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Geoffrey Berman

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Biden Nominates Longtime Lawyer To Serve As US Attorney for the Southern District of NY Biden Nominates Longtime Lawyer To Serve As US Attorney for the Southern District of NY
Biden Nominates Longtime Lawyer To Serve As US Attorney for the Southern District of NY President Joe Biden has nominated Damian Williams to serve as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, one of the most high-profile federal positions. Williams, age 40, has been an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York since 2012, serving as its Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. The Southern District includes Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester County, and other northern suburbs. If approved, Williams would be the first African American to serve as the leader of the Manhattan prose…

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by Zak Failla
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New Distribution Of More Than $378M Allotted To Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims New Distribution Of More Than $378M Allotted To Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims
New Distribution Of More Than $378M Allotted To Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims Thousands of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme victims will be receiving their portions of the fifth distribution of more than $378 million this week. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced that the Madoff Victim Fund will be distributing $378.5 million to more than 26,000 of his victims involved in the fraud scheme. To date, approximately $2.7 billion has been distributed to Madoff’s victims. Berman said that the fifth payment will bring the victims’ total recovery to 73.65 percent of their losses.  Ultimately, more than $4 billion will be returned due to losses suffered in Madoff’s Ponz…

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by Zak Failla
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Owner Of Westchester-Based Company Sentenced For $38 Million Fraud Conspiracy Owner Of Westchester-Based Company Sentenced For $38 Million Fraud Conspiracy
Owner Of Westchester-Based Company Sentenced For $38 Million Fraud Conspiracy The former owner and operator of a Westchester business will spend more than a decade in federal prison for her role in a $38 million fraud conspiracy. Jacqueline Graham, who operated Terra Foundation in Valhalla, was sentenced to 132 months in prison in connection with a $38 million fraudulent mortgage debt elimination scheme, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman announced. Graham was convicted in June last year following a two-week trial. Berman said that from at least 2011 through 2012, Graham partnered with Bruce Lewis and John Ruzza in operating Terra Fou…

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by Zak Failla
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Yonkers Man Accused Of Zip Tying Victim In Gunpoint Kidnapping Yonkers Man Accused Of Zip Tying Victim In Gunpoint Kidnapping
Yonkers Man Accused Of Zip Tying Victim In Gunpoint Kidnapping A Westchester man has been accused of committing a violent gunpoint kidnapping. Yonkers resident Owen Drain, also known as “Whiteboy,” and “Tommy,” was charged this week in Manhattan federal court to a gunpoint kidnapping in the Bronx on Nov. 19 last year. It is alleged that on that day, Drain zip-tied his victim during the course of the kidnapping, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman. “As alleged in the Indictment, the defendant kidnapped a victim in a car at gunpoint,” Berman said in a statement. “Thanks to the outstanding work of the FBI…

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by Zak Failla
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Yonkers Residents Charged With Submitting Millions In Fake Claims Yonkers Residents Charged With Submitting Millions In Fake Claims
Yonkers Residents Charged With Submitting Millions In Fake Claims A pair of Westchester residents are facing criminal charges for their roles in a multi-million dollar Medicaid scheme. Yonkers residents Jorgelina Abreu Gil, 32, the owner of KJ Transportation C Services Inc., and her husband, Julio Alvarado, 59, the manager of the company, were among 13 charged with participating in a scheme to steal millions of dollars from New York State Medicaid program by making fraudulent claims related to transportation services. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said that beginning in 2017, KJ began submitting claims to Medicaid for purported medical transportation serv…

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by Zak Failla
News
Hudson Valley-Based Company To Pay EPA $575,000 For Violating Safety Rules Hudson Valley-Based Company To Pay EPA $575,000 For Violating Safety Rules
Hudson Valley-Based Company To Pay EPA $575,000 For Violating Safety Rules A Hudson Valley-based company agreed to pay a hefty penalty after being sued by the federal government for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act involving asbestos renovations at a former hospital. Dutchess County-based Dover Greens, the company tasked with developing the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center in Wingdale, was charged with violating the Clean Air Act and EPA’s National Emissions Standards for Asbestos during renovations at the facility, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced. It was alleged that Dover Greens failed to take the necessary precautions and follow the proper…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Man Among NYC Drug Ring Members Nabbed In Bust, Feds Say Westchester Man Among NYC Drug Ring Members Nabbed In Bust, Feds Say
Westchester Man Among NYC Drug Ring Members Nabbed In Bust, Feds Say A Westchester man is among a dozen involved in a crack cocaine distribution ring in Manhattan facing drug and weapons charges for their roles in the operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. New Rochelle resident Ronald “Jeter” Nixon, 42, was among 12 arrested for operating the drug distribution ring in the area of 125th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced. Six of the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and appeared in federal court on Thursday, Dec. 12. One is already in state custody and five remain at large. “This case highli…

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by Zak Failla
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Trio From Area Nabbed In FBI Sting For Running $6M Unlicensed Money Transmitting Scheme In Area Trio From Area Nabbed In FBI Sting For Running $6M Unlicensed Money Transmitting Scheme In Area
Trio From Area Nabbed In FBI Sting For Running $6M Unlicensed Money Transmitting Scheme In Area Three area residents have been arrested and charged for running a multi-million dollar scheme to operate an unlicensed money transmitting businesses to launder money derived from illegal activities. Rockland residents Chaskel Landau, 45, of Spring Valley, Alter Landau, 64, of Spring Valley, and Joseph Neumann, 78, of Monsey, were arrested this week, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced. The three were tied to an elaborate scheme to transmit approximately $6 million. The three were arrested following an FBI sting operation. It is alleged that between September 2014 and August 2016, the t…

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by Zak Failla
News
Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get New $469M Distribution, Bringing Payout To $2.4B Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get New $469M Distribution, Bringing Payout To $2.4B
Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get New $469M Distribution, Bringing Payout To $2.4B Thousands of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme victims will see some more relief as the Department of Justice begins the latest distribution of more than $469 million. This week, the Madoff Victim Fund, which was established by the DOJ, began distributing $469.6 million in additional funds that were forfeited to the government in connection to Madoff's scheme. The money will be distributed to more than 27,000 victims, bringing the total to approximately $2.4 billion. The latest distribution marks the fourth in a series of payments from the Madoff Victim Fund as part of Madoff’s fraud, which tot…

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by Zak Failla
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Pair Sentenced For Kidnapping, Killing Area Man Who Was Federal Cooperating Witness Pair Sentenced For Kidnapping, Killing Area Man Who Was Federal Cooperating Witness
Pair Sentenced For Kidnapping, Killing Area Man Who Was Federal Cooperating Witness Two men will spend the rest of their lives in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and murdering a federal cooperating witness from the area in a violent armed robbery more than two years ago. Bronx residents Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera were convicted in September last year of murdering a witness from Rockland to prevent him from reporting to law enforcement, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death, robbery conspiracy, robbery, and weapons offenses, arising out of the murder of federal cooperating witness and Garnerville resident Robert Bishun on Sept. 20, 2016. On Tue…

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by Zak Failla
News
Gang Leader Admits To Murdering Man During Card Game In Area Gang Leader Admits To Murdering Man During Card Game In Area
Gang Leader Admits To Murdering Man During Card Game In Area A gang leader is facing life in prison after admitting to murdering a man and injuring two others while robbing a card game being played on the sidewalk in front of a laundromat in the area. Skylar “S-Dot” Davis, 22, a “Southside” gang leader, pleaded guilty this week to his role in a racketeering conspiracy, and to murdering Samuel Stubbs during a robbery as he was playing cards on Lander Street in 2015. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said that as part of his guilty plea, Davis - who was already in prison for weapon and drug charges - also admitted to committing or helping to commit an addi…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Man Sentenced For Four Armed Carjackings Westchester Man Sentenced For Four Armed Carjackings
Westchester Man Sentenced For Four Armed Carjackings A 33-year-old man will spend the better part of a decade behind bars after being sentenced for several armed carjackings in and around Westchester late last year. Mount Vernon resident Samir “S” Sullivan, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for four separate armed carjackings of cabs in Mount Vernon and the Bronx in November, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced. Sullivan pleaded guilty in White Plains federal court earlier this year. Berman said that in the middle of the night on Nov. 25 and Nov. 29 last year, Sullivan and a co-conspirator committed the four armed carjackings, dur…

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by Zak Failla
News
Five Charged In Westchester With Drug Trafficking Five Charged In Westchester With Drug Trafficking
Five Charged In Westchester With Drug Trafficking Five men have been charged in White Plains federal court and will face life in prison for allegedly trafficking cocaine in the Hudson Valley. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Ronald “Solo” Miller, Jason Paradies, Frank “Nitty” Nesbit, Corey Webb, and Kiyon Webb with the distribution of cocaine and cocaine base throughout the Southern District of New York. All five men were taken into federal custody on Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11 and presented in White Plains federal court. The indictment alleges that between 2016 through Octobe…

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by Zak Failla
News
Developer, Builder Of Westchester Condo Reaches Fair Housing Act Settlement Developer, Builder Of Westchester Condo Reaches Fair Housing Act Settlement
Developer, Builder Of Westchester Condo Reaches Fair Housing Act Settlement A Northern Westchester condominium complex will be retrofitted to improve accessibility for people with disabilities after settling a Fair Housing Act lawsuit. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced that the United States has reached a settlement with Bedford Development LLC, Carnegie Construction Corp., Jobco Inc., Robert Pasucci and Warshauer Mellusi Warshauer Architects, P.C. regarding accessibility concerns at the Sutton Manor condominium complex in Mount Kisco. Berman said that the settlement requires the parties to pay nearly $200,000 for retrofits at the condominium complex. Improve…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Woman, Brother Charged In Visa Fraud Conspiracy Westchester Woman, Brother Charged In Visa Fraud Conspiracy
Westchester Woman, Brother Charged In Visa Fraud Conspiracy A Westchester woman and her brother are facing charges for their roles in a visa fraud scheme involving the enticing of illegal aliens to come to the United States to serve as domestic workers. Bronxville resident Maria Luisa Estrella Jaidi and her brother, Philippines native Ramon Singson Estrella, are facing time behind bars after being charged and arrested for running an elaborate scheme involving illegal immigrants, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced on Wednesday.  The allegations against the siblings claim that from 2006 through 2016, Jaidi and Estrella conspired with a third…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Former Cuomo Aide From Westchester Ordered To Report To Prison Former Cuomo Aide From Westchester Ordered To Report To Prison
Former Cuomo Aide From Westchester Ordered To Report To Prison A Northern Westchester man and former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been ordered to report to prison after being convicted on corruption charges and having his appeal denied. Joseph Percoco, a South Salem resident, was convicted of accepting $300,000 in bribes from an energy company last year and was sentenced to six years in prison. Percoco was originally scheduled to report to prison on March 1, but a court ruled that he can stay a free man as he appeals his conviction. On Thursday, March 7, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan denied Percoco’s bail and he was ordere…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester Has Prison Surrender Date Postponed Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester Has Prison Surrender Date Postponed
Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester Has Prison Surrender Date Postponed A former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will not be reporting to jail on March 1 as he continues to fight his conviction on corruption charges. Joseph Percoco, a South Salem resident, was convicted of accepting $300,000 in bribes from an energy company last year and was sentenced to six years in prison. He was scheduled to report to prison on March 1, but a court has ruled that he can stay a free man as he continues to appeal the conviction. Percoco was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of solicitation of bribes or gratuities…

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by Zak Failla
News
Yonkers Native DMX Released From Federal Prison For Tax Evasion Yonkers Native DMX Released From Federal Prison For Tax Evasion
Yonkers Native DMX Released From Federal Prison For Tax Evasion Westchester native Earl Simmons - you may know him by his stage name, DMX - is a free man after spending a year behind bars for tax evasion. Last year, the 48-year-old rapper was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion. Simmons, a Mount Vernon native who grew up in Yonkers, was confined to his Westchester home. His home confinement was revoked last January when he failed a drug test. On Friday, Jan. 25, Simmons was released, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He had been housed at the Gilmer Federal Correctional Institution in Glenville, West Virginia. S…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Sentenced For Enticing Girl In Westchester Charged With Threatening Judge, Prosecutor Man Sentenced For Enticing Girl In Westchester Charged With Threatening Judge, Prosecutor
Man Sentenced For Enticing Girl In Westchester Charged With Threatening Judge, Prosecutor An Orange County man who was sentenced to time in prison for enticing a teenage girl from Westchester into sexual activity is facing additional time behind bars for threatening a judge and U.S. attorney. Clint Edwards of New Windsor was sentenced to 20 years in prison for enticing a child to engage in illegal sexual activity. He pleaded guilty to the crime on July 2 last year, following the illicit activities in 2017. This week, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced that Edwards, 28, has been charged with two counts with threatening a United States District Judge for the Southern Dis…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Man Charged With August 2018 Murder Westchester Man Charged With August 2018 Murder
Westchester Man Charged With August 2018 Murder A 26-year-old man may face death after he was charged with murdering someone earlier this year to benefit his marijuana distribution ring, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced on Thursday. Barry Johnson of Mount Vernon has been charged with aiding and abetting the murder of David DeGrace on Aug. 26 to further a drug distribution conspiracy. Johnson was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 20 in Mount Vernon and appeared in court later in the day. On the day of the fatal shooting, DeGrace, 36, was at his South Seventh Avenue apartment in Mount Vernon, where he was killed. “Last summer, David …

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by Zak Failla
News
19 Accused Of Sex Trafficking At Westchester Residential Treatment Center 19 Accused Of Sex Trafficking At Westchester Residential Treatment Center
19 Accused Of Sex Trafficking At Westchester Residential Treatment Center At least nine girls at a Westchester County residential treatment facility were trafficked or recruited to engage in prostitution, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced. Charges have been brought against 19 men who allegedly trafficked minors and young women who were in the New York State child welfare system. Eighteen of the suspects have been arrested, one remains at large. As alleged, the men “trafficked or recruited to engage in prostitution at least 15 minor girls in the child welfare system, including at least nine minors who resided at a particular non-incarceratory residential tre…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Man Charged With Four Armed Carjackings Westchester Man Charged With Four Armed Carjackings
Westchester Man Charged With Four Armed Carjackings A 32-year-old man is facing more than a decade behind bars after allegedly terrorizing four cab drivers with a gun on two separate nights. Samir Sullivan of Mount Vernon has been charged with committing four armed carjackings on cabs in Mount Vernon and the Bronx, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced on Friday. The charges come following complaints from drivers in the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 25 and Thursday, Nov. 29. Berman said that Sullivan was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 4 and appeared in White Plains federal court. Sullivan has been charged with four counts of carjacki…

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by Zak Failla
News
Four Charged With Gun Trafficking, Drug Distribution In Westchester Four Charged With Gun Trafficking, Drug Distribution In Westchester
Four Charged With Gun Trafficking, Drug Distribution In Westchester Four men are facing federal charges for allegedly trafficking firearms and distributing crack cocaine in and around the southern border of Westchester and Fairfield counties. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman and the FBI announced that Walter Jones, Frank Maxwell, Markel Calhoun and Jamar Calhoun have been charged with weapon and drug charges for alleged offenses that centered in Port Chester. In March and February last year, Jones and Markel Calhoun allegedly conspired to traffic weapons and sold four firearms in Port Chester and Riverside in Greenwich. During that same period, the two were un…

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by Zak Failla
News
Mobster From Yonkers Destroys Evidence, Obstructs Justice, Feds Say Mobster From Yonkers Destroys Evidence, Obstructs Justice, Feds Say
Mobster From Yonkers Destroys Evidence, Obstructs Justice, Feds Say A member of the Genevose Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra already charged with the stabbing death of a Westchester man is now facing new charges for destroying evidence and obstructing justice, prosecutors announced. John Tortora Jr., known as "Johnny T," was arrested in August by FBI agents and Yonkers Police in connection with the 1997 death of 29-year-old Richard Ortiz in Yonkers. Tortora, 61, of Yonkers, had previously been indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy, murder in the aid of racketeering and murder for hire. He was arrested on Aug. 3 and has been remanded in cus…

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by Zak Failla
News
Yonkers Heroin Dealer Found Guilty After Jury Trial In White Plains Yonkers Heroin Dealer Found Guilty After Jury Trial In White Plains
Yonkers Heroin Dealer Found Guilty After Jury Trial In White Plains A drug dealer in Westchester is facing decades in prison for distributing heroin throughout the area. Leibys “Celly” Mercedes of the Bronx was found guilty of conspiring to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin in Yonkers following a four-day trial. The jury unanimously found him guilty of distributing the heroin to other dealers in the area. Mercedes was one of six dealers who conspired to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin in the area. “As proven at trial, Leibys Mercedes contributed to the rising tide of heroin that is plaguing Westchester County and its vicinity,” U.S. At…

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by Zak Failla
News
Four Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Defrauding Users Of Dating Website Four Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Defrauding Users Of Dating Website
Four Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Defrauding Users Of Dating Website Four suspects are facing federal charges for allegedly engaging in a scheme to dupe their victims into believing that they had sent sexually explicit images to underage children and faced criminal prosecution if they did not pay to avoid involvement by law enforcement.  U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced that four suspects from South Carolina have been charged in White Plains federal court with participating in a scheme to defraud users of a dating website. Beginning in August last year, Homeland Security Investigations began investigating several people who reported they had…

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by Zak Failla
News
10 Charged In White Plains Court With Distributing Cocaine, Crack 10 Charged In White Plains Court With Distributing Cocaine, Crack
10 Charged In White Plains Court With Distributing Cocaine, Crack Ten men have been charged in White Plains Federal Court for their roles in a scheme to distribute crack cocaine and cocaine in the area. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced this week that 10 people have been indicted for participating in an alleged narcotics conspiracy in Sullivan County. Seven of the men were taken into federal custody last week, while two others were arrested in August. Suspect Jhoan “Chelo” Adames remains at large. According to the indictment, over the last two years, Adames, Rolando “Rolo” Nieves, Jason Nieves-Pino, Jose Nieves-Herrera, Jose Rubert, Pervis Marcus, J…

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by Zak Failla
News
Pair Convicted Of Kidnapping, Killing Hudson Valley Man Who Was Federal Cooperating Witness Pair Convicted Of Kidnapping, Killing Hudson Valley Man Who Was Federal Cooperating Witness
Pair Convicted Of Kidnapping, Killing Hudson Valley Man Who Was Federal Cooperating Witness Two men will spend the rest of their lives in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and murdering a federal cooperating witness from Rockland in a violent armed robbery more than two years ago. Bronx residents Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera were convicted of murdering a witness to prevent him from reporting to law enforcement, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death, robbery conspiracy, robbery, and weapons offenses, arising out of the murder of federal cooperating witness and Garnerville resident Robert Bishun on Sept. 20, 2016. On the day of Bishun’s murder, Pizarro and …

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes
Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes A former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who lives in Northern Westchester and was convicted of accepting $300,000 in bribes from an energy company and developer has been sentenced. Joseph Percoco, a South Salem resident, was sentenced to six years in prison in federal court in Manhattan on Thursday afternoon. The 49-year-old Percoco has been ordered to surrender himself into custody on Dec. 28, after the holidays.  At his sentencing, U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni said Percoco was motivated by "greed and arrogance."  Along with the prison time, Percoco also received…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester To Be Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester To Be Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes
Ex-Cuomo Aide From Westchester To Be Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes Joseph Percoco, a former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who lives in Northern Westchester and was convicted of three felonies earlier this year is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday. Percoco, a South Salem resident, was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of solicitation of bribes or gratuities and acquitted of two extortion charges in March related to his acceptance of $300,000 in bribes to benefit Competitive Power Ventures, an energy company that sought to build the power plant in the Hudson Valley. He was cleared of any …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Seven Charged In Elaborate, Multi-Million Dollar Scam Involving Hudson Valley Schools Seven Charged In Elaborate, Multi-Million Dollar Scam Involving Hudson Valley Schools
Seven Charged In Elaborate, Multi-Million Dollar Scam Involving Hudson Valley Schools Seven Hudson Valley residents have been charged in a “wide-ranging” multi-million dollar scheme to defraud a federal “E Rate” subsidy program involving school technology funding earmarked for underprivileged children. Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the unsealing of an indictment, which charges seven Monsey, Monroe and Spring Valley residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud charges. Those charged include Monsey residents Simon Goldbrenner, 55, Ben Klein, 39, Sholem Steinberg, 39, and Aron Melber, 42. Monroe res…

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by Zak Failla