District 13: As this proposal continues through its process we must be present and vocal! TOMORROW the community advisory committee is meeting and the agenda will also include a presentation from the applicant. I urge you all to show up for our community! Click here to view the livestream if you cannot make it in person! Councilwoman Marmorato 718-931-1721 |
This criminal illegal alien with ties to Tren de Aragua (TdA) entered the U.S. in 2023 and was RELEASED by the Biden Administration
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer against Michel Jordan Castellano Fonseca, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela with ties to Tren de Aragua (TdA).
On Sunday, August 3, 2025, Castellano Fonesca forcibly entered an apartment and shot two women—one allegedly being his sister-in-law and the other being his wife— in front of five children who were present in the home. The shooting resulted in the death of his sister-in-law and left his wife critically injured. The Aurora Police Department charged him with homicide and arrested him on Monday August 4, 2025.
“Michel Jordan Castellano Fonseca, a criminal illegal alien with ties to TDA, was released into our country by the Biden Administration in 2023. On Sunday, this monster shot two women, killing one, in front of five innocent children,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Aurora, Colorado—a sanctuary city—has given cover to Tren de Aragua gang members to terrorize our communities. The brave men and women of ICE will be relentless in their efforts to ensure Tren de Aragua terrorists are removed from our country for GOOD.”
Castellano Fonseca entered the United States illegally in December 2023, under the Biden administration. He was released into the country with a Notice to Appear before an immigration judge.
In October 2024, Castellano Fonseca was arrested by the Port Richey Police Department for driving without a valid license.
At the time of the August 3 arrest, this criminal illegal alien also had a domestic violence warrant for his arrest out of Arapahoe County.
On January 20, 2025, President Donnald J. Trump signed the Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists Executive Order, designating Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. TdA gang members rape, maim, and kill for sport. Under Secretary Noem, ICE has been unleashed to ensure these public safety threats are removed from U.S. communities.
On August 7 Tariff Deadline, Trump Oversees Price Hikes on Everyday Essentials
Consumers and Businesses To Spend Additional $33 Billion To Cover Costs
Computers and Electronic Devices Up More Than 18%; Apparel and Accessories More Than 37%
Governor Hochul today released new data on the expected impact of President Trump’s trade war on New Yorkers’ wallets. On the August 7 tariff deadline, Trump is overseeing historic price hikes on everyday essentials, forcing families to spend an estimated $4,200 in additional federal taxes — all against the backdrop of a national affordability crisis.
“As Trump rings in his August 7 tariff deadline, everyday New Yorkers know today is no cause for celebration. Consumers are bearing the brunt of his reckless and costly trade war, squeezing families’ wallets from the produce section to the back-to-school aisle.” Governor Hochul said. “In New York, the cost of living is too damn high and I’m doing everything in my power to put money back in your pockets. Instead of working with us, President Trump’s tariffs are only spurring more fiscal chaos and uncertainty.”
Here’s what New Yorkers are up against:
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted on second-degree Murder and other related charges for fatally stabbing the mother of his two children.
District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant is accused of viciously stabbing the mother of his children while their 2-year-old daughter was present in the apartment. We will get justice for the children and their family.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Khaleel Cooper, 39, of East 232nd Street, the Bronx was indicted on second-degree Murder, first-degree Manslaughter, fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The defendant was arraigned today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He was remanded. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 21, 2025.
According to the investigation, on the evening of June 28, 2025, a relative of Tamara Rowe, 40, flagged down the police and led them to the apartment. Officers found Rowe on the floor of the bathroom, motionless and covered with blood. A 2-year-old child was found unharmed in one of the bedrooms. Rowe was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Cooper turned himself in two days later, flagging down a police car. In the drive to the 44th Precinct station house, the defendant allegedly made incriminating statements.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Brigette Medina from the 44th Precinct Detective Squad and, Steven Doyle from Bronx Homicide Task Force for their work on the case.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
Victim Met Pimp on Dating App, Was Drugged, Beaten, Forced into Prostitution; Victim Forced to Get Pimp’s Name Tattooed on Her Face Defendants Include Six “Johns”
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that nine men and a woman have been indicted on Sex Trafficking of a Child, Promoting Prostitution, Rape and other charges involving a teenage girl in the Bronx.
District Attorney Clark said, “The victim courageously testified in the grand jury to expose her alleged traffickers and rapists. She is receiving supportive services from our Crime Victims Assistance Bureau and has been able to move on to a better future. This young girl lived a nightmare of abuse and exploitation that began with a dating app. Please remember that there is help for victims of trafficking; we can get you out of it and protect you.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendants are variously charged in a 79-count indictment with, Sex Trafficking of a Child, Second-Degree Promoting Prostitution, Third-Degree Promoting Prostitution, Third-degree Rape, third-degree Criminal Sexual Act, Sexual Misconduct, Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, Endangering the Welfare of a Child. They were arraigned on prior dates before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Laurence Busching. Defendant Joshua Green had a bail hearing today, in which bail was set at $50,000 cash and $100,000 bond. The defendants are due back in court on October 14, 2025.
According to the investigation by the Bronx DA’s Human Trafficking Unit and the NYPD’s Human Trafficking Squad, in November 2022, defendant Tesean Green, 48, of the Bronx, met the 16-year-old girl on the dating app “Tagged.” Within weeks, the defendant allegedly began pimping her out, impersonating her on apps and arranging hundreds of “dates” in New York and Atlantic City, NJ between December 2022 and March 2024. He allegedly plied her with Ecstasy before the encounters and kept all of her earnings.
According to the investigation, Tesean Green fractured the victim’s jaw during a beating in a New Jersey hotel. He allegedly tracked the victim and the other girls’ whereabouts on the Life360 App.
The victim was allegedly forced to sell crack-cocaine to Johns by Joshua Green, of the Bronx, Tesean’s uncle, who also allegedly trafficked the girl.
In October 2023, defendants Jamel Cameron and Brianna Jamison, both of Queens allegedly pimped out the teen at the Holiday Motel at 2291 New England Thruway, Bronx, setting up dates through online commercial sex advertisements on the website MegaPersonals.com.
The other defendants are accused of paying to engage in sex with the victim, who was a minor.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Denis Regimbal from the Human Trafficking Squad for his work on the investigation.
We urge anyone who is, or who believes someone they know is, the victim of trafficking to call the Bronx District Attorney’s Office at 718- 838-6535, or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
An indictment is an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictments of Deepa Roy, 68, of Manhattan and Victor Quimis, 39, of Queens, who worked together to steal the home of Renuka Bherwani, an elderly widow living in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, while she was receiving end-of-life hospice care in her home. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Roy and Quimis forged Bherwani’s signature on documents transferring ownership of her home to themselves. Roy and Quimis later forged additional documents in order to transfer ownership of the home to Hunter Studios & Developer Corp. (Hunter Studios), a corporation owned by Quimis. Quimis then obtained a $552,500 mortgage on the property, allowing him to steal over $300,000 after paying off Bherwani’s prior mortgage and liens in his name. Both Roy and Quimis were charged with multiple felonies for their roles in the scheme. This case is the first of its kind brought under New York’s new deed theft law advanced by Attorney General James that criminalizes deed theft and gives OAG original jurisdiction to prosecute deed theft cases.
“Deepa Roy and Victor Quimis preyed on an elderly widow in hospice to steal the home she owned for nearly 40 years,” said Attorney General James. “Cases like this one are exactly why I fought to advance new laws empowering my office to prosecute deed theft and protect New Yorkers’ homes. I will continue to use the law as both a sword and a shield to stop these despicable crimes and ensure this home is returned to the Bherwani family.”
In 2020, Mrs. Bherwani began receiving in-home care from health aides in the Kew Gardens Hills home she had owned since 1986 with her late husband, Mohan Bherwani. In March 2021, while suffering from dementia, she granted her son, Kamal Bherwani, and daughter-in-law, Sabita Bherwani, full power of attorney to manage her affairs. In 2022, around the time when Mohan passed away, Roy began visiting Mrs. Bherwani in her home, claiming to her aides that she was one of her friends. In the summer of 2024, Roy attempted to persuade Mrs. Bherwani’s health aides to allow her to live in a spare room in the home. Kamal and Sabita rejected this request.
In October 2024, Roy and Quimis allegedly forged a deed with Mrs. Bherwani’s signature transferring ownership of her home to themselves for free. Mrs. Bherwani’s signature was notarized with a forged signature and incorrectly dated stamp from a Nassau County licensed notary. Roy and Quimis also used Mrs. Bherwani’s forged signature on a number of other required real estate transfer documents, including a registration form for water and sewer billing from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
In December 2024, Quimis and Roy used a second forged deed to transfer ownership of the home to Hunter Studios. The Nassau County notary’s signature was again forged on these documents. Quimis used this second fraudulent deed to obtain a mortgage for $552,500. He used this money to pay off Mrs. Bherwani remaining mortgage and liens that were now in his name. He then laundered the proceeds by transferring the remaining $312,037.57 to Hunter Studios’ bank accounts, which he used for his personal benefit. Roy received at least $15,000 for her role in the deed theft via a bank check from the stolen proceeds with a memo line stating, “Per agreement”.
Kamal and Sabita discovered the deed theft in December 2024 while opening mail at the home, where Mrs. Bherwani still lived and was receiving in-home care. Kamal and Sabita found a letter addressed to Quimis from DEP, which congratulated him on becoming the “new owner” of the home and provided instructions on how to set up an online account to pay bills. They reported the deed theft to OAG shortly after.
Quimis was arrested on August 4 and charged with four counts of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, Residential Mortgage Fraud in the Second Degree, Money Laundering in the Second Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. Roy remains at large and faces similar charges.
This is the first deed theft case brought under a new law championed by Attorney General James, which creates a crime of deed theft and gives OAG jurisdiction to prosecute it. If convicted, Quimis and Roy face a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison.
New Yorkers who believe they are a victim of deed theft are encouraged to contact OAG by calling 1(800) 771-7755, emailing deedtheft@ag.ny.gov, or filing a confidential complaint.
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. returned an indictment yesterday charging Elias Rodriguez with murder of a foreign official, hate crimes, firearms offenses, first-degree murder, and assault with intent to kill, for the shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers leaving a reception hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum (CJM). Rodriguez had previously been charged by complaint with murder of a foreign official, firearm offenses, and first-degree murder on May 22.
According to the indictment, on May 21, Rodriguez purchased a ticket to the American Jewish Committee (AJC)’s Young Diplomats Reception being hosted at CJM. Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. who attended the reception. After purchasing the ticket, Rodriguez reviewed information about AJC, which indicated AJC’s support for Israel. After Lischinsky, Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. walked out of the reception, Rodriguez approached them and fired approximately 20 shots. Rodriguez shot Lischinsky and Milgrim multiple times, killing them. C.S. and A.T. escaped uninjured. Rodriguez approached a police officer, said “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” and was arrested. Rodriguez’s previously scheduled “explication” was then posted to his X account; in it, Rodriguez advocated for violence against Israelis.
“This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.”
The Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Field Office of the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Joint Task Force October 7.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia; and Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), Jonathan Mellone, announced today that WILKINS ESTRELLA and CHARLENE MARTE pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud in connection with using social security numbers and other personally identifiable information belonging to hundreds of victims to open debit cards and attempt to fraudulently obtain $1.6 million in pandemic relief funds from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and the New York State Department of Labor. The scheme resulted in almost $1 million in actual losses. ESTRELLA, a former clerk at a Bronx hospital, is also charged with the wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information for accessing and stealing the data of at least 4,005 hospital patients for use in the fraud scheme. ESTRELLA pled guilty yesterday and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2025. MARTE pled guilty on July 28, 2025, and will be sentenced on November 5, 2025.
“Wilkins Estrella stole the personal data of thousands of people, including hospital patients, and used this data along with his partner Charlene Marte to claim money that was intended to assist struggling Americans during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Defrauding federal programs harms all New Yorkers and our Office is committed to stopping it.”
“Wilkins Estrella and Charlene Marte exploited thousands of patient records to steal almost one million dollars from various government programs,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “These defendants misused sensitive identifying information to perpetuate this illicit scheme and reap unlawful proceeds. The FBI remains committed to pursuing any individual who targets confidential medical information for personal enrichment.”
“Wilkins Estrella and Charlene Marte committed numerous frauds against multiple government agencies, including a scheme to defraud the New York State Department of Labor’s unemployment insurance program by misusing the stolen identities of individuals to falsely obtain benefits,” said DOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone. “We will continue to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to safeguard the integrity of U.S. Department of Labor programs.”
As alleged in public court filings, statements at public court proceedings, and the charging documents in the case:
From at least 2020 to 2022, ESTRELLA and his romantic partner, MARTE, misused the names, social security numbers, and other personally identifiable information belonging to hundreds of individuals to fraudulently obtain almost $1 million in COVID-19 stimulus checks and tax refunds from the IRS and unemployment insurance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor. ESTRELLA and MARTE also arranged for these and other funds to be loaded onto hundreds of debit cards that they opened in other people’s names using stolen data, and had the cards mailed to their homes and to the homes of their family members.
ESTRELLA and MARTE obtained this data from multiple sources, including a hospital in the Bronx where ESTRELLA worked as a business clerk for almost a decade. In 2020, ESTRELLA was terminated from that role after an internal systems audit revealed that he had improperly accessed the protected health information of at least 4,005 hospital patients.
ESTRELLA, 40, of Hackensack, New Jersey, and MARTE, 31, of the Bronx, New York, each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. ESTRELLA also pled guilty to wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. In addition, ESTRELLA and MARTE each agreed that they are jointly and severally liable for $951,618.20 in forfeiture and the same amount in restitution.
The statutory maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencings of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and DOL-OIG and thanked the New York State Department of Labor for its assistance in the investigation of the case.
