Governor Hochul Announces More Than $15 Million Awarded to 13 Workforce Development Projects

Grants Through Empire State Development's Office of Strategic Workforce Development Will Support Efforts Throughout the State

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than $15 million has been awarded to 13 workforce development projects across nine regions through Empire State Development's Office of Strategic Workforce Development. These grants will support the training of more than 5,700 New Yorkers through collaboration between training providers and more than 40 employer partners in high demand fields such as construction and advanced manufacturing. Through nine rounds of funding, more than $83 million has been awarded to 91 projects through the Office to support training for over 20,000 New Yorkers.

“Reshaping New York's approach to workforce training has been a pillar of my economic development strategy — and we're seeing the results,” Governor Hochul said. “By working with employers in target industries, more New Yorkers are learning the skills needed for high-demand jobs, while receiving the support they need to promote greater success. These projects represent an investment in New Yorkers and the future of our state's economy.”

Governor Hochul first established the Office of Strategic Workforce Development at ESD in April 2022 to support industry-driven workforce programs to ensure that more New Yorkers have the skills for in-demand jobs that pay a living wage in the state's high-growth industries. Pay for Performance (P4P) Operating Grants offer flexible funding to help providers cover programmatic expenses like curriculum development and wraparound services to prepare New Yorkers with in-demand skills and industry-recognized credentials. Workforce Development (WFD) Capital Grants support the capital needs of workforce training providers that seek to enhance or expand their offerings. These programs allow training providers to expand the capacity of successful programs with high placement rates and effective wraparound services.

Round 9 awardees:

• University at Buffalo Business Entrepreneur Partnerships – Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, Western New York – $3.7 Million P4P Operating Grant: The University at Buffalo will work with a consortium of five BOCES districts to establish a new, interconnected network of Career Centers at each campus and better connect with industry partners to increase direct job placements. The project will strengthen BOCES’ existing organizational and educational infrastructure while modernizing career services and employer coordination. Additionally, new performance tracking will help to increase the number of trainees directly entering the workforce by providing personal case management and career services to participants. New data collection methods will create a standardized system to track post-graduation wage and employment outcomes. The project will also result in a data-driven Career Center Blueprint and replication toolkit with potential for scaling the program to BOCES statewide.
• STRIVE International, Inc. – New York City – $2 Million P4P Operating Grant: Funding will support STRIVE's Pathways to Possibilities program, a two-tiered construction career development initiative serving East Harlem and Brooklyn. The grant will enable the continuation of the existing Tier 1 program, which provides basic career readiness and occupational skills training to prepare for entry-level construction field work, as well as implementation of the new Tier 2 program called STRIVEForward+. This pilot program would provide Tier 1 alumni with the opportunity to upskill and earn advanced credentials to prepare for higher-wage leadership and specialized roles. STRIVE supports trainees with lifetime case management, including career coaching, transportation assistance, and stipends distributed both during training and as retention incentives post-placement.
• Dutchess Community College – Mid-Hudson – $1.99 Million P4P Operating Grant: Funding will help to expand microcredential pathways for electrical, advanced manufacturing, and HVAC careers at the new Center of Excellence for Business, Industry and Innovation (COEBII) in Fishkill. Developed in partnership with Dutchess County and reutilizing space in an abandoned mall — made possible with capital support from ESD and SUNY’s Future of Work Center — DCC will expand credentialing opportunities by supporting instructor training and certification to provide more varied and advanced modules in advanced manufacturing and clean technology. Trainees are supported via case management, stipends, transportation assistance and academic assistance, including job placement assistance with a strong network of industry partners.
• Nassau BOCES – Long Island – $1.88 Million P4P Operating Grant: Funding will support the development of a new Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining and expanded welding programs to supplement recent physical upgrades to the training space supported in part by the US Navy. These upgrades were designed to directly address workforce shortages in advanced manufacturing, defense, aerospace, and shipbuilding industries, which are critical to Long Island’s economy and national security. The project serves the local manufacturing supply chain of more than 300 local partners, with training supporting traditional high-school pathways along with introductory adult education and incumbent worker upskilling.
• Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES – Finger Lakes – $1.2 Million WFD Capital Grant: Funding will support renovations and upgrades at Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center and Wayne Technical and Career Center to provide more space for electrical trades and carpentry programs, bringing facilities up to industry standards and expanding capacity for hands-on training opportunities. Programs are developed and implemented in partnership with Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity to increase the supply of affordable housing while providing participants National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) credentialed training and hands-on experience in the field.
• Mosholu Montefiore Community Center – New York City – $738,675 P4P Operating Grant: Funding will help expand the new Green Construction Craft Laborer program at MMCC following a successful pilot cohort. The program features four weeks of intensive introductory and job readiness training followed by 12 weeks of industry skills training utilizing NCCER curriculum, preparing low-income Bronx residents for well-paying careers in the fast-growing clean energy and construction sectors. Comprehensive case management and access to services are provided to participants both during training and for an additional six months during job placement services.
• Roofers Local 195 Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund – Central New York –$519,949 P4P Operating Grant and $165,234 WFD Capital Grant: Capital funding will support the renovation and expansion of Local 195's Liverpool training facility, improving the physical training environment, site access, and energy efficiency, and doubling enrollment capacity. Operating funds will assist with training and operating costs associated with increased cohort sizes, including access to wraparound supports like stipends, transportation and lodging assistance, and required tools and equipment.
• PM Excellence, LLC – Mid-Hudson – $666,950 P4P Operating Grants:Funding will support the expansion of the LADDER-NY program, which provides pathways to leadership positions in the construction industry via certification as a project manager with specialization in electrical or general construction management. The program features hands-on training, employer-aligned curriculum, job readiness preparation, and comprehensive case management and wraparound services, including weekly group coaching, access to transportation, childcare and housing assistance, and alumni retention support and upskilling for one-year after completion.
• AnnieCannons – New York City – $643,579 P4P Operating Grants: Funding will help expand the trauma-informed, survivor-centered, paid coding training program for survivors of trafficking in New York City. AnnieCannons will expand job readiness and placement services via apprenticeships to increase trainee placement into sustainable tech jobs. The program enrolls trainees as employees during training, providing access to hourly compensation and healthcare benefits while preparing survivors for careers in software development, data analysis and cybersecurity. The program features comprehensive case management, mental health support, mentorship, and alumni supports and continuing education for graduates.
• Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer BOCES – North Country – $540,161 WFD Capital Grant: Funding will support the purchase of virtual reality simulators to support the expansion of the heavy equipment operations and welding programs at the Watertown and Glenfield Technical Centers. The simulators will allow for immediate assessment of student work and reduced material costs associated with training, as well as increasing overall program capacity, addressing the urgent hiring needs of regional business partners like Micron.
• Oswego County Workforce New York – Central New York – $484,798 P4P Operating Grant: Funding will expand the Oswego Build: Pathways to Apprenticeship program following successful pilot cohorts in 2025. This project expands on the Build model of entry-level construction career training with strong ties to local union trades to include a new Energy Industry Fundamentals module in support of regional clean and nuclear energy projects. The program model features paid training aligned with North Atlantic Building Trades Union’s Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), combined with comprehensive wraparound services, including career navigation, transportation and childcare assistance.
• Clinton Community College – North Country – $260,799 P4P Operating Grant: Funding will support the expansion of the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing’s (IAM) three-week Welding Academy to offer additional training opportunities and wraparound services, including stipends and transportation and childcare assistance. IAM has been providing welding training since 2022 with 100 percent completion and job placement rates and waitlists for each cohort. This project will double the number of yearly cohorts served, providing trained and job-ready workers for the North Country's network of more than 50 manufacturers.
• Onondaga Community College – Central New York – $216,129 WFD Capital Grant: Funding will support the purchase and installation of updated machinery and equipment at the Whitney Applied Technology Center to support delivery of stackable credentials, including a new Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining microcredential and a new one-year welding certificate to support the needs of the manufacturing and construction industries. The project will increase the capacity for enrollment and hands-on experiences for students and will supplement existing investments from industry partners. 

VCJC News & Notes3/6/2026

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Lots of things this week, including our Finding Your Haven class, Purim greetings, belated Tu b’Shevat kiddush, and the MLK park cleanup.  Read all the way through!

Reminders

1. Shabbos schedule
   
   
   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 3/6/26 @ 5:34 pm
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 3/7/26 @ 6:39 pm

   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.

   
   

   Come join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.
   

2. About our new kiddushim
   For the past several weeks, the VCJC has upgraded its kiddush after Shabbos services. Kiddush now takes place in the ballroom. There is a greater variety of food, which can be enjoyed while seated at covered tables. Our aim is to offer a more enjoyable and meaningful experience, and to encourage conversation and interaction among attendees. This is an evolving effort. It has received very positive reviews so far; we’d love to have your opinion as well. Please join us for services and kiddush, and let us know what you think!

3. Daylight Savings time starts

   Daylight savings time starts on Sunday at 2 AM.  Turn your clocks ahead 1 hour on Saturday night before going to bed.
   

4. The VCJC Chavurah

   The VCJC Chavurah will be meeting one night during the week to continue learning Tractate Berachot together.  Anyone who is interested in learning torah together with fellow members of our community is welcome to join us.  
   If you are interested in learning torah with a group of fellow members of your community, but want more details, contact the VCJC office at 718-884-6105 or info@vcjewishcenter.org, or speak to Stuart Harris or Matthew Hartstein after davening on Shabbat morning.
   
   

5. Shabbos parsha

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Parashat Ki Tisa 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תִשָּׂא

   7 March 2026 / 18 Adar 5786

   Parashat Ki Tisa is the 21st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Exodus 30:11-34:35; Numbers 19:1-22

   Ki-Tisa (“When You Elevate”) opens as God tells Moses to collect a half-shekel donation from all Israelites and to anoint the Mishkan (Tabernacle), its vessels, and the priests. The Israelites worship the golden calf and Moses breaks the tablets. Moses beseeches God to forgive, and returns with a second set of tablets. [1]

   
   

6. You can do it! Give VCJC a boost!  Leave a (positive) review for us on Google
   -->You can do this!  We know you can! YES, YOU!

   The VCJC is working to build and grow for its next century in Van Cortlandt Village.  If you have had a good experience with us or recognize our value to the community, please consider telling the world about it.  Go to our Google Business Profile and leave a review.  Thanks!

Save your place now for March 15 for a Master Class "Finding a Haven Within" NOTE THE DATE HAS CHANGED A SECOND TIME!

Sunday March 15, 12 PM

RSVP By 3/11/26: call the office (718) 884-6105 or email info@vcjewishcenter.org

Suggested fee is $15.00. If you have a mat, bring it. If not, we have a few.

In the swiftly moving, ever-changing world we live in today, you can find a quiet, safe, and secure haven in which there is peace, deep relaxation, and inner joy. This is what we offer you in an easy yoga-based stretching, soft meditation, and guided, systematic deep relaxation class. The results can be more effective and dramatic than you might expect. Students have had a profound effect on the increased level of their grades.  

It is based on Prof. Barbara Kitai's 37 years of teaching this system to college academics, corporate executives, athletes, students, children, and adults of all backgrounds.

The class consists of an introduction explaining the purpose and theory, 15 minutes of easy yoga-based stretching, and a cool down, 15 minutes of breathing techniques, meditation, 20 minutes of excellent guided relaxation throughout the body & mind, and 10-15 minutes  (time allowing) for a creative writing of self-reflection and awareness.

See our blog post.

Blood Drive to meet the blood supply emergency.  Sunday, March 8 at HIR

Please help with information about buildings

As part of rebuilding the membership and congregation, the Board of Trustees would like your help. There are a lot of either new or renovated buildings being put up in our catchment area. We would like to seek the cooperation of the owners / developers of those properties in publicizing these opportunities to live near an orthodox synagogue.  If you are aware of any of these buildings, please provide what information you can about them.  This could include the address, any contact information that might be posted, and any information about the building itself (size, type, etc.). Additionally, if you are aware of vacancies in existing buildings or of houses for sale, please let us know about that as well.

3rd annual Community Cleanup Day for MLK Day

This event, for which the VCJC is an acknowledged collaborator, has now been scheduled for March 29.  See the poster below. Registration link

Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463

Former ExThera Medical Corporation Executive Admits to Concealing Patient Deaths from FDA and Company Enters Deferred Prosecution Agreement

 

A former California executive was charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with failing to file adverse event reports with the intent to defraud and mislead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in connection with a blood filtration device. used on cancer patients who traveled to Antigua for treatment. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the court.

Separately, ExThera Medical Corporation (ExThera) has entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice in connection with a criminal information filed in the District of Massachusetts charging it with failure to file adverse event reports with the intent to defraud or mislead the FDA.

According to court documents, Sanja Ilic, 58, of Carlsbad, California, was the Chief Regulatory Officer of ExThera, a Northern California-based medical technology company. ExThera manufactured a blood filtration device that removed pathogens from a patient’s bloodstream. In or around 2024, Ilic concealed reportable adverse events from the FDA with the intent to defraud and mislead, including the deaths of two patients treated with the blood filtration device at a clinic in Antigua.

Before starting the treatments at the Antigua clinic, Ilic notified some of ExThera’s leadership and regulatory staff of potential adverse events, including “life-threatening” complications, that patients could experience from using the device. Some patients at the clinic in Antigua and their treating physicians reported that they believed those patients had subsequently experienced some of these medical events after being treated with the device. In or around March and April 2024, Ilic learned of the declining health and deaths of at least two Antigua clinic patients, who died within days of each other.

Ilic understood that disclosure of the adverse events could have triggered regulatory scrutiny from the FDA, caused clinical trial partners to withdraw their participation and jeopardized ExThera’s and Ilic’s future financial prospects. At the time the clinic began treating patients in Antigua, ExThera had just secured $10 million and the potential for millions more in future distribution agreements, and Ilic was overseeing ExThera’s first U.S. clinical study involving the use of the device to treat cancer. Ilic and ExThera potentially stood to lose financially if negative adverse event reports related to the Antigua clinic were filed with the FDA. Rather than comply with her legal obligation to report the events, Ilic suppressed this critical information to defraud and mislead the FDA.

Following public reporting about the blood filtration device and after Ilic was terminated from ExThera, ExThera filed several adverse event reports with the FDA relating to use of the device to treat cancer outside the United States.

As part of the DPA, ExThera admitted that, through Ilic, the company acted with intent to defraud and mislead the FDA. The DPA requires ExThera to, among other obligations, provide ongoing cooperation with and disclosures to the Department of Justice, implement a compliance and ethics program to prevent violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act’s adverse event reporting requirements and report to the Department of Justice regarding remediation and implementation of these compliance measures. As part of the DPA, ExThera also agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $750,000, which was adjusted based on ExThera’s ability to pay.  ExThera has agreed to establish an escrow account and deposit $750,000 in the escrow account within 60 days.  In the event ExThera is not able to pay amounts owed, if any, in civil litigation, related to the conduct described in the Statement of Facts, the escrow amount shall be used to pay amounts owed.  ExThera has also agreed to consent to entry of a forfeiture order of $5,694,750.

The government reached its resolution with ExThera based on several factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct, and that the company has minimal remaining operations.  ExThera also did not voluntarily and timely self-disclose the conduct to the Department of Justice but did receive credit for clearly accepting responsibility for its criminal conduct, fully cooperating with the government’s investigation and timely implementing remedial measures.

Ilic was charged with one count of failure to report adverse events with the intent to defraud or mislead the FDA. She faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison, supervised release for one year, a fine of the greatest of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3571, forfeiture and restitution. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FDA, FBI, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.

Assistant Chiefs Kevin Lowell and William Schurmann and Trial Attorneys John Howard and Sarah Rocha of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Queenin, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit, and Sarah Hoefle for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.

This announcement is the first resolution of a corporate defendant by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s New England Strike Force since it expanded to Massachusetts. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-expands-health-care-fraud-unit-target-health-care-fraud-massachusetts.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Ghanaian National Pleads Guilty To Stealing More Than $10 Million Via Romance Scams

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the guilty plea of DERRICK VAN YEBOAH, a/k/a “Van,” for his role in an international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises.  VAN YEBOAH pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. 

“Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Many New Yorkers search for companionship online, and no one deserves to have their vulnerability met with fraud and theft.  Van Yeboah cruelly exploited those vulnerabilities for over $10 million in illicit profit.  This plea is a reminder to be vigilant online—especially on dating websites, never give money to someone you just met—and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” 

According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:

VAN YEBOAH was a member of a criminal organization primarily based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the United States.  Many of the conspiracy’s victims were vulnerable older men and women who were tricked into believing that they were in online romantic relationships with persons who were, in fact, fake identities assumed by members of the conspiracy.  Once members of the conspiracy had gained the trust of their victims, they deceived those victims into sending their money to the enterprise or into helping them launder funds from other victims.  The conspirators also committed business email compromises to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds to the enterprise.  In total, the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims.  After stealing the money, the fraud proceeds were then laundered to West Africa.

VAN YEBOAH personally perpetrated many of the romance scams by impersonating fake romantic partners in communications with victims.  He is being held responsible for more than $10 million he stole from victims via his romance scams.

VAN YEBOAH, 40, of Ghana, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  VAN YEBOAH also agreed to make restitution and pay forfeiture, both in the amount of $10,149,429.17.

The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.   VAN YEBOAH is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Subramanian on June 3, 2026. 

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He also thanked Ghana and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance. 

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.

Attorney General James Leads Lawsuit to Stop Trump Administration’s Latest Illegal Tariffs

AG James and Coalition Sue to Block New Tariffs Imposed by President Following His Supreme Court Defeat

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 21 other attorneys general and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania in suing to stop the latest attempt by the Trump administration to impose sweeping tariffs that result in increased taxes on states, businesses, and consumers. Shortly after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Attorney General James and 11 other attorneys general who sued to stop the president’s illegal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the president issued a new proclamation imposing tariffs on a range of countries and goods using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Attorney General James and the coalition argue in their lawsuit that these new tariffs are illegal because the president does not have the power to impose them. The tariffs do not meet the requirements of Section 122 and violate the Constitution’s protection of the separation of powers. Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order declaring the tariffs imposed under Section 122 unlawful and ordering the federal government to issue refunds to states for the tariff costs that they paid as a result of the president’s proclamation.

“Once again, President Trump is ignoring the law and the Constitution to effectively raise taxes on consumers and small businesses,” said Attorney General James. “After the Supreme Court rejected his first attempt to impose sweeping tariffs, the president is causing more economic chaos and expecting Americans to foot the bill. These tariffs will only drive up the cost of living, and I will continue to uphold the rule of law to protect New Yorkers.”

"The Trump administration’s illegal and reckless tariff policies continue to weigh on the businesses, farmers, and consumers across New York State, hindering the state’s overall economy,” said Governor Hochul. “It is time the federal government refunds the $13.5 billion taken from hardworking New Yorkers and end the economic chaos that these unlawful taxes have created. I applaud Attorney General James for fighting for New Yorkers and look forward to continuing to work with her to put money back into the pockets of our families and workers."

No president has ever attempted to impose tariffs using Section 122. The law is specifically designed to allow limited tariffs to address certain monetary crises, including a significant “balance of payments” deficit – a distinct economic problem that can occur in a fixed-rate exchange system like the gold standard. However, the U.S. abandoned such an exchange system half a century ago. As a result, balance of payments problems no longer occur. Attorney General James and the coalition assert in their lawsuit that the president’s primary rationale for imposing these tariffs – the country’s trade deficit – is not a legitimate reason for imposing tariffs under Section 122. In fact, the administration admitted during the lawsuit against the president’s IEEPA tariffs that trade deficits “are conceptually distinct from balance of payments deficits.”

In addition, the president’s tariffs violate other requirements in Section 122. The law requires new tariffs to be applied consistently in several ways, including that they are not applied discriminatorily. Yet the new tariffs exempt many goods from Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. They also include 84 pages of specific product exceptions.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the president’s use of Section 122 is a clear attempt to escape the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case against the tariffs imposed under IEEPA. Like the previous “emergency” tariffs, the president invoked Section 122 to impose sweeping tariffs on a whim with hardly any stated reasoning. The proclamation first announcing the new tariffs was published on February 20, two days after the Supreme Court ruling. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that these sudden swings in tariff policy create significant costs for states, which must expend resources determining how these new costs will apply and how to handle soaring prices from vendors. The erratic swings in tariff rates have also created new administrative costs for states as agencies must piece together official policy from social media posts, executive orders, proclamations, and other sources.

In their lawsuit, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the tariffs violate the Constitution’s separation of powers principle. Article I clearly gives Congress the power to tax and impose tariffs, and the president does not have the power to impose these kinds of sweeping tariff increases. The lawsuit seeks an order from the United States Court of International Trade declaring the Section 122 tariffs illegal and preventing them from being implemented, as well as an order to refund the states the costs of these tariffs while they were in effect.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.  

 

Columbia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fatal Quantity of Fentanyl to USC Student

 

Vernon Antwan Martin, 37, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl to a 20-year-old University of South Carolina student, resulting in her death.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in May 2023, Columbia Police officers conducted a welfare check on a woman at a Columbia apartment after family and friends reported that they were unable to contact her. Officers found the woman dead in her apartment. An autopsy report confirmed the victim died from a fentanyl overdose. 

Based on evidence collected during the investigation, law enforcement determined on May 30, 2023, Martin distributed a counterfeit pill to the victim, which she believed to be Percocet but actually contained fentanyl. Following the victim’s death, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a search at Martin’s residence, where they located additional narcotics, a firearm, and approximately $30,000. 

“There is always danger in taking prescription pills that are not prescribed to you by a legitimate health care provider. This case demonstrates how deadly a small amount of fentanyl can be,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “This case is the result of law enforcement coordination at the local and federal level, and we’ll continue to aggressively prosecute those who bring fentanyl into our community. Our hearts are with this young woman’s family and loved ones as they remember a life cut short.”

“This case is a tragic example of the deadly consequences of counterfeit pills,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The victim thought they were purchasing Percocet, but they were handed fentanyl, a synthetic opioid driving overdose deaths across our nation. The defendant knew exactly what he was selling. As the DEA continues its Fentanyl-Free America campaign, this sentencing underscores our mission to protect communities and aggressively pursue those who knowingly distribute lethal substances.”

"Our officers worked closely with federal partners to investigate this case and ensure the individual responsible was held accountable,” said Columbia Police Chief W. H. “Skip” Holbrook. “We urge the public to understand the serious risk of taking pills that are not prescribed by a legitimate medical provider - just one can kill."

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Martin to 240 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Lewis also ordered that Martin pay approximately $19,000 in restitution to the victim’s family.

To learn more about DEA’s Fentanyl Free America campaign, including resources for getting help, visit DEA.gov/FentanylFree.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Columbia Police Department.

NYS OASAS TO AIR SPECIAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTING PERSONAL STORIES OF NEW YORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY ADDICTION, AND ONGOING WORK TO SUPPORT SERVICES

 

30 Minute Program to Air in All Markets of New York State

Details Personal Stories of New Yorkers Impacted by Addiction and the Work of OASAS to Bring Services to All Regions of the State 

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) is airing a special program throughout the month of March across New York State, which offers the public a look at the agency’s actions to address the opioid and overdose crisis. “Addiction: The Next Step, Opioid Settlements at Work” contains interviews with New Yorkers who have personally been affected by addiction, and a look at how New York State is using the hundreds of millions of dollars received in opioids settlement funding, including an interview with OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham. 

“The impact of the opioid and overdose crisis has been felt among individuals, families, and communities across New York State,” OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “We have made substantial strides in getting settlement money out to the door, and this is making a difference throughout the state. This program gives us a chance to highlight some of these accomplishments and also tells the personal stories of New Yorkers, allowing others know that they are not alone in feeling the effects of this crisis.” 

The program features several segments, including:

• The story of Kamal Bherwani, a Long Island man who lost his son to an overdose, and came up with an innovative way to teach others how to save the life of someone who is overdosing;
• A feature on Victor Nelson, a Poughkeepsie teen who learned how to use naloxone and used it to save a man who was overdosing;
• A selection of stories from the OSF @ Work series that highlight the difference funding is making for programs in New York City, Syracuse, Poughkeepsie, and Rochester;
• An interview with OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham further explaining how the state is using the settlement funding, and the programs and initiatives we are supporting;
• An interview with Victoria Treadwell, a former Miss New York who shares her story of recovery in an effort to reduce the stigma of addiction.

This special program airs throughout the month of March in all markets of New York State. For more information, including a list of airtimes by market, visit the OASAS website.

New York State is receiving more than $3 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.

To date, New York has made more than $454 million available through the opioid settlement fund, which is the most of any state in the country. A detailed list of initiatives funded with this money is available on the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund tracker.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest systems of addiction services with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found on the NYS OASAS website.