Peace Plaza Memorial Day Remembrance 2022

This year the Peace Plaza Memorial Day Remembrance was not only to those soldiers who fought in wars from World War One to present day wars, the United States has been involved in, but to also remember the veteran who started the Peace Plaza remembrance who passed away in December 2021 Silvio Mazzella. Next to the other memorial stones for war veterans, a new memorial stone was unveiled for Silvio Mazzella with the Mazzella family in attendance. 

Well over one hundred people were on hand for this year's Peace Plaza Memorial Day Remembrance including Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. As he did last year, and will now do each year U.S. Marine Veteran Joseph Ronda emceed the event where various veterans from the different armed forces spoke about what Memorial Day means to them. When Veteran Joe Thompson was introduced as being an Army Veteran, his response was I was in the Air Force not the Army. Candidate for Supreme Court Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor however was a veteran of the U.S. Army who mentioned almost all of her family who served in the various armed forces. 

Even though Councilwoman Velazquez and Assemblywoman Fernandez were present, the only elected official to speak was Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson. She said that we are here today to remember those who fought in wars so we could be here today. We must honor each and every veteran, and we must not close down any of the VA Hospitals. She added that her relative Roger Gibson, who is a veteran, tells the family stories about what it was like to serve the country as a soldier. 

Former Marine Joe Ronda invited the Mazzella family to come forward for the unveiling of the stone to memorize Silvio Mazzella at Peace Plaza. Taps were then played, Rabbi Saadia Pewzner of the Bronx Jewish Center gave the final prayer, and Cpl. Ronda thanked everyone for coming out to honor the local veterans like Silvio Mazzella who gave of themselves. 

Army veteran Joseph Ronda has taken over the duties of running the Peace Plaza Memorial Day Remembrance, and is assisted by Navy veteran Gene De Francis. 

Ms. Grace Lovag sings the Nation Anthem as the U.S. flag is raised.

U.S. Army Veteran Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor talks about her entire family's service in the Armed Forces, which led her to serve.

Veteran Joe Thompson who was introduced as an Army Veteran, let everyone know that he served in the Air Force and not the Army.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson spoke of her relative Roger Gibson who tells the family stories of when he served. She added that Veteran Hospitals must be kept open to serve those who were in the Armed Forces.

It was then time to unveil the stone in memory of the founder of the Peace Plaza Memorial Remembrance who is no longer with us, Mr. Silvio Mazzella. Members of the Mazzella Family stand by the stone honoring Silvio for his service in the Armed Forces, and in his community. 

Rabbi Saadia Pewzner gives the closing prayer.

U.S. Attorney Charges Bronx Attorney With Attempted Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor And Attempted Enticement Of A Minor

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the arrest of TONG HYON SUH, a/k/a “Jason Suh.”  SUH is charged with communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl and attempting to meet the girl to engage in sexual activities and record the activities.  SUH was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court and detained.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Suh’s behavior is the nightmare of every parent. He attempted to exploit the most vulnerable in our society. This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint[1] filed yesterday in White Plains federal court:

Beginning on April 24, 2022, a detective with the Greenwich Police Department (“Detective-1”), who was posing as a 14-year-old girl named “Megan,” communicated via the social platform, Kik, with TONG HYON SUH, a/k/a “Jason Suh.” During the communications, SUH, who was using the Kik user name “suhjason,” identified himself as a 45-year-old Korean male living in New York City and indicated that he wanted to meet with “Megan” for the purpose of having sex.  Detective-1 told SUH that she was a 14-year-old female from Connecticut. During the communications, SUH sent various photos of himself showing his face.

During their communications, which occurred from April 24, 2022 to May 27, 2022, among other things, SUH told Detective-1 that he “find[s] the age gap hot tbh” and “tbh on the down low I want a young submissive sl*t.” SUH requested pictures from “Megan.” For example, he told her, “So sneak in a bathroom break pic. I love a good sl*t.”

On April 26, 2022, SUH discussed meeting in person. He asked “Megan” for some “sl*tty pics” that she could “delete after taking.” During the communications, SUH referenced other teenage girls with whom he had engaged in sexual activity.  On or about May 2, 2022, SUH told “Megan” that he wanted to film them engaging in sexual acts and he continued to request pictures. 

On or about May 20, 2022, an FBI Special Agent acting in an undercover capacity as “Megan,” spoke to SUH by phone.  During the call, SUH identified himself as “Daddy” and “Jason.”  SUH stated that he was born in 1977, is a New York attorney with an office in the Bronx, and has been a lawyer since he was 26 years old.

SUH and “Megan” spoke again on May 24, 2022.  SUH and “Megan” discussed meeting and SUH said he would rent a residence and take the train to Greenwich, Connecticut. He said that he would use a ride service to pick “Megan” up at her house, and then they would travel together to the rented residence, where they would engage in sexual activity and smoke marihuana. During the conversation, “Megan” requested that SUH bring condoms, lollipops and marijuana, and wear a suit. “Megan” gave SUH an address in Greenwich, Connecticut and told him that she lived in an apartment located at that address.

After the May 24, 2022 phone call, SUH told “Megan” that they should meet on Friday, May 27, 2022. SUH said that he and “Megan” would use a ride service to go to the residence he rented in Stamford, Connecticut.

A public database for New York attorney registration information indicates that a “TONG-HYON SUH” is registered as an active attorney in New York with a business address in the Bronx. Additionally, the database indicates that “TONG-HYON SUH” was admitted to the New York bar on or about November 19, 2003.

On May 27, 2022, at approximately 3:31 p.m., TONG HYON SUH, a/k/a “Jason Suh,”  arrived at the Metro North train station in Greenwich, Connecticut on a northbound Metro North train after passing through Westchester County.  SUH was wearing a suit and carrying a black briefcase and a red and white shopping bag. Law enforcement observed SUH enter the rear passenger seat of a black Toyota Highlander and depart the train station.

At approximately 3:50 p.m., TONG HYON SUH, a/k/a “Jason Suh,” the defendant, arrived at the address provided by “Megan.”  When SUH entered the building located at that address, detectives with the Greenwich Police Department arrested him. After SUH’s arrest, the defectives retrieved a black briefcase and a red and white shopping bag from the vehicle in which SUH was riding.  An inventory search of the briefcase and bag revealed that they contained, among other things, a laptop computer, a thumb drive, sneakers, matches, marijuana, toiletries, clothing, an unopened package of lollipops, and six condoms.

Following his arrest, TONG HYON SUH, a/k/a “Jason Suh,” was charged in Stamford Superior Court.

There may be other victims of this alleged conduct.  If you have information to report, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI

SUH, 45 of Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and one count of attempted enticement of a minor, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Following today’s presentment, Judge Krause ordered that SUH be detained.

Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State’s Attorneys Office, Greenwich Police Department, and the Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of special agents and task force officers from the FBI, U.S. Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Westchester County DAs Office, Rockland County DAs Office, NYPD, Westchester County PD, and the Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, White Plains, Peekskill, Ramapo, and Clarkstown Police Department. He added that the investigation is ongoing.  

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

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JUNE 1, 2022

 

Statewide 7-Day Average Case Rate Has Consecutively Dropped For Past 15 Days  Lowest Level Since April 27

Cases Continue to Decline Across All Regions

49 Statewide Deaths Reported, from 5/28 to 5/31

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.

"As we continue to monitor the numbers, it is important that we don't let our guard down and keep using the tools we have available to us to stay safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness is to get vaccinated and keep up to date with your booster doses. If you are experiencing symptoms, get tested, and if you test positive talk to your doctor about available treatments."  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

Important Note: Due to the holiday, HERDS data collection from health care facilities was paused from 5/28/2022-5/30/2022. Data from those days were submitted in Tuesday's report. Where noted, totals include four days of cumulative data from 5/28/2022-6/1/2022. As a result, some data may appear higher than recent trends. Data affected is marked with an asterisk.

• Cases Per 100k - 29.07
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 32.78
• Test Results Reported - 54,078
• Total Positive - 5,681
• Percent Positive - 10.42%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.85%**
• Patient Hospitalization -  2,459
• Patients Newly Admitted - 1,135*
• Patients in ICU - 238
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 85*
• Total Discharges - 307,600 (+900)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 49*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 56,106*

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.  

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.    

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.  

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 71,570

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.      

• Total vaccine doses administered - 38,940,477
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 8,064
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 122,668
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.6%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 84.0%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 87.4%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.7%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.6%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.1%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.5%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.6%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.4%                                                                                                             

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:   

Borough	Sunday, May 29, 2022	Monday, May 30, 2022	Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Bronx	4.07%	4.01%	4.15%
Kings	5.66%	5.59%	5.80%
New York	6.48%	6.46%	6.49%
Queens	6.09%	6.03%	6.09%
Richmond	6.69%	6.43%	6.36%

Attorney General James Cracks Down on Gun Sellers Illegally Selling and Advertising Ghost Gun Parts

 

AG James Orders 28 Firearms Sellers to Immediately Stop Selling and Advertising Parts Used to Make Homemade, Untraceable Guns

On the First Day of Gun Violence Awareness Month, AG James Takes Action to Protect New Yorkers

 On the first day of Gun Violence Awareness Month, New York Attorney General Letitia James today took action to crack down on firearms sellers illegally selling and advertising gun parts that are used to create homemade, untraceable firearms, known as ghost guns. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that 28 firearms sellers across the state advertised and/or offered to sell one or more unfinished frames, receivers, and/or kits containing both. The OAG’s investigation found that a majority of these gun sellers were located in Western New York and on Long Island. New York law prohibits the sale, exchange, or disposal of unfinished frames and receivers. In cease-and-desist letters to all 28 dealers, Attorney General James ordered these businesses to immediately stop advertising and selling the prohibited parts and warned of the legal consequences, including imprisonment, if they do not comply.

“Ghost guns are fueling the flames of the gun violence epidemic, and we will not sit idly as they proliferate in our streets and devastate communities,” said Attorney General James. “Across the nation, too many lives are being lost because of these untraceable and unregistered weapons that anyone can get their hands on without a background check. We are not going to wait for another tragedy, my office is taking action to crack down on gun sellers that are illegally advertising ghost guns. If gun sellers do not comply with the law, they will face the full force of my office.”

The OAG’s investigation found that most of these firearms sellers advertised the prohibited unfinished receivers, frames, and kits online or at gun shows. They advertised them on their websites, with some allowing consumers to buy online and others telling consumers to call and ask for the price. Today’s enforcement action is the result of the Jose Webster Untraceable Firearms Act and the Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act, which recently came into effect and criminalizes the sale of ghost guns and requires gunsmiths to register and serialize all such firearms.

Nine of these businesses are in Western New York, six on Long Island, five in Central New York, four in the Hudson Valley, two in the Southern Tier, and one in the Capital Region.

Unfinished receivers and frames, also known as 80 percent frames, do not have serial numbers and can easily be used to make untraceable guns, or ghost guns, at home using basic tools. Unfinished receivers hold the upper, lower, and rear portions of a semiautomatic rifle together. Purchasers of unfinished receivers only have to make a few small changes with a common drill press to transform an unfinished receiver into a fully operational one. Once milled, a receiver may be readily turned into a fully-assembled, illegal assault weapon. Similarly, a purchaser of an unfinished frame can use commonly available tools to finish the frame, which may then be readily assembled into an untraceable handgun.

Some of the businesses identified by OAG were selling kits that contained unfinished frames and the tools needed to put a finished gun together at home. They advertised “blank serialization plates,” which makes the firearms untraceable.

The OAG identified the following illegal products advertised by these gun dealers.

Illegal gun kit advertised for sale online by a Western New York gun shop. Kit includes an unfinished frame, hardened rail pins, a finishing jig, drill bits, and an end mill, which are all components that can be used to make an untraceable gun at home.

Illegal, unfinished lower receiver advertised for sale by gun sellers across the state.

Illegal, unfinished frame advertised for sale online by a Capital Region gun shop.

In her cease-and-desist letters, Attorney General James reminds the gun sellers that it is illegal in New York for any person not licensed as a gunsmith or dealer in firearms to knowingly possess an unfinished frame or receiver, and false or misleading advertisements about the legal risks of buying an unfinished frame or receiver could subject them to disgorgement, restitution, and penalties of up to $5,000 for each violation.

Today’s action is the latest example of Attorney General James’ commitment to cracking down on ghost guns and combatting gun violence in New York. In April 2021, Attorney General James sent a letter to U.S. DOJ urging them to strengthen federal regulations on ghost guns. In February 2021, Attorney General James led a coalition of 21 attorneys general from around the nation in filing an amicus brief in the case Grewal v. Defense Distributed before the U.S. Supreme Court, where the coalition fought a lawsuit that seeks to stop states from enforcing their laws against a company disseminating dangerous 3D-printed gun files on the internet.

In September 2019, Attorney General James sent cease and desist letters to the companies behind a number of websites selling incomplete weaponry pieces to New Yorkers that could be easily assembled into illegal assault weapons. In July 2020, Attorney General James announced that all the companies behind the sale of these firearms or firearms components had complied with her cease and desist letters and ended the sale of these weapons to New Yorkers.

To date, Attorney General James has taken more than 3,000 firearms, including dozens of ghost guns, out of communities through gun buyback events and takedowns of violent drug and crime rings since taking office in 2019.