Thursday, August 6, 2020

5 Defendants Indicted In Connection With Kidnapping, Narcotics, And Firearm Offenses


Broker of Failed Drug Deal Tied to Chair and Assaulted

  Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in New York, and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging MARIO REYNOSO-HICIANO, JOEL CABRERA, a/k/a “Gordo,” a/k/a “Oso,” VLADIMIR REYES, YUDITH REYNOSO-HICIANO, a/k/a “La Classica,” and PEDRO REYNOSO with kidnapping, narcotics, and firearm offenses.  Three defendants were taken into custody earlier today and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox.  A fourth defendant remains at large, and a fifth defendant is already in federal custody in connection with another matter and will be presented and arraigned at a later date.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged, the defendants were involved in conspiracies to traffic in cocaine and/or to kidnap someone they believed had shortchanged them in a drug transaction.  This case illustrates once again how drug trafficking and gun violence so often go hand-in-hand.  Thanks to the efforts of HSI and the NYPD, people charged with violent crimes are in custody and facing federal charges.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said:  “The safety and well-being of New York City residents remains the primary focus of HSI and our partners.  Today’s indictment alleging narcotics trafficking and kidnapping by the defendants, and use of a firearm by one of them, marks yet another positive step in ridding alleged criminals from our community.  HSI’s continued collaboration with the NYPD to investigate violent crimes and dismantle criminal organizations will ensure the safe removal of guns, drugs and bad actors from our neighborhoods.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “The illegal narcotics trade and associated violence alleged in this federal indictment are crimes that erode the fabric of city life. I commend our NYPD investigators, and federal partners, for their work in this successful case.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment[1]:

In or about May 2019, MARIO REYNOSO-HICIANO, JOEL CABRERA, and VLADIMIR REYES engaged in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine.  A dispute arose between MARIO REYNOSO-HICIANO and another individual who had brokered the sale of cocaine (“Victim-1”) because MARIO REYNOSO-HICIANO believed that he had been paid less than the full negotiated purchase price for the cocaine. 

As part of that dispute, MARIO REYNOSO-HICIANO, YUDITH REYNOSO-HICIANO, PEDRO REYNOSO, and others kidnapped Victim-1, tied him to a chair inside an apartment in the Bronx (“Apartment-1”), threatened to and did physically assault Victim-1, and demanded that Victim-1 provide information relating to the aforementioned cocaine transaction.  Portions of the kidnapping were recorded with a cellphone by YUDITH REYNOSO-HICIANO.

In the early morning of May 31, 2019, CABRERA brandished and discharged a firearm in connection with the cocaine transaction that occurred the day before.

A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD.

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


COUNT 

CHARGE 

DEFENDANTS 

MAX. PENALTIES 

1 

Narcotics distribution conspiracy 

  

21 U.S.C. §§ 846,  841(b)(1)(B) 

  

MARIO REYNOSO-HICIANO (age 35) 

  

JOEL CABRERA (age 25) 

  

VLADIMIR REYES (age 37) 

40 years 

  

Mandatory minimum of five years in prison 

2 

Kidnapping conspiracy 

  

18 U.S.C. § 1201(c) 

MARIO REYNOSO-HICIANO 

  

YUDITH REYNOSO-HICIANO (age 41) 

  

PEDRO REYNOSO (age 21) 

Life 

3 

Kidnapping 

  

18 U.S.C. §§ 1201(a)(1), 1201(d) and 2 

MARIO REYNOSO-HICIANO 

  

YUDITH REYNOSO-HICIANO 

  

PEDRO REYNOSO 

Life 

4 

Firearms offense 

  

18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), 924(c)(1)(A)(ii), 924(c)(1)(A)(iiii),  and 2 

JOEL CABRERA 

Life 

  

Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison 

 

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

No. 206: Declaring a Disaster in The Counties of Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester and Contiguous Counties


No. 206               E X E C U T I V E  O R D E R

 DECLARING A DISASTER IN THE COUNTIES OF BRONX, DUTCHESS, KINGS, NASSAU, NEW YORK, ORANGE, PUTNAM, QUEENS, RICHMOND, ROCKLAND, SUFFOLK, WESTCHESTER AND CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES

 WHEREAS, on August 4, 2020 and continuing thereafter, Tropical Storm Isaias created hazardous conditions in New York State, which has posed an imminent danger to public transportation, utility service, public health, and public safety systems within the counties of Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester, and contiguous counties.

WHEREAS, Tropical Storm Isaias produced damaging winds, with gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour, heavy rainfall, and flooding.  These conditions caused over 1,276,500 power outages, downed trees, localized flash flooding, road closures, travel disruptions, and damage to public and private property throughout the impacted areas, which continue to pose a threat to public health and safety.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby find that an imminent disaster exists, particularly where affected local governments are unable to respond adequately.  Therefore, I hereby declare a State Disaster Emergency, effective August 5, 2020, within the territorial boundaries of the counties of Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester, and contiguous counties.  This Executive Order shall be in effect until September 4, 2020; and

FURTHER, pursuant to Section 29 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, I direct the implementation of the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and authorize the State Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Transportation, the Division of State Police, the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Public Service Commission, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Office of General Services, the Thruway Authority, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and any other State agencies and State authorities,  as necessary to take appropriate action to assist local governments and individuals in containing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from this public health emergency, to protect state and local property, and to provide such other assistance as is necessary to protect public health, welfare, and safety.

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this fifth day of August in the year two thousand twenty.

BY THE GOVERNOR

Secretary to the Governor

Governor Cuomo Declares State of Emergency Following Tropical Storm Isaias


Declaration Made for Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester and Contiguous Counties

Governor Activates 50 National Guard for Service in Putnam County

Declaration Enables State to Provide Additional Levels of Support to Local Governments Throughout the Clean-Up and Recovery Process

703,191 Power Outages Remain as Governor Directs Investigation into Response by Utility Companies

  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today declared a state of emergency in New York in order to provide local governments with additional clean-up and operational support in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias. The counties included in the declaration are: Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester. Additionally, the declaration will also apply to those counties bordering the 11 specifically stated in the declaration, as that is standard practice. As such, Columbia, Ulster and Sullivan will also be covered by the order. By declaring a state of emergency, it allows state agencies to provide direct support to local governments without already having standing agreements in place.

Governor Cuomo also announced that he has directed the New York National Guard to mobilize 50 soldiers with vehicles to assist Putnam County officials with storm response, cleanup missions and ice and water distribution.

This declaration follows the Governor's announcement of an investigation into the operations of utility companies, before, during and after the storm, as 703,191 New Yorkers remain without power. As this investigation begins, all other state agencies with emergency response capabilities remain fully engaged with local governments across the state to ensure they have all the resources they need to complete clean-up and recovery operations.

"We're taking an all-hands-on-deck approach and activating every resource at our disposal to expedite communities' recovery from the impacts of Tropical Storm Isaias," Governor Cuomo said. "The State is working closely with local governments to helpensure they have the help they need to get back on their feet. We're far too familiar with severe weather, but New Yorkers show their true spirit in times of crisis and we'll prove it once more."

As Tropical Storm Isaias moved quickly on northern track through the eastern portion of the state, it caused numerous downed trees, localized flash flooding and caused a peak of more than 920,000 power outages. While more than 216,000 outages have been restored, more than 703,000 still remain. 

Due to the apparent lack of adequate planning by utility companies, the Governor has directed the Department of Public Service to launch an investigation into the responses by Verizon, PSEG Long Island, Con Edison, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Orange and Rockland Utilities, and New York State Electric & Gas to determine the causes of their failures. 

Outside of the investigation, the Department continues to work around the clock with senior executives at the utilities to ensure restoration moves as quickly and safely as possible. Utilities have deployed 7,000 workers to help with damage response and restoration and service.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Governor Cuomo Directs State Department of Public Service to Investigate Utilities in Wake of Failed Storm Response


  "We know that severe weather is our new reality and the reckless disregard by utility companies to adequately plan for tropical storm Isaias left tens of thousands of customers in the dark, literally and figuratively. Their performance was unacceptable.

"The large volume of outages and the utilities' failure to communicate with customers in real time proves they did not live up to their legal obligations. The fact that many customers still do not know when their power will be restored makes it even more unacceptable. The worst of this situation was avoidable, and it cannot happen again. 


"I am directing the state Department of Public Service to launch an investigation into Verizon, PSEG Long Island, Con Edison, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Orange and Rockland Utilities, and New York State Electric & Gas to understand how such a failure could have taken place. New Yorkers deserve answers and they deserve better.


"In the meantime, DPS is working around the clock with leadership at the utilities to ensure restoration of service as quickly and safely as possible. Utilities have deployed 7,000 workers to help with damage response and restoration and service. We are also asking New Yorkers in affected areas to check in on their neighbors, especially seniors, to ensure they are safe."

Mayor de Blasio Report to the City 8-5-2020


  Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, everybody. I am going to always talk about the amazing energy and discipline, focus that New Yorkers have brought to the fight against the coronavirus. But I also hear from a lot of New Yorkers that they are worried about where things go in the future. They’re seeing what's happened around the country. Everyone keeps hearing about this danger of a second wave, a resurgence. There's a lot we need to do to keep deepening our progress. New York City right now is being looked at all over the country as an example of an extraordinary comeback in terms of the coronavirus. But there's more we have to do to deepen that progress, and we're going to talk about that in just a minute, but first, of course, Tropical Storm Isaias, what a powerful storm it was, and even though it was only here for a few hours in New York City. As you can see on your screen, I was out in Astoria last night, I saw just one of many, many examples of the destruction that this storm caused.

 

Now, here's the truth. This is turning out to be one of the most serious weather events since Hurricane Sandy – highest winds recorded at Kennedy Airport, over 70 miles per hour. So, extraordinarily powerful storm, very brief, but very intense. We saw a very large number of downed trees around the city, that also in many cases caused horrible damage, and most horribly we lost a New Yorker to a falling tree in Queens, other New Yorker very seriously injured in Brooklyn. We saw a lot of damage to homes and property. Obviously, a lot of power outages caused primarily in the areas where the falling trees knocked down power wires. So, at the peak over 130,000 customers had lost power. That number has improved now, but a lot of work is going to be done today, first to clear streets to secure the situation, make sure there's no danger, and then to keep restoring power. I talked to the president of Con Ed last night, they're doing that work now, but job one is to make sure there's no additional danger to human life, and to make sure that cleanup is done safely and quickly.

 

Overall, as big an event as it was we did see less flooding than expected. That's a very good thing, and our City agencies were out there from the beginning preparing to minimize the damage. I want to thank everyone in Emergency Management, Environmental Protection, Fire Department, Police Department, Parks, Transportation – all these agencies were out there early in the days before, in many cases, and throughout the day yesterday, protecting people. Also want to thank everyone that works at 9-1-1 and 3-1-1. These are City workers who don't get enough credit. They have a really tough job. They got a huge amount of call volume yesterday – to everyone who works at 9-1-1 and 3-1-1, thank you for the crucial work you do for this city, and they managed to keep the system going under extraordinary strain. At one point over a hundred calls per minute, were going into 9-1-1 at the peak. Same with 3-1-1, many more than usual, but extra staffing had been put in place, the system held, even though there were real delays. So, I just want to thank everyone for the intensive effort, and again, we're going to really offer appreciation to our Emergency Management team, Commissioner Criswell and her whole team, who did so much to prepare New Yorkers and inform them. Thank you for all your great work.

 

Now we've talked about the storm and the approach to the storm was a focus on safety preparedness, being ready for any eventuality. That's the same approach that we're taking when it comes to health and during the coronavirus crisis, the whole approach in this city is to throw everything we've got at it – all different City agencies, the people of New York City, most importantly, and this is one of the things we've learned in this crisis, how important the people are, the buy-in of the people and the people that city, all of you have done an amazing job, and here is a fact that is striking. Since June 10th, fully eight weeks ago, New York City has been under three percent for our citywide infection rate the entire time. It's two full months. So that's extraordinary that we've been able to maintain that level. I expect us to maintain that level and in fact, drive it down further.

 

So, starting today, we're going to do something new in New York City. We will have checkpoints at key entry points to the city. Travelers coming in from those states will be given information about the quarantine, they will be reminded that it is required not optional. They'll be reminded that failure to quarantine is a violation of State law, and it comes with serious penalties. In fact, under certain circumstances, the fines can be as high as $10,000. So, this is serious stuff, and it's time for everyone to realize that if we're going to hold at this level of health and safety in this city and get better, we have to deal with the fact that the quarantine must be applied consistently to anyone who's traveled. So, this checkpoint effort is going to be a new, important piece of that. And here to tell you about it, and someone who's doing an outstanding job protecting New Yorkers and to him and all of his team at the Sheriff's Office, extraordinary work. Sheriff Joe Fucito.

 

New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The Sheriff's Office in coordination with other law enforcement agencies will undertake quarantine checkpoints at major bridge and tunnel crossings into New York City. As Sheriff, I understand the absolute serious nature of this pandemic. We need to ensure visitors and New Yorkers returning home are taking the necessary precautions to limit the spread of this disease. The entire team will strive to ensure that the deployment balances the critical public health and welfare needs of the residents of the city with the legal protections, entitled to all people. For further transparency, I wanted to go over the parameters of our actions. The primary purpose of the quarantine checkpoints are to address a legitimate public safety objective. Compliance with the quarantine is our objective and checkpoints are an effective means of ensuring travelers are on notice and can take precautions to protect our beloved city. Our team has developed a uniform procedure that will be applied to all New Yorkers. Procedures are in place to protect New Yorkers rights while limiting intrusions on the privacy of motorists.

 

Mayor: Thank you very much, Sheriff, thanks again to you and your team, and look we've got to do this in a way that really makes clear to people how important this is, but the idea is we don't want to penalize people. We want to educate them. We want to make sure they're following the rules. We want to make sure people who need support, they get support, and this is so important. Most people, of course, haven’t quarantined in their life, and if they're thinking about it, maybe they're wondering, well, how do I go about it? How do I get help? What if I need medicines? In fact, one of the crucial elements of the Test and Trace Corps is having that ability in place to protect people and get them the support they need. So, here to talk to you about how the Test and Trace Corps plays a crucial role in our efforts to quarantine folks traveling in from other places, the Executive Director of Test and Trace, Dr. Ted Long.

 

Executive Director Ted Long, Test and Trace Corps: Thank you, Sir. We've all been working incredibly hard to drive down the new cases of coronavirus in New York City, and we've been very successful. But as we sit here today, a fifth of all new cases of coronavirus are from travelers coming into New York City from other states. We want you to come into New York City, but we need you to safely separate for two weeks, when you arrive to keep New York City safe. In order to help you do that, we're going to give you a call. When we call you, we're going to start with talking about what the mandatory two-week quarantine period is, and then we're going to ask you, how can we help to get you through that two-week period? We're going to offer you things like free food delivery, help with medications, direct connections to doctors by the phone, or even a hotel stay. These are really critical pieces that we want to do to, in order to educate you and to help you get through that period of time.

 

Now, in terms of what you can expect from us when you're buying your plane ticket, when you're arriving in New York City, when you're checking into your hotel, or when you're buying a ticket to come to one of our destinations here, there's going to be an online required link for a traveler form. The reason that form is important is that's how we get the information to be able to reach out to you and call you and ask how we can help. We're also going to be deploying our teams. Tomorrow, we're going to be deploying teams to Penn Station to stop travelers, to ensure that they've completed the travel form. And if they haven't, to walk them through it and to complete it with them right then and there. We at the Test and Trace Corps are working as fast as humanly possible to set up a system to support you to get through that two-week period. We've made more than 86,000 phone calls to travelers coming into New York City from the designated high-risk states. And we've sent more than 20,000 text messages to date. And if we can't get through to you on the phone, we've deployed teams that are now knocking on your door to check in with you and to make sure that you're safe. We know that it's not easy to get through a two-week period of safe separation, but it's incredibly important. And we are going to do everything in our power to help you. Thank you, Sir.

 

Mayor: Thank you very much, Dr. Long. Well, everyone look, the bottom line is we're all in this together. As always, New Yorkers have done an amazing job fighting back this crisis, this disease. But look, here's one more thing you can do. If you yourself traveled to one of those 35 states and come back, quarantine. If you know someone in your life who has gone to one of those states or coming in from one of those states, tell them how important it is to quarantine. If anyone needs help, they can contact the Test and Trace Corps. It’s as simple as calling 3-1-1. There is so much help available, but the one thing we all have to do, including just talking to people in our life and saying this quarantine is serious. This is how we protect ourselves and each other. So, everyone let's get that message across to people in our life. Let's do what we've done already. All of us together, fighting the disease back. And let's do that with the same spirit that's taken us this far. 

 

Now, speaking of how far we've come, looking ahead, important milestone today, 90 days until the election. So, literally I will say it with no fear of contradiction, certainly going to say it for my life, that this is the most important election in our lifetime. And it's crucial that everyone gets involved, that everyone participates. Sometimes people have said, Oh wow, you know, it doesn't make a difference, why should I bother? There's never been a more consequential election. There's never been a more important time to participate. So, everyone register to vote. If you haven't already, register to vote. If someone in your family or your life hasn't registered, tell them to register to vote. And make a plan to vote. Let everyone you know, know that they have the power to make a difference. And this is an unprecedented moment. Let's get everyone involved in deciding the future of our city and our country. 

 

With that we'll turn to our indicators. Number one, daily number of people admitted to hospitals for suspected COVID-19, the threshold is 200, today's report, 66 patients. Number two, daily number of people in Health + Hospitals ICUs, threshold 375, today's report 286. And number three, percentage of the people testing positive citywide for COVID-19, threshold 15 percent, today's report two percent. That's the number we've been at for most of these last two months. And it's a very good number. 


NEW YORK CITY LOCKS IN AFFORDABILITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 75,000 NEW YORKERS IN FY 2020


City preserves more affordable housing than ever before
 
More than 50 percent of homes financed serve families earning less than $52,000
 
3,600 New Yorkers received voucher increases to make up for lost income due to COVID-19

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City financed 30,023 affordable homes this past fiscal year, including a record 23,520 homes preserved and 6,503 new construction units. FY 2020 also marked a record level of affordable homeownership investment, with 16,223 homeownership units.
 
“New Yorkers will rely on safe, affordable housing more than ever as we continue our fight against COVID-19,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Our efforts to finance and preserve affordable options for low-income New Yorkers will help our most vulnerable neighbors remain stable and healthy in the months to come – and help us emerge from this crisis a fairer, better city.”
 
“The pandemic has made us see even more clearly what housing means for communities, public health and the future of New York City. The city’s recovery depends on our ability to keep people in their homes and stretch our dollars further to build and preserve even more affordable housing in these challenging times. We are committed to that goal, and working hard to target new tools and resources to address the need for stable, deeply affordable housing for the City’s most vulnerable residents,” said Deputy Mayor Vicki Been.
 
“We have achieved record success generating affordable housing in recent years. As we manage the pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, HPD is more committed than ever to keeping New Yorkers in safe, secure homes and creating as much affordable housing as possible,” said Louise Carroll, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. “HPD has strong track record of leveraging partnerships and city funds to get the most out of every dollar. Going forward, we aim to lean into that success and invest in the city’s most distressed communities.”
 
“Securing affordable housing opportunities for New Yorkers is more important than ever given the health and economic crisis before us. The more than 165,000 homes financed to date under Housing New York have provided countless New Yorkers with greater stability during these challenging times,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “HDC will continue to work creatively with the Administration and our partners to ensure the ongoing success of the housing plan, while also advocating for the federal resources that are essential to a strong and lasting recovery for our city.
 
With over 165,000 units financed since 2014, the City is more than halfway toward the Mayor's goal of preserving and building 300,000 affordable homes for New Yorkers by 2026. Despite funding challenges, the City is actively identifying the projects that meet the urgency of the post-COVID-19 era and exploring various financing options to continue delivering affordable housing.
 
The City is prioritizing projects that serve seniors, homeless households, and the lowest income individuals and families. HPD has a history of successful partnerships and on average has been able to leverage more than $4 for every $1 of city subsidy. Throughout FY 2021, the agency plans to leverage federal and city resources and key partnerships to advance affordable housing development during this critical time. Projects on track to be financed in the coming months are in partnership with Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises and local non-profit entities and are anticipated to create thousands of jobs. 
 
Notable Projects Financed in FY 2020
Bishop Valero Residence: This project will bring more than 100 deeply affordable homes for seniors including homes for homeless seniors to Astoria, Queens. Developed by Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation on the underused parking lot of an existing HUD-funded affordable senior project, the site will feature a 200-seat capacity community senior center and offer supportive services to residents. Rents for all units in the residence will be subsidized through a federal voucher awarded to development. The tax credit allocation for the senior project was increased to ensure construction began on schedule.
 
Co-op City: Record breaking affordable housing preservation has been driven by the City’s historic investment in Co-op City, the world's largest housing cooperative. More than 15,000 homes in the Bronx development will remain affordable to owners for the next 40 years, thanks to the City’s preservation programs and tax exemptions, to ensure stability and security for families living in 95 buildings throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.
 
Beyond Numbers, Easier Access to Housing
This summer, the City launched the new NYC Housing Connect, making finding and applying for affordable homes faster and easier. New Yorkers seeking an affordable home now have a streamlined application process that connects them with more types of affordable housing than ever before, including homeownership opportunities. Other changes that improve access include no longer requiring credit checks, relaxed document requirements for some developments, and quickening the appeals and eligibility review processes.
 
Supporting Section 8 Participants
Since March, HPD has assisted over 3,600 Section 8 participants with emergency money to make up for any lost income due to COVID-19. Other reforms to protect program participants include temporarily suspending terminations, automatically renewing rental vouchers and moving all Section 8 operations online.
 
A complete summary of FY20 numbers available here.