This Week: Comptroller DiNapoli Reports Record Wall Street Bonus Pool

 

Comptroller DiNapoli Reports Record $49.2B Bonus Pool

Wall Street’s securities industry bonus pool reached a record $49.2 billion in 2025, up 9% from the previous year, while the average bonus rose 6% to $246,900, according to Comptroller DiNapoli’s annual estimate. The increases reflect a rise of more than 30% in Wall Street’s profits, which totaled $65.1 billion in 2025.

“Wall Street saw strong performance for much of last year, despite all of the ongoing domestic and international upheavals,” DiNapoli said. “When Wall Street does well, it’s good for our state and city budgets, which are reliant on the industry’s significant tax contributions. However, we are seeing slower job growth, and geopolitical conflicts have global repercussions that pose extraordinary risks for the short- and long-term outlook on the financial sector and for broader economic markets.”

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Watch: Comptroller DiNapoli's Annual Estimate of Wall St. Bonuses

Language Services Need to be Readily Accessible at NYC Public Health Clinics and Other Programs

An audit released by Comptroller DiNapoli found that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene does not consistently provide or track required language services across its public health clinics and other public-facing programs for patients and clients who have limited English proficiency, creating barriers to accessing vital services.

“It’s not acceptable that the city’s Department of Health cannot tell whether it’s consistently delivering the language services people need,” DiNapoli said. “Language barriers can delay care and lead to worse outcomes. The department needs to strengthen its oversight and implement our recommendations to ensure better, more accessible health care for all, and I’m pleased to see they have begun making the changes needed.”

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Watch: Audit Finds Language Barriers at Some City Health Clinics

Weekly Recap: Empowering Workers and Supporting Our Neighbors

A L S O   I N   T H E   N E W S

• Wall Street’s 2025 bonuses reached unprecedented levels in a rollicking year for markets
• N.Y. lawmakers call for tax hike on the wealthy as comptroller report reveals record Wall Street bonuses
• Lost in translation: Audit finds language barriers at city health facilities & during restaurant inspections
• Former regional chamber of commerce leader accused of stealing $470K report says
• Ulster County business owner pleads guilty to $1.1 million Medicaid fraud
• TAP college aid grants dropped 21% despite expansion efforts

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P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

New Rendering Reveals 1933 Lafayette Avenue in Unionport, The Bronx

 

A new rendering reveals 1933 Lafayette Avenue, a forthcoming 22-story residential building in Unionport, The Bronx. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning  and developed by Dimitrios Katehis of HP Park Lane Family HDFC, Inc., the structure will rise 226 feet tall and yield a total of 154,600 square feet designated for residential space. Inside will be 207 rental units averaging 746 square feet, as well as a cellar level, 45 open parking spaces, and 61 enclosed parking spaces. The property is bounded by Lafayette Avenue to the south, White Plains Road to the west, Turbull Avenue to the north, and the adjacent 14-story 1940 Turbull Avenue to the northeast.

The above main rendering provides an aerial perspective oriented looking southeast at the structure, which has a relatively simple rectangular massing featuring a number of setbacks spread across the upper levels. Each of which are lined with shrubbery and glass railings. The exterior cladding is a light-colored envelope, which will presumably use brickwork with a mix of metal spandrels between the grid of windows. A pair of rooftop photovoltaic system is visible atop the two bulkheads above the flat parapet. New tree-lined sidewalks will surround the site.

Below is a Google Maps street view image oriented looking northeast the existing surface-level parking lot, which would be fully removed and replaced by the upcoming residential project.

The nearest subway stop is the Parkchester station, serviced by the local 6 train. Meanwhile, a bus stop is conveniently located in front of the site along White Plains Road, servicing the Bx5, Bx36, and Bx39 bus routes.

An anticipated start and completion date for 1933 Lafayette Avenue awaits to be publicly announced. It’s unclear how many of the units will be designated as affordable housing and their income requirements, and what amenities may be offered.

DHS Slams Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for Offering Insane Plea Deal to Trans-Identifying Illegal Alien Child Rapist

 

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office agreed to a plea deal for this illegal alien child rapist that allowed him to serve a mere six months in jail

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for offering “Nicol Alexandra” Contreras-Suarez, a transgender criminal illegal alien, an insane six-month plea deal with time served in exchange for admitting to following a 14-year-old into the bathroom and raping him in February 2025.

He was initially charged with first-degree rape of a child less than age 17 and stalking. But in exchange for his guilty plea, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office offered him a six-month sentence.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) first lodged an immigration detainer with Manhattan Central Booking on February 13, 2025. He is currently being held at Rikers Island. New York City Department of Corrections has agreed to honor ICE’s detainer and not release this child rapist into American communities.

“This plea deal is a disgrace. Six months in jail for raping a child is a gross miscarriage of justice. This pervert was let into our country by the Biden administration and then again released from jail following his arrests for armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and prostitution,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “The horror story of Contreras-Suarez illustrates how open border and sanctuary politicians endanger Americans. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we will continue to put the safety of Americans first and fight to get criminal illegal aliens like this out of our communities to no longer prey on and victimize innocent children.”

In March of 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested Contreras-Suarez for illegally entering the U.S. in San Ysidro, California. The Biden Administration released him into the country. Contreras-Suarez was later arrested by Medford Police Department in Massachusetts for armed robbery, prostitution, and assault with a dangerous weapon. Due to sanctuary politicians, this criminal illegal alien was then released to terrorize more Americans.

Former Director of a Brooklyn Daycare Indicted for Stealing More Than $2.75 Million in Tuition Payments

 

Defendant Allegedly Spent Stolen Funds on Tickets to Professional Wrestling Events, Personal Travel, and Luxury Goods

At the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Murielle Misczak with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with her employment at a Brooklyn daycare (the Daycare).  Misczak was the director of the Daycare, which provided childcare and preschool to children.  Over the course of approximately four years, Misczak embezzled more than $2.75 million by directing parents to send tuition payments to unapproved accounts she controlled and transferring the funds to her personal bank accounts.  Misczak was arrested and was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges.

“As alleged, Misczak abused her position of authority and betrayed the trust of her employer and daycare families by stealing millions in tuition to fund her own extravagant personal lifestyle,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Our Office will vigorously prosecute corrupt individuals like the defendant who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of services for children.”

“Murielle Misczak allegedly stole millions of dollars from parents whose tuition payments were unknowingly funding personal lavish purchases. As the daycare’s former director, Misczak’s alleged embezzlement violated the trust placed in her by her employer and clients. The FBI is dedicated to disrupting corrupt schemes that defraud our city’s families for selfish gain, especially those exploiting childcare services,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

As set forth in court filings, Misczak was hired by the Daycare in 2013 as Program Coordinator and was later promoted to Director in 2020.  Starting in January 2022 and continuing through October 2025, Misczak stole more than $2.75 million in tuition payments by directing them to be paid into accounts she controlled and then transferring those payments into her own accounts. Misczak hid her theft from the Daycare by deleting and altering information in the Daycare’s accounting systems.  Misczak spent over $600,000 in stolen funds on travel and entertainment, including over $350,000 on tickets to professional wrestling events, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars on luxury goods and various personal expenses such as food delivery and ride sharing services.

The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, Misczak faces up to 20 years in prison.

NYPD COMMISSIONER TISCH ANNOUNCES REMOVAL OF OVER 1,000 GUNS FROM NEW YORK CITY STREETS IN 2026

 

Since January 2026, NYPD has Recovered 1,054 Firearms

Builds on NYPD’s Work to Reduce Gun Violence and Deliver Record Low Shootings in January and February

Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that the NYPD has removed more than 1,000 guns from New York City streets since January, bringing the total number of firearms seized under Commissioner Tisch’s leadership beginning in November 2024 to over 6,700. Since the start of this year, the NYPD has seized 1,054 total guns, with 305 guns seized in Brooklyn, 251 in the Bronx, 240 in Manhattan, 194 in Queens, and 64 on Staten Island. Of the 1,054 guns seized, 52 were ghost guns, which are unserialized and untraceable firearms that only exist to evade law enforcement and gun laws, often ending up in the hands of criminals.

The NYPD’s work to remove guns from the streets and take down the most dangerous gangs also contributed to historic lows in shootings. As a result of the NYPD’s crime fighting strategies, shooting incidents year-to-date are down 25% compared to 2024, and 40% compared to 2023. In the first two months of 2026, the NYPD delivered the lowest number of shooting incidents, shooting victims, and murders for that time period in recorded history. For January and February combined, the city had 81 shooting incidents and 95 shooting victims, surpassing the previous all-time lows of 92 and 105, set in 2025 and 2019, respectively. February alone also marked record lows in shooting incidents, victims, murders, and robberies in New York City’s public housing developments.

“Since the start of 2026, the NYPD has removed over 1,000 guns from city streets, and the results are already clear,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “So far this year, we are on pace with the historic record lows of 2025, when the NYPD delivered the safest year for gun violence ever. Because of the women and men of this department who are out on our streets focusing on the people carrying guns, building cases, and taking down violent gangs, we continue to seize these dangerous firearms and keep New Yorkers safe.”

In 2025, New York City had the fewest shooting incidents ever recorded, with 66 fewer shootings than the previous low set in 2018, making it the safest year ever for gun violence. In December 2025, the city set the single-month record for the fewest shootings with just 35 shootings. Shooting victims also fell to a historic low last year, beating the record set in 2018 by more than 40 victims, and every borough saw double-digit percent reductions in gun violence in 2025. The NYPD continues to combat violent crime and shootings through its Winter Violence Reduction Plan, which deploys up to 1,800 uniformed officers to nightly foot posts across 64 zones in 33 precincts, public housing, and the subway system. Since its inception in January, major crime is down 25.2% and shootings are down 62.5% in the zones during deployment hours.

Texas Fugitive Apprehended and Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for $61M Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries

 

A Texas man was sentenced to 150 months in prison and two years of supervised release for organizing and leading a $61.5 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy in which thousands of Medicare beneficiaries who were the victims of deceptive telemarketing were sent thousands of orthotic braces, foot baths, and genetic tests they did not need.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Robert “Bobby” Leon Smith III, 50, of Archer City, Texas, owned and operated seven durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies based in Florida, Texas, and Maryland through which he submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for orthotic braces and foot baths that beneficiaries did not need.

Smith also owned a marketing company based in Texas that he used to conduct deceptive telemarketing campaigns that targeted Medicare beneficiaries for medical services they did not need. Working with an offshore call center located in the Philippines, Smith and his co-conspirators peddled medically unnecessary orthotic braces, foot baths, and genetic tests to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide. In audio recordings presented at trial, Smith was heard pressuring beneficiaries to accept these products even after the beneficiaries protested that they did not need or want them.

Smith obtained doctors’ orders for these products by paying kickbacks and bribes to illegitimate telemedicine companies. He then sold these doctors’ orders to other medical suppliers that he knew used them to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. In another recording presented at trial, Smith was heard complaining about instances in which he bought doctors’ orders he could not sell, calling the orders “trash” and “junk.” Smith’s former business partner testified that they eventually began using “fake” doctors’ orders that contained forged signatures of doctors who were unaware of the scheme.

After four days of a jury trial, Smith pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and one count of health care fraud. Smith absconded and failed to appear for sentencing. He remained at large for over a month before he was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service. At sentencing, the Court ordered Smith to pay $30,158,608.25 in restitution and to forfeit $9,215,225 as well as real estate located in Texas.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

JOSEPH MARTINEZ, (AKA JUPITER JOE) SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 1999 MURDER OF MINERLIZ SORIANO

 

Defendant Convicted by Jury on November 14, 2025 First Indictment in New York City That Used Familial DNA To Solve Case

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that Joseph Martinez (AKA Jupiter Joe) was sentenced yesterday to 25 years to life in prison for the 1999 murder of 13- year-old Minerliz Soriano, the first case in New York City solved using familial DNA. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant sexually abused Minerliz and killed her. He left her body in a dumpster in Co-op City, where she was found on February 28, 1999. Bronx detectives and my ADAs never gave up in the quest for justice for this beautiful little girl. Their relentless dedication and compassion, coupled with advanced technology in DNA, led to the arrest and conviction.

“This is the final chapter, after 26 years of anguish, and I hope this sentence brings solace to Minerliz’ family and the childhood friend who compellingly testified at trial. Minerliz’ dream of flying to the stars as an astronaut was dashed, but her light will never dim for her loved ones.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Joseph Martinez, 54, of New Rochelle, N.Y., was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Audrey Stone. He was found guilty by a jury of two counts of second-degree Murder, felony and intentional, on November 14, 2025.

According to trial testimony, on Feb. 24, 1999, Minerliz was last seen alive walking home from school in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx. Four days later her body was found wrapped in a trash bag in a dumpster behind a video store in Co-op City. Minerliz had been sexually abused, and her neck was compressed, causing her death.

Martinez, known as Jupiter Joe, because he taught astronomy to kids in parks and at community events, was arrested on Novemebr 29, 2021. The NYPD and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in April 2019 submitted a joint application to get results from the familial DNA system. A DNA sample from a semen stain on the victim’s sweatshirt was submitted and led to Martinez. Investigators then obtained a DNA sample from the defendant, which matched the DNA found on the victim’s sweatshirt. 

It was the first case in New York City that was solved using familial DNA.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Dominic Robinson, retired Detective Malcom Reiman, both of Bronx Homicide Task Force, retired Detective James Menton, and retired NYPD Detective Bernard Ryan of the 45th Precinct, who was the original case investigator.  

DEC ANNOUNCES START OF TROUT FISHING SEASON ON APRIL 1

 

Rich Angling Opportunities for New Yorkers to ‘Get Offline, Get Outside’

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced the April 1 start of the spring trout fishing season, which provides excellent angling opportunities for wild and stocked trout.

 

"New York’s season opener is a welcome sign of spring for trout anglers,” Commissioner Lefton said. “I encourage anglers to introduce someone new to recreational fishing this year and enjoy Getting Offline and Getting Outside to experience some of the greatest freshwater fishing opportunities in the nation.”

 

Spring Trout Stocking

DEC trout stocking is in full swing with more than 1.7 million catchable-size brook, brown, and rainbow trout stocked in waters across the state from mid-March through early June.

 

Drought conditions at Catskill Fish Hatchery during the late summer and autumn of 2025 reduced the water supply to a level that inhibited brown trout growth. Therefore, on average, yearling trout from this facility will be shorter than the 9-inch target size at stocking. Growth rates can be expected to recover at Catskill Fish Hatchery with normal rainfall.

 

Stocked-Extended streams, specified in the Inland Trout Streams Regulations section of the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide, will receive fish every other week for two months to provide season-long opportunities for angler success. Most stream stockings include larger trout (12 inches or more) as 10% of the total number. Spring trout stocking lists, including the scheduled week of stocking for trout streams, can be found on DEC's website.

 

Trout Stream Fishing Opportunities

The popular Trout Stream Fishing Map on DECinfo Locator allows anglers to view trout stream reaches, color-coded by management category, as well as fishing access associated with those reaches. Links to the Trout Stream Fishing Map and a User Guide are available on DEC's website.

 

Anglers can also use their smart phones to find trout fishing opportunities around the state by accessing the Tackle Box feature in DEC’s HuntFishNY app.  The Tackle Box provides one-stop-shopping for information on access sites, stocking, regulations and more. Information on how to download the app can be found on DEC’s website. Anglers are encouraged to check out these valuable resources when planning their next fishing trip.

 

Recreational fishing supports Governor Hochul's “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative promoting physical and mental health by encouraging New York’s children and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. One of the ways teens and youth can find ideas to get offline is through DEC’s Get Offline, Get Outside Challenge, which offers 50 fun and interesting activities for youth to complete by the age of 19.

 

To help make fishing more affordable and help inspire the next generation of anglers, DEC has also partnered with libraries across the state to provide a Fishing Rod Lending Program. While borrowing a book, library patrons can sign out a fishing rod. This program offers an opportunity for people to try fishing before deciding to purchase their own gear. For more information and a list of the more than 80 participating libraries, visit DEC’s website.

 

Safe Fish Consumption

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) provides advice to anglers about what fish are safe to eat and how often. Visit DOH’s website to search by waterbody location.

 

2026 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide and Buying a License

A digital version of the new guide is available to download on the DEC website. Hard copies of the guide are available wherever sporting licenses are sold. For locations visit the DEC website.

Renewing or buying a fishing license for the first time is easier than ever. Anglers can call, go online, or visit their nearest license issuing agent. When purchasing a license, anglers can also consider purchasing a Habitat & Access Stamp for just $5. This small donation directly supports habitat restoration projects and recreational access to New York’s public lands.