Three Defendants Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking

 

Three individuals, Pierre Rasheem Fields, 42, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Ray Eric Brasson, 36, of Minneapolis, and Jermaine Young, 26, of Chicago, were indicted today for conspiring to distribute and distributing fentanyl. 

According to a six-count federal indictment that was unsealed on September 9, 2026, Fields, Young, and Brasson conspired with each other and others to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl from April 2026 through August 2026. Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Fields is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl, Young is also charged with three counts of distributing fentanyl, and Brasson is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl.

Fields was arrested this morning in the Houston, Texas, area, and he had his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Minnesota at a later date.

Young and Brasson were arrested early this morning at hotels in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and had their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins. They will appear again in court on September 14, 2026, for detention hearings.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the East Central Drug Task Force, and the West Metro Drug Task Force, with assistance from other law enforcement partners.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Owner Of Physical Rehabilitation Company Sentenced To 38 Months In Prison For $20 Million Fraud On Health Benefit Programs

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald announced today that NOSSON SKLAR, a/k/a “Nathan Sklar,” was sentenced to 38 months in prison for engaging in a scheme to defraud health benefit programs through the submission of more than $20 million in fraudulent claims.

“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this crime and our Office’s commitment to safeguarding affordable health care from fraud for all New Yorkers,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Nosson Sklar spent years bilking health care benefit programs of millions of dollars and will now spend serious time in prison for his conduct.”

According to the charging instruments, other public filings, and statements in public court proceedings: 

SKLAR was the owner and chief executive officer of a company that operated a series of physical rehabilitation facilities around New York City (the “Rehabilitation Company”).  Between at least January 2020 and in or about July 2024, SKLAR submitted or caused others to submit more than $20 million in claims for medical services to various health care benefit programs, asserting that those services were rendered by a physician who worked with the Rehabilitation Company (“Victim-1”). But that was false.  Victim-1 did not provide those services, did not work with the Rehabilitation Company during that time, and did not authorize SKLAR to submit bills in his name. 

In or about July 2024, Victim-1 spoke with SKLAR on at least two occasions about the fraudulent bills.  During those conversations, SKLAR admitted that he had committed “fraud” by billing under Victim-1’s name, and that he did it “because [of] the money.”

Between at least in or about January 2020 and in or about July 2024, SKLAR caused more than $20 million in claims to be submitted to three separate health benefit programs (the “Health Plans”), which listed Victim-1 as having been the rendering provider for the Rehabilitation Company.  Approximately $12.4 million of those claims were eventually paid by the Health Plans.

In addition to the prison term, SKLAR, 56, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $12,440,000 and to pay Victim-1’s legal expenses.

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mayor Mamdani Launches Citywide Digital Tribute to New Yorkers Who Helped Carry Us Through 9/11

 

LinkNYC kiosks will display dozens of geolocated stories, from the Midtown warehouse that became an Emergency Operations Center to Fresh Kills, where 1.5 million tons of debris were processed by hand

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today launched Memory Markers: 9/11, a citywide digital tribute using LinkNYC kiosks to share dozens of geolocated stories of New Yorkers who came together to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts following the horrific terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

The project turns the City’s streets into a walking tribute to the heroism, sacrifice and selflessness that defined New York in the days, weeks and months after the attacks — from a warehouse in Midtown to a lobby on Worth Street and on a ferry crossing the harbor.

A map of the Memory Markers is available at on.nyc.gov/25years, along with additional stories and profiles honoring both the heroes we lost and the heroes who remain.

“In the days, weeks and months after the horrific terror attacks of September 11, 2001, New Yorkers came together in ways big and small to help our city recover,” said Mayor Mamdani. “A sanitation worker sang for first responders resting after a long day at Ground Zero. Environmental workers cleaned rooftops and building facades, block by block. More than 1,000 taxi drivers gave rescue workers free rides home, day after day. These acts of service and sacrifice are part of the story of 9/11, too. We recovered together then, and we will remember together now – by telling the stories of the everyday heroes we lost, honoring the heroes who remain and recognizing that 9/11 was a day that never ended, with consequences that continue to shape us today.”

      

“For the FDNY, September 11 was a day that didn’t end. The heroism and courage displayed by our members that day continues to inform our Department, and teaching the public about that is critically important to our mission of Never Forgetting,” said Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.

“Twenty-five years ago, New York City was attacked by terrorists who sought to inflict unimaginable death and destruction,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Twenty-three members of the NYPD were killed at the World Trade Center that morning. Thousands more joined the rescue and recovery effort that followed, working for days, weeks and months amid burning rubble and toxic debris — an extraordinary display of heroism that continued long after the attacks themselves. With this digital tribute, we are fulfilling the promise to never forget the heroes of this department and all those who answered the call.”

“What happened on September 11 was felt in every neighborhood of this city, and the work that followed was carried out in all of them,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “At Pier 92, the City built a makeshift Emergency Operations Center after the original one was destroyed in the collapse of 7 World Trade Center. Twenty-five years later, many New Yorkers may pass these places without knowing. Memory Markers tells them what happened on those corners and what it took to respond.”

“More than 3,700 New York Department of Sanitation employees worked for months on and after 9/11 to heal our City, clearing dust, debris and rubble from lower Manhattan and managing Ground Zero debris at Fresh Kills on Staten Island,” said Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson. “Theirs are just some of the infinite number of heroic stories of that day and its aftermath, and we are proud to be represented alongside so many other heroes in this digital tribute.”

“Participating in this campaign is another small step towards healing on this, the 25th anniversary of such a tragic event that impacted so many lives in our great city,” said Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Paul Ochoa. “DDC retains its immense pride in the agency's management of the cleanup effort, and we fondly remember those colleagues who worked at Ground Zero but are no longer with us. The stories featuring Ron Vega and Mike Kenny represent all of us and we thank them and all of the first responders on this solemn day.”

“The stories of how New Yorkers showed up for one another in the aftermath of September 11 remain a powerful part of our city’s history,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “Our parks and public spaces became places of refuge, gathering, service and remembrance. Memorials across our parks ensure that the lives lost and the stories of those who helped carry our city through its darkest days are never forgotten. This tribute brings those stories into the streets where New Yorkers live, work and gather, so that the courage and compassion they represent continue to be seen and shared for generations to come.”

“In this city, public servants have always understood that when New Yorkers are in need, you show up,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “You go the extra mile, stand beside your neighbors and do whatever it takes to help others through the most difficult times. We saw that spirit in its most profound form in the aftermath of September 11, when New Yorkers from every corner of our city came together to serve and support one another. Those acts of courage and compassion are part of the fabric of who we are as New Yorkers. It is our responsibility to tell the unique stories of the public servants who answered that call, to honor the sacrifices they made and to make sure we never forget what they did for our city and for one another.”

Bloods Gang Leader Sentenced to 280 Months’ Imprisonment for Narcotics Distribution Resulting in Three Overdoses

 

Defendant Distributed Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Heroin Throughout Long Island

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader and narcotics trafficker who was responsible for the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 280 months’ imprisonment.  Johnson was convicted following a four-week trial on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.  

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence. 

“As a result of the outstanding work by the FBI, our local law enforcement partners and the prosecutors of this Office, Johnson has been held accountable for his role in a large-scale narcotics distribution operation involving fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and for distributing fentanyl and cocaine that caused three individuals to overdose in 2020,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “We hope that today’s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims who thankfully survived and their families, and sends a clear message that those who distribute drugs, particularly that cause overdoses, will face severe consequences.” 

“Today's sentencing of Gary Johnson serves as a stark reminder that those who distribute drugs in New York will be held accountable.  The FBI New York Long Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force works tirelessly to bring drug traffickers to justice.  Those who endeavor to follow in Johnson's footsteps will be stopped in their tracks, so that future victims may be spared,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

“The drug epidemic is fueled by people who are focused on making a profit, without regard for the devastating consequences their actions can have when those drugs reach individuals who ultimately overdose,” stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina.  “I want to commend EDNY for ensuring Johnson will be spending time in prison for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to halt the flow of narcotics and hold drug dealers accountable for the selfish choices that put lives at risk.”

Between June 2013 and November 2020, Johnson, a leader in the G-Shine set of the Bloods based in Suffolk County, sold fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin throughout Long Island.  The drugs distributed by the defendant caused multiple victims to overdose, including three individuals who suffered overdoses in March and May 2020.  The jury convicted Johnson of multiple narcotics-distribution offenses, including three counts of distributing narcotics resulting in serious bodily injury.

Johnson was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  That conviction arose from the recovery of a semi-automatic firearm from Johnson’s residence during the execution of a search warrant. 

Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul Announce Free Lead Pipe Replacement Program Has Saved 900 Bronx and Queens Homeowners More Than $10,000 Each

 

DEP awarded an additional $24 million in State and Federal aid to expand program anticipated to replace up to 7,000 lines across the city

 

Eligible Bronx and Queens homeowners encouraged to sign up now; Brooklyn to follow in 2027 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) free lead service line replacement program has saved more than 900 Bronx and Queen homeowners more than $10,000 each.

Supported by $96 million in State and Federal funding, including a recent grant of an additional $14 million from the State and $10 million from the Federal government, the program is anticipated to remove up to 7,000 lead service lines from private properties in low-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods disproportionately burdened by environmental pollution and the impacts of climate change.

“We are going door to door to make sure New Yorkers can safely bring our city’s world-class drinking water from reservoirs upstate to their dining tables without having to choose between their health and a $10,000 bill,” said Mayor Mamdani. “In partnership with Governor Hochul, we are replacing lead pipes with new, safe copper lines at no cost to eligible New York City homeowners.”

“Ability to pay should never be an impediment to clean, safe drinking water,” said Governor Hochul. “Since taking office we have made $10.6 billion available for water infrastructure projects across the state, and in the Bronx and Queens, that investment is saving eligible homeowners over $10,000. Working with Mayor Mamdani, we will continue to protect public drinking water in New York City by empowering residents to put their health first by getting the lead out cost-free.”

Water service lines connect homes to the City’s water mains. These lines are privately owned, meaning property owners are normally responsible for replacing them — a job that can cost homeowners more than $10,000. DEP’s program replaces lead or galvanized steel service lines with new copper pipes at no cost to eligible homeowners.

DEP’s records indicate there are approximately 121,100 known lead or galvanized service lines across the city.

Replacements have already been completed in the following Bronx communities: Mount Eden, Fordham Heights, University Heights, Kingsbridge Heights, Belmont and Mount Hope.

Replacements are now underway in neighborhoods across the Bronx, including Melrose, Mott Haven, Concourse Village, Eastchester, Edenwald, Baychester, Williamsbridge, Norwood, Bedford Park, Pelham Gardens, Wakefield and Allerton, as well as Flushing, Murray Hill, Queensboro Hill and East Flushing in Queens.

Work will expand to Soundview in the Bronx and Borough Park in Brooklyn beginning in 2027.

Eligible property owners receive letters directly from DEP with instructions on how to sign up for the lead service line replacement program.

“Protecting New Yorkers — especially our most vulnerable — is at the core of DEP’s mission and replacing privately owned lead service lines is a top priority for DEP because lead, even in small amounts, can cause irreversible harm to young children and to people who are pregnant or may become pregnant. I urge every eligible property owner to take advantage of this free program,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “DEP is focused on securing the state and federal resources needed to accelerate replacements at no cost to homeowners, and I’m grateful to the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation for providing these critical grants.”

Speaker Menin Seeks Permanent Public Access Protections for City-Owned Plaza Adjacent to Guastavino’s

 

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin called for permanent protections to ensure continued public access to the City-owned plaza adjacent to Guastavino’s, following allegations that the luxury private event venue had restricted New Yorkers from accessing the space and used it for private events.

In a letter sent to Louis Rose, chairman of Rose Group Hospitality, Speaker Menin requested a meeting with Guastavino’s ownership to establish a clear and durable agreement governing public access, signage, and security practices at the East 59th Street plaza.

Following a public outcry and inquiries by the Speaker’s office to City agencies, Guastavino’s subsequently removed signage restricting public access and took steps to clarify that the plaza is open to the public. Speaker Menin is now seeking assurances that those changes will be permanent going forward.

“Removing the signs was an important first step, but now we need a clear and lasting resolution that ensures this plaza remains open to the public and that there is no ambiguity about its use in the future,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “New Yorkers should never have to fight for access to spaces that belong to them. I am requesting that Guastavino’s meet with us to come to an agreement that resolves this issue. If that cannot happen, the Council is prepared to consider what additional action may be necessary.”

The plaza has been the subject of a years-long dispute over public access. A recently filed lawsuit alleges that members of the public were repeatedly excluded from the space, that Guastavino’s represented it as private property, and that the venue used the plaza in connection with private events. News reports have also documented instances in which visitors were confronted by private security, including one incident in which a visitor was arrested by the NYPD for trespassing.

“We are grateful that Speaker Menin is following through on this issue and taking action to ensure that public space remains accessible to everyone,” said Sean Basinski, former attorney for Street Vendor Project and one of the named plaintiffs suing Guastavino’s. “We appreciate the Speaker’s leadership in helping ensure those commitments are honored going forward.”

The Speaker is considering filing an amicus curiae—also known as a friend of the court brief—in the ongoing litigation, clarifying the plaza’s designation as City-owned property and speaking to commitments made through the City’s land use process. Speaker Menin is first requesting a meeting with Guastavino’s to determine if the issue can be resolved without further intervention from the Speaker’s office.

The plaza has been owned by the City since 1900, when it was purchased as a part of construction of the Queensboro bridge.

ICE Launches Tipline for Reporting Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Fraud

 

You can help save American lives by reporting CDL fraud

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) announced an official tipline for reporting fraud that involves commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

“Too many American lives have been lost or permanently changed because illegal aliens who have no business being on our roads have been granted CDLs,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “ICE and our federal partners, including the Department of Transportation, will be cracking down on CDL fraud so that not one more American life is lost to a reckless illegal alien behind the wheel of a semi-truck. You can help save American lives and make our roads safer by dialing ICE’s new CDL fraud tipline today.”

You can report CDL fraud by dialing 866-347-2423.

Some examples of illegal aliens who had been granted CDLs, with devastating impacts for American citizens, include:

Michael Bon, an illegal alien from Haiti, who caused a semi-truck crash that killed a Pennsylvania State Trooper in July 2026. He had been granted a CDL by Massachusetts.

Sukhdev Singh, an illegal alien from India, who caused a crash that left a U.S. citizen hospitalized in Indiana in March 2026. He had been granted a CDL by New York. ICE arrested him in March 2026.

Bekzhan Beishekeev, an illegal alien from Kyrgyzstan, who swerved into oncoming traffic and caused a head-on collision that killed four people in Indiana in February 2026. He had been granted a CDL by Pennsylvania. ICE arrested him in February 2026.

Gurpreet Singh (left) and Jasveer Singh (right), two illegal aliens from India, arrested in Indiana for smuggling more than 300 pounds of cocaine inside a semi-truck in January 2026. They had both been granted CDLs by California.

Rajinder Kumar, an illegal alien from India, who jackknifed his trailer and caused a crash that killed a newlywed couple in Oregon in November 2025. He had been granted a CDL by California. ICE arrested him in April 2026.

Akhror Bozorov, an illegal alien from Uzbekistan, was granted a CDL by Pennsylvania despite being wanted in his country of origin for belonging to a terrorist organization. He was arrested by ICE in November 2025.

Anmol Anmol, an illegal alien from India, had been granted a CDL by New York with the name “No Name Given Anmol.” ICE arrested him in October 2025.

Harjinder Singh, an illegal alien from India, made an illegal U-turn on a Florida highway in his tractor-trailer, causing a brutal wreck that killed three people in August 2025. He had been granted a CDL by California.

Recent examples of DHS’ broader efforts to crack down on dangerous and fraudulent CDL practices include:

• In August, DHS announced the launch of the Joint Task Force Crossroads of America, an interagency effort – including the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) – to crack down on fraud in the trucking industry.
• In August, DHS announced the results of the second wave of Operation Highway Shield, a joint mission in partnership with DOT, targeting unqualified foreign truck drivers across the country. In just a three-day period, the operation removed more than 800 dangerous truckers from America’s roads, including 51 illegal aliens.
• In July, DHS and DOT announced a partnership to crack down on fraudulent and illegal practices in CDL schools across the country.
• In October 2025, ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol conducted a three-day operation that arrested 120 illegal aliens on Oklahoma’s roads, including 91 who were operating commercial motor vehicles with CDLs.

Attorney General James Secures $8 Million from Leading Operator of Illegal Online Sweepstakes Casinos

 

Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and Luckyland Slots Illegally Offered Players Casino Games Using Virtual Sweepstakes Coins Exchangeable for Cash and Prizes

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $8 million from VGW Holdings Pty. Ltd. and its affiliates (VGW), one of the largest operators of so-called “sweepstakes casinos,” for unlawfully running online gambling platforms in New York. VGW’s online casinos – Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and Luckyland Slots – allowed users to play traditional casino games using virtual coins that could be exchanged for cash or prizes. New York law prohibits online platforms from offering gambling that involves risking something of value, including redeemable virtual coins. In June 2025, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) sent a cease and desist letter to VGW, successfully stopping the company from offering virtual coin gambling in New York. Under the settlement announced today, VGW will pay $8 million, including penalties.

“Our state’s gambling laws are designed to protect New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “Online sweepstakes casinos like Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and Luckyland Slots posed a dangerous threat to New Yorkers and their financial and mental health. My office took action to stop these illegal platforms last year, and now we are holding VGW accountable for the damage done.”

Sweepstakes casinos allow users to play traditional casino games, including slots, blackjack, and poker, using virtual sweepstakes coins that can be redeemed for cash or prizes, such as Amazon gift cards. Players typically purchase these virtual sweepstakes coins as part of a package with other virtual currency.

VGW began offering online gambling to New Yorkers in 2012 through Chumba Casino and expanded its online offerings with Global Poker in 2016 and Luckyland Slots in 2018. In an attempt to evade New York’s ban on sweepstakes casinos, all VGW platforms offered a type of virtual coin called “sweeps coins,” which VGW claimed were provided for free and therefore did not constitute gambling. An OAG investigation into VGW’s platforms found that, in reality, players could obtain “sweeps coins” the same way one might purchase chips in a casino, receiving approximately one coin for every dollar spent on the platform.

Gambling on online sweepstakes casinos is especially risky because sweepstakes casinos are not subject to audits and other regulatory oversight by the state. Without oversight, players have no way of knowing whether a sweepstakes casino’s games are rigged, whether it will be able to cover a winning bet, or whether it complies with the many other consumer protection measures required of legal, licensed casinos under New York law. Some New Yorkers lost tens of thousands of dollars through gambling on VGW’s platforms.

As a result of OAG’s cease and desist letters, the operators ended the sale of sweepstakes coins in New York. In December 2025, Governor Hochul signed New York’s formal ban on sweepstakes casinos into law.

As a result of OAG’s investigation, VGW will pay $8 million in disgorgement, penalties, and costs.

Attorney General James urges New Yorkers to report unlicensed gambling platforms and any misconduct or gaming fraud to the New York State Gaming Commission. New Yorkers are also encouraged to report illegal gambling to OAG by filing a complaint online, which can be done anonymously, or calling 1-800-771-7755.