Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul

“For months, Donald Trump illegally suspended funding for the Gateway Tunnel, putting the most important infrastructure project in the nation in jeopardy. Today — after our preliminary court victories and repeated conversations with the President about the need to keep funds flowing — we secured a major result: The federal government released the remaining $98 million in overdue funding to Gateway and provided an additional $30 million in reimbursements for work completed in January.

“This afternoon, the Gateway Development Commission will notify contractors to prepare to resume work next week. Many of the 1,000 union workers I stood with yesterday, whose livelihoods were put at risk by the President’s actions, will soon be back on the job.

“I have told the President repeatedly that when he targets New York, we will fight back and we will not back down. Today’s progress is significant, but we need certainty that Gateway funding will remain in place for the duration of the project. The federal government has a legal obligation to fully fund Gateway, and New York will accept nothing less.”

Gainesville Man Sentenced for Carrying Multiple Firearms While Selling Drugs

 

Kendrick J. Hills Jr., 23, of Gainesville, Fla., was sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office is committed to backing up our brave men and woman of law enforcement on the front lines of this battle against drugs and violence in our communities. We will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America to ensure our streets are safe and our communities are drug-free.”

Court documents reflect that the defendant was pulled over for multiple traffic violations. During the traffic stop, law enforcement smelled and observed marijuana in his vehicle. The presence of illegal narcotics was also confirmed by a K9 on scene. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a stolen 9-millimeter pistol on the driver’s floorboard, a .40-caliber pistol with an extended 22-round magazine under the driver’s seat, and a backpack filled with almost a pound of marijuana and drug-distribution paraphernalia, such as scales and baggies. The defendant later admitted that he possessed the firearms to protect himself, including protecting himself from the risk of drug-related robberies.

“This case is an example of the proactive work our deputies do every day to identify criminal activity before it escalates into something even more dangerous,” said Sheriff Chad D. Scott, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. “Through strong partnerships with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office, we are sending a clear message: Alachua County will not tolerate drug distribution and the armed criminal behavior that so often accompanies it.”

“I’m proud of the way our agents and officers from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office came together to bring this criminal to justice,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “We have great relationships with our North Florida law enforcement partners, and I look forward to our continued enforcement efforts together.”

The defendant’s imprisonment will be followed by a seven-year term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face additional prison time.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.

Two Defendants Charged With Murdering Man at a Queens Intersection

Victim was Fatally Shot in His Vehicle Over a Drug Debt Dispute 

At the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Rafael Hernandez, also known as “Cap” and “Ralphy,” and Joibel Perez, also known as “J.P.,” with multiple crimes relating to the February 26, 2021 murder of Akil Kornegay in Queens, New York.  The defendants were arrested and were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and indictment.

“As alleged, the defendants chose to escalate a drug dispute to a deadly act of retaliation,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Such flagrant violence in our communities will not be tolerated and I commend the FBI Special Agents, NYPD detectives, and our prosecutors for their resolve and hard work resulting in today’s arrests.  Our Office is committed to preventing the loss of life due to drug and gun crimes.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force, the NYPD Queens South Homicide Squad, the 102nd Precinct Detective Squad, and the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for their work on the case.

“Rafael Hernandez and Joibel Perez allegedly murdered a customer of their drug trafficking operation over a debt dispute,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Their drug distribution and retaliatory violence endangered nearby residents. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, the FBI remains dedicated to crushing violent crime by dismantling criminal enterprises and holding those who terrorize our communities accountable.”

As alleged in court filings, Hernandez and Perez operated a lucrative drug trafficking business, distributing marijuana out of the Taylor Street-Wythe Avenue Housing Development in Brooklyn.  A dispute over a drug debt arose between the defendants and Kornegay, who was their customer.  Text messages sent by Hernandez to Kornegay reflect demands for payment, or “bread,” and accuse Kornegay of “ducking” the defendants and “playing kid games.”  As the dispute escalated, Kornegay robbed the defendants of drugs, money, and other items.  In retaliation for that robbery, in the early morning hours of February 26, 2021, the defendants stalked Kornegay, following him as he drove through a Queens neighborhood.  They pulled alongside Kornegay when he stopped at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard and fired multiple shots into the vehicle. Kornegay sustained multiple gunshot wounds and crashed his vehicle into a pole, and died as a result.

The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of narcotics conspiracy, possessing, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and causing Kornegay’s death through the use of a firearm, the defendants face a maximum term of life in prison.

Transferred Mexican National Sentenced for Role in Large Scale International Cocaine Trafficking Offense

 

A Mexican national was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to import approximately 1,900 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.

According to court documents, the defendant, Jose Francisco Mendoza-Gomez, was a member of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Marisela Flores-Torruco that was responsible for importing multi-hundred-kilogram quantities of cocaine into the United States for years. The DTO also engaged in bulk cash smuggling, bribery of Mexican officials and attempted kidnappings related to rival traffickers.

The DTO, which had operations in New York, Texas, and elsewhere in the United States, sourced its cocaine from Colombia and provided logistical and financial support to coordinate the narcotics’ passage through Central America and Mexico and into the United States. During the investigation, law enforcement made several cocaine seizures, including approximately 971 kilograms of cocaine on April 21, 2017, and 500 kilograms of cocaine on May 10, 2017, nearly all of which was attributable to the DTO.   

In addition to cocaine trafficking, the DTO transported substantial illicit proceeds earned from its operations back to Mexico and elsewhere. DTO members engaged in bulk money transfers with cocaine suppliers and utilized a Chinese money laundering network to repatriate bulk narcotics proceeds out of the United States. The DTO also engaged in bribery of Mexican officials, including to gain access to information useful to its cocaine trafficking operations, and planned and attempted to execute multiple kidnappings related to rival drug traffickers and in efforts to secure outstanding debts.

Mendoza-Gomez assisted in coordinating and transporting cocaine for distribution in the United States, handled hundreds of thousands worth of narcotics proceeds, provided advice to the DTO’s leader and participated in the DTO’s efforts to plan kidnappings and obtain information from corrupt Mexican officials.

On Aug. 12, 2025, Mendoza-Gomez, along with 25 other fugitives, were transferred from Mexico to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated the transfers.

Two of the defendant’s co-conspirators, Marisela Flores-Torruco and Qiyun Chen, have been convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for their roles within the DTO, as have several individuals involved in the related Chinese money laundering network. Flores-Torruco pleaded guilty to possession, manufacture, or distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. Chen pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, with assistance from DEA’s offices in Cartagena (Colombia), Bogota (Colombia), Panama City, Mexico City, and Guatemala City. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service provided substantial assistance in the investigation.

Senior Executives Of Telecom Company Charged In Accounting Fraud Scheme

 

Andrew Warner and Kishore Vangipuram Schemed to Defraud Investment Firm in Connection with Its $915 Million Acquisition of Mobileum, Inc.

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, James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging ANDREW WARNER, the former Chief Financial Officer of Mobileum, Inc., and KISHORE VANGIPURAM, the former Chief of Delivery of Mobileum, with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, securities fraud, and wire fraud.  The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged scheme by WARNER and VANGIPURAM to inflate Mobileum’s key financial metrics in advance of the company’s 2022 sale to an investment firm at an enterprise value of $915 million. Mobileum declared bankruptcy in 2024, after the fraud was uncovered.  WARNER surrendered in San Jose, California, and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen.  VANGIPURAM was arrested at the San Francisco International Airport and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken. 

“As alleged, Andrew Warner and Kishore Vangipuram manipulated Mobileum’s financial metrics to sell the company at a higher price and, as a result, line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “The company’s investors, creditors, and employees deserved fair and complete financial information, not inflated numbers and schemes.  When C-Suite executives commit fraud, the women and men of our Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will hold them accountable.  That is what investors and the American people want.” 

“Andrew Warner and Kishore Vangipuram allegedly exaggerated their company’s fiscal success through doctored billable hours and invoices to defraud an unsuspecting investment firm of nearly one billion dollars,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.  “These two executives allegedly exploited their respective CFO and CDO positions to betray the trust of an interested buyer out of selfish greed.  The FBI continues to protect the integrity of corporate transactions from fraudsters seeking to profit from deceitful practices.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court:

WARNER and VANGIPURAM were the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Delivery Officer, respectively, of Mobileum, a Silicon Valley-based company that provided data analytics and network solutions to telecommunications firms around the world.

Beginning in or about September 2021, WARNER and VANGIPURAM schemed to deceive an investment firm into overpaying for Mobileum as part of a private equity transaction.  To inflate Mobileum’s apparent value, and to convey the illusion of robust growth and operational efficiency, WARNER and VANGIPURAM falsified the company’s financial metrics, including revenue and unbilled revenue.  In or about March 2022, after receiving those artificial metrics, the investment firm acquired Mobileum at an inflated enterprise value of $915 million.  In connection with the sale, WARNER received approximately $5.2 million, and VANGIPURAM received approximately $5.5 million, in cash, stock, and other proceeds.

WARNER and VANGIPURAM’s scheme hinged on the fraudulent acceleration of revenue. Under Mobileum’s accounting method, the company purported to recognize revenue over the life of a project in proportion to the work performed.  Consequently, any inflation of hours worked, or reduction in estimated total effort, resulted in fraudulent recognition of revenue.  WARNER and VANGIPURAM manipulated the revenue recognized by directing employees to transfer hours from projects where the hours were non-billable to projects where the hours were billable, to create the false appearance that billable work had been performed.  They also directed employees to artificially reduce the “level of effort” for projects, effectively shrinking the total work required so that work already performed represented a higher percentage of the contract.  By making projects appear significantly closer to completion than was factually accurate, the defendants manufactured millions of dollars in imaginary revenue.

To cover up their fraudulent acceleration of revenue, WARNER and VANGIPURAM engaged in more fraud.  Their fraudulent revenue acceleration resulted in a substantial spike in “unbilled revenue”—income recognized on Mobileum’s books but not yet invoiced to customers.  Before the sale of Mobileum, when the potential buyer repeatedly inquired about Mobileum’s high unbilled revenue as a red flag indicating poor cash conversion, WARNER and VANGIPURAM directed employees to create fictitious invoices for billing milestones that Mobileum never reached. To prevent discovery of the underlying fraud by Mobileum’s clients, WARNER instructed that those invoices be processed internally to satisfy the investment firm’s scrutiny but strictly withheld from the customers themselves.

Even after the sale of Mobileum to the investment firm, WARNER and VANGIPURAM continued their deceptive practices to prevent the investment firm from discovering the true state of Mobileum’s financial health.  After the sale, VANGIPURAM cautioned a subordinate not to send emails about their invoicing because it would land them in a “lot of trouble.”  The scheme unraveled in 2024 after the investment firm discovered the defendants’ fraud, Mobileum’s true financial condition was disclosed, and the company—which the defendants had represented as a nearly billion-dollar enterprise—filed for bankruptcy.

WARNER, 62, of Morgan Hill, California, and VANGIPURAM, 53, of Pleasanton, California, are charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

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

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: State's Tuition Assistance Program Not Keeping Up With Inflation, Tuition Costs

 

77,000 Fewer Undergrad Students Receiving Help Compared to 2008

A new report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli finds that New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), the state’s primary need-based grant program for college students, has not kept pace with inflation or rising tuition costs since the 2008-09 academic year (AY) and that undergraduate TAP recipients dropped by 77,000 (21%), with steep declines among two-year programs (45%), private-sector schools (40%), and lowest income households (38%).

“TAP has helped generations of New Yorkers attend college, but it’s falling behind the realities of today’s costs,” DiNapoli said. “Updating award criteria so that TAP continues to be a useful support for families is needed to help New York retain talent and ensure students have the resources they need to succeed.”

The decline in recipients since 2008 is partially related to the fall in high school graduates and the drop in postsecondary enrollments, but utilization of TAP was already dropping at a greater pace than for resident enrollment in many sectors, before rebounding in AY 2024-25.

Between AYs 2008-09 and 2024-25, the average award increased only 21% to $2,643, while inflation rose 44% during this time. Over the same period, State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) tuition grew more than three times faster.

Only students from households earning $7,000 or less qualified for the maximum annual TAP award of $5,665 in AY 2025-26, an income ceiling that has not changed for 30 years. Students receiving maximum awards in AY 2024-25 decreased 38% since AY 2008-09.

Limited Support for Many Recipients

TAP is a more meaningful source of support for students at public institutions, where tuition tends to be more affordable. For these students, average awards cover 36% to 42% of tuition depending on system and level of degree. The average TAP award for students attending private sector institutions covers just 6.5% of the average four-year non-profit school tuition. TAP may not be used for non-tuition costs, which can represent significant expenses.

Expanding TAP Access

Recent state actions to expand eligibility for TAP have coincided with the highest number of TAP recipients in AY 2024-25 since AY 2019-20. New York has provided new assistance for certain students to pursue postsecondary education and retraining for career shifts, and has increased income limits for students to qualify for an award. In 2024-25 alone, there was a 20% increase in the number of total TAP recipients from the prior year. The gains across different groups demonstrate the impact of broadening access for part-time study and non-degree or certificate programs along with expanding household income ceilings for eligibility.

These actions support institutes of higher education that have been expanding their enrollments with historically under-represented students, including those who are older and independent. DiNapoli said updating criteria that determine sizes of TAP awards and consideration of TAP’s use for non-tuition purposes are options policymakers can consider for providing support that New York students need to pursue postsecondary education here, enabling them to realize economic benefits for themselves, their families and the state.

Analysis

Is New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program Meeting Need?

Related Reports

Federal Impact on Higher Education – Federal Funding and New York | Office of the New York State Comptroller

Higher Education in New York: Evaluating Competitiveness and Identifying Challenges

Air Quality Health Advisory Issued for New York City Metro Region

 

In Effect for Wednesday, February 18, 2026

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald are issuing an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate matter on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, for the New York City Metro region due to light winds and limited atmospheric mixing. 

The pollutant of concern is: Fine Particulate Matter  

The advisory will be in effect from 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.    

The Air Quality Health Advisory region consists of: New York City Metro, which includes New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties; 

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern. 

Fine Particulate Matter

Fine particulate matter (PM) consists of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. PM 2.5 can be made of many different types of particles and often come from processes that involve combustion (e.g., vehicle exhaust, power plants, and fires) and from chemical reactions in the atmosphere. 

Exposure can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM 2.5. 

When outdoor levels are elevated, going indoors may reduce exposure. If there are significant indoor sources of PM 2.5 (tobacco, candle or incense smoke, or fumes from cooking) levels inside may not be lower than outside. Some ways to reduce exposure are to minimize outdoor and indoor sources and avoid strenuous activities in areas where fine particle concentrations are high. Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website. 

Additional information on PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website (PM 2.5). A new DEC fact sheet about the Air Quality Index is also available on DEC’s website or by PDF download. 

To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts through DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service. A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) was also established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest air quality situation.

DHS Announces Historic Next Step in Border Wall Project

 

DHS is continuing to bring in America's best to coordinate a unified view and approach for the completion of President Trump’s border wall  

The United States Department of Homeland Security today announced that, after an extremely competitive bidding process and engagement with dozens of companies, the highly respected Parsons Government Services Inc. will oversee and manage the completion of border wall construction.  

This partnership — via the newly announced owner’s agent contract announced on February 17, 2026 — will build upon President Trump’s already historic success at wall construction while streamlining and supercharging its completion.  

“With President Trump back in office, we have delivered the most secure border in American history – and we did so in the immediate aftermath of the worst border crisis in history that came from four years of Joe Biden’s disastrous open-borders policy. This administration understood that we needed to hit the ground running and produce results right away, and that’s what we did,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “For the last nine months in a row, Border Patrol has released zero illegal aliens into the interior of the country, while CBP recorded the lowest total number of encounters in the agency’s history in 2025. Now, we’re ready to move forward with completing President Trump’s border wall. We’re accelerating our efforts by using private sector expertise with the unprecedented level of investment from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Act." 

Under President Trump’s leadership, DHS is continuing to leverage America’s best to deliver on the completion of the border wall. Parsons, which provides unparalleled expertise in leading major infrastructure projects, will oversee and manage the project, and work to ensure border wall construction is on time and under budget. This will provide for the American people’s safety and security while managing their tax dollars in the most efficient way possible. This border wall construction will be covered out of the One Big Beautiful Bill Border Wall funds — which are not impacted by government shutdowns. 

President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act provided DHS with a $46.5 billion investment to complete the border wall – the largest border security investment in a generation.  

Funding from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides modern infrastructure, advanced technology, and increased law enforcement staffing to help secure the border. Specifically, the legislation funds border barriers, non-intrusive inspection technology at ports of entry, fleet modernization, facility recapitalization, expanded hiring, and increased training capacity for CBP’s workforce.  

As Secretary Noem recently said on The Dan Bongino show, DHS is on track to complete border wall construction by early 2028.