$3M Fraud: NY Theme Park Owner Stole COVID-19 Federal Aid $3M Fraud: NY Theme Park Owner Stole COVID-19 Federal Aid
$3M Fraud: NY Theme Park Owner Stole Covid-19 Federal Aid A man who owns a now-defunct Manhattan restaurant and a local theme park will spend time behind bars for stealing COVID-19 funds and putting it towards, among other things, a home in Nantucket. Long Island resident Donald Finley, age 61 of Locust Valley, faced his 24-month sentence on Tuesday, April 16, according to the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York. Original Story - COVID-19: Bayville Adventure Park Owner Admits To Stealing $3.2M In Federal Aid Finley, who owns Bayville Adventure Park and used to own a now-shuttered Jekyll & Hyde-themed restaura…
Cop Wounded, Suspect Killed During 'Ambush' Shootout Near College In Albany Cop Wounded, Suspect Killed During 'Ambush' Shootout Near College In Albany
Albany Cop Hurt, Suspect Killed Near College Of Saint Rose A police officer is recovering following a chase and shootout in the region that left the suspect dead. The incident happened at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood, just yards from the College of Saint Rose campus. Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said an officer was “ambushed” near the intersection of North Main and Western avenues after catching up to a vehicle that had fled a traffic stop for speeding. As the officer approached the parked car, now unoccupied, the suspect appeared from behind it and shot the officer. He fired back, hitting the susp…
Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC
Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC Nineteen people in nine states, including New Jersey and New York, reported illness after injections from a "counterfeit or mishandled" injection of botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. As of April 15, a total of 19 people from 9 states reported harmful reactions after receiving botulinum toxin injections from unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-healthcare settings, such as homes and spas, the CDC said.  Counterfeit Botox packages. FDA States reporting these reactions include Colorado, Florida, Illinois, K…
NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia
NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia An associate of the Genovese organized crime family known as “Sal the Shoemaker” admitted to operating an illegal gambling business associated with La Cosa Nostra. Long Island resident Salvatore Rubino, age 60, of Bethpage, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 16, at federal court in Brooklyn to operating the business. Earlier this month, four co-defendant members and associates of the Genovese crime family admitted to various felony charges stemming from their long-running operation of several lucrative gambling operations in New York City. Of the five charged, four are from Long Isl…
Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street
Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street More than a quarter of a million dollars has been raised to support the families of a police officer and sheriff's deputy killed in a shootout with a suspect who also died on a quiet suburban street in upstate New York earlier this week. The two officers were  Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hoosock, age 37, and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen, age 29. Hoosock is survived by his wife, Caitlin, and their three young children, ages 7, 5, and 3. As of Wednesday morning, April 17, a Fund the First drive for the families of the two has pulled in around $255,000 of a go…
21-Year-Old Armed With BB Gun Robs Duo In Cohoes, Police Say 21-Year-Old Armed With BB Gun Robs Duo In Cohoes, Police Say
21-Year-Old Armed With BB Gun Robs Duo In Cohoes, Police Say The old adage that nothing good happens after 2 a.m. rang true for two people who were robbed at gunpoint in the region. In Albany County, the two victims walked into the Cohoes Police Department at around 2:40 a.m. Monday, April 15, to report that they had just been robbed at gunpoint. The victims told investigators they had agreed to meet the suspect in a Cohoes parking lot, off Manor Avenue. During the interaction the suspect displayed a gun and stole their cell phones before fleeing. One of the victims identified the culprit as an acquaintance, 21-year-old Bryce Carpenter, of Cohoes. A…
Child Porn Charges: Albany Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Child Porn Charges: Albany Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say
Child Porn Charges: Albany Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Federal prosecutors are pursuing child pornography charges against a man from the region after he allegedly sent and received numerous illicit images of children.  Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, was arraigned on charges that he distributed, received, and possessed child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, April 12. According to investigators, Smoaks sent and received images and videos of child pornography over the internet between February and March 2023. The illicit images were reportedly found on both his computer and an external hard drive. If convicted, he face…
$100M Scheme: NY Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds $100M Scheme: NY Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds
$100M Scheme: NY Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds A New York man known as "the Magician" has been charged in connection with one of the largest-ever tax fraud schemes by a tax preparer, federal officials announced. Northern Westchester County resident Rafael Alvarez, of Cortlandt Manor, has been charged in connection with a $100 million tax fraud scheme involving tens of thousands of federal individual income tax returns with false information, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Monday, April 15.  According to federal officials, from 2010 to 2020, Alvarez, also known as "the Magi…
Psychologist Sexually Abused Teens At Capital Region Juvenile Lockup For Years, Police Say Psychologist Sexually Abused Teens At Capital Region Juvenile Lockup For Years, Police Say
Psychologist Sexually Abused Teens At Capital Region Juvenile Lockup For Years, Police Say A state psychologist is accused of sexually abusing numerous underage victims at a New York State juvenile detention center going back years. Maya Hayes, of Albany, was arrested Friday, April 12, following a New York State Police investigation into allegations of abuse at Columbia County’s Brookwood Secure Center, located in the town of Claverack. According to police, the 62-year-old sexually assaulted numerous victims at the facility over several years while employed as a clinician. No other details about the alleged abuse were made public.  Hayes' arrest followed a grand jury indic…
Dad Charged In 5-Year-Old Daughter's Death At Schenectady Home Dad Charged In 5-Year-Old Daughter's Death At Schenectady Home
Dad Charged In 5-Year-Old Daughter's Death In Schenectady A man from the region is facing charges for allegedly starving his 5-year-old daughter to death. Police were called to a home in Schenectady on Elmer Avenue near Poplar Street at around 3 a.m. Sunday, April 14, for a young girl who was unconscious and not breathing. Medics pronounced the girl dead a short time later, according to police. Investigators believe the child’s father, 33-year-old Robert Buskey, deprived her of food and water for at least four days, WRGB reports, citing court documents. Buskey was arrested on suspicion of second-degree manslaughter and three counts of end…
Police Officer, Sheriff's Deputy, Suspect Killed In Shootout On Suburban Street In Upstate NY Police Officer, Sheriff's Deputy, Suspect Killed In Shootout On Suburban Street In Upstate NY
2 Cops Killed In Shootout On Suburban Street In Liverpool Two police officers were killed overnight in a shooting on a suburban street in upstate New York. Click here for a new, updated story: Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban Street In NY The incident happened in Onondaga County in the village of Liverpool, located just north of Syracuse, shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday, April 14. According to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, Syracuse Police Officers encountered a suspicious vehicle at Emerson Avenue and Hamilton Street and attempted to stop it. However, the driver refused to stop and fle…
Charges Upgraded To Murder In 'Gator' Stabbing Case In Region Charges Upgraded To Murder In 'Gator' Stabbing Case In Region
Charges Upgraded To Murder In 'Gator' Stabbing Case In Region Charges against one of two residents in the region charged in the stabbing of a man in a fight over tools have been upgraded to murder after the victim died days later in a case involving. the presence of an alligator. Related: Live Alligator Discovered At Scene Of Stabbing In Pawling Residence Dutchess County resident Giuseppe Vassallo, age 43, of Pawling, who was initially charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of Nathaniel Vieira, age 42, also of Pawling, on Saturday, March 2, saw his charges increased to murder on Thursday, April 11, said Sinead McLoughlin of the Dutc…