Permits Filed for 4730 Richardson Avenue in Wakefield, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 4730 Richardson Avenue in Wakefield, The Bronx. Located between East 241st Street and East 242nd Street, the lot is one block north of the Wakefield–241 Street subway station, served by the 2 train. Yona Unsdorfer of Yu Holdings Inc. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 44-foot-tall development will yield 7,388 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 16 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 492 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a 20-foot-long rear yard.

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.

NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF $774,000 EXPANSION OF SPRING STREET PARK WITH NEW HUDSON SQUARE PLAZA IN MANHATTAN

 

Part of the NY Forward Program, Hudson Square Plaza Features Vibrant New Gathering Place for Community

The Project Received $744,000 Through NY Forward Award

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley today announced the completion of the $744,000 expansion of Spring Street Park with the new Hudson Square Plaza, as part of Hudson Square’s $4.5 million NY Forward award. The new space expands the impact of the well-loved Spring Street Park, creates a welcoming eastern gateway to the Hudson Square neighborhood, and provides a vibrant new gathering place for residents, workers and visitors.

“Hudson Square is a beloved neighborhood in the heart of New York City, and this new plaza gives the people who live, work and visit there a vibrant place to gather, connect and enjoy the community,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Through the NY Forward program, New York State was able to help make this project a reality and bring new energy and excitement to the neighborhood. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and for continuing to invest in projects that make our communities stronger, more welcoming and better places to live and work.”

New York State’s NY Forward program, a companion initiative to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), supported the establishment of Hudson Square Plaza with a $744,000 investment. The 6,500-square-foot public space features seating and tables, free Wi-Fi, space for community programming and a vibrant 6,500-square-foot asphalt mural. Located near the new C/E Spring Street subway entrance and elevator and surrounded by offices, schools, residences, cultural destinations, ground-floor businesses and transit, the plaza creates a new gathering place for the Hudson Square community.

The plaza was designed by Hudson Square Business Improvement District (HSBID) in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). The NY Forward program builds on the success of the DRI, extending New York State’s downtown revitalization efforts to additional communities across the state.

Hudson Square is a roughly 33-square block neighborhood located on lower Manhattan’s west side. The neighborhood is primarily commercial in use, with over 12 million square feet of office space. Because of its long industrial history, Hudson Square’s streets are more suited to the movement of goods and vehicles than the movement of people. In addition, the neighborhood has also been historically disconnected from neighboring parts of lower Manhattan, including SoHo, the West Village, and Tribeca. The NY Forward grant will assist in growing local businesses, increasing residential opportunities, and connecting the district with its adjacent communities.

Hudson Square was named the New York City NY Forward winner for the second round in 2024. Other NY Forward winners in the region include the Garment District and Far Rockaway.

In addition to the new Hudson Square Plaza, the following projects are also funded by the NY Forward in Hudson Square:

• Build A Signature Open Space at Hudson-Houston Plaza: Establish an interactive, engaging and welcoming new public space at the corner of West Houston Street and Hudson Street to activate an underutilized City parcel and provide critical green space along the active pedestrian corridor.
• Upgrade Film Forum’s Lighting: Upgrade lighting throughout the Film Forum’s lobby, concession stand, offices and projection booth to reduce the organization’s energy consumption and costs while ensuring a high-quality customer experience.
• Install a Jackie Robinson Statue in the Museum: Install an 8-foot-tall bronze sculpture of Jackie Robinson in the Jackie Robinson Museum space on the corner of Canal and Varick Streets to honor the legacy of Jackie Robinson, activate the ground floor of the Museum, and create a point of interest that is visible from the prominent intersection.
• Renovate the NYC Fire Museum Event Space: Renovate the NYC Fire Museum’s third-floor event space with new floors and ceilings, A/V equipment, and code-required HVAC system, allowing it to host fire safety classes, community events and private events that would help financially sustain the Hudson Square institution.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Great neighborhoods need great public spaces. Hudson Square Plaza builds on the neighborhood’s remarkable transformation by creating a welcoming new destination that connects people to local businesses, institutions and one another. Through NY Forward, we are investing in the places and amenities that strengthen communities and help New York City neighborhoods continue to grow and thrive.”

New York City Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Félix V. Matos Rodríguez and William D. Rahm said, “Hudson Square has evolved into one of Lower Manhattan’s most dynamic neighborhoods, and investments like this help ensure its public spaces evolve along with it. Hudson Square Plaza creates a stronger connection between the neighborhood’s businesses, cultural institutions, residents and visitors while providing an inviting new place for the community to come together.”

About the NY Forward Program

First announced as part of the 2022 Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the state’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.

NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities. Through four rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $340 million to 77 communities across every region of the State. As part of the FY 2027 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul has secured another $100 million for the program.

Mayor Mamdani Brings NYC Public Schools Procurement into the 21st Century, Saving More than $100 Million

 

Reforms will save more than $100 million over two fiscal years, modernize outdated systems, increase transparency and strengthen accountability

 

Reforms build on overhaul of the NYCPS Division of Early Childhood Education 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels today announced a sweeping overhaul of the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) procurement system, bringing long-overdue reforms to the nation’s largest school district.

“In the past 20 years, we’ve gone from dial-up to broadband, made revolutionary advances in renewable energy and put computers in nearly every pocket. And yet the largest school system in the nation is still relying on a procurement system built for 2006. That ends now,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We are bringing our schools procurement system into the 21st century, saving taxpayers more than $100 million and making sure our educators have what they need to give our kids the education they deserve.”

"For too long, our procurement process has forced schools to navigate unnecessary red tape instead of focusing on what matters most: our students," said Schools Chancellor Samuels. "We are investing in our people, modernizing our systems and creating clear, transparent processes so that every dollar works harder for our classrooms. This is what an accountable school system looks like. and it's what our students and educators deserve."

The reforms will save the City more than $100 million over the current fiscal year and the next by eliminating unnecessary contracts, rebidding where appropriate and strengthening active contract management. They will also modernize outdated technology, provide comprehensive procurement training for staff and establish clear, transparent timelines for vendors.

The changes will ensure that students and educators get the resources they need, when they need them, while making sure every public dollar is spent responsibly.

First introduced by Chancellor Samuels at the start of the year, the newly created Division of Finance, Administration and Human Resources, led by Deputy Chancellor Lindsey Oates, is consolidating this important work under one division to streamline oversight, strengthen accountability and improve operations.

The reforms address longstanding delays, red tape and bureaucracy in the NYCPS procurement and contracting system.

The reforms, many of which are already underway and others that will be implemented over the coming months, will: 

• Strengthen staff training: Ensure every NYCPS employee with the authority to procure or purchase goods and services receives comprehensive and consistent training on procurement rules and procedures. 
• Save more than $100 million: Identify savings opportunities through the elimination of unnecessary contracts, competitive rebidding and stronger active contract management. 
• Modernize outdated systems: Replace contract management software that has not been meaningfully updated in more than 20 years.
• Establish clear timelines: Create more predictable procurement timelines so schools and vendors know what to expect and can plan accordingly.
• Improve communication: Strengthen communications around procurement rules, requirements and questions to reduce confusion and prevent unnecessary delays
• Strengthen accountability: Consolidate administrative and school procurement and purchasing oversight roles and responsibilities under the Division of Finance, Administration and Human Resources.

Affordable Housing Lottery Launches for 936 College Avenue in Melrose, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 936 College Avenue, a five-story residential building in Melrose, The Bronx. Designed by EwingCole and developed by Ameriland Brook LLC, the structure yields 16 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are four units for residents at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $76,629 to $122,160.

Residences are equipped with air conditioning, intercoms, smart controls for heating and cooling, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Amenities include common area Wi-Fi and an outdoor terrace. Tenants are responsible for all electricity (including stove, heat, and hot water), as well as individual internet and cable services.

At 80 percent of the AMI, there are two studios with a monthly rent of $2,000 for incomes ranging from $76,629 to $108,560, and two one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,092 for incomes ranging from $82,149 to $122,160.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than September 30, 2026.

Chinese Nationals Arrested in China as Homeland Security Task Force Works to Stop Drugs Imported through Texas Destined for U.S. Prisons

 

Two Chinese nationals have been indicted and charged with federal drug trafficking violations as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Lisa Xing, 36, and Zhanwen Song, 38, Chinese citizens, were charged in a six-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas, charging them with drug trafficking and money laundering violations. 

In May, Adell Willis, 43, of Lewisville, and Judy Ly, 30, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were indicted in the same conspiracy.  All four defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to possess contraband in prison; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Willis was also charged with possession of synthetic drugs with intent to distribute.   

“The indictment alleges that a China‑based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring deadly synthetic drugs into the United States for distribution across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “We will continue working with our Homeland Security Task Force partners to pursue and hold accountable those who traffic dangerous drugs into our country.”

“This announcement underscores DEA’s commitment to attack the entire synthetic drug supply chain and trace these deadly substances back to their source. This investigation led us to China, and thanks to the cooperation of Chinese law enforcement, two Chinese nationals are now in custody and will face justice for their role in supplying dangerous drugs destined for Americans,” said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. “DEA’s global reach and chemical precursor expertise are unmatched. We are proud to bring those capabilities to the Homeland Security Task Force as we work together to identify these networks, dismantle their supply chains, and build landmark cases.”

“The Homeland Security Task Force was established by President Trump’s executive order to protect Americans from illegal drug activity infesting our communities,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to identify, find, and arrest these criminals who bring drugs to our streets. These two Chinese nationals allegedly trafficked dangerous, synthetic drugs from China into the United States and smuggled them into our prison systems for illicit gain. This HSTF investigation is yet another example, among thousands, of our task forces working throughout the country, every day, to make it safer for everyone. Thank you to FBI Dallas and our great law enforcement partners across the interagency who worked this investigation with us.”

The indictment alleges that beginning in March 2023, the defendants conspired to possess synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic stimulants, and other controlled analogues, in correctional institutions.  It is alleged in the indictment that Willis purchased synthetic drugs from Xing and Song in China and had them shipped to his residence in the Eastern District of Texas and Ly’s residence in Michigan.  It is also alleged that once Willis and Ly received the synthetic drugs, they would convert the drugs to a liquid before soaking sheets of paper in the drug mixture.  Once the sheets of paper were saturated, they were then delivered to inmates at various federal and state correctional institutions across the country. 

China’s Ministry of Public Security arrested Xing, Song, and 19 co-conspirators, seized 475 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, and shutdown four illicit manufacturing sites in China. The FBI-MPS counternarcotics working group, established in January 2026, facilitated the collaborative efforts to dismantle this transnational criminal network. These results represent a major milestone in U.S.–China counternarcotics cooperation and underscore the effectiveness of sustained, structured coordination between both countries in addressing the international illicit chemical supply chain.

If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.

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 United States 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. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Dustin Farahnak.

A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ICE Lodges Detainer for Illegal Alien Charged in Fatal Semi-Truck Crash in Ohio

 

The suspect had been released into the country by the Biden Administration and granted a commercial driver’s license by the state of California

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer for an illegal alien who has been charged with causing a semi-truck crash that killed a woman in Ohio.

According to local reporting, the crash took place on September 2 in Brown County. A semi-truck attempted to pass another vehicle by moving into the opposite lane, colliding head-on with a car being driven by 50-year-old Brenda Watson. Watson died at the scene. A witness to the crash said that the semi-truck was speeding and had plenty of time and space to merge back into the correct lane.

The aftermath of the crash that killed Brenda Watson

The driver of the semi-truck, Manjit Singh, an illegal alien from India, was arrested and charged with aggravated vehicular homicide. ICE lodged a detainer with Brown County Jail the day after Singh was arrested.

The suspect: Manjit Singh

Singh had been granted a commercial driver’s license (CDL) by the state of California.

“This illegal alien from India has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after allegedly causing a semi-truck crash that killed 50-year-old Brenda Watson in Ohio,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “He has no business being in our country or on our roads, but because of the reckless open borders of the Biden Administration and the sanctuary policies of Gavin Newsom’s California, he was able to obtain a CDL that allowed him behind the wheel of a semi-truck. ICE has lodged a detainer asking officials in Ohio to commit to not releasing this killer back onto our streets, so that ICE can remove him from our country. My thoughts and prayers are with Brenda Watson’s family.”

Singh illegally entered the United States through Arizona in October 2023 and was encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol. He was then RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration. In July 2024, he applied for work authorization, which was granted by the Biden Administration in August 2024.

Governor Newsom’s sanctuary policies have had disastrous consequences in other states as well. These include:

• In January, ICE lodged detainers for Gunpreet Singh and Jasveer Singh, criminal illegal aliens from India, after they had been arrested for smuggling more than 300 pounds of cocaine in a semi-truck in Putnam County, Indiana. Governor Newsom’s DMV had given both men CDLs.
• In December 2025, ICE arrested Gerson Emir Cuadra Soto, an illegal alien from Honduras and MS-13 member who is wanted in his home country for a quadruple homicide, in Grand Island, Nebraska. He had been given a driver’s license by Newsom’s DMV.
• In November 2025, Rajinder Kumar, an illegal alien from India who had been given a CDL by Newsom’s DMV, jackknifed his semi-truck and trailer on a highway in Deschutes County, Oregon, killing a newlywed couple. ICE arrested Kumar in April 2026.
• In August 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Harjinder Singh, an illegal alien from India, after he made an illegal U-turn in his semi-truck and killed three people in St. Lucie County, Florida. Singh had obtained his CDL in Newsom’s California.

Brooklyn Adult Daycare Owner Sentenced to 76 Months in Prison for Leadership Role in $68 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme

 

Zakia Kahn was sentenced by United States District Judge Natasha C. Merle to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership role in carrying out a $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and a home health care company.  In August 2025, Khan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks. As part of her sentence, Kahn was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below. 

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); Miranda L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the sentence.

“This sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence in our District,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Our Office and the Justice Department are focused on protecting American taxpayers from fraudsters and as such, we will vigorously prosecute corrupt health care owners and operators in our district.”

“Khan acted with staggering greed, leading a scheme to defraud Medicaid of millions of dollars intended for people in need.  She and her co-conspirators set up social adult daycares but, instead of providing care and services to our most vulnerable neighbors, they enriched themselves with cash, gold, and property,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas.  “This sentence sends a message: we will be relentless in our pursuit of justice against fraudsters.  HSI is working side by side with our law enforcement partners to uncover and dismantle complex fraud networks like this one.”

“Social adult day care and home health services are designed to support seniors, not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said HHS-OIG Acting Deputy Inspector  General Bennett. “This sentence sends an important message that anyone who illicitly exploits the Medicaid program will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”

“Zakia Khan stole $64 million from Medicaid through bribes and kickbacks—money meant to support the most vulnerable,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch.  “This was not only deeply illegal but also immoral, and the NYPD will continue to investigate anyone who exploits government programs for personal gain.  I thank our NYPD investigators and all our partners in law enforcement for their work in stopping this criminal and bringing this case to a close.”

According to court documents, Khan owned two social adult daycare centers—Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Happy Family) and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Family Social) in the Coney Island section of Brooklin.  She also owned a home health care fiscal intermediary called Responsible Care Staffing Inc. and an entity she used to receive and disguise fraud proceeds called Tanwee Services Inc.

From approximately October 2017 through July 2024, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, a web of marketers referred Medicaid recipients to Khan’s social adult daycare centers.  As depicted in the pictures below, Khan and the marketers paid kickbacks and bribes to the Medicaid recipients to induce them to sign up for services that Khan then billed to Medicaid.  These services were never actually provided as represented to Medicaid. 

Between 2017 and 2024, Happy Family and Family Social fraudulently billed Medicaid approximately $64 million.  Medicaid paid approximately $56 million based on these false and fraudulent claims.  Khan and her co-conspirators used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes to the marketers and the Medicaid recipients. 

International Stock Manipulator Sentenced To 27 Months

Julius Csurgo Organized Multiple Cross-Border “Pump and Dump” Schemes to Defraud U.S. Investors 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JULIUS CSURGO was sentenced to 27 months in prison for manipulating 19 different “penny stocks” in a pump-and-dump scheme designed to fraudulently inflate the value of CSURGO’s own shares in those companies. CSURGO pled guilty on May 27, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed the sentence on September 4, 2026.

“This sentencing reflects a clear and unambiguous message: those who manipulate our markets and defraud investors will not escape justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Julius Csurgo manipulated U.S. financial markets, exploited shell companies, and engaged in deceitful promotions to enrich himself at the expense of unsuspecting investors. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure our markets remain fair, transparent, and trustworthy.”

According to the Superseding Information, public filings, and statements made in court proceedings:

CSURGO, a Canadian-Hungarian citizen, orchestrated multiple “pump-and-dump” schemes along with his -co-conspirators. In his guilty plea, CSURGO admitted to securities fraud involving nineteen issuers. His sophisticated scheme involved gaining controlling interest of unrestricted stock, then concealing ownership by distributing shares among nominee entities through a Swiss corporation called Blacklight, S.A. While maintaining behind-the-scenes control over the shares and significant influence over company management, CSURGO and his co-conspirators funded promotional campaigns without disclosing their controlling interest or intent to sell. They took deliberate steps to hide that nominee entities were funding these promotions. During or shortly after generating market interest, CSURGO sold large percentages of holdings and collected the proceeds through the elaborate network of nominee entities he controlled, which he also used to distribute proceeds to his co-conspirators.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

In addition to his prison term, CSURGO, 71, of Toronto, Canada, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to forfeit approximately $9,610,409.95.

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He further thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division, as well as authorities in Canada. Mr. McDonald also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against CSURGO.