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Covid-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say
Two men from Westchester and a Long Island woman face charges after participating in a more than $14 million scheme to steal from a program created to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials said.
New Rochelle resident Glenroy Walker, age 65, Mount Vernon resident Gary Wheeler, age 46, Freeport resident Sherril Baez, age 50, and three others are charged with scheming to steal more than $14 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Tuesday, June 6.
The …
Iconic Eatery Closes After 52 Years In Westchester: 'Time For Me To Just Let Go,' Owner Says
A pizzeria in Westchester that became a community staple for over half a century and became the setting of countless memories has closed as its owner prepares to enjoy retirement.
Raceway Pizza, located in Yonkers at 775 Yonkers Ave., has closed, owner Luigi Petrozza announced on social media on Wednesday, May 24.
Petrozza, whose family began the restaurant in 1971, cited his retirement as the reason for the restaurant's closing.
"Working here with my mom and dad for many, many years...it's going to be sad, but it's time for me to just let go and do what I have to do now," Petrozza sai…
ABC News 'This Week' Executive Producer Dies At Age 37
ABC News "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" executive producer Dax Tejera died suddenly on Friday, Dec. 23. He was 37 years old.
Tejera died of a heart attack, Mediaite reports, citing ABC News president Kim Godwin.
He is survived by his wife, Veronica, and their daughters, Sofia and Ella.
"As EP of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Dax’s energy, passion and love for that show, ABC News, and you, shined every Sunday morning," Godwin said in a note to network staff obtained by adweek.com. "That same love was extended to his precious girls."
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'A Happy Business': 3 Moms Bring Candy Van To Events Across Westchester
For those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth as Halloween approaches, a mobile candy van might just be the perfect solution.
Candy Zoo, run by a team of three mothers, is a moving candy truck that is available to rent for private events and can be found throughout the tri-state area, including Westchester County, Fairfield County, and the Englewood area, according to one of the business's founders, Karen Benett.
The truck sells more than 200 brands of candy and goes to weddings, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, corporate events, and more, Benett said.
The idea for the business sprouted…
Westchester Man Among Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds Say
Three men are facing federal charges for allegedly using other people’s identities to defraud the New York Labor Department out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Errol Murray, age 21, of Yonkers; Taliek Lanier, age 22, of Albany; and Thomas Brace, age 61, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, formerly of Albany, were all arrested on federal charges of mail and wire fraud, plus identity theft.
Federal prosecutors said the trio conspired with a 36-year-old Albany woman, Jamie Johnson, and provided her with the personal identifying information of other people.
Jonson pleaded guilty in February 2022 of…
Covid-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud
A woman from the Capital District is facing years in prison after admitting that she took advantage of loan programs meant to help businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Debra Hackstadt, age 67, of Albany, pleaded guilty Thursday, May 19, to fraudulently obtaining 32 government-backed loans, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
The loans were issued to Hackstadt herself, various friends and relatives, and several companies that she controlled, prosecutors said.
In all, investigators said she received more than $1.6 million between April 2020 and June 2021 through two separat…
Data Of Nearly One Million NY Students Compromised In Hack Of Online Grading System
The personal data of nearly a million New York students has been compromised by hackers attempting to alter grades, investigators announced.
In January, Illuminate Education, a taxpayer-funded software company that tracks grades and attendance for the New York City Department of Education, was targeted, resulting in the data of approximately 820,000 students being made available.
Specifically, officials said that the hackers gained access to students’ names, birthdays, ethnicities, English-speaking, special-education, teacher schedules, and free-lunch statuses, though information including …
Covid-19: Mother, Daughters Accused Of Using Fake Vax Cards To Work In Northern Westchester
A Dutchess County mother and her two daughters are facing charges for allegedly using fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards to maintain and obtain employment at a Northern Westchester nursing home, the District Attorney announced.
Poughkeepsie residents Antoinette Clarke, age 48, Dzjara Clarke, age 27, and Jajvia Clarke, age 22, were arraigned on Monday, Jan. 31 in Cortlandt Town Court, where they were charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, a felony, for attempting to dupe a Croton-on-Hudson nursing home in Northern Westchester.
Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Ro…