Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after Kalshi lost its lawsuit against the New York Gaming Commission:
“New York’s gambling laws are designed to protect consumers. Kalshi tried to ignore them. Yesterday, they lost in court.
“We will continue to hold all gambling platforms accountable to the law — and that includes prediction markets.”
Up to 4,000 discounted tickets available as Gotham FC pursues New York City’s women’s sports attendance record
Offer follows announcement that Gotham FC will make Queens its permanent home beginning in 2028
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Gotham FC today announced a limited $15 ticket offer for The Queens Classic, the reigning National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) champion’s marquee match against the Washington Spirit at Citi Field next Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Up to 4,000 tickets will be available at the discounted price, making one of the biggest matches in women’s soccer accessible to New Yorkers. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Gotham FC has already sold more than 34,000 tickets to The Queens Classic, putting the match on pace to break a new attendance record for a women’s sporting event in New York City.
“The biggest events in our city should be affordable to the people who make this city run,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Whether it’s the World Cup, a championship celebration or The Queens Classic, our goal is the same: Make sure working New Yorkers have a chance to be there. This ticket offer will help thousands more fans cheer on one of the best clubs in the world as Gotham FC makes history.”
“Gotham FC is proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani’s office on an initiative that opens the doors to one of the biggest nights in our club’s history,” said Mark Zarthar, president of Gotham FC. “The Queens Classic is about more than one match. It is about bringing New Yorkers together, growing the women’s game and creating a moment that reflects the energy, ambition and diversity of this city.”
The ticket offer comes one day after Mayor Mamdani, Gotham FC and New York City FC announced that Gotham will make Etihad Park in Queens its permanent home beginning in 2028. The move will bring one of the world’s premier women’s soccer clubs to New York City’s first soccer-specific stadium and establish a permanent home for professional women’s soccer in the five boroughs.
The Queens Classic will feature Gotham FC against the Washington Spirit, led by U.S. Women’s National Team star Trinity Rodman, during the week of the FIFA World Cup final, as New York celebrates a historic summer for the world’s game.
Tickets are available at GothamFC.com/Mayor.
Representing New Jersey and New York, Gotham FC is one of 16 clubs in the National Women's Soccer League. The club won NWSL championships in 2023 and 2025 and captured the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup, becoming the first North American club to win a continental women’s championship. Founded in 2007 as Sky Blue FC and rebranded as Gotham FC in 2021, the club currently plays its home matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 576 Prospect Avenue in Mott Haven, The Bronx. Located at the intersection of Fox Street and Prospect Avenue, the lot is near the East 149th Street subway station, served by the 6 train. Shmili Frenkel is listed as the owner behind the applications.
The proposed 60-foot-tall development will yield 17,184 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 33 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 520 square feet. The concrete-based structure will not have any accessory parking.
Navkiran Cheema of KMA Designs LLC is listed as the architect of record.
Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.
A New Hampshire man has been sentenced to 15 years in Federal Prison to be followed by five years of Supervised Release for Possession of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. The Honorable District Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearings, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.
According to court records, in April of 2025 a Trooper with the Arkansas State Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Robert Liles, age 31, of Manchester, New Hampshire. During the course of the traffic stop, the Trooper located and seized over 7,300 fentanyl pills, three (3) firearms, body armor, and a large amount of United States Currency. It was also determined that Liles had previously been convicted of a felony.
On November 18, 2025, Liles pleaded guilty to Possession of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. On July 7, 2026, United States District Judge Susan O. Hickey sentenced Liles to a term of imprisonment of 120 months for the fentanyl possession, to a term of imprisonment of 60 months for the weapons possession, to run consecutive to each other, for a total term of imprisonment of 180 months, or 15 years, to be followed by 5 years of Supervised Release.
United States Attorney Kevin R. Holmes made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan A. Achorn prosecuted the case for the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Arkansas State Police investigated the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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.
Under Governor Abigail Spanberger, Virginia has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer asking sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County, Virginia to not release from jail an illegal alien who has been charged with rape and abduction.
According to local reporting, Juan Arevalo Mendez, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was arrested on June 30 in Prince William County. He has been charged with rape – strongarm and kidnap adult with intent to sexually assault in connection with an assault in September 2025 in Falls Church. ICE lodged a detainer for Mendez the same day he was arrested.
Juan Arevalo Mendez
Mendez has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1998, which includes prior convictions for assault, aggravated assault – weapon, strongarm aggravated assault – non-family, aggravated assault with a gun – non-family, drug possession, destruction of property, illegal re-entry, obstructing justice, and making a false report, as well as prior arrests for identity theft, drug possession, and larceny.
“This criminal illegal alien has been charged with rape and abduction. He has a laundry list of prior convictions for aggravated assault, destruction of property, and drug possession, as well as prior arrests for ;identity theft and larceny,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County to commit to not releasing this dangerous criminal from jail, and to instead turn him over to ICE custody so that we can remove him from our nation and end his crime spree in our country. Virginia sanctuary politicians need to stop playing Russian roulette with American lives and work with ICE law enforcement to keep criminals out of our communities.”
Mendez first entered the United States as a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) in 1991, but this status was revoked upon his first conviction for destruction of property in 1998. He was deported in 2003, but then illegally re-entered the United States – a felony – before being deported a second time in 2014. He then illegally entered the United States a second time at an unknown date and location.
During her first days in office, Governor Spanberger signed executive orders banning state cooperation with ICE as well as terminating 287(g) state and local agreements.
Under Governor Spanberger, Virginia has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime. Some of the recent illegal alien crimes in the sanctuary state include:
A California man was sentenced to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release for perpetrating an elaborate bank fraud scheme that took in approximately $39 million from multiple financial institutions over the course of nearly 10 years. He was also ordered to pay over $19.4 million in restitution and $21.8 million in forfeiture.
According to court documents, Gary Topolewski, 64, of Northridge, engaged in the nearly decade-long scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions through the submission of false and fraudulent commercial loan applications on behalf of his purported companies, Topolewski America Inc., Morrison Knudsen Services Inc., and Metal Jeans Inc. As a result, these entities received more than $39 million in fraudulently obtained loan proceeds, with Topolewski unsuccessfully seeking millions more.
Topolewski falsely represented in the loan applications that the loans were for the purchase of large, industrial earth-moving construction equipment, and for business working capital purposes. In reality, Topolewski and his companies did not use the proceeds as represented and instead diverted, laundered, and misappropriated the proceeds for other purposes, including for the purchase of properties and to make Ponzi-like payments to financial lenders to perpetuate the scheme by using loan proceeds from newer loans to pay down the balance of other loans. Topolewski used several aliases, including the stolen identity of a victim, and company names that were similar to those of established companies in the construction and equipment industries.
In December 2025, Topolewski pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Dear Neighbor,
I hope you and your family are enjoying a safe and healthy summer.
As severe weather continues to impact our region, I encourage every Bronxite to take steps now to stay safe and be prepared. Please remember to:
This month, we will also be highlighting the passage of New York City’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget and our Office’s FY27 Capital Budget, which continues the commitment to investing in education, affordable housing, healthcare, public safety, and economic development throughout the Bronx.
Finally, we’re celebrating the return of Savor the Bronx Restaurant Week, from now until Sunday, July 12th, 2026, showcasing over 40 incredible restaurants and small businesses that make our borough one of New York City’s premier culinary destinations. I encourage you to dine local, support our entrepreneurs, and experience the diverse flavors that make the Bronx so special. For a list of participating restaurants, visit www.ilovethebronx.com.
Thank you for being an engaged member of our Bronx community. I hope you’ll join us at the many events and celebrations taking place across our borough this summer as we continue building stronger, more connected communities together.
Warm Regards,
Vanessa L. Gibson
Bronx Borough President
For real-time updates and event highlights, remember to follow us on Social Media:
FACEBOOK: @BronxBp
INSTAGRAM: @Bronxbpgibson
TWITTER: @BronxBp
If you or someone you know needs help, please call our office at 718-590-3500 or email webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.
IN THE COMMUNITY
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We just officially announced the launch of Savor the Bronx 2026 at Drips Restaurant and Lounge!
Savor the Bronx is our borough’s restaurant week, with over 40 restaurants participating and offering pre-fixe menus and discounts from now until Sunday, July 12th.
From seafood on City Island to Italian food in Little Italy, Caribbean food in the Northeast Bronx, amazing Latin cuisine in the South Bronx, and so much more!
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Orchard Beach was lit up with fireworks last night as we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States of America at our Annual Fireworks Extravaganza.
Thank you to the BXEDC, the Bronx Tourism Council, the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, BICNY, our emcee for the evening, Dr. Bob Lee, NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Council Member Amanda Farias, and all of our incredible sponsors for making our celebration at the Bronx Riviera such a tremendous success.
 | We proudly joined our colleagues in government at City Hall alongside Mayor Mamdani to celebrate a long-awaited victory as New York welcomed home the 2026 NBA Champion New York Knicks! After decades of unwavering loyalty from fans across the five boroughs, the championship parade was a historic moment filled with pride, excitement, and the unmistakable spirit of New York City. Congratulations to the players, coaches, staff, and the generations of Knicks fans who never stopped believing, this championship belongs to all of New York.
| Happy Caribbean Heritage Month! We were proud to raise our flags at Code Red Restaurant and Lounge last week to honor incredible honorees who proudly represent their island and our borough. Thank you to everyone who attended. |
| We proudly joined our African Advisory Council, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, the Governor’s Office, community leaders, and residents from across the borough to commemorate Juneteenth. Together, we honored the resilience, achievements, and enduring contributions of Black Americans while reflecting on the significance of freedom, justice, and equality. Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of our shared history and the work that continues to build a more equitable future for all. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this meaningful celebration of culture, community, and progress.
| We commemorated Gun Violence Awareness Month in the Bronx with a press conference and a Youth-focused Job Fair, in partnership with Council Member Althea Stevens—bringing together elected officials, community members, advocates, and leaders to promote peace, purpose, and life over violence. By connecting young people and job seekers with career pathways, workforce resources, and new opportunities, we are investing in safer communities and brighter futures for our youth and their families. UPCOMING EVENTS
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Defendant Defrauded Dozens of Elderly Victims Whose Average Age Was 82 Years Old
In federal court in Central Islip, Adrian Lawrence, also known as “Mastermind,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 66 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, in connection with a years-long scheme to defraud elderly United States citizens. In addition to the prison term, Lawrence was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5.4 million. Lawrence was arrested in Jamaica, and was extradited to the United States. He pleaded guilty in December 2023.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Kelly Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), and Joel D. Weaver, Special Agent in Charge, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Southeast Field Division (TIGTA), announced the sentence.
“This sentence punishes Lawrence for targeting dozens of vulnerable senior citizens, who were manipulated into believing they had won an official sweepstakes prize, in order to line his pockets with their hard-earned savings,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “It will always be a priority of our Office to aggressively investigate elder fraud and hold responsible those who shamefully exploit our seniors for personal gain.”
“Individuals who financially and emotionally exploit the elderly need to be held accountable. The United States Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting the public and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies in combating schemes that target vulnerable victims. We encourage all USPS customers to be cautious, speak to loved ones about financial scams, and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Larco-Ward.
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration takes all investigations into Internal Revenue Service impersonation scams targeting elderly United States citizens seriously," stated TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Weaver. “We would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecuting such egregious acts in this case."
As set forth in court filings and on the record at sentencing, for more than six and a half years—between October 2013 and April 2020—Lawrence and his co-conspirators located in Jamaica and elsewhere outside the United States, carried out a scheme to defraud elderly U.S. citizens (the Victims). They used the telephone and email to falsely inform the Victims that they had won sweepstakes contests that were sponsored by Publishers Clearing House. Lawrence and his co-conspirators instructed the Victims that to facilitate the release of their purported prize money, the Victims first needed to wire money, mail checks, or send cash to bank accounts controlled by Lawrence to cover the purported taxes and fees. The Victims were led to believe that once these funds were wired or otherwise received by the defendant and others, their prizes would be released to them. In reality, Lawrence knew that the Victims had won no sweepstakes prizes and owed no fees. At least 50 victims, whose average age was approximately 82 years old, sent more than $5.6 million to Lawrence and his co-conspirators.
