Gang Member Sentenced To Life In Prison For His Role In Murder Of Mother On Bronx Playground

  Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STIVEN SIRI-REYNOSO was sentenced today to life plus five years in prison for his role in the June 11, 2016, murder of Jessica White.  Ms. White, 28, was killed by a stray bullet while sitting next to her mother and watching her three young children play in the playground of the John Adams Houses in the Bronx, New York.  SIRI-REYNOSO gave the order for that shooting, which targeted a gang rival.  On July 30, 2018, SIRI-REYNOSO was convicted of conspiring to commit racketeering, conspiring to sell narcotics, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder through the use of a firearm after an eight-day trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “On June 11, 2016, Jessica White was murdered in a playground before her mother and her children, the victim of horrific and senseless gang violence.  Stiven Siri-Reynoso ordered that shooting and was responsible for Jessica’s death.  As a result, he will now spend the rest of his life in a federal prison.  We extend our deepest condolences to the members of Jessica’s family, who have experienced tragedy beyond words.  We thank our partners at the FBI and NYPD, who worked tirelessly to achieve this measure of justice for Jessica and her family.  And we affirm our continued efforts to rid our neighborhoods of intolerable gang violence.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and the evidence at trial:

On June 11, 2016, Jessica White was struck and killed by a stray bullet while sitting on a bench next to her mother and watching her three children play on a playground at the John Adams Houses, where her mother lived.  SIRI-REYNOSO was a member of the “Dominicans Don’t Play” or “DDP” street gang.  The DDP gang was engaged in a dispute between with the rival Trinitarios street gang involving, among other things, SIRI-REYNOSO’s drug sales near the John Adams Houses. 

On the night of June 11, 2016, Trinitarios members tried to attack SIRI-REYNOSO.  In retaliation, SIRI-REYNOSO sent another individual to shoot at the Trinitarios.  SIRI-REYNOSO ensured the shooter had a gun and a mask, and arranged for other gang members to be waiting in a getaway car nearby.  As the shooter began firing, Jessica White got up and called out for her children.  She was struck by one of the bullets and killed.     

SIRI-REYNOSO also committed other crimes in connection with his membership in the DDPs, including drug selling and robbery.

In addition to the prison term, SIRI-REYNOSO, 26, of the Bronx, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department. 

Hacker “AlfabetoVirtual” Sentenced To Prison For Hacking Websites Of The Combating Terrorism Center At West Point And The New York City Comptroller

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that BILLY RIBEIRO ANDERSON, a/k/a “Anderson Albuquerque,” a/k/a “AlfabetoVirtual,” was sentenced today to three months in prison for obtaining unauthorized access to and committing defacements of the websites for the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York (“West Point”), and the Office of the New York City Comptroller (the “NYC Comptroller”).  ANDERSON pled guilty on October 2, 2018, to two felony counts of computer fraud before U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who also imposed today’s sentence.   

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Billy Anderson was a sophisticated hacker who compromised and defaced the websites of the New York City Comptroller, West Point, and more than 11,000 other military, government, and business websites around the world under his online pseudonym “AlfabetoVirtual.”  Anderson will now serve time in federal prison under his true name.  This case demonstrates that those who seek to commit cyber intrusions of government websites will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”  

According to the Indictment and other public court filings and proceedings:

Website defacements are acts of computer intrusion during which a hacker obtains unauthorized access to computers hosting Internet websites and then replaces the publicly available contents of the website with content generated by the hacker, thereby “defacing” the website.  Hackers frequently claim responsibility for defacements by listing their online pseudonyms as part of the defaced content.

From in or about 2015 through at least March 13, 2018, ANDERSON took responsibility for obtaining unauthorized access to, and committing more than 11,000 defacements of, various U.S. military, government, and business websites around the world under the online pseudonym “AlfabetoVirtual,” including websites for the NYC Comptroller and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

On or about July 10, 2015, a website owned by the NYC Comptroller was defaced, and ANDERSON, using the online pseudonym “AlfabetoVirtual,” claimed responsibility for the intrusion and defacement.  The contents of the NYC Comptroller website were modified to display the text “Hacked by AlfabetoVirtual,” “#FREEPALESTINE” and “#FREEGAZA.”  The defacement was performed by exploiting security vulnerabilities associated with the version of a plugin being used on the website.   

On or about October 4, 2016, a website for the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point was defaced, and ANDERSON, using the online pseudonym “AlfabetoVirtual,” claimed responsibility for the intrusion and defacement.  The content of the Combating Terrorism Center website was modified to display the text “Hacked by AlfabetoVirtual.”  The defacement was performed by an unauthorized administrative account that exploited a known cross-site script vulnerability, thereby enabling ANDERSON to bypass access controls and target an internal Combating Terrorism Center website address.   

In addition to the prison term, ANDERSON, 42, of Torrance, California, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, 200 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution to victims of his offense.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Mr. Berman also thanked the Computer Crime Investigative Unit of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command and the Brazilian Federal Police Cyber Crime Unit for their assistance with the investigation.  

Attorney General James Announces Indictment Of Brooklyn Man In Alleged Scheme To Steal Money Intended To Fund Housing For Homeless NYC Veterans

Michael Erber is also Charged with Stealing Approximately $200,000 in Lottery Winnings From a Veteran Seeking Housing Assistance 

   Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest and arraignment of Michael Erber, 61, of Brooklyn for stealing money intended to pay the rent of homeless New York City veterans from five Community Based Organizations. Erber is charged with five counts of Grand Larceny in the third Degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. Erber is also charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree for allegedly stealing lottery winnings from a disabled veteran. 

“Stealing money intended to support our veterans is truly unconscionable,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Michael Erber’s alleged scheme not only stole money directly from the hands of non-profits and veterans, but it also denied homeless veterans access to desperately-needed shelter and a place to call home. This type of behavior will never be tolerated." 

According to statements made by the prosecutor at arraignment and documents filed in Supreme Court, Kings County, Michael Erber (“Erber”) operated an organization known as MAG-V, a New York not-for-profit. MAG-V recruited homeless veterans with promises of housing and job training, posting fliers with numerous homeless shelters and community based organizations. Erber also personally recruited veterans and case managers from these organizations. 

As the Attorney General alleges, after selecting veterans in need of housing, MAG-V entered into lease agreements with landlords in Brooklyn and the Bronx, under which the veterans were listed as tenants. MAG-V then secured funding for rental payments from Community Based Organizations (“CBOs”) in New York City. Unbeknownst to the CBOs or the veterans, Erber did not pay the landlords any of the funds provided by the CBOs to pay rent. As a result, the landlords initiated eviction proceedings against the veterans. As a result of this scheme, Erber allegedly stole more than $3,000 each from five separate CBOs. 

Also alleged by the Attorney General, is that Erber stole approximately $200,000 from a disabled veteran, who won a lottery game in 2015. According to statements made by the prosecutor at arraignment and documents filed in Supreme court, Kings County, after the veteran won the lottery, he was contacted by Erber, who pressured him to invest the lottery winnings with MAG-V. Erber promised the veteran a paid position on MAG-V’s board of directors and offered to help him find permanent housing, neither of which Erber ever did. Based on these false representations, Erber stole approximately $200,000 from the veteran. 

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Statement From Attorney General James On The End Of The Renewal Schools Program

  In response to the New York City Department of Education’s announcement to end the Renewal Schools program, Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement: 

“While the goal of the Renewal Schools Program was well intentioned, the Department of Education (DOE) struggled to properly execute the program since its inception, leaving thousands of our most vulnerable students behind. Over the years, I have worked with advocates and experts to better understand the challenges our schools face, and I urge Chancellor Carranza to review the recommendations we put forth to strengthen our schools. The quality of our schools and the education our students receive is of utmost importance and I look forward to working together to improve our schools.” 

As Public Advocate, Letitia James long called for reforms to the Renewal Schools program in order to turnaround our failing schools and protect our most vulnerable students. In November 2016, Public Advocate James hosted a forum on Renewal Schools with  principals, advocates, teachers, and parents to discuss the challenges the program faced. 

FORMER DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS CASHIER PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT OF MORE THAN $50,000 FROM CUSTOMERS AT DOB’S BROOKLYN BOROUGH OFFICE

  Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), issued the following statement on the guilty plea of DEVAUGHN MORRIS, a former Supervising Cashier at the Brooklyn Borough Office of the New York City Department of Buildings (“DOB”), on charges of allegedly stealing more than $50,000 in a series of intricate financial transactions involving altering, deleting, and creating DOB records. The investigation began after DOI received a complaint of an unwanted cancellation of payment processed by DOB’s Brooklyn Borough Office without the customer’s knowledge. It was followed by additional cancellations of payment that DOB’s Fiscal Department brought to DOI’s attention. The Office of New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., is prosecuting the case.

 DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said, “The defendant used his supervisory role and unfettered access to DOB financial systems to mask tens of thousands of dollars in theft, by creating a maze of alterations to existing records and also creating new records, all with the goal of concealing his stealing from both DOB customers and from the City, according to the charges. DOI thanks the New York District Attorney’s Office for its partnership and prosecution of this charged conduct and the Department of Buildings for its cooperation and assistance in this matter.” 

MORRIS, 38, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arrested on February 1, 2019 and charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, a class D felony, and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony. Upon conviction, a class C felony is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a class D felony by up to seven years in prison and a class E felony by up to four years in prison. MORRIS pleaded guilty today, February 26, 2019, to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree in Manhattan Criminal Court before Judge Laurie Peterson, and received 500 hours of community service. 

MORRIS began working at DOB as a Supervising Cashier in 2005 and received an annual salary of $63,641. In January 2017, MORRIS was selected from the New York City Civil Service List for an Administrative Staff Analyst position with the City Department of Homeless Services (“DHS”) and currently receives an annual salary of $76,220. MORRIS was suspended by DHS upon his arrest. 

According to the criminal complaint and DOI’s investigation, between March 4, 2016 and December 23, 2016, MORRIS stole approximately $54,000 from DOB in cash and money orders through his position as a Supervising Cashier accepting payments to DOB in the Brooklyn Borough Office, and falsified DOB records in an attempt to hide his theft. MORRIS used various schemes to cover up his theft, including telling customers he would fill out the payee section of money orders for them, instead entering his own name and depositing the money orders in his personal bank account. MORRIS also canceled customers’ transactions and used their payments to cover other transactions from which he had already stolen. MORRIS also used his supervisory access to DOB systems to change forms of payments on invoices that were already provided to customers to cover up his conduct. 

Commissioner Garnett thanked New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and his staff, for their partnership on this investigation and the prosecution of the case. Commissioner Garnett also thanked Acting DOB Commissioner Thomas Fariello and City Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks, and their staffs, for their assistance and cooperation in this matter

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CHANCELLOR CARRANZA ANNOUNCE RECORD-HIGH 55,011 STUDENTS TAKING ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS

Number of students taking at least one AP exam in 2018 rose 11.4 percent, and number of students passing rose 10.7 percent

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza announced a record-high number of New York City students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams, a direct result of the Mayor and Chancellor’s AP for All initiative, part of the Equity and Excellence for All agenda.

The number of students taking at least one Advanced Placement exam in 2018 rose 11.4 percent, from 49,364 students in 2017 to a record 55,011 students. The number of students passing at least one Advanced Placement exam rose 10.7 percent, nearly keeping pace with the increase in participation. The number of students taking and passing AP exams increased in every borough, and across all ethnic groups.

“For too long, the City wasn’t doing its part to provide access to Advanced Placement programs, sending a message to students that they weren’t college material,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We came into office to shake things up and remind all students of their potential. Our AP for All programs are moving mountains for students in every neighborhood with a record number of students testing and passing AP courses and allowing more bright young minds to earn college credit for their futures.”

“AP for All is working,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “With our Equity and Excellence for All agenda, we are raising expectations, strengthening instruction, and creating a college-going culture among both our students and our educators, and we’re seeing the impact not only in AP results but in graduation and college enrollment rates. I congratulate and celebrate the 55,011 students who took an AP exam last year and their teachers, and thank Mayor de Blasio for pursuing AP for All and other ambitious citywide initiatives that are only possible because of Mayoral Control.”

AP for All has driven citywide gains in participation and performance, particularly among Black and Hispanic students. The initiative, part of the Equity and Excellence for All agenda, supported new AP classes at 152 schools in the 2017-18 school year; this school year, the initiative is reaching 252 schools. Through AP for All, 75 percent of high schools students now have access to at least five AP classes. By fall 2021, students at all high schools will have access to a full slate of at least five AP classes, supporting increased college and career readiness for all students.

The number of students at the 152 AP for All schools taking at least one Advanced Placement exam in 2018 rose 92.1 percent since the initiative started in 2016, and the number of students passing at least one Advanced Placement exam rose 64.9 percent. These schools accounted for 36 percent of the citywide increase in students taking at least one exam, and 14 percent of the increase in students passing at least one exam. They account for 53 percent of the citywide increase in Black and Hispanic students taking at least one exam, and 33 percent of the citywide increase in Black and Hispanic students passing at least one exam.

With the implementation of Computer Science for All, the number of students taking an AP Computer Science exam in 2018 rose to 5,190, a more than fourfold increase from 1,137 students in 2016. The number of Black and Hispanic students taking AP Computer Science exams has increased by 55 percent and 46 percent respectively since 2017. The growth is partially due to the introduction of a new AP Computer Science Principles exam in 2017. New York City Black and Hispanic students represent 13 percent and 6 percent of the Black and Hispanic AP Computer Science Principles test takers nationwide. Through Computer Science for All – also part of Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda – the City will provide computer science education in every elementary, middle, and high school by 2025.

Overall AP participation continues to increase at a higher rate among Black and Hispanic students: specifically, 19.4 percent more Hispanic students and 7.1 percent more Black students took at least one AP exam in 2018 than in the previous year. 18.2 percent more Hispanic students and 2.8 percent more Black students passed at least one AP exam in 2018 than in the previous year. Since 2013, the number of Black students taking at least one AP exam has increased 60.0 percent, and the number of Hispanic students taking at least one AP exam has increased 58.7 percent.

While these increases represent high school students in all grades who took an Advanced Placement exam during 2018, there were also increases at the cohort level – high school seniors who took and passed at least one Advanced Placement exam during their high school career. The percentage of all New York City seniors – students in the Class of 2018, who started high school in Fall 2014 – who took at least one Advanced Placement exam during their four years of high school increased to 36.4 percent, a 3.0 percentage point increase from the Class of 2017 and a 5.4 percentage point increase from the Class of 2016.

“These data show that New York City’s AP for All initiative is doing exactly what it set out to do, which is to get more students not only participating but succeeding in AP,” said David Adams, the College Board’s Vice President of the Middle States and New England Regions. “Congratulations to all of the students and teachers for their hard work. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the NYCDOE to make sure that students at every high school in the city have access to these opportunities.”

The Chancellor and Mayor made the announcement today at Civic Leadership Academy in Queens, which has tripled the number of AP courses it offers through the AP for All initiative. 

AP for All and Computer Science for All are part of Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza’s Equity and Excellence for All initiatives. Together, the Equity and Excellence for All initiatives are building a pathway to success in college and careers for all students. Our schools are starting earlier – free, full-day, high-quality education for three-year-olds and four-year-olds through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All. They are strengthening foundational skills and instruction earlier – Universal Literacy so that every student is reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade; and Algebra for All to improve elementary- and middle-school math instruction and ensure that all 8th graders have access to algebra. They are offering students more challenging, hands-on, college and career-aligned coursework – Computer Science for All brings 21st-century computer science instruction to every school, and AP for All will give all high school students access to at least five Advanced Placement courses. Along the way, they are giving students and families additional support through College Access for All, Single Shepherd, and investment in Community Schools. Efforts to create more diverse and inclusive classrooms, including Equity & Excellence for All: Diversity in New York City Public Schools are central to this pathway.

More information on AP participation and performance is available online.

Statement By Public Advocate Winner JUMAANE WILLIAMS

JUMAANE WILLIAMS VICTORY SPEECH

Thank you. Thank you all. We did it!

I will be honored to serve as your next Public Advocate- the people's voice.

I'm so grateful to be standing here with all of you- my friends, my family, and this community I love. You've all stood by my side through every challenge, every obstacle, every opportunity, and your presence and support has meant more to me than I can express. 

This campaign may have been relatively short but this journey has been long- it traces back across years of working with all of you on the front lines of the issues that matter to all of us- of fighting for transformational change in the streets and in the halls of government. As your Public Advocate, I promise that we will take up these causes and more, with energy, passion, and resolve- to do what's right, no matter the political winds. I know I'll have all of you by my side in these fights.

I have so much gratitude that I need to get out-  so bear with me. I want to thank my mom- my own personal advocate- my sister, Jeanine, my girlfriend India, and my father who transitioned five years ago but who I know would be proud today. I want to thank all of the elected officials who stood with me in this race, some of whom are here tonight and others are up in Albany, fighting for change on a state level. It's an honor to be your colleague in public service and to fight alongside of you. 

Thank you to my incredible campaign staff, who fought this fight with less sleep and more passion and dedication than you can imagine. Thanks to the community leaders, unions, clubs, and newspapers that trusted me with their endorsement, including my friends at the Working Families Party.

A decade ago, I got connected up with the Working Families Party, before my first race for city council, and together we won. We fought to end the abuse of stop and frisk together, we fought for paid sick days together, we even mounted a statewide campaign this past fall together -- and now this win is yours too, WFP.

Of course I also want to thank my staff in the City Council for working with me every day in service of the people of the 45th District and this city. 

Thank you to all of my friends -my 'kitchen cabinet' who's always by my side - including *names* and of course, to the scores of volunteers who filled our campaign offices and canvasses for the cause. You believed in our vision, and now we can make it a reality.

I so deeply appreciate my community in the 45th District - which we're standing in right now. I'm at home with all of you. You have all put your faith in me these last nine years, and I promise that your voice will be heard loud and clear wherever I am in our great city. 

There are some additional shoutouts I need to make:

To my fellow candidates-- thank you for a race about ideas, about how to make life better for New Yorkers. I look forward to working with you all, inside and outside of government to advance an agenda for all New Yorkers.

To Tish James-- you left some pretty big shoes to fill...

To the Mayor- I'm not running for your job, but I'm going to work with you to make sure we work on behalf of the people.

The Public Advocate - the People's Advocate- is a role that I am incredible excited to fill, and one that is crucial to our city. I know that there are some who have sought to get rid of it- and now, I'm sure there are powerful people who want it gone even more. But we aren't going anywhere- instead, we're going to hold the powerful accountable. The Mayor, the Police Commissioner, the Governor, the big money interests - we are watching, and we will speak out. 

No matter who holds this job, their strength and their obligation come from the people they represent. As your Public Advocate, I will spend each day listening to you, my fellow New Yorkers, and taking action. We can create a New York City that is more just, equitable, affordable and accessible. We focus not on constraints,  but on possibility and potential for our city.

Tonight, we can celebrate. And then, maybe we can rest. But tomorrow, we have to take the cause back up- we cannot wait, we cannot stand still, because the challenges our city faces are too great. But the opportunity to create transformational change is even greater, and so as Dr. King said, we must keep moving forward. 

Moving forward to solve the affordable housing and homelessness crisis that we face, and to provide aid to people struggling to stay in their homes and rents continue to climb.

Moving forward to upend a system of injustice that criminalizes black and brown communities, and to give those who have been caught up in that system a second chance.

Moving forward to make our streets safer for all, to combat the epidemic of gun violence and to revitalize communities- not with over-policing but with investment in the people on the ground, doing work to save lives.

Moving forward to not just defend but to advance the rights of everyone threatened by the orange buffoon in the white house- and putting our bodies on the line to defend them 

Moving forward because I've never been able to sit still for long- not when there's a march to lead or a bill to pass or a cause to take up.

Let's Go - It's time.

The last time I stood in this space, it was under very different circumstances, with a different outcome. These are new memories now, and I'll never forget this moment. But there's one moment, one memory from that night that stays with me.

A young man came up to me, six months ago at this very site, and said that just like me, he had Tourette's Syndrome. That he'd wanted to get into government, to make change, but that he didn't know he could. That when he saw me, he was inspired. And when I heard him, so was I. It's part of what inspired me to take this journey, to run this race. Because everyone has moments when they don't feel heard, when they need a voice.

NYCHA residents who are going without attention, and even without heat, need a voice 

Mothers of victims of gun violence or policing abuses need a voice

Everyone whose rights are under threat by the Trump administration- black and brown communities, women, the LGBTQ community, and immigrants need a voice

Every New Yorker who feels left out or left behind by the political process and politicians who work for themselves and not the people needs a voice.

I ran this campaign to be the voice of the people. And I do promise to raise my voice and raise the issues of the people of this city. But it's not about my voice alone- It's about our voices, together. Our voices together send a message loud and clear. Our voices together can rise above politics, above pettiness-- 

Our voices can rise to the occasion of the times we face, to meet this moment with our movement. The challenges that we face are great, but we can rise to conquer any hill, any mountain, and from there our voices will echo and we will be heard. I said at the beginning of this campaign that no matter how steep the hill was, we have to keep moving up. We have to keep going up the hill for equity, we have to keep going up the hill for justice, we have to keep going up the hill for all of us.

To the people who say that it can't be done, please move out of the way of the people who are doing it!

I SEE THE HILL AND I KNOW IT'S STEEP, BUT I WILL KEEP MOVING UP UNTIL WE REACH THE TOP

BECAUSE I KNOW IF WE KEEP PUSHING WE WILL, WIN, WIN, WIN

THANK YOU NEW YORK CITY, I LOVE YOU