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Westchester County District Attorney's Office

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Athletic Director At School District In NY Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen Athletic Director At School District In NY Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
Athletic Director At School District In NY Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
New Update: Teen Nabbed After Fatally Striking Victim In Westchester Hit-Run, Police Say New Update: Teen Nabbed After Fatally Striking Victim In Westchester Hit-Run, Police Say
New Update: Teen Nabbed After Fatally Striking Victim In Westchester Hit-Run, Police Say A 17-year-old boy was apprehended on Long Island after hitting a man with his car during a dispute in Westchester and causing his death, police announced.  The 17-year-old suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, was arrested at a Nassau County residence in East Meadow on Tuesday, March 26 in connection with a fatal hit-run in Yonkers on Monday, March 25, Yonkers Police announced. Earlier Report - 21-Year-Old Man Killed In Yonkers Hit-Run: Police Investigating According to the department, just after 4 p.m. on Monday, a pedestrian was struck in the area of 632 Van …

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by Ben Crnic
News
$2M Scheme: 6 Steal Property Deeds, Obtain Fraudulent Loans In Westchester, DA Says $2M Scheme: 6 Steal Property Deeds, Obtain Fraudulent Loans In Westchester, DA Says
$2M Scheme: 6 Steal Property Deeds, Obtain Fraudulent Loans In Westchester, DA Says Six people, including a licensed real estate broker and salesperson, and a corporation, have been charged with defrauding homeowners in Westchester and fraudulently obtaining $2 million in loans by stealing property deeds, DA officials said.  The six defendants involved in the scheme, including three Westchester residents and a Long Island man, were arrested and arraigned in late June for their role in a scheme that allegedly defrauded homeowners in Yonkers and New Rochelle, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday, July 3.  According to officials, the…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
New Update: Suspect Caught After Assaulting 16-Year-Old At Park In Westchester, Police Say New Update: Suspect Caught After Assaulting 16-Year-Old At Park In Westchester, Police Say
New Update: Suspect Caught After Assaulting 16-Year-Old At Park In Westchester, Police Say A 21-year-old man who was already out on bail on sex crime charges from a Long Island incident has been charged with assaulting a teenage girl in a Westchester public park, police said.  Port Chester resident Richard A. Olmino, age 21, has been arrested in connection with an assault that happened on Friday, June 23 around midnight at Rye Town Park on Forest Avenue between Dearborn Avenue and Oakland Beach Avenue, the City of Rye Police Department announced on Sunday, June 25.  Earlier Report - 16-Year-Old Girl Assaulted At Park In Rye: Suspect At Large On the …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Trio Nabbed With 17 Suspected Stolen Catalytic Converters In Westchester Trio Nabbed With 17 Suspected Stolen Catalytic Converters In Westchester
Trio Nabbed With 17 Suspected Stolen Catalytic Converters In Westchester Three men were caught with 17 suspected stolen catalytic converters at a parking garage in Westchester. Shortly before dawn Wednesday, March 1, members of the Yonkers Police Department responded to the garage in the rear of 80 Alexander St. on a report of an occupied suspicious vehicle.  According to information provided by the Yonkers PD: Officers located two vehicles next to each other – a 2022 BMW X7 and a 2016 Lexus ES 350 – and three subjects, one outside the Lexus and two occupying the BMW.  The Lexus had no license plates attached and the trunk was fully open; Police…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Former Northern Westchester Attorney Sentenced For Stealing More Than $3.7M From Clients Former Northern Westchester Attorney Sentenced For Stealing More Than $3.7M From Clients
Former Northern Westchester Attorney Sentenced For Stealing More Than $3.7M From Clients A former attorney in New York has been sentenced for stealing millions from clients. Northern Westchester resident Laurieanne DeLitta, age 51, of  Briarcliff Manor, was sentenced to a term of one to three years in state prison for stealing more than $3.7 million from eight clients she represented as a real estate lawyer between 2017 and 2021, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 7. The court also ordered DeLitta to pay full restitution to her victims. “Attorneys should be held to the highest standards of ethics and integrity,” Roc…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
DPW Worker Charged For Fatal Hit-Run Crash That Killed 16-Year-Old Westchester HS Student DPW Worker Charged For Fatal Hit-Run Crash That Killed 16-Year-Old Westchester HS Student
DPW Worker Charged For Fatal Hit-Run Crash That Killed 16-Year-Old Westchester HS Student A public works employee has been charged with a hit-and-crash that left a popular 16-year-old area student dead. The crash took place in Westchester around 12:20 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 3 in the 600 block of McLean Avenue in Yonkers. Police responded to the 600 block of McLean Avenue on a report of a scooter driver having been struck by a vehicle, said Det. Lt. Dean Politopoulos, of the Yonkers Police. Upon arrival, first responders located the teen down on the ground with severe head injuries; he was transported to a local area trauma center in critical condition, Politopoulos said. T…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
NY's Top Judge, Janet DiFiore, To Step Down Midway Through Term NY's Top Judge, Janet DiFiore, To Step Down Midway Through Term
NY's Top Judge, Janet DiFiore, To Step Down Midway Through Term After six years on the job, New York’s top-ranking judge is stepping down midway through her term. In a letter to colleagues sent Monday, July 11, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said she plans to retire in August and “move on to the next chapter in life.” Here's the letter NY Chief Judge Janet DiFiore sent to her colleagues today, confirming she will step down Aug. 31. pic.twitter.com/yQxwCjOJM3 — Jon Campbell (@JonCampbellNY) July 11, 2022 DiFiore, a Democrat and lifelong resident of Westchester County, was appointed to the role by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and confirmed by the state Senate i…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Ex-Controller Accused Of Stealing $340,000 From Northern Westchester Company Ex-Controller Accused Of Stealing $340,000 From Northern Westchester Company
Ex-Controller Accused Of Stealing $340,000 From Northern Westchester Company A former controller has been charged for stealing more than $340,000 from a company in Northern Westchester, authorities announced. ToniAnn Rosado, who worked for CR Wallauer & Company in North Castle, was indicted for stealing more than $340,000 from the paint supply company between 2017 and 2019, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah said late Wednesday morning, June 29. Rosado, 5age 1, of Orlando, Florida, was indicted by a Westchester County Grand Jury for second-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records, both felonies, Roca…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Former Employee At Westchester Car Dealership Sentenced For $300K Tax Fraud Former Employee At Westchester Car Dealership Sentenced For $300K Tax Fraud
Former Employee At Westchester Car Dealership Sentenced For $300K Tax Fraud A Long Island man will spend time behind bars after being sentenced for his role in a $300,000 embezzlement scheme to defraud the Westchester auto dealership he worked at, state authorities announced. Moriches resident James Castellano, age 55, was sentenced to a term of between two and six years in prison for embezzling more than $300,000 from Hyundai of New Rochelle, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Officials said that in 2017, while an employee at the Palmer Avenue dealership, Castellano diverted more than $307,000 in checks made out to Hyundai into his…

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by Zak Failla
News
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…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Former Northern Westchester Attorney Charged For Stealing Millions From Clients Former Northern Westchester Attorney Charged For Stealing Millions From Clients
Former Northern Westchester Attorney Charged For Stealing Millions From Clients A former attorney in Northern Westchester is facing charges for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from her clients over the course of several years, authorities announced. Armonk real estate lawyer Laurieanne DeLitta, age 50, was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 10 for allegedly stealing more than $3.5 million from clients she represented between 2017 and 2021. Specifically, DeLitta was charged with eight counts of grand larceny, and two counts of unauthorized practice of a profession, all felonies, following her arrest by Westchester County District Attorney’s…

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by Zak Failla
News
Criminal Complaint Against Robert Durst For Wife's 1982 Murder Filed In Westchester Criminal Complaint Against Robert Durst For Wife's 1982 Murder Filed In Westchester
Criminal Complaint Against Robert Durst For Wife's 1982 Murder Filed In Westchester Robert Durst has been charged in Westchester with the murder of his former wife Kathie, who mysteriously disappeared in 1982, potentially providing solace for a family that’s been dealing with the unsolved death for decades. “The Westchester County District Attorney's Office can confirm that a complaint charging Robert Durst with the murder of Kathleen Durst was filed in Lewisboro Town Court on (Oct.) 19, 2021,” Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah announced. "We have no further comment at this time.” The second-degree murder complaint comes after Kathie Durst’s family called fo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Woman Charged After Boyfriend Hanging On To Hood Killed In Westchester Crash, Police Say Woman Charged After Boyfriend Hanging On To Hood Killed In Westchester Crash, Police Say
Woman Charged After Boyfriend Hanging On To Hood Killed In Westchester Crash, Police Say A New York woman driving while intoxicated has been charged after her boyfriend was killed in a crash as he was hanging to the hood of the car, according to police. Just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4 in Westchester County, officers responded to the north side of the Eugenio Maria De Hostos Microsociety School off Stanley Place in Yonkers on a report of a motor vehicle crash with injuries.  Upon arrival, first responders discovered that a 2012 Subaru Forrester had crashed through the Stanley Place access gate to the school property and struck a concrete barrier before impactin…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Sexual Harassment Allegation Involving Trooper, Cuomo Happened In Northern Westchester Sexual Harassment Allegation Involving Trooper, Cuomo Happened In Northern Westchester
Sexual Harassment Allegation Involving Trooper, Cuomo Happened In Northern Westchester Among the most damning claims made against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the State Attorney General's probe into sexual harassment allegations against him were his newly revealed alleged actions involving a New York State trooper assigned to protect him. On Tuesday, Aug. 3, New York AG Letitia James released the 165-page report outlining multiple claims of unwanted touching and sexual harassment from 11 women, including an incident with a New York State Police trooper in the town of New Castle, where Cuomo shared a home with longtime now-former girlfriend Sandra Lee. It is alleged that Cuo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Three Suspects Nabbed In Connection To Drive-By Westchester Shooting That Injured Four Three Suspects Nabbed In Connection To Drive-By Westchester Shooting That Injured Four
Three Suspects Nabbed In Connection To Drive-By Westchester Shooting That Injured Four Three suspects have been apprehended after four people were injured, one critically, in a drive-by shooting in Westchester. On Thursday, June 10, at approximately 4:15 p.m., officers responded to the area of Elm Street at Oak Street in Yonkers on a report of a shooting incident with multiple victims.  Upon arrival, officers located three gunshot victims, the most serious of which having been struck in the chest, Yonkers Police said. First Responders rendered medical aid to the victims and they were transported to local area hospitals.  Two additional gunshot victims had self-tra…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Suspect Apprehended After Police Sergeant Stabbed During 'Unprovoked' Attack In Westchester Suspect Apprehended After Police Sergeant Stabbed During 'Unprovoked' Attack In Westchester
Suspect Apprehended After Police Sergeant Stabbed During 'Unprovoked' Attack In Westchester A police sergeant is recovering at home after being stabbed during an unprovoked attack by a local Westchester County resident who has been apprehended. The attack took place around 1:26 p.m., Thursday, May 20 in Dobbs Ferry. The Dobbs Ferry Police sergeant, whose name has not been released, was assisting Con Edison with a traffic detail on Beacon Hill Drive, said Dobbs Ferry PD Chief Manuel Guevara. The sergeant was able to make an "officer needs assistance" call to the department and report that he had been assaulted by a man wielding "possibly" a knife, according to Guevara. …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Northern Westchester Disappearance Of Kathie Durst Reopened As Cold Case, DA Says Northern Westchester Disappearance Of Kathie Durst Reopened As Cold Case, DA Says
Northern Westchester Disappearance Of Kathie Durst Reopened As Cold Case, DA Says The Westchester County District Attorney has reopened the investigation into the disappearance of accused serial killer Robert Durst’s former wife, Kathie Durst as she hopes to bring the family “closure.” District Attorney Mimi Rocah said that she has assigned her top investigators in the recently formed cold case unit to investigate the alleged slaying of Durst's first wife, who hasn’t been seen in decades. Related story - Accused Serial Killer Robert Durst's Family Helped Cover Up Murder Of Wife, Attorney Says Durst - whose life and case was made famous by the HBO miniseries “The Jinx” …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Five Shot, One Killed, At Outdoor Gathering In Westchester Five Shot, One Killed, At Outdoor Gathering In Westchester
Five Shot, One Killed, At Outdoor Gathering In Westchester Click here for an updated story: ID Released For Man Shot, Killed At Outdoor Gathering In Westchester Five people were shot, one of whom was killed, at an outdoor gathering overnight in Westchester, and police say they are investigating two other incidents of shots fired in the vicinity. At around 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, New Rochelle Police received multiple reports of shots fired in the vicinity of Horton Avenue and Brook Street. Responding units found that five adult males who were attending a gathering at that location had been shot, said New Rochelle PD Captai…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Man Sentenced For Distracted Driving Crash That Injured State Trooper Man Sentenced For Distracted Driving Crash That Injured State Trooper
Man Sentenced For Distracted Driving Crash That Injured State Trooper A Long Island man will avoid prison, but still spend time behind bars after admitting to distracted driving during a crash that left a New York State Police trooper “severely disabled” in a case that was prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. West Islip resident Jesse Cohen, 24, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, in addition to three years' probation and 1,000 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to third-degree assault in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office recused themselves from the case due to a conflict…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Pleads Guilty For Distracted Driving Crash That Injured State Trooper Man Pleads Guilty For Distracted Driving Crash That Injured State Trooper
Man Pleads Guilty For Distracted Driving Crash That Injured State Trooper A Long Island man will avoid prison time after admitting to distracted driving during a crash that left a New York State Police trooper “severely disabled” in a case that was prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. West Islip resident Jesse Cohen, 24, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office recused themselves from the case due to a conflict. Under the plea agreement, Cohen will serve 30 days in jail, in addition to three years probation and 1,000 hours of community service. He w…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
ID, Details Released After Man Shot, Killed In Police-Involved Westchester Shooting ID, Details Released After Man Shot, Killed In Police-Involved Westchester Shooting
ID, Details Released After Man Shot, Killed In Police-Involved Westchester Shooting The man who was fleeing on foot after a traffic stop in Westchester County who was shot and killed by a police officer after allegedly drawing a gun has been identified. The happened on Friday, June 5 just before 11 p.m. That's when two uniformed New Rochelle police officers conducted the stop of the vehicle, whose driver had committed several vehicle and traffic law violations, said Captain Cosma Costa of the New Rochelle PD. Earlier report: Man Dies After Police-Involved Shooting In New Rochelle The stop was conducted in the area of Potter Avenue and Pierce Street.  Immediate…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Man Dies After Police-Involved Shooting In Westchester Man Dies After Police-Involved Shooting In Westchester
Man Dies After Police-Involved Shooting In Westchester Click here for an updated story: ID Released For Man Shot, Killed In Police-Involved Shooting A suspect fleeing on foot after a traffic stop was shot and killed by a police officer in Westchester County after the man allegedly pointed a gun. It happened on Friday, June 5 just before 11 p.m. That's when two uniformed New Rochelle police officers conducted the stop of the vehicle, whose driver had committed several vehicle and traffic law violations, said Captain Cosma Costa of the New Rochelle PD. The stop was conducted in the area of Potter Avenue and Pierce Street.  I…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Multi-State Investigation Initiated In Westchester Nets 27 Arrests In No-Fault Insurance Scam Multi-State Investigation Initiated In Westchester Nets 27 Arrests In No-Fault Insurance Scam
Multi-State Investigation Initiated In Westchester Nets 27 Arrests In No-Fault Insurance Scam Twenty-seven people, including members of law enforcement, were arrested for their roles in a multimillion-dollar scheme to commit bribery and a no-fault insurance scam. The multi-state jurisdictional investigation that originated in Westchester County led to the arrests, 23 of whom were taken into custody in New York and New Jersey on Thursday, Nov. 7, with other suspects arrested in North Carolina, and Florida. Among those arrested were five 911 operators and an NYPD police officer. “Corruption, in all forms, is intolerable within the NYPD and we continue to work with our law enforcemen…

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by Zak Failla
News
NYPD Officer From Westchester Busted With Child Porn, DA Announces NYPD Officer From Westchester Busted With Child Porn, DA Announces
Nypd Officer From Westchester Busted With Child Porn, DA Announces An NYPD patrol officer from Westchester was taken into police custody after being busted with dozens of images of nude children, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., announced. John Telesca, 37, of Port Chester, was arrested in his home by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office High Technology Crime Squad on child porn charges, the DA announced on Thursday, Aug. 8. Telesca was arraigned in Port Chester Village Court and charged with promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, both felonies. …

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Distracted Driver/Disabled NYSP Trooper Case To Be Prosecuted By Westchester DA Long Island Distracted Driver/Disabled NYSP Trooper Case To Be Prosecuted By Westchester DA
Long Island Distracted Driver/Disabled Nysp Trooper Case To Be Prosecuted By Westchester DA The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office has been appointed as a special prosecutor in a case involving a distracted driver who struck a New York State Police trooper on Long Island, leaving him “severely disabled.” West Islip resident Jesse Cohen, 25, has been indicted and arraigned on charges related to a traffic crash that he caused in 2017, which left New York State Police trooper Joseph Gallagher with serious injuries, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., announced on Tuesday. The Westchester DA’s office was appointed as a special prosecutor in the case …

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by Zak Failla