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Tag: US Attorney Damian Williams
Armed Robbery: Correction Officer, Man Break Into Hudson Valley Home, Feds Say
A duo from Westchester, including a correction officer, face charges after breaking into a Hudson Valley home, restraining the occupants inside, and stealing cash and marijuana, federal officials said.
Mount Vernon residents Recaldo Fray and Kaheem Palmer, both age 31, have been charged in connection with an Orange County armed robbery that happened in Newburgh in early December 2023, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
According to federal officials, on Monday, Dec. 4, Palmer and Fray, a correction officer at …
Child Rapist 'Godson' Sexually Abused 15-Year-Old In Hudson Valley, Feds Say
A registered "sexually violent" offender who was once convicted of raping a 7-year-old girl is now accused of sexually abusing another child in the region.
Curtis Ellington, age 33, of Junction City, Kansas, was arraigned on child sex crimes charges in federal court in White Plains on Thursday, June 1.
According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District, Ellington slept at the 15-year-old victim’s Orange County home in April 2023, and engaged in sexual activity with them.
Earlier Report: 'Sexually Violent' Offender Convicted Of Raping Girl, 7, Reports Move In Middletown
Pr…
Hudson Valley Doctor Admits To Prescribing Over 100K Oxycodone Pills Knowing They'd Be Resold
A Westchester County doctor could spend decades in prison after admitting that he illegally prescribed opioid pills knowing they’d be resold on the street.
Marc Laruelle, age 65, of Yonkers, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing Oxycodone, amphetamines, and Xanax in federal court in Manhattan Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Prosecutors said Laruelle, a licensed psychiatrist, illegally prescribed more than 100,000 doses of Oxycodone “outside of the usual course of professional practice” between September 2016 and October 2021.
Highly potent and addictive, the drug often commands a high price in …
Former Rockland County Coach Charged With Transporting Minors, Now Cops, To Engage In Sex Acts
A former diving coach in the Hudson Valley is facing federal charges, years after he allegedly transported teenagers across state lines for sex.
Victor Byrne, age 56, who formerly coached competitive divers in Rockland County, was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 31, in Orlando, Florida.
Federal prosecutors said Byrne transported a 16-year-old victim from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Rockland County to engage in illegal sexual activity in July 2006.
In February 2008, he transported another 16-year-old from New Jersey to Rockland County, again to engage in illegal sex, prosecutors said.
Byrne worked…
Alleged Crime Family Members From Hudson Valley Charged With Racketeering
Alleged members of the Genovese Organized Crime Family from Westchester and Fairfield counties are facing racketeering charges for their roles within the organization.
Federal prosecutors announced that four members and two associates of the family have been charged with racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling and extortion.
Those charged in Manhattan federal court:
Michael Messina, age 69, of New Fairfield, Connecticut;
Ralph Balsamo, age 51, of Tuckahoe, NY;
Michael Poli, age 37, of Hawthorne, NY;
Nicholas Calisi, age 63, of Boca Raton, Florida;
John Campanella, age 47, of t…
Nypd Officer From Hudson Valley Sentenced On Meth, Date Rape Drug Charges
An ex-NYPD officer from the Hudson Valley will spend a decade behind bars after admitting to his role in running a scheme to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine and liquid date rape drugs in New York, federal officials announced.
Bronxville resident John Cicero, age 40, a former NYPD officer, pleaded guilty on Oct. 13, 2021, to distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and gamma-butyrolactone (known as “GBL”) in Westchester County and New York City.
On Tuesday, April 12, US Attorney Damian Williams announced that Cicero has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, four years of …
Hudson Valley College Sex Cult Leader Found Guilty On All Charges
Larry Ray, the leader of a sex cult run out of his daughter's dorm room at Sarah Lawrence College in Westchester, will face life in prison after being found guilty by a jury of sexually exploiting and trafficking girls.
Ray, now 62 years old following multiple delays in his trial and prosecution, was found guilty of 15 counts that include racketeering, sex trafficking, conspiracy, forced labor, extortion, tax evasion, and other crimes in relation to his scheme.
Related story - DOJ Accidentally Publishes List Of Alleged Clients In Sarah Lawrence Case
It reportedly took the jury le…
Area Man Sentenced For Kidnapping, Robbery, Other Charges
A 26-year-old man will spend nearly two decades in prison after being sentenced for drug, weapon, and robbery charges in connection to a violent kidnapping on behalf of a Mexican cartel, authorities announced.
Yonkers resident Fernando Ra was sentenced to 18 years in prison in connection to robbery, firearms, and narcotics offenses, US Attorney Damian Williams announced.
Williams said that on Oct. 3, 2020, Ra and his co-conspirators kidnapped, restrained, robbed, and “savagely assaulted” two victims using guns and baseball bats to beat them.
The indictment states that Ra also used a knife …
Five NYers Nabbed For $8.4 Million Fraud, Money Laundering Scheme, Feds Says
Four Long Island residents are among five New Yorkers facing charges for a multi-million dollar “boiler room” fraud and money laundering scheme, federal officials announced.
US Attorney Damian Williams announced that five suspects are facing a host of charges for their alleged roles in the $8.4 million scheme to defraud investors around the world and launder the proceeds from the scheme.
Those charged:
Lenard Booth, also known as “Trevor Nicholas,” age 68, of Brooklyn;
Michael D’Urso, age 54, of Glen Cove;
Alyssa D’Urso, age 28, of Glen Cove;
Jay Garnock, age 75, of Glen Cove;
Antonella…
Area Man Who IDs Himself As 'Incel' Admits To Stalking, Terrorizing Women
A man who identifies himself as an “incel” or “involuntary celibate” has admitted to stalking and terrorizing at least two women, federal authorities announced.
Peekskill resident David Kaufman, age 27 - also known as “David Khalifa,” “John Morray,” and “Big Man,” pleaded guilty to stalking multiple victims between October 2019 and August 2020, including terrorizing messages and inappropriate photos.
According to officials, Kaufman self-identifies as a member of the “Incels,” or the “Involuntary Celibate,” which refers to a group of individuals who are “typically heterosexual, white males, …
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Duo Charged In $7.6 Million Fraud Scheme
A pair of Westchester residents are among four facing charges for their roles in a multi-million dollar COVID-19 fraud scheme during the height of the pandemic.
Mount Vernon residents Quadri Salahuddin, age 25, and Anwar Salahuddin, age 35, Los Angeles resident Christal Ransom, age 44, and Jacob Carter, age 35, of Capitol Heights, Maryland are facing charges for allegedly submitting more than 1,000 fraudulent applications for small business loans in various peoples’ names and accepting kickbacks.
US Attorney Damian Williams announced this week that the four allegedly schemed to defraud the …
