Georgian Organized Crime Boss And Associates Convicted And Sentenced For Extortion Offenses

 

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the sentences imposed on VAZHA GABADADZE, TEIMURAZ TAVBERIDZE, KAKHA KATSADZE, and DAVIT TIKARADZE for extortion offenses.  The defendants include the leader of a criminal enterprise from the Republic of Georgia and his associates.  The last of the defendants to be sentenced, TAVBERIDZE, was sentenced to 21 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff after having been convicted on December 9, 2024, following a one-week jury trial.  The remaining three defendants were previously sentenced to terms of prison ranging from 12 to 30 months. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Vazha Gabadadze and his associates threatened to mutilate and kill a victim if he did not provide them with money.  They intimidated the victim, relying on their connections to violent organized crime, to obtain thousands of dollars.  But thanks to the dedication of the FBI and the career prosecutors of this Office, all four defendants have been brought to justice and will serve federal prison time for their crimes.” 

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

GABADADZE is a crowned “vor v zakone” and the leader of a criminal enterprise from the Republic of Georgia.  A vor v zakone, which is a Russian phrase that translates to “thief-in-law” or “thief within the code,” is part of a fraternal order of criminals that dates back to the time of the czars.  The vor stands at the highest level of Russian and Georgian organized criminal groups.  Traditionally, vory demand and receive tribute from criminals and laypersons, license criminal activity by others, and resolve disputes between members of the criminal community.  Payment demands are enforced by violence and threats of violence.  TAVBERIDZE, KATSADZE, and TIKARADZE each worked under GABADADZE’s supervision and control.

In 2017, in Georgia, GABADADZE approached an individual (the “Victim”) and demanded $15,000, claiming that the Victim’s friend owed GABADADZE the money.  The Victim subsequently moved to the U.S. 

In 2022, GABADADZE followed the Victim to the U.S. and reinitiated the extortion.  GABADADZE and the other defendants pursued, harassed, and threatened to kill and maim the Victim and his family if he did not pay.  Those threats were particularly violent and included, among others, that one or more of the defendants would “break [the Victim’s] spine over his knee,” “peel out [the Victim’s] eyes,” that the Victim would be beaten beyond recognition to his family, and that the Victim’s dead body would be found “when the snow melts.” 

Each of the defendants played a particular role in executing the extortion. GABADADZE was the leader of the scheme and ultimate beneficiary of the extortion payments.  TAVBERIDZE was primarily responsible for pursuing and communicating with the Victim and, in that capacity, personally threatened the Victim and collected extortion funds from the Victim.  KATSADZE managed the collection of the extortion payments, receiving such payments from TAVBERIDZE and passing them along to GABADADZE. TIKARADZE served as GABADADZE’s secretary and threatened the Victim on at least one occasion.  In total, the defendants received approximately $19,000 during the course of the extortion.

GABADADZE and KATSADZE each pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act extortion.  TIKARADZE pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion. TAVBERIDZE was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and one count of Hobbs Act extortion after trial.  A chart containing the sentences that each of the defendants received is set forth below.

Defendant	Age	Sentence of Imprisonment
Vazha Gabadadze	42	30 Months
Teimuraz Tavberidze	55	21 Months
Kakha Katsadze	46	21 Months
Davit Tikaradze	54	12 Months

Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Mr. Podolsky also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF POPULATION GROWTH IN NEW YORK CITY

 

New Census Estimates Show City Now Stands at Nearly 8.5 Million People, Gained 87,000 New Yorkers Between July 2023 and July 2024 

New Figures Highlight City’s Continued Growth Under Adams Administration

New York City Mayor Eric Adams celebrated new census data showing that New York City’s population grew in each of the past two years, and now stands at 8,478,000 people. The Vintage 2024 Population Estimates, released this morning, showed New York City grew by 87,000 people between July 2023 and July 2024. All five boroughs gained population, with Manhattan leading the way at 1.7 percent growth. This morning, the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) released a new analysis of the census data. Today’s announcement is another indicator that New York City continues to grow and move in the right direction under the Adams administration, remaining the best place to raise a family.

“The numbers do not lie. Our city’s best days still lie ahead of us,” said Mayor Adams. “Jobs are at their highest levels in city history, crime is down across the five boroughs, and people are coming back to the greatest city on the globe. New York City has emerged from the darkest days of the pandemic and continues to take leaps towards a brighter future. Believe the hype: New York City is back.”

“It’s official: New York City is growing again. Our increasing population is a testament to this administration’s focus on building a strong economy and taking decisive action on housing and affordability challenges,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “We’ve hit a record high number of jobs, we’re the country’s top destination for young talent, and storefront vacancies have dropped for five quarters in a row. The opportunities and energy of New York City are unmatched, and more and more people want to be a part of it.”

“This new data puts a number to what we’re feeling: New York City is back and growing again," said DCP Director Dan Garodnick. "Our city remains a destination for people from around the world, and our progress is very encouraging."

The new data also includes an updated estimate for the year between July 2022 and July 2023, when the city grew by 35,000 people. Overall, after a short-term pandemic-related population decline, the long-term pattern of population growth has reemerged. Between July 2023 and July 2024, net international migration reached the highest levels since at least 2000, while net domestic migration returned to levels seen in the 2000s and 2010s.

Today’s news marks a key milestone in the Adams administration’s successful record of making New York City a safer, more affordable city. A major factor in the population growth has been the city’s economic growth, with over 4.8 million jobs today — attracting people from across the country and the world to invest and work in New York City. A recent report found that the city leads the nation in attracting young talent with nearly 500,000 recent college graduates choosing to live in the five boroughs since 2021. The updated census estimate also comes as the city has seen five straight quarters with fewer empty storefronts. The citywide storefront vacancy rate is down to 11 percent, from 30 percent in 2020, with city investments, supports for small businesses, and public realm improvements driving improvements.

Thanks to the Adams administration’s leadership, New York has experienced continued growth and reached pre-pandemic levels across several categories. Last December, Mayor Adams announced a new end-of-year tourism forecast that shows the city’s continued strong economic growth and reputation as a global tourist destination. In 2024, nearly 65 million visitors came to New York City — the second-highest figure in city history and a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year. The city is on pace to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2025, marking a full economic recovery. Today’s announcement is another significant milestone highlighting the city’s near-full economic and tourist recovery post-pandemic. 

Earlier this year, Mayor Adams celebrated that New York City has, once again, set another record for an all-time high total number of jobs in the city's history, with 4,770,981 total jobs, according to new data released by the New York state Department of Labor. This is the eighth time the Adams administration has broken the all-time high jobs record since Mayor Adams entered office. Included in the all-time high jobs number is an all-time high private-sector job record with 4,197,501 jobs.

Finally, Mayor Adams and New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that New York City continued to experience an overall decline in major crime, including on the subways, and broke a 30-year record for the fewest number of shooting incidents in the first two months of a year combined between January and February 2025. 

DEP and Partners Celebrate $6.7 Million Stormwater Drainage Upgrades at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, Flushing Hospital and Pratt Institute

 

Stormwater Storage Systems Built at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, Flushing Hospital and Pratt Institute will Capture More Than 7 Million Gallons of Stormwater Annually, Helping to Reduce Flooding; Photos Available Here; Information on Securing Funding for Similar Projects on Private Property Can be Found Here

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined with NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi and the global design and consultancy firm Arcadis to announce the ongoing stormwater drainage upgrades at the Jacobi Hospital campus. DEP is investing nearly $5 million to build stormwater drainage and storage systems beneath three of the parking lots on the campus through its Resilient NYC Partners program. When completed, the stormwater drainage and storage systems will be able to capture more than 5 million gallons a year. The project will not only help to protect the hospital’s facilities, staff and visitors, but also create additional capacity in the larger Pelham Parkway sewer system, helping to reduce flooding throughout the neighborhood. DEP and Arcadis, who is managing the construction at each site, recently completed similar upgrades at Flushing Hospital in Queens and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn with a $1.78 million investment.

“Climate change is bringing more rain to New York City than our drainage systems were built to handle, which is why we’re investing in upgrades to protect New Yorkers in every neighborhood,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Thank you to NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, Arcadis, and all of our partners for helping us complete these important upgrades for the residents and businesses in Pelham Parkway, as well as Flushing and Clinton Hill.”

“New York City’s public hospital system knows full well the impact climate-related weather events can have on our facilities, and that we don’t have the time to wait before we act,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President for the Office of Facilities Development Manuel Saez, PhD. “The completion of this state-of-the-art, cost-effective green infrastructure solution beneath the Jacobi Hospital parking lot will ensure the continued safety of the facility for our staff and patients for years to come. Thank you to the DEP and Arcadis teams for delivering this project expediently and for their work installing climate-smart infrastructure throughout our great city.”

“NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is excited to partner with the Department of Environmental Protection to install these green infrastructure improvements throughout our campus,” Christopher Mastromano, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. “Each year, we will capture millions of gallons of stormwater, reduce our dependence on the local sewer system, and help reduce flooding in our neighborhood.”

At Jacobi Hospital, teams installed stormwater storage systems under parking lots 1, 3 and 4. Construction crews and hospital management sequenced the installation to ensure only one lot was closed at a time, limiting impact on hospital staff, patients, and visitors. For each system, the existing asphalt was removed, as well as the rock and soil below it, to a depth of 6-8 feet. Crews then installed specially designed subsurface drainage and storage infrastructure, placed gravel and soil on top of it, and laid new asphalt to rebuild the parking area.

When completed, the stormwater drainage and storage systems at Jacobi Hospital will manage runoff from 7 acres of impervious area. The systems are composed of over 16,000 individual tanks which can collectively store nearly 400,000 gallons. Parking lots 1 and 3 are completed and will capture 2.81 million gallons and 1.04 million gallons a year, respectively. Lot 4, which is currently under construction, will capture 1.40 million gallons a year. These projects will help to alleviate flooding and address chronic drainage issues at Jacobi. Moreover, by creating additional capacity in the sewer system, the project helps to improve the health of Westchester Creek and mitigate flood risks to the Pelham Parkway sewer system.

The stormwater drainage and storage systems at Jacobi Hospital advance a core commitment of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Climate Resilience Plan, a series of infrastructure projects to ensure the sustainability and resiliency of the public health system’s facilities in the face of climate change. Creating a stormwater flood mitigation system will ensure staff and patients can continue to access the hospital for critically needed services during periods of heavy or extreme rainfall.

Additionally, DEP and Arcadis have recently completed similar work at Flushing Hospital and Pratt Institute.

At Flushing Hospital, the Emergency Room lot was rebuilt with subsurface drainage infrastructure that will capture 390,000 gallons of stormwater annually, reducing flooding and improving the health of nearby Flushing Creek. Additional drainage upgrades are being scheduled at the hospital for the coming months. The work at the Emergency Room lot cost $286,000.

Pratt Institute is located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn and the drainage upgrades took place at two parking lots on campus. Drainage infrastructure built under the Institute’s North Lot will capture 760,000 gallons of stormwater each year, while the rebuilt Main Lot will detain 990,000 gallons annually. This work is complete and will help to reduce flooding in the neighborhood as well as keep pollution out of the East River. The project cost $1.5 million.

The pay-for-performance agreement between DEP and Arcadis allows large private properties in the city, with 50,000 square feet or more of site-level impervious area, to install green infrastructure with funding from the Resilient NYC Partners program. This program simplifies the process for private property owners by having Arcadis handle the bulk of project implementation, which makes stormwater management more attainable to those that qualify, while also expediting the implementation timeline. The types of green infrastructure built through this program include subsurface storage systems, porous pavements, rain gardens, and other site-level practices that can cost-effectively manage stormwater runoff from large impervious areas such as parking lots. As part of the partnership, work has already been completed at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn and a private company, T-Mina Supply, in Queens.

DEP’s nation-leading green infrastructure program has constructed more than 13,000 green infrastructure installations including curbside rain gardens, green roofs, subsurface storage, permeable pavers and green medians. All of these green installations intercept stormwater before it can drain into the sewer system, thereby creating additional capacity in the sewers, which can help to reduce flooding and overflows into local waterways.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $33.3 billion in investments over the next 10 years. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter.

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.

About Arcadis

Arcadis is the leading global design & consultancy organization for natural and built assets. We maximize impact for our clients and the communities they serve by providing effective solutions through sustainable outcomes, focus and scale, and digitalization. We are 36,000 people, active in more than 30 countries that generate €4.0 billion in gross revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world.

Florida Man Sentenced for Biofuel Fraud Conspiracy

 

The General Manager of a company that produces and sells renewable fuel and fuel credits was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel.

Royce Gillham worked at a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. However, when reporting the number of gallons they produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his co-conspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers.

Gillham previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to file false claims.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.

EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and IRS Criminal Investigations investigated the case.

MAYOR ADAMS, NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS, AND HPD ANNOUNCE OPENING OF 93 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AT WOODHULL HOSPITAL

 

$41.1 Million Housing Unit Connects NYC Health + Hospitals Patients ExperiencingHomelessness With Stable, Supportive Housing, On-Site Services, and Access to Health Care 

  

Building to Offer Affordable Housing Units for Extremely Low-Income Seniors and Low-Income New Yorkers 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. today announced the opening of the Woodhull II Residence , a new, $41.5 million 93-unit apartment building that contains both supportive housing and affordable housing for NYC Health + Hospitals patients experiencing homelessness, as well as housing for low-income seniors and low-income New Yorkers. Today’s announcement, once again, builds off the historic progress the Adams administration has made creating new affordable housing, connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing, and keeping New Yorkers in the homes they already have — all helping to advance Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City commitment to make New York City the best place to raise a family. 

  

“Today, we are opening the doors to a healthier, safer, and more affordable New York City, and handing New Yorkers a key to their future at Woodhull Hospital,” said Mayor Adams. “This investment of over $41 million will provide supportive and affordable housing to NYC Health + Hospitals patients experiencing homelessness, as well as to low-income seniors and low-income New Yorkers. This new housing facility is how we make sure we have places for New Yorkers to heal and be cared for, and provide a path to stability, lasting community, and common purpose. Every unit at Woodhull will be a place where someone can reclaim their life, renew hope, and allow their New York story to continue. Together, we are going to build more affordable housing as we make New York City the best place to raise a family.”     

  

“Our patients experiencing homelessness often struggle with an array of health conditions, and the prescription is clear: they need stable housing,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Katz. “Permanent housing makes it easier to manage your blood pressure and diabetes, and living down the block from the hospital makes it easier to see your health care providers. NYC Health + Hospitals is so proud to open this bright, new apartment building today on the campus of Woodhull Hospital with our partners at HPD and Comunilife, and we’re committed to building more housing on our land as soon as possible. Our mission is to care for New Yorkers, and today, to so many of our patients and community members, we can say welcome home.” 

  

“As we take on New York City’s housing challenges head-on, this administration remains steadfast in its commitment to serving our most vulnerable neighbors — those facing serious health issues and homelessness. The Woodhull II Residence is a powerful example of that commitment,” said HPD Commissioner Carrión Jr. “These 93 new homes will change lives, providing stability and support while advancing our mission to make New York a more livable city for everyone.” 

  

The residence is the latest to be opened as part of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Housing for Health initiative between the health system, HPD, and non-profit Comunilife. Located on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, the residence provides stable housing and support services. Eligible patients of NYC Health + Hospitals experiencing homelessness who move into the building’s 56 units of supportive housing will have access to on-site services from Comunilife and health care from Woodhull Hospital. The building also includes 21 affordable units for extremely low-income seniors, 15 affordable units for low-income New Yorkers, and one super’s unit. New Yorkers can apply for the affordable housing units on NYC Housing Connect. 

  

Today’s announcement delivers a continuum-of-care for those experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness to ensure more people get the lasting help they need. The building’s proximity to NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull will give its residents easy access to continuing care. In 2024, the NYC Health + Hospital system provided care for over 80,000 patients experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, including over 17,000 children. Adults experiencing homelessness have three times more hospital and emergency department visits than the general population. In addition to improving participants’ lives by finding them housing, the program is expected to reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits and improve health care outcomes.  

  

This is the second phase of affordable and supportive housing development on the Woodhull Hospital campus. The first phase opened in 2019 and has 89 units of affordable and supportive housing.  

  

Developing housing on hospital land is a key piece of “Housing for Health” — NYC Health + Hospital’s initiative to connect patients experiencing homelessness to stable, affordable housing — as well as a strategy outlined in Mayor Adams’ housing plan — “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness.” The new Woodhull Residence II is one of several projects that will contribute to Housing for Health’s commitment to create nearly 650 new affordable homes in the next five years. Within the next year, additional developments will break ground, including Just Home in the Bronx on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, 1727 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan , and River Commons at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health , Morrisania in the Bronx.  

  

“My apartment is great. I love it,” said Elvis Jordan, a patient of NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and a new resident of the Woodhull Phase II building. “It feels great to sleep in a bed. Before I came to the Safety Net Clinic, I was at rock bottom. I was at my wit’s end thinking nothing would ever come through for me. Nkrumah and everyone here took good care of me. I have so much appreciation for what they did for me.”  

  

Amenities at the Woodhull II Residence will include 24-hour security, laundry, a community room, a computer room, and a bike room. The new building connects to the previous building on the first floor, and they share a commercial kitchen, community space, and back garden. The new development meets design and sustainability standards set by Enterprise Green Communities — the green housing standard for affordable housing — including a smoke-free building, energy efficient appliances, solar panels on the roof, and landscaping that uses native or adapted species with efficient irrigation.  

  

NYC Health + Hospitals contributed land to the project through a 99-year ground lease. Financed through HPD’s Supportive Housing Loan Program, the project includes a city investment of $14.6 million in city subsidy and $15.5 million in city Low Income Housing Tax Credits, as well as $500,000 in Reso A funds from the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. The project also receives operating funding for rental assistance and supportive services through the New York City 15/15 Supportive Housing Initiative.   

  

Since entering office, Mayor Adams has made historic investments toward creating affordable housing and ensuring more New Yorkers have a place to call home. Last December, Mayor Adams celebrated the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing proposal in city history that will build 80,000 new homes over 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure updates and housing. In June 2024, City Hall and the New York City Council agreed to an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invested $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to HPD and the New York City Housing Authority’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed $24.5 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a generational housing crisis. Additionally, just last month, Mayor Adams announced back-to-back record-breaking calendar years producing critically-needed affordable housing across the five boroughs.  

  

Mayor Adams has made supporting New York City’s most vulnerable, including those experiencing serious mental illness and homelessness, a top priority. The Adams administration recently announced unprecedented action to curb homelessness and support people experiencing severe mental illness with a $650 million investment in outreach, safe haven and runaway homeless youth beds, and more. The announcement — which was first unveiled as part of Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City — also includes the creation of “Bridge to Home,” a first-of-its-kind model that will provide a supportive, home-like environment to patients with serious mental illness who are ready for discharge from the hospital but do not have a place to go. The Adams administration has made the largest investment in New York City history in creating specialized shelter beds to address street homelessness. The city has opened 1,400 Safe Haven and stabilization beds since the start of the administration and doubled the number of street outreach teams. New York City’s Housing for Health initiative recognizes that the chronic health issues of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness cannot be treated without stable housing. This initiative seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers by focusing on four strategic areas: navigation services, medical respite beds, affordable housing on hospital property, and social service support for patients in permanent housing.