Mayor Mamdani Doubles Grants for New York City Artists from $5,000 to $10,000

 

Marks the first increase in grant awards for artists in nearly 20 years 

 

Artists can now apply for up to $10,000 in grant funding

 

Announcement also includes free art supplies from Materials for the Arts for grantees starting this month

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su, and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Commissioner Diya Vij today announced that — for the first time in nearly 20 years — the city will increase the size of city-funded grants for individual artists and small nonprofits from $5,000 up to $10,000.

Each year, DCLA provides funding to local partners in each borough who, in turn, distribute the funding to artists, collectives, and small nonprofits. These grants provide vital financial support to a wide range of artists — including filmmakers, dancers, writers, painters and more — across all five boroughs.

While the cost-of-living in the city has increased dramatically over the last two decades, the grant funding available for artists has not. With today’s announcements, artists will be able to apply for up to $10,000 in grant funding each, double the previous amount.

Grants will be distributed through local “regrant” partners in each borough through funding provided annually by DCLA. Applications are now open in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens; Staten Island’s grant cycle will open in November.

“Artists are working New Yorkers with the same costs as everyone else. But while rent, grocery bills and child care costs have skyrocketed in New York City, the funding artists rely on has stayed flat,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Doubling these grants is a critical step towards making sure that the painters, musicians, filmmakers, and other artists who bring life to this city can afford to call it home.”

“Artists are not only an essential part of our city's culture, they are an essential part of our economy as well. Yet we know that too many artists cannot afford to live, work, and create here in the five boroughs,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Su. “With the grant increases we are unveiling today, we will help change that. We will make sure that more artists can work in our city and reaffirm our administration's commitment to protecting and growing the arts in New York.”

“New York is a city of artists, but too many of them are struggling alongside all New Yorkers to afford to stay in the neighborhoods they helped create,” said DCLA Commissioner Vij. “I’ve spent the past six months in town halls and listening sessions with working artists across every borough, hearing just how difficult it has become for them to live and work here. These increased grants and free resources from Materials for the Arts represent our first step to deeper, more meaningful support we're committed to providing so artists can stay in the city we love.”

For details on eligibility, grant guidelines and more, artists should visit the website for the regrant partner serving their borough: 

• Bronx: Bronx Council on the Arts (Deadline: October 30, 2026)
• Brooklyn: The Brooklyn Arts Council (Deadline: October 11, 2026)
• Manhattan: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (Deadline: November 12, 2026)
• Queens: New York Foundation for the Arts (Deadline: November 17, 2026)
• Staten Island: Staten Island Arts (Applications open November 2026)

To bolster its support for working artists, DCLA’s Materials for the Arts (MFTA) program will also launch a new, dedicated shopping day for artist grantees to access free materials on the first Monday of each month — starting in October.

Each year, MFTA collects 4 million pounds of donated materials and makes them available, free of charge, to nonprofits, public schools, and city agencies with cultural programming around the city.

For this new initiative, MFTA will only be open to artists who are current grantees of one of the five local arts councils. Artists should visit nyc.gov/artistgrants for more information on how to book their MFTA appointment.

Since coming into office, the Mamdani administration has worked to make sure that every New Yorker — regardless of income — can enjoy the city’s arts and culture. Last month, Mayor Mamdani announced a long-term partnership with the Met Opera to provide 70,000 free tickets to New Yorkers who have never attended the Opera before. Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani and the Theatre Development Fund unveiled a new initiative to offer thousands of free and low-cost Broadway tickets to New York City students across the five boroughs.

Under Mayor Mamdani, DCLA’s FY27 budget is also the largest in city history, supporting neighborhood cultural life in all five boroughs.

Permits Filed for 354 East 194th Street in Fordham Manor, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 354 East 194th Street, a nine-story residential building in Fordham Manor, The Bronx. Designed by Leandro Nils Dickson Architect and developed by Westorchard Management, the structure yields 45 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 11 units for residents at 40 to 90 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $41,726 to $164,880.

Amenities include bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, elevator, and an accessible entrance. Tenants are responsible for electricity, including heat and stove. Hot water is included in the rent.

354 East 194th Street in Fordham Manor, The Bronx via NYC Housing Connect

At 40 percent of the AMI, there is one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $1,025 for incomes ranging from $41,726 to $61,080, and one three-bedroom with a monthly rent of $1,368 for incomes ranging from $58,046 to $84,160.

At 60 percent of the AMI, there are two one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,632 for incomes ranging from $62,538 to $91,620, and one two-bedroom with a monthly rent of $1,933 for incomes ranging from $75,120 to $109,920.

At 80 percent of the AMI, there is one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,240 for incomes ranging from $83,383 to $122,160, and two two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,662 for incomes ranging from $100,115 to $146,560.

At 90 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a monthly rent of $2,315 for incomes ranging from $85,132 to $122,130, and two two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,936 for incomes ranging from $109,509 to $164,880.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than October 23, 2026.

DEC ANNOUNCES UPDATED NEW YORK STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN

 

Department of Environmental Conservation

Final 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan and List of Species of Greatest Conservation Need Now Available

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced that the New York State Wildlife Action Plan for 2025–2035 is now finalized. The State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) guides conservation and management actions for New York’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and is a requirement for New York to participate in the federally funded State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program.  

“The State Wildlife Action Plan serves as DEC’s guiding document for managing and conserving species and habitats before they become too rare or costly to restore,” said Commissioner Lefton. “This action plan reflects more than two years of review and coordination between DEC, partners, and stakeholders to identify our state’s species in greatest need of protection and develop strategies and actions to address threats and promote healthy populations.” 

To remain eligible for federal funding, Congress requires states and territories to develop a SWAP and update it every 10 years. SGCN are species native to and extant in New York that are currently experiencing threats likely to result in further decline of their populations in the state if conservation actions are not implemented within the next 10 years. States may only spend grant funds on SGCN identified in their SWAP. 

In revising the SWAP, 920 wildlife species were assessed, including all SGCN from the 2015 SWAP and 441 additional species. Important habitats, population trends, and the presence of threats were identified for each species. These assessments resulted in designating a total of 570 wildlife species as SGCN, 147 of which are considered High-Priority SGCN. New for this revision, the SWAP also identifies 269 plants as SGCN. 

The final, approved 2025 SWAP, updated SGCN list, and Species Status Assessments are available to download from DEC’s website.  

Questions about the SWAP can be sent to nyswap2025@dec.ny.gov or by mail to:  

SWAP Coordinator 

Division of Fish and Wildlife 

NYSDEC 

625 Broadway 

Albany, NY 12233-4754 

For more information on New York’s State Wildlife Action Plan, visit DEC’s website. 

Three Members of Violent Memphis Street Gang Sentenced for Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Firearm Charges

 

Members of “Unknown Vice Lords” Shot into Residence of Rival Gang Members and Their Families

Three members of the Unknown Vice Lords (UVL), a violent street gang in Memphis, Tennessee, were sentenced to a total of over 42 years in prison for conspiring and attempting to commit a gang-related murder and firearms violations.

“These individuals showed a blatant disregard for public safety by engaging in a gang shooting in the middle of a residential neighborhood,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence terrorizes our communities, fosters fear, destabilizes neighborhoods, and endangers the lives of law-abiding residents. The Criminal Division is standing up for the rule of law. We will continue to dismantle these criminal organizations to zealously protect the safety and security of American citizens.” 

“The days of criminal gangs controlling the streets of Memphis are over.” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Gang culture, rivalries, and beefs beget more senseless gang violence that endangers innocent citizens. If you are a member of a criminal gang committed to a lifestyle of lawlessness, no matter your rank, role, or nickname - your days are numbered - there will be a reckoning.”

“ATF’s primary mission is to ensure public safety by combating violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “Individuals who deliberately engage in violent activities such as retaliatory gang shootings render our communities vulnerable to great harm, instill fear, and ultimately diminish the quality of life for all citizens. The ATF will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate offenders who render our communities unsafe.”

The following individuals were sentenced: 

• Antwon Brown, also known as Yayo, 33, of Memphis, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for attempting to commit murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied residence.
• Cordera Douglas, also known as Chuckie Dee, 37, of Memphis, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for conspiring to commit murder.
• Willie Merriweather, also known as Willie, 42, of Antioch, Tennessee, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for conspiring to commit murder.

According to court documents, Brown, Douglas, and Merriweather were all ranked members of UVL, also known as The Ghost Mob, which is a criminal enterprise that controlled territory throughout  Memphis, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Members of UVL committed murders, assaults, and drug trafficking on behalf of the enterprise. 

Court documents allege that on Sept. 6, 2020, rival gang members opened fire on UVL members and their families, injuring four people. Merriweather, who was a high-ranking UVL leader, ordered a retaliatory attack. Douglas participated in a gang meeting planning retaliation. Shortly after midnight on Sept. 7, 2020, Brown traveled to the residence of the rival gang members armed with assault style rifles and wearing masks and gloves. Brown intentionally shot approximately 40-50 bullets into the residence with the rival gang members inside. Neighborhood security cameras captured the shooting. In the video, Brown is using, carrying, and firing multiple firearms into the residence. 

Co-defendant Ricky Rogers, Jr., also known as Double R, RR, 32, of Memphis, is set to be sentenced on Nov. 5.

Co-defendant Tevin Richardson, also known as Santana, 34, of Memphis, is set for trial on April 4, 2027.

The ATF and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Dennis Robinson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence. 

HSI Investigation Leads to Life Sentence for Smuggler Who Killed Four in High-Speed Pursuit While Smuggling Illegal Aliens

 

The culprit was smuggling 11 illegal aliens into the country when he caused the fatal crash that killed a grandmother and her 7-year-old granddaughter

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led to the sentencing of a smuggler to life in prison after he caused a fatal crash in Texas that killed four people while he was smuggling illegal aliens into the United States in 2023.

According to local reports, the fatal crash took place on March 13, 2023. The culprit, Rassian Nateray Comer, a United States citizen from Louisiana, was driving a vehicle with 11 illegal aliens from Mexico inside when a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper tried to pull him over. Comer fled, leading police on a chase that exceeded 100 miles per hour. Comer even streamed the chase on Facebook Live, showing the police cars in pursuit and showing off his speedometer reading 105.

Comer streamed the high-speed pursuit on Facebook Live

The chase ended in Ozona when Comer ran a red light and struck a pickup truck driven by Maria Tambunga, who had her 7-year-old granddaughter Emilia Brooke Tambunga with her. The crash killed both of them as well as two of the 11 illegal aliens in Comer’s vehicle, while the other nine illegal aliens suffered serious injuries. Comer was arrested at the scene, admitting that it was his fourth smuggling trip, and also admitting to possessing a stolen handgun that was found in his vehicle.

The vehicle that the victims, Maria Tambunga and her granddaughter Emilia Brooke Tambunga, were in during the crash

The vehicle that Comer was driving during the crash, which was smuggling 11 illegal aliens.

On June 18, 2026, Comer pleaded guilty to one count ofconspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, 11 counts of transportation of an illegal alien resulting in death, and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. On September 25, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced that Comer was sentenced to life in prison.

“This horrific tragedy is almost beyond words,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “This monster was already trying to cause more chaos and destruction by smuggling illegal aliens into this country, then decided to lead police on a high-speed chase that claimed the lives of a grandmother and her granddaughter. Maria Tambunga and Emilia Brooke Tambunga should still be alive today, and they would be if it weren’t for this criminal who endangered so many lives just for profit. Thanks to our partners at the Department of Justice, this scumbag will spend the rest of his life behind bars, where he belongs. My thoughts and prayers are with the Tambunga family, who have suffered a loss that few of us can even imagine.”

“This case lays bare a heartbreaking human tragedy — a grandmother, a 7-year-old child and two Mexican nationals were all killed because of Mr. Comer’s criminal and depraved actions,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “These were innocent lives, stolen in an instant by an alien smuggler whose criminal actions showed complete disregard for everyone on the road.  No sentence can restore what was lost, but it does send a clear message: when criminals gamble with human lives, we will respond with the full weight of the federal government to ensure victims receive justice.”

“Comer’s reckless actions turned a human-smuggling run into an unimaginable tragedy that took the lives of four people, including a grandmother and her young granddaughter,” said HSI Dallas Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Judy Pardo. “He showed a callous disregard for the lives of the people he transported, the law enforcement officers pursuing him, and the innocent family sharing the road that night. This sentence holds him accountable for that devastating choice. HSI will continue to work with our partners to pursue the smuggling networks that profit from human lives and leave tragedy in their wake.”

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Crockett County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Border Prosecution Unit, and the 112th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey R. Haag, West Texas Branch Chief, prosecuted the case.

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VCJC News & Notes 10/2/2026

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Shabbos & Holiday schedule

Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
Here are the times you need:  

Shabbos candles Friday 10/2/26 @ 6:18 pm

Mincha/Mariv Friday 10/2/26 @ 6:25 pm

Shabbos/Shmini Atzeret morning services 10/3/26 8:40 pm

- Yizkor approx. 10:20AM

Mincha/Mariv 10/3/26 6:20 pm

Candle lighting 10/3/26 after @ 7:19 pm

Simchat Torah Shacharit Sunday 10/4/26 8:40 am

Mincha/Maariv Sunday 10/4/26 6:20 pm

Yom Tov Ends Sunday 10/4/26 7:18 pm

If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah, please speak to one of the gabbaim.

Our enhanced kiddush has been a popular hit.  Join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.

On Shabbos/Shmini Atzeret our enhanced kiddush will be pareve so we can enjoy an ice cream treat as the fall weather pretends to set in.

On Simchat Torah a special kiddush will be sponsored by Benzion Panush in honor of his mother’s yahrzeit and of the holiday.  It will include homemade stuffed cabbage.  Come and enjoy!

Shabbos parsha

Shmini Atzeret 2026 / שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת 5787

Eighth Day of Assembly

Shmini Atzeret for Hebrew Year 5787 begins at sundown on Friday, 2 October 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 3 October 2026.

Shemini Atzeret (שמיני עצרת, “the Eighth [day] of Assembly”) is a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, directly following Sukkot. It is considered a holiday in its own right rather than a continuation of Sukkot; unlike Sukkot, it has no mandated ritual objects such as the sukkah or the Four Species. In the Diaspora, an additional day is celebrated, the second day being separately referred to as Simchat Torah. In Israel and Reform Judaism, the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are combined into a single day.

We Celebrated Sukkot in the Sukkah as a Community

A gathering of the VCJC and community members enjoyed a Chinese Buffet catered by Kai Fan.   

Reminders and Announcements

We now can accept Zelle payments!

They can be made using the email address vancortlandtjc@aol.com from your Zelle app. They will go to our account at Apple Bank.

Yizkor donations

It is customary to make a charitable donation in conjunction with Yizkor.  If you wish to donate to VCJC as part of your Yizkor observance this Shmini Atzeret, it can be done in person at the office, by check, by Zelle (see above), or online through our website

• The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Jewish History Book Club

  
  

  We are excited to announce the formation of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Jewish History Book Club. 

  Are you Interested in reading books on Jewish history and discussing them with fellow members of your community?
  For more information, or if you have already heard enough and want to join, visit the office during regular hours or call 718-884-6105 or email educationcommittee@vcjewishcenter.org

  
  

• Save the date: Kristallnacht observance and lecture, Sunday Nov. 8

  
  

  The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center will be holding its annual Kristallnacht Commemoration Program with speaker Larry Hartstein.  More info to follow. 
  
  

• 10 minutes of learning a day

  
  

  
  

  Free Online Video Classes on the Talmud: 10 Minutes a day brought to you by the Orthodox Union. Get a background lesson on the entire Talmud in 40 weeks. No Hebrew knowledge required. Click on the Link Below for more information.

  https://talmuddaily.org/?utm_source=ou&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=launch26&utm_content=full-list

  
  

• What works for you?
  Please Help Us Plan for Events
  We have created a survey, the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Community Event Planning Survey, to help us set the direction for our activities.  We’d really appreciate your taking a few minutes to fill it in. Here’s the link: SURVEY
  
  

• The VCJC Chavurah
  The VCJC Chavurah meets every Tuesday Night at 7:30 PM.  All are welcome to join us as we continue to learn together.

  No cost to attend and no prior experience is needed.

  If you are interested in learning torah with a group of fellow members of your community, but want more details, contact the VCJC office at 718-884-6105 or info@vcjewishcenter.org, or speak to Stuart Harris or Matthew Hartstein after davening on Shabbat morning.
  
  

• VCJC Merch!

  We now have merchandise available with the VCJC logo and, in some cases, sayings.  We have shirts, hats, mugs, refrigerator magnets, and tote bags. These are provided through a Print On Demand (POD) model - so you pick what you like and order it.  It is then made to order and shipped directly to you.
  You can see an overview and some additional information on our VCJC Shop page.  You can go directly to the store itself to see all the things available, select sizes and colors, and get ready to flaunt your association with VCJC.

  
  

• VCJC is now active on social media - follow us!
  We have launched both a Facebook page and an Instagram page.  Both have a nice amount of content already and we are planning both regular posts and a greater variety going forward.  Please take a look and follow us! Links are below.

  
  

• You can do it! Give VCJC a boost!  Leave a (positive) review for us on Google
  -->You can do this!  We know you can! YES, YOU!

  The VCJC is working to build and grow for its next century in Van Cortlandt Village.  If you have had a good experience with us or recognize our value to the community, please consider telling the world about it.  Go to our Google Business Profile and leave a review.  Thanks!  

Please help with information about buildings

As part of rebuilding the membership and congregation, the Board of Trustees would like your help. There are a lot of either new or renovated buildings being put up in our catchment area. We would like to seek the cooperation of the owners / developers of those properties in publicizing these opportunities to live near an orthodox synagogue.  If you are aware of any of these buildings, please provide what information you can about them.  This could include the address, any contact information that might be posted, and any information about the building itself (size, type, etc.). Additionally, if you are aware of vacancies in existing buildings or of houses for sale, please let us know about that as well.

Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463

Three Men Charged With Trafficking Nearly 100 Firearms In New York City

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the arrests and unsealing of an Indictment charging DWIGHT FLOWERS, TERRENCE PORTER, and TALEAK HARRIS with trafficking nearly 100 firearms, including a “Glock switch,” ammunition, and approximately 700 grams of cocaine in Manhattan and the Bronx. FLOWERS and PORTER were arrested in Nassau County and FLOWERS was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo and detained.  HARRIS was in Virginia.  The case has been assigned to the Honorable Lewis J. Liman.

“The illegal flow of firearms puts New Yorkers’ lives at risk, and we will not stand by and allow it,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.  “As alleged, Dwight Flowers, Terrence Porter, and Taleak Harris illegally trafficked dangerous drugs and almost 100 firearms—including long-arm rifles, pistols, and a machinegun—into the Southern District of New York.  To anyone trafficking illegal guns in New York City: you are on notice.  We are watching, we are working with our law enforcement partners to track these weapons and those who move them, and we will hold you accountable.”

“As alleged, the defendants built a steady pipeline of illegal guns into New York City, selling nearly 100 weapons across five transactions in Manhattan and the Bronx and creating a grave threat to those who live, work and go to school in these communities,” said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas.  “The determined efforts of HSI New York, as a co-leader of the Homeland Security Task Force, together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the NYPD, and DEA resulted in the seizure of this cache, including a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device, and the dismantlement of this alleged iron pipeline.  Every New Yorker deserves to move through their neighborhood without the danger created by illegal weapons trafficking, and HSI stands committed to making that expectation a reality.”

“This trio of criminals thought they could traffic nearly 100 firearms and a substantial amount of cocaine in our city without consequence, but they were wrong,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.  “Because of the brave undercover work of our NYPD investigator, these guns and drugs will never make it onto our streets.  I thank our fearless officer and law enforcement partners for their thorough work to shut down this operation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their continued commitment to holding gun traffickers accountable.”  

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and other public filings:(1)

From on or about June 2026 through September 2026, FLOWERS, PORTER, and HARRIS sold approximately 93 firearms to an undercover law enforcement officer with the New York City Police Department across five transactions, which took place in a commercial parking lot in the Bronx and on the street in Manhattan.  HARRIS supplied PORTER and FLOWERS with the firearms that they sold to the undercover law enforcement officer.  In addition, PORTER and HARRIS sold the same undercover law enforcement officer hundreds of grams of cocaine during these same five transactions.

Moreover, in September 2026, FLOWERS sold the undercover law enforcement officer a firearm with a machinegun conversion device installed.  That device is a part capable of converting a semiautomatic firearm into a firearm capable of fully automatic fire.  A photograph of the machinegun conversion device affixed to one of the firearms FLOWERS sold to the undercover law enforcement officer is below:

Photographs of the firearms and narcotics sold by FLOWERS, PORTER, and HARRIS across the five transactions are depicted below:

FLOWERS, 58, of Queens, New York, PORTER, 50, of Queens, New York, and HARRIS, 49, of Chester, Virgina, are each charged with one count of conspiring to commit firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

In addition, FLOWERS and PORTER are together charged with one count of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of firearms use, carrying, and possession in connection with a drug trafficking offense, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum sentence of five years in prison.  FLOWERS is also charged with four additional counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and three additional counts of firearms use, carrying, and possession in connection with a drug offense, as well as a count of possession of a machinegun, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The statutory maximum and minimum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. 

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI New York's JFK Homeland Security Task Force, the United States Marshals Service, and the NYPD.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Wheelock and Rebecca Delfiner are in charge of the prosecution.

This prosecution is also 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.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

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