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Eastern District of New York

Nassau County's Mask Ban Causes 'Great Stress, Fear,' Federal Lawsuit Argues Nassau County's Mask Ban Causes 'Great Stress, Fear,' Federal Lawsuit Argues
Nassau County's Mask Ban Causes 'Great Stress, Fear,' Federal Lawsuit Argues A New York county’s controversial mask ban is already facing legal challenges. Click here for a new, updated story: Mask Ban Arrest: Hicksville 18-Year-Old First Person Charged Under Controversial Law In a class action lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of New York on Thursday, Aug. 22, Disability Rights of New York argued that Nassau County’s law barring face coverings in public violates federal law and discriminates against people with disabilities. The filing came a little more than a week after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, signed the “Mask Transparenc…
Ousted Nassau Rep. George Santos  Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Ousted Nassau Rep. George Santos  Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case
Ousted Nassau Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Former Republican Congressman George Santos admitted to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a federal court on Monday, Aug. 19, authorities announced.  The 36-year-old former inhabitant of New York's 3rd Congressional District seat on Long Island was facing 23 felonies, and a trial set to begin next month.  A federal judge will sentence Santos on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said. According to federal sentencing guidelines, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year minimum sentence.&n…
Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall
Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall Boar’s Head's massive product recall is going from the delicatessen to the courtroom. After an initial recall last month of around 200,000 pounds of deli meat due to possible Listeria contamination, the company expanded it on Tuesday, July 30, to approximately seven million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.  Click here for a new, updated story: Third Death From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat A lawsuit filed on Thursday, Aug. 1 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York accuses Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Inc. …
$1B Scheme: Pair Of CEOs, Including Manhasset Man, Defrauded 10K Investors, Jury Finds $1B Scheme: Pair Of CEOs, Including Manhasset Man, Defrauded 10K Investors, Jury Finds
$1B Scheme: Pair Of CEOs, Including Manhasset Man, Defrauded 10K Investors, Jury Finds A New York resident was one of two CEOs convicted in federal court of a $1 billion fraud scheme involving thousands of investors. Long Island resident David Gentile, age 57, of Manhasset, and Jeffry Schneider, age 55, of Austin, Texas, were found guilty in federal court on all counts of an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and securities fraud. Gentile, the owner and CEO of GPB Capital Holdings, was also convicted on two counts of wire fraud. The verdict came after an eight-week trial. When sentenced on Thursd…
NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia
NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia An associate of the Genovese organized crime family known as “Sal the Shoemaker” admitted to operating an illegal gambling business associated with La Cosa Nostra. Long Island resident Salvatore Rubino, age 60, of Bethpage, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 16, at federal court in Brooklyn to operating the business. Earlier this month, four co-defendant members and associates of the Genovese crime family admitted to various felony charges stemming from their long-running operation of several lucrative gambling operations in New York City. Of the five charged, four are from Long Isl…
Ex-Fugitive MS-13 Member Admits Role In Gruesome Quadruple Murder On Long Island Ex-Fugitive MS-13 Member Admits Role In Gruesome Quadruple Murder On Long Island
Ex-Fugitive MS-13 Member Admits Role In Gruesome Quadruple Murder On Long Island An MS-13 gang member who fled the country after taking part in the brutal killing of four young men on Long Island could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Edwin Rodriguez, also known as “Manicomio” (Mental Hospital), pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, April 3. Prosecutors said the 24-year-old, formerly of Central Islip, was a member of the Normandie Locos Salvatruchas clique of MS-13. He confessed that on the evening of April 11, 2017, he and other gang members lured Justin Llivicura, Michael Lopez, Jorge Tigre, and Jefferson Villalobos t…
Underage Waiters Were Sexually Abused At Long Island Wedding Venue, Lawsuit Says Underage Waiters Were Sexually Abused At Long Island Wedding Venue, Lawsuit Says
Underage Waiters Were Sexually Abused At Long Island Wedding Venue, Lawsuit Says Three underage former employees are suing a Long Island wedding venue, alleging they suffered “egregious” sexual abuse and, later, retaliation when they came forward. A lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of New York on Saturday, March 30, accuses Sand Castle Caterers in Franklin Square of turning a blind eye to abuse and harassment allegedly suffered at the hands of manager Enrique Sanchez. The victims, who were 15 years old at the time, worked at Sand Castle as waiters from the summer of 2022 to August 2023. According to the complaint, Sanchez regularly kissed the teens, grabbed their…
Long Island Man Admits Selling Fake Pain Pills With Fentanyl, Causing 2 Fatal Overdoses Long Island Man Admits Selling Fake Pain Pills With Fentanyl, Causing 2 Fatal Overdoses
Long Island Man Admits Selling Fake Pain Pills With Fentanyl, Causing 2 Fatal Overdoses A 24-year-old from Long Island is the latest in a trio of people to admit to a scheme of selling fake pain pills that actually had fentanyl in them, leading to two overdose deaths. Devon Thurmond, a Glen Cove resident, pleaded guilty to running the scheme that caused two deaths on Friday, March 22, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York. From 2021 to 2023, Thurmond conspired with two other Glen Cove residents — Cartier Funderburke, age 24, and Melissa Trimarchi, age 37 — to sell fentanyl that was disguised as oxycodone pills. One of the victims Thurmond…
Murderer Stopped At Long Island Mall For Supplies Before Dismembering Body: USAO Murderer Stopped At Long Island Mall For Supplies Before Dismembering Body: USAO
Murderer Stopped At Long Island Mall For Supplies Before Dismembering Body: Usao A Queens man convicted of murdering and dismembering a woman to collect life insurance payments shopped at a mall on Long Island to get supplies to clean up the murder scene, officials announced. Cory Martin, age 36 of Queens, faced his conviction for the murder of then-26-year-old Brandy Odom, the United States Attorney’s Office announced on Monday, March 4. Earlier Report: NY Man Accused Of Murdering Woman In Life Insurance Scheme Martin lived with and operated as a pimp for both Odom and another co-conspirator at the time of the crime. Throughout 2017, Martin and his accomplice…
Mastermind Behind Violent Armed Bank Robbery On Long Island Sentenced Mastermind Behind Violent Armed Bank Robbery On Long Island Sentenced
Mastermind Behind Violent Armed Bank Robbery On Long Island Sentenced A 38-year-old man who devised a plan to rob a Long Island Wells Fargo — including zip-tying the victims — has now been sentenced to a lengthy stay in prison. Quincy Homere, age 38 of Hempstead, was given his sentence of 18 years behind bars on Friday, March 1 for the 2015 incident, the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) announced. As the brain behind the robbery (which netted the group over $375,000), Homere extensively planned the heist with his co-conspirators, the USAO said. On November 9, 2015, Homere walked into the Hempstead Wells Fargo, located on Fulton Avenue, brandishing a…
MS-13 Member Gets Decades For 'Barbaric' Machete Killings Of Long Island Men, Other Crimes MS-13 Member Gets Decades For 'Barbaric' Machete Killings Of Long Island Men, Other Crimes
MS-13 Member Gets Decades For 'Barbaric' Machete Killings Of Long Island Men, Other Crimes A member of the notorious MS-13 gang will spend decades in prison for his role in brutally killing two Long Island men and other crimes. Jonathan Hernandez, age 26, of Brentwood, was sentenced to over 43 years in prison in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, Jan. 31. It followed his guilty plea to racketeering charges in May 2022 stemming from his participation in the January 2016 murder of Michael Johnson and the killing of Oscar Acosta three months later. According to prosecutors, Hernandez is a member of the Sailors clique of MS-13 and wanted to increase his status in the gang. …
MS-13 Gang Members Indicted For 'Senseless, Brutal' Long Island Murders: DA MS-13 Gang Members Indicted For 'Senseless, Brutal' Long Island Murders: DA
MS-13 Gang Members Indicted For 'Senseless, Brutal' Long Island Murders: DA A pair of alleged MS-13 gang members have been indicted for two murders on Long Island, including one near a high school, according to US authorities. On Wednesday, Oct. 11, the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York announced the counts against Carlos Humberto Aquino-Hernandez and Gerson Hernandez, both 22. The first murder occurred on July 19, 2022. Walter Ochoa, who was thought to be a member of a rival street gang, was targeted by MS-13 in retaliation for the murder of an MS-13 member 11 days earlier, according to the US Attorney’s Office. Earlier Report: A…
Child Porn: Long Island TikTok Personality Sentenced, DA Announces Child Porn: Long Island TikTok Personality Sentenced, DA Announces
Child Porn: Long Island TikTok Personality Sentenced, DA Announces A TikTok microcelebrity who once dubbed himself the “most hated person” on Long Island will spend 17 years behind bars for spreading child pornography of a 12-year-old girl, authorities announced. On Monday, Sept. 18, the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York announced that now 22-year-old Lorenzo Arana, known online as “Lorenzo Blake,” was sentenced to spend 17 years in prison for distributing child pornography and bullying a young girl into attempting suicide. The Island Park resident amassed quite a following on social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagr…
$9.5 Million Fraud: Long Island Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme $9.5 Million Fraud: Long Island Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme
$9.5 Million Fraud: Long Island Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme A Long Island man who is accused of using fake businesses to defraud over $9 million from federal disaster relief funds has pleaded guilty, authorities announced. On Friday, July 14, the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) of the US Attorney’s Office announced Rami Saab’s guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Saab, a 44-year-old from Glen Cove, was accused of stealing $9.5 million from banks and the Small Business Association (SBA) over the course of one year by creating fake companies so that he could claim COVID-19 relief loans. According to the charges, between M…
FBI Probing Veteran's Claim That George Santos Stole Dying Dog's Charity Money, Report Says FBI Probing Veteran's Claim That George Santos Stole Dying Dog's Charity Money, Report Says
FBI Probing Veteran's Claim That George Santos Stole Dying Dog's Charity Money, Report Says The bad news just keeps coming for embattled New York Rep. George Santos, who is now the subject of an FBI investigation into accusations he stole charity money intended to help a Navy veteran’s dying service dog, Politico reports.  Richard Osthoff, of Howell, New Jersey, told the outlet that two FBI agents reached out to him on Wednesday, Feb. 1, as part of an investigation by the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York. Earlier Report: Bye George: Embattled Nassau Rep Santos Stepping Down 'Temporarily' From Committee Assignments Osthoff told Politico he gave the agents …
Bye George: Embattled NY Rep Santos Stepping Down 'Temporarily' From Committee Assignments Bye George: Embattled NY Rep Santos Stepping Down 'Temporarily' From Committee Assignments
Bye George: Embattled NY Rep Santos Stepping Down 'Temporarily' From Committee Assignments This story has been updated to include a statement from Rep. Santos. Just weeks after being appointed to two House committees, beleaguered New York Congressman George Santos is stepping down from those assignments amid investigations into his personal and campaign finances. In a statement Tuesday, Jan. 31, the freshman Republican lawmaker said he had submitted a request to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to be "temporarily recused" from his assignments to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the Small Business Committee "until I am cleared." "This was a decision that I take very…
Duo Nabbed In Westchester Break-Ins Part Of 'South American Theft Group,' Police Say Duo Nabbed In Westchester Break-Ins Part Of 'South American Theft Group,' Police Say
Duo Nabbed In Westchester Break-Ins Part Of 'South American Theft Group,' Police Say Two members of an organized crime ring are behind bars in connection with numerous home break-ins across the country, including in Westchester County and on Long Island, authorities said. Jorge Luis Araneda Pogge, age 39, and Ingrid Johana Gomez, age 33, were both arrested in Queens Thursday, Jan. 12, following a multijurisdictional investigation that began in 2020, according to Harrison Police. The pair is accused of taking part in multiple residential burglaries and other theft-related crimes throughout the country, including the Town of Harrison and Nassau County. Pogge and Gomez are b…
Incoming NY Rep. Santos Used Made-Up Name For Pet Charity's Online Fundraiser, Report Says Incoming NY Rep. Santos Used Made-Up Name For Pet Charity's Online Fundraiser, Report Says
Incoming NY Rep. Santos Used Made-Up Name For Pet Charity's Online Fundraiser, Report Says New York’s embattled incoming Congressman George Santos is facing new accusations that he lied about his background while on the campaign trail. The Republican, set to represent the state’s 3rd Congressional District on Long Island’s North Shore, and parts of Queens, appears to have used the alias “Anthony Zabrovsky” for a pet charity on a GoFundMe campaign that has since been deleted, The Hill reports.  Earlier Report: Pants On Fire: DA Launches Probe Into Nassau Congressman-Elect Who Lied About Past, Report Says Santos previously claimed that his mother’s family’s historical Jewish name…
NY Judge Named ‘Special Master’ In DOJ Probe Of Trump’s Handling Of Classified Docs NY Judge Named ‘Special Master’ In DOJ Probe Of Trump’s Handling Of Classified Docs
NY Judge Named ‘Special Master’ In DOJ Probe Of Trump’s Handling Of Classified Docs A veteran New York judge from Long Island will be tasked with reviewing documents that were seized by the FBI from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Raymond Dearie, age 79, a senior federal judge in the Eastern District of New York, was named by a federal judge in Florida as a so-called special master Thursday evening, Sept. 15. Dearie was one of two potential candidates put forward by Trump’s legal team and was also endorsed by the Department of Justice. In his role as special master, he will be responsible for reviewing documents and separating out those that …
MS-13 Member Admits To Babylon Murder, Attempted Murder In Bay Shore, Other Crimes MS-13 Member Admits To Babylon Murder, Attempted Murder In Bay Shore, Other Crimes
MS-13 Member Admits To Babylon Murder, Attempted Murder In Bay Shore, Other Crimes An MS-13 member has admitted to his role in the fatal beating and stabbing of a victim on Long Island in 2015 and an attempted murder in 2013. On Thursday, Sept. 15, Reynaldo Lopez-Alvarado pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in connection with his role in the Nov. 19, 2015, murder of Cesar Rivera-Vasquez and an attempted murder on April 9, 2013, in Bay Shore, said Breon Peace, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “In a twisted desire to enhance his status within the MS-13 gang and without any regard for human life, the defendant admittedly participated in ex…
Long Island MS-13 Members Face New Charges, Including For 2016 Murder Of Central Islip Man Long Island MS-13 Members Face New Charges, Including For 2016 Murder Of Central Islip Man
Long Island MS-13 Members Face New Charges, Including For 2016 Murder Of Central Islip Man Members and associates of MS-13 are facing a series of new racketeering charges, including charges in the 2016 murder of a Long Island man. The 29-count superseding indictment includes acts involving murder, attempted murder, narcotics, and firearms offenses, according to an announcement on Wednesday, Sept. 7, from Breon Peace, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Two of the defendants, 26-year-old Kevin Torres, of Freeport, and 30-year-old Oseas Gonzalez, of Charlotte, North Carolina, were charged with the Sept. 5, 2016, murder of Marcus Bohannon, of Central Is…
NY State Senator Resigns NY State Senator Resigns
NY State Senator Resigns A New York state senator has resigned after serving nearly eight years in the state Legislature. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat representing the state’s 9th District on the South Shore of Long Island in Nassau County, announced his resignation Friday, July 29, in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. "Today is my last day as an elected official, and I will start a new chapter in my life next week in the private sector,” Kaminsky wrote. “It has been an incredible honor and privilege to work on behalf of the residents of Long Island’s South Shore for the past eight years.  …
Two From Long Island Admit To Conspiracy To Commit Sex Trafficking Of Minor Two From Long Island Admit To Conspiracy To Commit Sex Trafficking Of Minor
Two From Long Island Admit To Conspiracy To Commit Sex Trafficking Of Minor A pair on Long Island is facing life in prison after admitting to conspiring to use the Internet to sex traffic a minor, federal prosecutors announced. Central Islip residents Terron “Loso" Newsome, age 25, and Fredjy Exavier, age 25, pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday, May 20 to their roles in a conspiracy to abuse at least two minors. Specifically, Newsome and Exavier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking of a minor. As part of his guilty plea, Newsome also admitted to attempting to engage in the sex trafficking of a 12-year-old vic…
Former Police Officer In NY Sentenced For Bribery, Drug Trafficking Former Police Officer In NY Sentenced For Bribery, Drug Trafficking
Former Police Officer In NY Sentenced For Bribery, Drug Trafficking A former New York City Police Department officer from Long Island who often referred to himself as “one of the most corrupt cops” in Queens is heading to federal prison for bribery and drug trafficking. Robert Smith, age 45, of Plainview, was sentenced to eight years behind bars Wednesday, April 20, in federal court in Brooklyn. It followed his guilty plea in October 2021 to charges of using interstate facilities to commit bribery and attempting to transport heroin. Federal prosecutors said Smith, while working as a NYPD officer assigned to the 105th Precinct in Queens, engaged in numerou…
NY State Trooper Sues Cuomo, Top Aide Melissa DeRosa Over Sexual Harassment Allegations NY State Trooper Sues Cuomo, Top Aide Melissa DeRosa Over Sexual Harassment Allegations
NY State Trooper Sues Cuomo, Top Aide Melissa DeRosa Over Sexual Harassment Allegations A female New York State Police trooper is suing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his top aide, and her employer for alleged discrimination and retaliation in connection to the sexual harassment scandal that led to his ousting from office. The unnamed trooper who claimed that Cuomo groped her is suing the former governor, his longtime aide Melissa DeRosa, alleging that he “violated” her and that his top lieutenant helped cover it up. “Trooper 1” is seeking damages from the two and a declaratory judgment that they both “violated federal, state, and civil laws” in a lawsuit that was filed in the Eas…
NY Man Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Scheme NY Man Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Scheme
NY Man Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Scheme A 74-year-old New York man has pleaded guilty to a charge related to a multi-million dollar mass-mailing scheme that tricked victims into paying fees for falsely-promised cash prizes. Long Island resident Carmine Maietta, of Westbury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud on Wednesday, Jan. 26, according to Breon Peace, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. From November 2013 through November 2018, Maietta was part of a scheme to mail false prize notifications to thousands of people, urging them to pay a fee in return for a large cash prize, …
Six, Including Police Officer In Hudson Valley, Charged In Sex Trafficking, Bribery Scheme Six, Including Police Officer In Hudson Valley, Charged In Sex Trafficking, Bribery Scheme
Six, Including Police Officer In Hudson Valley, Charged In Sex Trafficking, Bribery Scheme A police officer who allegedly protected a prostitution ring in exchange for free sexual favors is among six facing a host of charges for their roles in operating a sex trafficking organization throughout New York, federal officials announced. In Brooklyn federal court, a 14-count indictment has been unsealed for six suspects who ran the operation - which included minors - while the cop protected them from being arrested by law enforcement. Those charged: Wayne Peiffer, age 48, of Highland in Ulster County; Jose Facundo Zarate Morals, age 32, of Queens. Luz Elvira Cardona, age 33, of Que…
Former Chief Deputy Nassau County Exec Sentenced For Obstructing Justice Former Chief Deputy Nassau County Exec Sentenced For Obstructing Justice
Former Chief Deputy Nassau County Exec Sentenced For Obstructing Justice A former top elected official on Long Island will spend time behind bars after admitting to accepting a cash payment from a contractor and then attempting to cover it up amidst a federal probe, authorities announced. Hicksville resident Richard “Rob” Walker, age 43, the former Chief Deputy County Executive under former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in 2019 to obstruction of justice following his attempted cover-up. In addition to his prison sentence, Walker was also ordered to pay a $5,000 forfeiture, was fined $5,500, and …
Long Island MS-13 Gang Member Admits To 2019 Murder Of 15-Year-Old Long Island MS-13 Gang Member Admits To 2019 Murder Of 15-Year-Old
Long Island MS-13 Gang Member Admits To 2019 Murder Of 15-Year-Old A Long Island MS-13 member has admitted to fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy. Jose Omar Sorto Portillo, age 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of murder in aid of racketeering in the 2019 murder of Jasson Medrano-Molina, according to Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “With today’s guilty plea, the defendant admitted to shooting a 15-year-old alleged rival gang member to death at close range in a meaningless effort to boost his status as an MS-13 gang member,” Peace said. “This Office, in partnership with the Long Island Gang Task Force, will contin…
New US Attorney For Eastern District Takes Command New US Attorney For Eastern District Takes Command
New US Attorney For Eastern District Takes Command A veteran attorney was officially sworn in to serve as the new US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. President Joe Biden appointed Breon Peace to serve as the new US Attorney in the district, where he will be responsible for all federal criminal and civil cases in a district comprised of more than 8 million people. The Eastern District includes Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, and Suffolk counties and works concurrently with the Southern District of New York. Peace, age 50, replaces Mark Lesko, the former federal prosecutor, and Brookhaven Town Supervisor, who held the positio…
Former NY Doctor Sentenced For Conspiring To Illegally Distribute Oxycodone Former NY Doctor Sentenced For Conspiring To Illegally Distribute Oxycodone
Former NY Doctor Sentenced For Conspiring To Illegally Distribute Oxycodone A former New York doctor was sentenced for illegally prescribing thousands of oxycodone pills to two people. Long Island resident Tameshwar Ammar, age 53, of Amityville, was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 7, to five years in prison for conspiring to illegally distribute oxycodone, according to Jacquelyn Kasulis, acting United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He also agreed to forfeit $245,700 in criminal proceeds. Kasulis said Ammar pleaded guilty to the charge in July of 2020. He relinquished his license to practice medicine in June of that year. He had been practic…