New Jersey Man Sentenced To 78 Months For Laundering Millions From Fraud Schemes Perpetrated By Ghana-Based Criminal Enterprise

 

Defendant Controlled Bank Accounts Totaling Over $5 Million, Which Primarily Consisted of Proceeds of Romance Schemes Targeting Elderly Victims

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that FREEMAN CELVIN, a/k/a “Celvin Freeman,” was sentenced today to 78 months for his participation in a fraud and money laundering conspiracy based in the Republic of Ghana (“Ghana”) involving the theft of millions of dollars.  On March 30, 2022, CELVIN was convicted after a jury trial of all seven counts against him before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who imposed today’s sentence.  CELVIN was previously arrested on February 17, 2021, and has been detained since his arrest.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Freeman Celvin used an auto business in New Jersey as a front to launder millions of dollars in fraud proceeds to scam artists in Ghana.  The online scams perpetrated by Celvin’s partners in Ghana were lucrative and callous, as they targeted vulnerable, elderly men and women and tricked them into transferring their life savings to the defendant, who then took his laundering fee and sent the money abroad.  Today’s sentence demonstrates that money launderers who assist online scammers abroad will be held accountable and brought to justice for their crimes.”    

As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:

From in or about 2014 through in or about February 2021, a criminal enterprise based in Ghana (the “Enterprise”) committed a series of business email compromises and romance scams against individuals and businesses located across the United States, including in the Southern District of New York.  The objective of the Enterprise’s business email compromise fraud scheme was to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds into accounts controlled by the Enterprise through the use of email accounts that “spoofed” or impersonated employees of a victim company or third parties engaged in business with a victim company.  The Enterprise also conducted romance scams by using electronic messages sent via email, text messaging, or online dating websites that deluded victims, many of whom were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone, into believing the victim was in a romantic relationship with a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise.  Once members of the Enterprise had gained the trust of the victims using the fake identity, they used false pretenses to cause the victims to wire money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when in fact the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise, like CELVIN. l ba

CELVIN received fraud proceeds from victims of the Enterprise in personank accounts as well as business bank accounts for his company Freeman Autos LLC, a company purportedly involved in, among other things, automobile sales.  The defendant also received fraud proceeds from other U.S.-based members of the Enterprise either by wire transfer or cash deliveries.  Once CELVIN received fraud proceeds, he took out a percentage fee and then withdrew, transported, and laundered those fraud proceeds to other members of the Enterprise abroad in Ghana.  The defendant primarily laundered the fraud proceeds by using the money to purchase automobiles and other goods and shipping those products to Ghana and elsewhere.  The defendant’s transactions had the appearance of legitimate business transactions.  This trade-based money laundering scheme was designed to obscure the origin of the fraud proceeds as well as the identity of the ultimate beneficiaries of these schemes. 

From in or about 2016 through in or about 2021, CELVIN controlled more than eight bank accounts that had deposits that totaled over approximately $5.7 million during that time period.  The vast majority of those deposits consisted of large wire transfers and check or cash deposits from U.S.-based individuals and entities that were victims of the Enterprise’s fraud schemes.   

In addition to his prison term, CELVIN, 48, of East Orange, New Jersey, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and further ordered to forfeit $290,604.15.  CELVIN’s co-conspirators, FRED ASANTE and LORD ANING, were previously sentenced to 108 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, earlier this year.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

NYS OASAS ANNOUNCES AWARD OF MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION TO ENHANCE PREVENTION SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS

 

Funding Supports Prevention Programs to Help Older New Yorkers Avoid Substance Use Disorders

 

OASAS Also Marking “Red Ribbon Week” Nationwide Prevention Effort

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports today announced the award of more than $1.3 million in funding to support the expansion of addiction prevention efforts for older adults. Eight OASAS prevention providers are receiving funding through this initiative, which involves two evidence-based approaches to addiction prevention.

“Addiction can affect anyone, including older adults, and often times this population can face barriers when accessing help,” OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said. “With this expansion of our prevention services for older adults we will be able to better reach them with these important services to support their health and well-being.”

Providers will use this funding to engage with older adults through the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) program. WISE is a program for older adults that focuses on healthy aging and making healthy lifestyle choices. This includes education topics such as substance misuse, medication management, stress management, and depression.

The initiative also is designed to increase engagement with the adult population through the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). This is a comprehensive public health approach to identify those at risk of developing substance use disorders and delivers early intervention and treatment services to individuals whose exhibit habits of risky use of alcohol and other substances.

The award of this funding also coincides with the annual “Red Ribbon Week” which runs from October 23^rd through 31^st. This annual observance raises awareness of the harms caused by substance use, and works to publicize available prevention services.

OASAS is partnering with the New York State Office for the Aging and the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services for this initiative. Funding was provided to New York State through the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Supplemental Grant, and awardees are listed by region below:

Finger Lakes

• CASA-Trinity Inc. - $197,408

Mohawk Valley

• Catholic Charities of Herkimer County – $200,000

New York City

• The Educational Alliance - $182,917
• Elmcor Youth and Adults Activities - $200,000
• Riseboro Community Partnership - $200,000

North Country

• Pivot Primary Prevention - $151,810
• Substance Abuse Prevention Team Essex County - $200,000

Western New York

• Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse - $39,355

New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen said, “When it comes to addiction identification and treatment, older adults have unique needs, especially individuals who may be isolated, struggling with medical conditions, or experiencing other root causes. The service and outreach programs being supported today are effective because they are attuned to these specialized needs while also helping to overcome the added burden of social stigma. NYSOFA is proud of our strong collaborative work with OASAS to support these efforts, including medication safety, evidence-based interventions, and screening to help older adults overcome drug or alcohol misuse.”

New York State Division of Veterans’ Services Director Viviana DeCohen said, “We are grateful to our partners at OASAS and OFA for addressing the unique needs of older adults seeking substance use treatment and assistance. We are aware that substance use disorders are also an issue impacting our veterans and their families and appreciate the opportunity to join forces to better serve those who served our nation and state through their military service. We look forward to continuing this important work together.” 

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) oversees one of the nation’s largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 680,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year. OASAS is the single designated state agency responsible for the coordination of state-federal relations in the area of addiction services.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

DEC Encourages New Yorkers to Help Protect Bats During 'Bat Week'

 

Annual Halloween Observance Raises Public Awareness to Help Reduce Human Disturbance to Endangered and Threatened Bats

 In observance of the internationally recognized Bat Week held Oct. 24-31 each year to raise awareness about the critical role of bats in our environment, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today encouraged outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter months. Bats spend the winter hibernating in these underground cavities where relatively constant, warm temperatures protect them from harsh outside winter temperatures above ground. Human visitation in the winter to these “hibernacula” disturbs the bats, and is especially harmful since the arrival of white-nose syndrome, a fungus that has killed more than 90 percent of bats at hibernation sites in the state.

“Bats play an important role in our environment, helping control insect populations,” Commissioner Seggos said. “With Halloween on people’s minds, DEC is urging outdoor adventurers to protect New York’s bats by avoiding caves and mines altogether. Even the quietest cave visits will disturb bats hunkering down for the winter.”

If bats are disturbed during hibernation, they raise their body temperature, depleting crucial fat reserves. This stored fat is the only source of energy available to the bats until the weather warms in spring and insects become readily available. The more frequently bats are disturbed, the less likely they are to survive the long winter months underground without eating. DEC reminds the public to follow all posted notices restricting access to caves and mines. If explorers do venture out and discover bats hibernating in a cave, DEC urges them to leave quickly and quietly to minimize disturbance.

Bat Week is observed each year through Oct. 31, and is organized by representatives from conservation groups and government agencies in the U.S. and Canada.                                 

In recent years, scientists have found some evidence of recovery of the once-common little brown bat throughout New York State. While this seeming stabilization provides a hopeful outlook after more than a decade of devastating population declines, similar evidence of stabilization has not been seen for other severely affected bat species.

Two species of bats are currently protected under federal and State endangered species law. The Indiana bat, which is sparsely distributed across New York, is a federally endangered bat listed before white-nose syndrome later began affecting bat populations. The northern long-eared bat, currently listed as a threatened species under federal and New York State endangered species law, was proposed to be listed as endangered. The current population for this formerly common bat is approximately one percent of its previous size, making this species the most severely affected by white-nose syndrome. Still, northern long-eared bats are widely distributed in New York and their presence has been documented in most of the state's approximately 100 caves and mines serving as bat hibernation sites.

A third New York species, the tri-colored bat, was proposed for endangered species protection by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Sept. 13, 2022. Although widespread in distribution, tri-colored bats were rare in New York even before they experienced a 98-percent population decline due to white-nose disease.

Anyone entering a northern long-eared bat hibernation site from Oct. 1 through April 30, the typical hibernation period for bats, may be subject to prosecution. Details about the protection of the northern long-eared bat can be found on DEC's website.

There is currently no treatment for bats suffering from white-nose syndrome. Along with the New York State Department of Health, DEC is partnering with researchers from the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and experts at universities across the country to better understand the disease and develop a treatment. This collaborative effort helped identify that reducing disturbances at hibernation sites during the winter can help the remaining animals survive. For more information about white-nose syndrome, visit the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team website.

Fortune Society Protest by Mothers against 1900 Seminole Avenue

 

Former Green Haven Correction Officer Charged With Falsifying Records In Connection With Assault Of Inmate

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that TAJ EVERLY, a former correction officer at Green Haven Correctional Facility, was charged in White Plains federal court with falsifying records in connection with EVERLY’s May 28, 2020, assault of an inmate at Green Haven.  EVERLY was arrested this morning and presented before Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Taj Everly abused his position as a correction officer by assaulting an inmate and then lying about his actions in an incident report.  This Office has no tolerance for correction officers like Everly who, as alleged, commit acts of violence against inmates in their care and custody and then lie to cover their tracks.  Today’s indictment should send a clear message that this Office will continue to investigate and prosecute civil rights abuses wherever we find them.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As we allege, Mr. Everly violated his oath to uphold the law when he willingly filed a false report to conceal his malicious actions.  Individuals in a position of authority in our criminal justice system are not above the law.  The FBI will continue to investigate these types of allegations and ensure those who abuse their power are held accountable.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court:[1]

On May 28, 2020, EVERLY, who was then a correction officer at Green Haven Correctional Facility, located in Stormville, New York, assaulted an inmate (the “Inmate”) in the care and custody of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (“DOCCS”).  As the Inmate exited a room at Green Haven, EVERLY approached the Inmate and, without provocation, punched the Inmate, causing both EVERLY and the Inmate to fall to the ground.

After the assault, EVERLY prepared an incident report, in which EVERLY falsely stated that the Inmate had first punched him and that EVERLY responded with force.

EVERLY, 32, of Cortlandt Manor, New York, is charged with falsifying records in connection with a federal investigation, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations. 

The charge contained in the Indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is 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 herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

MAYOR ADAMS, GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCE COMPLETION OF $62 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE BRONX

 

El Borinquen Residence Delivers 148 Affordable Apartments to Morrisania, Including 90 With Supportive Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul and today announced the completion of a $62 million affordable housing development in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. The El Borinquen Residence will have 148 affordable apartments, including 90 with on-site supportive services for people experiencing homelessness and 29 homes for seniors.

 

“With the completion of the El Borinquen Residence, more of our neighbors experiencing homelessness and mental illness will have a place they can call home,” said Mayor Adams. “Our administration’s Housing Our Neighbors blueprint finally treats homelessness as a housing problem and we’re working to solve it with a housing solution, and supportive housing projects like El Borinquen are a critical part of making that solution reality. Thank you to our partners helping to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for the Bronx and New York City.”

 

“Affordable and supportive housing is a fundamental component to addressing homelessness across the state,” said Governor Hochul. “Building on the successful opening of the El Borinquen Residence, my administration is implementing our $25 billion, five-year housing plan that will allow us to continue to make important investments in communities like the Bronx. By increasing the supply of high-quality inclusive housing, we can ensure that New Yorkers have not only an affordable place to call home, but also access to the supportive services they need to thrive.”

 

The El Borinquen Residence consists of a single 10-story building with 148 apartments. The colorful streetside façade along Third Avenue was designed to reflect the Puerto Rican culture of the surrounding neighborhood.

 

Ninety apartments are reserved for adults formerly experiencing homelessness and youth or young adults aging out of foster care. These residents have access to rental subsidies and on-site services funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative.

 

Supportive services include individual case management, mental health referrals, job readiness training, and financial literacy workshops. Comunilife is the service provider as well as the project’s developer.

 

In addition to the supportive units, 29 apartments are reserved for seniors aged 62 and older earning at or below 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). The remaining apartments are reserved for households earning at or below 60 percent of the AMI.

 

Residential amenities include a community space for events, a bike room, a landscaped area on the ground floor for passive recreation, and a roof garden. The development is located within a mixed-use residential and commercial area with access to local amenities and within 10 blocks of four subway lines.

 

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) provided $14.2 million through the Supportive Housing Loan Program. State financing for the El Borinquen Residence includes $7.7 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Tax Credits that generated $23.2 million in equity, and $14.3 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

 

“We are thrilled to welcome 148 individuals and households to their new homes at El Borinquen Residence,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Developed with the community in mind, El Borinquen will provide life-changing services and security to vulnerable New Yorkers. From young adults aging out of foster care to extremely low-income seniors, every new resident here will have the support they need thanks to our partners at Comunilife and our colleagues at the state.”

 

“Through the provision of state-of-the-art affordable housing and supportive services to vulnerable New Yorkers, the El Borinquen Residence will deliver the stability, comfort, and security that New Yorkers in need deserve,” said New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins. “We are committed to connecting New Yorkers in need to high-quality housing opportunities, and projects like this are essential to our efforts to do so. We are immensely grateful to our partners in city and state government, as well as all others who worked so hard to make this development a reality. We look forward to building on these efforts to make New York City more equitable and affordable for all residents.”

 

“The $62 million El Borinquen Residence is a concrete investment in a stronger, healthier, and more equitable Bronx for the future,” said HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “Thanks to our development partner, Comunilife, 148 households now have a safe and stable home with access to the care they need to achieve their goals and improve their health outcomes. Under Governor Hochul’s housing plan, New York will continue building more supportive housing opportunities like this one to fight homelessness, expand community services, and keep the Bronx moving forward.”

 

“I welcome El Borinquén to our great Bronx family,” said New York State Senator Luis Sepúlveda. “Every time we are able to witness the completion of more housing in our district, it fills me with hope and joy. With this, we add 148 apartments, and they will become homes for our people. I make the reference to home, because a place to live is not the same as a dignified, humane, and safe place that becomes a home. With a $62 million investment, the help of public officials and private enterprise and the convention of improving the lives of our people, today El Borinquén is a reality. This name is very special to me because it speaks of my land and the land of my parents, Puerto Rico. Welcome to your new home, ‘Borinqueños.’”

Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams Announce Completion of $62 Million Affordable Housing Development in the Bronx

 

El Borinquen Residence Delivers 148 Affordable Apartments to Måorrisania, Including 90 with Supportive Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

 Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams today announced the completion of a $62 million affordable housing development in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. The El Borinquen Residence creates 148 new affordable apartments, including 90 with on-site supportive services for people experiencing homelessness and 29 homes reserved for seniors.

"Affordable and supportive housing is a fundamental component to addressing homelessness across the state," Governor Hochul said. "Building on the successful opening of the El Borinquen Residence, my administration is implementing our $25 billion, five-year housing plan that will allow us to continue to make important investments in communities like the Bronx. By increasing the supply of high-quality inclusive housing, we can ensure that New Yorkers have not only an affordable place to call home, but also access to the supportive services they need to thrive."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, "With the completion of the El Borinquen Residence, more of our neighbors experiencing homelessness and mental illness will have a place they can call home. Our administration's Housing Our Neighbors blueprint finally treats homelessness as a housing problem and we're working to solve it with a housing solution, and supportive housing projects like El Borinquen are a critical part of making that solution reality. Thank you to our partners helping to 'Get Stuff Done' for the Bronx and New York City."

The El Borinquen Residence complements Governor Hochul's sweeping plans to make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable. In the FY 2023 State Budget, the Governor introduced and successfully secured a new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan that will increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

The El Borinquen Residence consists of a single ten-story building with 148 apartments. The colorful streetside façade along Third Avenue was designed to pay tribute to the neighborhood's Puerto Rican heritage.

90 apartments are reserved for formerly homeless adults and youth or young adults ageing out of foster care. These residents have access to rental subsidies and on-site services funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative.

Supportive services include individual case management, mental health referrals, job readiness training and financial literacy workshops. Comunilife is the service provider, as well as the project's developer.

In addition to the supportive units, 29 apartments are reserved for residents aged 62 and older with incomes at or below 30 percent of the Area Median Income. The remaining apartments are for households earning at or below 60 percent of the AMI.

Residential amenities include a community space for events, bike room, landscaped area on the ground floor, and a rooftop garden. The development is located within a mixed-use residential and commercial area with access to local amenities and within ten blocks of four subway lines.

State financing for the El Borinquen Residence includes $7.7 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $23.2 million in equity and $14.3 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $14.2 million through the Supportive Housing Loan Program.

In the last five years, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested more than $1 billion to create or preserve nearly 7,500 affordable apartments in multifamily buildings in the Bronx.

Permits Filed For 2180 Walton Avenue In Fordham Heights, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story mixed-use building at 2180 Walton Avenue in Fordham Heights, The Bronx. Located between East 182nd Street and Anthony Baez Place, the lot is two blocks west of the 182nd-183rd Streets subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Arben Mitaj of Euro Tech Developers is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 82-foot-tall development will yield 38,251 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 63 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 607 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a 30-foot-long rear yard but no accessory parking.

Badaly Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.