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Excessive Force, Illegal Arrests: Feds Allege Violations By Police Department In Westchester
A police department in Westchester has been found to engage in a pattern of excessive force, illegal arrests, and unconstitutional searches, federal officials announced.
The findings, which centered on the Mount Vernon Police Department, were revealed on Thursday, Dec. 12, following a comprehensive investigation by the US Department of Justice.
According to the DOJ, the investigation uncovered numerous issues, including:
Excessive use of force, including taser-like devices and strikes, often against individuals who were already restrained or on the ground;
Unlawful strip searches an…
Duo Accused Of Running Prostitution Ring Out Of Westchester Massage Parlors: Feds
A husband and wife face charges after allegedly running an extensive prostitution business out of multiple New York massage parlors, including several in the Hudson Valley.
Putnam County residents Hong Ru Lin, age 50, and Kena Zhao, age 45, both of Putnam Valley, were arrested on Thursday, Sept. 14 for allegedly running a prostitution business out of numerous massage parlors in Putnam, Westchester, Queens, and Manhattan, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.
According to federal officials, Lin and Zhao started running the prostitution ring in Septem…
Fentanyl Deaths: Dealer Nabbed By Westchester Task Force After Multiple Overdoses, Feds Say
A Hudson Valley man who allegedly peddled fentanyl to customers including friends, has been charged in connection with the death of two, and the overdoses of at least five people.
Rockland County resident Justin Turnick, age 25, of Congers, was arrested on Wednesday, July 12 by agents with the Westchester Resident Agent Task Force for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), along with local law enforcement agencies, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Turnick was charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in death or serious bodily injury to five vi…
Quadruple Murder Case: Former Police Officer In Westchester Found Guilty
A former police officer at several municipalities in Westchester and Dutchess counties has been convicted for the murders of four men in Orange County after a drug deal that went bad.
According to an indictment that was filed in White Plains Federal Court, Nicholas Tartaglione killed Martin Luna, age 41, Urbano Santiago, age 32, Miguel Luna, age 25, and Hector Gutierrez, 43, at the Likquid Lounge in the town of Chester in Orange County following the botched cocaine deal in April 2016.
The first victim was allegedly strangled with a zip tie, and three others were taken to an Otisville home i…
14 Hudson Valley Gang Members, Associates Charged With Racketeering, Narcotics, Other Offenses
The FBI and other law enforcement officials in the Hudson Valley raided numerous homes in a warrant sweep charging 14 members of a street gang for committing various racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses.
The "takedown," took place in Orange and Dutchess counties on Thursday, Dec. 1, focusing on Poughkeepsie and the city of Newburgh, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
An indictment charges several members of the Young Gunnaz Gang, aka “YG," with acts of violence. This includes Kashad Sampson, aka “Shoca,” a YG leader who is charged w…
Westchester Man Sentenced For Shooting Death Of 21-Year-Old
One of two suspects implicated in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man during a drug deal gone wrong in Westchester County will spend decades in federal prison.
Yonkers resident Marcus Chambers, age 31, also known as “Chino,” “Chi D,” and “SP,” was sentenced to 20 years behind bars Monday, Oct. 3, in federal court in White Plains.
Earlier Report: Westchester Man Admits To Murder Of 21-Year-Old
The sentence came months after he pleaded guilty to participating in the murder of Jonathan Johnson on March 18, 2011, in White Plains.
On the day of the shooting, Chambers and his co-consp…
Teen Duo Accused Of Subjecting Victims To Violent Crimes After Luring Them To Westchester
Two men have been arrested in connection with a series of alleged carjacking, robberies, and kidnappings in Westchester.
Diante Fernandes, age 19, and Mark Francis, age 18, both of the Bronx, were arrested and charged on Wednesday, Sept. 28, said Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
According to the allegations in the complaint, and statements made in court, between Monday, Sept. 26 and Tuesday, Sept. 27, the duo carjacked, robbed, and kidnapped multiple victims, in the Bronx and Yonkers.
Once on Sept. 26 and again on Sept. 27, the two lured victims to a loca…
‘Trusted Lieutenant’ Of Sarah Lawrence College Sex-Cult Leader Admits To Conspiracy
A former Westchester County college student who fell under the spell of convicted sex-cult leader Larry Ray has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money for his illegal dealings.
Isabella Pollok, age 31, a former student at Sarah Lawrence College, located near the border of Yonkers and Bronxville, who was described as Ray's "trusted lieutenant," pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 7 to one count related to Ray's twisted plot in Manhattan federal court.
Ray, now age 62, will be sentenced in December on more than a dozen charges, including extortion, sex trafficking, and racketeering cons…
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry
A woman has been accused of embezzling $4 million from her New York employer and its clients to pay for, among other things, her wedding, travel, and making payments to a cosmetic surgeon.
Long Island resident Carmen Miranda, age 50, of Massapequa, was charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with her scheme to embezzle over $4 million from her employer and its clients in Manhattan.
Miranda, who is also known as “Millie Miranda,” was an account manager at a small business management firm that primarily serviced clients in the entertainment indus…
Postal Workers Charged After Fraud Evidence Discovered In Westchester Hotel, Feds Say
Three United States Postal Service workers were charged in a bribery and mail theft scheme after evidence was discovered at a Westchester County hotel.
Oscar Abreu, age 41, of South Ozone Park, Rafael Grullon, of Manhattan, age 40, and Aldo Palomino Jr., of Long Island City, age 30, were charged in connection with their participation in a conspiracy to receive bribes and steal hundreds of pieces of mail, according to an announcement from Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
The US Attorney's Office said the defendants are each charged with …
Duo Planned Westchester Home Invasion Robbery For Tens Of Millions In Bitcoin, Feds Say
Two men have been apprehended after federal authorities say they planned to commit a home invasion robbery for tens of millions of dollars in bitcoin in Westchester.
Federal officials announced the unsealing of an Indictment in White Plains Federal Court on Friday, June 24m charging the duo with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery in May 2020 in Irvington-on-Hudson.
Dominic Pineda, age 21, of Manassas, Virginia, and Shon Morgan, also age 21, of Centreville, Virginia, were arrested on Thursday, June 23 in Virginia.
From May 18, 20200 to May 24, 2020, they participated in the plan…
