Governor Hochul Announces Department of Motor Vehicles Saved Consumers More Than $13.6 Million in Recovered Stolen Vehicles, Titles, Parts and Services

More Than 384 Stolen Vehicles Recovered in 2025 Worth $10.4 Million

Additional $3.2 Million Recouped in Titles, Repairs and Refunds

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the DMV helped New Yorkers recover more than $13.6 million in stolen vehicles, titles, parts and services during 2025. That number is an increase from $11 million in 2024. These recoveries help crack down on organized vehicle theft and fraud operations that take advantage of New Yorkers.

“When consumers are ripped off, New York will stand up for them and take on bad actors,” Governor Hochul said. “Most auto repair shops and dealers in our state do excellent work, but when fraud or theft takes place, state government will do everything in its power to make things right. The DMV does so much more than many New Yorkers realize, and this is a great example of the work they do every day to protect consumers.”

Governor Hochul has prioritized taking action against car theft. The governor has also made reducing the cost of auto insurance a key part of her 2026 agenda. Today, New Yorkers pay among the highest auto insurance rates in the nation. Stolen vehicles and organized fraud are two factors in those rising costs. By advancing commonsense reforms, Governor Hochul’s proposal will make New York’s streets safer and bring needed relief to millions of drivers. Learn more about the Governor’s initiatives.

DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “Our employees and leadership are very proud of the work they do to assist consumers. If you’re sold a lemon, given a shoddy repair or not given a title to a vehicle you buy, our staff can help. We try to work out differences between customers and businesses first, but we will not hesitate to use our enforcement tools to protect consumers as needed.”

As part of her focus on affordability for all New Yorkers and tackling increasing auto insurance costs, Governor Hochul is reinvigorating the New York State Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Board. As part of this board, DMV will partner with fellow agencies and industry stakeholders to implement new approaches to curb vehicle thefts and thwart fraud to lower insurance costs for millions of New Yorkers.

The agency recovered 384 stolen vehicles valued at more than $10.4 million and an additional 18 stolen parts worth $76,778. New Yorkers are reminded to be wary of online car sales on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and other similar websites. Often these vehicles have altered Vehicle Identification Numbers and forged titles, leaving the innocent victims out money and without a vehicle when they learn they unintentionally purchased a stolen car.

In addition, the DMV assisted 604 consumers in recouping vehicle titles, services and refunds valued at more than $3.2 million from dishonest auto dealers and repair shops.

After investigating consumer complaints, the DMV took action against car dealers and repair shops for selling vehicles without disclosing significant defects to the buyer, for charging consumers for repairs that were never completed or completed unsatisfactorily, or charging consumers for repairs they did not need. Through this work, DMV assisted 538 consumers in recovering a total value of $1,604,460 from dealerships and repair shops. The breakdown includes $882,131 in refunds, $459,979 worth of vehicles repurchased, and $252,655 in redone work.

The DMV also assisted New Yorkers when car dealerships abruptly closed or otherwise did not provide vehicle titles to consumers. DMV recovered 66 titles totaling $1,589,983. Without a title, a vehicle owner is unable to transfer ownership, remove a lien or provide proof of ownership necessary to take out a loan on the vehicle or file an insurance claim.

The DMV urges consumers to deal only with registered dealers and repair shops. Both dealers and repair shops are required to have a sign on the outside of their buildings notifying the public that they are registered with the DMV. These signs also include the DMV-issued facility number. The repair shop sign is green with white lettering. The dealer sign is red with white lettering.

Customers who believe they have faced unfair charges or poor work can file a complaint about a DMV-regulated business.

For businesses, DMV provides information on their rights if faced with a complaint in the  Guide for Facilities. DMV also provides guidance when bringing a vehicle in for repairs.

An online guide to finding a DMV-regulated business is also available on the DMV website.

 

Permits Filed for 1612 Poplar Street in Morris Park, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a seven-story residential building at 1612 Poplar Street in Morris Park, The Bronx. Located between Jarrett Place and Williamsbridge Road, the lot is near the Westchester Square–East Tremont Avenue subway station, served by the 6 train. Gjergj Bujaj is listed as the owner behind the applications. 

The proposed 67-foot-tall development will yield 23,294 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 36 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 647 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a 15-foot-long rear yard. 

John Backos of Grid Drafting and Consulting LLC is listed as the architect of record. 

Demolition permits were filed in September 2025 for the two-story structure on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced. 

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - JOIN US: Bronx Iftar Celebration

 

NYS Inspector General - Oswego County Resident Pleads Guilty to Insurance Fraud for Concealing Employment While Collecting Workers’ Compensation Benefits

A Central Square, NY man who claimed he could not work because of an ankle injury sustained in the course of his work as a painter, admitted in court today that he was, in fact, back on the job — painting properties — while collecting over $10,000 in workers’ compensation wage replacement benefits. The defendant, Christopher Cronk, 58, made the admission as part of his plea in Onondaga County Court before the Hon. Gordon Cuffy to Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree (N.Y. Penal Law § 176.20), a Class D felony, following an investigation by the Office of New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General Lucy Lang.

Cronk was injured in March 2021 while employed by Cutting Edge Painting in Webster, NY, and began receiving wage replacement benefits through the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board shortly thereafter, benefits that are intended to support injured workers who cannot earn a paycheck while they recover. But by March 2022, Cronk had resumed paid painting work at private properties and businesses – surveillance footage captured him working, witness statements confirmed it, and bank records reflected payment.

Even as he worked, Cronk continued to certify to his insurance carrier — the New York State Insurance Fund — that he had not engaged in any employment. On official work activity forms submitted in April and May 2022, he falsely answered “No” when asked whether he had performed any work for pay since his injury. Those misrepresentations allowed him to collect benefits through August of 2022, totaling $10,494 to which he was not entitled.

“Workers’ compensation exists to protect injured workers during recovery — not to underwrite undisclosed employment or serve as a second paycheck,” said Inspector General Lang. “When someone chooses to collect benefits while secretly working, they erode trust in a system that depends on honesty. Today’s plea reinforces that accountability matters.” 

MAYOR MAMDANI AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCE FIRST FOUR COMMUNITIES TO RECEIVE FREE 2-K SEATS

 

With Support from Governor Kathy Hochul, Four Communities Will Receive 2,000+ Free Child Care Seats for Two-Year-Olds this Fall

TODAY, in a major step toward universal child care from six weeks to five years old, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the first four communities that will receive free 2-K seats this fall. 

The four communities are:

• School District 6: Washington Heights, Inwood and Hamilton Heights as well as parts of Manhattanville
• School District 10: Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Marble Hill, Morris Heights, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village and Kingsbridge as well as parts of Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, Mount Hope, Claremont- Bathgate & East Tremont 
• School Districts 18 and 23: Canarsie, Rugby-Remsen Village, Brownsville and Ocean Hill as well as parts of East Flatbush- Farragut and Prospect Lefferts Garden-Wingate
• School District 27: Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach and Rockaways as well as parts Lindenwood and Springfield Gardens North 

First announced on day eight of the Mamdani administration alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul, 2-K is a cornerstone of the Mayor’s universal child care initiative. The program will provide free child care for two-year-olds in New York City to any family who needs it, regardless of zip code, income or immigration status.  

The program will launch with 2,000 free seats this fall and expand to full universality within four years. 

Earlier this year, Gov. Hochul committed more than $1.2 billion to support early childhood care and education in New York City, including $73 million to fund the first set of free 2-K seats. That investment will grow to $425 million next year. By fall 2027, 2-K is expected to serve approximately 12,000 children across all five boroughs, with the goal of reaching every two-year-old in the city at full implementation. 

“Raising a child takes a village – and it takes a city government willing to step up and tackle the child care crisis head-on,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “On day eight, we moved closer to making universal childcare a reality. This fall, 2,000 New York City two-year-olds will have a brighter future because of it. Launching free 2-K in these four neighborhoods is just the beginning of our work to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, strengthen our entire economy and help more families build their lives here.”  

“Raising a family in New York shouldn’t feel like a luxury, and today we’re taking another significant step to deliver universal child care,” said Governor Hochul. “Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani and I stood together to announce the state’s historic investment in New York City’s 2-K program, delivering free child care for two-year-olds across the City. This is how we make New York the best place to start a family and build a future – and we’re just getting started.”

“The launch of 2-K reflects our commitment to reaching families with the greatest need and building a system that grows to serve every child in every community,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “We are opening the doors for thousands of two-year-olds and their families, delivering free, full-day care and early learning and paving the way for bright futures from our students' earliest ages."

“This initial launch of 2-K in neighborhoods across the city is a critical next step toward full universal child care, and I thank Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani for their leadership in moving this forward. Together with the City Council, we are expanding opportunity for our youngest New Yorkers and delivering real support for working families across our city,” said Speaker Julie Menin.“I have long championed universal child care as essential to making New York more affordable and equitable. From advancing the Council’s Universal Childcare Act in 2022 to advocating for the opening of a new early education center on the East Side of Manhattan, we are laying the groundwork to lead the nation on childcare.”

The initial four communities were selected based on economic need, projected child care demand, existing access gaps, provider capacity and readiness. These first 2,000 seats are designed to serve families in high-need neighborhoods while ensuring programs launch responsibly and sustainably, with inclusive access for children with disabilities and families in temporary housing, including shelters. 

Services will begin in September 2026, with rolling enrollment throughout the fall to accommodate children turning two at different points in the year. In the coming days, the City will begin planning efforts with child care centers and family child care providers in these four communities. Additional details on participating providers will be released in the weeks ahead. 

1499 Bruckner’s Façade Takes Shape in Soundview, The Bronx

 

Exterior work is progressing on 1499 Bruckner Boulevard, a seven-story residential building in Soundview, The Bronx. Designed by J Frankl Architects and developed by Bayrock Capital, the 92-foot-tall structure will span 63,784 square feet and yield 135 rental units with an average scope of 216 square feet. The project will also include 34,164 square feet of community facility space. The property is alternately addressed as 1001 Wheeler Avenue and bounded by Wheeler Avenue to the east, Bruckner Boulevard to the south, and Evergreen Avenue to the west.

The superstructure stands topped out and shrouded in scaffolding and blue netting as crews work to install the façade around the grid of windows.

1499 Bruckner Boulevard. Photo by Michael Young.

No finalized renderings have been revealed for the project apart from the below axonometric diagrams showing 1499 Bruckner Boulevard’s overall massing. The structure will have an L-shaped configuration with the tallest portion of the superstructure positioned along the corner of Bruckner Boulevard and Evergreen Avenue. A stepped bulkhead caps the roof, while upper-level setbacks will likely be topped with outdoor terraces.

1499 Bruckner Boulevard. Diagrams courtesy of J Frankl Architects.

The property was formerly occupied by a one-story auto shop and a surface-level parking lot, as seen in the below Google Street View image from before their demolition.

The nearest subway from the ground-up development is the 6 train at the elevated Elder Avenue station to the north.

An anticipated completion date for 1499 Bruckner Boulevard has not been announced.

Mayor Mamdani Appoints Kenny Minaya as Commissioner of Small Business Services

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Kenny Minaya as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS).  

  

“From the bodega on your corner to the laundromat that’s anchored your block for decades, small businesses are the lifeblood of New York City. They’re where working people build dreams — and for too long, City Hall has made that harder than it needs to be, burying storefronts in red tape while corporate chains get the fast lane. That ends now,” said Mayor Mamdani. “With Kenny Minaya as Commissioner of Small Business Services, we’ll cut the bureaucracy and make it easier to start and run a small business — because when our neighborhood businesses thrive, New York thrives.”   

  

Minaya has served as the First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) since 2022, after joining the agency in 2016 as Deputy Chief of Staff. As First Deputy Commissioner, he oversaw agency operations and finances.   

  

Before joining City government, Minaya worked at Catholic Migration Services and Make the Road New York, where he represented immigrant tenants in Brooklyn and Queens fighting to keep their homes affordable in the face of predatory landlords.  

  

“Under Mayor Mamdani, we are ushering in a new era for small businesses in our city. I am deeply thankful for the Mayor's trust and confidence and am proud to take on this responsibility,” said Kenny Minaya, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. “As the son of immigrant small business owners, I know firsthand the challenges that our entrepreneurs face. I am excited to partner with the dedicated public servants at SBS — whose work every day supports businesses in every neighborhood — and to bring both my experience in City government and my lived experience to this role as we work side-by-side with small business owners in all five boroughs.”  

 

“Small businesses are where New Yorkers take risks, create jobs and build generational opportunity,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “Commissioner Minaya will lead SBS with a clear mandate: make it simpler to open, operate and grow a small business — and ensure every neighborhood entrepreneur has a fair shot at success.”  

 

“Small businesses are the cornerstone of New York City’s communities and local economy, and as a City government we need to do our utmost to ensure that they have the support they need to succeed,” said DCWP Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. “In the short time that I have come to know and work closely with Commissioner Minaya, it has become abundantly clear that he is a leader with a deep commitment to making government work efficiently and effectively for New Yorkers. As Commissioner of Small Business Services, Kenny Minaya will be a passionate advocate for our small businesses, with a deep understanding on both a professional and personal level of the challenges they overcome every day.”  

  

Mayor Mamdani has made support for small businesses central to his agenda to tackle New York City’s affordability crisis. Shortly after taking office, he signed Executive Order 11, directing City agencies to create a comprehensive inventory of fees and civil penalties imposed on small businesses and to identify ways to reduce and streamline them. Small businesses must navigate a complex web of more than 6,000 regulations and rules, driving up costs for businesses and customers alike. The executive order directs the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice and seven agencies to review existing fines and fees and advance reforms in the months ahead.   

  

The Department of Small Business Services helps businesses start, operate and grow by connecting them with resources, training and technical assistance, while also supporting workforce development and commercial corridor revitalization across the five boroughs.  

  

About Commissioner Kenny Minaya  

Minaya was born and raised in New York City. For 42 years, his parents — immigrants from the Dominican Republic — have owned and operated a small bakery in Inwood. He attended New York City public schools, earned a Bachelor of Arts from the City College of New York and a Juris Doctor from the CUNY School of Law. He lives in the Bronx with his wife. They are expecting their first child.   

U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15.5 Million to Compensate Victims of Massive Global Securities Fraud Scheme

 

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the Roger Knox Remission Fund has begun distributing more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also distributed an additional $3.1 million related to the securities fraud scheme to these victims.

Knox, with others, operated the Swiss-based asset management firm Silverton, which was later renamed Wintercap. Through the business, Knox facilitated pump-and-dump schemes by selling massive quantities of microcap securities on behalf of undisclosed control groups who secretly owned the stock through nominee entities formally owned by third parties. The shares were generally held by the nominees in blocks of less than 5% of the issuer’s total outstanding shares in order to evade the disclosure obligations and sale limitations in the federal securities laws. To generate investor demand for the shares, the undisclosed control groups simultaneously orchestrated promotional campaigns to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the shares. Knox then funneled the proceeds of the pump-and-dump schemes — totaling over $137 million between 2016 and 2018—to co-conspirators in the United States and around the world through a complex money transfer system that disguised the source and nature of the funds.

In January 2020, Knox pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges that he engaged with others in a massive global securities fraud scheme. In October 2023, Knox was sentenced to 36 months in prison, and in January 2024, he was ordered to pay over $58 million in restitution to more than 8,000 victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case.

The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the compensation process.