Long Island Contractor Indicted for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud in Connection with Hurricane Sandy

 

Homeowners Paid the Defendant Approximately $2.5 Million Which He Allegedly Used to Purchase Luxury Cars, including a Lamborghini, a Porsche and a Jaguar

Alexander Almaraz, the owner of Design Concepts Group LLC (DCG) in Freeport, New York, has been charged in a 20-count indictment with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and attempted wire fraud in connection with a scheme to induce individuals to hire the defendant and pay DCG to lift their Hurricane Sandy-damaged homes.  Almaraz is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Central Islip before United States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney, announced the arrest and charges.

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the defendant took advantage of distressed homeowners who were desperate to rebuild their homes and their lives,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “The criminal charges announced demonstrate that despite the passage of time, this Office and our law enforcement partners will prosecute fraudsters who prey on disaster victims and use government relief programs as a piggy bank to enrich themselves.”

Mr. Peace also thanked New York Rising (NYR) within the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery for their assistance with the investigation.

“As our fellow community members attempted to restore their lives following the cataclysmic destruction of Hurricane Sandy, the defendant exploited the opportunity to operate a years’ long scheme.  As alleged, rather than complete the promised contract, Almaraz stole his victims' money to pay for his lavish personal expenses.  The FBI will continue to investigate fraud and abuse of government relief programs and hold the scammers accountable for their schemes,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

District Attorney Donnelly said: “Dozens of New Yorkers – in their hour of need – were left homeless, and with their homes in ruin, due to the alleged actions of Alexander Almaraz. For nearly four years, this contractor allegedly promised families that he’d repair their homes, but instead he used disaster relief money to buy exotic sports cars and property in another state. I thank our partners at the US. Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their diligent pursuit of this defendant, who has left a trail of destruction in his wake.”

On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck New York and New Jersey, causing catastrophic damage to low-lying and coastal areas, including many neighborhoods in the Eastern District of New York.  Individuals whose homes were damaged were eligible to receive funding from the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery through the NYR program.

As alleged in the indictment, Almaraz entered into contracts—alternatively as the owner of DCG and fraudulently posing as the owner of a different company—with homeowners who qualified to receive funds from NYR.  As part of these contracts, Almaraz agreed to lift the victims’ homes and set them down on a temporary support structure, which allowed demolition of the foundation, and then install a new foundation, lower the home, and reconnect appliances.  Between October 2015 and June 2019, Almaraz agreed to lift the homes of at least 20 customers that had received NYR funding and who collectively paid him approximately $2.5 million.  Almaraz convinced many of these homeowners to move out of their homes and pay him rent to live elsewhere, all the while neglecting their projects and causing greater loss.  Additionally, instead of performing the agreed-upon work, Almaraz used the homeowners’ monies to pay for personal expenses, including credit card bills, land purchased in Kansas City, Missouri, and luxury automobiles, including a Lamborghini, a Porsche and a Jaguar.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum term of 30 years’ incarceration on each count in the indictment.  

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and Almaraz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - Free Performance of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1

 

Stella Adler Studio of Acting presents Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 Directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan FREE EVENT Thursday, February 2nd from 3:30 to 4:30pm IN BRONX RIVER ART CENTER'S EVENT SPACE All Students and Community Residents Welcome

Click Here to RSVP

BRAC is proud to host a performance of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, by the Stella Adler School of Acting, affiliated with New York University's undergraduate program. The play depicts a dramatization of the reign of King Henry IV of England up until the Battle of Shrewsbury.

Up to date proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all ages for enter our facilities. Attendees are required to be masked at all times.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine - NYC must remove the names of two notorious Nazi sympathizers from one of our most cherished public monuments...

 

As we observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day (1/27), people around the world are taking time to honor the Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the countless others who suffered under the jackboot of Nazism. Today we reflect upon and renew our commitment to continuing the neverending work of preventing future genocides, antisemitism, and hate.  To help continue this vital work, I joined together with members of the City Council’s Jewish Caucus, descendants of Holocaust survivors, and advocates in a renewed call to remove the names of known Nazi collaborators from plaques embedded in the sidewalks in the “Canyon of Heroes” in lower Manhattan. The two collaborators - Henri Philippe Pétain and Pierre Laval - headed the infamous Nazi-controlled Vichy Government in France and, after the war, were convicted of treason for betraying France and its Jewish citizens – 75,000 of who they deported to concentration camps. Watch coverage of BP Levine's call to remove the names of Nazi collaborators from the “Canyon of Heroes” HERE. Both were hosted for ticker-tape parades in 1931, before their association with the Nazi Party and were given plagues in 2004 to note that historical fact.  Removing these plaques is not a whitewashing of history. Rather, it is a refusal to continue to honor two people who made the choice to embody the worst of humanity. Their names do not need to remain on Broadway alongside true heroes like Nelson Mandela and Covid-19 pandemic essential workers.  In a city home to more than one million Jews – many of whom (?) ancestors fled countries ruled by Nazi collaborators – it is painful and shameful for these plaques to exist. France itself has renamed streets that once honored these villains. The time has long passed for our city to remove these names of infamy from our rolls of honor. Let us never forget, Mark It is getting close! Please join us at my first State of the Borough this upcoming Tuesday at 6 pm at The City College of New York (CCNY). We'll look back at the past year and come together as Manhattanites to share in our vision for the next year with our friends and neighbors! I will also be making a big announcement on my plans for Manhattan! So you don't want to miss it. Please RSVP at the link below and I hope to see you there on Tuesday. RSVP here for Tuesday's State of the Borough

Wave Hill Events February 16-February 23

 

Come enjoy the wintry grounds on a walk. Be sure to stop in Glyndor this Sunday for Open Studios. Meet all six Winter Workspace Artists, tour their studios in Glyndor Gallery and see what they've been up to the past six weeks. At this week’s Family Art Project, take inspiration from the gardens and create and decorate silhouettes of trees.

​Family Art Project: Winter Silhouettes 

Sat, Feb 18, 2023, 10AM–1PM 

Sun, Feb 19, 2023, 10AM–1PM 

Free with admission to the grounds  

Meet at Wave Hill House  

As winter lingers on, light dims at our homes, use lanterns to cast the shadows of seasonal trees. Draw their silhouettes, add textures and then decorate them using washable paint, conifer cones, dried flowers and leaves. 

 

Registration not required.  

 

Questions? Please email us at information@wavehill.org or call 718.549.3200 x251. 

 

The program takes place indoors in the Kerlin Learning Center located on the lower level of Wave Hill House. Please note the following important COVID-related information to ensure everyone’s safety: 

• Approximately nine families will be able to participate at a time, based on the time each family arrives. 

• If capacity is full when you arrive, we will provide a “come back” card so you will have first entry for the next session. 

• Each family will receive its own set of materials and cleaning will happen in between seating participants. 

• Unvaccinated visitors are encouraged to wear a mask inside. 

Wave Hill House is located along a paved route with moderate changes in grade. The building is wheelchair-accessible. There is an accessible, ground-level entrance at the front of the building with a power-assist door. The restroom on the ground level is all-gender and ADA-compliant. Additional ADA-compliant restrooms are available on the lower level, which can be accessed by elevator. 

 

Winter Workspace 2023: Open Studios 

Sat, Feb 18, 1–4PM 

Free with admission to the grounds 

Glyndor Gallery  

The Winter Workspace is a program that takes place over two, six-week sessions and provides artists with free studio space, a financial stipend, and access to Wave Hill’s living collection. Session One takes place from January 9 to February 19, 2023. Since its start 14 years ago, the Workspace has supported more than 150 artists. During the Winter Workspace, artists have intimate access to the greenhouses, as well as horticultural and curatorial staff. Experimentation is encouraged and artists expand their practices while working on site. Artists also engage with Wave Hill visitors through Drop-In Sundays, Open Studios, as well as adult or family workshops. At the core of the Winter Workspace is the recognition that creating art within the context of a garden is a unique experience. 

 

During this Open Studios event, meet the artists participating in Session One of the Winter Workspace and see what they've been working on over the last six weeks. Visitors can learn about the artists' practice, sources and materials. Explore each artist studio, see new and in-process work inspired by Wave Hill and created on site, and meet other art-lovers.   

 

This event is family-friendly, and we welcome visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to attend. A Discovery Guide for families is available at the gallery desk, offering a fun way to engage with the artwork on view. 

 

Registration encouraged but not required for this drop-in event; register online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Questions? Please email us at information@wavehill.org or call the telephone number and extension above. 

 

Glyndor Gallery is wheelchair-accessible. There is an accessible, ground-level entrance at the front of the building with an elevator that provides access to the gallery level. The Sunroom Project Space can be accessed with an ADA-compliant ramp. The restroom on the gallery level is all-gender and ADA-compliant. 

 

 

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walks 

Sun, Feb 19, 2023, 2–2:45PM  

Free with admission to the grounds  

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center 

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide–come back for an encore; each walk varies with the Guide leading it. This walk lasts a half-hour to 45 minutes. Severe weather cancels. 

 

Registration is not required for this drop-in event. Public Garden Walks are most appropriate for adults or young adults. Not intended for groups; groups should sign-up for Private Garden Tours. 

 

Questions? Please email us at information@wavehill.org or call 718.549.3200 x251.   

 

Garden Highlights Walks follow a variety of routes along mixed-material pathways and varying elevations. Accessible routes are available as requested; please indicate your need to Wave Hill staff at the Greeter Desk in the Perkins Visitor Center.    

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HOURS: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday.

 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.

NYC KICKS OFF TAX SEASON WITH FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES NOW TAILORED FOR SELF-EMPLOYED NEW YORKERS, MORE MONEY FOR FILERS CLAIMING NEWLY ENHANCED EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT

 

All New Yorkers Who Earned $80,000 or Less Encouraged to File for Free Tax Prep

 

Expansion of NYC Free Tax Prep to Self-Employed New Yorkers and Small Businesses Fulfills Key Proposal of Mayor’s “Blueprint for Economic Recovery”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today kicked off the tax season and encouraged single-filing New Yorkers who earned $56,000 or less in 2022, or families who earned $80,000 or less, to file their taxes for free using NYC Free Tax Prep. NYC Free Tax Prep provides free, professional, tax preparation that can help New Yorkers keep their full refund, including valuable tax credits, like the newly enhanced New York City Earned Income Tax Credit (NYC EITC). The new NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed New Yorkers will also provide income tax services to freelance workers and small businesses. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting tax returns on Monday, January 23^rd and will continue to do so until Tuesday, April 18.

 

“We know that many New Yorkers are struggling right now, and we want them to know the city is here for them,” said Mayor Adams. “Last year, we went to Albany to secure the first increase in the city’s Earned Income Tax Credit in 20 years. Now, thanks to our administration’s efforts, freelance workers, gig workers, and small businesses can take advantage of free tax prep, along with eligible individuals making less than $56,000 a year or families making less than $80,000. New Yorkers deserve their fair share, and we are putting more money in their pockets this tax season.”

 

“This administration is committed to delivering on a comprehensive working people’s agenda for New Yorkers,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “Thanks to the partnership and commitment from our colleagues in Albany, last year we were able to secure an increase in the city’s Earned Income Tax Credit for the first time in 20 years, putting more money into low- and middle-income families’ pockets and helping them plan for their financial future. We encourage all eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of Free Tax Prep so they can claim the full value of this credit and keep more of their hard-earned money.”

 

“The pandemic showed us that too many New Yorkers operate on the brink, living paycheck to paycheck, without sufficient savings to weather crises big or small. These hardships are particularly crippling for gig workers, freelancers, and others hustling from job to job,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “Today, we’re proud to announce that we’re delivering on a commitment made in our Blueprint for New York City's Economic Recovery, expanding the NYC Free Tax Prep program to support freelancers, gig workers, and small and micro-business owners with free business tax prep, accounting, recordkeeping, and other financial support services. This will help keep hard-earned money in their pockets and fuel an equitable, broad-based recovery for all New Yorkers.”

 

“Each year, NYC Free Tax Prep helps thousands of New Yorkers get their full refund at no cost to them, but we know that so many eligible New Yorkers aren’t taking advantage of this free, one-on-one service,” said DCWP Commissioner Mayuga. “This year, we’re excited to offer NYC Free Tax Prep to self-employed New Yorkers and help more New Yorkers keep even more of their hard-earned money. If you are a family that earned $80,000 or less or an individual who earned $56,000 or less in 2022, we encourage you to visit a site to file for free and claim your refund.”

 

NYC Free Tax Prep for the Self-Employed                                                                                  

Announced as part of Mayor Adams’ “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,” NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed individuals seeks to expand the availability of free tax preparation services for gig workers, freelancers, and small business owners who often struggle to file taxes and manage financial record keeping and face limited access to capital, banking services, and loans. Through this new year-round service within NYC Free Tax Prep, self-employed individuals and owners of businesses can work with specially trained preparers on their annual and, later in 2023, quarterly estimated tax filings, including workshops, one-on-one consultations, and other resources on record keeping and tax filing.

 

NYC EITC

The EITC is available to working families and individuals with low and moderate incomes. The enhancement of the NYC EITC — the first increase in New York City in almost 20 years — fulfills a campaign pledge from Mayor Adams and will help 800,000 New Yorkers who qualify to better afford essential items like food, rent, and utilities.

 

This tax season, the NYC EITC is increasing from a five percent match of the federal EITC levels to 10 to 30 percent, depending on the filers’ income, meaning more money back for more New Yorkers. Under the city’s enhancement of the EITC, a single parent with one child with an income of $14,750 will see the benefit increase from $181 to $905 — a 400 percent increase. A married couple with two children and an income of $25,000 will see their New York City benefit increase from $299 to $897 under the city payment — a 200 percent increase.

 

NYC Free Tax Prep Services include:

• In-Person Tax Prep — sit down with a volunteer preparer: At in-person tax prep sites, knowledgeable IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparers help filers complete an accurate tax return. Nearly 140 sites across the city will be opening in the coming weeks.
• Drop-off Service — drop off documents and pick up completed returns later: With drop-off service, filers can drop off their tax documents and pick up the completed return later.
• Virtual Tax Prep — like in-person free filing but online: Virtual Tax Prep is an online service where an IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will video conference with filers to help prepare their tax return using a secure digital system. Filers can submit photos or scans of tax documents to the preparer, confirm their identity, and complete their return by video call with a preparer. Filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; a stable internet connection; and the ability to download secure video conference software.
• Assisted Self-Preparation — free online tax prep on one’s own or with help: Assisted Self-Preparation allows filers to complete their tax return online on their own and an IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will be available by phone or email to answer questions. Filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; a stable internet connection; an email address, and their 2021 adjusted gross income or self-select PIN.

Paid Tax Preparers

The city encourages eligible filers to file for free with NYC Free Tax Prep but consumers who use a paid tax preparer should ask the preparer for a Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers (available in multiple languages) and read it carefully before having their taxes prepared. Consumers should also be on alert for predatory tax preparers that overcharge, charge hidden fees, or file their returns without permission.

 

New Yorkers can call 311 or visit New York City’s tax prep website to choose the best filing option for themselves and find the most convenient location if choosing in-person or drop-off tax prep. A checklist of what documents New Yorkers need to bring with them to file and multilingual information about the services are available online. In-person services are available in English, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian-Creole, Hebrew, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu, and other language are yet to come.

 

“NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to offer free, in-person and virtual tax preparation,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer Nichola Davis, MD, MS. “Whether you’re coming in for a check-up or to visit a loved one, help with preparing taxes is just another way we take care of our patients.”

 

“The expanded NYC Free Tax Prep program will allow more New Yorkers to step back from the stress of tax season,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Professional help can free up funds for essentials like food or fun to support a healthy lifestyle.”

 

“Every tax season, New Yorkers walk into DCWP’s NYC Free Tax Prep full of questions and worries, and come out with thousands of dollars saved. By expanding DCWP services to help self-employed New Yorkers and small business owners, Mayor Adams and Commissioner Mayuga are not just helping business owners to keep more of their hard-earned dollars but giving business owners better tools to lead our economic recovery,” said Kevin D. Kim, Commissioner, NYC Department of Small Business Services. “SBS is proud to work closely with DCWP to strengthen economic security across our five boroughs: from connecting jobseekers at our Workforce1 Career Centers to DCWP’s financial counseling services, to saving business owners money on their taxes.”

 

“The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is nearly 50 years old and is the federal government’s largest refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income workers,” said Michele Page, area director, IRS.  “This year marks the 17^th anniversary of celebrating EITC Awareness Day. Nationwide, as of December 2022, approximately 31 million taxpayers received over $64 billion in EITC payments. EITC provides workers and families a significant tax break and a much-needed refund. However, one in five taxpayers are not taking advantage of EITC. Almost a third of those who qualify for EITC became eligible for the first time this year due to changes in their marital, parental, or financial status. IRS is proud to support our community partners reaching out to their clients directly to help make eligible taxpayers aware of this potentially life-changing tax credit. The IRS urges workers who earned $59,187 or less in 2022 to verify if they qualify for the EITC. This includes wage and self-employed earners.”

 

“As Restoration works to disrupt and close the racial wealth gap, our partnership with DCWP as

a NYC Free Tax Prep provider is critical to our efforts to help our community to return cash to our community to care for their families. Our Center for Personal Financial Health saved the tax processing fees for more than 3,000 people and brought more than $3.6 million dollars in

federal tax refunds to our community. This year, we aim to serve even more families and use this seasonal moment to help them improve their economic health through refunds, helping them to save and pay down debt, and access other critical services from benefits to employment,” said Tracey Capers, executive vice president and chief program officer, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration.

 

“BronxWorks is proud to partner with the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection once again to offer free tax preparation services,” said Eileen Torres, executive director, BronxWorks. “As we enter tax season, the provision of free assistance by experienced professionals is essential for many of our Bronx neighbors who otherwise would not have access to these services. BronxWorks looks forward to continuing this important work.”

 

“COJO Flatbush is grateful once again to NYC DCWP in partnership with the IRS’ popular VITA/TCE program for the privilege of providing tax preparation services to our neighbors and alleviating the worries and expenses that come with preparing tax returns,” said Louis P. Welz, executive officer, COJO Flatbush. “Even a relatively routine return prepared by an accountant will cost a person a couple hundred dollars. Multiply that by the number of NYC Free Tax Prep clients we service and you’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars remaining in the pockets of community members. By maximizing allowable deductions in all areas, including the crucial Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, NYC Free Tax Prep program makes a tremendous difference to so many household budgets, especially in these tough economic times.”

 

“Met Council is proud to team up with the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to offer free tax preparation at locations throughout the city so New Yorkers can get the benefits and money they deserve back in taxes,” said David G. Greenfield, CEO, Met Council. “Last year, Met Council helped secure significant dollars in the pockets of low and middle-income New Yorkers by filing over a thousand returns, and this year, we look forward to securing even more for New York’s neediest.”

 

“NMIC is excited to partner with DCWP to provide access to free, effective tax preparation services through the NYC Free Tax Prep program,” said Maria Lizardo, executive director, NMIC. “These services are invaluable to the economic empowerment of our community members as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

 

“Project Hospitality is proud to run three VITA free tax preparation sites,” said Reverend Karen Pershing, director of community initiatives, Project Hospitality. “We are able to help our community receive millions of dollars in refunds and to be financially empowered through the receipt of the earned income tax credit and child tax credit. Clients who come for free tax preparation services are often grateful to learn of all the other free services Project Hospitality can provide to them, such as help getting an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, enrolling in public benefits, enrolling in health insurance and NYC Care, food pantry, mental health services, and many other comprehensive social services.” 

Defendants From New Jersey And West Virginia Sentenced For Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

 

One Defendant Provided the Other With the Chemical Spray Used on Officers

A New Jersey man was sentenced to 80 months in prison on two felony charges for assaulting law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His co-defendant, a West Virginia man, was sentenced to time served with conditions. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election and resulted in injuries to more than 100 police officers.

Julian Elie Khater, 33, of Somerset, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia, on Sept. 1, 2022, to two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon. Khater assaulted law enforcement officers with pepper spray, causing bodily injury to the officers.

George Pierre Tanios, 41, of Morgantown, West Virginia, provided the chemical spray to Khater. He pleaded guilty, on July 27, 2022, to two counts of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas F. Hogan ordered Khater to pay restitution of $2,000, a fine of $10,000, and ordered 36 months of supervised release. Tanios was ordered to pay restitution of $500, a fine of $100, must complete 12 months of supervised release, and serve 100 hours of community service.

According to court documents, Khater and Tanios traveled together to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. Prior to the trip, Tanios purchased two cannisters of bear spray and two cannisters of pepper spray. He provided one cannister of pepper spray to Khater prior to arriving in Washington. On Jan. 6, the two men attended a rally near the Ellipse and then headed towards the Capitol, where they joined others in a mob illegally on the grounds.

Khater then walked through the crowd to within a few steps of a bike rack barrier being used by a line of law enforcement officers attempting to secure the Capitol and its grounds. Khater stood directly across from officers. At 2:23 p.m., people in the mob began pulling on the bike rack barrier using ropes and their hands to pull the rack away. Seconds later, from less than eight feet away, Khater sprayed pepper spray from a cannister in his right hand at the officers. He first sprayed a U.S. Capitol police officer, identified in court documents as “Officer B.S.,” in the face. That officer then turned his head away and retreated from the police line.

Khater continued to deploy the spray, advancing towards another Capitol Police officer, identified in court documents as “Officer C.E.,” and spraying her directly in the eyes from only a few feet away. She dropped her head and retreated, requiring the assistance of another officer because she was unable to see. Khater then sprayed a Metropolitan Police Department officer, identified in court documents as “Officer D.C.,” directly in the face. That officer also immediately retreated from the line. All three officers suffered bodily injury from the pepper spray attack and were incapacitated and unable to perform their duties.

Khater and Tanios were arrested on March 14, 2021.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Khater as #190 and Tanios as #254 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Pittsburgh and Newark Field Offices, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

In the 24 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 950 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 284 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Permits Filed For 2741 Creston Avenue In Jerome Park, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story mixed-use building at 2741 Creston Avenue in Jerome Park, The Bronx. Located between East 196th Street and East 198th Street, the lot is near the Kingsbridge Road subway station, serviced by the 4 train. Boris Babakhanov of Bolex GC Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 80-foot-tall development will yield 28,245 square feet, with 26,092 square feet designated for residential space and 2,153 square feet for commercial space to be used as a daycare facility on the ground floor. The building will have 44 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 641 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and a 30-foot-long rear yard.

Issac & Stern Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were previously fried and the site is now vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.