Assemblywoman Rajkumar's Statement Honoring American Hero Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad

 

On July 17th, one of our own—a beloved daughter of Ozone Park—was killed in an Iranian missile strike while bravely serving our nation in the Middle East.

Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, was serving at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan when it came under enemy attack. She answered America’s call with courage, selflessness, and an unwavering commitment to defending our nation and the freedoms we hold dear.

Sgt. Rampersad embodied the very best of the United States Army and of our country. She served far from home, stood in harm’s way, and carried out her duty with honor. Her service and sacrifice will never be forgotten by Ozone Park, Queens, New York City, or a grateful nation.

We have a sacred obligation to honor those who wear our nation’s uniform and the families who serve and sacrifice alongside them.

As a member of the New York State Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, my commitment is to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who serve and stand with the families who bear that sacrifice alongside them.

I stand shoulder to shoulder with her family, especially her parents, Basdeo and Carol, and with all who love her during this unimaginable loss.

Two Men Charged with $52 million COVID-19 Tax Credit Fraud Conspiracy

 

A California man was arrested after a grand jury sitting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania returned an indictment charging him with conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering. 

According to the indictment, Christopher Slater was part of a multi-state conspiracy to defraud the United States of more than $52.7 million by filing hundreds of false tax returns claiming Paid Sick and Family Leave Credit (SFLC) and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) credits. Congress authorized the SFLC tax credit to reimburse businesses for wages paid to employees who were on sick or family leave and could not work because of COVID-19. Congress authorized the ERC to incentivize businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This indictment alleges that Christopher Slater orchestrated a multi-state fraud scheme that sought more than $50 million in taxpayer-funded pandemic relief funds,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This brazen fraud is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Fraud Division will continue to hold anyone accountable who steals from American taxpayers and abuses programs intended to provide relief during a national crisis.” 

Slater allegedly conspired with others to recruit business owners, use their information to file false tax returns and then launder the proceeds of the fraud. In total, Slater allegedly caused at least 290 false tax returns to be filed for 35 businesses claiming over $52.7 million in COVID-19 tax credits, of which the IRS paid out over $32.2 million.  

The indictment also charged Mark Keagel, of York, Pennsylvania, with money laundering, conspiracy and theft of government property. Keagel owned two defunct businesses whose information he allegedly passed on to one of Slater’s co-conspirators. According to the indictment, Slater’s associates filed false tax returns on behalf of Keagel’s businesses. In response, the IRS mailed approximately $3.6 million in fraudulent Treasury checks to Keagel, who then allegedly laundered those proceeds.  

If convicted, Slater faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each of the seven mail fraud and mail fraud conspiracy counts. Slater and Keagel also face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison for each of the money laundering and money laundering conspiracy counts. Keagel faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison for each count of theft of government property.  

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller of the Middle District of Pennsylvania the announcement.  

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. 

Assistant Deputy Chief Ezra Spiro of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma of the Middle District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. 

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

ICE Arrests Previously-Deported Illegal Alien for Enticement of a Child in South Dakota

This illegal alien had been removed from the country FIVE times in the past 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested a criminal illegal alien who had been sending sexual text messages to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl in South Dakota.

In May 2026, an ICE law enforcement officer was working undercover in an operation to target pedophiles who use the internet to prey on children. Posing as a 14-year-old girl, the agent exchanged texts with Federico Pascual-Jimenez, a 34-year-old criminal illegal alien from Mexico. When the agent sent texts saying that the “child” was young, Pascual-Jimenez responded with “I think age doesn’t matter.”

Later, Pascual-Jimenez began sending texts describing his intentions to have sex with a child, saying “but what if you wanted to keep this relationship strictly secret – where you are mine and mine alone, and I am yours – so that whenever we’re together, I can do all the things I love doing to you?” He later began making demands of the “child,” including orders to “don’t tex[t] you[r] age you know” and “delete that text now” in reference to another text stating that “she” was only 14 years old.

The suspect: Federico Pascual-Jimenez 

On May 27, Pascual-Jimenez arranged to meet the “girl” in the parking lot of a public swimming pool in Sioux Falls. Once he arrived, HSI officers surrounded him and arrested him without incident. He currently faces felony charges of enticement of a minor for indecent purposes and illegal re-entry. His criminal history includes a prior conviction for driving while under the influence.

ICE HSI agents arrest Pascual-Jimenez

“This sicko was arrested after repeatedly sending sexual texts to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl,” said Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “His criminal history includes a conviction for driving under the influence, and he has been deported FIVE times in the past. ICE has lodged a detainer asking officials in South Dakota to commit to not releasing this pedophile from jail and cooperate with ICE, so that we can remove him from our country and make sure he'll never prey on another innocent child in our country again.”

Pascual-Jimenez first illegally entered the United States through Arizona in 2001 and was granted a voluntary return to Mexico. He then illegally re-entered the country through Texas in April 2012, and again voluntarily departed the country. He then illegally entered the country TWICE through California in May of 2012 – with his second entry in May being a felony – and was deported both times. His fifth illegal entry was in July 2012, when he entered through Texas and was deported again in August 2012. He then illegally entered the country for a SIXTH time at an unknown date and location.

Owner of Long Island Ambulette Services Company Sentenced to Prison for Multimillion Dollar Healthcare Fraud Scheme

 

Defendant and Co-Conspirators Stole Over $19 Million from Medicaid to Purchase Multimillion-Dollar Homes and Luxury Vehicles

Adnan Arshad, also known as “Eddie,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal over $19 million from Medicaid.  Arshad was also ordered to pay forfeiture of over $19 million, including the forfeiture of several real properties and vehicles. 

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI); and Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced the sentence. 

“While taxpayers footed the bill, Arshad financed a lavish lifestyle with multimillion-dollar homes and luxury vehicles.  This sentence sends a clear message that those who defraud public healthcare programs for personal enrichment should take notice of the price this defendant will now pay for his greed,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office and the Administration are vigorously prosecuting criminals like the defendant who treat Medicaid like their own personal piggy bank.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Office of the New York State Comptroller and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the New York State Attorney General's Office for their work on the case. 

“The defendant in this case brazenly defrauded the Medicaid program of tens of millions of dollars for transportation services that were never provided,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz.  “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who, to satisfy their own greed, exploit federal health care programs.” 

“Adnan Arshad and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme that siphoned millions from Medicaid, depriving vulnerable patients of resources and fueling a lavish lifestyle built on fraud,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis. “This sentencing demonstrates that IRS Criminal Investigation will relentlessly pursue those who exploit public healthcare programs for personal gain. Justice has caught up with those who treat taxpayer dollars as their own.”

“Healthcare fraud on this scale does not stay hidden, and it will not go unpunished. This defendant saw hard-earned taxpayer funds meant for the less-fortunate as nothing more than a way to line his pockets. He billed Medicaid for transportation that never happened to finance a lavish lifestyle at the public's expense," stated Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney.  “My Office is proud to stand with our federal partners to ensure that this defendant answers for his greed and forfeits what he stole.”

As set forth in court filings and facts presented in court, Arshad owned MTK Taxi LLC in Montauk, Long Island, and co-owned All-Star Taxi LLC, in Ronkonkoma.  From approximately December 2020 to his arrest in June 2024, Arshad and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme to defraud Medicaid by paying illegal health care kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries in exchange for ordering transportation services through their companies, including transportation purportedly for methadone treatment at addiction treatment centers.  In reality, Arshad’s companies generally did not provide the medical transportation services for which they billed Medicaid.  Instead, they submitted millions of dollars in fraudulent claims for nonexistent rides, including claims for individuals who were deceased, hospitalized or incarcerated.  

Arshad and his co-conspirators also inflated their Medicaid reimbursements by directing beneficiaries to request transportation to addiction treatment centers in New York City, despite the availability of numerous treatment centers on Long Island, and by instructing beneficiaries to provide false pickup addresses to make the trips appear longer and therefore more lucrative.  Through this scheme, the transportation companies owned or operated by Arshad and his co-conspirators billed Medicaid over $16 million for trips to three addiction treatment centers in New York City.

Arshad used the illicit proceeds to expand and perpetuate the scheme by purchasing several additional transportation vehicles and to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of multimillion-dollar homes and luxury vehicles, such as a Ferrari and multiple BMWs and Mercedes.

To date, at least five of Arshad’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty for their participation in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.  

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people.

Austin Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison

 

An Austin man was sentenced in a federal court in Austin to 220 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl while in possession of a firearm, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miguel Madrigal of the San Antonio Division and U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents, on March 24, 2023, Daltha Ray Terrell, aka Goo Ray, 31, presented himself to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm claiming that someone had shot him. Officers secured his car and obtained a search warrant. Located within the car were approximately 636 blue pills with “M-30” markings. Officers also discovered two firearms. 

Further investigation revealed that Terrell was not shot by another individual but had shot himself when attempting to pull his firearm from his jacket. Additionally, the pills found in his vehicle tested positive for fentanyl. 

Months later, on Dec. 1, 2023, officers responded to an overdose on an Austin Capital Metro bus. The victim was declared deceased after efforts to revive him failed, and officers located a small amount of crushed blue powder that field tested for fentanyl. Video surveillance reflected that the deceased victim had boarded the bus near Terrell’s residence. Evidence from the victim’s phone and CashApp revealed that Terrell was the victim’s dealer. Autopsy results opined that “fentanyl toxicity” was the sole cause of the victim’s death.

A state search warrant at Terrell’s residence resulted in the discovery of approximately 2,000 blue ''M-30" pills suspected to contain fentanyl, two handguns—one of which was equipped with a machinegun conversion device—and a shotgun that was later discovered to be stolen in a home invasion robbery one month prior to the execution of the search warrant. 

The investigation revealed that from June 6, 2023, until the date of Terrell’s arrest on May 22, 2024, Terrell engaged in the unbroken distribution of fentanyl in excess of 400 grams. Terrell pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026, to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Austin Police Department investigated the case.

New York Man Charged With Arson After Setting Fire At Entrance Of Federal Building

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, and Regional Director of the U.S. Federal Protective Service (“FPS”), Robert D. Sooter, announced charges against ANDREW ARRABACA after he set a fire outside of 26 Federal Plaza, sending flames and smoke up the outside of the building.  ARRABACA was arrested and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky.

“As alleged, the defendant caused a scene of destruction and mayhem by setting a fire at the entrance to a federal building in lower Manhattan which houses thousands of federal employees and receives hundreds of visitors daily,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “I am thankful for the brave, swift response of our law enforcement partners who stopped the defendant before he could cause greater harm.  Once again, our bravest ran to the fire. Anyone who commits reckless acts that endanger New Yorkers and federal employees on federal property will be subject to serious federal criminal charges.”

“Andrew Arrabaca allegedly attempted to disrupt and harm the individuals and infrastructure of 26 Federal Plaza,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.  “His alleged acts appear to have been motivated by his anti-Government and anti-ICE beliefs.  His unlawful conduct was immediately thwarted by the heroic response of the Federal Protective Service Officers, NYPD Officers, FBI Special Agents, and FBI Police Officers.  FBI New York has zero tolerance for violence targeted at federal employees who choose to serve all Americans.”  

“As alleged in the complaint, Andrew Arrabaca traveled to a government building in Lower Manhattan armed with weapons and explosive devices,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.  “Because of the quick and brave actions of law enforcement, no one was seriously injured, and Arrabaca was taken into custody.  This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face and the importance of the NYPD’s work with our federal partners to keep the people of New York City safe.”

“The Federal Protective Service is dedicated to safeguarding federal property and ensuring the safety of all who work in and visit these facilities,” said FPS Regional Director Robert D. Sooter.  “Our mission is to protect federal buildings, their occupants, and visitors by providing comprehensive law enforcement services.  Safety is a top priority; we remain committed to maintaining secure environments that support the vital work of our nation’s government.” 

As alleged in the Complaint:(1)

On the morning of July 20, 2026, ARRABACA set off several fireworks in front of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza and shot a BB rifle in the direction of the building.  ARRABACA then poured a bucket of flammable liquid onto the ground outside one of the building entrances and ignited the liquid.  The liquid exploded into flames.  ARRABACA was captured on video footage shooting the BB gun, pouring and igniting the liquid, and running from the scene, as pictured below in still images from surveillance videos:

After setting the fire, ARRABACA retrieved a box of fireworks from a utility wagon that he had wheeled to the area and threw the box into the fire.  Law enforcement agents apprehended and arrested ARRABACA just as an explosion sounded from the direction of the fire.

ARRABACA was wearing military-style camouflage pants, a belt with tactical pouches containing BB pellets and carbon dioxide cartridges, and a helmet bearing several phrases, including, “Kill yourself.”  A cross-body bag containing a knife and matches was concealed under ARRABACA’s clothing, and a New York driver’s license for ARRABACA was recovered from ARRABACA’s person. 

As pictured below, after ARRABACA’s arrest, law enforcement agents searched the wagon and recovered numerous items, including a BB rifle and a pellet rifle, a machete, two hatchets, a mallet, a hammer, and what appeared to be several fireworks, including a cylindrical, multi-shot consumer firework with a printed label reading “Nuclear Warhead” and a black and yellow radiation symbol.  A sign on the wagon bore the phrase “ICE Off Our Streets.”

During a recorded, Mirandized post-arrest interview, ARRABACA stated, in substance and in part, that he was motivated to act by anti-government beliefs, including a belief that government authorities were unlawfully harming people, and that he had targeted the building entrance because he previously observed that it was a busy one.

At the time of ARRABACA’s actions, the entrances to the Federal Building were guarded by law enforcement officers and/or government-contracted security guards and there were numerous individuals in the immediate vicinity of the Federal Building.  As pictured below, some individuals were just feet away from ARRABACA as he poured and lit a flammable liquid, creating a fireball.

Multiple individuals were evaluated for injuries, including at least one victim who appeared to have been hit with debris from the fire and/or explosion, resulting in a gash on the back of the victim’s head.

ARRABACA, 43, of Poughkeepsie, New York, is charged with destruction of property owned or leased by the United States by means of fire or explosives and causing personal injury or substantial risk of injury, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

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

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding response of the FPS and the FBI New York Field Office.  Mr. Clayton also praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the assistance of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.

This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit and General Crimes Unit.   

As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Complaint to date constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Secures $400,000 for Tenants and Critical Repairs to The Kenney Apartments in Newburgh

 

Owners of Kenney Apartments Must Fix All Code Violations and Refund Tenants for Rent Payments They Made While Enduring Dangerous Conditions

New York Attorney General Letitia James secured $400,000 for tenants of The Kenney Apartments in Newburgh and an agreement from the owners of the complex to make all the necessary repairs to ensure tenants’ homes are safe and livable. For years, Kenney residents have endured dangerous conditions, including a consistent lack of heat and hot water through cold winters, pest infestations, broken windows and doors, mold, water and sewage leaks into their homes, and other hazards. In February 2026, Attorney General James sued the owners of The Kenney Apartments, which is home to more than 100 low-income residents, for failing to fix dozens of code violations that have led to inhospitable conditions. As a result of Attorney General James’ intervention, the owners of the apartment complex will refund $400,000 in rent payments to tenants, make all repairs necessary to fix every outstanding building code violation, and make regular reports to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of all tenant complaints, repairs made, and plans to fix any new violations.

“The owners of The Kenney Apartments neglected their tenants for years, forcing vulnerable New Yorkers to endure cold winters without heat and other horrendous conditions,” said Attorney General James. “While there is still work to be done to ensure these tenants have a clean and safe place to live, my office is determined to hold these owners accountable. This case should be a warning to landlords throughout our state: if you ignore your tenants’ complaints and fail to address code violations, my office will make you pay for your negligence.”

Attorney General James sued the owners and managers of The Kenney Apartments in February of this year for violating state laws by failing to properly maintain the buildings and apartments. The complex’s buildings have accumulated dozens of code violations, and residents have suffered in dangerous conditions that put their health and safety at risk. A lack of consistent heat and hot water forced tenants to endure cold winters by heating their homes with space heaters, which caused their electricity bills to skyrocket. Residents also reported mold and mildew that have caused illnesses, sewage leaking into their homes, and broken appliances that haven’t been fixed in years. One resident, who suffers from diabetes and needed a working refrigerator for her insulin, reported that her repeated calls to fix her broken refrigerator were ignored by her landlord.

Under the settlement with OAG, the owners and managers of The Kenney Apartments must take immediate action to repair the complex’s buildings and fix all outstanding code violations to ensure tenants have safe and habitable apartments. These repairs include mold remediation, plumbing fixes, repairs to doors, windows, floors, and walls, new paint, and more. The owners must also pay $409,697 back to tenants as a rent abatement for the months they lived in unsafe conditions. If the owners violate the settlement, they will be liable for a $100,000 penalty. To ensure the owners comply, the settlement requires them to make monthly reports to OAG documenting their progress and any new issues that arise. These reports must include details of all tenant complaints and actions taken to investigate them, all repairs done to correct code violations, any ongoing repairs, and any new code violations, along with a plan to address them.

Governor Hochul Announces Plans for Transformative $115 Million Investment in Schenectady's Hamilton Hill Neighborhood

Project Advances Governor's Housing Agenda with More Than 170 Units

Full-Service Grocery Store Will Provide Access to Fresh Food in Long-Standing Food Desert

Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans for a full-service grocery store and more than 170 new units of affordable and workforce housing as part of a $115 million project centered around 750 State Street in Schenectady's Hamilton Hill neighborhood. The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority has been working with the State, The Community Builders, Five Corners Development and Save A Lot to reimagine the vacant site. Store construction is slated for 2027 with an opening planned by the spring of 2028. New housing will be built on Albany and State Street within one block of the new store.

“Communities across the state deserve to feel uplifted and seen, especially in Schenectady, and we are delivering on that promise to the Hamilton Hill neighborhood,” Governor Hochul said. “With additional housing and a full-service grocery store right in the neighborhood, residents will be able to live in the neighborhood they grew up in, close to their families, and be able to get groceries without having to plan for additional commuting time.”

Formerly a car dealership, the 2.2-acre site at 750 State Street was purchased by the Schenectady County Legislature for $950,000, and the existing building was demolished utilizing a $2.75 million Restore New York grant from Empire State Development. The State Street site will undergo remediation through New York State’s Brownfield Program, administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation, to support the construction of a mixed-use building featuring the grocery store, 85 units of housing, greenspace, a new playground and parking. Clean-up work to prep the site is expected to run through 2027, with the County also providing $3 million in grant funding to support the new construction.

Nine additional vacant buildings were also demolished using Metroplex funding to create three sites at 748 Albany Street, 758 Albany Street and 785 Albany Street. Three buildings will be constructed at these sites, totaling 86 units, supported by $1 million from Empire State Development through the Regional Council initiative. In total, the project will create 171 units of affordable and workforce housing, including 36 units designated as supportive housing. The units will provide a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations to accommodate a range of family sizes.