California Man Sentenced To 102 Months In Prison For Multimillion-Dollar Stolen Identity Scheme

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RUSSELL DWAYNE LEWIS, a/k/a “Clifford Ari Getz,” a/k/a “Clifford Ari Getz Cohen,” a/k/a “Ari Getz,” a/k/a “Aryeh Getz,” was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain to 102 months in prison for defrauding multiple individuals out of millions of dollars over a period of years, using several aliases and stolen identities.  LEWIS previously pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identify theft. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Russell Dwayne Lewis orchestrated a sophisticated fraud and stolen identity scheme to engage in a pattern of serial fraud, seeking to defraud friends, associates, and a major corporation by lying about his identity, wealth, and business activities.  As today’s sentence demonstrates, serial fraudsters like Lewis will be caught and brought to justice for their crimes.” 

According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court:

Between 2016 and 2020, RUSSELL DWAYNE LEWIS, a/k/a “Clifford Ari Getz,” a/k/a “Clifford Ari Getz Cohen,” a/k/a “Ari Getz,” a/k/a “Aryeh Getz,” engaged in a series of brazen schemes to misrepresent his identity, his wealth, and his professional and personal background in order to defraud multiple individuals and at least one corporate entity.  LEWIS used aliases for years, utilizing the name, birth date, and social security number of real individuals to perpetrate his schemes.  LEWIS told increasingly outrageous lies to individuals around him, including a close friend of many years, an individual who turned to him for his claimed expertise in astrology, and representatives of a major company he falsely purported to intend to purchase.

LEWIS repeatedly and falsely claimed that he was a billionaire businessman in order to commit several different frauds, including by soliciting “investments” from his victims totaling millions of dollars over the course of years.  As part of his fraudulent investment schemes, he defrauded and attempted to defraud friends, associates, and representatives of a major corporation.  In particular, LEWIS stole more than $3 million from one victim, more than half a million dollars from another, and fraudulently attempted to acquire a corporate entity in bankruptcy proceedings for $290 million.

This case resulted in LEWIS’s third felony conviction for fraud and theft offenses.

In addition to the prison term, LEWIS, 53, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,788,143.58 and to forfeit the same amount of ill-gotten gains.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the Beverly Hills Police Department for its exceptional investigative assistance.

Governor Hochul Announces $6.76 Billion for New York Passenger Rail Projects From Biden Administration Infrastructure Grants

Hudson Tunnel Project, Metro-North Penn Access, East River Tunnels Rehabilitation and Design for Pelham Bay Bridge Replacement Advance

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Biden Administration has awarded of $6.76 billion for downstate passenger rail projects that are critical to ensuring the region’s economy continues to thrive and expand. Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants announced today by the Federal Railroad Administration, four key New York projects that renew and expand the region’s rail network will receive the following Federal investments.

• Gateway Program: Hudson Tunnel Project Systems and Fit Out ($3.80 billion)
• Metro-North Railroad Penn Station Access with Four New Stations in the Bronx ($1.64 billion)
• Rehabilitation of East River Tunnels to Penn Station ($1.26 billion)
• Pelham Bay Bridge Replacement ($58 million)

“President Biden’s ambitious transportation agenda is paying dividends for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State is investing billions in the MTA and in infrastructure statewide, including in projects that directly benefit Amtrak. This latest funding will help us deliver modern, safe, and reliable public transportation to underserved communities, while boosting the regional economy.

Summaries of the rail projects follow.

Hudson Tunnel Project

The Hudson Tunnel Project will construct a new two-track tunnel under the Hudson River and rehabilitate the existing North River Tunnel, which was severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy, to improve reliability, resiliency, and redundancy for hundreds of thousands of daily passengers who travel across the Hudson River, and allow for much-needed repairs on an essential stretch of the Northeast Corridor. More information about the project is available at the Gateway Program’s homepage.

Metro-North Penn Access

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is overseeing construction of four new Metro-North stations in the East Bronx and track and infrastructure enhancements that will enable the expansion of Metro-North’s New Haven Line to Penn Station and bring Amtrak-owned infrastructure to a state of good repair. The new route will dramatically reduce travel time to and from the East Bronx, which currently lacks rail service. Residents will save up to 75 minutes over current subway and bus connections and creates a direct commuter rail route between the Bronx and Westchester and Connecticut. It also gives Metro-North a second terminal in Manhattan, a critical backup, and is the largest expansion of Metro-North since it was founded 40 years ago. More information about the Penn Station Access project is available from the MTA’s Penn Station Access homepage.

Rehabilitation of Amtrak’s East River Tunnels to Penn Station

Crews will rehabilitate two Amtrak-owned rail tunnels between Queens and Penn Station that were damaged by salt water flooding during Superstorm Sandy. The tunnels are used by all Amtrak service to New England and hundreds of Long Island Rail Road trains per day along with non-passenger NJ Transit and Amtrak trains traveling to Sunnyside Yard for storage. They will be also used by Metro-North trains when Penn Station Access service begins in 2027. The new tunnels will feature improved track that is directly fixed to the tunnel, all-new components, and enhanced climate resiliency.

Pelham Bay Bridge Replacement Project

Amtrak has proposed a final design to replace the existing 115-year-old two-track Pelham Bay Bridge in the Bronx with a new structure that will facilitate higher speed travel and fewer bridge openings.

 

Release of Body Worn Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that occurred on March 23, 2023 in the confines of the 9th Precinct.

 

The NYPD is releasing today body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on March 23rd, 2023 in the confines of the 9th Precinct.

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here

Release of Body Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that Occurred on December 21st, 2022 in the confines of the 79th Precinct.

 

The NYPD is releasing today body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on December 21, 2022 in the confines of the 79th Precinct.

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here

Release of Body Worn Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that Occurred on December 31st, 2022 in the confines of the Midtown North Precinct

The NYPD is releasing today body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on December 31, 2022 in the confines of the Midtown North Precinct.

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here 

Governor Hochul Announces Record Subway Ridership on Marathon Sunday

Subways Record 2.3 Million Paid Rides on Marathon Sunday, OMNY Sets All-Time Record for Subway Entries

Sunday Record Comes Week After Multiple MTA Agencies Post Best Week in Last 12 Months, Including Saturday Record on the Subway Saturday, Oct. 28

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New Yorkers rode the New York City subway in post-pandemic record numbers to get to the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon. Marathon runners and spectators alike took the subway to Sunday’s race, accounting for 2,304,683 paid rides, the highest for a Sunday in almost four years. The record is an 8.8 percent improvement on last year’s Marathon Sunday when 2,118,137 people rode.

“The TCS New York City Marathon is an institution, and clearly the best way for runners, friends and spectators to see the world-class athletes compete is by taking the subway,” Governor Hochul said. “Week after week, we are continuing to break ridership records on our subways, railroads, and buses as New Yorkers proudly keep coming back to the system thanks to our critical investments in safety and service.”

On Marathon Sunday, riders relied on OMNY – the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) contactless payment system – to take the subway. OMNY accounted for 58.5 percent of all rides on Sunday, surpassing the previous record set on Saturday Oct. 28, when 56.2 percent of all rides were paid via tap-and-go.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “There’s nothing like Marathon Sunday to show that New York City’s comeback is alive and well. I rode the subway five times to watch my daughter run and felt the energy and excitement firsthand at every stop. Kudos to the NYC Transit team, who stepped up like they always do, with smart planning and preparation to get millions of fans and athletes where they needed to go.”

This is the second consecutive weekend the subway system set a weekend record. Last Saturday, October 28, the subway recorded over 2.7 million paid rides. On Sundays, in particular, ridership has averaged around 1.9 million riders in the past four weeks.

The Oct. 28 record helped buoy the best seven-day period for multiple MTA agencies between Oct. 23 and Oct. 29. New York City Transit saw the subway and Access-A-Ride post their best week in the last 12 months. The subway recorded over 24.4 million paid rides, while Access-A-Ride recorded 196,000 booked trips.

The commuter railroads both posted their best weeks in the past 12 months as well, with both now regularly carrying at least 200,000 riders on an average weekday. The Long Island Rail Road carried 1.4 million riders for the week and Metro-North Railroad carried 1.3 million for the week. On Saturday, Oct. 28, Metro-North sold 3,010 tickets to Cold Spring from Grand Central Terminal for fall foliage fans – more tickets than the population of Cold Spring itself.

INTERSTATE GUN TRAFFICKING RING DISMANTLED

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that three defendants were indicted on the heels of a seven-month investigation into gun trafficking that included a series of undercover buys in the parking lot of a P.C. Richard & Son in Astoria and a wiretap on the defendants’ phones. The investigation netted 109 illegal firearms and rifles smuggled from the Midwest via the notorious Iron Pipeline, including 20 assault weapons, as well as 139 high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

District Attorney Katz said: “We are fighting the gun plague with all our might and resources, on the streets and in the courts. Through the hard work and collaboration of police and prosecutors, we have seen shootings in 2023 decline 28 percent in the city and 34 percent in Queens. That is of little comfort, however, to the more than 1,000 victims of shootings across the city this year. Through investigations, arrests and prosecutions, we will continue to do everything we can to shut the Iron Pipeline down once and for all.”

“When that day comes,” District Attorney Katz added, “all of us will owe a debt of gratitude to the brave undercover officer in this dangerous investigation, and to all those who have risked their lives to help keep us safe.”

NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “This case underscores some disturbing truths: First, Illegal guns proliferate and circulate in many neighborhoods that still need our help. And second, every day the men and women of the NYPD perform incredibly dangerous work to prevent these firearms from getting into criminals’ hands. Every illegal gun taken off the street, every robbery that is avoided, every shooting that does not occur, and every homicide that never comes to pass, is another realization of the public safety promise we have vowed to fulfill. I commend and thank the NYPD undercover officer who successfully worked this case, our detectives, and our partners in the Queens District Attorney’s Office, for their dedication to this critical investigation.”

Defendants Ahmed “Taju” Mutalib, Abdul Haruna, and Murtala Haruna – who are all cousins – were indicted by a grand jury on 575 counts charging them with criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, conspiracy and money laundering. (See Addendum).

They each face up to 25 years in prison and are due back in court on November 9.

According to the charges:

• Police were alerted to the trafficking activity through a confidential tip to District Attorney Katz’s office and the NYPD in March 2023.

• Following an initial investigation and intelligence gathering, five transactions took place between the defendants and an undercover police officer in the parking lot of P.C. Richard & Son, at 35-18 Steinway Street in Astoria.

• On June 10, Mutalib sold 12 guns with respective unloaded magazines, in addition to 10 large- capacity magazines. Abdul Haruna was present during the transaction and counted the money.

• On June 27, Mutalib sold 16 semi-automatic pistols with respective unloaded magazines, three rifles, one shotgun, and 900 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.

• On August 8, Abdul Haruna collected $4,000 in pre-recorded money from an undercover officer as an upfront payment towards the purchase of additional firearms.

• On August 14, Mutalib sold five rifles, 25 semi-automatic pistols with respective unloaded magazines and 20 large-capacity magazines.

• On August 26, Mutalib and Murtala Haruna sold five long guns, 30 semi-automatic pistols and 500 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.

In all, the undercover officer bought a total of 97 firearms, including 17 assault weapons.

During the course of the investigation, called Operation Chainline, the defendants were recorded discussing the purchase, transport and sale of multiple firearms. Detectives witnessed defendants Murtala Haruna and Mutalib coming out of a Cincinnati townhouse carrying large boxes to a U-Haul truck, corresponding directly with subsequent calls regarding the transportation of guns for sale.

On September 8, law enforcement officials tracked Murtala Haruna and Mutalib driving a rented vehicle with a Florida license plate through New Jersey into New York. When the defendants parked in Staten Island, a search warrant was executed on the vehicle, resulting in the arrest of the two defendants and the recovery of:

• 12 guns, including three assault weapons

• 13 high-capacity magazines

• 1,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition

• Two sets of men’s clothing

• Backpack with financial documentation in Mutalib’s name

Defendant Abdul Haruna was arrested pursuant to the indictment on November 2.

The joint investigation was conducted by the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau of the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, along with New York City Police Department Detective Alejandro Valderrama, with the assistance of Captain Jeffrey Heilig, Lieutenant Daniel Nicoletti, Detective Shaneil Mitchell, and Police Officer Masawudu Yakubu, all of the NYPD’s Firearms Suppression Section, under the supervision of NYPD Assistant Chief Jason Savino.

Assistant District Attorney Genevieve Gadaleta of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Sennett, Bureau Chief, Michelle Goldstein, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, Philip Anderson and Barry Frankenstein, Deputy Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney of Investigations Gerard Brave.

ADDENDUM

AHMED “TAJU” MUTALIB, 32, of Decatur, Georgia, is charged with five counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the first degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree, money laundering in the second degree, conspiracy in the fourth degree, and other crimes. If convicted, Mutalib faces up to 25 years in prison.

ABDUL HARUNA, 27, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with three counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree, money laundering in the second degree, conspiracy in the fourth degree, and other crimes. If convicted, Haruna faces up to 25 years in prison.

MURTALA HARUNA, 30, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree, money laundering in the second degree, conspiracy in the fourth degree, and other crimes. If convicted, Haruna faces up to 25 years in prison.

**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Over 220 Pounds of Suspected Controlled Substances Seized Including Pills Shaped to Resemble Heart Shaped Candy

 

Believed To Be One of The Largest Single-Location Seizures in New England

An estimated 10 million doses of controlled substances have been seized, including eight million doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder. The total street value of the drugs seized is upwards of $8 million. Three men have been arrested in connection with allegedly running this large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Emilio Garcia, also known as 6, 25, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; Sebastien Bejin, also known as Bash, 33, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; and Deiby Felix, 40, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. The defendants will appear in U.S. District Court on Nov. 13. 

According to the charging documents, in July 2023, an investigation into an overdose death in Salem, Massachusetts, led investigators to a DTO allegedly led by Garcia, Bejin, and Felix. The defendants were surveilled for three months, which culminated in search warrants at locations identified in the investigation, and their arrests on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

On Nov. 1, searches were conducted at four locations in Lynn. These were identified as locations frequented by Garcia and Bejin. The searches resulted in, what is believed to be, one of the largest single-location seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Massachusetts and the region. Over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of controlled substances were seized. The seizure included nine kilograms (20 pounds) of pink heart shaped fentanyl-laced pills pressed to look like candy.

In total, an estimated eight million individual doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder was seized. The street value is believed to be upwards of $8 million.

More specifically, according to the charging documents, the following drug quantities were seized from the basement of a two-family residential home that was occupied by multiple families and small children:

• More than 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of white powder and rock like substances which field tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine base;
• More than 17 kilograms (37 pounds) of suspected raw methamphetamine which equates to approximately more than 3.5 million individual doses;
• Approximately 280,000 counterfeit Percocet pills, believed to contain fentanyl, weighing 28 kilograms (61 pounds) with a street value in the range of approximately $1.4 million to over $7 million;
• More than 27 kilograms (59 pounds) of counterfeit Adderall pills, believed to contain methamphetamine; and
• Approximately 1.8 kilograms (four pounds) of brown rock and powder-like substances, which tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. This quantity of fentanyl equates to about 900,000 individual doses.

Additional narcotics and five firearms were also seized during the searches.

“The only thing more depraved than trafficking deadly fentanyl is trafficking deadly fentanyl designed to look like candy to appeal to teenagers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is focused on attacking every link in the global fentanyl trafficking chain, and we will not stop until those responsible for the fentanyl poisoning epidemic are brought to justice. We also continue to urge families to have open and honest conversations about the urgent threat posed by this epidemic, and the fact that just one pill can kill.”

“This seizure by the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force saved lives in communities throughout Massachusetts,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Not only was this seizure one of the largest in the history of Massachusetts, but some of the pills were created to look like candy, potentially presenting an enormous risk to children. The FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in narcotics trafficking to keep drugs off our streets, and out of the hands of children.”

“The doses of controlled substances seized in this case exceed the number of residents in Massachusetts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “The fact that we now are seeing fentanyl-laced pills pressed to resemble candy only underscores the urgency of this fentanyl crisis.”

Surveillance during the investigation revealed that Garcia and Bejin would travel to the Broadway stash location on a daily basis and then bring quantities of suspected from the premises to supply lower-level dealers. One such location that appeared to be supplied from the main stash location was an address at 341 Western Avenue in Lynn, where Deiby Felix is alleged to reside. A search of 341 Western Avenue revealed more than three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of pressed pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, consistent with those found in the Broadway stash location and a firearm.

The charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to do the same, each provide for a sentence of a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Boston Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Boston Division, IRS-Criminal Investigation in Boston, and the Chelsea, Lynnfield, Salem and Lynn Police Departments.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.