State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News - Protecting Taxpayer Money

 

Protecting Taxpayer Money

State Comptroller DiNapoli is responsible for auditing State agencies and public authorities and making sure they have effective controls in place to prevent waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. In 2023 alone, audits performed by the Comptroller’s office found over a billion dollars in taxpayer savings. Read about these results and much more in the State Comptroller’s 2023 Year in Review.

Read the Year in Review

Watch the Video

Rise in NYC Metro Area Housing Costs Outpaces Other U.S. Cities

Housing costs in New York City and the surrounding suburbs have grown more than 68% over the last decade, the largest increase among selected major metropolitan areas in the U.S., according to a new report from State Comptroller DiNapoli.

Read More

School District Tax Levy Cap at 2% for Third Straight Year

Property tax levy growth for school districts and 10 of the state’s cities will be capped at 2%, the same as last year, according to data released by State Comptroller DiNapoli.

Read More

DiNapoli & James: Former Throop Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Stealing $11,000 From Town

A former Town of Throop Supervisor was arrested and pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $11,000 from the town over a two-year period, State Comptroller DiNapoli, Attorney General Letitia James and the New York State Police announced. William Tarby pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Official Misconduct. As part of his plea agreement, he will pay full restitution and cannot seek public office again.

Read More

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Statement on 2024 State of the State Address

State Comptroller DiNapoli said, "With a new year and legislative session upon us, the State of the State Address by Gov. Hochul outlined her priorities for 2024, addressing issues important to New Yorkers across the State."

Read More

Municipal & School Audits

• Cicero Fire District – Financial Condition
• Greenville Fire District – Investment Program
• Oneida County – Court and Trust
• Woodbourne Fire District – Board Oversight
• Chautauqua County – Financial Condition
• Hamilton Fulton Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services – Investment Program
• Saranac Central School District – Investment Program
• Saranac Central School District – Student State Aid
• Saranac Central School District – Tuition Billing and Collections
• Town of Sheridan – Disbursements
• Town of Sheridan – Shared Services Costs
• Village of Wappingers Falls – Board Oversight

Audits

• Division of Housing and Community Renewal – Physical and Financial Conditions at Selected Mitchell-Lama Developments Located Outside New York City
• Department of Financial Services – Virtual Currency Licensing
• Hudson River–Black River Regulating District – Security Over Critical Systems
• Department of Health – Patient Safety Center Activities and Handling of Revenues (Follow-Up)
• Department of Civil Service – New York State Health Insurance Program – Payments by Beacon Health Options for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for Ineligible Members (Follow-Up)
• Department of Health – Medicaid Program: Improper Payments for Services Related to Ordering, Prescribing, Referring, or Attending Providers No Longer Participating in the Medicaid Program (Follow-Up) 

ALSO IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

_{Note: Some news links may require a paid subscription.} 

• City still not doing enough to keep construction sites safe, state comptroller finds

• New York urged to require personal finance class for high school students
  
  
• Former Beekman tax collector sentenced for embezzling over $86,000
  
  

• School property taxes capped at 2% for 2024-25, comptroller says
  

• Former Throop town supervisor pleads guilty to stealing $11,000 in town funds

Post of the Week
Tom DiNapoli @NYSComptroller 

Brooklyn Woman Charged with Trafficking 18 Firearms into Brooklyn

 

Defendant Also Charged with Selling Cocaine Base and Fentanyl

At the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a five-count indictment was unsealed charging Ariana Charles with conspiring to illegally traffic 18 firearms to Brooklyn.  The defendant is charged under the gun trafficking provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress and the President enacted in June 2022.  The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target gun trafficking.  Charles is also charged with three narcotics-related charges, including distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base, and a conspiracy to do the same. The defendant was arrested this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino, III, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.

“As alleged, the defendant brazenly trafficked firearms and deadly drugs to the streets of Brooklyn, feeding the cycle of gun violence and drug abuse endangering our community,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “This Office will not relent in its efforts to keep the community safe by investigating and prosecuting those who seek to profit from the proliferation of guns and fentanyl which have destroyed so many lives.”

“DEA and our law enforcement partners work to stop the invasion of guns, drugs and violence that invade our neighborhoods causing unimaginable casualties along the way,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Taremtino.  “This indictment reinforces our commitment to saving lives through comprehensive investigations at the behest of public safety and health.  I commend the DEA New York Division, New York City Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York for their work throughout this investigation.” 

“This indictment underscores the destructive threat that illegal guns and drugs continue to pose on the streets of New York City, as well as our unwavering commitment to delivering public safety and improving quality of life in every community,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban.  “Together with our partners at the DEA and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, NYPD investigators remain dedicated to this critical mission.”

According to the indictment and court documents, Charles personally conducted firearms sales to an undercover member of law enforcement (the UC) in and around New York City Housing Authority’s Breukelen Houses which is located in Canarsie, Brooklyn.  Transactions also took place outside apartment buildings and in shopping center parking lots in broad daylight.  Several guns were purchased in Virginia and Georgia and transported to New York. The UC told Charles and her co-conspirators that he was a drug dealer who needed guns and that he was going to resell some of the guns and drugs that were provided to him.  For example, messages between the UC and Charles show that the UC told Charles that he intended to “flip” the firearms Charles sold him so that he could resell them to others.  One firearm sold had a defaced serial number, making it hard for law enforcement to trace.  Charles also sold semi-automatic rifles.

In addition to firearm sales, Charles sold drugs, including crack cocaine and fentanyl.  The fentanyl allegedly sold by the defendant was disguised as Oxycodone pills.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted of the charges, Charles faces up to 20 years in prison.

Puerto Rico Legislator and Husband Convicted for Theft, Bribery, and Kickback Scheme

 

A federal jury convicted a Puerto Rico legislator and her husband for engaging in a years-long theft, bribery, and kickback conspiracy scheme to fraudulently inflate the salary of a legislative assistant in exchange for a portion of the assistant’s inflated salary.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from early 2017 until July 2020, María Milagros Charbonier-Laureano, also known as Tata, a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, along with her husband, Orlando Montes-Rivera, and her assistant, Frances Acevedo-Ceballos, executed a scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by engaging in a theft, bribery, and kickback scheme. Over the course of the scheme, Charbonier-Laureano inflated Acevedo-Ceballos’s salary from $800 on a bi-weekly, after-tax basis to nearly $2,900. Out of every inflated paycheck, it was agreed that Acevedo-Ceballos would keep a portion, and kick back between $1,000 and $1,500 to Charbonier-Laureano and Montes-Rivera.

After learning of the investigation into illegal activities in her office and of a warrant that had been obtained for one of her phones, Charbonier-Laureano proceeded to delete certain data on the phone. In particular, Charbonier-Laureano deleted nearly the entire call log, nearly all WhatsApp messages, and nearly all iMessages associated with the phone.

The jury convicted Charbonier-Laureano and Montes-Rivera of one count of conspiracy; two counts of theft, bribery, and kickbacks concerning programs receiving federal funds; six counts of honest services wire fraud; and two counts of money laundering. The jury also convicted Charbonier-Laureano of obstruction of justice for destroying data on her cell phone.

Charbonier-Laureano and Montes-Rivera are scheduled to be sentenced on April 10 and face a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy count; a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each federal funds theft, bribery, and kickbacks count; a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each honest services wire fraud count; and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each money laundering count. Charbonier-Laureano also faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the obstruction of justice count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acevedo-Ceballos pleaded guilty on Nov. 7 to federal funds bribery and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5, 2024.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES WEATHER ALERT FOR POSSIBLE SNOW SQUALLS

 

The New York City Emergency Management Department has issued a Weather Alert for Sunday, January 14, 2024. An arctic cold front is expected to sweep through the region early Sunday afternoon, bringing with it the potential for snow squalls. These squalls could lead to rapid reduction in visibility, gusty winds, and briefly moderate to heavy snow, creating hazardous roadway conditions.

 

Despite their short duration, often lasting less than 30 minutes, snow squalls can be intense, appearing as "mini-blizzards." In New York City, there’s a chance for a quick coating to half inch of snow, visibilities around a half-mile or less, and 40 to 45 MPH wind gusts occurring for a short duration sometime between 12:00 p.m. noon and 3:00 p.m. Roadways may be slick if a squall passes through the city, but temperatures are anticipated to be mild enough to prevent icy roads. However, for those venturing further inland, there's a risk of flash freezes and immediate icy conditions with strong squalls. Weak squalls may only result in few flurries and breezy winds.

 

Forecast lead time can be short for predicting their precise timing and location, and National Weather Service snow squall warnings may be issued only an hour or so in advance. 

 

“While the snow squalls we could see are expected to last a short period of time, it could be a hazardous period to be on the roads and we want all New Yorkers to be prepared,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Our teams will be out early salting our streets, and we will continue to monitor the forecast every step of the way. We are also asking that New Yorkers take their own precautions in an abundance of caution. Try to stay off the roads if a snow squall warning is in your neighborhood, but if you have to drive, remember to take it slow. As always, we encourage everyone to download Notify NYC to stay up to date with the latest information in your area.”

 

“In light of the forecast, I urge all New Yorkers to be prepared for the possibility of snow squalls on Sunday afternoon. Our city has already faced multiple weather challenges last week, and with more expected in the coming days, the unwavering dedication of our city's emergency crews and first responders, who have been diligently working to respond to and anticipate these events, is nothing short of remarkable,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “Their efforts are pivotal in ensuring our city's preparedness and safety. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all New Yorkers for their ongoing support and cooperation as we navigate these weather challenges together.”

 

“DSNY is prepared for whatever comes our way tomorrow and into next week,” said NYC Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “We want all New Yorkers to exercise caution while traveling tomorrow and give our salt spreaders room to do their important work.”

 

NYC Emergency Management, working closely with agency partners, is monitoring the evolving weather conditions. The NYC Department of Sanitation’s salt spreaders are prepared to pre-treat high spots and areas prone to icing as necessary. We urge all New Yorkers to prioritize their safety by remaining alert and well-informed. Stay current with real-time updates by subscribing to Notify NYC and listening to news broadcasts for the latest weather information. In light of these conditions, NYCEM strongly recommends avoiding travel during the squalls to ensure your safety.

 

NYCEM strongly encourages all New Yorkers to take proactive steps to ensure their own safety and support the city’s resilience:

 

• Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the city will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including Notify NYC. Sign up for emergency notifications online or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.
• If the National Weather Service issues a snow squall warning for your area, it's best to avoid or delay motor travel until the squall has passed. Snow squalls create extremely hazardous road conditions quickly.
• Always have an emergency kit in your car. It should include items like blankets, a flashlight, water, snacks, a first aid kit, and a snow shovel.
• There is no safe place on the highway during a snow squall. The sudden white-out conditions and slick roads make driving very dangerous.
• If you're already on the road and can't exit safely, immediately reduce your speed. Quick changes in weather can create treacherous driving conditions unexpectedly.
• Turn on your vehicle’s headlights and hazard lights to increase your visibility to other drivers during a snow squall.
• If you require assistance for daily activities, make arrangements in advance for support during the snow squall, ensuring caregivers are aware of and prepared for the weather conditions.

 

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. Notify NYC is available in 14 languages, including American Sign Language. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, New Yorkers can visit the Notify NYC website, call 311, or download the free Notify NYC app for your Android or Apple device. You can now text to 692-692, using the code NOTIFYNYC, NOTIFYNYCESP (Spanish), and NOTIFYFRE (French) to be instantly enrolled to receive the highest priority, verified alerts across all the five boroughs.