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New York Attorney General's Office

First Person Sentenced In Large Drug Trafficking Ring Of 25 In Dutchess, Capital Region First Person Sentenced In Large Drug Trafficking Ring Of 25 In Dutchess, Capital Region
First Person Sentenced In Large Drug Trafficking Ring Of 25 In Dutchess, Capital Region The first person charged in a major drug trafficking ring in the Capital Region and Dutchess County, busted last year and included 25 people, has been sentenced to prison. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, Oct. 29, the convictions of members of the major drug trafficking ring that distributed heroin and fentanyl, as well as powder and crack cocaine in Albany, Dutchess, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties.  An investigation led by the Attorney General's Office recovered more than three kilograms of cocaine and approximately 40 grams of heroin laced…
State AG Sues Mobile Home Park Owners In Region For Horrific Living Conditions State AG Sues Mobile Home Park Owners In Region For Horrific Living Conditions
State AG Sues Mobile Home Park Owners In Region For Horrific Living Conditions The New York Attorney General's Office has filed a lawsuit against a mobile home park in the region and its owners for years of failing to maintain humane living conditions. The suit, filed Thursday, Oct. 10, in Sullivan County, targets River Valley Estates (River Valley), a mobile home park in Loch Sheldrake (Hurleyville), and its operators, George Levin and Gayla Sue Levin, for years of failing to maintain essential infrastructure in the park that left hundreds of residents without clean water and for charging illegal fees and rent hikes that cost residents hundreds of thousands of dollars…
New Video Shows Moments Leading Up To Fatal Shooting Of Hudson Valley Man By NYSP New Video Shows Moments Leading Up To Fatal Shooting Of Hudson Valley Man By NYSP
New Video Shows Moments Leading Up To Fatal Shooting Of Hudson Valley Man By Nysp Newly released body camera footage shows the tense moments that led to a New York’s man’s death at the hands of police. The Sullivan County incident happened in the town of Thompson, on Rock Hill Drive, at around 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16. New York State Police said troopers were pursuing 32-year-old Orange County resident Albert Melendez, of Middletown, when Melendez stopped and attempted to turn around at the intersection of Rock Hill Drive and Emerald Place. Earlier Report: Man From Region Killed By State Trooper After Striking Officer With Car, Police Say A trooper exited…
$280K Scam: Father, Daughter Accused Of Stealing From Hudson Valley Woman $280K Scam: Father, Daughter Accused Of Stealing From Hudson Valley Woman
$280K Scam: Father, Daughter Accused Of Stealing From Hudson Valley Woman A man and daughter have been accused of stealing over $280,000 from a Hudson Valley resident. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, Aug. 13, the indictments and arrests of Ulster County residents Frank Whittaker, age 56, of Kingston, and his daughter Christine Ellsworth, age 38, of Accord, for allegedly stealing more than $280,000 from a vulnerable elderly victim. After earning the trust of the victim, an Ulster County resident, by providing lawn maintenance and assisting with household tasks, Whittaker and Ellsworth gained access to the then-92-year-old’s checkbook …
Hudson Valley Guns, Drugs Trafficking Networks Busted, 7 Arrested, AG Says Hudson Valley Guns, Drugs Trafficking Networks Busted, 7 Arrested, AG Says
Hudson Valley Guns, Drugs Trafficking Networks Busted, 7 Arrested, AG Says Large gun trafficking and narcotics networks were busted and seven suspects were arrested during raids in the region. The networks and suspects were operating out of Dutchess County, mostly in the Poughkeepsie area, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James. The arrests were made on Wednesday, Feb. 14 throughout Dutchess County. According to James, the gun trafficking network sold ghost guns and assault-style rifles and the narcotics trafficking network distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills containing deadly amounts of fentanyl in Dutchess County.  The takedowns recovere…
NY AG James Sues SiriusXM For 'Trapping' Customers In Subscriptions, Making Cancellation Hard NY AG James Sues SiriusXM For 'Trapping' Customers In Subscriptions, Making Cancellation Hard
NY AG James Sues SiriusXM For 'Trapping' Customers In Subscriptions, Making Cancellation Hard New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing SiriusXM Radio for deliberately making it hard for customers to cancel subscriptions by dragging out the interactions required to do so, her office announced.  James announced her lawsuit against the New York City-headquartered company on Wednesday, Dec. 20 following an investigation conducted by her office that found SiriusXM makes it "extremely difficult and frustrating" for customers to cancel their subscriptions, officials said.  "Having to endure a lengthy and frustrating process to cancel a subscription is a stressfu…
Man's Stun Gun, Fire Death At NY Police Station Doesn't Warrant Criminal Charges, AG Says Man's Stun Gun, Fire Death At NY Police Station Doesn't Warrant Criminal Charges, AG Says
Man's Stun Gun, Fire Death At NY Police Station Doesn't Warrant Criminal Charges, AG Says Three New York police officers are off the hook for criminal charges in the death of a man who caught fire after being hit with a stun gun. The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) found that a prosecutor would not be able to prove that the three officers, all members of the Catskill Police Department in Greene County, committed a crime in the October 2021 death of Jason Jones. Therefore, no criminal charges against the officers will be pursued, the AG’s office announced Friday, Oct. 13. The 29-year-old Jones walked into the Catskill Police Department on Oct. …
New Update: Officers Involved In Fatal Hudson Valley Shooting Get No Charges, AG Says New Update: Officers Involved In Fatal Hudson Valley Shooting Get No Charges, AG Says
New Update: Officers Involved In Fatal Hudson Valley Shooting Get No Charges, AG Says Two officers who fatally shot a man in the Hudson Valley while he was stabbing a woman have been cleared of any criminal charges by the New York Attorney General's Office.  On Friday, Sept. 15, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation announced that no charges would be filed in the January 2023 fatal officer-involved shooting of 34-year-old Christopher Torres in the Putnam County town of Southeast.  Earlier Report - NY AG To Probe Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting Of Carmel Man In Southeast On the day of the incident, Tuesday, Jan…
Man Shot Dead By Cop: Full Bodycam Footage Of Westchester Incident Released By NY AG Man Shot Dead By Cop: Full Bodycam Footage Of Westchester Incident Released By NY AG
Man Shot Dead By Cop: Full Bodycam Footage Of Westchester Incident Released By NY AG As the investigation into a Westchester police-involved shooting that left a man dead continues, the New York Attorney General's Office has publicly released the full body camera footage of the incident.  The body-worn camera footage, released by the Attorney General's Office's Office of Special Investigation on Tuesday, July 25, depicts the shooting of 37-year-old New Rochelle resident Jerrel Garris in an incident that happened on Monday, July 3.  Earlier Report - New Update: Man Shot By Cop In New Rochelle Dies, Attorney General Says According to authorities…
'Dangerous' Social Media: NY State Senator Seeks To Require Parents' Permission For Minors 'Dangerous' Social Media: NY State Senator Seeks To Require Parents' Permission For Minors
'Dangerous' Social Media: NY State Senator Seeks To Require Parents' Permission For Minors As federal officials highlight the possible harm that social media can cause to children, a New York State Senator is seeking to make it unlawful for minors to use online platforms without permission from their parents.  New York State Senator Jack Martins, a Republican who represents the state's 7th State Senate district which includes part of Nassau County, has introduced legislation that would make it illegal for social media companies to allow minors to create or maintain accounts without obtaining consent from their parents or guardians, Martin's office announced on Friday, May 26.…
Gun Buyback Program In Hudson Valley Nets 235 Weapons, Including Assault Rifles Gun Buyback Program In Hudson Valley Nets 235 Weapons, Including Assault Rifles
Gun Buyback Program In Hudson Valley Nets 235 Weapons, Including Assault Rifles A recent community gun buyback event netted 235 firearms in one city in the region. The annual Ulster County program -- held Saturday, April 29 in Kingston -- sponsored by New York Attorney General Letitia James, the Kingston Police Department, and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office is the largest gun buyback hosted in the region, the AG's Office said. Including the guns turned in at the Kingston event, James said more than 3,000 guns from across the state were gathered on Saturday.  To date, James has removed more than 7,000 guns from New York communities since taking office in 2019, …
Stabbing Victim Faces 'Long Path Of Recovery' After Brutal Attack In Hudson Valley Stabbing Victim Faces 'Long Path Of Recovery' After Brutal Attack In Hudson Valley
Stabbing Victim Faces 'Long Path Of Recovery' After Brutal Attack In Hudson Valley A community is pulling together to help a woman who was the victim of a brutal domestic violence incident in the Hudson Valley that left one man shot dead by sheriff's deputies.  Earlier Report - Officers Involved In Fatal Shooting ID'd After Incident In Southeast The attack happened in Putnam County on Tuesday, Jan. 10, when Carmel resident Alixandra Albano Richardson was abducted by 34-year-old Carmel resident Christopher Torres in Kent and driven to Southeast, where they were found by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Fields Corner Road near Pugsley Road.&nbs…
NY Man's Stun Gun, Fire Death Prompts $20M Lawsuit Against Police: Report NY Man's Stun Gun, Fire Death Prompts $20M Lawsuit Against Police: Report
NY Man's Stun Gun, Fire Death Prompts $20M Lawsuit Against Police: Report A police department in New York is facing a federal lawsuit in connection with the death of a man who was hit with a TASER device and caught fire in the department’s lobby, WRGB reports. Greene County resident Jason Jones, of Catskill, voluntarily went to the Catskill Police Department on Oct. 30, 2021, and began arguing with officers, according to police. Surveillance footage later released by the New York Attorney General’s Office shows him removing his shirt and shoes before pouring hand sanitizer all over his body, including his hair and face. Moments later, an officer is seen deploy…
Officers Involved In Fatal Shooting ID'd After Domestic Incident In Hudson Valley Officers Involved In Fatal Shooting ID'd After Domestic Incident In Hudson Valley
Officers Involved In Fatal Shooting ID'd After Domestic Incident In Hudson Valley The names of the officers who fatally shot a man in the Hudson Valley after a domestic incident have been released by police.  Earlier Report - ID Released Of Carmel Man Killed By Police After Domestic Incident In Southeast The two Putnam County Sheriff's Office officers who shot the man dead in Southeast on Tuesday, Jan. 10 to prevent him from attacking a woman with a knife have been identified as Senior Investigator Randel Hill and Deputy Shane Haley, according to state police.  Hill and Haley shot and killed 34-year-old Carmel resident Christopher Torres&nb…
Pet Biz Fined $200K For ‘Deceiving’ NYers Into Buying Sick Puppies, Kittens: AG Pet Biz Fined $200K For ‘Deceiving’ NYers Into Buying Sick Puppies, Kittens: AG
Pet Biz Fined $200K For ‘Deceiving’ NYers Into Buying Sick Puppies, Kittens: AG A pet business will have to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars for misleading New Yorkers about the health of animals it sold. As part of a settlement agreement announced by the state Attorney General’s Office Monday, Jan. 9, Bell Pet Company, doing business as The Pet Zone, agreed to pay a civil penalty and create a restitution fund of up to $200,000 to reimburse eligible consumers for medical costs. The Attorney General’s Office said the company failed to provide complete medical records, including a full list of medication given to pets, in an attempt to hide previous illnesses.…
NY AG To Probe Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting Of Man In Hudson Valley NY AG To Probe Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting Of Man In Hudson Valley
NY AG To Probe Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting Of Man In Hudson Valley The New York Attorney General's Office has announced that it will look into the death of a man who was fatally shot by police in the Hudson Valley after a domestic incident.  Earlier Report - ID Released Of Carmel Man Killed By Police After Domestic Incident In Southeast The investigation, announced on Thursday, Jan. 12, will probe the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Carmel resident Christopher Torres, who was shot dead by police in Putnam County on Tuesday, Jan. 10 to prevent him from attacking a woman with a knife. Torres was killed following a domestic incident that began …
$34.2M Recovered For Thousands Of Service Members Defrauded By NY Jeweler $34.2M Recovered For Thousands Of Service Members Defrauded By NY Jeweler
$34.2M Recovered For Thousands Of Service Members Defrauded By NY Jeweler A New York-based jewelry chain will pay $34.2 million as part of a settlement with 18 states for “deceiving and defrauding” more than 46,000 service members and veterans, according to the New York Attorney General’s Office. Long Island-based Harris Jewelry, headquartered in Hauppauge, had been accused of using deceptive marketing tactics to lure active-duty service members to their financing program and of falsely claiming that investing in the program would improve customers’ credit scores. The company also made customers believe that protection plans were required to purchase jewelry and…
Hudson Valley Company Accused Of Illegally Towing Cars, Overcharging, Creating Fake Tickets Hudson Valley Company Accused Of Illegally Towing Cars, Overcharging, Creating Fake Tickets
Hudson Valley Company Accused Of Illegally Towing Cars, Overcharging, Creating Fake Tickets Towing companies tend to get a bad rap, but one in the Hudson Valley is more than worthy of public scorn, according to a new lawsuit from the New York Attorney General’s Office. The suit, filed Tuesday, June 7, in Dutchess County State Supreme Court, accuses Bobby’s Towing in Poughkeepsie of a host of wrongdoings, including illegally towing cars, overcharging for fees, and falsifying tow tickets. It also alleges that owner and operator Robert Scores has a history of harassing customers with racist and derogatory comments. “Mr. Scores repeatedly violated the City of Poughkeepsie’s Towing Or…
Two NY Lawyers Accused Of Stealing $1M From Dead Client's Charity Two NY Lawyers Accused Of Stealing $1M From Dead Client's Charity
Two NY Lawyers Accused Of Stealing $1M From Dead Client's Charity Two Long Island lawyers are being sued by the New York Attorney General’s Office for allegedly stealing more than $1 million in funds earmarked for charity by a dead client. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday, April 27 that she has filed a civil complaint against lawyers Paul P. Marchese and Robin S. Maynard, both of Manhasset, for allegedly paying themselves with funds meant for a charitable foundation. According to the complaint, the client established a trust for her assets, and when she died, those assets were supposed to be transferred to a foundation she cr…
COVID-19: NY Pharmacies To Refund Patients For Vaccine Fees COVID-19: NY Pharmacies To Refund Patients For Vaccine Fees
Covid-19: NY Pharmacies To Refund Patients For Vaccine Fees Reimbursements have been secured for COVID-19 vaccine fees from pharmacies in New York, the Attorney General announced. On Monday, Feb. 7, New York Attorney General Letitia James confirmed that her office has secured refunds for New Yorkers who were wrongfully charged administration fees from Embassy Pharmacy and Fulton Drugs. James said that the two pharmacies charged between $20 and $25 to upwards of 500 customers who received COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. According to James, the pharmacies have reimbursed all improperly charged customers and agreed to implement stronger trainin…
AG Issues Alert About Fake Charities Set Up After Fatal NYC Apartment Building Fire AG Issues Alert About Fake Charities Set Up After Fatal NYC Apartment Building Fire
AG Issues Alert About Fake Charities Set Up After Fatal NYC Apartment Building Fire New York Attorney General Letitia James is alerting residents about potentially fraudulent charities created following the fire at a New York City apartment building that killed 17 people, including eight children.  The fire broke out at a high-rise apartment building in the Bronx on Sunday, Jan. 9, and smoke quickly spread throughout the building, injuring dozens of people, according to the New York City Fire Department. James said those considering making donations to organizations claiming to be working to assist victims of the fire should consider the Attorney General Office's tips…
1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds 1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds
1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds An investigation by the New York Attorney General's Office found that more than 1.1 million accounts were compromised in cyberattacks of 17 companies. Attorney General Letitia James said in an announcement on Wednesday, Jan. 5, that the "Credential Stuffing Attacks" involve repeated, automated attempts to access accounts by using information stolen from other websites. James said often people reuse the same passwords on different sites, which allows cybercriminals to use stolen passwords on other websites.  “Right now, there are more than 15 billion stolen credentials being circu…
Ivanka Trump, Don Jr. Subpoenaed In NY AG Probe Ivanka Trump, Don Jr. Subpoenaed In NY AG Probe
Ivanka Trump, Don Jr. Subpoenaed In NY AG Probe Former President Donald Trump’s two eldest children have been the latest to be subpoenaed by the New York Attorney General’s Office as it investigates the family’s business practices. On Monday, Jan. 3 news leaked that Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. have been subpoenaed by New York Attorney General Letitia James as she continues her yearslong investigation into the Trump Organization. The AG's office previously subpoenaed Donald Trump for testimony and set a deadline of Friday, Jan. 7, though the former president's lawyers have said they would move to block the action. Eric Trump, an …
Criminal Charges Against Cuomo Won't Be Pursued Due To Statutory Limits, Westchester DA Says Criminal Charges Against Cuomo Won't Be Pursued Due To Statutory Limits, Westchester DA Says
Criminal Charges Against Cuomo Won't Be Pursued Due To Statutory Limits, Westchester DA Says The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office announced that it will not pursue criminal charges against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo after investigating two allegations made against him in the county.  Cuomo stepped down as governor after an investigation New York Attorney General Letitia James found that he sexually harassed 11 women.  The Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah reported on Tuesday, Dec. 28, that it investigated allegations involving unwanted kisses made by two women in the county and found "credible evidence" that both incidents occurred, but sai…
Trump Sues NY Attorney General In Effort To Block Probe Of Company Trump Sues NY Attorney General In Effort To Block Probe Of Company
Trump Sues NY Attorney General In Effort To Block Probe Of Company In a last-ditch bid to stop a “witch hunt” probe into his company, former President Donald Trump announced that he is suing New York Attorney General Letitia James in an effort to halt her two-year-long inquiry. Trump and his company filed the federal lawsuit on Monday, Dec. 20 to block James’ ongoing civil investigation into the Trump Organization. James had been investigating whether the Trump Organization misstated the value of certain real estate assets to obtain better interest rates, while lowering tax obligations, after the former president's former attorney Michael Cohen made those …
Cuomo May Get To Keep Millions In Book Profits Pending Further Probe, NY AG Says Cuomo May Get To Keep Millions In Book Profits Pending Further Probe, NY AG Says
Cuomo May Get To Keep Millions In Book Profits Pending Further Probe, NY AG Says Not so fast. 
The New York Attorney General’s Office is hitting the brakes on the state's ethics board after it sought to seize more than $5 million in profits from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s book about leadership during the pandemic. Original story - Cuomo Ordered To Return More Than $5M From COVID-19 Leadership Book The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) previously voted to require Cuomo to return proceeds from his book “American Crisis,” for which he was paid more than $5 million by his publisher. Cuomo was given 30 days to turn over the cash, which he vowed to fight in court. …
CNN Producer Accused Of Luring Minors Worked With Fired Anchor Chris Cuomo CNN Producer Accused Of Luring Minors Worked With Fired Anchor Chris Cuomo
CNN Producer Accused Of Luring Minors Worked With Fired Anchor Chris Cuomo A CNN producer who was charged with enticing underage girls into sexual activity previously spoke about working closely with fired news anchor Chris Cuomo on the show "New Day." Connecticut resident John Griffin, of Fairfield County, was arrested and charged with three counts of using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity, according to an announcement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont on Friday, Dec. 10. Earlier report - CNN Producer From Stamford Charged With Enticing Minors Int…
Publisher Cancels Chris Cuomo Book After CNN Firing, Sexual Misconduct Claim Publisher Cancels Chris Cuomo Book After CNN Firing, Sexual Misconduct Claim
Publisher Cancels Chris Cuomo Book After CNN Firing, Sexual Misconduct Claim A publisher has scrapped plans to publish a book by former news anchor Chris Cuomo after he was fired by CNN, according to a new report. A spokesperson for Custom House, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, said the company does not intend to publish "Deep Denial," Cuomo's book which was set to be released in 2022, CNBC reported on Tuesday, Dec. 7. CNN announced on Saturday, Dec. 4, that Cuomo was fired after the New York Attorney General's Office released new information about the extent of his role advising and supporting his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was being in…
56 Firearms Turned In At Buyback Event In Area 56 Firearms Turned In At Buyback Event In Area
56 Firearms Turned In At Buyback Event In Area Fifty-six firearms were turned in to authorities at a gun buyback event in the area. New York Attorney General Letitia James' office hosted the event in Dutchess County with the Poughkeepsie Police Department in Dutchess County on Saturday, Dec. 4. James said her office accepts working and non-working unloaded firearms in exchange for compensation at the events.  The attorney general's office said the following firearms were turned in at the event on Saturday: Fifteen handguns Thirty-three shotguns and rifles Six assault rifles Two non-working guns The event was part of an init…
Fired Chris Cuomo Now Facing Sexual Misconduct Allegation Not Connected To Brother, Report Says Fired Chris Cuomo Now Facing Sexual Misconduct Allegation Not Connected To Brother, Report Says
Fired Chris Cuomo Now Facing Sexual Misconduct Allegation Not Connected To Brother, Report Says CNN was informed of a sexual misconduct allegation against former anchor Chris Cuomo before he was terminated, according to The New York Times.  On Wednesday, Dec. 1, lawyer Debra Katz told CNN about the allegation of sexual misconduct by a former "junior colleague" of Cuomo's at a different network, The New York Times reported. CNN announced on Saturday, Dec. 4, that Cuomo had been terminated effective immediately after the New York Attorney General's Office released new information about his role in advising and helping his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was being invest…
CNN Suspends Chris Cuomo For Using His Sources To Seek Info On Brother's Accusers CNN Suspends Chris Cuomo For Using His Sources To Seek Info On Brother's Accusers
CNN Suspends Chris Cuomo For Using His Sources To Seek Info On Brother's Accusers CNN has suspended its highest-rated anchor, Chris Cuomo, indefinitely after new details emerged about the measures he took while advising his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, amid the sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation. Chris Cuomo, who had acknowledged his role in helping his brother, utilized his own sources to undermine the New York Attorney General’s investigation into the claims and get out ahead of the scandal, while working closely with Andrew Cuomo's chief aide, Melissa DeRosa, documents released by the AG on Monday, Nov. 29 revealed. CNN announced the move …