tool, which helps city and community leaders strengthen investments in the food system through greater community ownership and decision-making.

Food access and food quality have long been a part of DCP’s focus on equity. The agency is responsible for the creation of the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program, which brings convenient, accessible grocery stores to underserved New York neighborhoods. Created in 2009, this zoning incentive gives property owners the right to construct slightly larger buildings in mixed residential and commercial districts if they included a FRESH supermarket. It also allows grocery stores as-of-right in light manufacturing districts, increasing the locations where they can be built.

Right now, the FRESH zoning incentive is applicable in 30 lower-income community districts in all five boroughs:

Bronx Community Districts 1 through 9

Brooklyn Community Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, and 17

Manhattan Community Districts 9 through 12

Queens Community Districts 1, 3, 4, 12, and 14

Staten Island Community District 1

DCP staff also worked with the NYC Food Czar to ensure the integrity of the city’s food supply chains early in the COVID-19 pandemic and had a key role in developing the City’s first ten-year food policy plan, Food Forward NYC.

Food equity will play a key role in DCP’s “City of Yes” text amendments, with Zoning for Zero Carbon looking at how zoning can encourage the reduction of food waste, and Zoning for Economic Opportunity aiming to help small food businesses thrive by reducing unnecessary barriers to where they can locate and grow.

Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.

AS HOUSING CRISIS DEEPENS, SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA PROVIDES DIRECT HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO BRONXITES

 

Skyrocketing Rents and Poor Enforcement are Causing Uncertainty Among Tenants 

This summer, State Senator Gustavo Rivera hosted a series of housing assistance events at his district office to connect residents of Senate District 33 to critical housing services. As New York City’s severe housing crisis continues to deepen, Senator Rivera recognizes that it is critical for his constituents to have access to housing resources and free legal assistance in order to keep them in their homes. 

“Access to affordable and well-maintained housing has always been the number one issue in my district, but lately we have been seeing some troubling trends in our housing cases that warrant concern and attention. Our goal with these clinics is to provide Bronxites with resources and legal assistance to remain in their homes,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “This is part of the consistent work my team and I have done to advocate for tenants in my district. From strengthening our rent laws and tenant protections to securing $800 million to replenish ERAP to providing direct assistance to prevent evictions, secure repairs, and combat slumlord harassment, I am committed to improving housing conditions in my community in every possible way.”

Most residents in Senator Rivera’s district are considered rent-burdened, meaning the household pays more than a third of their income towards rent, and many are severely rent-burdened, paying more than half of their income toward rent. Eviction and displacement rates are of the highest in New York State. After the eviction moratorium ended, housing affordability has only worsened while some landlords are taking advantage of misinformation and confusion to force tenants out of their homes despite the protections put in place at the state level.

"I have been living in my rent-stabilized apartment for 31 years. My landlord has refused to renew my lease since 2019, but he took $10,000 from ERAP and stopped accepting my rent payments. I'm worried that when my eviction protections expire, he's going to try to evict me even though he's the one not following the laws by denying me a lease and refusing to accept my rent check every month. I reached out to Senator Rivera's office when I saw that they were connecting people with free legal assistance,” said Ms. Arelis Alston, a constituent of Senate District 33.

“I applied to ERAP to pay back my rent arrears, but while I was waiting on my application, my landlord shut off my power for over two weeks to try to make me leave. Our building doesn’t have a super to address emergency issues. I decided to take my landlord to court for reducing services and I need guidance on getting help when I need it in my building. I saw Senator Rivera’s office was providing assistance with these types of problems and now I am working with an attorney on my problems as a tenant,” Mr. Ipolito Marines, constituent of Senate District 33, shared his story with Senator Rivera’s office in Spanish.

The Office of State Senator Rivera partnered once again with the New York City Department of Finance (DOF) to sign up eligible Bronxites to their rent freeze programs, SCRIE and DRIE. Senator Rivera also partnered with the Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs, Inc. (NAICA), a local organization that provides housing assistance and free legal services, to provide constituents with in-person appointments for rent arrears, eviction prevention, repairs, and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). For more information, please contact his district office at 718-933-2034. 

Council Passes Historic Maternal Health Package to Help Address Racial Disparities, Most Severely Affecting Black Women and Birthing People and More

Today, for the first time in the history of the Council, the legislative body passed on a package of legislation addressing significant disparities in maternal health, mortality, and morbidity. While about 30 birthing people in New York City die each year of a pregnancy-related cause, statistics indicate that approximately 3,000 women “almost die,” or experience morbidity, during childbirth, with the majority of cases being people of color. In New York City, Black women are eight times more likely than white women to die from a pregnancy-related cause, and nearly three times more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity than white women. In an effort to address this national maternal health crisis that impacts New York City, the Council passed a package of bills to expand maternal health services and address systemic inequities that affect women and birthing people, particularly those that disproportionately harm Black, Latino and indigenous people.

“Even prior to the pandemic, Black women and birthing people have faced a maternal health, mortality, and morbidity crisis,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The lived experiences that far too many people have endured are striking, and the disparities for Black, Latino, and indigenous people are horrifying. This package of legislation is an important step to eliminate the inequities so that all women and birthing people are safe and protected. I am proud of this women-majority Council for prioritizing solutions to this dire crisis. When women are in leadership and the majority to make our laws, we lead on longstanding issues of significance that are critical to equitable access to health and safety.” 

Introduction 86, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams by request of the Bronx Borough President, would require an agency designated by the mayor to administer public education on the city’s standards for respectful care at birth, as well as information regarding: the right to be free from discrimination in relation to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition, reasonable workplace accommodations for persons who are pregnant or were recently pregnant and caregivers; rights for a person who is pregnant or was recently pregnant under the disability benefits law and paid family leave benefits law, earned safe and sick time act, and temporary schedule change law; and how to access information on appointing a health care proxy.

“Birth equity is a social justice issue — and it’s one that’s especially urgent and deadly in New York City,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “This public health crisis is both under-acknowledged and under-addressed, but today, City Council will take invaluable and concrete steps to protect pregnant people in New York City. Through the creation of a maternal health bill of rights with dedicated and sustained outreach to inform people of those rights, we are ensuring that these rights are upheld and New Yorkers are empowered to demand what they deserve. New York City cannot end the maternal mortality divide alone, so we are also calling on the federal government to pass and enact the Momnibus Act to save lives across the country. Thank you to Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson for your partnership on both this bill and this issue, and to the City Council for taking up these bills.”

“We are in a state of emergency in our country when Black women are still three times more likely to die during childbirth and the mortality rate is even higher for Black women living in New York City,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Black birthing individuals in our city and across the United States, deserve to receive culturally sensitive, patient-centered care that is attuned to their unique needs free of bias and racism that has resulted in the deaths of too many pregnant people. With today`s legislation, we are saying enough is enough, and that New York City will take action to ensure birthing persons are aware of their rights and are protected under the law. Thank you to Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for his partnership in pushing Intro 86-A forward, Speaker Adrienne Adams, the Women`s Caucus, and our doulas, midwives, and birth workers for their advocacy in ensuring all birthing individuals in our city receive the unbiased maternal care that they deserve before, during, and after childbirth.”

Land Use

The Lirio – MTA Site – 806 9th Avenue – The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) are proposing several ULURP actions to facilitate the construction of a new nine-story mixed-use building that would include 111 affordable housing units, of which 67 would be designated as supportive units for formerly homeless households; ground-floor retail; and new office space for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The Council is modifying the map amendment to remove lots from the rezoning area that are not necessary to facilitate the development of affordable housing. The Council is also modifying the text amendment to more precisely target the language of the newly created special permit for the creation of affordable housing in this project, in Council Member Erik Bottcher’s district.

1810 Randall Avenue Rezoning – Second Pentecostal Church of God La Hermosa is seeking approval of a zoning map amendment from R4A/C1-2 and R5/C1-2 to R6-1 and a zoning text amendment to Appendix F of the Zoning Resolution to designate the rezoning area as an MIH area, Options 1 and 2. These actions will facilitate the redevelopment of the existing obsolete Church into a new 8 story mixed use building. It will include an upgraded new house of worship and community center for the Church to support their evolving programming needs, 167 affordable senior housing units and approximately 16 accessory parking spaces on the ground floor, in Council Member Amanda Farias’ district.

Finance

Introduction 600, sponsored by Speaker Adams, would implement a state authorizing law allowing the City to provide a rebate of real property taxes for eligible properties on fiscal year 2022 property taxes.  The rebate would be the lesser of $150 or the property’s annual real estate tax liability. To be eligible for the rebate: (1) the property must be a one, two or three family residence or a dwelling unit in a cooperative or condominium; and (2) the property must be the primary residence of the owner. In addition, the income of all of the owners for whom the property serves as their primary residence cannot exceed $250,000.

Transparency Resolution approving changes in the designation of certain organizations receiving funding in the Expense Budget.

Governor Hochul Signs Transformative Green CHIPS Legislation to Create Jobs and Lower Emissions by Boosting Semiconductor Manufacturing in New York

 

First-in-the-Nation Legislation Offers Financial Assistance in Exchange for New Jobs, Capital Investment, and Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Companies Must Deliver Tangible Community Benefits, Including Prevailing Wage, Workforce Training, and Programs To Expand Opportunities for Disadvantaged Populations

Prepares New York to Take Advantage of Major Economic Opportunities Created by Federal CHIPS and Science Bill Signed into Law by President Biden This Week

 Governor Hochul today signed the groundbreaking, first-in-the-nation Green CHIPS legislation (S.9467/ A.10507) aimed at creating jobs, kick-starting economic growth and maintaining important environmental protections while making New York a hub for semiconductor (also known as "chips") manufacturing. Green CHIPS will help New York capitalize on a historic opportunity to attract chip manufacturers to the state, generating at least $3 billion investment, creating 500 new jobs per project, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions related to chip production. In doing so, the legislation will also help to make the everyday technologies that use these chips more affordable and improve the state's economic standing overall.

This new law also positions New York State to greatly benefit from the federal CHIPS and Science Act to increase domestic semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, which was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden earlier this week. New York's Green CHIPS bill will help the State to conform to the requirements of the federal program, enhancing its competitiveness against other states looking to attract chip manufacturers, all while ensuring this expansion of advanced manufacturing is environmentally sustainable.

"New York is poised to lead the nation in semiconductor manufacturing — and as always, we're doing it in the cleanest, greenest way possible," Governor Hochul said. "This transformative legislation, in addition to longstanding investments in this industry and bipartisan action from the federal government, takes a significant step forward in creating jobs and sparking economic growth in New York. If you're looking for a high-tech job or trying to relocate your business, there's no better place than New York State."

Supply chain issues and a decline in the United States' share of global chip production are causing undue hardships to every aspect of the economy and putting our nation at a strategic disadvantage in several critical areas, including national security, technological innovation, and economic growth and independence.

Green CHIPS amends the longstanding, pay-for-performance, Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit program, which provides incentives based on job creation and company investment to better attract semiconductor manufacturing facilities by adding a new Green CHIPS category to the program. Green CHIPS projects must be in the semiconductor sector and must result in at least $15 of private investment for every $1 of state investment. To ensure transparency and accountability, all Green CHIPS projects will be listed on New York State's Database of Economic Incentives, as well as in Quarterly Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program reports.

Green CHIPS ensures:

• At least 500 new jobs and at least $3 billion in qualified investment over a 10-year term. Projects in good standing can then enter a second 10-year term with at least 500 more new jobs and $3 billion more in qualified investment above and beyond the first phase.
• An approved clean energy plan that mitigates the project's GHG emissions and other environmental impacts.
• Significant investment in workforce and community development, including training and education benefits and programs to expand employment opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals.
• Prevailing wage rates for project construction.
• Job creation and investment milestones must be met before claiming any tax credits, in line with the Excelsior Tax Credit Program's pay-for-performance model.

Since the start of her administration, Governor Hochul has stressed the importance of ensuring New York State's role in developing a robust ecosystem in advanced manufacturing, and as part of this year's State Budget, New York State will make up to $200 million available for the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York program. FAST NY is designed to jumpstart New York's shovel-readiness to attract high-tech manufacturing, particularly semiconductor manufacturing, to the state.

BRONX MAN INDICTED FOR POSSESSING 17 FIREARMS, 1,100 ROUNDS OF AMMO, LARGE-CAPACITY MAGAZINES, 4 ½ LBS OF HEROIN AND FENTANYL

 

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted on 131 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon charges, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance charges and other related charges for having 17 guns, deadly drugs and ammunition in his Bronx apartment.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly had a stockpile of guns, ammunition and more than four pounds of heroin and fentanyl in his apartment—a recipe for disaster. I want to thank the NYPD detectives who recovered these deadly items. Their quick action and hard work have made the community safer. Our investigation will continue.”

 Commissioner Sewell said, “Today, New York City is safer because of the exceptional effort and steadfast dedication of everyone involved in this investigation. Illegal guns and illicit drugs put New Yorkers at significant risk, and we must ensure that dealing in this lethal combination results in real consequences. I want to thank the Bronx County DA’s Office and everyone else who worked on this case for their unwavering commitment to public safety.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Deandre Lamar, 66, of 770 East 165th Street, the Bronx was arraigned today on a 131-count indictment charging first, second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh- degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance; first, second, third and fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Use of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Ammunition, Unlawful Possession of Large Capacity Feeding Device, and Unlawful Possession of Certain Ammunition Feeding Devices. Lamar was arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. Bail was set at $750,000.00 Cash/$1.5 million dollars insurance company bond/ $1.5 million dollars partially secured bond at 10% with a 72-hour examination of surety and the defendant is due back in court October 19, 2022.

 An investigation led to a search warrant being executed on July 13, 2022, at 770 East 165th Street, Apartment 9C. The defendant was found in his home along with five revolvers and 12 semi-automatic pistols (three of the guns had defaced serial numbers), along with 1,100 rounds of ammunition, two bulletproof vests, nearly two pounds of fentanyl, about two and a half pounds of fentanyl and heroin mixed and approximately three ounces of morphine. Investigators also recovered $42,000, and two extended magazines which held 21 and 34 rounds of ammunition.

 The investigation continues by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office’s Special Investigations and Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureaus.

 District Attorney Clark thanked the NYPD Intelligence Borough, and 42nd Precinct Investigators. 

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