Jamaican National Charged With Committing Robbery In Mount Vernon And Discharging Firearm At Police While In Flight

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of a Complaint against Jamaican national JAMAIRE ROBERTSON in connection with the armed robbery of a gas station attendant working in Mount Vernon, New York, in the early morning hours of August 29, 2025.  ROBERTSON was arrested the same day and presented in Manhattan federal court on Saturday, August 30, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine A. Parker, who ordered him detained. 

“As alleged, Jamaire Robertson committed a terrifying gunpoint robbery of a gas station attendant and then, minutes later, shot at police officers trying to stop him on a residential street in Mount Vernon,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Those willing to use guns and violence to terrorize our community and put law enforcement lives at risk should expect to face serious consequences. Anyone who disrupts the safety of New Yorkers and the dedicated officers responsible for keeping us all safe will be swiftly brought to justice.”      

“Jamaire Robertson and his associate allegedly robbed a local gas station employee by brandishing firearms to forcefully steal the victim’s wallet, and Robertson allegedly fired upon officers,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.  “Not only did Robertson’s alleged actions terrorize a random citizen for a nominal payout, but they also recklessly endangered the lives of local law enforcement officers.  This arrest reflects the FBI’s enduring determination to apprehend any armed criminal through Operation Summer Heat, so our communities are protected from unnecessary acts of violence.”

As alleged in the Complaint filed on August 30, 2025, in White Plains federal court:[1]

On the morning of August 29, 2025, ROBERTSON and an associate (“Suspect-2”) exited a vehicle registered to ROBERTSON parked near ROBERTSON’s apartment in the Bronx and set out together on foot at approximately 5:19 a.m. toward a gas station on Mount Vernon Avenue in nearby Mount Vernon.

At approximately 5:29 a.m., ROBERTSON and Suspect-2, each brandishing a handgun, violently robbed the gas station’s attendant, stealing approximately $500-$600 in cash on the victim’s person along with the victim’s wallet.  The robbery was captured on video surveillance.

The perpetrators fled the gas station and separated, with ROBERTSON seeking cover on a residential street in Mount Vernon near its border with the Bronx.  There, ROBERTSON was observed in flight by New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officers who were aware of the gas station robbery that had taken place minutes before.  When the NYPD officers sought to approach ROBERTSON, he opened fire with his handgun and fled, discarding his weapon and a black hooded sweatshirt he wore during the robbery, which were recovered from the scene.

Security camera footage from ROBERTSON’s apartment building captured him returning home in his underwear and a t-shirt at approximately 6:25 a.m. and disposing additional articles of clothing down his building’s trash chute later that day, before his arrest.

If you have information to report regarding this robbery, please contact the FBI through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or by completing its online tip form at tips.fbi.gov.

ROBERTSON, 28, a Jamaican national, is charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  ROBERTSON is also charged with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which carries an additional mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, which must be served consecutive to any other prison term imposed.     

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.                

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarlitto is in charge of the prosecution.   

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

United States Intervenes and Sues ProMedica Health System, Inc. and Its Affiliates for Providing Grossly Substandard Nursing Home Services

 

The United States has intervened and filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under the False Claims Act (FCA) against ProMedica Health System, Inc. (ProMedica) and various affiliated entities including HCR ManorCare Inc. and four nursing homes located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia (the defendants). ProMedica is a nonprofit corporation that is headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. From 2018 to 2023, it owned and controlled the following four nursing homes: ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation - Pottstown (Pennsylvania), ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation - Riverview (Ohio), ProMedica Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation - Greenville East (South Carolina), and ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation - Imperial (Virginia).

In its complaint in intervention, the United States alleged that the four nursing homes provided non-existent, grossly substandard skilled nursing facility care or services that otherwise failed to meet the required standards of care under the Nursing Home Reform Act. The United States alleged that, from 2017 to 2023, the defendants failed to develop or follow individualized care plans for their residents. Specifically, in many cases, the facilities failed to provide adequate wound care to prevent pressure ulcers, failed to maintain residents’ hygiene and to provide showers as required, and failed to provide residents with appropriate assistance with feeding, which led to severe weight loss in many cases. To conceal their provision of grossly substandard care, in some cases, defendants falsely documented in resident medical records that care and services had been provided to residents when it had not been.

“The Justice Department is committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, including elderly and infirm individuals who depend on nursing homes for safe and dignified skilled nursing care,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Grossly substandard care places nursing home residents at serious risk of harm and this suit sends a clear message that we will pursue health care providers who fail to meet their legal obligations to provide required care and who betray the trust of the residents they are meant to serve.”

“An increasing number of older adults and persons with disabilities are residing in long-term care facilities. These residents are often particularly vulnerable to inadequate assessment and treatment of their needs,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Beginning almost 30 years ago, the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania filed some of the first False Claims Act complaints and reached some of the first settlements in the United States to focus on quality of care in the nursing home environment. This complaint again serves notice to the nursing home industry that a failure to provide adequate nursing home care will not be tolerated. Public funds expended for nursing home residents must result in appropriate care, which is what the government pays for, and the law requires.”

The complaint in intervention is the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. This matter is being handled by Fraud Section attorneys Susan C. Lynch, Robbin O. Lee, and Samuel P. Robins, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Degnan and Gerald B. Sullivan for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The case is captioned United States, et al., ex. rel. Compton v. HCR ManorCare, Inc., et al., No. 16-cv-0851 (E.D. Pa.). 

The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

Wave Hill Weekly Events (Sep 4 – Sep 11) | Find Your Fall Sanctuary at Wave Hill: Watercolor Workshops & Yoga

 

The crisp air of September inches into our mornings and a breeze passes through the leaves. A process that prepares us for the cooler months to come. Take in the change of seasons at Wave Hill and find comfort in this natural transformation of the gardens. Through our Yoga in the Garden or a Watercolor Workshop Series, elevate your senses as you find your favorite ways to ground yourself and observe these morphing landscapes.  

  

  

Wellness: 

 

Yoga in the Garden 

Sun, Sep 7, 10:15AM – 11:15AM 

Registration required.   

Root your feet in the grass and look out upon the vistas as you enjoy a gentle yoga class. All levels welcome. 

 

Garden Highlights Walk 

Sun, Sep 7, 1:00PM – 1:30PM 

Free with admission to the grounds   

Registration not required.   

Take a leisurely guided walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide to observe seasonal garden highlights! Each walk varies by the guide leading it. 

 

 

Art: 

 

Public Gallery Tour 

Thur, Sep 4 , 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Sat, Sep 6, 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Visitors can expect an in-depth look at artworks on view in Glyndor Gallery and in the Sunroom Project Space, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden between nature, culture and site. 

 

Landscape in Layers: Plein Air Watercolor Workshop Series 

Thur, Sep 4 , 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Registration required. 

Experience Wave Hill’s abundant gardens and sublime views from the tip of a brush saturated with a palette of watercolors, guided by artist Wennie Huang. Each week, explore how the spontaneity and liquid nature of watercolors enhance our vision of the landscape painted in luminous layers. Weekly demonstrations, individual guidance, and group critiques prepare participants at all levels for the unforgettable experience of painting en plein air. 

 

 

Family: 

 

Raptors in Flight: Identifying Birds of Prey 

Thu, Sep 4, 7:00PM – 8:00PM 

Free with registration 

Registration required. 

Sharpen your skills as a bird-of-prey birder in this virtual class and gain the ability to distinguish between accipiters, buteos, vultures, eagles and more! Learn how their shapes reflect their behavior and ecology, and how subtle differences in form and pattern will allow you to identify raptors with a newfound confidence, just in time for fall migration season. 

 

Family Art Project: Such Are Snakes 

Sat, Sep 6, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, Sep 7, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Unravel the secrets of these limbless creatures as you learn about their colorful patterns, remarkable abilities, and which ones can be spotted at Wave Hill. Channel your new knowledge to make your own snake sculpture from recycled materials.    

 

   

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–5:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

Shuttle Service Free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.   

Governor Hochul Recognizes Suicide Prevention Month and Announces Statewide Efforts To Help At-Risk New Yorkers

Proclamation Issued To Mark September as Suicide Prevention Month; State Landmarks and Bridges To Be Illuminated in Purple and Teal

New York Had the Second-Lowest Suicide Rate in the Nation in 2023; Is Among the National Leaders in Prevention Efforts

Governor Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Month in New York and outlined some of the initiatives that have made the state a national leader in reducing these tragic deaths. Additionally, Governor Hochul directed State landmarks and bridges to be illuminated in purple and teal at dusk today, Sept. 2, to recognize prevention efforts and show solidarity with New Yorkers whose lives have been impacted by suicide.

“Even one suicide is one too many,” Governor Hochul said. “In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, we are redoubling our prevention efforts and raising awareness of the statewide resources available to help those in crisis or anyone who feels like they need someone to talk to.”

September is recognized nationally as Suicide Prevention Month, dedicated to promoting awareness, education, and action to prevent suicide. The recognition honors the lives lost to suicide, supports the survivors of suicide loss, and reinforces New York State’s commitment to mental health and wellness for all.

New York had the second-lowest suicide rate in the nation in 2023, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The State’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is also among the most active in the nation, logging more than 43,000 calls in July alone –second only to California.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available any time of the day or night by phone, text, or chat. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State has significantly expanded the capacity of 988 Crisis Contact Centers by increasing funding from $35 million in FY 2023 to $60 million annually.

Supported in all 62 counties statewide, 988 provides a connection to trained crisis counselors who can help anyone thinking about suicide, struggling with substance use, experiencing a mental health crisis or any other kind of emotional distress to receive personalized support, get immediate help, and connect with follow-up services.

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “No matter what, help is always available and it’s only a simple phone call, text, or online chat away. By calling 988 when you’re feeling troubled or depressed, you can connect with a friendly counselor who is trained to get you the assistance you need. Governor Hochul’s steadfast commitment to supporting 988 and other suicide prevention initiatives is helping to save lives.”

Governor Hochul also issued a proclamation acknowledging September as Suicide Prevention Month in New York. She also ordered 16 state landmarks and bridges to be illuminated in purple and teal tonight, Sept. 2, including:

• One World Trade Center
• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
• State Education Building
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• Empire State Plaza
• State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
• Niagara Falls
• The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
• Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct
• Albany International Airport Gateway
• MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
• Moynihan Train Hall
• Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park

Suicide claimed the lives of almost 2,000 individuals in New York in 2023 and is the second-leading cause of death for youth and young adults between the age of 10 and 24, as well as individuals between the age of 25 and 34. Consistent with national trends, the suicide rate among males in New York is 3.5 times the rate among females.

As part of an effort to address suicide deaths, the state has undertaken several initiatives that are aimed at those New Yorkers who are most at risk.

Last year, the State’s Office of Mental Health (OMH) Suicide Prevention Center of New York launched the MISSION project, a five-year federally funded suicide prevention program that is now reaching thousands of youths in the Staten Island area of New York City. This project provided suicide screening for more than 1,400 youth over the past six months and referred 1,110 of them for crisis or mental health services –92 percent of these referrals resulted in these individuals receiving care through the grant’s clinical partnership. This project has also provided school-based mental health providers and clinical or community partners with suicide prevention training.

The State is also continuing to implement the CARES UP initiative, which is aimed at expanding resiliency and suicide prevention efforts among uniformed personnel, including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, corrections officers, and emergency dispatchers. OMH has provided funding to 37 first responder organizations through CARES UP and seven veteran serving organizations via a program called Onward Ops. The CARES UP program provides $30,000, for each discipline, annually over two years to increase suicide prevention efforts and wellness programming in their agencies. Governor Hochul was successful in tripling funding for the program in the FY 2025 State Budget, increasing it to $3 million annually.

Through CARES UP, more than 575 uniformed personnel have received mental health and wellness training specifically designed for those working in emergency services. Additionally, roughly $1.7 million has been provided to support first responder suicide prevention, resiliency, and peer support team development training. Onward Ops has helped screen 1,172 service members for suicide risk as they transition back into their community after their tour of duty ends. This program has helped nearly 500 of these individuals to connect with volunteer mentors trained to help ease this transition.

OMH is also overseeing the Capital Connect initiative, a five-year $4.9 million federally funded project that is implementing evidence-based programs and resources designed to support social connectedness in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties.

Now in its third year, the initiative’s Youth-Nominated Support Team program supports the support network of suicidal youth, an approach that has been shown in a study to save youth lives. Young people between the ages of 12 and 24 who have recently attempted or thought about suicide select three or four trusted adults who receive coaching from a trained therapist on how best to support the youth. So far, more than 200 youth have been referred to the program. Additionally, this grant has provided enhanced suicide prevention training and support to more than 40 school districts in the Capital Region.

Capital Connect is also partnering with the construction industry to help raise awareness and foster prevention efforts among the trade. Building Hope Through Action launched in January and has partnered with five construction organizations, which each completed needs assessments to identify gaps in policy, awareness, culture, and education that could be filled to improve their suicide prevention efforts.

Additionally, OMH is in the second year of the Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care program, a five-year $10 million federally funded initiative to expand mental health services and use the collaborative care model in youth-serving primary care practices. More than 500 youth from 15 primary care practices have received this care, with nearly all having been assessed for suicide risk.

Under Governor Hochul’s direction, OMH also reconvened the Suicide Prevention Task Force with a goal of strengthening public health approaches, enhancing health system competencies, improving data surveillance methods, and infusing cultural competency in the state’s suicide prevention strategy. Specifically, this task force has a charge to look at special populations in New York, including rural communities.