State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Statement Regarding Antisemitism and New York's Response:

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued the following statement regarding antisemitism and New York's response:

"The antisemitic threats and incidents we’ve seen on college campuses, on city streets, and online have no place in our society. Antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate directed at any community must be denounced in all their forms. We cannot and will not tolerate intimidation in any community or at any institution.  

"I fully support Governor Kathy Hochul's bold and smart actions today to protect Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers. I have confidence that Judge Lippman’s review of the City University of New York’s policies and procedures related to antisemitism and discrimination will help protect Jewish students and faculty.  

"We stand with one voice in saying hate has no place in New York." 

Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams Announce Launch of Induction Stove Challenge to Electrify Cooking Systems at New York City Public Housing Apartments

NYCHA, NYPA, and NYSERDA Partner to Issue Request for Proposals Seeking Manufacturers to Produce a New Class of Induction Stove

Program to Lead to Installation of 10,000 Modern, Induction Stoves in NYC Public Housing

Initial Pilot Program to Install Prototype Induction Stoves in 100 NYCHA Apartments

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams today announced that New York State is partnering with New York City to launch the Induction Stove Challenge through the release of a request for proposal calling on appliance manufacturers to design and produce energy-efficient, induction stoves to replace existing gas stoves while avoiding costly electrical upgrades in New York City Housing Authority buildings. NYCHA, the New York Power Authority, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority first announced the competitive innovation challenge in July, which promises to ultimately lead to the deployment of 10,000 induction stoves in NYCHA apartments.

“Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe, healthy home," Governor Hochul said. “This innovative new partnership between the City and State will lead to the development of a new class of induction stovetops – ultimately providing NYCHA residents with state-of-the-art appliances in their homes. New York will continue to lead the nation with our commitments to climate justice and innovative clean energy solutions.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “After decades of federal disinvestment in public housing — a bedrock for so many working New Yorkers — it’s long past time to get creative about how we build NYCHA for the future. But our administration is and has been ready to go. The Induction Stove Challenge will deliver energy efficient and cost-effective stoves to NYCHA residents in more than 100 apartments, and we will use the results of this important effort to identify any next steps worth taking.”

The Request for Proposal (RFP), which was issued by NYPA on November 3, invites manufacturers to submit proposals that include innovative solutions for new induction stoves that can be installed in older buildings using standard 120-volt, 20-amp outlets. Once one or two manufacturers are selected, they will have up to 24 months to design, prototype, and produce 100 units of the new product for testing during the challenge’s pilot phase. The units will be installed in up to 100 NYCHA apartments, with new cookware provided to each participating household, with the intent of providing best-in-class, comfortable cooking as well as health and quality of life benefits to NYCHA residents. Manufacturers participating in the challenge are required to work with industry testing and safety standards organizations such as Underwriter Laboratories to achieve certification for novel technologies prior to the pilot phase.

Successful testing of the selected product will trigger a large-scale purchase order of at least 10,000 units from NYCHA. The effort will demonstrate to building owners the promise of an affordable conversion to efficient induction cooking, and to manufacturers regarding the potential of a broader residential market for the new induction stove products. The initial purchase will support dozens of NYCHA buildings in fully electrifying their energy systems and displacing fossil fuel use.

To ensure that the new induction stoves can serve a large, national market, NYSERDA is engaging other states, municipalities, and housing providers across North America to generate interest in the results of the challenge. In this way, the challenge will build a pipeline of potential demand from others pursuing cooking electrification, aligning NYCHA’s product specifications with the needs of the broader market. Twelve agencies representing more than 300,000 housing units have already signed up to support the initiative.

Responses to the RFP are due on January 9, 2024.

The Induction Stove challenge is modeled after another successful State-City partnership, the Clean Heat for All Challenge, in which NYCHA, NYPA, and NYSERDA invited manufacturers to develop and produce a new electrification product to better serve multifamily buildings’ heating and cooling needs and hasten the transition to fossil-free heating sources at NYCHA campuses.

The Induction Stove program is representative of NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda. Launched in 2021, the Housing Authority announced an ambitious recommitment to address climate change. Informed by 10 months of engagement with NYCHA residents, City agencies, community-based organizations, and technical experts, the Authority’s agenda focuses on taking a holistic approach to building renovations and community needs.

MAYOR ADAMS, DOT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, LYFT ANNOUNCE EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENTS TO CITI BIKE SYSTEM AS RIDERSHIP REACHES RECORD HIGHS

 

City and Lyft Will More Than Double Number of E-Bikes, Create Pathway to Electrify Stations, and Provide New Benefits for Members

 

Citi Bike Surpassed Single-Day Ridership Record, Reached 200 Million All-Time Rides, and Opened 2,000^th Station in September

 

Adams Administration on Track to Install Record Number of Protected Bike Lanes in 2023

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and Lyft today unveiled plans to expand and improve the Citi Bike system to meet ridership demand and growth and to promote cycling and micromobility. By the end of next year, Citi Bike will double its electric bike fleet and pilot at least two electrified charging/docking stations, with plans to electrify 20 percent of stations in the coming years. Citi Bike will also introduce new price caps to its e-bike pricing model, and has already added 2,800 classic bikes and replaced 2,200 existing bikes as a part of its Phase 3 expansion.

 

Since its launch 10 years ago, Citi Bike has become a ubiquitous part of the fabric of New York City, and now is the largest bike share program in the nation and the fastest-growing transportation network in the city’s history with 200 million all-time rides. Lyft and the city have doubled the system’s number of docking from 1,000 in August 2020 to 2,000 in September 2023. In August 2023, the system set a monthly record with over 4 million rides, up 63 percent from 2019. A record-breaking 161,422 Citi Bike rides took place on October 28, 2023, representing approximately one-quarter of the total estimated cycling trips on an average day in New York City. Additionally, as of October 29, there have been 30.7 million Citi Bike rides this calendar year – setting a new annual record with more than two months left in the year.

 

“Biking in New York City wouldn’t be what it is today without Citi Bike, and we’re launching a new era of our city’s two-wheeled history by expanding and improving this system,” said Mayor Adams. “I’ve biked all across the city — from High Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge — and this agreement with Lyft ensures that public bike share will be available for New Yorkers to do the same for the next decade. As we work every day to promote safe cycling on bikes and e-bikes, we will never stop making it greener, cleaner, and easier for all New Yorkers to travel across our great city.”

 

“Our shared bike system has become a fundamental part of our transportation network as more New Yorkers choose to bike every year,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “We’re glad to extend our congratulations to Citi Bike for setting a new monthly record of four million rides in August. We're excited to continue this partnership, expand the Citi Bike service to more communities, and add a greater share of e-bikes to the total fleet.”

 

“We’ve seen bike share grow to become an essential part of New York City’s transportation landscape, with hundreds of thousands of Citi Bike trips taken every week. Biking is often the fastest way to get around the city—and these new initiatives will make Citi Bike an even more convenient option for commuters,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “We look forward to working with Lyft on these important program improvements.”

 

“E-bikes are a game changer, and New Yorkers are continually raising the bar, riding and enjoying them more every week this year,” said Caroline Samponaro, vice president for micromobility and transit policy, Lyft. “Riding an e-bike makes the Big Apple feel small, helping riders cross bridges and travel longer distances in less time without breaking a sweat.”

 

Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, New York City has launched and completed significant bike infrastructure and greenway projects across all five boroughs. After winning a $7.25 million federal grant, the Adams administration launched a groundbreaking effort to expand the Harlem River Greenway seven miles into the Bronx — delivering critical public space in a community too often left behind. The administration has also completed and launched major bike infrastructure projects in East New York in Brooklyn, on Soundview Avenue in the Bronx, on Third Avenue in Manhattan, and more.

 

The Citi Bike system has grown to more than 30,000 bikes and 2,000 stations, more than quadrupling its fleet from 6,000 bikes and 332 stations at launch in May 2013. After the completion of the current Phase 3 expansion, Citi Bike will have deployed more than 40,000 bikes. . This year’s expansion areas include Ditmas Park and Flatbush in Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Corona, and Elmhurst in Queens; and Bathgate and Marble Hill in the Bronx.

 

Expanded E-bike Fleet: Citi Bike will double its electric fleet by the end of next year. Pedal-assist e-bikes enable travel over longer distances and inclines like bridges, while also making daily bicycling accessible to more people. E-bikes have been a major contributor to Citi Bike ridership growth as hundreds of thousands of riders took their first ride on an e-bike last year. E-bike rides have increased from less than 14 percent of rides in 2020 to over 46 percent so far this year, despite making up about one-fifth of the fleet. In addition to providing a great riding experience for users, the entire Citi Bike e-bike fleet uses safe UL-certified batteries.

 

Additionally, DOT will launch a public awareness campaign on safe e-bike operations, focused on educating New Yorkers about how to properly accelerate, brake, and operate at an appropriate speed. The campaign will include both public marketing and direct community education to help newer riders know what to expect when they operate an e-bike.

 

Station Electrification: To enhance e-bike fleet growth, DOT and Lyft will pilot a grid-connected charging station later this year, with a goal of electrifying stations over the coming years. Electrified stations improve e-bike availability for riders by substantially increasing the number of bikes with sufficient battery charge and improving operational efficiency. Currently, e-bike batteries are charged in a warehouse and manually swapped at the station. Once the charging station network is built, DOT and Lyft will explore how operational cost savings can be passed along to riders.

 

Member Benefits and Access: Starting in January 2024, all new annual Citi Bike memberships and renewals will come with 60 free e-bike minutes. Members will never have to pay an additional fee to ride a bike when only e-bikes are left in a station. On Citi Bike’s next-generation e-bike, members will be able to choose in the app whether they prefer to ride with full assist — requiring more battery usage — at $0.17 per minute or a low-assist ride free for the first 45 minutes. Citi Bike key fobs will also be available for free for annual members who do not have smartphones or prefer to ride without using them.

 

Price Controls: Contractual price controls are being extended to per-minute prices for e-bikes, which were previously uncapped. Under the new cap, pricing this year cannot exceed $0.24 per minute for members, $0.36 for non-members, and $0.12 per minute for reduced-fare bike share members. The price ceiling takes into account the increasing cost of e-bike operations, with adjustments tied to economy-wide inflation in future years. Additionally, the existing cap on the Citi Bike annual membership price will be lowered from $230 to $210. An annual Citi Bike membership costs $205 this year, below the cap. Citi Bike pricing is not changing at this time.

 

Improving the Classic Pedal Bike Experience: Lyft will expand the classic pedal bike fleet by 2,800 bikes as part of the Phase 3 expansion. In addition, Lyft will replace 2,200 classic bikes, some of which date back to the launch of the system in May 2013, with brand-new bikes.

 

Equity: The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, DOT, and Lyft are continuing their successful Summer Youth Employment Program partnership to provide free rides and Citi Bike Unlocked safety training to participants. This fall, Lyft is partnering with DOT to run a reduced-fare bike share outreach and marketing campaign to expand community awareness about the Citi Bike membership program.

 

Safety: As part of the expansion of the e-bike fleet, Lyft and DOT have decided that the top assistive speed for pedal-assist Citi Bikes will be set at 18 MPH.  This year, Citi Bike is partnering with local ride leaders to hold nearly 80 free community rides for new and current riders. Each ride begins with a safety course by the ride leader. All Citi Bike riders, whether they are experienced or new to urban biking, are required to review a safety guide in our app before their first ride to help them feel more comfortable and confident. Citi Bike also provides safety tips and resources — both on their website and by email to all riders. Additionally, Lyft will continue to work with DOT to develop measures to prevent underage riding, passenger riding in baskets or on fenders, and other unsafe behaviors as the pedal-assist fleet expands.

 

Statement from NYGOP Chair Ed Cox Re: Israel - Hamas

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement in response to reports that the Biden Administration will press Israel for “pauses” in its existential war with Hamas:

 

“For weeks, antisemitic mobs have been raging in cities and on campuses across America. Rather than calling these mobs out for what they are doing – aiding and abetting the barbaric enemies of Western civilization – Joe Biden, as his poll ratings have dropped, has bowed to their pressure by stumbling into calls for a ‘pause’ (in reality a ceasefire).

 

“In war, there is no substitute for victory. There cannot be a ‘pause’ in Israel’s campaign to defend itself from an existential threat and to rescue the hostages held by Hamas thugs in Gaza. Biden has never understood that, especially in the mideast, strength, and the will to use it where necessary, is the only path to peace.

 

“The Republican Party will, as it always has, stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel as they eradicate the Hamas terrorists, move to strengthen the Abraham Accords and, from a position of strength, face the ultimate Iranian terrorist threat.”

Developers Celebrate The Opening Of Bronx Point At 575 Exterior Street In The South Bronx

 

On October 19, Bronx Point celebrated its opening in a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by L&M Development Partners, Type A Projects, BronxWorks, and The Hip Hop Museum, alongside elected officials and community leaders. The $349 million mixed-use development, located on the Harlem River waterfront in the South Bronx, is set to offer 542 affordable housing units in its first phase.

The goal of Bronx Point is to address the need for affordable housing in the South Bronx, with the broader goal of revitalizing the community’s public spaces. The project introduces 2.8 acres of new waterfront public park and esplanade to the area, expanding the footprint of the community’s accessible outdoor space.

The project’s retail spaces and the early childhood space will be managed by BronxWorks and are designed to support local businesses and provide essential social services. In addition, the project will house The Hip Hop Museum, which aims to become a global hub for celebrating the genre’s rich history and ongoing influence.

Exterior of The Hip Hop Museum, by Sylvester Zawadzki

“Affordable housing, public spaces, and the soon-to-open International Hip-Hop Museum are great additions to an exciting, vibrant, and resilient Bronx community,” said Adolfo Carrión Jr., commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. “Bronx Point is a testament to the hard work and dedication of an excellent development team and visionary Bronx leaders.”

Bronx Point’s public spaces, designed by Marvel Architects, feature amenities including a playground, fitness zones, and seating areas. Bronx Point is in close proximity to several borough institutions and public transportation, enhancing its accessibility and connectivity to key urban centers.

The funding model for Bronx Point is made up of a blend of public and private capital. Major backers include the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the New York City Housing Development Corporation, and Empire State Development.

Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Conviction Of Samuel Bankman-Fried

 

“Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in American history – a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the King of Crypto – but while the cryptocurrency industry might be new and the players like Sam Bankman-Fried might be new, this kind of corruption is as old as time.  This case has always been about lying, cheating, and stealing, and we have no patience for it.  

When I became U.S. Attorney, I promised we would be relentless in rooting out corruption in our financial markets.  This is what relentless looks like.  This case moved at lightning speed – that was not a coincidence, that was a choice.  This case is also a warning to every fraudster who thinks they’re untouchable, that their crimes are too complex for us to catch, that they are too powerful to prosecute, or that they are clever enough to talk their way out of it if caught.  Those folks should think again, and cut it out.  And if they don’t, I promise we’ll have enough handcuffs for all of them.

This verdict would not have been possible without the amazing work by the career prosecutors from my Office and the FBI agents who have given their all for this case.  We have pushed them hard, and they have delivered every step of the way.  They are the best of the best, and I am grateful for them.

This case has received a tremendous amount of attention, and I understand why that is, but the women and men of the Southern District of New York consistently deliver outstanding public service on behalf of the American people – without fear or favor and often without any public recognition.  They do it because they believe in the rule of law, because they love this country, and because they are patriots.   I am proud to serve with them.” 

Bankman-Fried, 31, of Stanford, California, was convicted of two counts of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  He was also convicted of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

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

Former Memphis Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights and Conspiracy Charges in Connection with Death of Tyre Nichols

 

One of five former Memphis Police Department officers facing federal charges in the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols pled guilty in federal court.

Desmond Mills Jr., 33, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris today and pled guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges arising out of the Jan. 7 incident.

On Sept. 12, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Mills and co-defendants Emmitt Martin III, 31; Tadarrius Bean, 24; Demetrius Haley, 30; and Justin Smith, 28. The charges included using excessive force resulting in the death of Nichols; aiding and abetting each other in using that excessive force; failing to intervene to stop the excessive force; failing to render medical aid; and conspiring or taking action to cover up their misconduct.

The remaining four defendants still face a federal trial scheduled for May 6, 2024.

In this court appearance, Mills pled guilty to counts one and three of the indictment. Count one charged Mills with using excessive force and failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count three charged Mills with conspiring to cover up his use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to his supervisor and to others. 

Mills admitted to additional facts that were presented in court in connection with his plea agreement:

• Mills admitted to repeatedly and unjustifiably striking Nichols with a baton and to failing to intervene in other officers’ use of force against Nichols. Mills said he watched another officer repeatedly punch Nichols in the head while two other officers restrained Nichols. 
• Mills admitted that he did not provide any medical aid to Nichols after the beating, though he knew that Nichols had a serious medical need. He did not alert MPD or Memphis Fire Department EMTs that Nichols had been struck in the head and body.
• In addition, Mills participated in conversations with other officers in which they discussed, using force against Nichols, hitting Nichols to make him fall, and believing they were on the verge of killing Nichols when they saw that Nichols did not fall from the blows.
• Mills admitted to making false statements in connection with the arrest of Nichols, including telling his supervisor that they had done “everything by the book” and providing false information in his statements to an MPD detective tasked with writing the incident report.
• Finally, Mills submitted an MPD report that provided a false account of the force used on Nichols, including a claim that Mills saw Nichols “aggressively resisting” officers. Instead of admitting that he had seen an officer repeatedly punch Nichols in the head while Nichols was restrained by two other officers, Mills reported only that “Nichols was eventually put into custody.” 

Pursuant to the terms of Mills’s plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of no more than 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

The four remaining defendants face federal charges as set forth in the indictment, which is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case. 

Attorney General James Announces Takedown of Two Narcotics Rings Responsible for Trafficking Fentanyl Throughout Central New York and the North Country

 

31 Individuals Indicted and Charged with 192 Crimes Relating to Drug Trafficking and Weapons Offenses

Investigation Recovered Over 150,000 Packages of Fentanyl

New York Attorney General Letitia James and Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile announced the indictment of 31 defendants charged with 192 crimes related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses in connection with two major drug trafficking networks that were distributing fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Onondaga, Oswego, Cortland, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties. As alleged in two indictments, the year-long investigation led to the seizure of more than 150,000 envelopes containing over $300,000 worth of fentanyl or a mixture of fentanyl and heroin. The investigation also recovered nearly a pound of methamphetamine, one-quarter kilogram of cocaine, more than $16,500 connected to narcotics distribution activity, three illegal firearms, and two vehicles used to transport and distribute narcotics.

“Opioids like fentanyl have torn apart communities across our state, and organized drug trafficking rings have fueled their spread,” said Attorney General James. “This takedown is part of my office’s ongoing efforts to roll back the deadly and destructive effects of the opioid crisis. We will continue to pursue and prosecute all those who peddle illicit drugs and I thank our partners in law enforcement for their critical support and collaboration in this investigation.”

“I would like to commend and thank not only our drug detectives, but also Attorney General James’ office and every one of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who made this lengthy and complex investigation a success,” said Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile. “Thirty-one subjects thought they could peddle their poison of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine on the streets of Syracuse and across five counties with impunity. They were wrong. Thanks to motivated professionals and strong partnerships, they were wrong.”

“Because of the critical partnerships and collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners, a dangerous drug trafficking operation has been dismantled,” said New York State Police Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento. “Each arrest and each seizure saves lives and decreases the additional crimes that oftentimes coincide with these illegal drug operations. The arrests of these criminals reinforce our commitment that we will continue our aggressive posture in stopping the flow of these dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods. I thank the Attorney General’s Office and our law enforcement partners at all levels for their relentless efforts to keep illegal drugs off our streets.”

“Syracuse Police officers are working every day to combat illegal drug trafficking. I am deeply grateful for their efforts to protect our community from addiction and crime,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “This crackdown is another example of the importance of effective collaboration at all levels of law enforcement to take down trafficking networks that are tearing communities apart. I thank the Syracuse Police Department Special Investigations Division, Attorney General James, and the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force for their dedicated efforts to put an end to this crisis.”

Suitcases containing “blocks” of fentanyl recovered by the investigation

Indictment One
The first indictment outlines the activity of the “Castro Group” — which was led by Bayron Castro, a/k/a “Hov” — and charges 23 people with 150 counts for their roles in selling controlled substances to customers residing in Onondaga, Oswego, Cortland, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties. The investigation revealed that Castro, with assistance from Miguel Cruz, Jose Cosme, Johnathan Delgado, Xavier Jackson, and others procured significant quantities of fentanyl from suppliers in Bronx County for distribution throughout Central New York and the North Country. Castro is charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, which carries a mandatory life sentence in state prison.

The investigation recovered over 100,000 glassine envelopes containing fentanyl and heroin that Castro was storing and distributing from inside suitcases in a Syracuse apartment utilized by Jose Cosme. Castro and his associates supplied narcotics to Kwamea Jenkins and Shawn Gifford, alleged members of the Bricktown gang which operates within a multi-block area of the south side of Syracuse. During this investigation, several additional Bricktown members, including Lamell Davis, Keenan Scott, Devine Mobley, Jamar Sheppard, Jaidyn Freeman, James Odom, and Tevon Webb, were distributing fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine throughout Central New York and the North Country. 

Indictment Two
The second indictment outlines the activity of the “Pettiford Group” — which was led by Edward Pettiford, a/k/a “Buster” — and charges eight individuals with 42 counts for their roles in selling narcotics and methamphetamine and related events in Onondaga and Oswego counties. The investigation of this group revealed that alleged Bricktown member Malik Evans was distributing narcotics in Onondaga and Oswego Counties, and that Evans was supplied by Henry Townsend, a/k/a “Henrock,” and Brycedon James, a/k/a “Doodak,” both of whom were supplied by Pettiford.

During the course of the investigation, Townsend was involved in a shooting on West Newell Street in which he shot and injured an innocent civilian. In addition to drug trafficking charges, Townsend is being charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, and related offenses in conjunction with this shooting. Additionally, Emanuel Jenkins, a/k/a “Lean”, who was present at Townsend’s residence during the shooting, is charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence for retrieving and hiding shell casings discharged in the shooting.

Recovered firearms and fentanyl  

Recovered fentanyl and other narcotics

This takedown was the result of a joint investigation between the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the Syracuse Police Department’s Special Investigations Division. The multi-agency investigation, code-named “Operation Blockbuster” due to defendants’ distribution of fentanyl in large quantities they referred to as “blocks”, brought together the resources of more than a dozen state, local, and federal enforcement agencies, including the Syracuse Police Department, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, City of Oswego Police Department, Oswego County Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Agency Central New York Task Force, City of Fulton Police Department, New York State Police, New York State Intelligence Center, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Cortland County Sheriff’s Office, the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Onondaga County Probation Department. The investigation included covert physical surveillance, thousands of hours of electronic surveillance, and multiple search warrants aimed at rooting out heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine dealers operating in Central New York and the North Country.

The takedown marks another major drug bust in the Attorney Generals Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (S.U.R.G.E.) Initiative, a law enforcement effort that brings together state and local law enforcement to target New York’s growing — and often violent — heroin, fentanyl, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks. Since launching in 2017, SURGE has taken 909 alleged traffickers off the streets.

The 31 individuals who were charged with various crimes in relation to their involvement in the narcotics trafficking operation, that include various counts of Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A, B, and C felonies), and Conspiracy to commit those crimes, as well as the charges related to the shooting on West Newell Street include:

Deion Bradley, 26 years old, Syracuse, NY
Bayron Castro, a/k/a “Hov”, 41 years old, Syracuse, NY
Jose Cosme, 54 years old, Syracuse, NY
Jean Carlos Cruz, 34 years old, Syracuse, NY
Miguel Cruz, a/k/a “G”, 36 years old, Liverpool, NY
Lamell Davis, a/k/a “Melly,” or “O’Melly,” a/k/a “Felix”, 29 years old, Syracuse, NY
Johnathan Delgado, a/k/a “Green Eyes”, 37 years old, Syracuse, NY
Malik Evans, a/k/a “Leek”, 35 years old, Syracuse, NY
Chad Firenze, 34 years old, Granby, NY
Terrah Frederick, 35 years old, Adams Center, NY
Jaidyn Freeman, a/k/a “Jaido”, 21 years old, Syracuse, NY
Shawn Gifford, a/k/a “Nani”, 36 years old, Syracuse, NY
Michael Hudgins, 36 years old, Syracuse, NY
Xavier Jackson, 29 years old, Syracuse, NY
Brycedon James, a/k/a “Doodak”, 24 years old, Syracuse, NY
Emmanuel Jenkins, a/k/a “Lean”, 32 years old, Syracuse, NY
Kwamea Jenkins, 23 years old, Syracuse, NY
Luis Miguel Joaquin, 35 years old, Bronx, NY
David Kalet, 36 years old, Port Byron, NY
James Kelley, 35 years old, Liverpool, NY
Christopher Lanzafame, 33 years old, Baldwinsville, NY
Docciana Mack, 34 years old, Syracuse, NY
Devine Mobley, 21 years old, Syracuse, NY
James Odom, 31 years old, Syracuse, NY
Edward Pettiford, a/k/a “Buster”, 30 years old, Syracuse, NY
Keenan Scott, a/k/a “Kasey”, 26 years old, Syracuse, NY
Jamar Sheppard, a/k/a “Ski”, 27 years old, Syracuse, NY
Carlos Torres, 30 years old, Syracuse, NY
Henry Townsend, a/k/a “Rock,” a/k/a “Henrock”, 28 years old, Syracuse, NY
Jeffrey Walts, 40 years old, Central Square, NY
Tevon Webb, a/k/a “Tay”, 28 years old, Syracuse, NY

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

The investigation was led by Syracuse Police Detective Travis Holmes and OAG OCTF Supervising Detective Tim MacConaghy, with the assistance of the U.S. Army National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, under the supervision of OCTF Assistant Chief Investigator John Monte and Deputy Chief Investigator Andrew Boss. The Attorney General’s Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.