MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PRECAUTIONS AFTER BIRDS TEST POSITIVE FOR BIRD FLU

 

No Person in New York State Has Tested Positive for Bird Flu 

  

Current Risk of H5N1 to New Yorkers Remains Low 

  

City Health Department Providing Support for Exposed Live Bird Market Staff 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse today announced additional steps New York City is taking — out of an abundance of caution — after birds in the city tested positive for H5N1, a type of avian influenza, also known as bird flu. Multiple birds have tested positive for H5N1 in New York City at parks and zoos in addition to the positive cases at live bird markets last week. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation is testing dead birds found in public parks for the virus.

 

The risk to New Yorkers remains low. There have been no human cases of H5N1 in New York City or elsewhere in the state, and no human-to-human transmission has been detected from H5N1 anywhere in the United States. A small number of agricultural workers with close contact with infected animals in other parts of the country have tested positive H5N1. New Yorkers who spot a sick or dead bird should maintain a safe distance and report the sighting. For poultry, call the New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets at (518) 457-3502. For wild birds, report online to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation.   

  

“While birds in New York City have tested positive for the H5N1 virus, I want to assure New Yorkers that the risk to humans at this time remains low,” said Mayor Adams. “There are currently no reported cases of bird flu in humans in our city or state, and our health officials are working closely with the state to ensure this continues to be the case. We are taking all the proper precautions to contain this virus and limit its spread.”  

  

“The current risk to New Yorkers of bird flu remains low,” said DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Morse. “We have not seen avian influenza develop the ability to transmit between people. The Department of Health will continue to work closely with the state Department of Agriculture and state Department of Health to ensure that live bird market staff exposed to sick birds receive essential information and receive treatment. We are prepared to respond to disease outbreaks, including quickly ramping up testing and treatment, and working closely with providers and community partners to rapidly disseminate accurate information.”  

  

On Friday, February 7, 2025, live bird markets were shut down by New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Notice and Order for live bird markets. The order requires those markets where bird flu was not detected to sell all inventory, complete cleaning and disinfection procedures, and remain closed for three to five days after H5N1 was detected in birds at seven markets in Bronx, Kings, and Queens counties, as well as at markets in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. The shutdowns are temporary.  

  

A collaborative effort across local and state agencies is underway to ensure New Yorkers remain safe. DOHMH is working closely with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the New York state Department of Health to monitor the situation. DOHMH is communicating with workers at affected markets in New York City where H5N1 has been detected to provide guidance to staff on monitoring for symptoms. DOHMH is offering testing and Tamiflu, an antiviral drug, to any staff of a live bird market, even if they are asymptomatic, at no cost and regardless of immigration status.  

  

How New Yorkers Should Protect Themselves Against Bird Flu: 

•   Wear recommended personal protection equipment (PPE), such as gloves, facemasks, eye protection, and coveralls, when handling poultry. Carefully take off PPE and throw it away after each use. 

•   Wash hands often with soap and warm water, especially after touching birds or surfaces that could be infected. Avoid contact with surfaces with bird feces. 

•   Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in areas where birds are being handled. 

•   Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth after touching birds or surfaces that came into contact with birds. 

•   If handling dead birds is necessary, wear PPE, place the birds in a triple-bagged garbage bag, dispose of PPE properly, and immediately wash hands well with soap and water. Additionally, change any clothes while handling dead birds and wash them after disposal of the bird. 

•   Follow food safety guidelines. Handle poultry and eggs safely and cook them to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  

•   Do not consume raw milk or raw milk products. 

•   Get the annual flu vaccine. 

•   If an individual is experiencing symptoms and has had close contact with an infected bird or someone who tested positive for bird flu, they should consult with their doctor to see if they should be tested. 

•   Do not feed cats raw food diets or raw milk, and prevent them from roaming outdoors where they may hunt wild birds or other animals. 

  

DOHMH is prepared to respond to disease outbreaks, including vaccination, testing, and treatment, as appropriate, and is working closely with providers and community partners to rapidly disseminate accurate information. DOHMH is communicating with affected live bird markets and providing guidance to staff on self-monitoring for symptoms. Live bird market workers should carefully monitor their health for 10 days after their last exposure to birds for symptoms, including headaches, cough, fever, shortness of breath, and more.   

Permits Filed for 816 Ritter Place in Claremont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 816 Ritter Place in Claremont, The Bronx. Located between Prospect Avenue and Union Avenue, the lot is closest to the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Peter Sheri is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 54-foot-tall development will yield 3,929 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have six residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 654 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a 33-foot-long rear yard but no accessory parking.

Chi Wai Chung of Prime Zone Building Consulting is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Secretary Noem Statement on Indictment of CBP Officer for Drug and Human Smuggling

 

Secretary Kristi Noem addressed the indictment of a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer accused of human smuggling and drug trafficking.

A statement from Secretary Noem is below:  

“To traffic drugs and smuggle humans while wearing the badge is not only a disgusting betrayal of our patriotic Customs and Border Protection officers, but of our nation and the American people. Manuel Perez will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The CBP officer was arrested by fellow federal agents at the Paso del Norte Port of Entry on February 8.

Bloods Gang Leader Charged With Narcotics Distribution Resulting in One Death and Three Additional Poisonings

 

Defendant Allegedly Distributed Narcotics throughout Long Island Over Seven Year Period

Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader also known as “G Money,” was arraigned in federal court in Central Islip on new charges in a 26-count second superseding indictment charging him with distributing controlled substances, including fentanyl and cocaine base, that caused the death of a woman and caused serious bodily injury to three additional victims.  Johnson is also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Long Island, additional narcotics distribution offenses, various firearms offenses and destruction of evidence.  This arraignment was held before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. Johnson previously was detained pending trial.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the charges.

“Our district has suffered terribly from the opioid epidemic, and as alleged in the superseding indictment, Johnson sold large amounts of dangerous narcotics for his own profit, without regard for the deadly consequences of his actions, even after a victim was fatally poisoned by the defendant’s drugs,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “With these new charges, this Office continues its tireless efforts, in conjunction with our federal and local law enforcement partners, to prosecute drug traffickers responsible for the opioid crisis. It is my hope that the charges will bring some measure of closure to the family members of the victim whose death was caused by the defendant.”

“Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader, allegedly sold substantial quantities of illicit drugs, which resulted in a known death of one victim and poisonings of three others. These alleged actions threatened public safety by exposing neighborhoods to a supply of dangerous substances,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue its mission to assuage the flow of lethal narcotics from polluting our communities and apprehending those responsible for its pipeline.”

“For years, Gary Johnson knew the poison he was selling posed deadly consequences, yet, his only concern was about making money,” stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina.  “We will continue to work with our federal partners to take down drug traffickers while undoubtedly saving lives in the process.”

As alleged in court filings, Johnson is a leader of the G-Shine set of the Bloods gang. Between June 2013 and November 2020, when Johnson was arrested on federal charges, the defendant conspired to sell narcotics throughout Long Island. The drugs that Johnson sold – including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base – resulted in at least four victims suffering poisonings. Specifically, on March 3, 2020, Johnson distributed narcotics which were ingested by John Doe #1 and Jane Doe #1 in the parking lot of Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, New York.  John Doe #1 and Jane Doe #1 lost consciousness and were revived by emergency medical personnel who administered CPR and Narcan on both victims.  They were resuscitated and survived.  On May 1, 2020, Johnson distributed narcotics ingested by John Doe #2 and Jane Doe #2. John Doe #2 was found unconscious by coworkers in St. James, New York, and was revived with Narcan. Jane Doe #2, a 39-year-old mother of a three-year-old son, was found deceased in her home in Rocky Point, New York. Her cause of death was determined to be acute mixed drug intoxication caused by a combination of cocaine and fentanyl – these drugs were supplied by the defendant.

The charges in the second superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Doctor Convicted of $24M Medicare Fraud Scheme

 

A New York doctor was found guilty by a federal jury for causing the submission of over $24 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Alexander Baldonado, M.D., 69, of Queens, received tens of thousands of dollars in illegal cash kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering laboratory tests, including expensive cancer genetic tests, that were billed to Medicare by two related laboratories located in New York.

As part of the scheme, Baldonado authorized hundreds of cancer genetic tests for Medicare beneficiaries who attended COVID-19 testing events at assisted living facilities, adult day care centers, and a retirement community in 2020. Baldonado was not treating any of the patients who attended the testing events and, in many cases, did not speak to or examine the patients prior to ordering cancer genetic tests and other laboratory tests for them. Baldonado also billed Medicare for lengthy office visits that he never provided to these patients. Several Medicare patients for whom Baldonado ordered cancer genetic tests and billed for office visits testified at trial that they did not know who Baldonado was and had never met or spoken to him. Baldonado did not contact the patients after the testing events to review the results of the cancer genetic tests, and, in some cases, the patients never received the test results.

In addition to the laboratory testing scheme, Baldonado also received illegal cash kickbacks and bribes from the owner of a durable medical equipment supply company in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary orthotic braces for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The evidence presented at trial showed Baldonado on an undercover video receiving a large sum of cash in exchange for signed prescriptions for orthotic braces.

The medically unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces that Baldonado ordered in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes caused Medicare to be billed more than $24 million. Medicare paid more than $2.1 million to the laboratories and the durable medical equipment supply company involved in the schemes.

Baldonado was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; six counts of health care fraud; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay, offer, receive, and solicit health care kickbacks; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive and solicit health care kickbacks; and one count of solicitation of health care kickbacks. Following his conviction on the 10 counts, Baldonado was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and solicitation of health care kickbacks and five years in prison on each count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay, offer, receive, and solicit health care kickbacks and conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive and solicit health care kickbacks. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Newark Field Office made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case.

Assistant Chief Rebecca Yuan and Trial Attorney Hyungjoo Han of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Attorney General James Releases Footage from Investigation into Death of Christopher Ferguson

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James released police body-worn camera footage and dashboard camera video that her office obtained as part of its ongoing investigation into the death of Christopher Ferguson, who died on December 5, 2024 following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Brooklyn.

On the afternoon of December 5, members of the NYPD, after a pursuit, encountered Mr. Ferguson as he was attempting to get out of a car near the intersection of Utica Avenue and Park Place in Brooklyn. During the encounter, Mr. Ferguson allegedly pointed a gun at the officers and the officers discharged their service weapons in response, striking Mr. Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered a firearm with an extended magazine at the scene.

The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) of the Attorney General’s Office released footage from body-worn cameras that officers were equipped with during the incident and video from a police car dashboard camera. The release of this footage follows Attorney General James’ directive that camera footage obtained by her office during an OSI investigation be released to the public to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in these matters.

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

The release of this footage is not an expression of any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of any party in a criminal matter or any opinion as to how or whether any individual may be charged with a crime. 

Warning: These videos contain content that viewers may find disturbing. 

Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Possessing Heroin with Intent to Distribute

 

Jose Angel Beltran-Chaidez, 69, a Mexican national residing in Bakersfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to two years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute heroin, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris announced.

According to court documents, in January 2022, at the direction of his brother Antonio Beltran-Chaidez, 55, also a Mexican national, Beltran delivered more than 2 pounds of heroin to Jorge Calderon-Campos, 44, a Mexican national residing in Bakersfield, for distribution. However, when Calderon-Campos was unable to sell the drug, Beltran retrieved it from Calderon-Campos and was in possession of the heroin when stopped by a CHP officer for a traffic violation.

Calderon-Campos and Antonio Beltran-Chaidez previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to eight years and one month in prison and three years and 10 months in prison, respectively.

This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Kern County Probation Department, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case. 

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

BRONX MAN INDICTED FOR MURDER OF AMBULETTE DRIVER

 

Battered Body of Victim, Who Was Prominent in ‘80s Black Rock Scene, Found in His Vehicle 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man has been indicted for second-degree Murder for fatally beating a 64-year-old man and leaving his body in the private ambulette the victim drove for a living. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The victim went to his ambulette to start his workday and was later found fatally beaten. It was a brutal attack for which the defendant has been brought to justice. Peter Forrest was a musician known by many people in the Bronx and inspired many.” 

District Attorney Clark said Sharief Bodden, 29, of 1595 Unionport Road, was indicted on second-degree Murder and first-degree Manslaughter. He was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Geroge Villegas. He was remanded and is due back in court on May 16, 2025. 

According to the investigation, on January 13, 2025, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Peter Forrest, 64, a driver for Marquis Ambulette, found his work vehicle’s door damaged near Astor Avenue and Bronxwood Avenue in Morris Park and called his supervisor. When his boss attempted to call him back, Forrest didn’t answer. He traced the vehicle’s GPS and found it around 11:00 a.m., near Hart Street and Castle Hill Avenue in Castle Hill with the victim’s body in it. The investigation determined the defendant was allegedly in the vehicle when Forrest discovered it damaged and then attacked Forrest, killing him. 

Forrest went by the moniker P. Fluid and was the front man of rock band 24/7 Spyz, He was part of the movement that led to the Black Rock Coalition. 

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Tomor Beris of the 43 Precinct Detective Squad, and Detective Jonathan Burke from the Bronx Homicide Squad.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.