Chevron Agrees to Pay a $1M Civil Penalty for Violations of the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard

To Remediate the Violation, Chevron also Retired Over 2M Renewable Fuel Credits, Valued at About $3.6M, that It Invalidly Generated and Sold to Third Parties 

Today, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) announced a settlement with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. for violations of the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Under the agreement, Chevron will pay a civil penalty of just over $1 million and has retired credits worth about $3.6 million to remedy its violations.

In June 2023, Chevron disclosed that, from January 2022 through August 2022, the company invalidly generated over 2.2 million advanced biofuel production credits, known as Renewable Identification Numbers or RINs, on renewable diesel that had previously been used for RIN generation and sold to third parties.

“Today’s action demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard program by ensuring that Renewable Identification Numbers generated and traded represent actual renewable fuel gallons produced,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “The benefits that flow from the Renewable Fuel Standard program to rural American communities depend on the integrity of program credits, and this action ensures the reliability of Renewable Identification Numbers in the marketplace.”

Under the RFS program, renewable fuel producers may generate RINs on renewable fuel they produce that is used in the United States. RINs may only be generated once on any volume of renewable fuel to prevent the potential double counting.

The RFS program is a national policy that requires a certain volume of renewable fuel be used to replace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuel in transportation fuel, home heating oil, or jet fuel. Refiners and importers, known as “obligated parties”, must acquire and retire a specific number of RINs each year based on the amount of petroleum fuel that they produce and import into the U.S. market. Obligated parties can acquire RINs by producing renewable fuels themselves and blending that fuel into gasoline or diesel, or by purchasing them from other parties in the RIN market. Chevron is both a renewable fuel producer and an obligated party because it produces both renewable diesel and petroleum fuels.

Prior to executing the settlement, Chevron retired valid RINs to offset the ones it had generated, worth about $3.6 million. The success of the RFS program relies on the integrity of the RIN market. This resolution furthers the goals of, and promotes public trust in, the RFS program.

Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section filed the Stipulation of Settlement with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The Stipulation of Settlement is available at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.

Attorney General James and NYPD Announce Takedown of Stolen Vehicle Ring Operating in New York City

 

Five Individuals Charged for Roles in Multistate Operation That Sold Stolen Cars Throughout New York City and New Jersey

AG’s Investigation Recovers More Than 40 Stolen Cars

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch today announced the takedown of a car theft operation that sold stolen vehicles throughout New York and New Jersey. An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) recovered more than 40 stolen motor vehicles, with a total value of more than one million dollars. Five individuals were charged with 92 crimes for their roles in selling stolen cars across New York and New Jersey.

“A stolen car can completely upend a family’s life, making it harder to get to school, work, and do essential errands,” said Attorney General James. “This investigation stopped a far-reaching criminal operation that sold dozens of stolen cars across New York and New Jersey. I thank the NYPD and our partners in law enforcement for their work to stop this criminal operation and protect our communities.”

“To criminals who traffic in stolen vehicles, our message is clear: the NYPD will find you and hold you accountable,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “The five individuals charged in this case were part of a crime ring responsible for stealing more than 40 vehicles valued at more than one million dollars. This year-long joint investigation spanned multiple jurisdictions across two states – and led to the dismantling of this criminal operation and recovery of the stolen vehicles. I applaud our NYPD detectives and the Attorney General’s Office for their tireless efforts on this case.”

The takedown was the result of a year-long joint investigation led by OCTF and the NYPD’s Bronx Auto Crime Unit. The investigation began in February 2025 when Jonathan Mercedes Silvestre was identified as the broker for the sale of stolen motor vehicles. The investigation included physical and covert video surveillance, court-authorized wiretapping of cellular telephones, the analysis of electronic evidence, including cellphone communications and tracking information, and other traditional investigative operations.

Through electronic and physical surveillance, the investigation revealed that Raulin Rodriguez and Jender Santos-Ulloa were Silvestre’s sources for stolen vehicles. Court-authorized eavesdropping, covert electronic surveillance, and analysis of records in conjunction with other investigative tools further revealed that Josue Dejesus Gonzalez, Juan Tavarez Cabrera, and other individuals served to locate, acquire, and transport vehicles to be resold to a network of customers throughout New York and New Jersey. The vehicles were stolen from various locations throughout Bergen and Passaic Counties in New Jersey, as well as New York, Kings, Bronx, Queens, and Westchester Counties in New York.

The investigation recovered more than 40 stolen vehicles, including:

• 19 Honda CRVs
• Six Lexus IS 350s
• Five Toyota Highlanders
• Four Honda Accords
• Three Acura TLXs
• Two Lexus IS 500s
• One Honda Civic

The 92-count indictment charges Raulin Rodriguez, Jender Santos-Ulloa, Josue Dejesus Gonzalez, Juan Tavarez Cabrera, and Jonathan Mercedes Silvestre with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, and other theft-related charges. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial or by plea.

NYC Comptroller Levine Releases Updated Analysis of NYC FY2027 Preliminary Budget, Identifies Structural Fiscal Risks

 

Today, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine released his office’s updated analysis of New York City’s Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 and Financial Plan for Fiscal Years 2026–2030 and testified before the City Council.

Comptroller Levine commended the administration for presenting an inaugural budget that provides a more transparent and complete accounting of City spending, marking a significant departure from prior practices that understated the full cost of City programs.

However, the analysis identifies three major concerns:

• First, reoccurring City expenses are higher than reoccurring revenues, a structural imbalance that puts the City’s long-term fiscal stability at risk.

• Second, the February plan relies on optimistic revenue projections to close projected budget gaps. This is against the backdrop of broader economic uncertainty driven by overseas conflicts, federal policies, weak jobs numbers, and the rapid advancement of AI—factors that could contribute to future economic volatility, leading the Comptroller’s Office to project more modest revenues.

• Third, the plan relies on drawing down prepaid expenses; raising the property tax levy close to the constitutional limit; and on one-shots—including raiding the City’s rainy-day fund, which is intended to help the City weather economic downturns, not to balance the budget when revenues are at record levels. Together, these actions will seriously limit the City’s ability to respond to future unforeseen contingencies or costs, as well as downturns or revenues below optimistic projections.

You can read Comptroller Levine’s full testimony before the City Council Finance Committee Hearing on the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget at: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/testimonies/testimony-of-nyc-comptroller-levine-city-council-finance-committee-hearing-on-the-mayors-preliminary-budget/ 

You can read the Comptroller’s full report on New York City’s Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 and Financial Plan for Fiscal Years 2026-2030 at: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/comments-on-new-york-citys-preliminary-budget-for-fiscal-year-2027-and-financial-plan-for-fiscal-years-2026-2030/

Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $86 Million Affordable and Supportive Housing Development in the Bronx

Delivers 154 Affordable Apartments, Including 86 With Supportive Services

Project Expands Access to Healthy Food With Greenhouse and Agriculture Programming

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of Baez Place, an $86 million affordable and supportive housing development in the Claremont neighborhood of the Bronx. Developed by Community Access in partnership with Blue Sky Bronx LLC, Baez Place delivers 154 high-quality apartments and features a community greenhouse designed to help improve the health and well-being of residents. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 10,000 affordable homes in the Bronx. Baez Place continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“Baez Place represents exactly the kind of bold investment we need to make New York more affordable and more livable,” Governor Hochul said. “Homes with services, amenities and opportunities to build community can help the most vulnerable New Yorkers live independently and achieve a sense of wellbeing and belonging. Developments like this strengthen neighborhoods and deliver on our commitment to ensure everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.”

The development is affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. There are 86 supportive apartments for eligible tenants living with mental health concerns and seniors age 55 or older who have experienced homelessness. On-site support services are provided by Community Access and include case management, mental health support, employment assistance, and connections to health care and community-based resources. The development includes fully accessible and adaptable apartments. There are 38 units to accommodate residents with mobility disabilities and four units to accommodate residents with sensory disabilities.

Baez Place features a greenhouse and complementary urban agriculture programming, expanding access to healthy food. The greenhouse is available as a year-round social gathering space, helping tenants connect with nature, gain gardening skills, and reduce isolation.

The all-electric building was designed to meet high standards for energy efficiency and sustainability, including Energy Star Multifamily Highrise certification and 2020 Enterprise Green Communities requirements. Features include energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, advanced heating and cooling systems, and water-saving fixtures.

Baez Place is located near the subway, buses and the Metro-North, as well as schools, parks, health care facilities and retail corridors.

State financing for Baez Place includes New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs that are expected to generate approximately $38.7 million in equity and $12 million in subsidy. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance provided $7 million through its Homeless Housing and Assistance Program. Operating expenses for the supportive units are funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes — for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. More than 400 communities throughout the state have been certified Pro-Housing, including New York City.

As part of Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State, the Governor proposed her “Let Them Build” agenda, a series of landmark reforms to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs. This initiative will spur a series of common-sense reforms to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.

The FY27 Executive Budget completes the Governor’s current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 78,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The Executive Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.

Housing Lottery Launches for La Olazul in Mount Hope, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for La Olazul, a 13-story affordable and supportive housing development at 1940 Jerome Ave in Mount Hope, The Bronx. Designed by STAT Architecture PC and developed by Vaya Development and Westhab, the structure yields 115 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 37 units for residents at 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $58,320 to $105,000.

Amenities include an elevator, laundry service, community center, gym, bike storage lockers, and a rooftop terrace. Residents are responsible for electricity including air conditioning and stove.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are 29 studios with a monthly rent of $1,590 for incomes ranging from $58,320 to $77,760; six one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,695 for incomes ranging from $62,435 to $87,480; and two two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,017 for incomes ranging from $74,880 to $105,000.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than May 8, 2026.

Council Analysis Identifies Nearly $1.7 Billion in Potential Resources for FY 2026

 

Findings suggest the City can avoid tapping the Rainy Day Fund

Separate Council forecast shows relatively stronger revenue outlook than the Office of Management and Budget for FY 26 & 27

Speaker Julie Menin and Finance Chair Linda Lee released the New York City Council’s March 2026 Economic and Tax Revenue Forecast, alongside an initial analysis identifying nearly $1.7 billion in potential savings and additional revenue for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which ends June 30.

The Council’s analysis suggests the City can maintain fiscal discipline and protect critical services without drawing down New York City’s Rainy Day Fund (formally the Revenue Stabilization Fund). In its Preliminary Budget released in February, the Administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani proposed utilizing nearly $1 billion from the fund in the current fiscal year.

The proposed drawdown of the Rainy Day Fund would lead to a vote by the Council by the end of March through a Revenue and Expense Modification to the FY 2026 budget sent by the Administration on February 24.

The Rainy Day Fund was created in 2021 by the Administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio. Since its launch, it has gradually climbed to $2 billion and has never been drawn down, even during the recent migrant funding crisis.

Among the resources identified in the Council’s preliminary analysis, beyond current projections from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), are nearly $1.4 billion from debt service adjustments, realization of accrual savings from unfilled agency vacancies, and unrecognized interest earnings from entities such as the Retirees Health Benefits Trust and cash holdings.

“The Rainy Day Fund was created to help protect New Yorkers during a true fiscal emergency, and has never been tapped,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Our analysis suggests we are not in such an emergency position today. The Council believes there are additional savings and revenue opportunities that can be identified through the budget hearing process, both for FY 2026 and 2027, and we will continue working with the Administration to ensure the City’s finances remain strong while protecting this critical safeguard.”

The Council’s March economic forecast estimates $386 million more in tax revenue than projected by the Mayor’s OMB for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, reflecting a stronger long-term outlook for the City’s finances. That difference excludes any increase to the City’s overall property tax rate.

The forecast projects the City’s tax revenues will continue to grow at an average of 4.7 percent annually from FY 2026 through FY 2030, which is lower than the 5.5 percent annual average tax revenue growth experienced over the decade of FY 2010 to FY 2019.

The full economic forecast report can be found here.

Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Involving the Forced Labor of Mexican Workers

 

Four Co-Defendants Previously Pleaded Guilty for Their Roles in Compelling the Labor of H-2A Visa Recipients Throughout the Southeastern United States

Alexander Villatoro Moreno, age 53, also known as Quichi, pleaded guilty in federal court in Tampa, Florida, to conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida had previously returned a six-count indictment against multiple defendants for their roles in the conspiracy, which victimized Mexican H-2A workers who, between 2015 and 2017, had worked in the United States harvesting fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products.

According to court documents, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants operated and managed Los Villatoros Harvesting (LVH), a farm labor contracting company, that functioned as a criminal enterprise compelling victims to work in Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina. Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants fraudulently recruited Mexican nationals to come into the United States on short-term, H-2A, agricultural visas and misled the United States to secure visas for the victims. Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants charged workers exorbitant recruitment fees to work for LVH and lied to the victims about how much they would be paid, the hours they would work, the working conditions and the reimbursement they would receive for paying recruitment fees and other expenses. The workers were then compelled to provide long hours of physically demanding agricultural labor, six to seven days a week, for far less pay than they were entitled to under the law.

In addition to the work conditions, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants used various coercive means to compel the victims’ labor, including imposing debts on workers; confiscating the workers’ passports; subjecting workers to crowded, unsanitary and degrading living conditions; verbally abusing and humiliating the workers; threatening workers with arrest, jailtime and deportation; isolating workers by preventing them from interacting with anyone other than LVH employees; and threatening to physically harm the workers’ family members back in Mexico if the workers failed to comply with their demands.

When officials began investigating, Villatoro Moreno obstructed the federal investigation by helping to prepare false payroll information to conceal underpayments to the workers and distributing fake reimbursement receipts to the victims to make it appear that LVH was complying with the law by reimbursing the workers for their travel-related expenses.

Villatoro Moreno’s four co-defendants previously pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in the scheme. Bladimir Moreno, Alexander Villatoro Moreno’s brother, owned LVH and pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Efrain Cabrera Rodas and Christina Gamez, LVH supervisors, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act while Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza, another LVH supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct a federal investigation. In 2022, Bladimir Moreno was sentenced to 118 months in prison and ordered to pay over $175,000 in restitution to the victims while Rodas and Gamez were sentenced to 41 months and 37 months in prison, respectively. Mendoza was also sentenced in 2022 to serve eight months of home detention and a $5,500 fine to be paid over 24 months of supervised release.

The Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. The Task Force received assistance from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program and Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project.

The Government of Mexico, including the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), provided significant assistance in the extradition of Villatoro Moreno to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Villatoro Moreno.

Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilyssa Spergel for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Former Trial Attorney and current Assistant U.S. Attorney Maryan Zhuravitsky for the District of Maryland also prosecuted the case.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Friends & Neighbors, 

 

Spring has sprung and it’s time to get out those Easter baskets, fancy hats, and pastel colors. It’s time for our annual Pelham Parkway Easter Egg Hunt!

 

This year, we’re thrilled to bring you an afternoon filled with music, games, face painter, popcorn, and of course, lots of Easter eggs. Here are the details: 

 

WHEN: Saturday, March 28, 2026

WHERE: Pelham Parkway Greenway (across from Peace Plaza)

TIME: 11:00AM - 2:00PM

 

Events like these are what makes our community so special. Come out, enjoy the afternoon, and spend time with old and new friends. 

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone then! 

 

In Gratitude, 

John Zaccaro, Jr.