A.G. Schneiderman Announces Prison Sentence For Fake Attorney Who Defrauded Over 400 New Yorkers

Antonia Barrone, a/k/a Mario Vrendenburg Charged Consumers Thousands Of Dollars For Unauthorized Legal Services And Forged Signatures On Legal Documents

Defendant Will Serve 1 ½ To 3 Years In State Prison For Conviction And Pay Nearly $270,000 In Restitution And Penalties

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the sentencing of Antonia Barrone, a/k/a Mario Vrendenburg (“Barrone”), who pled guilty to operating a fake law firm and pretending to be a licensed attorney. Through a civil lawsuit and an extensive investigation, the Attorney General’s office uncovered that Barrone defrauded over 400 New Yorkers out of more than $23,000 over the course of nearly five years. Today, Barrone was sentenced before Albany County Court Judge Honorable Peter A. Lynch to 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison for one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. Barrone was also ordered to pay nearly $270,000 in restitution and penalties.

In May 2017, the Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit in Albany County Supreme Court against NYS Prisoner Assistance Center, Inc., operating as the NYS Prisoner Assistance Center or NY Parole Aids (“NYSPAC”), and its owner, Barrone. The suit charged Barrone with bilking hundreds of New Yorkers, including prison inmates and their families, out of thousands of dollars to handle administrative parole appeals and other legal matters. The lawsuit alleged that Barrone operated these fraudulent businesses from her home and duped hundreds of consumers by falsely claiming to be an attorney and by misleading consumers to think that the NYS Prisoner Assistance Center was staffed with attorneys.

“Deceiving vulnerable New Yorkers into paying for unlicensed legal services is reprehensible, costing them thousands each and jeopardizing their rights,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “My office won’t hesitate to prosecute those who defraud New Yorkers by practicing without a license.”

Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci said, “I commend Attorney General Schneiderman for the successful prosecution in this case, as well as the hard-working attorneys with the Board of Parole for their conscientious and painstaking assistance in helping to bring to justice this unscrupulous individual, who otherwise would have continued to take advantage of inmates and their families during a particularly vulnerable period in their lives.”

According to papers filed by the Attorney General’s Office, although Barrone is not an attorney, she advertised an array of legal services on the NYSPAC’s website and charged thousands of dollars to provide legal services. The services included filing administrative and judicial appeals on behalf of inmates who were denied parole by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and representing inmates at administrative hearings and individuals facing criminal charges in various New York State courts. In some cases, Barrone accepted fees but did not perform any services.

Following Attorney General Schneiderman’s lawsuit, in August 2017, the Honorable Gerald W. Connolly of Albany County Supreme Court ordered Barrone and the NYS Prisoner Assistance Center to pay a $244,500 penalty to the State as well as full restitution of $23,427.70 to known consumers who paid for legal services. The judgment also prohibits Barrone and NYSPAC from practicing law without a license or advertising or selling legal or paralegal services.

In addition to the civil lawsuit, the Attorney General’s Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau launched a criminal investigation into Barrone’s conduct. On October 16, 2017, Barrone was arrested and arraigned in Albany City Court before the Honorable Holly A. Trexler on a felony complaint filed by the Attorney General’s Office charging: five counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class “D” felony; two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” felony; one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class “E” felony; one count of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, a class “E” felony; and, one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class “E” felony. 

According to the Attorney General’s felony complaint and statements made by the prosecutor, between September 1, 2012 and April 30, 2017, Barrone pretended to be an attorney and stole thousands of dollars from the families of inmates who hired her to provide legal representation for their loved ones. In furtherance of her nearly five-year scheme, Barrone filed legal documents with forged signatures and fake notary stamps, wrote letters on behalf of consumers on letterhead bearing the name of the fictitious law firm “Stacchini & Barrone, Attorneys at Law,” and appropriated the name of a licensed attorney, without that attorney’s knowledge. 

Also according to the felony complaint, during the course of her scheme, Barrone made use of multiple different names, including Mario Vrendenberg, Antonio Barrone, Mario Stacchini, Mario Helems, T. Helems, and Mark Vredenburg. The prosecutor stated that Barrone and the entities she operated had over 400 clients seeking legal services throughout New York State, including but not limited to Albany, Cayuga, Clinton, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie, Suffolk, Ulster, Warren, and Westchester Counties.

Barrone’s sentence today before the Honorable Peter A. Lynch will run consecutive to a sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison that Barrone received today before the Honorable Andrew G. Ceresia on an unrelated felony conviction. In addition to the prison sentences issued today in Albany County, Barrone is scheduled to be sentenced in Saratoga County Court before the Honorable James A. Murphy, III to a concurrent term of incarceration on a separate unrelated felony conviction. Combined, Barrone will spend 2 5/6 to 7 years in state prison.

Consumers can check whether an individual is a licensed attorney in New York State by visiting the New York State Unified Court System’s website.

The convictions were the result of a joint investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and DOCCS. Attorney General Schneiderman thanks DOCCS for its valuable assistance in this matter.

Additionally, Attorney General Schneiderman thanks the Board of Parole Counsel’s Office, which uncovered Barrone’s efforts to deceive and bilk families by meticulously going through records and identifying this fraudulent activity. Their findings contributed to the Attorney General's investigation and criminal prosecution.  

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Takedown Of National Drug Trafficking Ring That Peddled Deadly Fentanyl Pills Disguised As Oxycodone

Multi-Agency “Operation Blue Death” Results In Arrest Of 10 Individuals Who Allegedly Trafficked Narcotics – Including Heroin And Fake Oxy Pills – From California To Western New York 

Takedown Follows AG’s September Public Health Warning On Potentially Lethal, Fentanyl-Laced Pills

Operation Blue Death Marks Latest Development In SURGE Initiative To Curb Opioid Epidemic

    Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the takedown of a ten-person drug trafficking ring that allegedly trafficked narcotics – including heroin and faux oxycodone pills which contained fentanyl – from California to Western New York. 

The 59-count indictment against nine Buffalo residents and their alleged supplier in California details a broad scheme to sell dangerous narcotics throughout Erie and Chautauqua Counties in Western New York.  As part of the multi-agency investigation dubbed “Operation Blue Death,” authorities seized 502 pills laced with fentanyl, over 100 grams of black tar heroin, over 130 grams of cocaine, 15 pounds of marijuana, and a 9mm highpoint pistol with 27 rounds of ammunition. The pills – purposely designed to look identical to oxycodone pills – were made from a toxic mix of fentanyl and acetaminophen.

“As we charge in our indictment, these dealers were playing Russian Roulette with New Yorkers’ lives,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Today we’re taking these poison pill traffickers off our streets following an extensive investigation that spanned both coasts. With the opioid epidemic devastating families in Buffalo and across New York, we’ll continue to use every tool at our disposal to tackle the crisis head on.”

State, federal, and local law enforcement agents led by Attorney General Schneiderman’s Organized Crime Task Force, along with the New York State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), conducted a nearly year-long investigation that included undercover operations, hundreds of hours of covert surveillance, and wiretaps.

Today’s indictment follows Attorney General Schneiderman’s September public health warning in Buffalo regarding the dangerous and potentially lethal faux-oxycodone pills after they were intercepted by authorities. Law enforcement subsequently determined that the pills, which appear virtually identical to the prescription medication oxycodone, actually contain a toxic mixture of the deadly drug fentanyl and acetaminophen. Attorney General Schneiderman explained that the faux oxycodone pills, which were purposely designed to be sold as prescription-strength oxycodone, are extremely dangerous as the unsuspecting user is actually ingesting a potentially deadly quantity of fentanyl, which is fifty times stronger than heroin. 

As today’s indictment details, that package, as well as one which contained “black tar” heroin and over ten pounds of marijuana, was one of many allegedly sent from California to Buffalo by defendant Pablo Zambrano.  The packages were intended for delivery to Jonathan Rosario and Jonathan Ivan Medina (known as “Tati’), who would allegedly distribute narcotics to Fernando Maldonado (known as “Fendi”), Frank Perez (also known as “Andy”), and others for resale.  Various individuals would accept delivery of packages for the trafficking ring after the packages were mailed from California to several addresses in Erie and Chautauqua counties.

As alleged in the indictment, other members of this narcotics conspiracy trafficked cocaine, as well as heroin.  During the investigation, more than 130 grams of cocaine were seized from Roger Gonzalez, who sold cocaine along with his cousin, Randy Gonzalez.  The pair allegedly obtained the cocaine from Carlos Martinez; Martinez is alleged to also have sold heroin, often laced with fentanyl, on several occasions, using co-conspirators Angel Medina and Anthony Roman as runners to deliver heroin to customers. 

DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt stated, “These arrests will make a significant impact in quality of life for residents on the West Side of Buffalo. This year-long investigation alleges defendants enabled addiction by selling heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills for their personal gain. By working collaboratively, law enforcement uprooted this organization and placed them behind bars.”  SAC Hunt would like to thank those who participated in the investigation and DEA's Charlotte District Office and Riverside District Office for their assistance. 

Superintendent George P. Beach said, “With today's arrests, law enforcement is once again sending a strong message that the trafficking of heroin and other illegal drugs will not be tolerated in New York State. The successful conclusion to this investigation is only possible because of the continued collaboration of state, federal and local law enforcement partners, which is necessary to bring down these drug trafficking networks. I commend our members and our partners for their outstanding work.”

Today’s indictment charges ten individuals with a total of 59 felony counts of possession and distribution of narcotics:

Jonathan Rosario – Buffalo, New York

Jonathan Ivan Medina, a/k/a “Tati” – Buffalo, New York

Carlos Martinez – Buffalo, New York

Roger Gonzalez – Buffalo, New York

Randy Gonzalez – Buffalo, New York

Pablo Zambrano - Rialto, California

Frank Perez, a/k/a “Andy” – Buffalo, New York

Angel Medina – Buffalo, New York

Anthony Roman – Buffalo, New York

Fernando Maldonado, a/k/a “Fendi” – Buffalo, New York

“Operation Blue Death” is the latest takedown in the Attorney General’s SURGE Initiative (Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic), a partnership with state and local law enforcement to root out violent gangs and drug dealers. Launched in April 2017, the SURGE Initiative focuses on the communities that have been hardest hit by drug trafficking and drug abuse across New York State. In the months since the SURGE Initiative was launched, the Attorney General’s office has arrested more than 270 dealers across the state.

In total, the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force has now busted more than 35 large narcotics trafficking rings, made more than 1,200 felony narcotics arrests, and seized millions in cash, more than a ton of illegal drugs, and hundreds of firearms since 2011.

Since 2010, Attorney General Schneiderman has launched a multi-pronged strategy to tackle New York's constantly evolving heroin and opioid epidemic, including settlements with health insurers to remove barriers to treatment and enforce Mental Health Parity Laws; the I-STOP system, which has successfully reduced “doctor shopping” by 90%; the Community Overdose Prevention program, equipping law enforcement with naloxone; and more.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Comptroller Stringer Analysis: As Inmate Population Reaches New Low, Correction Budget Continues to Soar

The DOC’s budget hit an all-time high of $1.36 billion in Fiscal Year 2017 — but the average daily inmate population fell to a 34-year low of 9,500

Annual cost per inmate has skyrocketed 112% over the last decade

  During the past Fiscal Year, the City Department of Correction (DOC) budget has soared to a record-high $1.36 billion, despite a 34-year low average daily population of 9,500, according to a new analysisreleased today by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. The new analysis also highlights how – despite employing more than a 1-to-1 ratio of officers to inmates – the cost per inmate has risen significantly while overtime has nearly doubled over the past several years.

“We need to transform criminal justice in this city and in this country. We need a smart, modern, and fair corrections system. Right now, the inmate population is at its lowest point in decades, but costs continue to rise dramatically. An extraordinary decline in inmates should yield cost-savings and better all-around outcomes – not dramatic spending increases. That’s what’s so alarming about the numbers,” New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said. “We have to do better, and as this analysis makes clear, we’re putting far more money into far fewer inmates. It’s one of the many reasons that I believe we need to close Rikers on a quick timeline and take a 21stcentury approach to criminal justice.”

Comptroller Stringer’s analysis uses budget data, claims against the City, reports of violence in City jails, and personnel data to analyze the Department of Correction’s operations. According to the analysis:

The DOC’s Budget Reached an All-Time High in FY 2017 — Even as the Inmate Population has Plummeted

• In Fiscal Year 2017, the DOC’s budget reached $1.36 billion — up 44% since FY 2007.
• Over the same time period, the average daily inmate population (ADP) fell to a 34-year low of 9,500. Just a decade ago, the ADP was nearly 14,000.

Per-Inmate Costs Rise Dramatically

• The annual cost per inmate to the Department of Correction (DOC) has reached $143,130. That is up 112% over the last decade.
• The annual cost per inmate when including expenses funded outside of the DOC budget, such as fringe benefits, pension costs, and medical services, has reached $270,876. That reflects a 131% rise over the last decade and a 49% jump since FY 2014.
• The daily cost per inmate – when including fringe benefits, pension costs, and medical services – is now $742.

The DOC has More Correction Officers than Inmates — but Overtime Costs have Remained High

• At the end of Fiscal Year 2017, the DOC employed 10,862 uniformed employees, up from 9,832 in FY 2016. The average daily inmate population was 9,500.
• The ratio of correction officers to inmates has reached 1.14. For the second consecutive year, New York City has had more uniformed employees than inmates in the system.
• Despite the high staffing ratio, the average overtime expense per inmate – which has soared in recent years, rising to $28,045 in FY 2017 — remained effectively flat when compared to the year prior.

More Staffing Has Not Yielded A Safer Corrections System

Part of the increase in costs and staffing stems from an expansion of jail programs, greater security measures, and new training – all laudable goals and initiatives. Yet, so far, those investments have yielded few positive outcomes when it comes to lowering violence.

• In FY 2017, the rate of fight/assault infractions per 1,000 average daily population grew to 1,332. This represents a 16% increase since FY 2016 and a 183% increase since FY 2007.
• The rate of inmate assaults on staff per 1,000 ADP grew 6% from FY 2016 to FY 2017, reaching 100.8. Since FY 2007, the rate of inmate assaults on staff has grown by nearly 220%.
• The rate of use of force by correction officers on inmates fell 1% to 534 incidents per 1,000 ADP from FY 2016.
• The number of tort claims filed for personal injury at City Correction Facilities reached 3,658 in FY 2016, up 31% from FY 2015. Since FY 2007, the number of claims has jumped 270%.

To view the full analysis, click here.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Invites you to the Bronx Albanian Independence Celebration

BP DIAZ HOSTS ANNUAL PUERTO RICAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION

  Yesterday Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted his annual Puerto Rican Heritage celebration at Bronx Community College. Borough President Diaz honored individuals who have contributed to the growth and promotion of their community and culture. 

“This year the people of Puerto Rico have endured, and continue to endure, an unfathomable tragedy. In light of the ongoing struggle to recover I am honored to have celebrated our Puerto Rican Heritage, and I am pleased to see the unwavering support of people from all over the region and how they have come together so quickly to answer the cry for help from our brothers and sisters on the island,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “I offer my heartfelt congratulations to our honorees and to Bronx Community College for hosting this important celebration of Boricua culture and heritage.”

This year honorees include David Franco, FDNY, Chief Inspector; Nicky Marrero, Master Percussionist, FANIA All-Stars; Audrey Puente, Meteorologist, Fox 5 and numerous other individuals and organizations that represent the continue collective effort  in our area of expertise to help Puerto Rico.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Pre Thanksgiving "Meet Up" Business Networking Event

Rep. Engel on Keystone XL Pipeline Oil Leak

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Keystone XL pipeline oil leak:

“Four days before the Nebraska Public Service Commission is scheduled to decide on the Keystone XL pipeline, the original Keystone leaked at least 210,000 gallons of oil into grass and agricultural fields in South Dakota. 

“This is exactly what opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline have long feared. Is it any wonder why folks who live near the pipeline are concerned about its possible effects to their water supply? 

“I implore the Public Service Commission in Nebraska to deny TransCanada’s permit to complete construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

“Today’s leak is a powerful reminder of why environmental protection matters, and that we must promote clean energy if we are serious about combating climate change and preventing future disasters.”

Statement Of Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim On The Hung Jury In United States V. Norman Seabrook And Murray Huberfeld

  “Unfortunately, the jury in the trial against Norman Seabrook and Murray Huberfeld was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.  We look forward to a retrial where we will present again the powerful proof of how Seabrook allegedly sold his duty to safeguard correction officers’ retirement money to Murray Huberfeld in exchange for cash bribes.  Although justice has been delayed, we expect it will ultimately prevail.”