Jury Convicts Federal Correctional Officer for Sexual Abuse of Two Female Inmates

 

 A federal jury convicted a federal correctional officer of five counts involving sexually abusive conduct against two female victims who were serving prison sentences. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presided over the trial.

John Bellhouse, 40, formerly of Pleasanton, California, was initially charged with sexual abuse of an inmate on Feb. 17, 2022. A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment on Sept. 29, 2022, charging Bellhouse with two counts of sexual abuse and three counts of abusive sexual contact. The charges involved conduct that was alleged to have occurred against two female inmates from December 2019 to December 2020. On Monday, a jury convicted Bellhouse of all counts. 

“Correctional Officer Bellhouse committed an egregious breach of trust by using the cover of the BOP facility’s Safety Office to sexually abuse individuals in his custody,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “This guilty verdict is yet another warning that any Bureau employee who abuses their authority will be held accountable. The Department of Justice is committed to rooting out sexual assault within the BOP and continuing to prioritize cases involving sexual abuse of individuals in BOP custody.”

“The heinous crimes in this case destroyed the sense of safety and security every human being is entitled to,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “While he was a federal corrections officer, the defendant sexually abused two victims in his care over the course of a year, an unimaginable violation of the most basic human rights. Today’s conviction demonstrates that the FBI remains unyielding in our protection of all people no matter where the crime occurs or who commits it.”

“Bellhouse violated vulnerable women under his custody and care, and a jury held him accountable for these despicable acts. Four other FCI Dublin employees, including the former Warden and Chaplain, have been convicted of sexually abusing inmates. Our investigation of sexual abuse at FCI Dublin remains ongoing, and we will continue to aggressively pursue justice for victims of sexual abuse at the hands of BOP employees,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz.

“As an officer in a federal correctional facility, Bellhouse had an obligation to ensure the safety of all the persons serving their sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “Instead, Bellhouse used the power entrusted to him to serve his own corrupt purposes. The sexual abuse of inmates will not be tolerated, and Bellhouse will now face the consequences for committing his despicable crimes.”

Bellhouse was employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institute in Dublin, California (FCI Dublin), an all-female low security federal correctional institution. Trial evidence showed that Bellhouse sexually abused and committed abusive sexual contact against a victim beginning December 2019 through October 2020. The victim was incarcerated and serving a prison sentence at FCI Dublin under Bellhouse’s custodial, supervisory, and disciplinary authority. The trial evidence demonstrated Bellhouse engaged in oral sex with the victim in the prison Safety Warehouse and Safety Office and that Bellhouse touched the victim’s vagina and breasts in the prison Safety Office. 

The trial evidence also demonstrated Bellhouse committed abusive sexual contact against a second victim between October and December of 2020. Trial evidence showed that the acts occurred in the Safety Office at the FCI Dublin Camp.

Bellhouse was convicted of two counts of sexual abuse of a ward and three counts of abusive sexual conduct. Each count of sexual abuse carries a maximum term of 15 years in prison. Each count of abusive sexual conduct carries a maximum term of two years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers scheduled Bellhouse’s sentencing hearing for Aug. 30. Bellhouse remains out of custody pending his sentencing.

The DOJ OIG and FBI investigated the case.

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation Into Civilian Death in The Bronx

 

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Samuel Williams, who died on May 29, 2023, after a motor vehicle incident involving members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) on May 28, 2023.

On the evening of May 28, NYPD officers attempted to stop Mr. Williams, who was allegedly driving a dirt bike on a street in the Bronx. During the encounter, there was a collision between Mr. Williams’ bike and an unmarked NYPD vehicle at the southwestern corner of University Heights Bridge and West Fordham Road. Mr. Williams was taken to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries the next day.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on Canadian Wildfires Impacting State's Air Quality - and Recommends School Districts Cancel Outdoor Activities Due to Ongoing Impact of Canadian Wildfires

 

"Over the past several days, my team and I have been closely monitoring air quality and providing updates to New Yorkers as haze and smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to spread throughout the state. The State Department of Environmental Conservation and State Department of Health have issued air quality warnings since Monday, and according to the most recent forecast, much of the state outside of the North Country is expected to be in an air quality index of unhealthy to very unhealthy today. Additionally, my administration has been in contact with the cities of Syracuse, Rochester and New York. I support their decisions and the decisions of other districts to suspend outdoor school activities and strongly urge those who have not yet done so to follow suit."

Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health provided an update today on the effects of ongoing Canadian wildfires on New York's air quality. More than 100 wildfires currently burning in Quebec are causing hazy conditions across much of the state. An Air Quality Health Advisory is in effect until tomorrow for Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Eastern Lake Ontario, and Central New York regions.

"When many New Yorkers walked outside today, the hazy skies caused by wildfire smoke were hard to miss," Governor Hochul said. "New York State experts are monitoring our air quality every day to ensure New Yorkers have the latest information about current air quality in their communities and what they can do to protect themselves. I encourage New Yorkers, especially those sensitive to air quality, to take appropriate steps to help limit risk of exposure."

Earlier today, a media availability was held with DEC and DOH experts to provide updates on the effects of the ongoing wildfires on air quality. Last week, a DEC Forest Ranger and expert wildland firefighter was deployed to assist with efforts to contain wildfires raging in eastern Canada. New York State often deploys highly trained wildland firefighters to help battle fires as part of interstate and international firefighting compacts. The DEC Forest Ranger is serving as the crew boss of an interstate Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact crew comprised of firefighters from Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine to assist efforts in Nova Scotia. This is the first time a New York State Forest Ranger has been deployed to Canada since wildfires in Quebec in 2005.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "When these historic wildfires started in Canada, DEC meteorologists were closely monitoring weather patterns and other data to help inform air quality forecasts. DEC and our partners at the Department of Health will continue to keep the public informed with the latest on air quality alerts, and I also continue to hope that all the responding firefighters, including our Forest Ranger, remain safe while working to get these blazes under control."

Fine Particulate Matter

Fine particulate matter consists of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. PM 2.5 can be made of many different types of particles and often come from processes that involve combustion (e.g. vehicle exhaust, power plants, and fires) and from chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

Exposure can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM 2.5.

When outdoor levels are elevated, going indoors may reduce exposure. If there are significant indoor sources of PM 2.5 (tobacco, candle or incense smoke, or fumes from cooking) levels inside may not be lower than outside. Some ways to reduce exposure are to minimize outdoor and indoor sources and avoid strenuous activities in areas where fine particle concentrations are high. Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website.

Here in New York, dry conditions along the Lake Ontario Plains, Leatherstocking Region, and Southern Tier are resulting in a "high" fire danger rating. A high fire danger means all fine, dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes, including unattended brush and campfires. Fires may become serious and controlling them difficult unless attacked successfully while still small. The remainder of New York State is at a moderate level of fire danger. An updated fire danger map is available on the DEC website. While the statewide burn ban is no longer in effect, brush burning should only be done when absolutely necessary. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State.

Open burning is prohibited in New York, with these exceptions:

• Campfires or any other outdoor fires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length, width or diameter are allowed.
• Small cooking fires are allowed.
• Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires are allowed. Disposal of flags or religious items in a small-sized fire is allowed, if it is not otherwise prohibited by law or regulation.
• Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated or unpainted wood can be burned.
• Fires cannot be left unattended and must be fully extinguished.

For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC's FIREWISE New York webpage.

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON DETERIORATING AIR QUALITY IN NEW YORK CITY

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams tonight released the following statement on air quality deteriorating across the five boroughs due to smoke coming from wildfires in Canada, hitting 218 at 10:00 PM on the Air Quality Index (“Very Unhealthy” on the Levels of Health Concern) according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in parts of New York City:

“Smoke from wildfires in Canada began to impact New York City’s air quality today, and conditions this evening have worsened with additional smoke and haze moving into the region. Our team is coordinating with the Health Department, Environmental Protection, Emergency Management, the NYPD, the FDNY, the Department of Education, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and numerous additional agencies across the city to gather the right information for New Yorkers as quickly as possible.

“At this point, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for all five boroughs. While conditions are anticipated to temporarily improve later tonight through tomorrow morning, they are expected to deteriorate further tomorrow afternoon and evening.

“Currently, we are taking precautions out of an abundance of caution to protect New Yorkers’ health until we are able to get a better sense of future air quality reports. We recommend all New Yorkers limit outdoor activity to the greatest extent possible. Those with preexisting respiratory problems, like heart or breathing problems, as well as children and older adults may be especially sensitive and should stay indoors at this time. While all students should still go to school tomorrow, New York City public schools will not offer any outdoor activities on Wednesday. These recommendations may change based on updated air quality conditions that come in, but, in the meantime, we recommend all New Yorkers to take the precautions they see fit to protect their health.”

U.S. Air Quality chart according to the EPA’s index.

The City of New York recommends the following steps to limit health risks as a result of the reduced air quality:

• All New Yorkers should limit outdoor activity and stay inside when possible. People with heart or breathing problems and children and older adults may be especially sensitive and should avoid outdoor activities during this time.
• If you are an older adult or have heart or breathing problems and need to be outside, wear a high-quality mask (e.g. N95 or KN95).

Additional recommendations from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency can be found online.

Under New York City’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member. Employers and employees can visit the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s website or call 311 for more information about the law.

A toll-free air quality hotline has been established so New York residents can stay informed on the air quality situation. The toll-free number is 1-800-535-1345.

AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY METRO, EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO, CENTRAL NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW YORK

 

In Effect for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the Long Island, New York City Metro, Eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York and Western New York regions for Wednesday, June 7, 2023.  

The pollutant of concern is: Fine Particulate Matter 

The advisory will be in effect from 12 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. 

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern. 

FINE PARTICULATE MATTER

Fine particulate matter consists of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. PM 2.5 can be made of many different types of particles and often come from processes that involve combustion (e.g. vehicle exhaust, power plants, and fires) and from chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

 

Exposure can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM 2.5.

 

When outdoor levels are elevated, going indoors may reduce exposure. If there are significant indoor sources of PM 2.5 (tobacco, candle or incense smoke, or fumes from cooking) levels inside may not be lower than outside. Some ways to reduce exposure are to minimize outdoor and indoor sources and avoid strenuous activities in areas where fine particle concentrations are high.

 

New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy saving and pollution-reducing steps:

1. use mass transit instead of driving, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, people are strongly advised to carpool only with members of their households;
2. conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips;
3. turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas;
4. use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees;
5. close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air;
6. limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters;
7. set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures;
8. purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and
9. reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking.

Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website. To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up for DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service.

The Wednesday, June 7, Air Quality Health Advisory regions consist of the following: Long Island which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties; New York City Metro which includes New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties; Eastern Lake Ontario which includes northern Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Oswego, and Wayne counties; Central New York which includes Allegany, Broome, southern Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, southern Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Onondaga, Oneida, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, and Yates counties; and Western New York which includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.

MAYOR ADAMS TO HOLD HIGH-LEVEL SUMMIT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE

 

Participants to Include Representatives from Government, Academia, Advocacy, Youth Work, as Well as Young People

 

Summit with Health Department Aims to Develop Shared Understanding of Social Media’s Impact on New York City Youth, Identify Areas for Action

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today announced that the Adams administration will host a high-level summit on social media later this week — assembling national experts to lay out potential pathways for action to protect the mental health of children and youth who use social media regularly. The summit will include representatives from government, academia, advocacy, and youth work, as well as young people themselves, as they discuss strategies to minimize the devastating impact on mental health.

 

“Social media may have the ability to connect us together, but unfettered access is hurting our children — encouraging them to steal cars, ride on top of subways, spread hate, and risk their lives, all while ruining their self-worth and robbing them of crucial face-to-face interactions with their peers,” said Mayor Adams. “That’s why we’re convening this summit, so we can get everyone together in one room to discuss the real impacts of social media and avoid its pitfalls.”

 

“Social media can be a powerful tool to help us stay informed and to connect us with new networks around the world. However, it can also be pernicious to our emotional and mental health as we may compare ourselves in unhealthy ways to others or receive hurtful comments,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This is magnified for young people, many of whom spend hours a day on these platforms. Young people are not as equipped to manage these stressors and are more susceptible to platforms we know are designed to keep you on them for as long as possible. This summit, bringing together parents, guardians, young people, academics, practitioners, and advocates, will help us set a path ahead to support our young people and help us set some guardrails to ensure we center their well-being in every discussion.”

 

“Unfettered, unregulated access to social media is a toxin, and a public health crisis, with risks of serious harm for the mental health and wellbeing of our youth,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Social media is fundamentally not designed for children or with their health and wellness in mind, even if some young people can form positive connections online. We don’t have all the answers, but public health offers the solutions — through education and prevention, harm reduction, and regulation — that can keep our kids safe. As a father and as the city’s doctor, I expect nothing less of us as community, and the time to act is now.”

 

“The most common question parents ask me is, ‘is social media safe for my kids?’ The answer is that we don't have enough evidence to say it's safe, and, in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment. And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis — one that we must urgently address.”

 

More than 120 participants are invited to the gathering hosted at a space donated by the Rockefeller Foundation to discuss topics ranging from research and evidence surrounding social media use for young people to opportunities for local leadership, as well as policy and advocacy. The participants were selected based on their work on youth, mental health, and social media.

 

The summit was first announced in March as one of the strategies included in “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City.” It also follows a report from the U.S. Surgeon General Murthy that recognized potential harms to young people due to social media, and is the first stake in the ground towards a longer-term citywide strategy to address social media as a potential public health threat.

 

The summit also comes amid a growing need to provide services, as well as to identify threats to young people’s wellness. For example, in 2021, 38 percent of New York City high schoolers reported feeling so sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks during the past 12 months that they stopped doing their usual activities. The same year, 42 percent of Latino/a students and 41 percent of Black students reported feeling sad or hopeless, compared to just under 30 percent of white students. Additionally, over the past 10 years, rates of suicidal ideation among high schoolers increased by more than 34 percent.

 

Mayor Adams’ mental health plan lays out additional strategies to promote the mental health of young people, including a digital mental health program for New York City high school-aged teens, a suicide prevention pilot programming at NYC Health + Hospitals for youth entering emergency departments for suicide attempts, and DOHMH-led community-based suicide prevention programming to specifically serve Black and Brown youth.

 

New Yorkers in need of support can receive free assistance by calling 988.

 

The City of New York Agrees to Clean Up Radioactive Materials on City-Owned Property in Queens, New York

 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today that the City of New York has agreed to remediate radioactive materials on New York City-owned property located near the former Wolff-Alport Chemical Company facility, and to pay the United States $1.6 million for costs incurred by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Under a proposed Consent Judgment filed with the Court today, the City of New York will fund and perform remedial work on City property. 

“This action protects New York City residents and communities from exposure to hazardous substances including radioactive waste at the Wolff-Alport Site,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “This settlement demonstrates that this Office and our Environmental Justice Team are committed to addressing environmental concerns, including the removal of hazardous substances from communities that have been disproportionally burdened by environmental health hazards.”

"EPA has collaborated extensively with local, state and federal partners to address risks posed by this Superfund site since our first actions in 2012. This agreement tackles the continued cleanup of radioactive pollution on the City-owned portion of the Wolff-Alport Chemical Company Superfund site and pays back EPA $1.6 million for its vital work to safeguard public health," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "Today's settlement takes us one step closer to completing our cleanup of this site so that one day it will be restored land that is ready for reuse and economic activity."

Background

The Wolff-Alport Company operated at the facility on the Wolff-Alport Chemical Company Superfund Site (Wolff-Alport Site) from the 1920s until 1954.  The Wolff-Alport Chemical Company Superfund Site (Wolff-Alport Site)  is located in Ridgewood, Queens, which borders Bushwick, Brooklyn.  The company’s operations included importing monazite sand that was processed to extract rare earth elements.  Residues from the processing of the monazite sands contained radioactive materials, including thorium and uranium, along with their decay products, such as radium.   These materials contain radionuclides, which are hazardous substances. 

The company disposed of these hazardous wastes in the New York City sewer system or buried them on the former facility.  Exposure to these radionuclides and their decay products either internally or externally can cause damage to deoxyribonucleic acid and body tissues, and can cause an increase in the risk of cancer over a lifetime. 

Consent Judgment

After conducting extensive assessments of the Wolff-Alport Site, EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2014 and issued a Record of Decision in 2017, which sets forth the site remediation plan.  Further information concerning the Wolff-Alport Site and the ongoing remediation can be found here.

The United States lodged a proposed Consent Judgment, which sets forth the terms of the settlement with the City of New York pursuant to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly known as the Superfund statute.  The agreement provides for the City to perform the cleanup of contamination at City owned property to protect human health and the environment,  reimbursement to EPA of $1.6 million of its relevant past response costs, and for the City of New York to make periodic payments for future EPA oversight costs related to the cleanup of property owned by the City of New York.  The Consent Judgment also includes a Statement of Work which sets forth the parameters of the City’s remedial work commitments.

The proposed Consent Judgment will remain lodged with the District Court for a period of at least 30 days, and notice of the Consent Judgment will be published in the Federal Register.  This will afford members of the public the opportunity to submit comments on the Consent Judgment to the Department of Justice prior to it seeking court approval of the settlement.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York vigorously enforces the nation’s environmental laws to address environmental, health, and climate impacts on individuals and communities within the district.  Any member of the public who wishes to notify the United States of environmental justice concerns may contact the Office’s Environmental Justice Team here.

CONSUMER ALERT: New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Warns New Yorkers of “Juice Jacking” Scams

 

A New Scam Tactic Called “Juice Jacking” Targets Travelers to Steal Data When Phones Are Plugged into Public Charging Kiosks 

Secretary Rodriguez: “If you need to charge your phone or any device while traveling, it’s important to pay attention to how and where you charge these items to protect yourself from falling victim to a potential ‘juice jacking’ scam.”

For this week’s Tuesday’s Tips, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is warning New Yorkers of a potential scam called “juice jacking,” where thieves place hidden skimming units inside USB ports of public cellphone charging kiosks at airports, hotels and other public spaces to steal data. With peak travel season approaching, New Yorkers are urged to take protective measures to reduce the risk of data theft when traveling given the wide array of scams plaguing the marketplace. Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

“Summer is peak travel season when New Yorkers are constantly on the go heading to events, gatherings and vacations with friends and family,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “Unfortunately, nefarious scammers are always at work finding new ways to target unsuspecting consumers and steal their personal information. If you need to charge your phone or any device while traveling, it’s important to pay attention to how and where you charge these items to protect yourself from falling victim to a potential ‘juice jacking’ scam.”

The FBI and the Federal Communications Communication (FCC) have issued warnings about the juice jacking scam. The FCC has a dedicated webpage warning that malware installed through a corrupted USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to a skimming perpetrator. Before using a public phone charger, consumers should understand how hackers can potentially steal data through these kiosks and that any device that requires charging via USB is vulnerable, including tablets, smart watches and laptops.

TIPS TO HELP PREVENT JUICE JACKING

• Carry a portable battery charger and your own charging cables.
• Use the wall plug-in socket to charge your devices.
• If you plug your device into a USB port and a prompt appears asking you to “share data” or “trust this computer” or “charge only,” always select “charge only.”
  
• If you need to charge your device through a USB port, consider a USB device called a data blocker that connects to your phone's charging cable and keeps data from being transmitted through the USB cord.
• If you must use a public charging station, power off your device before plugging it into the charging port.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.