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Damian Williams

Man From Region Among 6 Genovese Crime Family Suspects Sentenced For Racketeering Man From Region Among 6 Genovese Crime Family Suspects Sentenced For Racketeering
Man From Region Among 6 Genovese Crime Family Suspects Sentenced For Racketeering Six members and associates of the Genovese organized crime family, including a Westchester man and a Fairfield County resident, have been sentenced on racketeering charges, federal officials said.  The sentencings were announced on Friday, Aug. 4 by US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams.  According to Williams, the six men were associated with the Genovese Organized Crime Family, part of a nationwide criminal organization known by various names such as "La Cosa Nostra" and the “Mafia."  Those sentenced included two "captains," who were r…
Sergeant Indicted After Tasing Handcuffed Victim 7 Times in 2 Minutes In Region: Feds Sergeant Indicted After Tasing Handcuffed Victim 7 Times in 2 Minutes In Region: Feds
Sergeant Indicted After Tasing Handcuffed Victim 7 Times in 2 Minutes In Region: Feds A Westchester Sergeant faces federal charges after tasing a handcuffed victim seven times in the span of two minutes and violating their rights in the process, officials said.  Brooklyn resident Mario Stewart, age 44, a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department, has been indicted on federal charges after allegedly using excessive force against a handcuffed individual in a March 2019 incident, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday, July 20.  According to federal officials, at the time of the incident, Stewart had been …
Fentanyl Deaths: Dealer From Region, Age 25, Nabbed After Multiple Overdoses, Feds Say Fentanyl Deaths: Dealer From Region, Age 25, Nabbed After Multiple Overdoses, Feds Say
Fentanyl Deaths: Dealer From Region, Age 25, Nabbed 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…
Multimillion-Dollar Scheme: Smallwood Woman Nabbed For Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, Feds Say Multimillion-Dollar Scheme: Smallwood Woman Nabbed For Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, Feds Say
Multimillion-Dollar Scheme: Smallwood Woman Nabbed For Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, Feds Say A 49-year-old woman from the region has been charged with conspiring to commit money laundering and bank fraud, stealing more than $10 million from victims. Sullivan County resident Tetiana Berriors, of the hamlet of Smallwood, was arrested on Thursday, June 8, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. According to court documents, Berriors conspired to commit money laundering and bank fraud in connection with laundering the proceeds of a series of business email compromise scams that sought to deceive victims into sending nearly $10 million to bank accoun…
Officer Admits To Assaulting Inmate, Falsifying Records At Green Haven Prison In Dutchess Officer Admits To Assaulting Inmate, Falsifying Records At Green Haven Prison In Dutchess
Officer Admits To Assaulting Inmate, Falsifying Records At Green Haven Prison In Dutchess A correction officer from Northern Westchester has admitted to assaulting an inmate of the Dutchess County prison he once worked at and preparing false reports of the incident.  Cortlandt Manor resident Taj Everly, age 32, pleaded guilty to assaulting an inmate at the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Dutchess County, located in Stormville, in May 2020 and then obstructing the investigation into the incident, the US Attorney's Office for Southern District of New York announced on Thursday, April 27.  Earlier Report - Correction Officer From Cortlandt Manor Charg…
$3,800,000 Money Laundering Case: Attorney From Region Admits Role In Scheme $3,800,000 Money Laundering Case: Attorney From Region Admits Role In Scheme
$3,800,000 Money Laundering Case: Attorney From Region Admits Role In Scheme An attorney from Westchester has admitted to laundering money in order to make payments to maintain six US properties owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch, federal officials said.  Pelham resident and attorney Robert Wise pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 25 to participating in a scheme to make around $3.8 million in payments to maintain six properties in the US that were owned by Viktor Vekselberg, a sanctioned Russian oligarch, according to the US Attorney's Office for Southern District of New York.  According to federal officials, Vekselberg was designated …
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses $31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses Sentences have been handed out for two attorneys and a doctor convicted of defrauding New York businesses and their insurance companies of more than $31 million through a massive, three-year trip-and-fall fraud scheme. The three men all live on Long Island -- 60-year-old George Constantine in Plainview, 50-year-old Marc Elefant in Woodmere, and 67-year-old Andrew Dowd in Miller Place. Constantine and Dowd were convicted at a trial in mid-December 2022 of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. Dowd was also found guilty of additional counts of conspiracy to co…
Orange County Quadruple Murder Case: Former Police Officer Found Guilty Orange County Quadruple Murder Case: Former Police Officer Found Guilty
Orange County Quadruple Murder Case: Former Police Officer 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…
$8M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Billed Millions In False Transportation Claims $8M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Billed Millions In False Transportation Claims
$8M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Billed Millions In False Transportation Claims A Westchester man will spend years in prison after billing more than $8 million in false transportation service claims as part of a multi-million-dollar Medicaid fraud scheme.  Yonkers resident Julio Alvarado, age 63, was sentenced to 95 months in prison on Wednesday, March 29 for leading the scheme which ended up defrauding Medicaid out of millions of dollars, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.  According to federal officials, Alvarado was responsible for billing more than $8 million in fraudulent transportation services for Medicaid…
Contractor, Real Estate Developer Plead Guilty In Connection With Worker Death In Area Contractor, Real Estate Developer Plead Guilty In Connection With Worker Death In Area
Contractor, Real Estate Developer Plead Guilty In Connection With Worker Death In Area A construction company and its owner have pleaded guilty to violating OSHA regulations resulting in the death of a Hudson Valley construction worker and the injury of another in 2017. OneKey, a New Jersey construction company, and its owner, Finbar O'Neill, pleaded guilty on Thursday, Feb. 2, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. According to statements and filings in federal court: In 2017, OneKey and O’Neill implemented a soil compaction plan at a construction site in Dutchess County at 1 Dutchess Ave. in Poughkeepsie. The soil compaction …
Sex Cult Leader At College In NY Draws 60-Year Sentence Sex Cult Leader At College In NY Draws 60-Year Sentence
Sex Cult Leader At College In NY Draws 60-Year Sentence A man who put a group of college students through sexual, psychological, and physical abuse after moving into his daughter's dorm room in Westchester County will spend the rest of his life in prison.  Earlier Report - Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader In Bronxville Found Guilty On All Charges Larry Ray, also known as Lawrence Grecco, was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Friday, Jan. 20 for leading a sex cult out of Sarah Lawrence College located near the border of Bronxville and Yonkers, according to Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. …
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme Results In Convictions For NY Attorney, Doctor $31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme Results In Convictions For NY Attorney, Doctor
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme Results In Convictions For NY Attorney, Doctor An attorney and doctor have been convicted of defrauding New York businesses and their insurance companies of more than $31 million through a massive trip-and-fall fraud scheme. Following a three-week trial, a jury in Manhattan just convicted George Constantine, a lawyer, and Andrew Dowd, an orthopedic surgeon, for their participation in the scheme from 2013 and 2018.  Both men live on Long Island -- the 60-year-old Constantine in Plainview, and the 67-year-old Dowd in Miller Place. The two were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and w…
Gang Members, Associates In Area Charged With Racketeering, Narcotics, Other Offenses Gang Members, Associates In Area Charged With Racketeering, Narcotics, Other Offenses
Gang Members, Associates In Area 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…
Man Sentenced For Shooting Death Of 21-Year-Old In Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Shooting Death Of 21-Year-Old In Hudson Valley
Man Sentenced For Shooting Death Of 21-Year-Old In Hudson Valley 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 Region Teen Duo Accused Of Subjecting Victims To Violent Crimes After Luring Them To Region
Teen Duo Accused Of Subjecting Victims To Violent Crimes After Luring Them To Region 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…
US Settles With 4 Parties For Release Of Mercury In Village In Region US Settles With 4 Parties For Release Of Mercury In Village In Region
US Settles With 4 Parties For Release Of Mercury In Village In Region Four companies will pay out nearly half a million dollars to the federal government for their role in contaminating a Westchester County neighborhood with thousands of pounds of toxic mercury. As part of a consent decree settling a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday, Sept. 13, in federal court in White Plains, the four companies admitted to delivering mercury to Port Refinery, a mercury refining business in the Village of Rye Brook. Port Refinery operated out of a two-story garage that was bordered by private homes on three sides, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District. Th…
‘Trusted Lieutenant’ Of College Sex-Cult Leader In Region Admits To Conspiracy ‘Trusted Lieutenant’ Of College Sex-Cult Leader In Region Admits To Conspiracy
‘Trusted Lieutenant’ Of College Sex-Cult Leader In Region 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 Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry
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 Hotel In Region, Feds Say Postal Workers Charged After Fraud Evidence Discovered In Hotel In Region, Feds Say
Postal Workers Charged After Fraud Evidence Discovered In Hotel In Region, 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 Home Invasion Robbery For Tens Of Millions In Bitcoin In Region, Feds Say Duo Planned Home Invasion Robbery For Tens Of Millions In Bitcoin In Region, Feds Say
Duo Planned Home Invasion Robbery For Tens Of Millions In Bitcoin In Region, 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…
NY Nurse Practitioner Nabbed In $10.5 Million Fraud Scheme NY Nurse Practitioner Nabbed In $10.5 Million Fraud Scheme
NY Nurse Practitioner Nabbed In $10.5 Million Fraud Scheme A nurse practitioner has been arrested in connection with a scheme that resulted in the fraudulent discharge of over $10.5 million worth of student loans on the basis of falsified medical certifications of permanent disabilities, federal authorities announced. Westchester County resident Catherine Seemer, age 42, of Elmsford, has been charged with the following, according to Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York: One count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison;  One count of federal financial aid fraud, w…
Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Area Middle School Student Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Area Middle School Student
Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Area Middle School Student A man has been charged with allegedly traveling to attempt to rape a Hudson Valley 13-year-old girl at an area hotel. Thomas Rivera, age 32, of Lauderhill, Florida, was arrested on Tuesday, June 7, for communicating online with the girl and persuading her to meet him in Dutchess county to engage in sex, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. According to the allegations in the complaint filed on Friday, June 3, in White Plains federal court in April the town of Poughkeepsie Police department received a report from the town of Hyde Park Police regarding …
US Sues Municipality In Region For Discrimination US Sues Municipality In Region For Discrimination
US Sues Municipality In Region For Discrimination The United States has filed a lawsuit against a Westchester County municipality and its fire department, alleging that they discriminated and retaliated against a female firefighter who reported that a male senior firefighter had harassed and stalked her.  The lawsuit was filed against the Town/Village of Harrison, Fire District Two of Harrison, and the Harrison Fire Department, according to an announcement on Wednesday, June 8, from Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Williams said the US is alleging that the town and fire department…
Men Charged With Murder For Roles Broad Daylight Shooting In Hudson Valley Men Charged With Murder For Roles Broad Daylight Shooting In Hudson Valley
Men Charged With Murder For Roles Broad Daylight Shooting In Hudson Valley Two members of a racketeering enterprise are facing charges - including murder - for their roles in a brazen fatal daytime shooting in Westchester, federal officials announced. James Bazemore - also known as “TJ” - has been charged with murder for the April 2018 murder of Tasheen Williams in Mount Vernon, while his co-conspirator, Jared “Jay” Mujaahid is facing charges for providing him with the deadly weapon used in the act. According to the indictment, Bazemore and Mujaahid were members or associates of a racketeering enterprise known as Big Paper. “In order to fund the enterprise, prot…
Two NYers Charged In Multi-Billion Dollar Market Manipulation Scheme Two NYers Charged In Multi-Billion Dollar Market Manipulation Scheme
Two NYers Charged In Multi-Billion Dollar Market Manipulation Scheme Federal officials announced that four have been arrested and charged for their alleged roles in the multi-billion dollar collapse of Archegos Capital Management. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said that the firm’s former CFO, Long Island resident Patrick Halligan, age 45, of Syosset, and New Jersey resident of Bill Hwang of Tenafly in Bergen County, have been arrested in connection to what Williams said was a racketeering scheme to manipulate the prices of publicly traded securities and to defraud global investment banks. Also charged, according to the De…
Details Emerge In Case Of Woman From Region Found Dead Details Emerge In Case Of Woman From Region Found Dead
Details Emerge In Case Of Woman From Region Found Dead New details have emerged in the case of a missing New York woman found dead in North Carolina. An accused drug dealer in the Hudson Valley has been arrested for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and for traveling and using facilities of interstate commerce to operate a narcotics business enterprise, and murdering the woman who he believed was stealing from that business, federal authorities in New York announced. The filing of a criminal complaint in Westchester County, at White Plains Federal Court on Friday, April 22, charges Putnam County resident …
NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations
NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations New York State's No. 2 political official has been arrested in connection with a campaign-funding scheme during a previous campaign to run for New York City comptroller, federal officials announced. New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, who has been in the role for less than a year, is facing charges that include bribery, honest services wire fraud, and falsification of records following an investigation into probes from his former campaign. Benjamin - a former state senator from Harlem - joined New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration in September following her ascension into the role follo…
Dealer Nabbed For Overdose Deaths From Fentanyl-Laced Heroin In Area Dealer Nabbed For Overdose Deaths From Fentanyl-Laced Heroin In Area
Dealer Nabbed For Overdose Deaths From Fentanyl-Laced Heroin In Area A Hudson Valley alleged drug dealer has been charged in connection with the overdose deaths of four people. Dutchess County resident Allen Peloquin, aka "Ace," age 34, of Poughkeepsie, was taken into custody on Thursday, March 31. Peloquin was charged with distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in the death of a woman in Putnam County in Carmel, in Feb. 2020, and a man in Poughkeepsie, in May 2020, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Peloquin was also charged with participating in a narcotics conspiracy that distributed fentanyl-laced…
Man From Area Charged As Leader Of Organized Armed Robbery Conspiracy Man From Area Charged As Leader Of Organized Armed Robbery Conspiracy
Man From Area Charged As Leader Of Organized Armed Robbery Conspiracy A Hudson Valley man was arrested and accused of leading an organized armed robbery conspiracy in the region. Orange County resident Patrick Chellel, age 31, of the village of Montgomery, was arrested on Wednesday, March 23, and charged in a conspiracy to commit armed robberies of suspected drug dealers in Orange County, the Bronx and Hartford, according to Damian Williams, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. “As alleged, Patrick Chellel organized and directed a violent conspiracy to rob suspected drug dealers and associates at gunpoint," Williams said. "C…
Area Man Convicted Of Gunpoint Robbery Of 100+ Kilos Of Cocaine, Smuggling Area Man Convicted Of Gunpoint Robbery Of 100+ Kilos Of Cocaine, Smuggling
Area Man Convicted Of Gunpoint Robbery Of 100+ Kilos Of Cocaine, Smuggling A Northern Westchester man has been convicted of a gunpoint robbery of more than 100 kilograms of cocaine and smuggling a firearm and other contraband into a New York correctional facility with his wife, federal authorities announced. US Attorney Damian Williams unsealed four-count superseding information charging Chappaqua resident Deejay Williams, age 45, on several offenses following his guilty plea in July 2021. Specifically, White admitted to: Offenses relating to his participation in a May 29, 2019 gunpoint robbery in the Bronx targeting more than 150 kilograms of cocaine; His part…
NY Woman, Man Face Child Porn Charges NY Woman, Man Face Child Porn Charges
NY Woman, Man Face Child Porn Charges A Westchester County woman is one of two people facing child pornography charges following an investigation. Dilicia Aguirre-Orellana, age 22, of Yonkers, and 33-year-old Jonathan Rivera, of Brooklyn, were both charged with production and receipt and distribution of child pornography, according to an announcement on Monday, Feb. 28, from Damian Williams, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. Aguirre-Orellana was also charged with possession of child pornography, Williams said. Rivera was arrested on or about Saturday, Feb. 26, and Aguirre-Orellana was arres…