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Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Murder Of Ex-Girlfriend's Boyfriend Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Murder Of Ex-Girlfriend's Boyfriend
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Murder Of Ex-Girlfriend's Boyfriend In a courtroom packed with large contingents of supporters for the victim and the defendant, a Hudson Valley man was sentenced to prison for gunning down and killing his ex-friend's new boyfriend. Orange County resident Walter Post, Jr., age 26, of Pine Bush was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for his jealous killing of his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, Michael Hankins, age 29, in Ulster County, on Vinegar Hill Road in Shawangunk in the early morning of Tuesday, Jan. 11, said the Ulster County District Attorney's Office. Visiting Ulster County Court Judge James Farrell also gr…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims
NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims A New York man was sentenced for his role in a $12 million Ponzi scheme that targeted nearly 50 victims from throughout the region and the nation between 2015 and 2017. Long Island resident Matthew Eckstein, age 52, of Syosset, was sentenced on Monday, July 11 to three-and-a-half to 10-and-a-half years in prison. Eckstein originally pleaded guilty to the charges on September 26, 2019, but later withdrew his plea. A new indictment was secured in August 2020, but court closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the case. “This defendant preyed upon seniors and hard-working men…

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by Joe Lombardi
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NY To Have $110M In Student Debt Canceled As Part Of $1.85B Settlement NY To Have $110M In Student Debt Canceled As Part Of $1.85B Settlement
NY To Have $110M In Student Debt Canceled As Part Of $1.85B Settlement New Yorkers will have millions of dollars in debt canceled after one of the nation’s largest student loan services agreed to relieve $1.85 billion in loan debt as part of a multi-state agreement, authorities announced. Navient, the target of a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general agreed to cancel $1.7 billion in private student loan debt and offered $95 million in restitution for thousands of students nationwide following an investigation into the company's business practices. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the agreement on Thursday, Jan. 13, which will include mo…

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by Zak Failla
News
Area Man Accused Of Dealing Meth, Cocaine, Other Drugs Sentenced Area Man Accused Of Dealing Meth, Cocaine, Other Drugs Sentenced
Area Man Accused Of Dealing Meth, Cocaine, Other Drugs Sentenced A drug dealer has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance. Putnam County resident Brian Flandreau, age 42, of Lake Carmel, was sentenced on Tuesday, May 11. During a two-month investigation, members of the New York State Police Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team purchased over $2,800 worth of methamphetamine from Flandreau on four different occasions,  said Putnam County District Attorney Robert V. Tendy. These sales took place at Flandreau’s residence and at locations throughout Putn…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Nationally Known Scarsdale Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Not Paying Taxes Nationally Known Scarsdale Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Not Paying Taxes
Nationally Known Scarsdale Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Not Paying Taxes A nationally known celebrity chef known as “Lord of the Pies” who owns restaurants in Westchester and Fairfield counties will spend time behind bars after admitting to not paying taxes. Bruno DiFabio, age 51, of Ridgefield, was sentenced on Thursday, May 6 to 30 days in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a federal tax offense in 2018. Specifically, DiFabio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to file false income tax returns and payroll tax returns.  Currently, DiFabio has ownership interests in several pizza restaurants in Connecticut …

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Sentenced For Holiday Time Burglary Spree In Westchester, Ordered To Pay Thousands Man Sentenced For Holiday Time Burglary Spree In Westchester, Ordered To Pay Thousands
Man Sentenced For Holiday Time Burglary Spree In Westchester, Ordered To Pay Thousands A 43-year-old man who went on a holiday-time crime spree in Westchester will spend a decade behind bars after admitting to burglary and robbery charges. Yonkers resident German Martinez was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty on nine counts for a spree that started the day after Christmas in 2019 and continued into the first week of the New Year. Specifically, Martinez pleaded guilty to: Two counts of first-degree burglary; One count of robbery; Six counts of second-degree burglary. Prosecutors said that Martinez broke into several Westchester residences in a burglary …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Area Town Board Member Who Co-Owns Restaurant Admits To Theft Of Services Area Town Board Member Who Co-Owns Restaurant Admits To Theft Of Services
Area Town Board Member Who Co-Owns Restaurant Admits To Theft Of Services A town board member who also serves as co-owner of a restaurant in Carmel has admitted to theft of services. Michael Barile pleaded guilty to one count of the Class A misdemeanor in the Town of Philipstown Justice Court. "As Barile admitted in court, as the co-owner of Blu Restaurant, located at 825 South Lake Boulevard in the Town of Carmel, he illegally connected the restaurant’s waste system to the public sewer system without permission or authority to do so, and thereby avoided having to pay for using the sewer system as he would otherwise have been required to do,"&…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Seven From Area Admit To Scam Stealing $14M Intended For Schools Seven From Area Admit To Scam Stealing $14M Intended For Schools
Seven From Area Admit To Scam Stealing $14M Intended For Schools Seven area residents charged in a scheme to steal $14 million from the federal “E-Rate” program designed to provide computer technology to students at underprivileged schools have pleaded guilty. Peretz Klein and Susan Klein, both of Spring Valley; and Simon Goldbrenner, Moshe Schwartz, Ben Klein, Sholem Steinberg, and Aron Melber, all of Monsey, pleaded guilty in White Plains Federal Court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Wednesday, Feb. 12, said U.S  Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman. “Each of these defendants has now admitted hi…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Former Employee Admits To Making 40 Charges In NY/CT With Credit Cards Stolen From Customers Former Employee Admits To Making 40 Charges In NY/CT With Credit Cards Stolen From Customers
Former Employee Admits To Making 40 Charges In NY/CT With Credit Cards Stolen From Customers A convicted felon with a rap sheet dating back to the 1980s will spend more time behind bars after admitting to credit card fraud, identity theft and a host of other charges. Steven Finkler, 55, of New Haven, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport district court to one count of access device fraud, one count of wire fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that in August 2017, Finkler stole credit cards from two of his employer’s customers and used the cards to make more than 40 fraudulent charges in Connecticut and New York. The charges included Finkler…

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by Zak Failla
News
Former HR Officer In Westchester Admits To $417K Performance Scam Former HR Officer In Westchester Admits To $417K Performance Scam
Former HR Officer In Westchester Admits To $417K Performance Scam A woman who worked as a human resources officer at FujiFilm in Westchester admitted to stealing more than $400,000 from the company. Fairfield County resident Maria Mecca, 39, of Greenwich, pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny in Westchester County Court, District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., announced. She remains free on bail and was ordered to pay restitution to FujiFilm, which is based out of Valhalla. Mecca is due back in court on March 18 next year for sentencing. She is expected to receive a term of between one and four years in prison. According to Scarpino, in her pos…

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by Zak Failla
News
Two Men Sentenced For String Of Westchester Burglaries Two Men Sentenced For String Of Westchester Burglaries
Two Men Sentenced For String Of Westchester Burglaries Two men have been sentenced for their roles in a string of burglaries targeting southern Westchester businesses over several months in 2017. Brooklyn resident Patrick Williams and Kareem Johnakin of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania were sentenced to prison time after pleading guilty to charges related to the burglaries of several Yonkers and New Rochelle businesses. Williams pleaded guilty in April to five counts of third-degree burglary, and was sentenced to a term of three-and-a-half to seven years on each count, which will run concurrently. Johnakin pleaded guilty to one count of burglary a…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Woman Sentenced For Collecting $60K From Dead Mother's Pension Westchester Woman Sentenced For Collecting $60K From Dead Mother's Pension
Westchester Woman Sentenced For Collecting $60K From Dead Mother's Pension A Westchester woman admitted to stealing more than $60,000 from her dead mother’s pension payments and will avoid jail time. Rochelle Rose, 41, who pleaded guilty to grand larceny in April, has been sentenced to five years probation, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., announced. She also must pay $60,288 in restitution for stealing from the New York State and Local Retirement System following her mother’s death. Rose, a Mount Vernon resident, stole the money by keeping her dead mother’s deposited pension checks and then…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients
Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients A Westchester County businessman will spend time behind bars after admitting to lining his own pockets with hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of a scheme to steal business taxes from clients that employed his services. Pleasantville resident Stefan Malgarinos, 48, has been sentenced to prison time after pleading guilty to grand larceny and scheme to defraud, both felonies, related to stealing withholding tax money from state and federal authorities collected from his clients. Westchester County District Attorney District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., said that Malgarinos was …

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by Zak Failla
News
Owner Sentenced For Conspiring With Westchester Man In Setting Fire To Rival Deli Owner Sentenced For Conspiring With Westchester Man In Setting Fire To Rival Deli
Owner Sentenced For Conspiring With Westchester Man In Setting Fire To Rival Deli A former deli owner will spend years behind bars after conspiring with a man from Westchester to burn down a competitor’s store. Redhwan Saleh has been sentenced to 63 months in prison for his participation in arson in the Bronx. He was convicted earlier this year following a four-day trial, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said. According to Berman, Saleh owned a deli near the intersection of 242nd Street and Broadway in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. When Saleh learned that a competing deli was set to open a few stores down, Saleh paid three men - including New Rochelle resident Antoine…

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by Zak Failla
News
Former Teller Sentenced For Participating In Violent Bank Robbery In Westchester Former Teller Sentenced For Participating In Violent Bank Robbery In Westchester
Former Teller Sentenced For Participating In Violent Bank Robbery In Westchester A former bank teller in Westchester has been sentenced for her participation in an armed robbery that netted more than $300,000 and a vacation to Aruba. Virginia Blanco has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for participating in the robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank branch on Odel Avenue in Yonkers in October 2013 that included several rounds being fired during the exchange. She must also pay $303,500 in restitution. Blanco had been found guilty by a jury of conspiracy, bank robbery, and a firearm offense in July last year following a four-day trial in White Plains federal court, U.S. At…

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by Zak Failla
News
Bookkeeper Sentenced For Stealing $300K From Westchester Businesses Bookkeeper Sentenced For Stealing $300K From Westchester Businesses
Bookkeeper Sentenced For Stealing $300K From Westchester Businesses A 71-year-old former bookkeeper from heading to prison after stealing more than $375,000 from her Westchester employee of 20 years. Patricia Hunt of New Rochelle has been sentenced to a term of between two and six years in state prison after pleading guilty to grand larceny, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. announced. She has also been ordered to pay her former employer $375,825.88 in restitution. Hunt, worked as a former bookkeeper for Artisan Restoration Co., Inc. and E. Gargiulo Interior & Exterior Restoration Co., Inc. in Mount Vernon for two decades.…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Businessman Admits To Swindling Clients Out Of Thousands Westchester Businessman Admits To Swindling Clients Out Of Thousands
Westchester Businessman Admits To Swindling Clients Out Of Thousands A Westchester County businessman has admitted to lining his own pockets with thousands of dollars as part of a scheme to steal business taxes from clients that employed his services. Pleasantville resident Stefan Malgarinos, 48, has pleaded guilty to grand larceny and scheme to defraud, both felonies, related to stealing withholding tax money from state and federal authorities collected from his clients. Malgarinos, the owner of Manos Business Management in Pleasantville, was hired by businesses in the tri-state area to file withholding tax returns, to pay withholding taxes collected f…

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by Zak Failla
News
Here's When Bottini Fuel Fraud Victims Can Expect Refunds Here's When Bottini Fuel Fraud Victims Can Expect Refunds
Here's When Bottini Fuel Fraud Victims Can Expect Refunds For the thousands of customers who may have been defrauded by Bottini Fuel, refunds will soon be on the way.The Wappingers Falls-based heating oil delivery company stole more than 1.7 million from customers by keeping overpayments and duplicate payments over a 12 year period, according to the New York State Attorney General's Office.  Now, the company has to repay more than $3.2 million in penalties and restitution as part of an agreement with the government. According to the AG's office, Hudson Valley homeowners and businesses are owed $1,171,884 in refunds, and government entiti…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Ex-Chief Sentenced For Stealing $312K From Fire Department In Westchester Ex-Chief Sentenced For Stealing $312K From Fire Department In Westchester
Ex-Chief Sentenced For Stealing $312K From Fire Department In Westchester A former fire chief and police officer will spend time behind bars after admitting to stealing more than $300,000 from a Northern Westchester fire department while he was a treasurer. Gerald Munson, who most recently served as the Croton-on-Hudson FD treasurer, pleaded guilty to grand larceny as a crime of public corruption after admitting to stealing $312,925 from the department earlier this year. On Wednesday, Munson was sentenced to a term of between a year-and-a-half and four-and-a-half years in state prison. Munson must also pay restitution to the fire department. Munson was in Westche…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced For $22M Ponzi Scheme Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced For $22M Ponzi Scheme
Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced For $22M Ponzi Scheme A former hedge fund manager from Northern Westchester will spend nearly a decade behind bars after defrauding 45 investors out of more than $22 million through an elaborate Ponzi scheme that allowed him to live a lavish lifestyle. Michael Scronic of Pound Ridge, the former manager of the Scronic Macro Fund has been sentenced to 96 months in prison, Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced on Thursday. Scronic was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and must pay $22,026,427 in restitution to his victims. Scronic, 46, admitte…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-Comptroller Sentenced In White Plains For Embezzling $2.5 Million Ex-Comptroller Sentenced In White Plains For Embezzling $2.5 Million
Ex-Comptroller Sentenced In White Plains For Embezzling $2.5 Million The former comptroller of a pair of prominent Hudson Valley companies is going to spend some time behind bars after stealing millions of dollars from his employer to fund gambling and a lush lifestyle. Mark Cina, the former comptroller of two Poughkeepsie companies, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for mail fraud and tax evasion in White Plains Federal Court. He pleaded guilty to the charges in April. Cina, 56, must also pay $3,385,665 in restitution and forfeit a total of $2,254,820. In 2008, Cina was hired by an entrepreneur to act as a part-time bookkeeper for his company. Two years …

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by Zak Failla
News
Hudson Valley Accountant Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $600K Hudson Valley Accountant Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $600K
Hudson Valley Accountant Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $600K A Rockland County accountant admitted in White Plains federal court to his role in a multi-million dollar deception scheme is heading to prison and must pay $600,000 in restitution to his victims. Mitchell Klein, 62, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison and must pay the restitution for not reporting a theft from his real estate company, which was connected to the scheme involving his investors, family and friends. In total, more than 100 clients lost investments with Klein and his former business partners, who in total lost more than $60 million in real estate projects and ve…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-School Secretary Sentenced For Stealing Funds From Westchester District Ex-School Secretary Sentenced For Stealing Funds From Westchester District
Ex-School Secretary Sentenced For Stealing Funds From Westchester District A longtime Tarrytown Union Free School District secretary and Putnam County resident has been sentenced to probation and must pay restitution after stealing more than $10,000 from her employer. Lake Peekskill resident Carol Ressa, 54, has been sentenced to five years probation in Westchester County Court, and ordered to finish paying restitution of the balance due to the school district, $2,929.56, during her first 12 months of probation. Ressa pleaded guilty in February to third-degree grand larceny as a public corruption crime, a felony. She was also ordered to pay a total of $10,000 in r…

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by Zak Failla
News
Hudson Valley Contractor Admits To Defrauding Customers Of $175,000 Hudson Valley Contractor Admits To Defrauding Customers Of $175,000
Hudson Valley Contractor Admits To Defrauding Customers Of $175,000 An area contractor is facing potential prison time and his corporation has agreed to pay back $175,000 for defrauding property owners who hired him to construct homes on their property. Goshen resident Charles Neustadt, 63, and JC Builders, Inc. pleaded guilty to felonies this week in Orange County Court. Neustadt pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny and theft of services. His business pleaded guilty to felony charges of grand larceny and scheme to defraud. As part of the plea agreement, Neustadt has agreed to pay back $175,000 and it has been recommended by the Orange County Distri…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-New Rochelle Schools Director Heads To Federal Prison For Bribery Scheme Ex-New Rochelle Schools Director Heads To Federal Prison For Bribery Scheme
Ex-New Rochelle Schools Director Heads To Federal Prison For Bribery Scheme A former New Rochelle Schools Director who was implicated in a corruption scheme is heading to federal prison following sentencing at the United States Courthouse in White Plains. Last year, John Gallagher Jr. pleaded guilty to bribery for his role in a four-year corruption scheme while he was an independent contractor working with the New Rochelle School District. He faced up to four years in prison and must pay thousands in fines. Gallagher was originally scheduled to be sentenced last month, but that got pushed to Wednesday, where a judge sentenced him to a term of four years in federal …

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by Zak Failla
News
Fatal Stabbing Of 16-Year-Old Girl Tops Week's Westchester News Fatal Stabbing Of 16-Year-Old Girl Tops Week's Westchester News
Fatal Stabbing Of 16-Year-Old Girl Tops Week's Westchester News WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. --  The 16-year-old suspect accused of fatally stabbing another girl, a New Rochelle High School junior Valaree Megan Schwab, on Wednesday, has surrendered to police. Click here to read the story. Some others top stories of the week include (Click on the link to read the entire story): A Westchester County business owner is seeking $90 million in restitution from Dunkin’ Donuts, claiming that the franchise irreparably damaged his concession stand at the Westchester County Airport. Wegmans, the popular grocery chain known for its massive stores and food courts, is cl…

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by Kathy Reakes