NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE PASSAGE OF FAIR HOUSING FRAMEWORK LEGISLATION

"The only solution to the affordable housing crisis we face is to build and preserve more deeply affordable, accessible, income-targeted housing. The legislation from Speaker Adams which the Council passed today will help to produce crucial housing in all communities across the city, while ensuring that work is done with the communities themselves.

"Taken in conjunction with my office’s Racial Impact Study legislation, which passed in 2021 and requires that most new projects are assessed for their ability to affirmatively further fair housing, this new law will help alleviate the need for growth without displacing or damaging existing communities. To this end, we must also continue to change affordability targets for new projects, so that current residents can actually afford to live in their neighborhoods.

"I thank the Speaker and Council for making this crisis a priority, and meeting it with legislation that will help our city both meet this moment of need and provide a framework for the future." 

MAYOR ADAMS, DOHMH COMMISSIONER DR. VASAN LAUNCH ‘TEENSPACE,’ TELE-MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE FOR NYC TEENS

 

Delivering on Key Commitment in “Working People’s Agenda,” Free Digital Resource Available to All New Yorkers 13-17 Years Old

 

Facing High Levels of Anxiety and Depression, Teens Can Connect with Licensed Therapist at No Cost

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today announced “TeenSpace” — the city’s tele-mental health service available to all New York City teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years old at no cost. Launching this month, the service — created in partnership with online therapy platform Talkspace — will allow New York City teenagers to connect with a licensed therapist through phone, video, and text.

 

As levels of anxiety and depression among youth and teenagers have risen during and since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this new program will help connect teens with appropriate support and referrals to more care if needed. The launch delivers on a key commitment from Mayor Adams’ “Working People’s Agenda” and “Care, Community, Action,” his mental health plan for New York City released in March.

 

“When we took office nearly two years ago, we promised all New Yorkers that we would build a healthier city together, and invest in not just our physical health, but our mental health as well,” said Mayor Adams. “Earlier this year, we pledged to make mental health support available to all New York City teens, and today we are delivering on that promise. Beginning today, all New York City teenagers, ages 13 to 17, can talk, text, or make video calls to a licensed therapist for free through the city’s online ‘Teenspace’ service. Our young people shouldn’t ever feel alone. We’re here for them, and together I know we’ll build a heathier, stronger city together.”

 

“Coming out of a once-in-a-century pandemic, we know that levels of anxiety and depression have increased particularly among our young people,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Across New York City in recent years, approximately 40 percent of Latino and Black young people and 30 percent of white young people reported experiencing anxiety, depression, or an associated condition. Nationally, we have witnessed these numbers climb even higher. That’s why today’s announcement is so important — it puts access to mental health support right in the hands of our young people. They can use their smart phone or other devices to connect with a practitioner in a time and space that works for them. Thank you to the team at DOHMH and to everyone that made this possible.”  

 

“There are few issues more important than the health of our children, and study after study has reinforced what we have been seeing — the mental health of our young people is on a clear downward trajectory,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan. “‘Teenspace’ will provide our city’s teens with a tangible resource to support their mental health and wellbeing and reduce barriers to accessing care — helping teens take greater control of their mental journey on their own terms. Supporting healthy minds from a young age will lay a foundation for the future of a healthier New York City.”

 

“Mental health is an essential component in the lives of our young people and ensuring that our students are fully supported sets our children up for academic and lifelong success. Student safety and wellbeing includes physical safety and emotional wellbeing,” said New York City Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks. “Our public schools offer a robust set of mental health supports, including social workers, school counselors, mental health clinics, partnerships with community-based mental health providers, and an emphasis on mindfulness, and I am glad that our teens will have access to another tool to engage with when they need it. It is our responsibility to provide our young people with every resource at our disposal, and I am grateful to our agency partners at DOHMH for helping to maintain this commitment.” 

 

“When speaking with young people at our six youth town halls on gun violence, Mayor Adams, Commissioner Dr. Vasan, and I heard the message over and over again — mental health is a top priority,” said New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. “Teens are often reluctant to reach out for help, and ‘Teenspace’ will allow them to open up on platforms they are already using. DYCD looks forward to working with our agency partners in connecting this exciting new resource to young people in our programs.”

 

“We thank the Health Department for creating ‘Teenspace,’ making it easier for young people to tap into mental health support whether they’re looking for help to cope with life stressors or simply need a compassionate listening ear,” said Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health Executive Director Eva Wong. “Tele-mental health can be a powerful tool to engage and address the rising need for mental health support amongst teens and young adults. Making access to free therapists available through this innovative tele-mental health program is intuitive and responsive to the calls from our young people, particularly those in communities with limited mental health resources who have told us they need support but do not know where to start. Lowering barriers to care and closing gaps in mental health care are precisely the goals our office prioritizes. We are thrilled to be supporting this monumental initiative.”

 

“DOHMH Commissioner Vasan and Executive Deputy Commissioner Deepa Avula have worked tirelessly to deliver on the mayor’s vision to address the escalating mental health crisis in teens,” said Jon Cohen, M.D, CEO, Talkspace. “We are proud to power this groundbreaking citywide program providing one-on-one therapy that is convenient, confidential, accessible 24/7, and free of charge.”

 

Talkspace will operate the innovative service connection to a therapist, helping to introduce young people to care. Teens will be able to engage with a professional through video, phone, and unlimited chat on the platform. If a client is in need of extended services, they can be referred to additional external resources.

 

The city and Talkspace designed the service with input from New York City teenagers, convening focus groups to best understand their mental health needs and to build a platform that is as useful and responsive as possible to those who will use the platform. By leveraging telehealth tools, this approach also reduces physical and financial burdens for young people.

 

The Teenspace platform arrives as mental health challenges are becoming increasingly prevalent among young people in New York City and across the country. New data published by DOHMH revealed that, between 2011 and 2021, there was an increase in the percentage of city students who reported feeling sad and hopeless, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicidal ideation. In 2019, 36 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 — that figure rose to 38 percent in 2021. Latino and Black students were significantly more likely than white students to report feeling sad or hopeless. Over the last 10 years, rates of suicide ideation increased among adolescents, with 9.2 percent of New York City public high school students in 2021 reporting attempting suicide over the past 12 months.

 

“Tele-mental health is a significant resource that empowers youth and families to respond to their mental health needs quickly and flexibly while addressing long standing, systemic challenges to accessing care,” said Jennifer Geiling, president, 1digit, LLC.  “I commend Mayor Adams and Commissioner Vasan for their unwavering commitment to mental health care and putting into action the visionary goals set forth in Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City. Today’s announcement is an important step in supporting the success of our youth today and cultivating a healthy, resilient future for New York City.”  

 

“The Jed Foundation (JED) applauds Mayor Adams, Dr. Vasan, and New York City on these actionable and culturally responsive next steps for local teens to access tele-mental health services in real-time,” said John MacPhee, CEO, JED. “Telehealth technology is a powerful tool to give youth free access to mental health care, helping protect their emotional well-being and mitigate risks of suicide for as many youths as possible. Together, we can help connect teens to care where they spend most of their time – at school and in digital spaces – while also helping remove barriers for families with busy schedules and reaching the teens who need it most.”

 

“The access to care that tele-mental health services will open up for New York City youth in need could not be more timely,” said Kelsey Louie, CEO, The Door. “The mental health crisis has been escalating at an alarming rate, especially among young people. That urgent need not only demands that we expand mental health services for New York City young people, but also innovate and broaden how and where we provide those services. At The Door, we know that means offering multiple, accessible points of entry into mental health care. Further, as DOHMH’s Care, Community, Action Plan states, prevention is key to addressing the current youth mental health crisis and to driving equitable access to care. Tele-mental health is a vital tool that can help our city’s young people get connected with the supportive, culturally responsive behavioral health care they need to thrive.”

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS IN PRISON FOR WEAPON POSSESSION

 

Defendant Fired on Officers Responding to 911 Call of Man With a Gun

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for Criminal Possession of a Weapon for his role in a shootout that left two NYPD officers and the defendant injured.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant was approached by police officers who were responding to a 911 call. He pulled out a gun leading to a shootout which injured both officers. These officers risked their lives to get another gun off our streets and I commend them for making the Bronx a safer place.”

 District Attorney Clark said Charlie Vasquez, 24, of Featherbed Lane, was sentenced today to 13 years in prison by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack. Vasquez pleaded guilty to second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon on September 18, 2023, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo.

 According to the investigation, on November 24, 2021, at approximately 8:06 p.m., uniformed NYPD Police Officers Robert Holmes and Alejandra Jacobs of the 48th Precinct, responded to a 911 call about a man with a gun at 2405 Beaumont Avenue. When they got to the location, they approached Vasquez, who was sitting on the stoop. The defendant took out a pistol and fired, leading to an exchange of gunfire in which Officer Jacobs was shot in the arm; Officer Holmes was shot in the chest, and the defendant was also shot.

 District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Captain Eileen Downing, Lieutenant Anthony Corrado, Sergeant Bruno Pomponio, Detective Nathaniel Jeffers and Detective Jonathan Bradlin, all of the Force Investigations Division, as well as Detective Matthew Janisch of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit, for their assistance.

MAYOR ADAMS, CHANCELLOR BANKS CELEBRATE FIRST INCREASE IN NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IN EIGHT YEARS

 

Majority of Schools Will Receive Funding Increases Totaling Nearly $200 Million in Mid-Year Budget Adjustments

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks today announced the first increase in student enrollment at New York City public schools in eight years, based on preliminary data. For the 2023-2024 school year, the DOE has seen enrollment increase approximately 1 percent — or roughly 8,000 students — bringing the total number of students registered in the DOE to approximately 915,000 and maintaining New York City’s status as the nation's largest school district.

 

“When we say New York City is back, we are not just talking about our economy — we are talking about our communities and our entire city. And after eight years of declining enrollment, New York City public schools are back,” said Mayor Adams. “Chancellor Banks and our administration are focused on delivering the best education possible for our young New Yorkers by cutting through bureaucracy, expanding outreach, and making enrollment easier. New Yorkers are voting with their feet, and we are excited to see funding increase for so many of our public schools.”

 

“After eight years of enrollment declines, we are thrilled to see enrollment increase across the city,” said DOE Chancellor Banks. “With a majority of schools gaining additional funding during this mid-year adjustment, we are well positioned to meet the challenges ahead. However, to continue our progress and ensure the success of our students, particularly those in temporary housing, we urgently need increased state and federal funding.”

 

After eight years of declining enrollment, this positive trend is a testament to the effective strategies implemented by the Adams administration, including through the Project Open Arms initiative. In line with DOE’s standard timeline, audited and finalized enrollment data will be available in the spring as part of the demographic snapshot. As this data — current as of October 31, 2023 — is preliminary and unaudited, students can still enter or leave the system, and the data can fluctuate until the audit process is complete.

 

The increase in enrollment is particularly significant as the Adams administration navigates the post-COVID-19 era without the benefit of federal stimulus funds. This year, approximately 57 percent of schools are expected to receive a total of $183 million — an average of $209,000 per school — in additional Fair Student Funding due to higher-than-projected enrollment. The Adams administration’s commitment to equitable education is further reflected in its Fair Student Funding policy, which ensures that schools with higher enrollments and schools that serve students with additional needs receive the necessary resources to support their students. Increased enrollment will also bolster the administration’s advocacy for additional state and federal funding.

 

Also today, the DOE published its annual class size report, showing that the city is in compliance for this school year with the state’s new class size mandates. However, to maintain compliance as state law mandates smaller class sizes over the coming years, additional resources will be required — particularly to equitably support schools across the city. The Adams administration will continue to advocate for state and federal funding to support students and families as the law is implemented.

KRVC - Book Presentation TONIGHT, Wed., Nov 15, 7pm at KRVC

 

Upcoming Events at KRVC

Join us for all these great events! Book Presentation, Book Club, Karaoke, Meditation

Join us for our next Book Club Meeting on Wednesday, December 6th, 1-3pm at 505 West 236th Street to enjoy a light lunch and a discussion of M Train by Patti Smith. See below for book description and our 2024 Book Selections.

Braiding despair with hope and consolation, illustrated with her signature Polaroids,  M Train is a meditation on travel, detective shows, literature, and coffee. It is a powerful, deeply moving book by one of the most remarkable multiplatform artists at work today.y

Look forward to seeing you!

Justice Department Secures Over $900,000 Agreement with National Staffing Agency to Resolve Claims of Hiring Discrimination

 

The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with Kforce Inc. (Kforce), a staffing agency with 36 offices across the United States. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that Kforce violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against non-U.S. citizens with permission to work in the United States and excluding them from job opportunities based on their citizenship status.

“Companies cannot unlawfully exclude people with permission to work in the United States from job opportunities because of their citizenship status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold those accountable who engage in behavior that runs afoul of our nation’s federal civil rights laws.”

The department’s investigation determined that from at least March 1, 2019, to Feb. 28, 2022, Kforce distributed job advertisements that contained unlawful hiring restrictions based on citizenship status or otherwise screened out candidates based on their citizenship status. These actions harmed workers who have been granted asylum or refugee status, and lawful permanent residents by unlawfully deterring them from applying to the job advertisements and failing to meaningfully consider those who did apply.

Under the terms of the settlement, Kforce will pay $690,000 in civil penalties to the United States and set aside $230,000 to compensate affected workers. The agreement also requires Kforce to train its personnel on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.

The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute generally prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation; and intimidation. 

Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation; email IER@usdoj.gov; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. 

Congressional Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

 

A congressional campaign staffer pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain political contributions.

According to court documents, Samuel Miele, 27, of New York, worked as a fundraiser for a candidate seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives (Candidate #1). As part of the scheme, Miele impersonated a high-ranking aide to a member of House leadership while soliciting funds for Candidate #1’s campaign. Miele also admitted that he committed access device fraud by charging credit cards without authorization for contributions to Candidate #1’s and other candidates’ campaigns, as well as for Miele’s personal use. 

Miele is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Assistant Director in Charge James Smith of the FBI New York Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.

Trial Attorneys Jacob Steiner and John Taddei of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Harris, Anthony Bagnuola, and Laura Zuckerwise for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Rachel Friedman.

Twenty-Three Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Racketeering, Drug Trafficking, and Firearm Charges

 

A 12-count indictment was unsealed in the Northern District of Georgia charging 23 defendants – all alleged Sex Money Murder (SMM) gang members and associates – with crimes including racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms violations.

According to court documents, SMM is a subset of The Bloods gang, which originated in Los Angeles in the early 1970s. The SMM subset has spread from the Bronx and New York to areas across the East Coast, including Georgia, where it operates inside and outside prisons and jails. The indictment alleges an extensive criminal enterprise in which SMM members, including inmates within the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC), orchestrated numerous crimes, including murders, attempted murders, attempted arson, drug trafficking within and outside of GDOC facilities, and wire and bank fraud. Eleven of the defendants were in prison when they allegedly committed or ordered the charged crimes. 

“The defendants and their criminal associates are alleged to have committed murder, engaged in stabbings and attempted murder, and distributed thousands of dollars’ worth of illicit drugs inside and outside the Georgia prison system, all to enhance the power and prestige of their gang, the Sex Money Murder set of The Bloods,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “With this RICO indictment, the Criminal Division, along with our federal, state, and local partners, again shows its commitment to hold accountable and bring to justice violent gang members who terrorize our communities and attempt to control our country’s prison systems.”

“Gang activity poses a grave risk of harm to our communities as well as to many of our institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “The defendants charged in this case allegedly perpetrated numerous violent and other criminal offenses, including multiple murders, brutal assaults, and drug trafficking crimes, on behalf of the gang Sex Money Murder. For more than a decade, these gang members and their associates allegedly orchestrated a criminal enterprise within and outside of multiple prisons to earn money for, boost their status in, and impose discipline required by the gang. This indictment is the culmination of a lengthy and carefully coordinated federal and state law enforcement investigation aimed at dismantling this violent group.”

“The FBI and its partners will not stand by as members of an elaborate criminal enterprise engage in acts that endanger our communities,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “There are consequences for partaking in illegal activity, and this does not change when some of the bad actors are already behind bars. We will continue to ensure that members of the Sex Money Murder gang face justice for their alleged misconduct, which includes drug trafficking, firearms violations, and egregious violence.”

“It’s alarming to think that these criminals were brazen enough to distribute dangerous drugs and commit heinous crimes while behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division. “They must now face the consequences.”

The indictment alleges that the defendants or other SMM members committed multiple acts of violence in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, including storming a home and shooting multiple rounds of ammunition into a bathroom, killing a 9-month-old boy; on multiple occasions, incarcerated SMM members murdering, stabbing, or beating other inmates for disrespecting SMM leadership or violating SMM rules; and shooting and killing another SMM member on belief that the member had cooperated with law enforcement.

The following defendants have been charged in the indictment for conduct related to their alleged roles in the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conspiracy and related crimes: 

• Ryan Brandt, aka Street Life and Robert Kraft, 44, of Hays State Prison in Trion, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring, aiding, and abetting, and possessing a controlled substance and a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute;
• Kyle Oree, aka Nasty Nu, 52, of Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute and a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute;
• Chase Pinckney, aka Chase Pickney, Three Shots, Noriega, and Sinatra, 38, of Ware State Prison in Waycross, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Elton Jackson, aka 2gz and John Madden, 41, of Telfair State Prison in Helena, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Sean Carr, aka Nut and Nutkase, 51, of FCI Talladega in Talladega, Alabama, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Lavorsia Jones, aka Shitbag, 23, of Dacula, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring, attempting, and possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute;
• Danielle Ford, 49, of Ellenwood, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute;
• Charlton King, aka Hell’s Militant Camp, 23, of Valdosta, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Demarco Draughn, aka Shoota B, 28, of Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Richard Smith, aka Alleyway and Brett Favre, 36, of Ware State Prison in Waycross, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Rontavious Fowler, aka Lil Hot, 26, of Hancock State Prison in Sparta, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Shavon Thomas, aka Shavon Edwards, 55, of Decatur, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Lionel Edwards, aka Tony, Tyson, and Python, 41, of USP Florence in Florence, Colorado, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Anthony Jernigan, aka Hell Raiser, 36, of Hays State Prison in Trion, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Cedric Pierre, aka Flip, 23, of Robert A. Deyton Correctional Facility in Lovejoy, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Ricardo Sanchez, 40, of Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Troy McCraine, 57, of Tennessee, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Qawwee Mitchell, 36, of Gainesville, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime;
• Sherri Gandy-Torres, 56, of Lakeland, Florida, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Nyla Blacknell, 43, of Duluth, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime;
• Tracey Wise, 46, of Milledgeville, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
• Shounnette Wooten, 50, of Gray, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; and
• Kierra Williams, 31, of Milledgeville, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute.

If convicted, the defendants face penalties including up to life in prison for the racketeering conspiracy, 10 years to life in prison for the narcotics conspiracy and drug trafficking charges, and five years to life in prison for the firearms offenses.

The FBI, the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, the DEA, and the Georgia Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Georgia State Patrol, the Brookhaven Police Department, the Butts County Sheriff’s Office, the DeKalb County Police Department, the Douglasville Police Department, the East Point Police Department, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, the Gwinnett County Police Department, the Marietta Police Department, the Riverdale Police Department, the Sandy Springs Police Department, and the South Fulton Police Department.

Trial Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VICAR) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case, and former VICAR Trial Attorney Rebecca R. Dunnan previously prosecuted the case.

The indictment is a result of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations. The OCDETF mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task force approach. OCDETF synchronizes and incentivizes prosecutors and agents to lead smart, creative investigations targeting the command-and-control networks of organized criminal groups and the illicit financiers that support them. Additional information about the OCDETF Program may be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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