BAYSIDE WOMAN CHARGED WITH RUNNING PIG BUTCHERING SCAM ON VICTIMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Tiffany Yang was arraigned on charges of grand larceny in the first degree, criminal possession of stolen property and related crimes for allegedly stealing approximately $2.1 million from 17 victims across the country through what is known as a “pig butchering scam.”

These schemes involve scammers who develop relationships with victims under false pretenses and then lure them into fake financial investments. The FBI’s Internet Complaint Center registered approximately $6.57 billion in losses due to investment scams in the United States last year.

The victims in this case were befriended online and then convinced to invest in fraudulent assets through fake websites. The websites often showed artificial gains to manipulate the victims into depositing more money. Eventually, the victims lost access to their “accounts” as the funds were routed to accounts of multiple shell companies in the defendant’s control, and the fraudulent websites were shut down.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant was part of a scheme that gained the trust of victims across the United States and then lured them into a fraudulent investment opportunity and siphoned off their hard-earned money. Pig butchering scams are organized, calculated and cruel. My office has a dedicated Cybercrime Unit to fight back against this large-scale financial fraud. I urge anyone thinking of investing their money to be wary of people offering unsolicited financial advice online. Never share personal financial information with individuals you have not met in person and take the time to consult a trusted friend, a loved one, or a federal or state regulatory authority.”

Yang, 35, of 200th Street in Bayside, was arraigned Wednesday on a 27-count criminal complaint charging her with grand larceny in the first degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree, six counts of grand larceny in the second degree, 11 counts of grand larceny in the third degree, seven counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and scheme to defraud in the first degree.

Yang was previously arraigned on October 3 on a complaint charging her with criminal possession of a firearm.

Criminal Court Judge Maria T. Gonzalez remanded the defendant Wednesday on the 27-count complaint. Yang is due back in court November 13. If convicted of the top count, she faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, one of the victims began chatting with an individual named “Lily List” over Facebook messenger in March 2023. After several days of chatting, the individual suggested switching the conversation to WhatsApp, which is end-to-end encrypted. Eventually, the individual posed a financial opportunity to the victim on a trading platform called Spread Ex Ltd., with a website that appeared to be a lawful trading site. The provided URL was very close to Spread Ex, which is a legitimate financial and betting services company.

A short while later, the victim began wiring money from his personal accounts to what he believed to be his personal Spread Ex Ltd. account – depositing a total of $1,086,244 through 13 wire transfers between March 2023 and February 2024. During this time period, the victim was able to log into the alleged website and view his “investments,” which appeared to be growing.

Eventually, the victim attempted to withdraw money from the account but was unable to do so. He eventually lost access to the Spread Ed Ltd website before it was removed in its entirety.

The subsequent investigation surrounding the victim’s losses determined that one of the victim’s wire transfers was deposited into a JP Morgan Chase account linked to an address of 153-53 77th Avenue, Apartment 2B, in Flushing. A records search revealed that at least 97 JP Morgan Chase customers, many purporting to be businesses, have used the same address as the listed address on the accounts. Some of the names on these accounts were Jian Ma Foot Spa 2 Inc., Chen Graceful Nails, Inc., Chen the Bronx Bar Inc., Chen New Funny Nail Inc., Chen I love Spa Inc., Fend Thao Nail Inc., and others. A further review showed multiple wire transfers into these accounts that were recalled or were confirmed to be fraudulent by the sender.

Investigators with the District Attorney’s Detective Bureau identified an additional 16 victims who had wired their money into the Chase accounts registered to Apartment 2B from August 2023 through January 2024. Each victim stated that they had spoken to a female online who had promised them great investment opportunities. Following these conversations, each victim wired the money believing that they were making successful financial decisions. A short while later, the victims tried unsuccessfully to withdraw their funds and eventually lost all access to their investment accounts.

Deed records from the New York City Department of Finance indicated that the defendant was the registered owner of the condominium. An IP address used to log into the Chase account for Chen Graceful Nails Inc. was traced back to her house in Bayside.

On October 2, members of the District Attorney’s Detective Bureau and the NYPD executed a court-authorized search warrant at the location. The defendant was observed inside and arrested for possession of an unloaded .45-caliber pistol.

The search further uncovered numerous bank receipts, cashier checks, business checks, debit cards as well as forged U.S. Visas and numerous Chinese and U.S. passports, all indicative of fraudulent activity. Yang was re-arrested on October 7 pursuant to the grand larceny charges.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Eleni Karasakalides and other members of the District Attorney’s Detective Bureau and Cybercrime Unit within the Major Economic Crimes Bureau.

The U.S. Department of State and the NYPD provided crucial assistance.

Chicago Rioter with Suspected ties to Antifa Arrested with Firearm and Four Magazines Outside ICE Broadview Facility

 

This violent rioter is a journalist and teacher at the University of Illinois; social media posts glorify violence against federal law enforcement

Chicago Rioter with Suspected ties to Antifa Arrested with Firearm and Four Magazines Outside ICE Broadview Facility

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the Sept. 26 arrest of Elias Cepeda, a violent rioter with suspected ties to Antifa and previous social media posts calling ICE Nazis, outside the ICE Broadview facility. He was carrying a loaded firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), federal partners supporting Operation Midway Blitz, seized the gun.

According to his Linked-in, he is a journalist and is college professor at the University of Illinois.

“Elias Cepeda has suspected ties to the domestic terrorist organization ANTIFA and has a history of glorifying violence against—and the killing of—our brave law enforcement,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Violent individuals like Cepeda are putting the public and our law enforcement’s lives in danger. Just two days after the horrific attack on ICE in Dallas, Cepeda brought a loaded gun and multiple magazines to our ICE Broadview facility. Thank God law enforcement intervened and arrested Cepeda before he could have potentially shot or killed anyone. Let this serve as a stark warning to any individual who wishes to do our law enforcement harm or any ANTIFA terrorist: President Trump and Secretary Noem will fight every day to protect and defend the men and women who keep our country safe from violent extremists and criminal illegal aliens alike.”

Below are some of the most radical X posts from this suspected Antifa terrorist, which include multiple Antifa posts and posts calling ICE nazis and calling for killing of ICE officers.

 

 

 

Governor Hochul Announces Launch of SUNY Brain Institute With $10 Million Investment to Fuel SUNY Excellence in Life-Saving Research

Appropriation from 2025-26 Enacted State Budget Will Fund Research Infrastructure and Shared Equipment at Eligible SUNY Campuses

Multi-Campus Initiative Will Increase Collaboration, Expand SUNY’s Neuroscience Research, and Investigate Topics Including Brain Aging, Stroke, and Mental Health

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $10 million investment to launch the SUNY Brain Institute; a multi-campus initiative focused on expanding SUNY’s groundbreaking neuroscience research. The SUNY Brain Institute will fund shared equipment and research infrastructure at SUNY institutions with significant capacity in this vital area, including SUNY’s four University Centers, as well as the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, and other research-intensive campuses.

“SUNY campuses are leading the way on groundbreaking research that saves lives and improves the quality of life for millions of New Yorkers and people around the planet,”

Governor Hochul said. “The SUNY Brain Institute will leverage all of the strengths of our statewide public higher education system by increasing our researchers’ capacity for new discoveries and life-saving treatments. This is a smart, strategic investment in neuroscience research that will improve lives.”

The $10 million investment is made possible by the capital support SUNY received from the 2025-26 enacted state budget. The new SUNY Brain Institute will foster collaborative neuroscience research between SUNY's over 600 active neuroscience faculty researchers to investigate topics such as brain aging, stroke, mental health, neurodegenerative disorders, and neurotechnology.

The funds will be allocated following the solicitation of proposals from eligible SUNY campuses for shared equipment and research infrastructure. Existing neuroscience research across SUNY includes projects on:

• The progression of early Alzheimer’s disease, and the effects of circadian rhythms on learning and memory at the State University of New York at Albany.
• A study at the State University of New York at Binghamton exploring how electrical engineering principles can be used to better understand neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy body dementia.
• Work on the development of an Alzheimer’s vaccine at the State University of New York at Buffalo that uses immunotherapy to target key sites of the disease’s two main proteins to train the immune system to recognize and attack the proteins more broadly.
• A study at the State University of New York at Stony Brook published in Nature Communications Medicine showcasing technologies that could be used to treat traumatic brain injuries.
• State University of New York Upstate Medical research on vision restoration and identifying cures for the conditions that cause vision degradation and loss.
• A study at the State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University which demonstrates how stress resilience skills in adolescence can improve mental health in adulthood.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News - Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

 

Comptroller DiNapoli Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington Heights

Comptroller DiNapoli celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood. The evening was a celebration of the diverse Hispanic community and recognizing honorees whose service enriches our state and makes the community and New York stronger.

Honored at the celebration were:

• Shaun Abreu, New York City Council Member
• Aneiry Batista, President & CEO of the Batista Group LLC
• José DeJesus, TWU NY State Conference Chairman & Local 106 General Recording Secretary/Senior Political Director
• Rosemary Rivera, Senior Adviser for Citizen Action of New York and co-founder of End Prison Violence
• Susana Osorio, Restauranteur, Entrepreneur

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NYC Area Is Nation's Second-Largest Venture Capital Market

The New York City metropolitan area is the second-largest market for venture capital funding in the United States, with $28.5 billion in investments, or 13.3% of the national total in 2024. The amount invested in the region has more than doubled since 2015, according to a report released by Comptroller DiNapoli. Individual deals valued at more than $50 million drove growth nationally. 

“As the financial capital of the country, New York City is a natural hub for venture capital investing and the latest numbers bear that out,” DiNapoli said. “State and local officials should look at ways to make New York City’s business environment even more attractive to investors and support entrepreneurs who lack access to capital, especially as larger deals divert funds from startups hoping to establish themselves and spur growth in the area’s economy.” 

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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

This Cybersecurity Awareness month, here are some tips from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency on how to protect your personal and financial information in an increasingly digital world. 

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Future Forward Internship Academy:

Where Public Service Careers Begin

The Office of the New York State Comptroller is once again seeking college students to participate in its Future Forward Internship Academy. This 13-week paid summer program is designed to immerse students in the challenges and rewards of public service, offering a unique blend of academic coursework and hands-on professional experience.

Students from all majors are considered and must be completing their sophomore, junior, or senior year of college at the time of application. The application for the Summer 2026 session is now open.

Learn More & Apply

A U D I T S

• Office of General Services – Capital Asset Management (Follow-Up)
• New York State Health Insurance Program – CVS Caremark: Effectiveness of CVS Caremark Audits of the Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program
• New York Power Authority – Selected Management and Operations Practices (Follow-Up)
• Hudson River Valley Greenway – Access Controls and Vulnerability Management
• State Education Department (Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative): The Arc Jefferson-St. Lawrence – Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual

A L S O   I N   T H E   N E W S

• VC investment in city’s pharma and biotech sectors falls amid software boom
• New York families lack shelters amid surging family homelessness, advocates say
• Battle over Elon Musk’s trillionaire pay package builds as pension funds face off against Tesla
• New York Has $20 Billion In Unclaimed Funds, Want Your Money Back?
• Audit: Agency fell behind in its EV charger installation goals

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P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

East Bronx History Forum will be holding its 198th meeting this Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 7:30 pm

 

Dear East Bronx History Forum Member,

With the fast approaching 250th anniversary of the United States, semi quincentennial (half of five hundred years) or if you prefer bisesquicentennial (two sesquicentenaries, meaning two, one-hundred and twenty-five years) either way you would not be wrong. In another manner of speaking, a bisesquicentennial, is a century and a half, by adding bi makes it two and half. However, pardon the math class, the East Bronx History Forum we will be holding its 198th meeting this October 15, 2025 at 7:30 pm in Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Hall located in the lower level of St. Clare of Assisi Church at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue.

Our speaker this month will be a familiar friend, Mr. Stephen Paul DeVillo. Stephen is a local historian and author of The Bronx River in History and Folklore; The Bowery: The Strange History of New York’s Oldest Street and The Battle of White Plains: Washington and Howe in Westchester. He is a longtime walking tour guide of the Bronx River Rambles and has given numerous talks and webinars on topics of the Bronx River, the Revolutionary War and local history. Stephen is firm believer in “research by walking around,” he has explored (on foot or on water) every mile of the Bronx River and the places in The Bronx and Westchester where history has happened.

For this October lecture, he will be focusing on the Neutral Ground, the area in the Bronx and Westchester after the battle of White Plains in 1776, which became a no-man’s land riven by bandits, vigilantes, spies, and clashing military patrols led by some of the most colorful (and lethal) commanders of the day. Termed the “Neutral Ground,” it was a place where nobody was allowed to actually remain neutral, and many people, driven from their homes and farms, became uprooted refugees. So please, join Stephen Paul DeVillo for an illustrated presentation based on his forthcoming book, Westchester in the Revolution: Neutral Ground. We’ll explore the dramatic events of this time, the folklore the conflict engendered, and the legacy that endures to this day.

There is ample free parking just north of the main entrance on Paulding Avenue. Additionally, remember to follow us at BronxNYC.com, and on our Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo and Youtube account pages for the most current updates or information. We look forward to seeing you.

Dorothy A. Krynicki 

Secretary 

ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Cambodian ‘Asian Boys’ Gang Member Suspected of Murdering Woman in TX and Wanted for Another Murder in CA

 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today issued the following statement about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest of Savin Seng, a criminal illegal alien from Cambodia and Asian Boys gang member wanted for the murder of a woman in Victoria, Texas and a murder outside of a strip club in California.  

On October 3, ICE arrested Seng following a brief manhunt after he allegedly murdered a woman in Victoria, Texas. During the arrest, authorities found a loaded firearm and an extra 32-round magazine in Seng’s possession, and he was referred for federal prosecution for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, which is a felony, in addition to being charged with homicide by the state. 

Seng is also wanted in California for allegedly murdering a man outside a North Hills strip club in 2022 and has been convicted of several other criminal offenses in the U.S., including two convictions for burglary and one conviction each for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm and domestic violence. 

“Savin Seng’s multiple victims across California and Texas should be alive today—but this depraved criminal illegal alien and Asian Boys gang member savagely took their lives,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This serial criminal wreaked havoc across multiple states and was on the run before ICE law enforcement officers arrested him. President Trump and Secretary Noem are not going to allow gang members to terrorize American citizens. Our message is clear: criminal illegal aliens should LEAVE NOW. If not, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you very well could end up in CECOT or a third country.”  

Seng was admitted into the U.S. in 1984 but was ordered removed by an immigration judge in April 2016. He has remained in the U.S. illegally for nearly a decade.  

The Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Texas Rangers, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Victoria Police Department assisted in the arrest.

NYPD Commissioner Tisch Appoints Chief Michael LiPetri Interim Chief of Department

 

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the appointment of Chief Michael LiPetri as interim Chief of Department. Chief LiPetri, a 31-year veteran of the NYPD, currently serves as Chief of Crime Control Strategies and is responsible for the design and implementation of the NYPD’s precision policing plan, which has resulted in historic reductions in violent crime.

Chief LiPetri has nearly two decades of experience as an executive in the NYPD, previously serving as the commanding officer of Transit District 32, the 101st, 79th, and 75th Precincts, and the Office of the Chief of Department, among other assignments. He will take over the role from Chief John Chell, who is retiring after 31 years in the NYPD.

“The NYPD’s success depends on precision, data-driven policing and effective leaders who create and execute this strategy,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Chief LiPetri is a true crime fighter, and under his leadership, the NYPD has delivered record-low shootings across the city and the safest quarter ever on the subways. As the interim Chief of Department, he will continue to lead the NYPD’s work to reduce crime and disorder and build public trust. I would like to thank Chief John Chell for his more than 30 years of service to this department and New York City.”

“For more than 31 years, Chief Mike LiPetri has helped make our city safer and helped ‘Get Stuff Done’ for the people of New York,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “When I say the NYPD has a deep bench, I mean it — throughout his tenure as Chief of Crime Control Strategies, Chief LiPetri was the architect of the NYPD’s successful crimefighting strategy resulting in the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims in recorded history. His ability to quickly assess and deploy resources while fostering partnerships with the community and other agencies makes him the perfect fit for the top uniformed position in the NYPD. I also want to thank Chief of Department John Chell for his more than three decades of service to the city and for leading the NYPD through its seven straight quarters of continuing crime declines. Our city owes him a debt of gratitude.”

As interim Chief of Department, Chief LiPetri is the NYPD’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, charged with overseeing the department’s crime-fighting and public safety strategies, quality-of-life initiatives, and operational plans. Chief LiPetri will continue to serve as Chief of Crime Control Strategies — a role he has held for the past six years. Chief LiPetri has a master’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is a graduate of both the Columbia University Police Management Institute and the FBI National Academy.

NYC Council Releases Agency Report Card for the Department of Parks and Recreation, Urging Increased Support for City Parks

 

Council issues “B” Rating for Parks Department and cites need for increased funding to improve staff capacity and meet public demand

The New York City Council released its agency report card for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the second-ever agency evaluation established by the Council that stemmed from Speaker Adams’ 2024 State of the City proposal.  The evaluation issued DPR an overall letter grade of B, acknowledging the agency’s success in maintaining and transforming the City’s parks and green spaces and communicating and collaborating with local community partners, while navigating the difficulties of its financial constraints from constrained budget commitments by the mayoral administration. The report card identified a lack of adequate staffing levels in the department and public transparency regarding its facilities’ availability and improvements. It also recommended a focus on improving parks in environmental justice areas that have disproportionately experienced negative impacts from pollution and lacked equitable access. The report card comes after over a year of direct engagement with the city agency, roundtables involving advocates and stakeholders, and feedback from survey responses.

“The Department of Parks and Recreation plays a vital role in maintaining and providing access to city parks and recreational facilities for all New Yorkers,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “In recent budget cycles, the Council has fought to restore budget cuts to the Department and strengthen its capacity to serve our city, but our parks require greater resources. The agency must be recognized and funded by the mayoral administration to fulfill its essential role in our city government. I want to thank Council staff for their work on this report and all those who participated in this effort to improve one of our city’s most critical agencies.”

DPR manages more than 30,000 acres of land, including public pools, athletic fields, cemeteries, playgrounds, beaches, and other green spaces and recreational facilities. Yet compared to other major US cities, New York City allocates much less to Parks in terms of its percentage of the city budget. While the Council’s evaluation found DPR to be a well-run agency overall, it is hampered in fulfilling its mission and responsibilities by underfunding, deprioritization by the mayoral administration, and a lack of interagency coordination. The Council also identified several areas of improvement, including transparency on the progress of capital projects, real-time updates to the public regarding facility and program availability, and collaboration with nonprofit partners.

The Council’s Report Card initiative evaluates city agencies and assigns letter grades based on several pillars, including leadership, strategy, and direction, relationships and collaboration, service delivery, workforce development, and digital government. This second report card follows the Council’s inaugural report on the Department of Veteran Services. The agency report card initiative was first announced in Speaker Adrienne Adams’ 2024 State of the City address, in which she called for enhanced oversight and accountability for city government agencies.

“The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and the green spaces they maintain play a pivotal role in making our city more liveable, breathable, and beautiful,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation. “Year after year, they’ve been let down by mayoral promises to fund the department at 1% of the city’s budget, resulting in workers with poor job security and inadequate tools to keep our parks clean and thriving. The State of the City Report Card score of a “B” is indicative of the need for more funding and dedication to our parks.

Among the Council’s recommendations to strengthen the agency’s operations are:

Leadership, Strategy, and Direction

• DPR should release a strategic plan that includes agency priorities, a timeline of accomplishing its goals, and a statement of responsibility.
  • Currently, the agency’s previous strategic plans are not up to date, and it is unclear what has and has not been accomplished.

Workforce Development

• DPR should consider identifying and explaining the optimal number of employees it will require to meet its strategic priorities, with caveats for the seasonal nature of their work and requirements for longer-term projects.
  • Half of survey respondents strongly disagreed that the Department had the staff needed to support all facilities, programming, and function efficiently.

Relationships and Collaboration

• DPR works in tandem with local and nonprofit community partners to maintain its parkland and facilities and provide programming citywide.
• To improve communication and service delivery, the Department should designate a point of contact for each organization to streamline communication and ensure organizational communication needs are met.

Service Delivery for New Yorkers

• To further its efforts to improve its efforts on transforming parks in under-resourced neighborhoods, DPR should incorporate a focus on improving parkland areas under its jurisdiction in environmental justice areas that have experienced disproportionate negative impacts from environmental pollution.
• DPR should explore partnerships with non-profits and private entities to improve parks users’ access to programs with limited availability (e.g. swim teams, sports teams, summer camps, etc.).
• DPR should utilize social media posts and website banners to improve communication on immediate updates on programming and facility availability.

Financial and Resource Management

• DPR should improve its Capital Project Tracker by enabling the public to see if projects are over, on, or under budget.
  • DPR capital projects have often taken much longer than expected, leading them to go over budget. At the same time, the agency’s Capital Projects Division has the highest number of vacancies of all divisions.