Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - DECEMBER 15, 2022

 

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

27 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19 and outlined basic steps they can take to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that become more common in the fall and winter seasons. 

"With the holiday season upon us, I urge all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and continue to use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul is urging New Yorkers to take common prevention measures — like staying up to date on vaccines and practicing proper hygiene — to protect from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the flu and COVID-19 and reduce the patient burden on local hospitals. Last week, the Governor updated New Yorkers on the state's winter health preparedness efforts. 

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC also cleared the way for children six months of age and older to receive the bivalent booster shot to increase protection against COVID-19. Previously, these shots were only available to children ages 5 and older. 

The New York State Department of Health issued a report last week showing a 64 percent week-over-week jump in lab-confirmed flu cases across New York and week-over-week hospitalizations up 58 percent. Cases of influenza have now been detected in all 62 counties across the state, highlighting the need for New Yorkers to take steps and precautions that will reduce the risk of severe illness for children and adults.  

Governor Hochul previously launched a public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about the three viruses now circulating in the state with similar symptoms and the potential to cause serious illness. Produced by the New York State Department of Health, the videos include a short clip and a longer version geared toward parents; and a version aimed specifically at health care providers. 

The Governor also asked New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. 

In addition, Governor Hochul encourages New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system. 

The State Department of Health is continuing its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. Advertisements in both English and Spanish language began running last month. 

For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/. Today's data is summarized briefly below:­

• Cases Per 100k - 35.59
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 27.94
• Test Results Reported - 82,148
• Total Positive - 6,956
• Percent Positive - 7.95%**     
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.68%**      
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,572 (+1)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 612
• Patients in ICU - 342 (+0)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 156 (+13)
• Total Discharges - 374,137 (+554)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 27
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59,895

** 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 - 76,269

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,   Dec.   12, 2022	Tuesday,   Dec.  13, 2022	Wed.   Dec.   14,2022
Bronx	7.90%	8.00%	8.16%
Kings	5.14%	4.68%	4.71%
New York	6.93%	6.87%	7.12%
Queens	9.09%	8.94%	8.94%
Richmond	6.46%	6.37%	6.28%

Member Of Money Laundering Operation Pleads Guilty In Connection With $5 Million Online Vehicle Sale Scam

 

Other Defendants Involved in the Scheme Pled Guilty Previously

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Lithuanian national STANISLAV TUNKEVIC pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with a scheme to launder fraud proceeds derived from an online vehicle sale scam that generated at least $5.3 million from dozens of defrauded consumers.  TUNKEVIC pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Tunkevic and his co-defendants have admitted to getting paid to use fake documents and shell companies to open bank accounts in order to receive criminal proceeds.  Without their knowing involvement, online fraudsters would not be able to profit from their illegal schemes.  Tunkevic and his co-defendants will now face prison terms and be required to forfeit their ill-gotten gains.”

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

At various times from at least March 2019 through approximately March 2021, TUNKEVIC and co-defendants KAROL KAMINSKI, ARTURAS GILYS, and SVETLANA VAIDOTIENE were Lithuanian nationals who were recruited in Lithuania to travel to New York City in order to participate in a money laundering operation based in Brooklyn.  The operation was coordinated in New York City by co-defendant NATALIA KORZHA and also involved her son and co-defendant VLADISLAV NECEAEV.  Under the direction of KORZHA, NECEAEV, TUNKEVIC, KAMINSKI, GILYS, 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, KAMINSKI, TUNKEVIC, GILYS, 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. 

TUNKEVIC, 48, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $405,000.  TUNKEVIC is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on March 15, 2023.

KORZHA, 50, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on May 4, 2022.  She was sentenced by Judge Torres on September 7, 2022, to 48 months in prison and was ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $5,386,538.

NECEAEV, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on March 14, 2022.  He was sentenced by Judge Torres on September 7, 2022, to 18 months in prison and was ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $458,300.

KAMINSKI, 32, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on November 9, 2022, and agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $338,700.  KAMINSKI is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on March 15, 2023.

GILYS, 41, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on November 15, 2022, and agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $321,700.  GILYS is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on March 15, 2023.

VAIDOTIENE, 55, of Vilnius, Lithuania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on September 20, 2022, and agreed to pay forfeiture and restitution in the amount of $271,000.  VAIDOTIENE is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Torres on January 18, 2023.

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 City 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.

MAYOR ADAMS TAKES ACTION TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE AND LEGAL CANNABIS MARKET, ANNOUNCES SEIZURE OF $4 MILLION OF ILLEGALLY SOLD ITEMS AFTER INTERAGENCY CRACKDOWN ON UNLICENSED CANNABIS DISPENSARIES

 

Administration Continues to Work in Close Partnership with State to Ensure Just and Equitable Rollout of Legal Cannabis Market

 

Interagency Task Force Comprised of Sheriff’s Office, NYPD, DCWP, and Office of Cannabis Management Seized More Than $4 Million Worth of Illegal Products During Two-Week Pilot

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today took action to promote a more equitable cannabis market by announcing the results of a two-week interagency pilot conducting enforcement against unlicensed establishments selling cannabis, cannabis-infused edibles, illegal vaping products, illegal cigarettes, and other illegal tobacco products. The pilot program — conducted jointly by the New York City Sheriff’s Office, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) — resulted in the seizure of more than $4 million worth of products being sold illegally and the issuance of 566 civil and criminal summonses.

 “We will not let the economic opportunities that legal cannabis offers be taken for a ride by unlicensed establishments,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are not only announcing the seizure of $4 million in products that were being sold illegally to New Yorkers. Thanks to this joint interagency task force pilot, the city and the state collaborated to crack down on bad actors who are putting New Yorkers’ — particularly young people’s — health and safety at risk, and who sought to cut the line and undermine the legal market. It's high time that unlicensed stores stopped selling illegal products and comply with the law.”

 The Cannabis NYC Interagency Enforcement Task Force was a two-week pilot program to align efforts between the city and state on enforcement against establishments selling illegal cannabis, vaping, and tobacco products. The pilot was conducted the week of November 14^th to November 19^th, and the week of November 28^th to December 3^rd.

The results of the task force included: 

• Inspections of 53 locations throughout the five boroughs.
• Seizure of more than 100,000 illegal products, totaling an estimated retail value of $4,143,647.
• Issuance of 500 civil violations and 66 criminal summonses.
• Two felony arrests and one arrest on an outstanding warrant.

 “The New York City sheriff’s task force was successful in seizing hundreds of illegal products that were being sold by unlicensed businesses, many of which had the potential to endanger the health and safety of the public,” said New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda. “We have an obligation to support the legal cannabis industry and create a fair opportunity for legal dispensaries to succeed, and that means taking enforcement action against those who continue to operate illegally by selling contraband and evading taxes. The collective efforts of the task force, under the direction of Mayor Adams, sends a clear message to illegal businesses that their actions will not be tolerated, and it will be necessary for them to comply with licensing laws.”  

 “The NYPD has been working very closely with our many public and private partners, in the city and in the state, in support of this important initiative,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “As we move forward regarding this ongoing issue, the NYPD remains a committed partner, steadfast in its mission of upholding the law and improving public safety for all in New York City.”

“Selling tobacco and e-cigarette products without a license is not only illegal, but it puts the health of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones at risk,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “DCWP will not hesitate to hold unlicensed tobacco and e-cigarette retailers accountable for violating the law. Thank you to Mayor Adams and Sheriff Miranda for launching this multiagency effort to protect the health and safety of our fellow New Yorkers.”

 “Mayor Adams launched Cannabis NYC to support New Yorkers and justice-involved individuals who want to build and operate legitimate, thriving cannabis businesses,” said Cannabis NYC Founding Director Dasheeda Dawson. “We have an opportunity to become a global hub of industry excellence in education and equity, but we must protect that opportunity for all New Yorkers, particularly the communities most harmed by cannabis prohibition. The Cannabis NYC Interagency Enforcement Taskforce not only tackles a growing public health and safety concern, but also ensures that those jeopardizing the success of New York’s equity-centered legalization will face fines, penalties, and other civil consequences. The Adams administration is committed to enforcing the law without criminalizing communities targeted by the racially fueled policies of prohibition.”

 “Interagency collaboration is one the many strengths of this administration, and this task force is proof of that,” said New York City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. “It is imperative that we protect the cannabis entrepreneurs working hard to build up a regulated cannabis industry. SBS is here to support every small business choosing to play by the rules.”

 The Adams administration is committed to promoting the growth of an equitable cannabis industry in New York City, in concert with state partners. In August, Mayor Adams and the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) announced the launch of Cannabis NYC, a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide a broad suite of services to industry stakeholders and those looking to participate in the legal cannabis market. Mayor Adams also announced the appointment of Dasheeda Dawson — a nationally renowned cannabis advocate, who played a pivotal role in the passage of the New York Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act — to lead the initiative.

 “Governor Hochul has made clear that we cannot be a legal, regulated market operating side-by-side with an illicit market that puts public health at risk, does not contribute to our communities, and undermines our goal to build the most equitable and inclusive cannabis market in the nation,” said Chris Alexander, executive director, New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “We’re thankful for this partnership with New York City in helping to shutter these illicit operators, as we are with similar partnerships across the state, and our efforts to shutdown these stores and trucks will continue to expand.”