Tag:

Letitia James

NY AG Releases Body-Cam Video Of State Police Deadly Shooting In Hudson Valley NY AG Releases Body-Cam Video Of State Police Deadly Shooting In Hudson Valley
NY AG Releases Body-Cam Video Of State Police Deadly Shooting In Hudson Valley New York Attorney General Letitia James has released police body-worn camera footage of the shooting death of a motorist by New York State Police in the Hudson Valley in January.  The incident occurred in Rockland County on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 3 in Ramapo. According to the AG's Office, troopers Steven Missale and Ronald Raymond pulled over a car on the New York State Thruway based on a report about an incident that had taken place earlier the same day in Albany.  Rakim Tillery, age 35, address unknown, was the driver of the car. Tillery fired a gun at the troopers, …
NY AG Begins Process To Seize Trump’s Northern Westchester Estate, Golf Course: Report NY AG Begins Process To Seize Trump’s Northern Westchester Estate, Golf Course: Report
NY AG Begins Process To Seize Trump’s Northern Westchester Estate, Golf Course: Report New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken the first step toward seizing former President Donald Trump’s golf course and private estate, CNN reports. Lawyers from James’ office registered New York’s $454 million civil judgment against Trump In Westchester County Court on Wednesday, March 6, the outlet reports. A Manhattan judge ordered Trump to pay the massive penalty after he, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization were found liable for using “numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation” to inflate his net worth to get better loan terms. The reported move by the AG’s office wo…
Westchester Native, Ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner Visits NY In Support Of Trans Athletes Ban Westchester Native, Ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner Visits NY In Support Of Trans Athletes Ban
Westchester Native, Ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner Visits NY In Support Of Trans Athletes Ban Caitlyn Jenner, a former Olympian and media personality, paid a visit to Long Island to publicly back a recent executive order banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports. On Monday, March 18, the former Olympian, who came out as a trans woman in 2015, held a press conference alongside Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in support of his polarizing transgender athlete ban. The executive order, which went into effect on Thursday, Feb. 22, prohibits the Nassau County Parks & Recreation Department from issuing permits to female teams that include transgender women, …
9 Get Prison Time For Stealing Vehicles In Westchester As Part Of Car Theft Ring 9 Get Prison Time For Stealing Vehicles In Westchester As Part Of Car Theft Ring
9 Get Prison Time For Stealing Vehicles In Westchester As Part Of Car Theft Ring Nine members of a car theft ring have been sentenced after stealing 45 vehicles from Westchester and New York City during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials announced.  The nine defendants were sentenced to prison in connection with a car theft ring that operated over six months in 2020 and targeted vehicles in New York City and Westchester, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Monday, March 11.  According to James's office, the nine sentencings were the result of a two-year investigation into the scheme that began in September 2019 and eventual…
Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says
Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says To honor National Consumer Protection Week, New York Attorney General Letitia James has revealed the most common fraud complaints faced by residents during 2023.  In an announcement on Monday, March 4, James said that these common complaints ranged from price gouging of much-needed goods and services to housing issues, online banking fraud, and even travel-related issues.  The top ten most common consumer complaints of 2023 in New York were:  Retail Sales: (Online purchases, price gouging, retail sales, defective merchandise, poor customer service, pet stores, animal breede…
World’s Largest Beef Producer 'Greenwashed' Environmental Harms To Boost Sales, NY AG Says World’s Largest Beef Producer 'Greenwashed' Environmental Harms To Boost Sales, NY AG Says
World’s Largest Beef Producer 'Greenwashed' Environmental Harms To Boost Sales, NY AG Says New York State is suing the world’s largest beef producer, claiming it lied about its environmental impacts in order to boost sales. A lawsuit filed by Attorney General Letitia James in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday, Feb. 28, accuses JBS USA Food Company of deceptive business practices and false advertising. According to James’ office, the company has repeatedly misled the public by claiming it will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, despite documented plans to increase production and grow its carbon footprint. In 2021, the JBS Group reported total global greenh…
'Blatantly Illegal': NYAG Submits Cease-And-Desist Over Transgender Athlete Ban On Long Island 'Blatantly Illegal': NYAG Submits Cease-And-Desist Over Transgender Athlete Ban On Long Island
'Blatantly Illegal': Nyag Submits Cease-And-Desist Over Transgender Athlete Ban On Long Island An executive order on Long Island banning transgender women and girls from participating in sports at public facilities was given five days to be rescinded, according to New York State Attorney General Letitia James. “This executive order is transphobic and blatantly illegal.” On Friday, March 1, just over a week after Nassau County Bruce Blakeman issued an executive order prohibiting transgender women (those assigned male at birth) from playing in women’s sports, James — who had quickly condemned the act — officially submitted a cease-and-desist against the order. Original Report:&nbs…
Real Estate Broker's Companies Denied Housing To Low-Income Renters In Westchester: AG Real Estate Broker's Companies Denied Housing To Low-Income Renters In Westchester: AG
Real Estate Broker's Companies Denied Housing To Low-Income Renters In Westchester: AG New York Attorney General Letitia James is taking action against a real estate broker and his companies after they were found to have denied housing to low-income renters in Westchester, officials announced.  In an announcement on Monday, Feb. 5, James and her office said that they had reached an agreement with real estate broker Pasquale Marciano and his companies, Century 21 Marciano, Anthony Marciano Real Estate Inc., and New Roc Property Management, to stop them from enforcing illegal policies that denied housing opportunities to low-income renters. According to James's office, rea…
Sergeant From Hudson Valley Charged After Throwing Cooler, Killing Suspect: NY AG Sergeant From Hudson Valley Charged After Throwing Cooler, Killing Suspect: NY AG
Sergeant From Hudson Valley Charged After Throwing Cooler, Killing Suspect: NY AG A police sergeant from the Hudson Valley faces manslaughter charges after throwing a cooler at a suspect while the person was driving a motorized scooter, causing their death, officials announced.  Putnam County resident Erik Duran of Mahopac, age 36, a New York City Police Department sergeant, was indicted and arraigned on charges in connection with the August 2023 death of Eric Duprey, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23.  According to James's office, around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, members of the NYPD's Narcotics Boroug…
NY AG James Sues SiriusXM For 'Trapping' Customers In Subscriptions, Making Cancellation Hard NY AG James Sues SiriusXM For 'Trapping' Customers In Subscriptions, Making Cancellation Hard
NY AG James Sues SiriusXM For 'Trapping' Customers In Subscriptions, Making Cancellation Hard New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing SiriusXM Radio for deliberately making it hard for customers to cancel subscriptions by dragging out the interactions required to do so, her office announced.  James announced her lawsuit against the New York City-headquartered company on Wednesday, Dec. 20 following an investigation conducted by her office that found SiriusXM makes it "extremely difficult and frustrating" for customers to cancel their subscriptions, officials said.  "Having to endure a lengthy and frustrating process to cancel a subscription is a stressfu…
Hudson Valley Dealer Nabbed With Kilo Of Fentanyl, AG Says Hudson Valley Dealer Nabbed With Kilo Of Fentanyl, AG Says
Hudson Valley Dealer Nabbed With Kilo Of Fentanyl, AG Says A New York man has been charged with allegedly selling drugs and guns in the Hudson Valley and region in a 94-count indictment. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday, Dec. 6, Rafael Figueroa, age unknown, of Manhattan was indicted for the sale of fentanyl, heroin, and firearms.  The investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force seized more than 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl and over 75 grams of heroin worth $142,000, three loaded handguns, a loaded assault rifle, and three high-capacity ammunition feeding devices. “Drug an…
NY AG James Sues Westchester-Headquartered PepsiCo For Contributing To Plastic Pollution NY AG James Sues Westchester-Headquartered PepsiCo For Contributing To Plastic Pollution
NY AG James Sues Westchester-Headquartered PepsiCo For Contributing To Plastic Pollution New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing Westchester County-headquartered PepsiCo and accusing the soda company of significantly contributing to plastic pollution in the state.  The lawsuit, which alleges PepsiCo Inc. harms both the public and the environment with its products' single-use plastic packaging, was filed and announced by James on Wednesday, Nov. 15.  According to the lawsuit, the company, which has its global headquarters in Purchase at 700 Anderson Hill Rd., "contributes significantly" to high levels of plastic pollution along the Buffalo River, contaminating…
Uber, Lyft To Pay Historic $328M Settlement For 'Cheating' NY Drivers Out Of Wages, Benefits Uber, Lyft To Pay Historic $328M Settlement For 'Cheating' NY Drivers Out Of Wages, Benefits
Uber, Lyft To Pay Historic $328M Settlement For 'Cheating' NY Drivers Out Of Wages, Benefits In a major victory for rideshare drivers, Uber and Lyft have agreed to a historic, multi-million dollar settlement after wrongly withholding wages from New York drivers. The companies will pay a combined $328 million in backpay to thousands of current and former drivers as part of twin settlements announced by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, Nov. 2. It comes after an investigation found that Uber and Lyft withheld hundreds of millions of dollars from drivers and kept them from receiving benefits available under New York labor laws, according to James. Specifically, Ub…
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns As New Yorkers across the state report being contacted by scammers impersonating their banks, officials are cautioning consumers to keep their eyes peeled. In a statement on Friday, Oct. 27, NY Attorney General Letitia James provided tips to avoid getting scammed by callers pretending to be bank or government officials. “Scammers claiming to be a trusted bank, or any institution relied on for financial services, can seriously harm New Yorkers by taking their money and their personal information,” she said. James said the Office of the Attorney General has been receiving calls from New Y…
NY AG James Joins Lawsuit Against Meta With 32 Other States: 'They Must Be Held Accountable' NY AG James Joins Lawsuit Against Meta With 32 Other States: 'They Must Be Held Accountable'
NY AG James Joins Lawsuit Against Meta With 32 Other States: 'They Must Be Held Accountable' New York Attorney General Letitia James and a group of attorneys general from 32 other states have filed a federal lawsuit against Meta for contributing to a mental health crisis among young people, officials announced. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that the social media company knowingly designed and implemented features on Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms that purposefully take advantage of children and teens, James' office announced on Tuesday, Oct. 24.  Additionally, the lawsuit also charges Meta with collecting…
NY AG James Urges Social Media Companies To Stop Hateful Content After Attacks In Israel NY AG James Urges Social Media Companies To Stop Hateful Content After Attacks In Israel
NY AG James Urges Social Media Companies To Stop Hateful Content After Attacks In Israel New York Attorney General Letitia James has sent a series of letters to several social media companies urging them to take action and remove hateful content posted in response to the violence taking place in Israel.  The letters, announced by the Attorney General's Office on Friday, Oct. 13, all request that each company provide thorough explanations of how they are stopping the spread of hateful content that encourages violence against Jewish and Muslim people or institutions in the aftermath of violent attacks committed against Israel by the Hamas militant group.  Jame…
Real Estate Company Denied Housing To Low-Income Renters In Westchester: AG Real Estate Company Denied Housing To Low-Income Renters In Westchester: AG
Real Estate Company Denied Housing To Low-Income Renters In Westchester: AG A Westchester-based real estate company will pay $105,000 in damages after denying housing to low-income renters and violating federal, state, and local laws in the process, officials announced.  New Rochelle-based Platzner International Group, owned by Merrick and Harrin Platzner, has entered into an agreement with the New York Attorney General's Office after denying housing to low-income residents in Westchester, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, Oct. 10.  According to the Attorney General's Office, the real estate firm, which owns over 200 residential units i…
Storm Price Gouging: Consumers Warned To Watch For Rising Expenses In NY Amid Massive Rainstorm Storm Price Gouging: Consumers Warned To Watch For Rising Expenses In NY Amid Massive Rainstorm
Storm Price Gouging: Consumers Warned To Watch For Rising Expenses In NY Amid Massive Rainstorm Officials are urging New Yorkers to keep an eye out for stores and services that may be using the rainstorm to charge extra for essential goods. On Friday, Sept. 29, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning to consumers against price gouging amidst the ongoing state of emergency caused by rainstorms and flooding across Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and New York City. Related: State Of Emergency: 'Extreme Weather Event' Threatening Areas In NY, Hochul Says Price gauging can affect anything from essential goods — such as food, gas, and batteries — to services like …
New Update: Officers Involved In Fatal Hudson Valley Shooting Get No Charges, AG Says New Update: Officers Involved In Fatal Hudson Valley Shooting Get No Charges, AG Says
New Update: Officers Involved In Fatal Hudson Valley Shooting Get No Charges, AG Says Two officers who fatally shot a man in the Hudson Valley while he was stabbing a woman have been cleared of any criminal charges by the New York Attorney General's Office.  On Friday, Sept. 15, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation announced that no charges would be filed in the January 2023 fatal officer-involved shooting of 34-year-old Christopher Torres in the Putnam County town of Southeast.  Earlier Report - NY AG To Probe Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting Of Carmel Man In Southeast On the day of the incident, Tuesday, Jan…
Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Westchester: AG Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Westchester: AG
Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Westchester: AG A fraudulent immigrant assistance service provider based in Westchester has agreed to pay restitution to several victims whom she misled and even threatened in some cases, officials said.  Jacquelin Mercado, an immigrant assistance service provider based in Yonkers, has entered into an agreement with the Office of the New York Attorney General after she was found to be posing as an attorney and illegally offering legal advice to customers, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday, Aug. 23.  According to the Attorney General's Office, Mercado's role …
Man Shot Dead By Cop: Full Bodycam Footage Of Westchester Incident Released By NY AG Man Shot Dead By Cop: Full Bodycam Footage Of Westchester Incident Released By NY AG
Man Shot Dead By Cop: Full Bodycam Footage Of Westchester Incident Released By NY AG As the investigation into a Westchester police-involved shooting that left a man dead continues, the New York Attorney General's Office has publicly released the full body camera footage of the incident.  The body-worn camera footage, released by the Attorney General's Office's Office of Special Investigation on Tuesday, July 25, depicts the shooting of 37-year-old New Rochelle resident Jerrel Garris in an incident that happened on Monday, July 3.  Earlier Report - New Update: Man Shot By Cop In New Rochelle Dies, Attorney General Says According to authorities…
School District Failed To Address Race, Gender Based Bullying In Westchester: Attorney General School District Failed To Address Race, Gender Based Bullying In Westchester: Attorney General
School District Failed To Address Race, Gender Based Bullying In Westchester: Attorney General Following an investigation that found a Westchester school district failed to adequately address race- and gender-based bullying and harassment against students, the district has agreed to make the needed changes to improve its response to these incidents, officials said.  The Mamaroneck Union Free School District agreed to make these changes following an investigation conducted by the New York Office of the Attorney General, Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, July 18.  According to James, the investigation was started in June 2020 following allegations from…
Videos Released In Fatal Shooting Of Hudson Valley Man By Police Videos Released In Fatal Shooting Of Hudson Valley Man By Police
Videos Released In Fatal Shooting Of Hudson Valley Man By Police Video footage has been released as part of an ongoing investigation into the shooting death of a Hudson Valley man by police. New York Attorney General Letitia James released the videos into the death of Daniel McAlpin, age 41, who died on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, following an encounter with members of the New York State Police and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office. During the encounter, members of state police and the sheriff's office were dispatched to assist the Ulster County Mobile Mental Health crisis team at a residence located on Clark Road in the town of Wawarsing. Earlier report:…
Trio Trafficked Ghost Guns, Cocaine In Westchester, Multiple States, Officials Say Trio Trafficked Ghost Guns, Cocaine In Westchester, Multiple States, Officials Say
Trio Trafficked Ghost Guns, Cocaine In Westchester, Multiple States, Officials Say Three men face numerous charges after allegedly trafficking ghost guns, assault weapons, and large quantities of cocaine from Massachusetts to New York, officials said.  The trafficking operation was taken down on Wednesday, March 15 after a 16-month investigation by the New York State Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.  The three men charged after the take-down were Eduardo Hernandez, age 29, of Jamaica, New York; Euclides Castillo, age 30,…
Pet Biz Fined $200K For ‘Deceiving’ NYers Into Buying Sick Puppies, Kittens: AG Pet Biz Fined $200K For ‘Deceiving’ NYers Into Buying Sick Puppies, Kittens: AG
Pet Biz Fined $200K For ‘Deceiving’ NYers Into Buying Sick Puppies, Kittens: AG A pet business will have to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars for misleading New Yorkers about the health of animals it sold. As part of a settlement agreement announced by the state Attorney General’s Office Monday, Jan. 9, Bell Pet Company, doing business as The Pet Zone, agreed to pay a civil penalty and create a restitution fund of up to $200,000 to reimburse eligible consumers for medical costs. The Attorney General’s Office said the company failed to provide complete medical records, including a full list of medication given to pets, in an attempt to hide previous illnesses.…
Westchester Man, Partner Sentenced For Roles In $1M Ponzi Scheme Westchester Man, Partner Sentenced For Roles In $1M Ponzi Scheme
Westchester Man, Partner Sentenced For Roles In $1M Ponzi Scheme A Westchester County man and his business partner have been sentenced for their roles in a nearly decade-long $1-million Ponzi scheme. White Plains resident James Doyle, age 74, and Carl Carro, age 61, of Walton, Delaware, were convicted of defrauding investors in New York and throughout the nation. On Thursday, Jan. 12, Carro was sentenced to four to eight years in prison, and Doyle was sentenced to five years probation, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced. As part of their respective sentences, Carro and Doyle agreed to pay a total of more than $1 million in judgments …
Price Gouging: NY AG Issues Alert About Dramatic Price Increases For Children's Medication Price Gouging: NY AG Issues Alert About Dramatic Price Increases For Children's Medication
Price Gouging: NY AG Issues Alert About Dramatic Price Increases For Children's Medication New York Attorney General Letitia James is cautioning consumers about price gouging of children's painkillers and fever reducers as demand increases due to the "tripledemic" of COVID-19, RSV, and the flu. James issued the alert on Monday, Dec. 26, saying her office received reports about children's medication being sold online and in stores at prices that are two or three times their retail value. Earlier report: CDC Warns Of Increase In Strep Throat Infections Among Kids Amid Rise In COVID, Flu, RSV Cases New Yorkers should stay alert for potential price gouging of medications, such …
Nursing Home Stole $22.6M In Government Funds, NY AG Says Nursing Home Stole $22.6M In Government Funds, NY AG Says
Nursing Home Stole $22.6M In Government Funds, NY AG Says Millions of dollars in public funding that should’ve gone to caring for residents of a New York nursing home were instead diverted into the pockets of its greedy owners, according to a lawsuit from Attorney General Letitia James. The suit, filed Friday, Dec. 16, alleges a years-long fraud scheme carried out by the owners of Long Island’s Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, located in Woodbury. Earlier Report: East Meadow Nursing Home's $16M Fraud Scheme Led To 'Devastating' Resident Abuse, AG Says An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that…
NY Nursing Home's $16M Fraud Scheme Led To 'Devastating' Resident Abuse, Neglect, AG Says NY Nursing Home's $16M Fraud Scheme Led To 'Devastating' Resident Abuse, Neglect, AG Says
NY Nursing Home's $16M Fraud Scheme Led To 'Devastating' Resident Abuse, Neglect, AG Says Sexual abuse, unexplained bruising, unanswered call bells, and humiliating missed trips to the bathroom. Those were just some of the horrors experienced by residents at a New York nursing home stemming from a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme, according to a lawsuit from Attorney General Letitia James. Related Report: East Meadow Nursing Home Employee Sexually Assaulted Resident, Boss Covered Up Crime, DA Says The suit, filed Tuesday, Dec. 13, alleges that the owners of Long Island’s Fulton Commons Care Center, located in East Meadow, exploited New York’s Medicaid program to enrich themsel…
Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case
Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case A New York jury has found former President Donald Trump’s company guilty of all charges in a tax fraud scheme that prosecutors said spanned more than a decade. Jurors deliberated for just over a day before finding the Trump Organization guilty on 17 counts, including criminal tax fraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records, in State Supreme Court in Manhattan Tuesday, Dec. 6. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the scheme was orchestrated by “high managerial agents”, including chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg and controller Jeffrey McConney. BREAKING: For the …
Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law
Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law A federal judge has temporarily blocked a New York law that makes it harder for people to legally carry concealed guns. In his ruling Thursday, Oct. 1, US District Judge Glenn Suddaby in the Northern District of New York allowed a lawsuit from the advocacy group, Gun Owners of America, to move forward. The group claims that the new law is just as unconstitutional as one that was overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2022. Previous Report: Want A Gun In NY? Be Ready To Share Your Social Media Accounts Under New Law Dubbed the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, the law requires license a…