Our Contact Information
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org
Sunday, March 26, 2023
DEC ANNOUNCES NEW YORK’S TROUT HARVEST OPENS APRIL 1
Nearly 1.9 Million Catchable Trout Stocked Statewide
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the April 1 start of the spring trout fishing season, which provides excellent angling opportunities thanks to DEC’s extensive stocking program and wild trout fisheries. DEC stocks nearly 1.9 million trout in waters statewide, beginning in March and lasting until early June.
“Since DEC updated regulations in 2021 to allow a catch-and-release season in the fall and winter months, anglers have the opportunity to fish for inland trout year-round,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Even so, April 1 has a special meaning for anglers in New York as the date signifies the start of a season full of promising fishing opportunities.”
Trout Regulations
For decades, April 1 was the traditional “opening day” of inland trout fishing season. Now the date marks the opening of the harvest season after year-round fishing was greenlit on most streams in 2021, with the implementation of an Oct. 16 to March 31 “artificial lures only, catch-and-release’ season.
Trout Stocking
Beginning in March, DEC trout stocking is in full swing with 1,884,756 catchable brook, brown, and rainbow trout stocked in ponds and streams across the state. ‘Stocked-Extended’ streams, listed in the Inland Trout Streams Regulations section of the freshwater fishing regulations guide, will receive fish every other week for two months to enhance season-long opportunities for angler success. Most streams will also receive a seeding of larger stocked trout. Spring trout stocking lists, including the week of stocking for trout streams, can be found at https://www.dec.ny.gov/
Trout Stream Fishing Opportunities
Last year, DEC added a new feature to its official HuntFishNY app called The Tackle Box. Fishing regulations, boating access, and stocking information are all available in a map-based interface from the convenience of a smart phone. Other features include driving directions to state boat launch sites and an offline feature that allows a user to access information when cell coverage isn't available. The HuntFishNY app, which includes the Tackle Box, is free of charge and available through the App store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) for anyone to download on their tablet or smart phone. For more information on the HuntFishNY app and new Tackle Box feature visit the DEC website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/
The popular Trout Stream Fishing Map on DECinfo Locator is also available. Anglers can view trout stream reaches, color-coded by management category, and fishing access associated with those reaches. Links to the Trout Stream Fishing Map and a User Guide are available at https://www.dec.ny.gov/
2023 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide
A digital version of the new guide is available to download on the DEC website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/
CEO of Titanium Blockchain Sentenced for $21M Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme
The CEO and founder of Titanium Blockchain Infrastructure Services Inc. (TBIS) was sentenced today to four years and three months in prison for his role in a cryptocurrency fraud scheme involving TBIS’s initial coin offering (ICO) that raised approximately $21 million from investors in the United States and overseas.
According to court documents, Michael Alan Stollery, 54, of Reseda, California, touted TBIS – a purported cryptocurrency investment platform – as a cryptocurrency investment opportunity, luring investors to purchase “BARs,” the cryptocurrency token or coin offered by TBIS’s ICO, through a series of false and misleading statements. Although he was required to do so, Stollery did not register the ICO regarding TBIS’s cryptocurrency investment offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), nor did he have a valid exemption from the SEC’s registration requirements.
To entice investors, Stollery falsified aspects of TBIS’s white papers, which purportedly offered investors and prospective investors an explanation of the cryptocurrency investment offering, including the purpose and technology behind the offering, how the offering was different from other cryptocurrency opportunities, and the prospects for the offering’s profitability. Stollery also planted fake client testimonials on TBIS’s website and falsely claimed that he had business relationships with the Federal Reserve and dozens of prominent companies to create the false appearance of legitimacy. Stollery did not use the invested money as promised but instead commingled the ICO investors’ funds with his personal funds, using at least a portion of the offering proceeds for expenses unrelated to TBIS, such as credit card payments and the payment of bills for his Hawaii condominium.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Cory Nootnagel of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Western Region, made the announcement.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office and the Federal Reserve Board OIG Western Region, San Francisco Office investigated the case.
Saturday, March 25, 2023
TWO BRONX MEN SENTENCED FOR SELLING FIREARMS TO UNDERCOVER OFFICER
Weapons Included Ghost Guns and Assault Rifles; Two of the Guns Had Been Used on Shootings
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that two Bronx men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in selling multiple firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices to an undercover NYPD officer.
District Attorney Clark said, “The community is safer thanks to the undercover officer who stopped the recycling of these weapons. Two of the recovered guns had been used in shootings in the Bronx and Manhattan. Getting these guns, which were sold in broad daylight, off our streets is a huge feat and sending the gun sellers to prison sends the right message that gun violence has to stop.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Dereck Velasquez, 30, last of 1077 Boston Road, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison and five years post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo. He pleaded guilty to first degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm and fourth degree Conspiracy on January 31, 2023.
Eric Colvin, 26, last of 328 East 145th Street, was sentenced on January 23, 2023, to nine years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo. He pleaded guilty to second-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm on January 6, 2023.
Velasquez admitted to selling ten or more firearms to an undercover officer between September 28, 2021, and February 1, 2022. Colvin admitted to selling five or more firearms to an undercover officer between October 28th, 2021, and February 1, 2022. Both defendants were high-ranking members of the Forest Over Everything crew, affiliated with the Bloods, and were charged with conspiring to sell a total of 33 firearms to an undercover police officer.
According to the investigation, most of the weapons were sold in the Bronx on Tinton Avenue, East 163rd Street and other streets near the Forest Houses in the Morrisania section.
Investigators traced two of the firearms to shootings in the Bronx and Manhattan through ballistics evidence found at the scenes.
District Attorney Clark thanked her Crime Strategies Bureau, Technical Investigation Bureau and Video Unit for their assistance in the case.
Governor Hochul Announces New Initiative to Help Police and Prosecutors in Five Jurisdictions Solve Non-Fatal Shootings and Prevent Retaliatory Gun Violence
Police Departments in Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady, Troy and Utica and Their County District Attorneys' Offices to Share $866,564 in State Funding to Implement Evidence-Based Approaches to Improve Investigations and Save Lives
Demonstration Projects Funded in Newburgh and Utica by the State Division Criminal Justice Services Increased the Clearance Rate of Non-Fatal Shootings in Both Cities
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a new initiative to help police and prosecutors in five jurisdictions solve non-fatal shootings and prevent retaliatory gun violence. Police departments in Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady, Troy and Utica and their county district attorneys' offices will share $866,564 in State funding to implement evidence-based approaches to improve investigations and save lives. Demonstration projects funded in Newburgh and Utica by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services increased the clearance rate of non-fatal shootings in both cities.
"As we work to reduce gun violence, it is critical that we solve non-fatal shootings and prevent retaliation in the form of additional gun violence," Governor Hochul said. "We know that when these crimes are left unsolved, retaliation can turn deadly. This funding provides police and prosecutors the resources they need to solve non-fatal shootings, prevent retaliation and reduce overall gun violence."
The announcement reflects Governor Hochul's continued commitment to public safety and crime reduction, while expanding New York State's comprehensive gun violence prevention strategies. Earlier this week, Governor Hochul announced new statewide crime data and highlighted the need for public safety investments and reforms in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.
Law enforcement across New York State have reported that small groups of individuals are responsible for the majority of gun violence in the communities they serve, but these cases can be difficult to solve due to a lack of resources necessary to gather and review evidence, as well as challenges in gleaning information from victims and witnesses, who are often afraid or unwilling to cooperate with investigators. Lack of closure on these cases often contributes to retaliatory violence, as well as a lack of community trust in law enforcement.
The new grant funding, which runs through June 30, will support dedicated teams of police, prosecutors and crime analysts who work together to solve non-fatal shooting cases from the point at which they are reported, as is more commonly seen in homicide investigations. This collaboration will enable teams to secure crime scenes and gather and preserve evidence immediately, increasing the odds of identifying those responsible for non-fatal shootings. The $866,564 in grants also will support funding for overtime costs and equipment for the following law enforcement agencies:
- Buffalo Police Department: $248,970
- Erie County District Attorney: $68,482
- Rochester Police Department: $134,100
- Monroe County District Attorney: $55,313
- Schenectady Police Department: $89,349
- Schenectady County District Attorney: $65,840
- Utica Police Department $45,200
- Oneida County District Attorney: $47,600
- Troy Police Department: $80,272
- Rensselaer County District Attorney: $31,438
Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, "These grants will help fund dedicated teams of police, prosecutors and crime analysts who can rely upon and implement a proven, evidence-based approach to solving these crimes. We commend Governor Hochul for her support of this initiative and for her leadership on implementing proven, effective strategies to reduce gun violence."
The funding to these agencies will continue through the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative as of July 1. The Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady, Troy and Utica police departments are among the 20 that participate in the initiative, which also provides training and technical assistance to police departments in 17 counties that report about 80 percent of violent and gun crime in the state outside of New York City. District attorneys' offices, sheriffs' offices, probation departments and other partners in those counties also receive funding through the initiative.
In 2016, DCJS selected Newburgh and Utica to participate in a demonstration project aimed at strengthening investigations into non-fatal shootings. DCJS provided support to assist the localities with solving these incidents in their jurisdictions, regardless of victim or witness cooperation. The localities committed to conducting thorough investigations into all non-fatal shootings, with early involvement from district attorneys' offices to support evidence-based prosecutions. Written protocols also were established to outline step by step investigative actions and to delegate which personnel were responsible for each step.
The John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety researched, evaluated and analyzed investigative activities and arrest data from 2014 through 2019 and reported significantly improved clearance rates in both cities during the three years after the demonstration launched, compared to the three years before implementation. Utica's clearance rate for non-fatal shootings rose from 23 percent to 36 percent, while Newburgh's clearance rate increased from 14 percent to 40 percent, as noted in a Criminal Justice Knowledge Bank research brief about the demonstration project.
Cities were chosen based on shooting data and need for additional resources. Those participating submitted written plans for implementation, after convening meetings with stakeholders, including representatives from police departments, district attorneys' offices and DCJS-funded regional crime analysis centers, which provide assistance to law enforcement.
Each jurisdiction receiving funding will review research briefs on the Utica and Newburgh project; collect and maintain data on non-fatal shootings before and after implementation; assign investigators dedicated to non-fatal shootings; develop written protocols and checklists to be used while investigating each non-fatal shooting; provide monthly updates on cases not closed and outline factors limiting and preventing closure; attend DCJS-specified trainings; coordinate closely through the completion of each case; assign an on-call assistant district attorney to non-fatal shootings; and track the dispositions of each case.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services is a multi-function criminal justice support agency and has a variety of responsibilities, including law enforcement training; collection and analysis of statewide crime data; maintenance of criminal history information and fingerprint files; administrative oversight of the state's DNA databank, in partnership with the New York State Police; funding and oversight of probation and community correction programs; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration of the state's Sex Offender Registry. Follow the agency on Twitter and Facebook.
Community Shredding Event - Hosted by Assembly Member John Zaccaro, Jr. & State Senator Nathalia Fernandez
Dear Friends, We encourage you to stop by our office during our free shredding event to safely shred your unwanted/confidential documents, while also helping the environment: When: April 13th, 2023 Time: 11:00AM - 1:00PM Location: 2018 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10461 If you have any questions, please contact my District Office at (718) 409-0109. Your Assemblymember, John Zaccaro, Jr. 80th Assembly District |
Justice Department Announces Arrest of the Founder of One of the World’s Largest Hacker Forums and Disruption of Forum’s Operation
FBI Disrupts BreachForums Marketplace for Hacked and Stolen Data
The founder of BreachForums made his initial appearance today in the Eastern District of Virginia on a criminal charge related to his alleged creation and administration of a major hacking forum and marketplace for cybercriminals that claimed to have more than 340,000 members as of last week. In parallel with his arrest on March 15, the FBI and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) have conducted a disruption operation that caused BreachForums to go offline.
According to court documents unsealed today, Conor Brian Fitzpatrick, 20, of Peekskill, New York, allegedly operated BreachForums as a marketplace for cybercriminals to buy, sell, and trade hacked or stolen data and other contraband since March 2022. Among the stolen items commonly sold on the platform were bank account information, social security numbers, other personally identifying information (PII), means of identification, hacking tools, breached databases, services for gaining unauthorized access to victim systems, and account login information for compromised online accounts with service providers and merchants.
“Today, we continue our work to dismantle key players in the cybercrime ecosystem,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Like its predecessor RaidForums, which we took down almost a year ago, BreachForums bridged the gap between hackers hawking pilfered data and buys eager to exploit it. All those operating in dark net markets should take note: Working with our law enforcement partners, we will take down illicit forums and bring administrators to justice in U.S. courtrooms.”
“People expect that their online data will be protected, and the Department of Justice is committed to doing just that,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Criminal Division. “We must and will remain vigilant to the threat posed by those who attempt to undermine our digital security. We will continue to disrupt the forums that facilitate the theft and distribution of personal information and prosecute those responsible.”
Fitzpatrick’s alleged victims have included millions of U.S. citizens and hundreds of U.S. and foreign companies, organizations, and government agencies. Some of the stolen datasets contained the sensitive information of customers at telecommunication, social media, investment, health care services, and internet service providers. For instance, on Jan. 4, a BreachForums user posted the names and contact information for approximately 200 million users of a major U.S.-based social networking site. Further, on Dec. 18, 2022, another BreachForums user posted details of approximately 87,760 members of InfraGard, a partnership between the FBI and private sector companies focused on the protection of critical infrastructure.
“Cybercrime victimizes and steals financial and personal information from millions of innocent people,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This arrest sends a direct message to cybercriminals: your exploitative and illegal conduct will be discovered, and you will be brought to justice.”
“The FBI will continue to devote all available resources to deter, disrupt, and diminish criminal enterprise activity,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “We will work alongside our federal and international partners to impose costs on malicious cyber actors around the world and continue to bring justice to those who victimize the American public.”
“Following the seizure of RaidForums last year, cybercriminals turned to BreachForums to buy and sell stolen data, including breached databases, hacking tools, and the personal and financial information of millions of U.S. citizens and businesses,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will not let cybercriminals and those who enable them profit from the theft of sensitive data while hiding behind keyboards. This arrest and disruption of yet another criminal marketplace demonstrates the potency of our joint work to dismantle the digital structures that facilitate cybercrime.”
As part of the scheme, Fitzpatrick allegedly supported the activities of cybercriminals by creating and operating a “Leaks Market” subsection that was dedicated to buying and selling hacked or stolen data, tools for committing cybercrime, and other illicit material. To facilitate transactions on the forum, Fitzpatrick allegedly offered to act as a trusted middleman, or escrow service, between individuals on the website who sought to conduct these types of illicit transactions. In addition, Fitzpatrick allegedly managed an “Official” databases section through which BreachForums directly sold access to verified hacked databases through a “credits” system administered by the platform. As of Jan. 11, the Official database section purported to contain 888 datasets, consisting of over 14 billion individual records. These databases belong to a wide variety of both U.S. and foreign companies, organizations, and government agencies. Fitzpatrick allegedly profited from the scheme by charging for forum credits and membership fees.
“This case sends a clear message that illicitly stealing, selling, and trading the personal information of innocent members of the public will not be tolerated, and that malicious cyber actors will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen Niemczak of the HHS-OIG. “HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to protecting the American public and the integrity of government networks and data from these egregious cyberattacks.”
The BreachForums website has supported additional sections in which users discuss tools and techniques for hacking and exploiting hacked or stolen information, including in the “Cracking,” “Leaks,” and “Tutorials” sections. The BreachForums website also includes a “Staff” section that appears to be operated by the BreachForums administrators and moderators.
Fitzpatrick is charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Fitzpatrick’s arrest and the disruption of BreachForums comes nearly a year after the Department of Justice announced the seizure of a predecessor hacking marketplace, Raidforums, and unsealed criminal charges against RaidForums’ founder and chief administrator, who is the subject of extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom.
The law enforcement actions against Fitzpatrick and BreachForums are the result of an ongoing criminal investigation by the FBI Washington Field Office, FBI San Francisco Division, and HHS-OIG, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations New York Field Office, New York Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Peekskill Police Department. The U.S. Attorneys’ Office for the Northern District of California, the District of Maryland, and the Southern District of New York have also provided assistance in this matter.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is handling the extradition.
The Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina A. Cuellar for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Department of City Planning Continues Public Engagement Process for Mayor Adams' City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality Proposal on March 28
Evening info session will present information on how zoning can facilitate NYC’s climate goals and seek public input ahead of proposal’s formal referral
Join on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 pm online or by phone via NYC.gov/Engage
Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick today announced the next public information sessions on Mayor Eric Adams' City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality initiative will be on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 pm. The session will share the City’s proposal to modernize zoning to support climate goals of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
“In order to meet our 21st century climate goals, we must update our 20th century zoning code to meet today’s challenges and facilitate today’s green energy technology. As we move forward with the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality initiative, New Yorkers can help build a greener, more sustainable New York by participating in the engagement process to craft the most effective policy for our city, said Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning Director and Chair of the City Planning Commission.
City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality – which is set to enter public review on April 24, the Monday after Earth Day – is designed to help New York City meet its ambitious goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 and do its part to meet the Paris Climate Agreement of 2016’s goal of limiting global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius. While the City has some of the strongest laws in the nation to reduce emissions and a stringent energy code to help us go green, outdated zoning rules remain an obstacle to energy-efficient technologies that will help to achieve these goals.
City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality
Among the changes City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality is proposing to create a greener New York are:
· Plan for a renewable energy grid. This initiative would remove existing zoning obstacles that severely limit how much s space on a rooftop can be covered by solar panels, unnecessarily hampering clean solar energy. It would also make it easier to install the energy storage infrastructure needed for solar energy and a greener future.
· Create cleaner, more efficient buildings. City of Yes would address onerous restrictions on wall thickness, height, and other regulations that restrict building electrification and retrofitting. City of Yes will add flexibility so these modifications can be made to a building without running into zoning violations.
· Support electric vehicles and micro-mobility. This proposal would more than double the commercially-zoned land where EV charging facilities can locate. It would also clarify regulations and facilitate safe bicycle and e-mobility parking.
· Modernize NYC’s water, compost, and recycling regulations. City of Yes would expand the use of permeable paving and rain gardens, remove red tape and uncertainty for recycling and composting, and facilitate rooftop food production.
Once the formal public review process begins in April, this citywide text amendment would be reviewed by all 59 Community Boards and all five Borough Boards and Borough Presidents for their recommendations. Next, City of Yes would go before the City Planning Commission for a public hearing and a vote. If the Commission votes in favor of the application, it would then head to the City Council for a public hearing and vote.
For any questions on City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, please email carbonneutrality@planning.nyc.
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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.