Governor Hochul Announces Department of Motor Vehicles Recovered $7.3 Million in Stolen Vehicles and Parts for New Yorkers

 

New York, Nation Seeing Increase in Vehicle Thefts

DMV Also Fighting Fraud, Raising Catalytic Converter Theft Awareness

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles helped New Yorkers recover 231 stolen vehicles valued at more than $7.3 million in 2022. In addition, DMV recovered 81 stolen vehicle parts, worth $67,223.

"Since the day I took office, the safety of New Yorkers has been my number one priority," Governor Hochul said. "My administration is committed to tracking down and recovering stolen vehicles and bringing justice to the innocent New Yorkers who are victimized by these crimes."

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "Our investigators work hard to protect New Yorkers—not only their property but also their identities. Recovering stolen vehicles and parts is just part of the critical work they do day in and day out. In addition to being vigilant once you own a vehicle, we always advise consumers to be wise when purchasing a salvage vehicle or one that may have been stolen or subjected to flooding."

By comparison, in 2021, DMV recovered 194 vehicles and 77 parts for a total value of $5.2 million.

Breakdown of the vehicles recovered in 2022 and their value:

Brand	Number of vehicles	Value
Acura	8	$185,125
Alfa Romeo	1	$25,000
Audi	3	$105,238
Big Tex trailer	1	$13,000
BMW	8	$417,095
Buick	1	$26,975
Cadillac	4	$116,245
Can-Am ATV	1	$4,120
Chevrolet	5	$149,470
Chrysler	2	$21,500
Dodge	15	$631,897
Ford	8	$110,400
GMC	6	$231,800
Hino	1	$35,600
Honda	76	$2,009,264
Hyundai	5	$71,520
Infiniti	6	$220,025
Jaguar	1	$61,200
Jeep	23	$1,034,058
Kawasaki	2	$10,340
Kia	2	$55,500
KTM	1	$9,250
Land Rover	3	$139,038
Lexus	1	$20,000
Lincoln	2	$19,600
Mercedes Benz	4	$192,825
Nissan	10	$151,041
Polaris	1	$4,060
Pontiac	1	$4,000
Porsche	2	$113,000
Ram	8	$695,800
RPS	1	$1,300
Toyota	15	$413,250
Yamaha	2	$10,500
Utility Trailer	1	$250
TOTAL	231	$7,309,286

There has been a national increase in stolen vehicles. Drivers should remember to lock their vehicle when they park and take the key or key fob with them. For additional security, vehicle owners can use visible or audible devices such as alarms, brake or wheel locks, or install a vehicle immobilizer like fuse cut-offs or ignition and fuel disablers.

If your vehicle is stolen, report it to the police and your auto insurance company as soon as possible. The police will enter the information into national and state auto theft computer records. The theft will be noted on your vehicle title record to help prevent someone from selling the vehicle or applying for a title.

The DMV offers additional guidance on stolen and recovered vehicles on its website, and the agency also provides a link that lets customers determine if a car was flooded or stolen. By typing in the Vehicle Identification Number, a customer can learn if a vehicle has flood damage that is not readily visible.

Consumers should also be careful when purchasing a vehicle where the deal seems too good to be true. They should be wary if the seller is insisting on cash only and should check to be sure the vehicle description on the title matches the vehicle they are receiving. For example, the plates and inspection stickers should match the jurisdiction listed on the title.

Auto theft recovery is just one of the many functions of DMV's Division of Field Investigations. Last year, DMV investigators made 1,126 arrests related to fraud, identity theft and using false identifications to purchase alcohol.

At the Governor's direction, the DMV has also worked with members of law enforcement, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and state and regional automobile dealers' associations to combat catalytic converter thefts. DMV helped supply dealers with a new process that allows auto dealers to etch a unique, traceable serial number onto the catalytic converter that can be clearly seen and linked back to the vehicle from which it was stolen.

In October, the Governor signed legislation requiring auto dealers to stock and use those etching kits on new vehicles. The legislation also amended Vehicle and Traffic Law to add catalytic converters as a major component vehicle part, which will require vehicle dismantlers to maintain records of them. Every 60 days, those businesses must report the number of catalytic converters received during that period. Failing to maintain or produce those records upon request is a Class A misdemeanor and could include monetary penalties of up to double the amount made in taking in allegedly stolen converter components.

North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

 

Defendant Used Metal Pole in Confrontation With an Officer

A North Carolina man pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting police for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His 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 2020 presidential election.

Grayson Sherrill, 23, of Cherryville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers on Jan. 6, 2021. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 1, 2021.

According to court documents, in preparation for his travel to the “Stop the Steal” rally, Sherrill purchased a Faraday bag in an attempt to prevent the government from tracking his location. On Jan. 6, 2021, before the rally ended, Sherrill and his co-defendants walked toward the U.S. Capitol Building. As he approached the Capitol, Sherrill saw downed metal barricades and broken fencing around the Capitol building. Sherrill and his co-defendants made it to the West front of the Capitol, where Sherrill observed other rioters climbing scaffolding, scaling walls, and fighting with the police, including spraying chemical irritants and throwing objects at police officers. Sherrill witnessed police officers retreating from the rioters.

Sherrill and a co-defendant each picked up a metal pole that had been broken off from a metal bicycle barricade. They carried the metal poles with them throughout the remainder of their time on restricted grounds and inside the Capitol building. While standing in the crowd of rioters, a platoon of officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Civil Disturbance Unit (CDU), attempted to make their way through the crowd of rioters to the front of the crowd to protect the Capitol building. A mob of rioters initiated violent confrontations with those officers. While other rioters pushed, struck, and wrestled with MPD Officers, including MPD Officer D.H., Sherrill stepped toward Officer D.H. and swung at the officer with the metal pole. The officer attempted to catch his footing and adjusted his equipment after the contact with the rioters. While still carrying the metal pole, Sherrill entered the Capitol Building through the Senate Wing door eight minutes after the initial breach of the doors. He walked throughout the building, including in the Crypt and Rotunda. Sherrill and his co-defendants climbed on statues in the Rotunda while taking photographs of one another using their cellphones. Sherrill exited 34 minutes after his entry.

After January 6, 2021, Sherrill deleted videos from his cell phone that he took while at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Sherrill was arrested on March 1, 2021, in North Carolina. He faces a statutory maximum of eight years in prison for assaulting law enforcement officers, as well as potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Sherrill as #xxx in its seeking information photos.  Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, 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.

DEC AND WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION TO HELP PROTECT NORTH CASTLE PUBLIC WELLS AND CROTON RESERVOIR SYSTEM

 

State Water Quality Improvement Project Program Funds Projects to Help Protect Drinking Water for Millions of People

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Westchester Land Trust (WLT) today announced the acquisition of a total of approximately 68 acres of land to protect the drinking water sources of the town of North Castle and New York City’s New Croton Reservoir system. The funding for these projects came from DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program which awarded WLT with more $1.5 million to acquire lands for source water protection. The projects will protect the two drinking water sources in perpetuity. 

“New York’s Water Quality Improvement Project grants support one of the State’s top priorities - protecting drinking water sources,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “DEC thanks Westchester Land Trust for their valuable partnership on projects that help prevent runoff and other water quality concerns by acquiring land within this watershed and protecting the drinking water for millions of New Yorkers at its source and for the long term.”

“Protecting these areas was a top priority for Westchester Land Trust and our partners because we all need clean drinking water,” said Kara Hartigan Whelan, president of WLT. “We’re grateful to the many partners, including the DEC, town of North Castle, and Teatown Lake Reservation, that worked collaboratively to ensure these lands will forever remain free from development and serve as important buffers to our water systems.”

Two parcels were acquired by WLT. The Shadow Lake WQIP parcel is just under five acres of forested land in the town of Yorktown. Adjacent to Shadow Lake, the parcel was the last unprotected and developable property around the lake. Preservation of the parcel will buffer one of New York City’s public drinking water sources, New Croton Reservoir, from impacts of additional development in the future. Acquisition of this property was made possible not only by the WQIP award, but the partnership WLT has with Teatown Lake Reservation. The property was transferred to Teatown, which will manage the property with the principal purpose of drinking water source protection. 

The second project consists of two parcels of land totaling 63 acres in the town of North Castle. The parcels include a pond, wetlands, and steep slopes overlaying a large sand and gravel aquifer which supplies public drinking water wells. The properties were identified as priorities for preservation by the North Castle Open Space Study Committee. The land will be open to the public for passive recreational hiking and nature study once a trail is established. WLT partnered with the town of North Castle to complete the acquisition, with the town now owning and managing the property as a nature preserve while protecting the underlying groundwater source for generations to come. WLT holds a perpetual conservation easement over the property.

The 68 acres acquired will remain undeveloped, allowing for their natural features to protect the drinking water supplies from potential contaminants and stormwater runoff.

New York’s Commitment to Clean Water

WQIP is a competitive, reimbursement grant program that funds projects that directly improve water quality or aquatic habitat, or protect a drinking water source. Under this grant program, DEC announced more than $60 million for 47 land acquisition projects to date. In addition to land acquisition projects for source water protection, WQIP grants are awarded for wastewater treatment improvement, non-agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, salt storage, aquatic connectivity restoration, and marine district habitat restoration. Visit the WQIP website for more information.

New York continues to increase investments in clean water infrastructure projects. Most recently, in the 2023 State of the State and 2023-24 Executive Budget, Governor Hochul committed to invest $500 million in clean water funding, bringing New York's total clean water infrastructure investment to $5 billion since 2017. To leverage these investments and ensure ongoing coordination with local governments, Community Assistance Teams will provide proactive outreach to small, rural, and disadvantaged communities to help them access financial assistance to address their clean water infrastructure needs. In addition, with voter approval of the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act in November, historic levels of funding will be provided to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, as well as strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding; reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions; restore habitats; preserve outdoor spaces and local farms; and ensure equity by investing at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of resources in disadvantaged communities. 

Additional Targeted Efforts to Protect Drinking Water Sources

DEC and the State Department of Health, in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture and Markets and State, created the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) to assist municipalities with proactively protecting their drinking water sources. The State is seeking communities to work with a technical assistance (TA) provider, free of charge, to develop and initiate implementation of their drinking water source protection program. DWSP2 plans not only protect public health but also protect water quality of both surface and groundwater across the state. To apply, visit the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) website and complete an online application. If you have any questions, reach out to the DWSP2 Team at source.water@dec.ny.gov.

About Westchester Land Trust

Westchester Land Trust works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity and to enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties—a densely populated region under persistent threat from the pressures of development. Founded in 1988, WLT has preserved 9,000 acres of open space. More than 1,000 acres of land are owned by the organization which are free and open to the public year-round. WLT was one of the first land trusts in the nation to receive accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. For more information visit www.westchesterlandtrust.org.

OASAS ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF LIFESAVING RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE STATE’S OPIOID CRISIS

 

Overdose Reversal Medication and Education, and Fentanyl Test Strips Now Available Through the Agency Website

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) today announced new distribution plans for overdose reversal medication naloxone (known as Narcan) and fentanyl test strips. OASAS has just introduced a new easy-to-use ordering mechanisms for all OASAS and Office of Mental Health (OMH) service providers. 

OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, Expanding access to harm reduction services is a top priority for OASAS.  By making these resources available, we are helping to ensure that we are reducing potential harms of substance use, and most importantly saving more lives.”

Working with manufacturer Emergent, OASAS is making Narcan Nasal Spray available to all OASAS and OMH providers through a new direct ordering system on the OASAS website. This will allow providers to access critical overdose reversal medication so that it can be offered to patients, prospective patients, and/or their significant other(s).

In addition, OASAS has partnered with NY MATTERS to ensure OASAS and OMH providers have a supply of fentanyl test strips in all of their programs and facilities. Potent fentanyl is increasingly being mixed with a wide range of other substances and is a leading cause for the continued high rates of fatal overdoses. Since it is common for an individual to be unaware of the presence of fentanyl in a substance they are taking, access to testing materials is critically important. 

These efforts are currently being supported by federal grant dollars, upon exhaustion of this funding source, this program will continue through allocation of Opioid Settlement Funds. To access ordering information, providers should visit the OASAS harm reduction webpage. 

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Increasing the availability of Narcan and fentanyl test strips will save lives. I urge all OMH licensed providers to take advantage of these resources and ensure that our clients , and those who support them, have access to these resources and know how to use them when needed. Working together with our partners at OASAS, Emergent and NY Matters we will help avoid needless tragedies.”

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

New York City Man And Alabama Woman Sentenced To 11 And Nine Years In Prison For Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JAMES BRADLEY, a/k/a “Abdullah,” and ARWA MUTHANA were sentenced to 11 and nine years in prison, respectively, for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”).  BRADLEY pled guilty on September 9, 2022, and MUTHANA pled guilty on September 12, 2022, before United States District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in Manhattan federal court.  Judge Engelmayer sentenced BRADLEY on February 2, 2023, and sentenced MUTHANA earlier today.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “James Bradley and Arwa Muthana were determined to travel to the Middle East to fight in the name of hate and terror.  Even worse, if they failed in making it to the Middle East, Bradley was prepared to carry out an attack on American soil.  I commend the FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force for investigating and arresting these two individuals before they had the opportunity to wage violence on behalf of a brutal terrorist organization.  Bradley and Muthana’s sentences reemphasize this Office’s determination to thwart those who wish to cause suffering and create destruction through terror.”

According to the Complaint, Indictment, and other public documents in the case, as well as statements made during court proceedings:[1]

BRADLEY and MUTHANA are ISIS supporters who attempted to travel to the Middle East to join and fight for ISIS.  BRADLEY expressed violent extremist views since at least 2019, including his desire to support ISIS by traveling overseas to join the group or committing a terrorist attack in the United States.  In May 2020, BRADLEY stated to an undercover law enforcement officer (“UC-1”) that he believed that ISIS may be good for Muslims because ISIS was establishing a caliphate.  BRADLEY further expressed his desire to conduct a terrorist attack in the United States and discussed potentially attacking the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.  BRADLEY explained that if he could not leave the United States, he would do “something” in the United States instead, referring to carrying out an attack.

In June 2020, BRADLEY reaffirmed his interest to UC-1 in attacking a military base and that doing so would be his contribution to the cause of jihad.  In January 2021, BRADLEY mentioned to UC-1 another university in New York State where he frequently saw Reserve Officer Training Corps (“ROTC”) cadets training.  BRADLEY stated that he could use his truck in an attack and that he, along with MUTHANA, could take all of the ROTC cadets “out.”

In late January 2021, BRADLEY married MUTHANA in an Islamic marriage ceremony.  Beginning before and continuing after their marriage, BRADLEY and MUTHANA discussed, planned, and ultimately attempted to travel to the Middle East together in order to join and fight with ISIS.  In or about early March 2021, BRADLEY traveled from New York to Alabama to visit MUTHANA, and BRADLEY and MUTHANA traveled back to New York together in order to travel from New York to join ISIS in the Middle East.  Thereafter, BRADLEY raised the possibility of UC-1 helping BRADLEY and MUTHANA get on a cargo ship to travel to the Middle East or Africa for the purpose of ultimately joining and fighting for ISIS.  UC-1 subsequently put BRADLEY in contact with a purported associate who could assist BRADLEY in making arrangements for BRADLEY and MUTHANA to travel to the Middle East via cargo ship.  In reality, the purported facilitator was a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity (“UC-2”).

Later in March 2021, BRADLEY met with UC-2 and expressed his desire to travel via cargo ship and to “fight among the rank[s] of the Islamic State.”  BRADLEY subsequently provided UC-2 $1,000 in cash as travel costs for BRADLEY and MUTHANA to take a cargo ship to Yemen. BRADLEY told UC-2 that he and MUTHANA both planned to be “fighting” after arriving in the Middle East.  BRADLEY also told UC-2 that he had a dream that he had given “bay’ah,” an Arabic term meaning the oath of allegiance, to Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the former leader of ISIS.

On March 25, 2021, UC-2 told BRADLEY that the cargo ship would be leaving on March 31 from a seaport in Newark, New Jersey.  BRADLEY praised Allah and confirmed he and MUTHANA planned to travel on the ship.  On March 31, 2021, BRADLEY and MUTHANA met with UC-2 en route to the seaport.  During this meeting, MUTHANA confirmed to UC-2 that she was traveling to the Middle East to fight for ISIS.  BRADLEY and MUTHANA were arrested as they walked on a gangplank to board the cargo ship.  After MUTHANA was arrested, she waived her Miranda rights and stated during an interview that she was willing to fight and kill Americans if it was for Allah.  Also on March 31, 2021, in connection with court-authorized searches, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) seized from a bedroom previously used by BRADLEY a hand-drawn image of a jihadi flag commonly used by ISIS and a hand-drawn map of the Pakistan region, and the FBI also recovered a machete from a truck used by BRADLEY.

In the months and years prior to their arrests, BRADLEY and MUTHANA also accessed, posted, and distributed extremist online content, including materials indicative of their support for ISIS.  Such material included BRADLEY’s postings of images of ISIS fighters, Usama Bin Laden, and terrorist attacks, and his distribution to UC-1 of videos of ISIS fighters, a 2020 stabbing attack against a New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officer, and extremists shooting a uniformed soldier.  Content on MUTHANA’s cellphone, which was searched pursuant to a court-authorized search warrant, included images of an ISIS flag with Arabic writing, ISIS propaganda, firearms, quotations of the deceased extremist preacher and former al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula member Anwar al-Awlaki, including, for example, a copy of the cover of a book authored by al-Awlaki, titled “44 Ways to Support Jihad,” and a video showing an individual in prisoner garb being chained and then burned alive.

In addition to the prison term, BRADLEY, 21, of the Bronx, New York, and MUTHANA, 30, of Hoover, Alabama, were each sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

[1] Communications, conversations, and statements discussed and quoted herein are described in substance and in part.