Construction Underway on La Olazul at 1940 Jerome Avenue In Mount Hope, The Bronx

 

Construction has begun on La Olazul, a 13-story affordable and supportive housing development at 1940 Jerome Avenue in Mount Hope, The Bronx. Developed by Vaya Development and Westhab, the $81 million development will yield 115 units, including 69 supportive apartments, along with approximately 8,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

The property plans to offer affordable housing for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, with supportive units reserved for formerly homeless individuals dealing with mental illness or substance use disorders. Residents will have access to on-site support services provided by Westhab in the community space. General amenities include a laundry room, outdoor terrace, arts and music space, recreation areas, and free broadband internet.

La Olazul is designed to meet Passive House Institute standards, aiming to reduce energy consumption and lower the building’s carbon footprint. The all-electric project incorporates energy-efficiency measures such as electric heat pumps, low-flow fixtures, efficient windows, energy star appliances, and a green roof.

DEC Announces Availability of $75,000 to Map Oyster Population in the Hudson River from Piermont to City of Yonkers

 

Grant Applications Accepted through Dec. 16

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the availability of $75,000 to map the lower Hudson River oyster population. NEIWPCC, in partnership with DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program, is inviting proposals from qualified consultants to survey American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) distribution in an approximately 10-mile section of the Hudson River Estuary from Piermont Pier to the city of Yonkers. The sampling is intended to complement past and planned sampling efforts to the north and south of the targeted reach.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is intended to fill a gap in oyster distribution data between the Piermont Pier south to Yonkers. Intensive sampling of oyster north of the target area to Croton Point was conducted between 2013 and 2014 to identify benthic impacts and potential mitigation actions resulting from the construction of the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. More recently, funding has been made available to conduct similar data collection in New York Harbor up the Hudson River to the city of Yonkers. Examination of the density of samples taken north of Piermont Pier and the anticipated sampling south of Yonkers demonstrated a need to supplement sampling in the target area, totaling approximately 10 miles of river.

All data collection will occur on location in the field and will be delivered to DEC project managers for analysis of distribution and habitat preference. Potential applicants must demonstrate qualifications and experience conducting similar research. For more information and to apply, visit NEIWPCC’s website. The deadline for applications is Dec. 16, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Funding for this opportunity is provided by New York State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and is administered by NEIWPCC in partnership with DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program. The EPF is a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention, and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. Governor Hochul’s 2024-25 Executive Budget maintains EPF funding at $400 million, the highest level of funding in the program’s history.

Operator of Helix Darknet Cryptocurrency “Mixer” Sentenced in Money Laundering Conspiracy and Ordered to Forfeit Over $400M in Assets

 

An Ohio man was sentenced to three years in prison for his operation of the darknet cryptocurrency “mixer” Helix, which processed transactions involving over $300 million worth of cryptocurrency from 2014 to 2017.

According to court documents, Larry Dean Harmon, 41, of Akron, ran Helix, a darknet mixer that laundered customers’ bitcoin. Helix was connected to Grams, a darknet search engine also run by Harmon. Helix was one of the most popular mixing services on the darknet and was highly sought after by online drug dealers who needed to launder their illicit proceeds. Helix processed at least approximately 354,468 bitcoin — the equivalent of approximately $311,145,854 in U.S. dollars at the time of the transactions — on behalf of its customers, including customers in the District of Columbia. Much of those funds were coming from or going to darknet drug markets. Harmon retained a percentage of these transactions as his commissions and fees for operating Helix.

Harmon worked to ensure Grams and Helix connected to or otherwise supported all of the major darknet markets at the time. Harmon developed an Application Program Interface (API) to allow darknet markets to integrate Helix directly into their bitcoin withdrawal systems. Harmon also customized features of Helix to ensure compatibility with significant markets. Investigators traced tens of millions of dollars from darknet markets to Helix.

On Aug. 18, 2021, Harmon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

In addition to his term in prison, Harmon was sentenced to three years of supervised release; a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $311,145,854; and forfeiture of seized cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary assets valued at over $400 million.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia; Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of FBI’s Cyber Division made the announcement.

IRS-CI’s Washington D.C. Cyber Crimes Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

The Attorney General’s Ministry of Belize and Belize Police Department provided essential support for the investigation, coordinated through U.S. Embassy Belmopan. The investigation was coordinated with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which assessed a $60 million civil monetary penalty against Harmon in a parallel action.

Attorney General James Announces Guilty Plea of Former Nassau County Co-Op President for Stealing Building Funds

 

Juan Alayo, Former Hempstead Co-Op President, Will Pay More Than $26,700 in Restitution

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the guilty plea of Juan Alayo, 72, of East Meadow, New York for embezzling more than $26,700 of co-op funds during his tenure as president of the Marlboro Owners Corporation cooperative in Hempstead, New York. Alayo served as president from 2016 to 2023, during which he wrote checks to himself and his company, A&J Cleaning Services (A&J), without the co-op board’s permission and falsified the co-op’s business records to hide his thefts. Alayo pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Petit Larceny for stealing co-op funds while serving as president. As a condition of his guilty plea, he has agreed to pay $26,738 in restitution to the co-op and complete 210 hours of community service.

“When co-op leaders steal from the buildings they’re entrusted to manage, the entire community suffers,” said Attorney General James. “Juan Alayo’s neighbors elected him to oversee their building, and Mr. Alayo violated their trust to line his own pockets. My office will not tolerate anyone who breaks the law to steal from their neighbors. We will continue to hold anyone accountable who commits this type of fraud.”

Alayo served as President of the Marlboro Owners Corporation, which oversees the management of a Hempstead Cooperative, from 2016 to 2023, after being elected by fellow residents. The co-op has 16 units and its residents are primarily Spanish-speaking immigrants. As president, Alayo oversaw the co-op’s operations, scheduled building maintenance and repairs, and worked with vendors and contractors, earning him a $200 per month salary, which residents agreed to pay. 

During his tenure as president, Alayo embezzled almost $30,000 of co-op funds by writing checks to himself and his company, A&J. These checks were neither discussed nor approved by the co-op board, who had never retained A&J’s services. As president, Alayo was also responsible for maintaining the co-op’s business records, which he falsified in order to hide his thefts. For example, in one instance a check for $2,466.30 was recorded in the co-op book as payment for “TRAGAR,” an oil company, however, the check was actually sent to and cashed by A&J.

Alayo remained president until 2023 when he sold his apartment and moved out of the building. Later that year, a new co-op president was elected, and Alayo’s scheme was discovered. When the new president reviewed the co-op’s finances, he and other board members noticed some irregular transactions. Upon review of the co-op’s business records, which were hand-written by Alayo, in contrast to the co-op’s banking records, the board found A&J received and cashed checks that were falsely made to look as though they were for legitimate co-op expenses. Members of the co-op board reported the theft to the Nassau District Attorney’s Office, which referred the matter to the Office of the Attorney General.

Alayo pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Robert Bogle to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, and to Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, and agreed to pay $26,738 in restitution to the co-op and complete 210 hours of community service. If Alayo does not pay back the restitution and complete his community service, he will be sentenced to one year in jail.

Attorney General James thanks the Nassau District Attorney’s Office for their collaboration on this matter. 

45.2 New Miles of Greenway Trail Constructed Across New York

 

More than 500 additional miles to be added to the nation leading 2,000+ mile network

A new report conducted by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York Office of State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) confirms that statewide greenway trail expansion continues to lead the nation, with 45.2 new miles of trail completed between January 2023 and June 2024.

In coming years, New York will see further trail expansion as 39.4 miles of trail are under construction and an additional 583.2 miles are in various stages of development. 

New York State is a leader in greenway trails progress, with over 2,000 miles of multi-use paths across the state–including the 750-mile Empire State Trail, the longest statewide shared-use trail network in the US.

The report documents nearly 200 projects total, including 36 completed trail projects (new construction, trail renovation, and new amenities), 26 construction projects nearing completion, and 133 projects that have advanced during the last eighteen months (plans and feasibility studies completed or in progress, or grants awarded for planning or construction).

This expansion of New York’s greenway trail network reaches every corner of the state, including the Adirondacks, North Country, Western New York, Capital Region, Central New York, Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City.

Notable projects include:

• Design progress on 25 miles of the Long Island Greenway and funding for the design of 50 additional miles
• Six key trail corridors to advance with implementation planning in New York City’s outer boroughs, expanding the network with 40 new miles of trail
• Completion of the first 10 miles of the Adirondack Rail Trail from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake and major progress on phases 2 and 3
• Initiation of a feasibility study for the 57-mile O&W Rail Trail from Kingston to Port Jervis. Completion of nearly five miles of the O&W Rail Trail in the Hudson Valley, and a 1.8-mile O&W Connector to Kingston
• 2 miles of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail resurfaced, with design in progress for an 8-mile extension
• Plan for extension of the Black Diamond Rail Trail in Ithaca north to Trumansburg, south to Buttermilk Falls State Park, and on to Robert Treman State Park
• A major federal planning grant for 52 miles of the Southern Tier Trail in Cattaraugus County 

The report further details projects in each region of the state, sources of funding, legislative advocacy, and programs to support greenway expansion, including PTNY’s Trail Towns initiatives. These programs support trailside communities by identifying opportunities for economic growth and developing plans to capitalize on their location along the Empire State Trail and Genesee Valley Greenway State Park.

View the full report: https://www.ptny.org/our-work/support/nys-greenways-plan

To learn more about greenway trail expansion in New York State, attend the Greenways Across New York: Growth & Updates webinar hosted by Parks & Trails New York on Nov. 25 at 12p.m. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IN76GF6IRpuJUC2lkprGZA#/registration

Parks & Trails Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “Greenway trails are beneficial on so many levels. They’re a transportation asset, recreation resource, economic driver, and root of improved health and wellbeing. As trail visitation grows year after year, we’re excited to see statewide investment follow suit. It’s important we continue trending upward across all development stages and lay the groundwork for continuous expansion in all regions of the state.”

State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “New York residents and visitors greatly benefit from the trail improvements documented in this report – improvements that we know expand recreational and economic opportunities throughout the state. State Parks is grateful to PTNY and all of the partners involved in these projects, and we encourage everyone to get out there and explore New York’s breathtaking scenery and the variety of communities made more accessible by these trail expansions.”

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website and download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518-474-0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and the OPRHP Blog.

The East Bronx History Forum is pleased to announce its 189th meeting on Wednesday, November 20th at 7:30 p.m.

 

Dear East Bronx Forum Member, 

The East Bronx History Forum (EBHF) is pleased to announce its 189thmeeting on Wednesday, November 20th at 7:30 p.m. in the lower level of St. Clare of Assisi Church, located at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue. Parking is available.

Please join Ismer Mjeku, who is the founder and Publisher of Albanian Media Group (AMG) a public relations, consulting and marketing company established in 1998 in the Arthur Avenue section of the Bronx. Ismer will present a lecture never approached by the EBHF, about the history of Albanians in America and more specifically here in the Bronx. With Albanian Independence Day on November 28th, it is a fitting topic.

Photo courtesy of Ismer Mjeku 

An attorney by profession from his native Kosovo, Mjeku took an interest in the Albanian American community in 1992 when he started working for Illyria, the only Albanian American Newspaper in the US. He got to cover, travel and report on an emerging community and helped set up the first marketing section for the newspaper. His pioneering work was in 1998 when he complied and published the first Albanian Yellow Pages, a community guide and business directory that targets Albanian American businesses, still in use online and in print. Mjeku was instrumental into establishing a section of Albanian eateries on the corner of Arthur Avenue and Crescent Avenue in 2022, adding to the culinary fabric of the vibrant Arthur Avenue.

Ismer Mjeku has been cited by major media such as The New York Times, Daily News, and others. He has been recognized by New York City, New York State and Albanian American organizations for his contributions to the community.

The entrance to this free event is on Paulding Avenue in Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Hall. Special acknowledgement to Jacqueline Kapaj-Vieira from the Albanian-American Educators Association with her assistance in securing our guest speaker. 

For those unable to join us in-person, you may join us on Zoom. Last month there was connectivity issues with Zoom. We intend toZoom this upcoming presentation. Please check our website BronxNYC.com for the Zoom link. Please login between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m., once the meeting starts the presenter will not be accepting late arrivals.

 Please remember to follow us on our website BronxNYC.com, as well as our Facebook and Instagram pages for the most current updates or information. We look forward to seeing you.

Dorothy A. Krynicki 

Secretary, EBHF

Six Defendants Charged With Narcotics Conspiracy In Peekskill

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the arrest of six individuals charged with participating in a drug conspiracy that distributed large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl on the streets of Peekskill, New York.  The defendants, JASON TINSLEY, a/k/a “Floss,” JEROME REED, a/k/a “Pops,” RAKIM MAYO, a/k/a “Bo,” THOMAS RYAN, GARY BURKETT, and MIESHA CATO, were arrested and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants participated in a conspiracy to flood the streets of Peekskill with cocaine, crack, and fentanyl.  They allegedly operated throughout the City of Peekskill, on the street and in public housing complexes, disrupting people’s everyday lives and brazenly infesting the streets and residential buildings of Peekskill with dangerous drugs while they sought to get rich.  Our investigation remains ongoing, and I thank our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office who are working tirelessly to keep drug dealers and dangerous illegal drugs out of our communities.” 

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “These six defendants allegedly organized a regional narcotics trade to supply significant amounts of highly addictive drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl, through various personal and intermediary transactions.  The alleged conspiracy operated on the streets and within local residential complexes, putting the wellbeing and safety of residents at risk through the increased presence of illegal drugs.  The FBI will continue to dismantle and terminate the flow of illegal drugs plaguing our communities.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed in White Plains federal court and statements made in court proceedings:

From roughly April 2024 until their arrests this week, the defendants participated in a conspiracy to supply and distribute large amounts of primarily cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl in Peekskill, New York, along with methamphetamine and other narcotics.  They operated out of multiple residential buildings, including Peekskill’s Bohlmann Towers and Dunbar Heights public housing complexes, actively selling drugs everyday themselves and through street sellers and couriers.

In addition to arresting the defendants on Tuesday, the FBI, City of Peekskill Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, and other members of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and its partners also executed multiple search warrants in Peekskill, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. In these searches, members of law enforcement discovered multiple kilograms of methamphetamine and crack cocaine, PCP, multiple firearms and rounds of ammunition, and over $100,000 of cash and jewelry.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the FBI at 1-800-Call-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.

TINSLEY, 42, of Peekskill, New York; REED, 35, of Peekskill, New York; MAYO, 35, of Brooklyn, New York; RYAN, 43, of Brooklyn, New York; BURKETT, 62, of Peekskill, New York; and CATO, 37, of Peekskill, New York, are charged with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, the City of Peekskill Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Yorktown Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin L. Brooke is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

EX-NYPD SERGEANT PLEADED GUILTY TO OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT FOR REPEATEDLY USING A TASER ON A BRONX MAN

 

Victim Had Yelled Obscenity at Defendant

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a former New York City Police Sergeant has pleaded guilty to Official Misconduct for his unauthorized use of an NYPD issued Taser on a civilian who had hurled an obscene taunt at him in 2021. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The former member of the NYPD used a Taser multiple times on a man who had yelled an obscenity at him, even though the man was not resisting arrest. This plea illustrates that police officers will be held accountable for such misconduct.” 

The defendant, Jamar Lamey, 43, a former NYPD Sergeant assigned to the 40th Precinct in the Bronx, was sentenced on November 12, 2024, to a Conditional Discharge after pleading guilty to Official Misconduct before Bronx Criminal Court Judge Anna Mikhaleva. A plea to Official Misconduct bars the defendant from employment with the NYPD.

According to the investigation, on May 27, 2021, at approximately 1:39 a.m., the defendant and multiple police officers from the 40th Precinct responded to the vicinity of 585 Jackson Avenue where a large group of people were gathered for a memorial to a slain friend. The defendant ordered them to disperse. As a 26-year-old man was leaving he yelled an obscene remark at Lamey, who pursued the man across the street, and without warning, used the Taser on the man’s back causing him to fall. As police officers assisted the victim to his feet to place him under arrest, the defendant deployed his Taser four additional times despite the victim’s lack of resistance. The victim suffered substantial pain to his body, a bleeding laceration to his forearm and elbow, a swollen finger, and pain in his back where the Taser probes were lodged.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Sergeant Keith Blunt and NYPD Lieutenant Steven Alfano of the Internal Affairs Bureau for their work on the case.