Saturday, August 29, 2020

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER AT EVERY CITY AGENCY

 

  Mayor de Blasio announced that a Chief Diversity Officer, who will also serve as Chief MWBE Officer, has been appointed at every City agency. On July 28th, the Mayor signed an executive order to establish this role, along with measures to strengthen the City’s utilization of Minority and Women-Owned Businesses.

 

“Our Minority and Women-Owned Businesses are the core of our economy, and they have built New York City into what it is today,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I am proud to announce that a Chief Diversity Officer will be available at every single City agency to ensure they have the support they need.”

 

“New York City will do everything we can to make sure our MWBEs thrive,” said Magalie Austin, Senior Advisor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises. “These appointments are a commitment to providing support for our M/WBEs and ensuring that we are rebuilding and recovering with equity.”

 

The recently announced Executive Order 59 codifies best practices across the City as it relates to M/WBE utilization. In addition to requiring the implementation of best M/WBE practices citywide, EO 59 contributes to an environment of increased opportunities for M/WBEs and prioritizes the importance of accountability in leadership with respect to M/WBE goals.

 

The Chief Diversity Officeres/Chief MWBE Officers will ensure agencies apply creative thinking and executive authority to increase M/WBE participation and realize each agency’s diversity and inclusion goals. The CDO/CMO is a key member of executive leadership at each agency and works closely with the Agency Chief Contracting Office. The Officer also functions as a key liaison between the Agency’s Executive Team, Program units, M/WBEs, and other external stakeholders. The CDO is responsible for ensuring that the agency’s procurement practices are aligned with the M/WBE Program.


Governor Cuomo Announces New Record-Low COVID-19 Infection Rate and 8 Million Tests Conducted In New York State

 

0.65 Percent of Yesterday's COVID-19 Tests were Positive—New Record Low; Three Straight Weeks with Infection Rate Below 1 Percent

New York State Has Conducted 8 Million COVID-19 Tests

Rapid Testing Begins in Western New York Tomorrow; Call 833-NYSTRNG to Make an Appointment

3 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 1,322 Establishments Observes 9 Establishments Not in Compliance

Confirms 636 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 432,767; New Cases in 47 Counties

  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the lowest COVID-19 infection rate in New York State—0.65 percent—since the pandemic began. New York State's infection rate has been less than 1 percent every day for three weeks. The governor also announced that 8 million tests have now been conducted in the state. Governor Cuomo also updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available at forward.ny.gov.

"Fighting COVID-19 requires enormous bravery and discipline from New Yorkers and I thank them for today's new record-low infection rate. This is evidence that what each of us does to slow the spread—wearing masks, socially distancing and washing hands—makes a real difference," Governor Cuomo said. "We're continuing to expand our ability to test and contact trace as we pursue a phased, data-driven reopening, and that's why we've reached 8 million tests conducted in the state. Yesterday's data also shows that we aren't necessarily finding more positives with more testing, which is a good new development. We aren't out of the woods yet, so keep it up, be safe and stay New York Tough." 

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 1,322 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 9 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

  • Bronx - 3
  • Brooklyn - 1
  • Manhattan - 1
  • Staten Island - 4

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

  • Patient Hospitalization - 478 (-12)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 72
  • Hospital Counties - 31
  • Number ICU - 122 (-4)
  • Number ICU with Intubation - 51 (-1)
  • Total Discharges - 74,923 (+73)
  • Deaths - 3
  • Total Deaths - 25,312

Friday, August 28, 2020

Acting U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition Of British Citizen For Operating An International Money Laundering And Fraud Network


  Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that HABEEB AUDU, a/k/a “Dickson,” a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, was extradited today from the United Kingdom.  AUDU was charged with participation in a series of fraud schemes from at least in or about 2013 until at least April 2019, involving the theft and laundering of more than $2 million.  AUDU was arrested in London, England, on June 26, 2019, on a provisional arrest warrant, and is the fourth defendant charged in this case.  AUDU is expected to be presented on Monday, August 31, before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.  AUDU’s case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged, Habeeb Audu played a key role in an international fraud conspiracy that victimized businesses and individuals by using stolen identities and social engineering to access victims’ bank accounts, and by engaging in business email compromise schemes.  Thanks to the FBI and our international partners, including the Italian National Police, Audu is now in U.S. custody and facing charges in this District.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Today’s indictment outlines the alleged fraudulent conduct of Habeeb Audu and other conspirators who, over the course of nearly six years, robbed the bank accounts of both individuals and businesses here in the United States, sometimes from locations nearly halfway across the world. Using traditional spoofing techniques and business email compromise schemes, these crimes collectively brought in more than $2 million in proceeds. While today’s charges bring about a victory in this case, let it be a warning to the public to remain extra vigilant with respect to their personal and professional finances. The market is unfortunately rife with this type of crime.”   

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today[1]:

From at least 2013 through in or about 2018, AUDU and various other conspirators (collectively, the “Conspirators”), located in countries including the United States, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, were involved in a scheme to fraudulently access individuals’ and corporations’ bank accounts and to conduct financial transactions using those bank accounts without the knowledge or authority of the accounts’ legitimate owners (the “Bank Scheme”).  As part of the Bank Scheme, the Conspirators placed thousands of calls to various United States banks, holding themselves out as legitimate accountholders of particular targeted bank accounts and using the stolen personal identifying information belonging to those accountholders.  Using a particular telephone number “spoofing” service, and voice-altering technology, the Conspirators would deceive bank representatives into believing that the Conspirators were actual accountholders.  In so doing, they convinced multiple U.S. banks to, among other things:  move money from a victim’s savings account to the victim’s checking account (so that the Conspirators could more easily access the funds and conduct unauthorized transactions); falsely note on the account that the accountholder was traveling abroad (making the bank less likely to void suspicious international transactions made by the Conspirators); have “replacement” credit cards mailed to international addresses controlled by the Conspirators (whereupon the Conspirators could use them to make unauthorized purchases); and authorize foreign purchases made by the Conspirators.

AUDU, from at least December 2018 through April 2019, was also involved in separate schemes to defraud United States-based businesses and banks by means of business email compromise schemes (the “BEC Fraud Schemes”).  For example, AUDU defrauded an Ohio-based restaurant chain (the “Restaurant Victim”) into wiring nearly $2 million to a bank account controlled by AUDU’s co-conspirators (the “AUDU Account”).  He did so by tricking the Restaurant Victim into believing that one of its legitimate vendors had changed bank accounts to the AUDU Account, such that payments for the vendor’s services were made to the AUDU Account.  These funds were thereafter quickly withdrawn from the AUDU Account and dispersed to other accounts controlled by AUDU and his co-conspirators.

Thereafter, in connection with an FBI undercover operation, AUDU and others each agreed, for a substantial fee, to launder moneys that they believed to be fraud proceeds, through bank accounts controlled by AUDU and his co-conspirators.  In doing so, AUDU and his co-conspirators agreed to conceal the nature of those purportedly fraudulent proceeds. 

AUDU, 5­­­3, of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; four counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, each of which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Other defendants charged in this case include Abdulai Kennedy Saaka, a/k/a “Kenny,” of Atlanta, Georgia, who pled guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy in January 2020; Alade Kazeem Sodiq, a/k/a “Eluku,” a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, whose case remains pending; and Dominic Francis Labiran, a citizen of the United Kingdom, who remains at large.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.  She also thanked United States Customs and Border Protection, Italian judicial law enforcement authorities, including the Prosecutor of the Republic of Naples and the Servizio Centrale Operativo of the Italian National Police, the Metropolitan Police Service, London, United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service for their assistance in this case.  The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from the United Kingdom.

The charges contained in the 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 Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. 

AG James and State Police Superintendent Corlett Announce Conviction in Billion-Dollar Money Laundering Scheme

 

Michael Mann, Owner of Shuttered Payroll Service Companies MyPayrollHR and ValueWise, Convicted of Multi-Year Money Laundering Scheme that Defrauded Thousands of Employers in New York and Across the Country

Mann Faces up to 8 to 24 Years in State Prison, Ordered to Pay over $100 Million in Restitution to Victims

   New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett announced the felony conviction this week of Michael T. Mann (50, of Northville) for laundering over one billion dollars in stolen funds from employers, employees, financial institutions, and financing companies between 2016 and 2019. On a daily basis, Mann diverted millions of dollars in payroll funds he held on behalf of client-employers to pay their employees paychecks and taxes. Thousands of employees in New York and across the country were left in financial distress in the Fall of 2019, when Mann’s scheme came to light and his payroll accounts were frozen.

Mann was arraigned before the Honorable James A. Murphy, III in Saratoga County Court on a felony complaint and entered a plea of guilty to Money Laundering in the First Degree, a class B felony. Mann faces up to 8 to 24 years in state prison. 

As part of his global resolution with the New York State Attorney General’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, Mann will be ordered to pay over $100 million in restitution to his victims, including distribution of over $47 million to Mann’s victims at the time of his federal sentencing on December 10, 2020. The Attorney General requests that all clients defrauded by Mann and his entities who have not yet been made whole contact the New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit by email at FCU@troopers.ny.gov.  

“As Michael Mann spun his widespread web of deceit, employees and employers throughout the state of New York paid the price,” said Attorney General James. “This conviction serves as a clear reminder for all those who attempt to steal money for financial gain: My office will continue to be relentless in the pursuit of anyone who takes advantage of New York’s people and businesses. I thank the state police for their partnership in bringing accountability and justice to this intricate scheme.” 

“Michael Mann put greed ahead of his customers, developing a scheme that ultimately put employers out of business and left employees without paychecks,” said State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett. “I commend the Attorney General and her office for their partnership on this case. We have zero tolerance for those who break the law and enrich themselves at the expense of others.”

Today’s conviction is the result of a year-long investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office in conjunction with the New York State Police, with assistance from the New York State Department of Labor and New York State Department of Financial Services. The joint investigation, captioned “Operation: ValueWise, Dollar Foolish” revealed that Mann engaged in a sophisticated money laundering scheme over the course of three years in order to defraud employers, employees, financial institutions, and financing companies out of tens of millions of dollars.

Mann owned or operated over a dozen entities, including payroll service companies such as ValueWise Corporation and MyPayrollHR.com, LLC, which were primarily based in Clifton Park, Saratoga County, New York. As part of his guilty plea, Mann admitted that from at least January 2016 to September 2019, he laundered monies embezzled from these payroll companies by diverting the stolen monies through numerous business accounts he controlled. He committed this fraud in an effort to repay millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained loans and in an effort to continue defrauding employers, financial institutions, and financing companies by stealing additional funds. In September of 2019, one of Mann’s banks became suspicious and froze a number of his accounts, ultimately exposing his fraudulent conduct. Hundreds of businesses that entrusted their payroll to Mann’s entities, along with thousands of employees, were left in the lurch. Some businesses were forced to cease operations as a result. In August 2019, over 800 employers paid over $28 million in payroll that Mann diverted for his own benefit. This money was intended for employees, including those working at ambulance corps, health care providers, religious institutions, pre-schools, restaurants, and hotels. 

According to statements by the prosecution and documents filed in Saratoga County Court, Mann laundered over a billion dollars in the month leading up to the collapse of his scheme, and admitted similar conduct dating back to January 2016. An audit of over 35 accounts controlled by Mann revealed he conducted hundreds of transactions on a near-daily basis in order to move stolen funds through shell and shelf companies, in addition to legitimate or quasi-legitimate businesses he ran, in order to continue his criminal activity and fraudulently obtain millions of dollars from employers, financial institutions, and financing companies. Several so-called shell companies provided Mann with a vehicle for business transactions without having any significant legitimate assets or operations. Shelf companies are entities that are created and left with no business activity, and subsequently used at a later point in time without the need to go through the procedures of creating a new entity. 

Mann’s plea today resolves additional crimes uncovered by the Attorney General’s Investigation, for which the defendant could have been charged, including Grand Larceny, Falsifying Business Records and Scheme to Defraud, related to Mann’s role as an owner and operator of various businesses, including: ValueWise Corporation d/b/a Apogee, d/b/a Optix Consulting, d/b/a Primacy Search Group and d/b/a Lincoln Academy; MyPayrollHR, LLC a/k/a MyPayrollHR.com LLC; Cloud Payroll, LLC; Pro Data Payroll Services, Inc.; Southwestern Payroll Service, Inc.; Ross Personnel Consultants, Inc.; Weitz & Associates, Inc.; Viverant, LLC; Kaningo, LLC; Hire Flux Holdings, LLC; TrueConsulting Corp.; TrueHR, LLC; Create Force, LLC; Always Live Holdings; Heutmaker Business Advisors, LLC; and FocalPointe Group, LLC. These crimes include:

  • Stealing payroll funds held in trust for client employers in order to fraudulently inflate company assets and to repay stolen funds from other clients;
  • Providing materially false information and/or concealed material information in order to secure millions of dollars in commercial financing;
  • Providing fictitious invoices to financial institutions to fraudulently inflate assets as collateral for his entities and to repay stolen funds from client employers; and
  • Wrongfully withholding millions of dollars from at least two Automated Clearing Houses (“ACH”) by redirecting ACH payments to accounts controlled by Mann.

On December 17, Mann is expected to be sentenced to a minimum of 5 to 15 years and a maximum of 8 to 24 years in state prison. As part of a parallel investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, Mann previously pleaded guilty on August 12, 2020 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, nine counts of bank fraud, and one count of filing a false tax return. 

The Attorney General thanks New York State Police and the Financial Crimes Unit for their invaluable assistance investigating this case. The Attorney General also thanks the New York State Department of Labor and Department of Financial Services for their assistance on this case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Attorney General James’ Combatting Upstate Financial Frauds and Schemes (“CUFFS”) Initiative, led by Director Philip V. Apruzzese, an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau. The CUFFS Initiative was implemented by Attorney General James in an effort to assist local law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in the investigation and prosecution of complex financial crimes and money laundering cases.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News - Over $16 Billion in Unclaimed Funds, Search for Your Lost Funds



New York State Comptrollers Weekly News 

Over $16 Billion in Unclaimed Funds,
Search for Your Lost Funds


Did you forget about an old bank account or utility deposit? There is currently $16.5 billion in unclaimed funds in New York state waiting to be claimed. This office currently returns over $1.5 million a day – and we want to do more. It’s easier than ever to see if there are any unclaimed funds in your name. Simply visit our website and search your name or business to get started.


Typically, staff from our Office of Unclaimed Funds would be at the New York State Fair right now, helping connect New Yorkers with their lost money in person. Unfortunately, that is not the case this year, but you can still search online and find out if you are owed money. I look forward to seeing everyone next year at my annual visit to one of the state’s must-see events.

DiNapoli: NYC's Shelter Repair Process Needs Its Own Fix

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released an audit of the New York City Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS) efforts to make capital improvements to shelters. The audit found that badly-needed shelter repairs are too often delayed with little or no explanation, allowing conditions to deteriorate further and, in some cases, forcing residents to relocate.

Michael Blake - 57 Years Later, We Continue to DREAM


Friends -

Most journeys have a beginning and end point, and today, we commemorate a march on this continual journey to justice, equity, and true freedom. This is a journey that began when the first Black people were brought, against their will, to the land that would become the United States of America.

This is a journey that has seen Black people enslaved, separated from families, abused and tortured. This is a journey that has been a part of the American story from it’s very beginning. This has been a journey that, thanks to so many women and men who have gone unnamed and whose stories have gone untold, have believed and fought for a better life. They saw a better world for us all. This is a journey that has seen voting rights attained and citizenship granted. This is a journey that has seen Jim Crow come and officially go while unofficially still present. This has not been a quiet journey. This journey has been moved along by words, shared experience, stories, and music. This is a journey that has been powered by faith, strength, and the very belief of human worth.

Today marks a very important stop on our journey. On August 28th, 1963, more than 250,000 Black people and allies organized, met, and created the March on Washington in support of jobs, justice, equity, and real freedom. People arrived on trains, in busses, in carpools, from across the nation. A program of inspiration and leadership compelled America to recognize that Black people were not fully enjoying the rights promised to us all. One hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation, as Dr. King said, we are still not free.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shared that his Dream, the American Dream, is not yet fully realized. John Lewis, the youngest speaker of the day, demanded that our government protect civil rights workers under attack. All of the leaders who spoke inspired the crowd of a quarter million people to continue the journey.

This year, as we still reel from the painful effects of Coronavirus, the loss of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the most recent shooting of Jacob Blake, activists from Milwaukee, a city not far from Kenosha Wisconsin, arrived in Washington DC today, after WALKING for 24 days. This year, we are still fighting many of the same fights. We are fighting at the ballot boxes for access. We are fighting for criminal justice reform. We are fighting for safe, comfortable housing. We are fighting for equal paychecks. We are fighting for access to capital. We are fighting for equal representation in our governments and boardrooms. We are fighting to stay alive. 

On this anniversary, I chose to honor our fellow Brothers and Sisters in sports who will not just shut up and dribble, but rather, stand up and lead. I read the words of Lebron James' "I Promise" to four young Kings of Color at The Lit Bar in The Bronx, thanks to our local Shero Noelle Santos. I want them to Dream Bigger Dreams.

We must continue the journey. We have faith. We have hope. We still believe. We are all on this journey together, towards Election Day and beyond. We are on this journey together. 57 years later, let us continue to DREAM.

Michael

Paid for by Friends of Michael Blake

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNNOUNCES NYC PARKS WILL RESUME PERMITTING FOR OUTDOOR YOUTH SPORTS

 

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that NYC Parks can resume permitting its athletic fields across the city for outdoor youth sports. Supportive of children’s physical and mental health, lower and moderate-risk youth play on permitted fields will resume Tuesday, September 15. 

"Our children have been through so much this year and have been yearning for more outdoor play,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Thankfully we’re continuing to see improvement in beating back this disease, and can safely permit youth sports this fall. We’ll continue to monitor our progress and put health and safety first."

 

“Our children’s health is supported with outdoor play and physical exercise,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “But safety is paramount. Children will only be able to take the field if citywide transmission remains low, which is dependent on New Yorkers wearing face coverings, maintaining distance, practicing hand hygiene and staying home if ill.”

 

“In a time when our mental and physical health has increased stressors, every opportunity we can provide our city’s youth with safe outdoor play is a benefit to us all. As we look to the start of the fall youth athletic season in our parks, I encourage all to follow the rules and do so safely,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.

 

City athletic fields have been opened for first come, first served, socially distanced play throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Now, youth sports leagues will be issued permits for organized outdoor play. Permitted sports will include baseball, softball and soccer. Indoor sports, including swimming, will not be permitted. Leagues must enforce the following regulations:

 

  • Face coverings must be worn by all coaches, staff, spectators, and players on the sidelines; players are encouraged to wear while playing if possible
  • Social distancing must always be practiced by all when not active in game play
  • Spectators must be limited to two per player
  • All must leave the field post game, there shall be no congregating

 

Parks will monitor league activities; if a team accumulates three violations, Parks will revoke that league’s permits.

 

If New York City’s percentage of positive COVID-19 tests exceed three percent positivity, permits will be suspended for all sports.


Assemblywoman Fernandez Food Giveaway in Norwoo


Thursday afternoon Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez and the Albanian American Open Hand Association inc, gave out bags and boxes of various food to the community. Helping Assemblywoman Fernandez and the AAOHA were 80th District Leader Marco Sierra and State Committeewoman Sandra Pabon. Also helping were local community activists Shelia Sanchez and Anthony Rivieccio. 


Above - Assemblywoman Fernandez in a rare moment of rest while the food is set up to be given away.

Below - Assemblywoman Fernandez has announced her candidacy for Bronx Borough President, and we caught her doing her impression of Current Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. when he attended various food giveaways.




Above - Assemblywoman Fernandez is giving away some rolls here.

Below - (L - R) District Leader Marcos Sierra, State Committeewoman Sandra Pabon, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, with Community Activist Shelia Sanchez in front of two AAOHA workers. Camera shy was Anthony Rivieccio.