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Friday, nov 22
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Department of Justice
News
Iranian Operative, 2 NY Associates Nabbed In Plot To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says
An Iranian operative and two associates living in America have been charged in a murder-for-hire plot targeting United States citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump. Federal authorities have charged Farhad Shakeri, an alleged operative of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with two New York City associates in a plot to assassinate a US citizen critical of the Iranian government. The case highlights the continued threat posed by Iran’s attempts to silence dissidents and even target top US. officials. According to the Department of Justice criminal complai…
Politics
It's Now 'Logistically Impossible' For Trump To Serve Any Prison Time, Expert Says
Critics hoping to see former President Donald Trump in a jail cell can kiss that fantasy goodbye following his second White House win. The 78-year-old Trump will almost certainly see his myriad legal troubles vanish now that he’s been declared the winner of the 2024 election against Vice President Kamala Harris, said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor. Trump is currently facing federal charges in Washington, DC, for alleged fraud in the 2020 election, as well as election fraud charges in the state of Georgia. Special Counsel Jack Smith has also appealed a federal judge’s ruling dism…
News
Toddlers, Infants Among Hundreds Of Child Sex Abuse Images In Capital Region Man's Possession
A 26-year-old man from the region faces years in federal prison after he was caught with hundreds of images depicting child sex abuse. Greene County resident Drew Caswell, of Cairo, pleaded guilty to receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography in Albany federal court on Wednesday, May 29. According to prosecutors, Caswell confessed to using a file-hosting service to download child pornography and then shared numerous photos and videos on X, formerly Twitter. He also admitted to possessing illicit images on his cell phone, including nearly 300 pictures and videos of toddlers…
News
Capital Region Child Predator Admits Blackmailing Kids Into Sending Nude Images
A convicted child sex abuser from the region will spend decades in federal prison after confessing that he blackmailed young kids into sending nude images. Rensselaer County resident Zachary Cota, age 31, of Castleton-on-Hudson, pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, May 10. According to prosecutors, Cota admitted to using SnapChat to get three children to send him nude photos. Two of the victims were 8 and 13 years old. Once the children provided the requested photos, he reportedly threatened to reveal what they had done in order to get more illic…
News
Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say
Federal prosecutors are pursuing child pornography charges against a man from the region after he allegedly sent and received numerous illicit images of children. Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, was arraigned on charges that he distributed, received, and possessed child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, April 12. According to investigators, Smoaks sent and received images and videos of child pornography over the internet between February and March 2023. The illicit images were reportedly found on both his computer and an external hard drive. If convicted, he face…
News
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images
Years in federal prison await a man from the region who confessed to blackmailing underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Richard Nejame, age 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, April 11. Prosecutors said Nejame messaged several underage girls on social media apps, including Snapchat, while pretending to be a teenage boy between October 2022 and May 2023. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted that he then convinced the girls to take nude pictures and videos of…
News
Posing As Teen To Get Underage Nudes Nets Capital Region Man Decades In Prison
After confessing that he posed as a teenager in order to trick underage girls into sending naked pictures, a man from the region will spend decades in prison. Schenectady resident Thomas Ullman, age 47, was sentenced to 25 years behind bars in Albany federal court on Thursday, March 28. It followed his guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child. Federal prosecutors said Ullman posed as a teenage boy on a dating website for teens and convinced multiple underage girls to text and video chat with him between March 2020 and June 2021. He then instructed the girls, some as young as 13, to en…
News
Thousands Of Child Porn Photos, Videos Found On Capital Region Man's Computer
A man from the region could spend decades behind bars after being found with thousands of images depicting child sex abuse. Albany County resident Scott Weinbloom, age 49, of Latham, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, Feb. 1. According to prosecutors, a search of Weinbloom’s Latham residence in May 2022 turned up 1,300 photos and 1,500 videos of child pornography that had been stored on a USB flash drive. Investigators also found two computers that had been used to store and view the illicit images. Weinbloom faces up to 20 years in federal…
Lifestyle
Comedian Kathy Griffin Set To Perform Stand-Up Show In Westchester
Comedian Kathy Griffin will swing through New York on her second US tour since being “canceled” in the wake of her infamous photo scandal. The 63-year-old Emmy winner is set to perform two shows in the Empire State as part of her new stand-up tour, “My Life on the PTSD List.” Griffin will first play in Westchester County, at Tarrytown’s Music Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22. After that she’ll appear on Long Island, at Huntington’s Paramount theater at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. It marks the second major US tour for Griffin since she was all but blacklisted from the entertainment in…
Politics
US House Expels NY Rep. George Santos In Historic Vote
In an incredibly rare move, the US House voted to expel New York Rep. George Santos amid mounting accusations of criminality, ending his tumultuous Congressional stint and closing one of the most controversial chapters in American politics. An expulsion resolution brought by California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia overwhelmingly passed with 311 "yes" votes to 114 "no" votes on Friday, Dec. 1. The resolution required a two-thirds majority vote in order to pass. Santos – a Long Island Republican whose 3rd District includes parts of Nassau County and Queens – becomes only the sixth fed…
Politics
George Santos Calls For Expulsion Of Westchester Rep. Bowman For Pulling Fire Alarm: Report
Ahead of a third floor vote on his expulsion from the US House, NY Rep. George Santos is calling for the removal of his colleague, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, for pulling a fire alarm at a congressional building, according to a report by ABC News. Santos, a Republican, made his comments against Bowman while addressing reporters outside the Capitol Building on Thursday morning, Nov. 30, only one day before the House is set to vote on an expulsion resolution that could kick the embattled New York representative out of his office. According to ABC News, Santos said he would introduce a res…
Politics
House Gears Up For George Santos Expulsion Vote; Here's Expected Timing
Members of the US House are preparing for a third floor vote on whether to expel embattled New York Rep. George Santos amid allegations he stole money from donors. The House will vote on an expulsion resolution introduced by Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California on Friday, Dec. 1, NBC News reports. If Garcia’s resolution passes, Santos will become the sixth House member ever removed from office. Earlier Report: Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking The Long Island Republican, whose 3rd District includes parts of Nassau Cou…
Politics
Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking
The third time may be the charm for federal lawmakers hoping to oust embattled New York Rep. George Santos from office. House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, filed a resolution to expel Santos from Congress on Friday morning, Nov. 17. Members are expected to vote on the resolution the week after Thanksgiving. Earlier Report: LI Rep Santos Won't Run For Re-Election: 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking, Committee Says The rare move came just one day after the committee, made up of five Republicans and five Democrats, released a report sayi…
Politics
George Santos Won't Run For Re-Election: 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking, Committee Says
Beleaguered New York Rep. George Santos says he won’t run for office in 2024 after an investigation by the House Ethics Committee found he likely committed federal crimes that have yet to be charged. In a damning report released Thursday, Nov. 16, the committee - made up of five Republicans and five Democrats - said it had unanimously concluded there was “substantial evidence” of lawbreaking and was referring its findings to the Department of Justice. Specifically, the investigation found that Santos, a Long Island Republican whose 3rd District includes parts of Nassau County and Queens: …
Schools
21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell
A student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York has been accused of threatening to shoot, stab, and rape Jewish students at the Ivy League school. Patrick Dai, a 21-year-old junior originally from Pittsford, New York, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 31 on a federal criminal complaint charging him with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications, according to prosecutors in the Northern District of New York. Dai allegedly posted threatening messages to the Cornell section of an online discussion site, including posts calling for the deaths of Jewish peopl…
News
Sergeant Indicted After Tasing Handcuffed Victim 7 Times in 2 Minutes In Westchester: Feds
A Westchester Sergeant faces federal charges after tasing a handcuffed victim seven times in the span of two minutes and violating their rights in the process, officials said. Brooklyn resident Mario Stewart, age 44, a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department, has been indicted on federal charges after allegedly using excessive force against a handcuffed individual in a March 2019 incident, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday, July 20. According to federal officials, at the time of the incident, Stewart had been …
News
Child Pornography Found On Capital Region Man's Phone, Feds Say
A 41-year-old man from the region could spend years in prison after he was allegedly caught with child pornography, authorities said. Saratoga County resident Christopher Barry, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested and arraigned in federal court in Albany on Thursday, June 22. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Barry received sexually explicit images of children between June 2021 and January 2022. Investigators also found child pornography on two of his cell phones in February 2023, prosecutors said. Barry was charged with receipt and possession of child pornog…
News
Capitol Breach: NY Funeral Home Owner Sprayed Insecticide On Police, Assaulted Reporters: Feds
This story has been updated to include a statement from Moloney Family Funeral Homes. A funeral home owner from New York is accused of assaulting police officers and reporters during the breach of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Long Island’s Peter Moloney, age 58, of Bayport, was arrested Wednesday, June 7, on multiple federal charges, including assaulting law enforcement. Moloney is the co-owner of Moloney Family Funeral Homes, which has eight locations across Long Island. According to federal prosecutors, he was among several people who illegally gathered on the West Plaza of the Capi…
News
14-Year-Old Would Be Harmed If She Didn't Send Nudes, Capital Region Man Threatened: Police
A man from the region is facing federal sex crimes charges after he allegedly coerced underage girls into sending him sexual images, authorities said. Richard Nejame, age 27, of Schenectady, was arraigned in federal court in Albany on Monday, May 1, on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and communicating a threat to injure. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Nejame chatted with several underage girls through a messaging app between October 2022 and May 2023. During one exchange, he threatened a 14-year-old Florida girl that “bad people” would come and h…
News
$52M Scheme: 10 Charged By Feds In Fraud Case Targeting Westchester-Based Company
Ten people have been charged in connection with a massive scheme to defraud a leading cargo airline based in New York of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the services of its employees, federal authorities announced. The 10 charged are: Connecticut resident Abilash Kurien, age 45, of Wilton in Fairfield County; Hudson Valley resident Carlton Llewellyn, age 55, of Highland Mills in Orange County; Long Island resident Robert Schirmer, age 58, of Port Jefferson Station; Queens resident Patrick Lau, 43, of Flushing; Lars Winkelbauer, age 47, of Bangkok, Thailand; Skye …
News
Sheriff's Office Employee In Region Steals Over $68K To Feed Gambling Addiction, Police Say
A sheriff’s office employee in the region is facing criminal charges after allegedly embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from the department. Albany County resident John Cox, age 60, of Colonie, was arrested for grand larceny and forgery, Sheriff Craig Apple announced at a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 21. He has since been suspended. Cox, who serves as the head budget analyst for the Albany County Sheriff’s Office and runs the agency's business office, is accused of forging checks in Apple’s name and then depositing them into his personal bank accounts. BREAKING NEWS - Alban…
News
Sex Offender From Area Who Drove 150 Miles To Rape 10-Year-Old Found Guilty
A convicted sex offender from the region with a history of abusing young children is facing decades in prison for attempting to coerce a 10-year-old for sex. Rensselaer County resident Charles Wager, age 55, of the village of Castleton-on-Hudson in the town of Schodack, was found guilty of attempting to entice a minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activities in federal court in Utica on Thursday, Feb. 2. Prosecutors said Wager exchanged thousands of sexually explicit text messages with who he thought was a 10-year-old girl and her mother, in January and February 2021. He sent nude phot…
News
'Real Housewives' Star Gets Prison Time For New York-Based Fraud Scheme
A former "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star was sentenced to several years in prison for her role in a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme based in New York. Jennifer Shah, age 49, who appeared on the show beginning in 2020, was sentenced to six ½ years in prison on Friday, Jan. 6 for targeting elderly victims in the scheme and defrauding them out of their savings, according to the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams. Beginning in 2012 and lasting until her arrest in March 2021, Shah was the leader of the scheme which ended up victimizi…
News
Westchester County Man Accused Of Gunpoint Kidnapping Sentenced On Weapons Charge
A man from Westchester County man once accused of committing a violent gunpoint kidnapping has been sentenced to prison on weapons and robbery charges. Earlier Report - Westchester Man Accused Of Zip Tying Victim In Gunpoint Kidnapping Yonkers resident Owen Drain, also known as “Whiteboy,” and “Tommy,” was sentenced to seven years in federal prison on Friday, Dec. 2 for brandishing a weapon, according to US District Court documents. Drain was originally accused of kidnapping a victim at gunpoint in the Bronx on Nov. 19, 2019, and zip-tying his victim while doing …
News
'Animal Abuse In Service Of Greed': Hudson Valley Duo Sentenced In Racehorse Doping Case
A veterinarian and racehorse trainer from the Hudson Valley have received their sentences for their role in a racehorse doping scheme. Orange County Veterinarian Louis Grasso, age 65, of Pine Bush, and trainer Richard Banca, age 47, of Middletown, were sentenced to 50 months in prison, and 30 months in prison, respectively, for producing, distributing, and administering performance-enhancing drugs as part of the doping case, according to an announcement by the US Attorney's Office from Wednesday, Nov. 16. A third man, 35-year-old trainer Rene Allard of Canada, was also sente…
News
Company Owner From NY Admits To Fraudulent Billing Scheme With Brother
Authorities say that a New York man has admitted to a fraudulent and elaborate billing scheme involving a manufacturing company with facilities in Maryland with his brother. Long Island resident Robert DiNoto, 48, of Huntington, pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection to a Harford County company with his brother, Eugene DiNoto, who submitted false invoices for undelivered commercial drum containers, according to federal officials. DiNoto was the owner and President of American Pride Distributors in Woodbury, in Nassau County, which sold commercial drum cont…
News
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 …
News
Capital District Man Sentenced For Selling Heroin Laced With Fentanyl
A man will spend the next six years in federal prison for selling heroin that was laced with fentanyl. Schenectady resident and former Long Islander Ralph St. Croix, age 39, was sentenced to 70 months behind bars Thursday, July 21, in federal court in Albany. As part of his guilty plea, St. Croix - who also goes by the name “Stretch” - admitted to selling the fentanyl-laced drugs to another person on three occasions at his apartment on Eastern Avenue in Schenectady in December 2020. Schenectady Felon Sentenced to 70 Months for Distributing Fentanyl-Laced Heroin and for Possessing Firea…
News
Capital District Man Admits To Receiving, Possessing Child Porn
A man from the Capital District is facing years in prison after admitting to possessing child pornography. Rensselaer County resident Derek Luch, age 50, of Troy, pleaded guilty Tuesday, June 14, to receiving and possessing the illegal material, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the North District. Luch admitted that between May and October 2021 he used a file sharing service to download and receive numerous images depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, prosecutors said. He also copped to having the material when he was arrested in November 2021. Luch now faces bet…
News
Capital District Man Accused Of Possessing Child Pornography
A man from the Capital District is facing serious prison time after he was allegedly found with sexually explicit images of children. Latham resident Scott Weinbloom, age 47, was arrested Friday, May 20, on a federal charge of possessing child pornography, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the North District. The illegal images and videos were found on an encrypted thumb drive that was found in his home Wednesday, May 18, prosecutors said. Weinbloom appeared in federal court in Albany, where a judge ordered him detained while he awaits trial. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 …
News
Man Accused Of Traveling To NY To Meet Minor For Sex, Feds Say
A New England man has been accused of traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, federal authorities in New York announced. Martin Connearney, age 32, of Lenox, Massachusetts, in Berkshire County, was arrested Thursday, May 5 and charged with traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, the Department of Justice's US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and the FBI's Albany Field Office announced. The criminal complaint alleges that between Wednesday, April 6, 2022 and Wednes…
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