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$1.3M Insurance Fraud Scheme: Yonkers Man Accused Of Plotting His Own House Fire, DA Says
A Westchester man is facing charges for allegedly orchestrating an arson scheme to burn down his home and claim over $1.3 million in insurance money, officials announced.
Yonkers resident Majid Haddad, also known as Peter Haddad, age 59, was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 17, by Yonkers Police and arraigned Wednesday, Dec. 18, on a six-count indictment, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said.
According to Rocah, Haddad allegedly conspired with a man to set fire to his single-family home on Odell Avenue in Yonkers between Feb. 20 and Feb. 28, 2021. Investigators said Haddad …
Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Now Facing Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges: Feds
Following several lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and other abuses, successful hip-hop producer and New York native Sean "Diddy" Combs now faces federal sex trafficking charges, officials announced.
Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, was arrested on Tuesday morning, Sept. 17 on a three-count indictment, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
According to federal officials, beginning as far back as 2008, Combs ran a criminal enterprise that involved sex trafficking, forced…
Man Nabbed After Starting Several Fires Around Yonkers, Police Say
A 34-year-old man faces a felony arson charge after allegedly starting multiple fires across a city in Westchester, damaging a car in the process, police announced.
Yonkers resident Edwin Polanco was arrested on Monday, June 3, following several incidents that began around 1 a.m., Yonkers Police announced on Tuesday, June 4.
According to the department, Polanco allegedly set several piles of garbage on fire at that time, damaging a vehicle parked next to trash cans in one of the locations.
Soon after the fires were set, officers and detectives found Polanco and …
Man Kills Romantic Rival From Westchester, Burns His Body: Sentenced To Decades In Prison
A man will spend decades in prison after fatally shooting a victim from Westchester and attempting to hide the evidence by burning their body in an apartment building basement, officials said.
Brooklyn resident Derek Whitaker, age 58, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the March 2020 murder of Mount Vernon resident Jonathan Blake, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday, Aug. 16.
According to the DA's Office, during the early morning hours on the day of the murder, March 13, 2020, Whitaker ambushed Blake on North Broadway (Route 9) in…
Hudson Valley Restaurateur Sentenced For Burning Down Eatery, Endangering Others
A former Hudson Valley restaurateur has been sentenced to prison for intentionally burning down his restaurant and endangering the lives of his wife and first responders.
Orange County resident Zef Gjurashaj, age 60, of Newburgh, was sentenced Wednesday, March 1.
Gjurashaj, who was convicted by a jury in September 2022, was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for burning down Andiamo’s Restaurant, which was located at 5025 Route 9W, in the Town of Newburgh in 2017, the Orange County DA's Office said.
Prior to the trial, Gjurashaj’s co-defendant and the wife of his nephew…
Westchester County Man Charged With Killing Stepfather, Lighting Relative's Home On Fire: DA
A man from Northern Westchester is charged with fatally stabbing his stepfather before lighting a relative's home on fire.
On Wednesday, Sept. 14, around 12:30 a.m., 30-year-old Shane Gilleo of Peekskill is accused of stabbing 48-year-old Edward Reeves numerous times with a knife at a residence in Peekskill on North James Street, according to a release by Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah on Thursday, Nov. 10.
Reeves was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where he later died, Rocah said.
Later that day, around 11:20 a.m., Gilleo is charge…
Owner Convicted Of Setting Fire That Destroyed Restaurant In Case Involving Westchester Woman
A Hudson Valley restaurant owner faces years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of setting fire to his restaurant.
Zef Gjurashaj, age 60, was found guilty on Monday, Sept. 26 by a jury on all counts including arson, reckless endangerment, and insurance fraud, among others, for setting fire to Andiamo’s Restaurant in the town of Newburgh, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler
Prior to the trial, Gjurashaj’s co-defendant, Marina Gjurashaj, age 38, of Yonkers, who is the wife of his nephew, pled guilty for her role in setting the fire. As part of her plea agree…
Westchester Murder Suspect Who Set Fire To Avoid Capture ID'd, Charged, Police Say
Police have identified a Northern Westchester man who has been apprehended after allegedly setting fire to a home in order to avoid being captured following the stabbing death of another man.
Peekskill resident Shane Gilleo, age 30, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 14, and charged with murder and arson, said Det. Lt. Jack Galusha, of the Peekskill Police.
The incident unfolded around 12:30 p.m., Wednesday when police responded to a call of a person stabbed in front of 7 N. James St., in Peekskill.
Upon arrival, officers discovered 48-year-old Edward Reeves had suffered multiple stab wounds…
Man Sentenced For Starting Fire At Hudson Valley Residence Where He Lived With Girlfriend
A man has been sentenced after he pleaded guilty to setting fire to an apartment where he and his girlfriend lived.
Larry Hickmon, age 30, of Middletown, was sentenced on Thursday, March 24, to 18 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision, according to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler.
Hickmon pleaded guilty to second-degree arson on Thursday, Jan. 27, in connection with the May 17 fire at an apartment complex on Concord Lane in Middletown.
Earlier report - Man Charged With Assault, Arson, For Sparking Hudson Valley Fire During Domestic Disput…
33-Year-Old Accused Of Igniting Westchester House Fire
A Westchester man has been arrested for allegedly igniting a fire that severely damaged a home and spread to a neighboring residence.
Shawn Gaillard, age 33, of Mount Vernon, was arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 23, for the fire on South 7th Avenue three days earlier.
On Monday, Dec. 20 around 11:30 a.m., while on patrol in the area of South 7th Avenue and Sandford Boulevard, officers found the house located at 505 South 7th Ave., fully engulfed in flames, according to the Mount Vernon Police.
Officers on the scene also saw the fire spread to the adjacent house located at 507 South 7th Ave., po…
Westchester Man Accused Of Intentionally Setting Car Fire On Taconic Parkway
A 27-year-old Westchester County man is facing an arson charge after police said he intentially set a car on fire.
Luis Ramos, of Yonkers, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 26, on a charge of third-degree arson, according to New York State Police.
At about 4:10 a.m., troopers responded to a report of a vehicle engulfed in flames on the Taconic State Parkway northbound at mile marker 48 in the Dutchess County town of LaGrange, State Police said.
Troopers found a 1999 Toyota Camry, with no occupants, in a wooded area about 80 feet from the eastern shoulder, police said.
LaGrange firefigh…
