Attorney General James Secures $400,000 for Tenants and Critical Repairs to The Kenney Apartments in Newburgh

 

Owners of Kenney Apartments Must Fix All Code Violations and Refund Tenants for Rent Payments They Made While Enduring Dangerous Conditions

New York Attorney General Letitia James secured $400,000 for tenants of The Kenney Apartments in Newburgh and an agreement from the owners of the complex to make all the necessary repairs to ensure tenants’ homes are safe and livable. For years, Kenney residents have endured dangerous conditions, including a consistent lack of heat and hot water through cold winters, pest infestations, broken windows and doors, mold, water and sewage leaks into their homes, and other hazards. In February 2026, Attorney General James sued the owners of The Kenney Apartments, which is home to more than 100 low-income residents, for failing to fix dozens of code violations that have led to inhospitable conditions. As a result of Attorney General James’ intervention, the owners of the apartment complex will refund $400,000 in rent payments to tenants, make all repairs necessary to fix every outstanding building code violation, and make regular reports to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of all tenant complaints, repairs made, and plans to fix any new violations.

“The owners of The Kenney Apartments neglected their tenants for years, forcing vulnerable New Yorkers to endure cold winters without heat and other horrendous conditions,” said Attorney General James. “While there is still work to be done to ensure these tenants have a clean and safe place to live, my office is determined to hold these owners accountable. This case should be a warning to landlords throughout our state: if you ignore your tenants’ complaints and fail to address code violations, my office will make you pay for your negligence.”

Attorney General James sued the owners and managers of The Kenney Apartments in February of this year for violating state laws by failing to properly maintain the buildings and apartments. The complex’s buildings have accumulated dozens of code violations, and residents have suffered in dangerous conditions that put their health and safety at risk. A lack of consistent heat and hot water forced tenants to endure cold winters by heating their homes with space heaters, which caused their electricity bills to skyrocket. Residents also reported mold and mildew that have caused illnesses, sewage leaking into their homes, and broken appliances that haven’t been fixed in years. One resident, who suffers from diabetes and needed a working refrigerator for her insulin, reported that her repeated calls to fix her broken refrigerator were ignored by her landlord.

Under the settlement with OAG, the owners and managers of The Kenney Apartments must take immediate action to repair the complex’s buildings and fix all outstanding code violations to ensure tenants have safe and habitable apartments. These repairs include mold remediation, plumbing fixes, repairs to doors, windows, floors, and walls, new paint, and more. The owners must also pay $409,697 back to tenants as a rent abatement for the months they lived in unsafe conditions. If the owners violate the settlement, they will be liable for a $100,000 penalty. To ensure the owners comply, the settlement requires them to make monthly reports to OAG documenting their progress and any new issues that arise. These reports must include details of all tenant complaints and actions taken to investigate them, all repairs done to correct code violations, any ongoing repairs, and any new code violations, along with a plan to address them.

Governor Hochul Announces Plans for Transformative $115 Million Investment in Schenectady's Hamilton Hill Neighborhood

Project Advances Governor's Housing Agenda with More Than 170 Units

Full-Service Grocery Store Will Provide Access to Fresh Food in Long-Standing Food Desert

Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans for a full-service grocery store and more than 170 new units of affordable and workforce housing as part of a $115 million project centered around 750 State Street in Schenectady's Hamilton Hill neighborhood. The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority has been working with the State, The Community Builders, Five Corners Development and Save A Lot to reimagine the vacant site. Store construction is slated for 2027 with an opening planned by the spring of 2028. New housing will be built on Albany and State Street within one block of the new store.

“Communities across the state deserve to feel uplifted and seen, especially in Schenectady, and we are delivering on that promise to the Hamilton Hill neighborhood,” Governor Hochul said. “With additional housing and a full-service grocery store right in the neighborhood, residents will be able to live in the neighborhood they grew up in, close to their families, and be able to get groceries without having to plan for additional commuting time.”

Formerly a car dealership, the 2.2-acre site at 750 State Street was purchased by the Schenectady County Legislature for $950,000, and the existing building was demolished utilizing a $2.75 million Restore New York grant from Empire State Development. The State Street site will undergo remediation through New York State’s Brownfield Program, administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation, to support the construction of a mixed-use building featuring the grocery store, 85 units of housing, greenspace, a new playground and parking. Clean-up work to prep the site is expected to run through 2027, with the County also providing $3 million in grant funding to support the new construction.

Nine additional vacant buildings were also demolished using Metroplex funding to create three sites at 748 Albany Street, 758 Albany Street and 785 Albany Street. Three buildings will be constructed at these sites, totaling 86 units, supported by $1 million from Empire State Development through the Regional Council initiative. In total, the project will create 171 units of affordable and workforce housing, including 36 units designated as supportive housing. The units will provide a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations to accommodate a range of family sizes. 

Statement from NYC Comptroller Mark Levine on Charter Commission Proposal to Strengthen NYC’s Rainy Day Fund

 

“The Charter Revision Commission has taken a significant step toward strengthening New York City’s Rainy Day Fund by advancing a proposal for voters to consider in November. This is an important milestone, and we look forward to working through the remaining policy details to ensure the final measure gives the City the strong fiscal safeguards it needs.

“For months, my office has advocated for a stronger Rainy Day Fund, because preparing before the next crisis is one of the smartest investments our city can make. Our proposal calls for a fund large enough to weather a recession, automatic deposits in years when the economy is strong, clear rules governing withdrawals and the conditions under which reserves can be used, and regular public reporting to ensure transparency and accountability. These are basic parameters already set by nearly every major U.S. city with a reserve fund.

“With economic uncertainty growing, from the rapid transformation driven by AI to broader global instability, New York cannot afford to wait until the next downturn to prepare. A stronger Rainy Day Fund will help protect essential services and provide stability when New Yorkers need it most.

“While this action marks meaningful progress, key elements of the proposal remain unresolved – including the rules governing deposits and withdrawals and a clear definition of what qualifies as a reserve fund.

“Those decisions will determine whether this proposal delivers the lasting fiscal safeguards New York City needs. We look forward to continuing to work with the administration, the Commission, and stakeholders to ensure the final proposal establishes a Rainy Day Fund that is strong, sustainable, and built to withstand future economic shocks. It is critical that we get this right.”

Justice Department Announces Monitoring of Polling Sites in Three Arizona Counties

The Department of Justice is monitoring polling sites in three Arizona counties for the state’s primary election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.

The Department, through the Civil Rights Division, enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The Department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country.

“The Department of Justice continues to monitor elections consistently and in a uniform fashion nationwide, ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice department’s Civil Rights Division. “Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections. We appreciate Arizona’s cooperation in these important procedural safeguards.”

“Our democracy depends on free and fair elections,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “My office is pleased to be leading efforts to ensure election integrity for Arizona voters. Today’s monitoring effort is a critical piece of that.”

The Department is currently monitoring polls in Maricopa, Apache, and Pima counties with DOJ staff from the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section and Arizona’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This initiative is aimed at promoting transparency and an open flow of communication between poll observers and election monitors. Election officials in these three counties issued letters to DOJ personnel — giving them credentials to observe vote-casting procedures at various poll sites. Such communication ensures both election security and appropriate access to the franchise for all Americans.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.

From now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, 2026, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted. 

FOREST HILLS MAN SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BEATING OF WOODSIDE DELI WORKER

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Osvel Diaz was sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder and other crimes in the June 2024 beating of a 62-year-old deli worker inside the Sunnyside Mini Market in Woodside. The victim was viciously assaulted by the defendant until he was unconscious.

District Attorney Katz said: “A 62-year-old man, who was simply working in a Woodside bodega, was relentlessly pummeled by this defendant in an unprovoked attack. Osvel Diaz nearly killed Abdul Alshawish and left the employee with lifelong injuries. I thank my prosecutors for securing this lengthy sentence against the defendant and wish Mr. Alshawish the very best as he continues to recover from this senseless assault.”

Diaz, 31, of Forest Hills, pleaded guilty last month to attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, petit larceny and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice John Zoll on Thursday sentenced Diaz to 19 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on June 17, 2024, at approximately 11:17 p.m., Diaz entered the Sunnyside Mini Mart at 63-20 Broadway. He and deli worker Abdul Alshawish, who was standing in front of the counter, bumped into one another.

Seconds later, Diaz began punching Alshawish multiple times in the head. Diaz threw Alshawish to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked him in the face, body and head. While the victim was on the floor, Diaz continued to kick him in the head and knocked Alshawish unconscious. The defendant did not stop the assault and continued to kick Alshawish in the head and face.

As a result of the incident, Alshawish underwent multiple surgeries and was diagnosed with a moderate traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairments.

Diaz was apprehended on June 26, 2024, in Forest Hills.

WORST OF THE WORST: ICE Arrests Murderers, Pedophiles, and Violent Assailants

 

Our message to illegal aliens is clear: LEAVE NOW. If you don’t, we will find you and deport you

Yesterday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, convicted for heinous crimes including murder, lewd or lascivious acts with a child, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing bodily injury.

“The brave men and women of ICE law enforcement work 24/7 to remove the worst of the worst from our communities,” said Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Just yesterday, ICE arrested murderers, pedophiles, violent assailants, and other public safety threats. Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens who have either been convicted or charged with a crime in the United States.”

Yesterday’s arrests include:

Cornelio Arrellano-Hernandez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for first-degree murder in Los Angeles, California.

Yaney Garcia-Ozuna, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old in Livermore, California.

Long Quoc Van Nguyen, a criminal illegal alien from Vietnam, convicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing bodily injury and TWO counts of driving under the influence of liquor in Dallas, Texas.

Ebrima Sanneh, a criminal illegal alien from Gambia, convicted for willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer, carrying a concealed gun, and attempted trafficking of cocaine and methamphetamine in Gaston County, North Carolina.

Cheikh Assane Diagne, a criminal illegal alien from Senegal, convicted for carrying a handgun and trespassing in Washington, D.C.

Americans can see more public safety threats arrested in their communities on our webpage WOW.DHS.Gov.

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Notorious Fugitive Arrested in Connection with $547 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

 

Defendant Captured After Being Placed on FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List

A foreign national was arrested on criminal charges related to his orchestration of a scheme to defraud Medicare over half a billion dollars for unnecessary genetic testing.

Khalid Satary, 54, was charged by indictment in 2019 in the Eastern District of Louisiana as part of one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever charged by the Department of Justice. According to the indictment and court documents, from 2016 to 2019, Satary owned and operated several diagnostic testing laboratories throughout the United States that billed Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests. Satary allegedly conspired with dozens of patient recruiters, telemarketing call centers, and telemedicine companies to utilize deceptive marketing campaigns and illegal kickbacks and bribes to generate cancer genetic test samples that reimbursed between $10,000 to $20,000 per sample. Through his laboratories, Satary billed Medicare for over $547 million. He also allegedly paid millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks and bribes to doctors and patient recruiters. In connection with the indictment, the government seized 16 bank accounts and restrained real estate from Satary.

“This defendant allegedly orchestrated a massive fraud scheme that preyed on thousands of elderly patients, deceiving them into undergoing expensive, medically unnecessary tests and fraudulently billing the government for more than half a billion dollars,” said Acting Attorney General Blanche. “Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the FBI, this defendant was brought back from overseas to face justice in the United States. Our message to fraudsters is clear: If you steal from American taxpayers and exploit vulnerable patients, we will find and prosecute you, no matter where you are.”

“This defendant is alleged to have engaged in a massive fraud scheme that preyed on elderly patients, duped them into taking expensive and unnecessary genetic tests, and billed the United States more than half a billion dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “As today’s arrest shows, there is no safe haven for fraudsters who seek to exploit vulnerable Americans or our Nation’s critical health care programs.”

“The arrest of Khalid Ahmed Satary and return to the U.S. is the third Most Wanted Fraudster capture from this FBI and our partners in just 5 weeks – continuing the historic run of success for this new initiative,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Satary was indicted in 2019 on charges on Health Care Fraud Conspiracy, allegedly stealing $547 million from 2016-2019 by fraudulently billing Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests, using deceptive marketing campaigns, illegal kickbacks, and bribes. This is another subject who exploited a program dedicated to helping our most vulnerable and instead stole for himself. Satary has been on the run since 2022, but we got him thanks to great work and coordination from the interagency and our overseas partners. 

This is just the latest example showing President Trump’s and Vice President Vance’s White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud will not be deterred in our mission to track down each and every fraudster who allegedly steals from American taxpayers. And it’s yet another high value target returned from overseas by this FBI - the 27th such transfer since June.”

“Medicare fraud targets vulnerable populations and defrauds taxpayers out of millions of dollars,” said United States Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  “In this case, the defendant allegedly targeted elderly, disabled and other vulnerable consumers, nationwide, luring them into a fraudulent scheme that generated massive taxpayer losses. Compounding these allegations, it is also alleged that the defendant failed to appear at a court hearing by fleeing the country. Mr. Satary’s eventual apprehension demonstrates the Department of Justice’s unflagging commitment to protect taxpayers’ monies and prosecute those who violate the public trust.”

“HHS-OIG’s investigation of this case uncovered an alleged scheme that exploited vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries through medically unnecessary genetic testing and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in losses to federal health programs. This fugitive’s capture is an important step toward accountability,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of HHS-OIG. “We appreciate the coordinated efforts that resulted in his arrest abroad and return to the United States. HHS OIG will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure individuals who engage in health care fraud are held accountable, no matter how long they attempt to evade justice.”

Following indictment, Satary was released on bond, over the government’s objection, with a condition not to work in the health care field. While on bond, Satary allegedly conspired with Houston-based laboratories in Texas to continue submitting fraudulent genetic testing claims to Medicare. In December 2022, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Satary in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Satary failed to appear for a court hearing and is alleged to have subsequently fled the country. On July 20, 2026, he was apprehended by regional partners in the Middle East and was found to be in possession of a fake Mexican passport under a fake name, depicted below. He was subsequently transferred into U.S. custody.

Khalid Satary after being apprehended in July 2026 (left), and the fake Mexican passport in his possession (right)

Khalid Satary’s arrival at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Satary made his initial appearance today in the Eastern District of Virginia. He is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks and bribes, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, 10 years in prison for the counts of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and five years in prison for the count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive kickbacks

On June 4, the FBI announced the creation  of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List. The list included Herb Kimble, a fugitive in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme, who, on June 8—just four days later—was apprehended in the Philippines and was soon after charged as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. On June 23, Satary was added to the Most Wanted Fraudsters List, and he was apprehended less than a month later, despite being on the run for over three years.

The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. The Department thanks its government partners—including U.S. Customs and Border Protection International Operations— in the Middle East for their cooperation in the apprehension of this health care fraud fugitive.

Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Thor Pogozelski for the Southern District of Florida.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine 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 since 2007. 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. 

Attorney General James Sues to Stop EPA Rollback of Climate Protections

 

Trump Administration Rule Would Allow More Powerful Greenhouse Gases to Remain in New Equipment for Years Longer

New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and the City of New York in suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over a rule that weakens federal limits on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a uniquely dangerous class of greenhouse gases that can be up to 10,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The rule delays long-established deadlines requiring new commercial refrigeration equipment to transition to cleaner refrigerants, undermining the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act and increasing harmful emissions that contribute to climate change. Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to block EPA’s unlawful rollback.

“From blankets of wildfire smoke to worsening storms and floods to exceedingly high temperatures, we are experiencing the climate crisis in real time,” said Attorney General James. “Congress passed a bipartisan law to reduce some of the most dangerous greenhouse gases because the costs of inaction are simply too high. The EPA cannot ignore that law and put our communities at risk. My office is taking action to ensure these critical climate protections remain in place.”

HFCs are widely used in commercial refrigeration, air conditioning, and cooling systems. Once deemed a safer alternative to ozone-depleting chemicals, HFCs have now been found to be among the most potent greenhouse gases, with global warming impacts hundreds to thousands of times greater than those of carbon dioxide. Because HFCs remain in the atmosphere for a relatively short period, reducing their use is one of the fastest ways to slow the pace of climate change.

Congress recognized that threat when it passed the bipartisan AIM Act in 2020, which was signed into law by President Trump. The law directs EPA to phase down HFC production and consumption by approximately 85 percent by 2036. To carry out that mandate, EPA adopted technology transition standards requiring manufacturers installing new refrigeration and cooling equipment to use refrigerants with lower global warming potential where safer alternatives are already available, ensuring demand for HFCs declines alongside the law’s phasedown of HFC production.

The rule challenged today weakens the EPA’s Technology Transitions Rule by delaying compliance deadlines for several categories of commercial refrigeration equipment by as much as six years. For example, remote condensing units commonly used in supermarkets, convenience stores, and bakeries would be allowed to continue using refrigerants with nearly ten times the global warming potential previously permitted until 2032.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that EPA’s rollback will increase emissions of highly potent greenhouse gases, slow progress toward reducing climate pollution, and undermine the orderly transition Congress established under the AIM Act. The rule also risks creating unnecessary market disruption by weakening the balance between declining HFC supply and demand, increasing the likelihood of shortages and higher costs that could ultimately be passed on to consumers.

The attorneys general also contend that EPA has ignored the fact that companies operating in New York and elsewhere have already invested in compliance with the existing rule’s requirements and compliance schedule. In fact, several industry trade groups have joined states and advocacy organizations in filing petitions challenging the administration’s rollback of the existing rule.

In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that EPA’s rule is arbitrary, capricious, contrary to the AIM Act, and therefore unlawful.

The attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and the City of New York, are now joined by New York State.