D.A. Bragg Announces Indictment Of Homeless Shelter Employee For Stealing Thousands From Residents

 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of DAVID AGUERO, 24, for allegedly defrauding multiple homeless shelter residents in an apartment voucher and credit card theft scheme between March and June 2026. AGUERO is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Bribe Receiving in the Third Degree, and Identity Theft in the First Degree, among other charges. [1]

“Shelter residents trusted David Aguero, a housing specialist, to help them secure stable places to live. As alleged, Aguero broke their trust and stole thousands of dollars from them,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Those who take advantage of New Yorkers desperate for homes in the midst of our housing crisis will be held accountable. This is an ongoing investigation. If you or someone you know may be a victim, please call us at 212-335-3600, regardless of your immigration status.”

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, between March 16, 2026, and June 11, 2026, AGUERO stole more than $4,000 from New York City shelter residents. AGUERO worked as a housing specialist in a Manhattan homeless shelter.  Abusing his position, AGUERO told the residents, who had obtained City-issued housing vouchers, that they needed to pay him directly to secure an apartment. AGUERO then took thousands of dollars in cash or electronic transfers from these New Yorkers. AGUERO also used personally identifiable information that he obtained from one of these victims to open—and spend heavily on—two credit cards in the victim’s name.  

D.A. Bragg thanked the New York City Department of Investigation, particularly Daniel Malvey and Angie Garcia, and the NYPD, particularly Detective Ramon Gutierrez and Officer William Clune of the 24th Precinct Detective Squad.

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.

Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Trying to Obtain U.S. Military Equipment

 

Earlier today, Dingwei Chen, a 29-year-old citizen of the People’s Republic of China, pleaded guilty in federal court in Salt Lake City to violating the Arms Export Control Act. U.S. District Judge David Sam accepted Chen’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for Oct 19. Chen faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Chen attempted to purchase military-grade satellite modems and radios manufactured for the U.S. military by American companies. The specific communications hardware Chen attempted to buy may not be legally exported from the United States without a license from the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, which generally does not issue licenses to export military goods and services to China.

“Chen tried to divert sensitive U.S. military technologies to the People’s Republic of China, technologies the PRC could have used against us in the future,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “These advanced technologies are a product of United States ingenuity and investment, and the National Security Division will act together with our partners across the government to enforce our laws to protect the military advantage bestowed by such technologies.”

“Today’s guilty plea underscores the serious consequences for those who attempt to illegally procure, export, or transfer sensitive U.S.-origin military equipment or technology in violation of our nation’s export control laws,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Jersey. “Protecting American innovation and preventing critical technologies from reaching foreign adversaries, terrorist organizations, and transnational criminal organizations is a core national security mission. This investigation reflects the exceptional collaboration between HSI offices across the United States and its territories and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service to disrupt an illicit procurement network and hold accountable those who threaten the security of the United States.”

“Advanced communication systems – such as those increasingly sought after by adversaries for their sophisticated capabilities – are essential to protecting our warfighters and ensuring they can operate safely and decisively across modern battlespaces,” said Director James R. Ives of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). “Safeguarding this technology is critical to the men and women who rely on these systems when protecting our nation. As the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS will aggressively pursue those who attempt to obtain and illegally export sensitive technology that could pose future risks to our troops and ensure they face justice.”

According to court records, Chen worked with others in China to try and acquire these sensitive communications systems from foreign arms dealers on the black market. They discussed various methods to export them to China. Initially, Chen and his co-conspirators sought to transship the goods through Switzerland; then they spoke about picking them up in Saipan; finally, they decided to smuggle through Mexico. 

After making an initial down payment of over $40,000 U.S. dollars, Chen and his co-conspirators switched to cryptocurrency, noting that “cold wallets are essentially anonymous bank accounts. Each transaction processed through them is private and untraceable.” They went on to pay roughly $30,000 worth of USDT, which is a type of cryptocurrency. These down payments related to the purchase of 10 modems. 

To avoid detection, Chen and his co-conspirators communicated using an encrypted app. Using the encrypted app, Chen claimed this was merely an initial deal, and he had funding to buy tens of millions of dollars’ worth of additional military equipment.

Assistant Attorney General Eisenberg thanked the hardworking HSI and DCIS agents who investigated this case.

Attorney General James Co-Leads Multistate Effort Opposing Trump Administration’s Sweeping Rollback of Gun Safety Protections

 

AG James and Coalition File 13 Comment Letters Challenging Unlawful Effort to Dismantle Decades of Federal Gun Safety Regulations

New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a coalition of 22 other attorneys general in opposing the Trump administration's unprecedented effort to dismantle decades of federal gun safety protections. Since May 2026, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has proposed rolling back or eliminating 32 firearm regulations that help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, support law enforcement investigations, and prevent illegal gun trafficking. Through 13 comment letters submitted over the last week, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the proposed rules are unlawful, unsupported by evidence, and would make communities across the country less safe while benefiting the gun industry at the expense of public safety.

"Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their community. These reckless proposals would make it easier for dangerous weapons to fall into the wrong hands while making it harder for law enforcement to stop gun violence and solve crimes," said Attorney General James. "The Trump administration is trying to erase decades of bipartisan progress that has helped reduce gun violence and save lives. We are calling on ATF to abandon these unlawful proposals and uphold its responsibility to protect the public instead of putting the interests of the gun industry first."

In the comment letters, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that ATF's proposals would dismantle longstanding protections that Congress enacted to reduce gun violence, combat illegal firearms trafficking, and support law enforcement. The attorneys general argue that many of the proposed rules exceed ATF's statutory authority, conflict with federal law and Supreme Court precedent, disregard congressional intent, and fail to satisfy the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. The attorneys general also note that many of the proposals were issued without adequate evidence or explanation, without required consultation with the states, and appear to reflect undisclosed influence from the firearms industry.

If enacted, the proposed rules would:

• Weaken Brady Act background checks. The bipartisan Brady Act of 1993, enacted after the attempted assassination of President Reagan, imposed strict background check requirements. The ATF’s proposal would allow individuals with certain state-issued permits to purchase firearms without undergoing the federally required background check, creating new opportunities for prohibited purchasers and gun traffickers to obtain firearms. 
• Narrow federal mental health prohibitions. The ATF seeks to significantly limit the categories of people prohibited from possessing firearms because of serious mental illness, even while acknowledging in its own comments that the proposal could increase the risk of mass casualty events. 
• Reopen dangerous loopholes for unlicensed gun dealers. The ATF’s regulation would create confusion about who must obtain a federal firearms license, with the risk that more sellers will operate without conducting background checks or maintaining sales records. The proposal would undermine reforms enacted in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in response to the Tops mass shooting in Buffalo, as well as the Uvalde school shooting. 
• Erode identity verification for online firearm purchases. By allowing remote identity verification for online gun purchases, this unlawful proposal would make it easier for children, gun traffickers, and individuals at risk of hurting themselves or others to obtain weapons. The attorneys general contend that this proposal violates the Gun Control Act and Supreme Court precedent, while granting weapons manufacturers’ wish list.
• Create new loopholes for straw purchases. A "straw purchase" occurs when someone buys a gun on behalf of another person who is legally barred from buying one themselves, such as a convicted felon. The ATF proposal would create confusion about which purchases should be treated as illegal straw purchases, at the risk of creating a dangerous loophole through which prohibited individuals can obtain firearms. 
• Make it harder to hold rogue gun dealers accountable. Federal law allows ATF to revoke the license of a gun dealer who "willfully" violates the law. The ATF now wants to raise the bar for what counts as a "willful" violation, making it far harder to strip dangerous dealers of their licenses. The attorneys general argue this change contradicts decades of settled law and would gut the federal licensing system that keeps guns out of the wrong hands.
• Make it easier to import military-style weapons and parts. Through two separate proposals, ATF wants to make it easier to import guns and gun parts into the United States, with a specific focus on assault weapon components and military-style firearms, despite federal restrictions intended to protect public safety.
• Eliminate youth handgun safety notices. Gun dealers are required to post written notices about the Youth Handgun Safety Act. These notices warn buyers about the dangers that handguns pose to young people and make clear that transferring a handgun to someone under 18 is generally illegal. The attorneys general argue that ATF wrongly claims it lacks authority to require these notices, ignores their proven benefits, and is inviting an increase in gun violence.
• Create dangerous confusion over stabilizing braces. Stabilizing braces are typically used to convert pistols into more lethal, shoulder-fired weapons. The ATF wants to rescind an existing rule that clarified how these devices are regulated, without creating any replacement. The states argue that leaving a regulatory vacuum is reckless and that ATF failed to weigh the public safety costs and enforcement confusion that will result. 
• Allow banned gun accessories to cross state lines. The ATF seeks to improperly expand federal travel protections, including in ways that would allow people to transport dangerous gun accessories across state lines into states where they are banned, such as New York.
• Undercut firearms transaction records relied on by law enforcement. Form 4473 is the record a licensed dealer must complete for every firearm sale, and it is a critical tool for law enforcement. The ATF’s proposed changes would weaken proof-of-residency requirements and extend the validity of background checks, reducing the reliability of the records law enforcement agencies rely upon to investigate gun crimes.
• Complicate firearm tracing. Changes to how identifying information is collected on ATF forms to ask people about biological sex would hinder law enforcement's ability to trace crime guns while creating unnecessary confusion for lawful purchasers and potentially violating their Second Amendment rights.
• Destroy records needed to solve crimes. Currently, records tracking the chain of custody and sale of firearms must be kept indefinitely, which is essential for law enforcement to be able to effectively investigate crimes involving guns. The ATF wants to require their destruction after just 20 or 30 years. The states warn that this would directly harm public safety and law enforcement investigations and prosecutions.

In addition to these proposals, last month Attorney General James and the coalition submitted a comment letter opposing five proposed changes to regulations implementing the National Firearms Act, which governs machine guns, silencers, and short-barreled rifles and shotguns. The coalition also submitted a separate comment letter opposing proposed revisions to ATF Form 4473 that would make it easier for straw purchasers to obtain firearms and more difficult for law enforcement to trace crime guns.

Attorney General James joins in filing these comment letters with the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

Governor Hochul Signs New York Whale Awareness Act to Protect Marine Mammals and Enhance Boater Safety

Integrates Marine Mammal Protection into State Boater Safety Courses and Creates Essential Educational Materials

Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the New York Whale Awareness Act (A.8515A/S.2292B), which directs the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to establish comprehensive educational guidelines and recommendations designed to reduce marine mammal interactions and prevent vessel strikes in New York waters.

"New York’s ocean waters are cleaner and more vibrant than they have been in decades, drawing extraordinary marine life back to our shores," Governor Hochul said. "However, a higher concentration of whales navigating one of the busiest regions in the country creates serious risks for both boaters and marine mammal populations. The New York Whale Awareness Act ensures that everyone enjoying our state’s waterways has the tools and knowledge needed to navigate safely, avoid dangerous collisions and protect these special creatures."

The legislation integrates whale-safe boating education directly into existing state boater safety courses and vessel registration processes. By equipping boaters with standard best practices and collision-prevention techniques, the initiative aims to encourage safer navigation habits and prevent accidental injuries and deaths among local marine life, including humpback whales and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

There has been an increase in whale sightings off New York’s coastline, highlighting the timely need for boater education. Governor Hochul’s efforts to invest and restore New York’s local waters and improve fishery management have led to thriving fish populations, bringing back more whales to the state’s waterways. With more whales, it is essential that boaters are properly educated to protect our marine wildlife. 

NYS Office of the Comptroller - DiNapoli: Audit Finds New York Can't Reliably Measure How Much Waste Is Recycled

 

Better Oversight of Recycling Facilities' Activities and Reporting Needed to Help State Meet Solid Waste Management Goals

An audit by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) lacks reliable information on how much material is recycled across New York state. Auditors found missing reports, inaccurate data and inconsistent oversight of recycling facilities are limiting the state’s ability to accurately measure recycling efforts and track progress toward its environmental and emissions reduction goals. According to DEC, solid waste accounts for about 12% of New York’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The audit examined whether DEC’s monitoring, inspection, and enforcement actions provided adequate oversight of recycling facilities between January 2021 and December 2023.

“Reliable recycling data is essential to understanding how much waste is being diverted from landfills and incinerators through recycling,” DiNapoli said. “If recycling data is incomplete or inaccurate, the state can’t effectively evaluate whether recycling efforts are working or track their impact in reducing waste and its environmental impact.”

Missing Reports and Incomplete Data

Recycling facilities should have submitted 1,065 annual reports during the audit period detailing how much material they received, recycled and discarded. Auditors found DEC did not receive 341 of those reports, nearly one-third of the total required.

Of the reports that were submitted, nearly two-thirds were missing required information necessary to determine how much waste was actually recycled. As a result, DEC lacks complete statewide recycling data.

DEC Could Not Verify Reported Recycling Data

The audit found recycling facilities could not always verify the information reported to DEC. Auditors reviewed a sample of facilities and found many could not provide records supporting how much material they received, how much was recycled and how much ultimately ended up as waste.

The audit also found many facilities failed to report how much material they discarded rather than recycled. Without that information, DEC may not know how much waste is ultimately being diverted from landfills and how much is being thrown away.

Inconsistent Inspections and Enforcement

Auditors found that 138 of 389 registered and permitted recycling facilities, or 35%, were not inspected during the three-year audit period. Inspections are important because they are DEC’s primary tool for verifying the information facilities report and identifying potential compliance issues.

The audit also found enforcement actions were limited. Although 33 facilities failed to submit any annual report during the audit period, DEC issued violations to only three facilities.

Recommendations

The audit recommends that DEC improve the reliability of facility data, develop procedures to verify annual report information, strengthen inspection practices and documentation, establish written guidance for inspections and enforcement, and ensure follow-up actions are consistently documented and applied.

DEC generally accepted the audit’s findings and said it will take appropriate action to implement the recommendations in the report. However, DEC said the audit overstated reporting deficiencies and disputed aspects of the report’s characterization of facility reporting data.

Audit

Department of Environmental Conservation Oversight of Recyclables Handling and Recovery Facilities

Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul and MTA Announce Plan to Lower Subway Platform Temperatures and Harness Thermal Energy in Lower Manhattan

City and State partnership will study first Thermal Energy Network (TEN) in a U.S. transit system as part of the Chambers Street J/Z station renewal project

 

City and MTA-led study at Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall 4/5/6 and Chambers Street J/Z stations will explore reducing platform heat and recycling excess heat to nearby municipal buildings during colder months 

Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced today a partnership to study a Thermal Energy Network (TEN) in the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall 4/5/6 and Chambers Street J/Z station complex. The project will explore how to combat extreme heat on subway platforms while capturing and recycling excess heat to warm nearby municipal buildings during the winter.  

 

The project would be the first thermal energy network installed in a U.S. transit system. The announcement comes days after Governor Hochul and the MTA announced plans for a comprehensive renewal project at the Chambers Street station, which is among the oldest in the subway system. 

 

Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall 4/5/6 is one of the hottest stations in the subway system, with average temperatures reaching 96 Fahrenheit during the summer months, in 2025. While the MTA prioritizes reliable service in the short-term to get customers on air-conditioned trains and spend less time on platforms, this study will help identify ways to reduce heat, improve rider comfort, and mitigate heat-related issues that can lead to service delays. 

 

The revitalization of Chambers Street J/Z, which will rebuild structures, replace tiles, upgrade stairways and restore the station from top to bottom, is being funded through congestion pricing. The project provides the MTA and City with a unique opportunity to study TENs as a tool to cool subway platforms while capturing and reusing excess heat in nearby municipal buildings during the winter, lowering energy costs over the long term. 

 

“There are few feelings worse than escaping the extreme summer heat only to find yourself on a subway platform that is even hotter. Unfortunately, for millions of commuters that is the reality of our transit system — with some stations soaring up to 20 degrees hotter than the outside temperatures,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We now have an opportunity to do more than rebuild Chambers Street top to bottom. We can make our subway platforms cooler and more comfortable while putting wasted heat to work during the winter. That means lower energy costs, a more resilient subway system and a cleaner energy future for New York City.”  

 

“For years, New Yorkers have suffered through sweltering summer heat on subway platforms, with seemingly no hope for a cooler ride in sight. Today, I can assure riders during this hot summer week that help is on the way,” said Governor Hochul. “Working with Mayor Mamdani and the MTA, we are harnessing cutting-edge climate technology for a truly cool purpose: making our subway stations tolerable during the summer and heating critical city buildings during the winter. This is what effective partnership between city and state government can yield - innovative solutions that have the potential to help millions of subway riders.” 

 

“Bringing down the temperature is a real challenge in a century-old system with open entrances and vents everywhere,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Together with Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani, we’re exploring solutions — previously untested in transit — to make stations more comfortable while helping to reduce energy costs. Everybody wins.”  

  

“Every time New Yorkers are stuck on a hot subway platform, we are confronted with the reality of the climate crisis,” said Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. “Advancing a thermal energy network that will sustainably cool the Chambers Street subway station and heat the surrounding city buildings is a testament to our administration’s bold and innovative agenda to deliver climate solutions that protect New Yorkers. From advancing the nation’s first subway thermal energy network to piloting heat-resilient bus shelters and outdoor cooling centers, the City is committed to making our transit systems safer and more comfortable as New York City faces rising temperatures.”  

 

“The City of New York is meeting the realities of climate change head-on by investing in infrastructure that is both resilient and innovative,” said Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Yume Kitasei. “DCAS is proud to partner on this study to identify the next generation of upgrades that will make our public buildings and infrastructure more efficient, sustainable, and prepared for the future.” 

  

TENs, already in use at several hospitals and universities, move heat between buildings, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The MTA and City will assess the feasibility of using TENs and geothermal infrastructure to absorb, store and transport excess heat between subway stations and adjacent municipal buildings. 

 

The initial feasibility study will help determine how much cooling can be achieved and the potential energy cost savings for the City.  

 

The proposed geothermal network would capture, store and redirect excess heat that accumulates in the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and Chambers Street station complex to municipal buildings. Radiant cooling technology would absorb heat from Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall platforms, and potentially Chamber Street as well, and transfer it through pipes to geothermal boreholes drilled beneath the abandoned center platform at Chambers Street. The excess heat could then be stored in the boreholes and used during colder months to heat nearby municipal buildings. 

  

The study will be conducted in partnership with New York City Department of City Administrative Services (DCAS), the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Operations and the MTA. The contract for the feasibility study is expected to be awarded this fall. Pending confirmation of geothermal feasibility, design work will begin in early 2027.  

  

This initiative is part of the City and MTA’s broader efforts to address the threat climate change poses to the future of the transit system, including the growing impacts of extreme heat. Radiant cooling, which can be 25 to 35% more energy efficient than traditional air conditioning, removes heat by circulating chilled water through panels on walls and ceiling or through tubing embedded in the floors, allowing cool surfaces to absorb heat directly.  

  

The Chambers Street station is particularly well suited for the study because its abandoned center platform would allow the MTA to test technology without disrupting passenger areas. Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall also experiences significant heat in part because of heat generated by trains dwelling at the 6 line terminal.

 

“Every New Yorker who has spent even two minutes waiting on a sweltering subway platform knows how urgently we need better solutions to extreme heat underground,” said City Comptroller Mark Levine. “This study will explore whether we can make stations more comfortable while capturing that heat for a productive use. I’m glad to see the Mayor and Governor working together to pursue innovative solutions that can simultaneously improve the experience of subway riders and build a greener, more efficient and lower-cost energy system.” 

 

“As climate change only continues to increase the frequency and severity of extreme heat waves, this study offers a creative solution for cooling, boosting our energy efficiency, and strengthening our city’s climate resilience,” said NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “It's especially exciting that this new technology will be explored at one of the city’s hottest subway stations, bringing relief to riders who need it the most. I thank the MTA, MOCEJ and DCAS for their leadership in addressing one of our most persistent transit challenges to ensure the safety and accessibility of our subway system for all New Yorkers.” 

 

“Many subway stations are more than a century old and weren’t designed to handle today’s extreme heat, making creative solutions essential,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “Exploring a Thermal Energy Network model is a major step forward that has the potential to turn excess heat into a valuable asset for riders and the city.” 

 

The partnership with the MTA builds on the Mamdani administration’s efforts to confront the climate crisis and build a greener, more resilient city. Earlier this year, the administration released its Urban Forest Plan, plotting a course toward 30% tree coverage citywide. As temperatures rise, expanded tree canopy will help reduce heat and protect New Yorkers for years to come.  

 

The administration is also making historic investments in renewable energy, including the construction of 130 solar installations on schools across New York City that will provide 27.5 megawatts of electricity. An additional 86 projects are in the pipeline and would add another 17.2 megawatts.  

 

As part of the administration’s mission to reduce citywide emissions, the City is also accelerating vehicle electrification. The administration has already surpassed 1,000 electric vehicles for law enforcement and is on track to fully electrify the Sanitation Department, Parks Department and DCAS enforcement fleets by 2030 — five years ahead of the timeline required by local law.