25 Members And Associates Of Bronx Gang Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Narcotics Trafficking

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”), Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ashan M. Benedict, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (“ATF”), and James J. Hunt, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced charges today against 25 members and associates of the “Hooly Gang,” a crew operating primarily in the vicinity of Fox Street and Leggett Avenue in the Bronx, New York.  The defendants are charged with narcotics conspiracy in Superseding Indictment S1 17 Cr. 449 (KPF).

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “The defendants are charged with narcotics conspiracy.  What they allegedly did was annex a residential neighborhood, including two playgrounds, and make it a virtual open-air bazaar for dangerous and potentially lethal drugs.  We commend our partners at the NYPD, HSI, ATF, and DEA for working together to restore our neighborhoods to the law-abiding people who deserve to live without fear of gangs and the violence they often bring.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “As alleged, the defendants in this case plied their poison, including heroin and oxycodone, across two Bronx playgrounds, endangering the lives of many in the neighborhood.  Our focus on crime—and violence—is unwavering.  And it is exhibited clearly in today’s action.  I am thankful for the efforts of detectives, agents, and prosecutors whose work resulted in the arrest of dozens this morning and the unsealing of this superseding indictment.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “The individuals arrested during this operation are alleged to sell crack and heroin around playgrounds.  They have a clear disregard for law enforcement and clearly no regard for the communities in which they live.  HSI and its law enforcement partners will continue to arrest and remove gang members, like those today, off our city streets.”

ATF Special-Agent-in-Charge Ashan M. Benedict said:  “The Hooly Gang and its members, as alleged, turned playgrounds into open air drug markets where narcotics were more common than the sights and sounds of children laughing and playing.  Thank you to all of the federal, state and local partners that helped create a force multiplier effect to help rid the streets of violent narcotics traffickers thus sending a message to the community that the rule of law runs the streets. I would like to extend my gratitude to the United States Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting the case.” 

DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt said:  “Allegedly, the Hooly Gang was a feared drug supplier in the Longwood section of the Bronx.  Their products - ranging from crack, heroin, marijuana, and oxycodone - invited gang wars into the surrounding communities and enabled drug addiction.  This unique law enforcement partnership, targeting gang violence in our city, led to today’s arrests.” 

According to the Superseding Indictment[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and other publicly filed documents:

The Superseding Indictment arises from a joint investigation, beginning in 2017, by the NYPD, HSI, DEA, and ATF into a crew operating in the vicinity of Fox Street and Leggett Avenue in the Bronx called the “Hooly Gang.”  Members and associates of the Hooly Gang operated an open-air drug market in this residential neighborhood – including within and around two playgrounds – and sold, among other things, crack, heroin, oxycodone, and marijuana.  In order to protect its drug turf and advance its aims, members and associates of the Hooly Gang also committed acts of violence, including shootings.

Defendants arrested in New York yesterday and early this morning will be presented later this afternoon in Manhattan federal court.  Defendant MELVIN ALSTON is presently in custody on state charges and will be transferred to federal custody.  Defendants ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Ant,” ROBERTO JORGE, and GIOVANNI TORRES are already in federal custody on related charges.

Each defendant is charged with one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla. 

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI’s Violent Gang Unit, ATF’s Joint Firearms Task Force, and the New York Field Division of the DEA, as well as the United States Marshals’ Service and the New York State Division of Parole for their assistance in today’s arrests.  He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Department of Investigation for their support in the investigation of this matter.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the descriptions of the Superseding Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

The Bronx Democratic Party Invites You to Our Annual Winter Reception

Community Board 8 Puts Stagg Developers on Notice

  At what should have been a quiet and short Land Use Committee Meeting of Community Board 8, the last item drew some criticism of Stagg Developers and a surprise resolution on the application for a 421A partial tax exemption. 

  Two of the five items on the agenda were cancelled, and the next two were short matters to houses in the Special Nature Area of CB 8. The last Item was for a 421A partial tax exemption from Stagg Developers for their new building at 5959 Broadway at West 242nd Street. 

 Ms. Kathleen Bradshaw represented Stagg Developers to discuss the request for a 421A tax exemption. She said the six story building would have commercial space on the first floor to which a tenant has not been found yet. The second floor would be occupied by a charter school, not naming which one. She then went on to discuss the 72 units that would be for rent at an average 80% AMI or around $1,292.00 per unit depending on the size. There will be 14 studio apartment ranging from 500 square feet to 520 square feet. 55 one bedroom apartments ranging from 501 square feet to 571 square feet. there would also be 3 two bedroom apartments for a total of 72 units on the remaining four floors. When asked how many parking spaces the building would have the answer was 36. As for the charter school there would be seven or eight classrooms, and the entrance would be separate from the building and on West 242nd Street. 

  CB 8 Land Use Chair Charles Moerdler had some questions which Ms. Bradshaw could not answer. One was if this building which was being presented as a Market Rate rental building would be changed into a homeless shelter as Stagg developers did with a building several blocks down on Broadway. Ms. Bradshaw tried to convince the committee that would not be the case, whereas Chair Moerdler snapped back that he has seen how Mr. Mark Stagg works, and would seek asurrences that this building be a rental building for at least three years.

After several questions by board members and members of the public, Chair Moerdler hesitantly came forth with a proposed resolution whereas the board would approve the 421A application. When he asked for a second to his resolution there were no takers. Chair Moerdler then stepped back and presented a resolution calling for disapproval of the 421 A application. This resolution was quickly seconded, and all but one board member present voted to affirm the resolution. 

It should be noted that there was no quorum of Community Board 8 Land Use members present, but that will not stop the resolution from coming before the full board on Tuesday night to be voted on.

BP DIAZ HOSTS ANNUAL CELEBRATION FOR DOMINICAN HERITAGE IN THE BRONX

On Thursday, February 8, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will host his annual Dominican Heritage Celebration at Grand Slam Banquet Hall, honoring individuals who have contributed to the growth and promotion of their community and culture. 



This year honorees include Fausto B. Pichardo, Assistant Chief of the Patrol Services Bureau of New York City Police Department; Hon. Carmen De La Rosa, New York City Assembly Woman; Estela Vazquez, executive vice president of 1199; and Rodolfo Fuertes, entrepreneur in the supermarket and Real Estate industry.

Yisel Tejada, Investigative reporter for Noticias Univision 41, will serve as the events emcee.

WHAT

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosts his annual Dominican Heritage Celebration                                    

 

WHEN

Thursday, February 8, 2018

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

                                   

WHERE

Grand Slam Banquet Hall - 2nd floor

478 E. Tremont Ave

Bronx, NY 

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES RECORD HIGH GRADUATION RATE

Graduation Rate Rises to 74.3 Percent and Dropout Rate Falls to 7.8 Percent

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that New York City’s 2017 four-year high school graduation rate is the highest on record – 74.3 percent. The dropout rate is now at its lowest ever – 7.8 percent. The graduation rate rose and the dropout rate fell in every borough and among every ethnicity. 

“New York City is showing that when we invest in our students, they rise to the challenge and do better and better. Our kids are graduating high school and going to college at record rates, while dropping out less than ever before. If we are going to make New York City the fairest big city in America, it starts with giving our kids the education they deserve, and we are executing this vision every day,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

“Our graduation and dropout rates continue to improve steadily and show that we’re on the right track,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “This is a day to recognize the incredible impact our educators have on our children’s lives, and to celebrate their dedication to their craft. We need to keep improving, redoubling our commitment to our Equity and Excellence for All agenda to ensure that every child gets a high-quality education.”

The rates below are the graduation and dropout percentages among the cohort of all students who entered 9^th grade in the fall of 2013. All percentage point changes are comparisons to the previous year.

·       The graduation rate rose to 74.3 percent, a 1.2 point increase.

·       The dropout rate fell to 7.8 percent, a 0.6 point decrease.

Graduation rates improved across all ethnicities:

·       Black students’ graduation rate increased to 70.0 percent, a 1.3 point gain.

·       Hispanic students’ graduation rate increased to 68.3 percent, a 1.0 point gain.

·       Asian students’ graduation rate increased to 87.5 percent, a 1.8 point gain.

·       White students’ graduation rate increased to 83.2 percent, a 0.9 point gain.

Dropout rates fell across all ethnicities:

·       Black students’ dropout rate fell to 7.9 percent, a 0.9 point decrease.

·       Hispanic students’ dropout rate fell to 10.7 percent, a 0.6 point decrease.

·       Asian students’ dropout rate fell to 4.0 percent, a 0.6 point decrease.

·       White students’ dropout rate fell to 4.4 percent, a 0.3 point decrease.

Graduation rates increased and dropout rates fell in every borough. The largest improvement in graduation and dropout rates was in Queens:

	Graduation
	2017 # Cohort	% 2017 Grad	% 2016 Grad	Pt. Diff
Bronx	13730	66.3	64.9	1.4
Brooklyn	20096	74.4	72.8	1.6
Queens	19417	77.8	76.1	1.7
Manhattan	15280	74.9	74.7	0.1
Staten Island	4631	80.3	79.5	0.8

	Dropout
	2017 # Cohort	% 2017 Dropout	% 2016 Dropout	Pt. Diff
Bronx	13730	11.7	12.7	-1
Brooklyn	20096	7.4	7.6	-0.2
Queens	19417	6.4	7.7	-1.3
Manhattan	15280	7.3	7.4	-0.1
Staten Island	4631	6	6.4	-0.4

Graduation rates also increased at the City’s 28 Renewal high schools. The graduation rate increased to 65.7 percent, a 5.7 point increase. The dropout rate was 16.4 percent, a 2.2 point decrease. 

The Class of 2016 4-year graduation rate reflects an updated rate of 73.0 percent instead of 72.6 percent as previously reported due to a data revision by the New York State Education Department.

Earlier this school year, Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña announced:

The highest-ever postsecondary enrollment rate – 57 percent of the Class of 2016. The highest-ever number of New York City students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams in 2017, with a 9.9 percent jump in students taking at least one AP and 7.5 percent jump in students passing at least one AP over the previous year. The highest-ever college readiness rate – 47 percent of all students, and 64 percent of graduates, in the Class of 2017 graduated high school on time and met CUNY’s standards for college readiness in English and math. The highest-ever number of high school juniors taking the SAT – 61,800 students. All juniors are now able to take the SAT free of charge during the school day. Elementary and middle school students also continue to make gains on State English and math exams. City students have now outperformed their New York State peers in English for the second year in a row.  Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña’s Equity and Excellence for All initiatives will continue to build on the progress, ensuring that, by 2026, 80 percent of students graduate high school on time and two-thirds of graduates are college-ready. EDITOR'S NOTE: While we applaud Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Farina, we have to ask however why are Bronx schools performance at the lowest levels of the five boroughs.  There is a marked eight percent gap between the gradation of students in Bronx high schools, and students in citywide schools. There is also a marked just under four percent in the dropout rate in Bronx high school when compared to citywide numbers, and the Bronx remains the only borough in the City of New York with a double digit dropout rate.

News From Congressman Eliot L. Engel

ENGEL STATEMENT ON TILLERSON’S RUSSIA COMMENTS

   Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s comments that stopping Russia’s meddling in the 2018 election will be “very difficult”:

“It boggles my mind to hear Secretary Tillerson say it’s ‘very difficult’ to prevent another attack on our democracy when, after more than a year, this Administration hasn’t even tried. Congress overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan sanctions bill giving the Trump White House strong tools to punish those responsible for meddling in our 2016 election. Those tools have sat on the shelf. The utter failure to hold Russia accountable almost suggests that this Administration would be fine with Russian interference in the upcoming election. I’m not fine with it, and the American people aren’t fine with it. If President Trump won’t act, it falls to Congress to take responsibility and protect our democracy.”

Engel Speaks Out, Votes Against Anti-Consumer Menu Labeling Bill

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today offered the following remarks on the House Floor in opposition to H.R. 772, the deceptively titled “Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act”, a bill that sounds like it would serve the people but in actuality works against the interest of consumers:

“I rise in opposition to this bill.

“In today’s world, when technology allows us to constantly be logged into the workplace, it is understandable that Americans often find themselves seeking more convenient meals outside the home. But dining out shouldn’t mean sacrificing nutrition. I believe Americans should have all the tools necessary to make informed choices about what they eat, and what they feed their families.

“Menu labeling gives Americans those tools, and we’ve been making progress towards more transparent labeling for consumers. This bill, H.R. 772, would undo that progress. It delays much needed transparency and will cause confusion for both consumers and businesses, many of which have already started implementing existing menu labeling requirements. Let’s not turn back the clock.

“Menu labeling is both a vital public health tool and an important consumer protection. I urge my colleagues to vote NO, and I yield back the balance of my time.”

Congressman Engel later voted NO on the bill.

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ OUTLINES HOUSING UNITS FOR PRESERVATION IN REPORT ON JEROME AVENUE CORRIDOR REZONING

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has issued a report identifying more than 2,000 units of affordable housing that must be preserved as part of the proposed rezoning of the Jerome Avenue corridor.

The report, titled “Zoned-In: A Housing Preservation Blueprint for the Jerome Avenue Corridor,” identifies 2,075 units across 45 buildings within a ¼ mile radius of the area proposed for rezoning around Jerome Avenue by the de Blasio administration.

“In my negotiations with the administration as part of the ULURP process, the city committed to preserving 1,500 units of affordable housing in Community Boards #4 and #5, as a condition of my support of this rezoning. While this achievement is appreciated, we can do more to keep this community affordable. This report identifies the units that should be preserved and kept affordable, and the city should direct its resources to do just that,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “As this rezoning proposal moves forward, it will be up to the City Council to hold the administration to the promises they have made.”

The report uses a formula based on building violations, demographics and development subsidies to identify units that meet the criteria for further preservation. It can be read in full at http://on.nyc.gov/2ErFy7t.

Councilman Rev. Rubén Díaz Sr. Announces The First Public Hearing of the “FOR-HIRE VEHICLE COMMITTEE”.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Councilman, Ruben  Diaz Sr.

District 18 Bronx County, New York  

Councilman Rev. Rubén Díaz Sr. Announces  The First Public Hearing of the

“FOR-HIRE VEHICLE COMMITTEE”.

You should know that the newly created New York City Council’s Committee “FOR-HIRE VEHICLE” will be conducting its First Public Hearing this coming Monday, February 12, 2018, AT 10:00 am at the City Council Chambers.

It is important for you to know that this Public Hearing will be conducted as a fact-finding mission regarding Taxi and Limousine Commission’s “RULES OF ENFORCEMENT”, and the Entrapment Methods used to enforce such rules.

The Committee “FOR-HIRE VEHICLE is  Chair by Bronx City Councilmember Rev, Rubén Díaz Sr. and is composed by six other members, they are: Ydanis Rodriguez Manhattan, Joseph Borelli, and Deborah Rose Staten Island, Peter Vallone, Francisco Moya and Constantinides Costa from Queens.

As you can see my dear readers, there is only one Councilmember from the Bronx, and one from Manhattan, the other five members are two from Staten Island and three from Queens. 

NYC Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi will be among the more than 50 people that will be testifying as well as livery drivers. The majority of these drivers are immigrants, complaining of discrimination, abuse, and excessively high fines issued by the Taxi Limousine Enforcement Agents.

The” FOR-HIRE VEHICLE COMMITTEE” is a newly created Committee that will  exclusively be dealing with everything under the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission Jurisdiction  including but not limited to the Yellow, Black, Green, Livery, Para-Transit Vehicles, and other group companies such as Uber, Lyft, Ghetts, Juno, Via, ETC..

For more information contact Mr. Christopher Lynn, Esq. or Jennie Mejia at (718) 792-1140

I am Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. and this is what you should know.  

EDITOR'S NOTE:

It seemed no reason to create this committee when in fact the Transportation Committee was doing a good job representing the 'FOR HIRE' car drivers. 

One has to wonder why the Carriage Horse, and Pedicab industries, which are 'FOR HIRE' modes of transportation were not included in this committee. 

We will give close watch to this committee, and how it operates. We suggest higher fines, and complete impoundment of 'For Hire' vehicles that so blatantly drive recklessly, ignore the traffic laws, and place pedestrian safety in danger. 

That is what the Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. should do.