Turkey-Based Global Director Of Sham Charity Arrested And Charged With Conspiring To Provide Material Support To Hamas

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Director in Charge of the Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Jarod Brown, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced the unsealing of a three-count Complaint charging MOHAMMAD YOUSEF HASNA, a/k/a “Orhan Korkmaz,” a/k/a “Abu al-Baraa,” a Turkish resident, with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization (“FTO”), and related terrorism financing charges.  As alleged, HASNA used his senior role at a purported global humanitarian organization to coordinate directly with Hamas’s senior leadership regarding the delivery of funds and supplies to Gaza, and the distribution of those funds and supplies at Hamas leadership’s instructions.  HASNA was arrested in the United Kingdom today and ordered detained pending extradition proceedings. 

“Mohammad Hasna is alleged to have abused his position as the global director of a purported humanitarian organization to raise money and provide funds and supplies to Hamas, a brutal terrorist organization responsible for the murders of dozens of Americans and over a thousand other innocent victims, including as part of the heinous atrocities of October 7,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.  “Hasna worked closely with Hamas’s senior leadership to deliver supplies, food, funding, and other materials to terrorists under the guise of humanitarian aid.  Our arrest of Mohammad Hasna demonstrates our commitment to dismantling Hamas’s illicit global financing networks and the sham charities that support terrorist organizations and their violent aims using the lie of philanthropy.” 

“The money that flows from sham charities like the one described in the complaint fuels Hamas’s terrorist activities, including the atrocities the group committed on October 7,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.  “Hamas cannot function without injections of money through its illicit financial networks.  The National Security Division will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt Hamas’s operations, including through the prosecutions such as this.”

“The accused allegedly used a purported humanitarian aid organization to raise funds and provide financing and supplies to Hamas, a ruthless international terrorist organization,” said Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.  “According to the criminal complaint, the defendant coordinated his actions closely with a senior leader of Hamas and knew the resources were going to that group rather than to needy non-combatants.  The FBI is committed to cutting off funding and other assistance to terrorist organizations and will continue to work closely with our U.S. government and international partners to present a united front against global terrorism.”

“Mohammad Hasna allegedly used a charity to funnel millions of dollars in aid to Hamas—a designated terrorist organization responsible for countless terrorist attacks, death, and destruction around the world,” said FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.  “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force continues to fight for peace by working with our partners to identify threats to the United States and our allies.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:(1)

HASNA is the global director of a purported international charity registered in the United Kingdom (the “Sham Charity”).  In that role, HASNA allegedly provided financing and commodities to Hamas, including by coordinating extensively with individuals at the highest levels of Hamas.  In particular, and as alleged, HASNA worked closely with senior Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad (“Hamad”), a member of Hamas’s governing body known as the Politburo and the Minister for the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza (“MoSD”), a putative governmental agency that is controlled by Hamas. 

Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya, commonly known as Hamas, is a terrorist organization that was founded in 1987, and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States since 1997.  From its inception, Hamas’s stated purpose has been to create an Islamic Palestinian state throughout Israel by eliminating the State of Israel through violent holy war, or jihad.  Hamas also promotes attacks against the United States and its citizens, and over more than two decades, Hamas has murdered and injured dozens of Americans as part of its campaign of violence and terror.  On October 7, 2023, Hamas committed its most violent, large-scale terrorist attack to date (the “October 7 Hamas Massacres”) when Hamas sent more than 2,000 armed fighters into farms and towns in southern Israel, where they carried out the massacres of over a thousand people and the kidnappings of 251 hostages. 

Following the October 7 Hamas Massacres, in its disclosures to UK authorities, the Sham Charity reported that its total gross income nearly doubled from approximately $41.8 million USD in fiscal year 2023, to approximately $81.56 million USD in fiscal year 2024.  The Sham Charity represented that it spent approximately $91 million on charitable activities in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. 

Since at least 2023, HASNA and Hamad coordinated the delivery of purported humanitarian aid organized by or allocated to the Sham Charity into Gaza for Hamas’s benefit, repeatedly coordinating the delivery of supplies, food, and other items by HASNA (under the guise of humanitarian aid from the Sham Charity) directly into Hamad’s and Hamas’s hands.  In coordination with Hamad and at Hamad’s direction, HASNA allegedly arranged (1) deliveries of cash to Hamad; (2) the procurement of supplies for import to Gaza; (3) transportation of supplies into Gaza by truck from Egypt and elsewhere; (4) deliveries to warehouses controlled by the Sham Charity or by MoSD, according to Hamad’s instructions; and (5) distribution of those supplies to lists of recipients identified by Hamad.  As part of this scheme, HASNA and Hamad concealed where the supplies were being delivered or stored, including by misrepresenting that supplies were being delivered to MoSD when in fact they were being delivered to warehouses controlled by HASNA; having supplies delivered initially to MoSD but then redistributed to the actual receiving parties; and taking pictures and videos of the supplies that omitted any signage inside the warehouses that would reveal their location or control. 

HASNA, 45, of Istanbul, Turkey, is charged with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to finance terrorism, and financing terrorism, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The statutory maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by a judge.

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and Washington Field Office.  Mr. McDonald also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, our U.K. partners, and the Israeli Security Agency for their assistance with this investigation.  The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the United Kingdom’s law enforcement authorities provided significant assistance. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  

The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Governor Hochul and Attorney General James Announce New York Has Sued Kalshi for Running Illegal Gambling Operation

 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James today announced that New York has sued KalshiEX, LLC (Kalshi) for running an illegal gambling operation in New York through its prediction market platform. Kalshi launched in 2021 as a service that allowed users to bet money on the outcome of a wide range of future events. In 2025, Kalshi launched sports “trading,” claiming it offered legal sports betting markets, accessible to Americans in all 50 states, and encouraging bettors to wager on the outcomes of major sporting events. Today, Kalshi offers users the ability to bet on events including sports, culture, and elections on its website and app. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Kalshi’s prediction market is an illegal, unlicensed gambling operation. Kalshi’s illegal prediction market exposes New Yorkers – including those under the legal gambling age of 21 – to serious personal and financial risk. The lawsuit is seeking a court order stopping Kalshi from operating as an unlicensed gambling business and requiring the company to pay fines, forfeit all illegal gains, and pay restitution to users.

“Kalshi has chosen to ignore New York’s gaming laws, which exist to protect consumers, prevent problematic gambling, deliver funding for critical public services, and ensure that every company plays by the same rules,” Governor Hochul said. “This choice has consequences, and working closely with Attorney General James, New York is taking action to stop this illegal behavior and bring Kalshi into compliance, because no company is above the law.”

“New York’s gambling laws protect children from underage betting and help combat gambling addiction,” said Attorney General James. “No matter what they call themselves, prediction markets like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple. By ignoring our laws, Kalshi is running an illegal operation and harming New Yorkers in the process. We are taking them to court to uphold our laws and protect New Yorkers.”

The lawsuit alleges that Kalshi’s prediction markets meet the legal definition of gambling because the outcomes of the events on which its users are betting are uncertain and outside the control of the bettor or hinge on a game of chance. Despite this, Kalshi has failed to obtain a license from the New York State Gaming Commission (Gaming Commission), sidestepping its obligation to pay taxes like licensed casinos and mobile sports gambling platforms do. This tax revenue from gambling regulation funds public schools, sports programs for underserved youth, and problem gambling education and treatment.

Kalshi’s prediction markets are also available to users between the ages of 18-20, even though New York law requires a person to be at least 21 years old to participate in mobile sports betting. Exposing young people to online gambling can have damaging effects on their mental and financial well-being. Recent research has shown that gambling among young people is associated with psychological distress, financial difficulties, and increased risk of gambling-related harms in adulthood.

In the lawsuit filed today, OAG is asking the court to order Kalshi to forfeit all illegal gains, distribute restitution to consumers who were harmed, and pay fines equal to three times the gains the company made through its illegal actions.

This is the latest action in Governor Hochul and Attorney General James’ continued efforts to enforce New York’s gambling laws and protect New York consumers. Attorney General James has issued multiple consumer and industry alerts warning New Yorkers about the hazards of gambling and encouraging companies to comply with state laws. In April 2026, Attorney General James sued Coinbase and Gemini for running illegal gambling platforms. Also in April 2026, Governor Hochul signed an Executive Order banning state employees from engaging in insider trading using prediction markets like Kalshi. In January of 2026, Attorney General James sued Valve, a video game developer, for illegally promoting gambling through video games popular with children and teenagers.  In October 2025, the Gaming Commission demanded that Kalshi cease and desist their ongoing operation of an unlicensed mobile sports wagering platform. In June 2025, Attorney General James stopped 26 illegal online sweepstakes casinos that offered slots, table games, and sports betting using virtual coins that could be exchanged for cash and prizes.

Attorney General James urges New Yorkers to ensure gambling platforms are registered with the New York State Gaming Commission and report any misconduct or gaming fraud to OAG by filing a complaint online, which can be done anonymously, or calling 1-800-771-7755.

DHS Cracks Down on Non-Citizens Illegally Voting in New Jersey

 

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill recently admitted that thousands of non-citizens have registered to vote in New Jersey

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after the latest enforcement actions were taken against non-citizens who illegally cast votes in elections in the state of New Jersey.

Earlier this year, following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), four non-citizens in New Jersey were charged with crimes related to illegally voting in federal elections and making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship.

The suspects are:

• 43-year-old Idan Choresh from Israel, who voted in the 2022 election and is now charged with voting by an alien in a federal election, false statements in relation to naturalization, and procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully. Choresh first came to the United States in January 2001, was granted a green card in July 2020, and applied for naturalization in May 2025.
• 70-year-old Jacenth Emelyn Beadle Exum from Jamaica, who voted in the 2020 election and is now charged with false statements in relation to naturalization. Exum entered the United States in July 2000, was granted a green card in July 2004, applied for naturalization in May 2021, and was naturalized in August 2022.
• 73-year-old David Gboty Neewilly from Liberia, who voted in the 2020 and 2024 elections and is now charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and false statements in relation to naturalization. Neewilly first entered the United States in July 1998, was granted a green card in June 2014, and applied for naturalization in May 2025.
• 33-year-old Abhinandan Vig from India, who voted in the 2020 election and is now charged with procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully. Vig first came to the United States in June 2012 and applied for naturalization in March 2024.

“These aliens illegally voted in American elections,” said Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill confirmed thousands of non-citizens are registered to vote in New Jersey. We need the SAVE America Act to ensure only Americans elect American leaders.”

Earlier this month, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin sent letters to the secretaries of state in four different states, including New Jersey, warning that tens of thousands of non-citizens were registered to vote.

The letter that Secretary Mullin sent to New Jersey Secretary of State Dale Caldwell.

Following Secretary Mullin’s letters, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) admitted that approximately 6,600 non-citizens were registered to vote in New Jersey. Furthermore, it has been revealed that at least 75,000 non-citizens are called for jury duty in New Jersey every year.

DHS’ actions are part of the Trump Administration’s broader focus on stopping aliens from voting in American elections. In June, DHS directed ICE to enforce stricter penalties for non-citizens who illegally vote in American elections, including deportation.

Los Angeles Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Selling Fentanyl That Resulted in Fatal Overdose

 

A Los Angeles man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for selling fentanyl that caused the death of a Vero Beach man, then continuing to traffic the deadly drug just two days later.  

U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon imposed the sentence on Alfonso Guerrero, 39, of Los Angeles, after a federal jury convicted him in May 2026 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

“A tenth of a gram of fentanyl, about the size of a small pinch of salt, was enough to kill David Eller,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This was not a small drug deal. It was a deadly one. Guerrero sold the fentanyl that killed his friend and, just two days later, was caught carrying more fentanyl for distribution. Today’s life sentence is the consequence of that deadly conduct and his long record of violence and crime. Together with the DEA and our local law enforcement partners, we will trace fatal doses back to the dealers who sold them and hold those dealers fully accountable.”

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Guerrero sold fentanyl in Indian River County. On May 16, 2023, he exchanged 0.1 gram of fentanyl — commonly known as “a point” — for another controlled substance known as “molly.” The drug transaction was captured on a doorbell camera.  Hours later, David Eller was found dead inside his Vero Beach home. Investigators recovered drug paraphernalia, including a small piece of burnt aluminum foil that the victim used to receive the fentanyl from Guerrero on the victim’s front porch, near his body. 

Two days later, on May 18, 2023, Guerrero was arrested and found in possession of additional quantities of fentanyl intended for distribution. 

Guerrero’s extensive criminal history included documented gang membership and prior convictions for attempted robbery with a firearm in California, aggravated assault in Georgia, and cocaine and fentanyl possession offenses in Florida. 

U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, Sheriff Eric Flowers of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) made the announcement.  

DEA Miami Field Division and IRCSO investigated the case. The investigation illustrates the close coordination between federal and state law enforcement to identify drug dealers responsible for fatal overdoes and bring them to justice.

Brother of Notorious Mexican Cartel Leader Pleads Guilty to International Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

 

A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for unlawful importation into the United States, and using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. 

According to court documents, Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, 67, of Michoacán, Mexico, trafficked cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States for Mexico-based cartels for over two decades. From around 2002 to 2010, Oseguera Cervantes operated as a member of the Milenio Cartel in Jalisco, Mexico, overseeing narcotics sales, protecting territories from rival cartels, and supervising and maintaining the operations of methamphetamine laboratories. He procured precursor chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine and distributed methamphetamine and cocaine destined for the United States.  

The court filings state that since around 2010, Oseguera Cervantes worked with and reported directly to his notorious and now-deceased brother, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “Mencho,” who co-founded and led the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). The CJNG is one of the most prolific and dangerous drug cartels in Mexico, based in the State of Jalisco, which traffics multi-tonnage quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States. Oseguera Cervantes furthered CJNG’s drug trafficking operations, including by supplying precursor chemicals to CJNG methamphetamine laboratories and distributing cocaine and methamphetamine for the CJNG. He also collected drug proceeds and managed CJNG’s money laundering activities, such as transferring drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico through currency exchange locations. When collecting drug proceeds or attending meetings to discuss drug trafficking, Oseguera Cervantes armed himself with a pistol. 

Oseguera Cervantes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine destined to the United States, as well as using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of two consecutive life sentences in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Administrator Terrance C. Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.

The DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit Los Angeles is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance to Oseguera Cervantes’ February 2025 transfer from Mexico to the United States pursuant to Mexico’s National Security law. The Department of Justice thanks the Government of Mexico for its assistance in securing Oseguera Cervantes’ presence in the United States for prosecution.

Chief Kaitlin Sahni of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit (NDDU) and Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian, Douglas Meisel, and Nicole Lockhart, of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.

The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

DEC TO HOST 15TH ANNUAL GREAT HUDSON RIVER FISH COUNT ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

 

New Yorkers Encouraged to ‘Get Offline and Get Outside’ and Learn About Fish at Multiple Hudson River Sites  

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the 15^th Annual Great Hudson River Fish Count will take place at multiple sites along the banks and piers of the Hudson River on Saturday, August 1, 2026.    

“The Great Hudson River Fish Count offers an opportunity for New York families and visitors to participate in a hands-on community science project and learn about DEC’s conservation efforts to protect and restore the Hudson River,” Commissioner Lefton said. “We encourage New Yorkers to ‘Get Offline and Get Outside’ to discover the wide variety of fish species found in the estuary ecosystem.”   

Participants from the Capital Region to New York City are invited to explore the variety of creatures usually hidden below the river’s surface. Freshwater upriver, salty at New York City, and brackish in between, the Hudson River Estuary and watershed are home to more than 200 fish species, including several that migrate into the river from the Atlantic Ocean each spring to spawn.     

During the annual Fish Count, participating organizations encourage visitors to help collect fish using seine nets, minnow traps, or rods and reels.    

Seining involves pulling a 30-foot net through the water and checking out the fish, crabs, and other river life caught in its mesh. Participants may watch from shore or, at some locations, use available waders to help pull in the net. The fish are released after everyone has a chance to experience them up close.  

Catches at all sites are shared and posted on DEC’s website. Comparing notes builds an understanding of the diversity of fishes and habitats in the Hudson, the vitality of the estuarine ecosystem in urban and rural settings, and the influence of salinity and tides.    

All Fish Count programs are family-friendly and free of charge. Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative promotes physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. The event is sponsored by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Management Program in partnership with other environmental organizations.    

Participating public Fish Count sites from south to north: 

Brooklyn: 

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 4 Beach: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Brooklyn Bridge Park 

Manhattan: 

Hudson River Park, Pier 51: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Rockland County: 

Piermont Pier, Hudson River Field Station, Piermont: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.   Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University 

Putnam County: 

Little Stony Point Beach in Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring: 9 a.m.  DEC Hudson River Estuary Program  Note: Meet on the beach   

Dutchess County: 

Power House at Mills Norrie State Park, Staatsburg: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  DEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and Hudson River Estuary Program   

Albany – Capital District: 

Peebles Island State Park, Cohoes: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  DEC Region 4 Fisheries  Note: Display will be at the Second Street bridge along the rec trail     

For more information, visit Hudson River Estuary Management Program.  

Watch a clip about seining in the Hudson River.  

Mayor Mamdani Appoints Jennifer Jones Austin as CCRB Chair

 

Renowned social justice leader will strengthen police accountability and advance the Mamdani administration’s whole-of-government approach to public safety 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced the appointment of Jennifer Jones Austin as Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), the nation’s largest independent police oversight entity. As Chair, Jones Austin will advance the Mamdani administration’s whole-of-government approach to public safety by strengthening accountability, building public trust and ensuring every New Yorker is treated with dignity.  

  

The appointment marks the first time the CCRB has had a permanent chair since 2020.  

  

Interim Chair Sherene Crawford, Esq., will continue to serve as a member of the CCRB Board.  

  

“Jennifer Jones Austin has spent her career standing with New Yorkers who are too often shut out of the halls of power. She understands that public safety and accountability go hand in hand, and that trust must be earned through action. Jennifer will lead the CCRB with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to justice. I am grateful she has answered the call to serve our city,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “I also want to thank Sherene Crawford for her steady leadership during this period of transition. Because of her service, the Board continued its essential work without interruption.”  

  

“I am honored to serve as Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. Trust between government and the communities we serve lay at the heart of public safety.  It is our responsibility as public servants to deepen trust by promoting transparency and integrity through our every action,” said Chair Jennifer Jones Austin. “As Chair, I will work to advance CCRB’s critical mission of accountability and look forward to the work ahead.” 

  

“Jennifer Jones Austin has dedicated her career to advancing fairness, accountability, and opportunity for New Yorkers, and I am proud to join Mayor Mamdani in appointing her as Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board. She brings decades of respected public service, deep experience building consensus, and an unwavering commitment to strengthening trust between government and the communities it serves. I look forward to working with Jennifer to support the CCRB’s critical mission of ensuring independent oversight, promoting transparency and helping build a stronger relationship between the NYPD and the people of New York City,” said Speaker Julie Menin. 

  

About Jennifer Jones Austin:   

  

Jennifer Jones Austin is a fourth-generation faith and social justice leader who has dedicated her career to advancing equity and expanding opportunity for New Yorkers.  

  

As CEO and Executive Director of Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), an anti-poverty policy and advocacy organization representing 170 member agencies and faith partners, Jones Austin has led successful efforts to strengthen the social safety net and advance policies that empower disenfranchised and marginalized communities. Her work has focused on the intersection of race, poverty, law and public policy. 

  

Jones Austin previously chaired the New York City Racial Justice Commission, the first municipal racial justice commission of its kind in the nation and served as Chair of the New York City Board of Correction, where she oversaw the rulemaking process that ended solitary confinement in New York City jails. 

  

She currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Action Network board and has held leadership roles on numerous public and nonprofit commissions, including the New York State 400 Years of African American History Commission, Fordham University’s Feerick Center for Social Justice Advisory Board, Harvard University’s Center for Law, Brain and Behavior Advisory Board and the COVID-19 “Roll Up Your Sleeves” Task Force. She was also a Visiting Scholar at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work and Scholar in Residence at Alliance University's Center for Racial Reconciliation (CRR).  

  

Jones Austin served as co-chair of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s transition team and advised the City’s universal prekindergarten expansion and NYPD Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. 

  

She is the author of Consider it Pure Joy and editor of God in the Ghetto: A Prophetic World Revisited. 

  

Jones Austin earned a juris doctor from Fordham University School of Law, a Master of Science in management and policy from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University. 

Housing Lottery Launches for 1405 Boston Road in Morrisania, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for The Frederick Shack, a six-story residential building at 1405 Boston Road in Morrisania, The Bronx. Designed by Monica Lopez Architect and developed by Frederick Shack of Urban Pathways Inc., the structure yields 79 residences. Available on New York State Housing Search are nine units for residents at 30 to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $28,000 to $71,280.

Green features include rooftop solar panels, Energy Star appliances, and adherence to Enterprise Green Communities standards. Amenities include a shared laundry room, recreation room, landscaped backyard, common kitchen, security office, and admin/social services offices. Rent includes electricity, which includes heat and hot water.

At 30 percent of the AMI, there are six studios with a monthly rent of $700 for incomes ranging from $28,000 to $35,640.

At 60 percent of the AMI, there are three studios with a monthly rent of $1,401 for incomes ranging from $56,040 to $71,280.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Request an application at marketinginfo@shfinc.org. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than August 17, 2026.