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Schenectady, NY

$316K Fentanyl-For-Food Stamps Scheme At Deli In Region Lands Employee Behind Bars $316K Fentanyl-For-Food Stamps Scheme At Deli In Region Lands Employee Behind Bars
$316K Fentanyl-For-Food Stamps Scheme At Deli In Region Lands Employee Behind Bars A Schenectady deli worker who turned his family business into a hub of illegal exchanges will spend the next year behind bars. Omar Alaidrus, 24, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on Wednesday, Feb. 12, after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl and committing food stamp fraud totaling $316,975, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. Alaidrus operated the scheme out of his family’s Schenectady deli, where he exchanged controlled substances—including fentanyl—for food stamps, prosecutors said.  He also gave out cash and other prohibited item…
Ex Bugging You? Name A Cockroach After Them At Aquarium In Region This Valentine's Day Ex Bugging You? Name A Cockroach After Them At Aquarium In Region This Valentine's Day
Ex Bugging You? Name A Cockroach After Them At Aquarium In Region This Valentine's Day If your ex is still crawling under your skin, this may be just the event to help squash the past. This Valentine’s Day, VIA Aquarium in Schenectady is offering a hilariously petty, yet oddly endearing way to mark the holiday: For just $1, you can sponsor a cockroach and have it named after that “special someone.” “Your sponsored roach will be fed out to one of our reptiles by our Senior Reptile Keeper, Randy,” reads the aquarium’s website. The best part? The whole thing will be recorded for your replaying pleasure: “You can watch your special roach over and over.” The deadline to par…
Alert Issued For Missing Girl, 12, In Poughkeepsie Alert Issued For Missing Girl, 12, In Poughkeepsie
Alert Issued For Missing Girl, 12, In Poughkeepsie New update: A 12-year-old girl who was missing from her Dutchess County home for around two weeks has been found, police said.  Miamor Rivera, who went missing on Saturday, Jan. 25, has been found, the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department announced.  The department did not release more information about her condition or where she was located.  Original Report: Authorities in Dutchess County are searching for a missing 12-year-old girl.  In an announcement on Thursday, Feb. 6, the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department said they are searching for Miamor Rivera, w…
Hanukkah Shooting: Gunman Admits Opening Fire Outside Synagogue In Region With Children Present Hanukkah Shooting: Gunman Admits Opening Fire Outside Synagogue In Region With Children Present
Hanukkah Shooting: Gunman Admits Opening Fire Outside Synagogue In Region With Children Present A New York man who fired a shotgun outside an Albany synagogue on the first night of Hanukkah pleaded guilty to federal civil rights and firearm charges. Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to obstructing religious freedom by threat of force, unlawfully acquiring a firearm, and brandishing it during the crime in Albany federal court on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The formal confession came more than a year after Alkhader took an Uber from Schenectady to Temple Israel in Albany, where he walked up the synagogue’s steps and pulled a shotgun from a duffel bag on Dec. 7, 2023. He the…
Man Rammed Estranged Wife With Car After Years Of Stalking, Threats In Region: Jury Man Rammed Estranged Wife With Car After Years Of Stalking, Threats In Region: Jury
Man Rammed Estranged Wife With Car After Years Of Stalking, Threats In Region: Jury A Schenectady man was convicted of attempted murder after intentionally striking his estranged wife with his vehicle in what prosecutors called a deliberate act of violence. Sherifullah Hashimi, 62, was found guilty on seven counts in all, mostly felonies, by a Schenectady County jury on Monday, Feb. 3, according to the district attorney’s office. The case stemmed from a violent incident at the Southgate Housing Complex on Frank Street in Schenectady on July 23, 2023. Multiple people called 911 reporting that a woman had been struck by a car. Surveillance video obtained by Schenectady Poli…
'Persistent Violent Felon' Shot Father Of 2 To Death In Region, Jury Finds 'Persistent Violent Felon' Shot Father Of 2 To Death In Region, Jury Finds
'Persistent Violent Felon' Shot Father Of 2 To Death In Region, Jury Finds A Schenectady man was convicted of multiple felonies for the broad-daylight shooting of a 26-year-old father in what prosecutors say was a revenge killing. David “Blokk” Ayala, 39, of Schenectady, was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter and related charges by a Schenectady County jury on Thursday, Jan. 30, in the November 2022 killing of Matteo Henderson. Ayala had repeatedly vowed to harm or kill the 26-year-old father of two following an altercation between the two in the summer of 2022, prosecutors said. Witnesses testified that he followed through on those threats, firin…
Suspect Nabbed Hours After Fatal Shooting Of 30-Year-Old In Region Suspect Nabbed Hours After Fatal Shooting Of 30-Year-Old In Region
Suspect Nabbed Hours After Fatal Shooting Of 30-Year-Old In Region A suspect was arrested hours after a man was shot to death in the Capital Region. The shooting occurred in Albany’s Beverwyck neighborhood, near the Albany News Deli on Central Avenue, at around 5:40 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. Officers arrived to find Dewitt Miller, 30, suffering from a gunshot wound to his groin, Albany Police said. He was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he died from his injuries. On Friday morning, Jan. 31, the agency said detectives had arrested a suspect in the killing, Leonardo Guzman, 34, of Schenectady. He is charged with second-degree murder and crimina…
16-Year-Old Murdered 'Amazing' HS Athlete At Party In Region, DA Says 16-Year-Old Murdered 'Amazing' HS Athlete At Party In Region, DA Says
16-Year-Old Murdered 'Amazing' HS Athlete At Party In Region, DA Says Months after a high school athlete was shot to death at a Capital Region home, a teenager has been charged with his murder. The 16-year-old defendant, who prosecutors did not name due to his age, was arraigned on a seven-count indictment charging him with murder and related charges in Schenectady County Family Court on Monday, Jan. 27, in the killing of Dubar Knowles. Knowles, 15 at the time, was attending a large party at a Schenectady residence, located on Congress Street near 8th Avenue, when the defendant shot him once through the chest at around 11:20 p.m. on Oct. 12, 2024, according t…
NY State Workers Steal Debit Card Info From Disabled Residents In Region, Police Say NY State Workers Steal Debit Card Info From Disabled Residents In Region, Police Say
NY State Workers Steal Debit Card Info From Disabled Residents In Region, Police Say Three New York State employees are accused of stealing money from developmentally disabled residents in the Capital Region. The women, all employees at the Capital District Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) in Clifton Park, were arrested on suspicion of fraud and larceny-related charges following an investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, Jan. 26. Officials identified the defendants as: Lashea Pettway, 30, of Schenectady Jessie Gabriel, 34, of Schenectady Christin McGrath, 45, of Selkirk An investigation found that all three women stole debit card …
Dating App Message With Child Porn Leads To Conviction Of Former Area Resident Dating App Message With Child Porn Leads To Conviction Of Former Area Resident
Dating App Message With Child Porn Leads To Conviction Of Former Area Resident A former resident in the region is facing years behind bars after admitting to sending child pornography on a dating app. Tyreik Blackmon, age 30, formerly of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to child sex crimes in Schenectady County Court on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Prosecutors said Blackmon, who also goes by “Elise,” admitted to sending a sexually explicit video and photo of a child to another person via an online dating app in November 2023. Investigators got involved after a good Samaritan contacted law enforcement saying he had met another user of the dating app who, during a conversation about …
Duo Nabbed After Driver Held At Gunpoint In Capital Region, Police Say Duo Nabbed After Driver Held At Gunpoint In Capital Region, Police Say
Duo Nabbed After Driver Held At Gunpoint In Capital Region, Police Say Two people have been charged after they allegedly held a taxi driver in the Capital Region at knifepoint and stole money, causing injuries. Schoharie County residents James R. Parker, age 26, and Nicole Zielinski, age 50, both of Cobleskill, were charged on Wednesday, Nov. 13. According to New York State Police Trooper Stephanie O'Neil, an investigation determined Zielinski and Parker were being transported by a taxi in Schenectady when Parker allegedly held the driver at knifepoint against their will.  During the incident, they reportedly stole money from the victim and cau…
These Dutchess County Bagel Shops Among Top 100 In NY, New Ranking Says These Dutchess County Bagel Shops Among Top 100 In NY, New Ranking Says
These Dutchess County Bagel Shops Among Top 100 In NY, New Ranking Says Whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, these bagels are the cream (cheese?) of the crop. Nearly three dozen businesses outside of New York City made the “Top 100 Bagel Shops in New York 2024” ranking by Yelp. To come up with its list, the restaurant review site identified businesses in the bagel category, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews. Yelp’s ranking includes a mix of decades-old storefronts and newcomers making names for themselves post-COVID-19 pandemic.  Menus boast everything from the classics (plain, sesame…
Update: 11-Year-Old Boy From Region Located After 8 Days Update: 11-Year-Old Boy From Region Located After 8 Days
Update: 11-Year-Old Boy From Region Located After 8 Days New update: An 11-year-old boy from the region has been located after going missing for over a week. Jaiyden Abear had last been seen in Albany on Sunday, Sept. 15, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Late Monday night, Sept. 23, he was located safely in Schenectady, Albany Police told Daily Voice. No other details were given. Original report: Authorities in the region are asking for help in locating an 11-year-old boy who has been missing for over a week. Jaiyden Abear was last seen in Albany on Sunday, Sept. 15, according to the National Center for …
Man From Region Sentenced In Fiery Fatal Crash That Killed Mother Of 3 Man From Region Sentenced In Fiery Fatal Crash That Killed Mother Of 3
Man From Region Sentenced In Fiery Fatal Crash That Killed Mother Of 3 A 32-year-old man will spend years in prison after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide in a fiery crash that killed a mother of three and grandmother of five. Related: Passenger Dies In Fiery Drunk-Driving Crash Near Capital Region College, Police Say Schenectady County resident Gregory Mitchell, of Scotia, was sentenced Thursday, Sept. 18, to six to 18 years in prison on the aggravated vehicular homicide charge and six years on an assault charge for the Saturday, Oct. 21 crash in Schenectady.  According to Schenectady District Attorney Robert Carney, following the …
Man Kills Parents Before Jumping To Death From Bridge In Region, Police Say Man Kills Parents Before Jumping To Death From Bridge In Region, Police Say
Man Kills Parents Before Jumping To Death From Bridge In Region, Police Say A man from the region murdered both of his parents before jumping to his death from a highway bridge in upstate New York, police said. Troopers in Albany were called about a man threatening to jump from the Patroon Island Bridge (I-90) at around 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15. Before they could get there, the man jumped and was found dead below the bridge. New York State Police identified the man as 35-year-old Jordan Miklowitz, of Schenectady. The incident shut down the northbound lanes of I-787 for nearly three-and-a-half hours. Southbound traffic was also briefly halted. An investigation fou…
Man Admits To Fatal Shooting In Capital Region; Will Get 20 Years In Prison Man Admits To Fatal Shooting In Capital Region; Will Get 20 Years In Prison
Man Admits To Fatal Shooting In Capital Region; Will Get 20 Years In Prison A 32-year-old Schenectady County man accused of a fatal shooting in October will plead guilty to the slaying and spend at least 20 years behind bars, police said.  Kevin Dingle, of Schenectady, was facing 12 felony charges in the case, including murder and tampering with eviidence among others, Schenectady County police said. Dingle pleaded guity to murder in the second degree and a 20-to-life prison sentence.  Schenectady police were called to 764 State Street on Oct. 22, 2023. Officers found the body of Leroy A. Chisom on the second-floor suffering from bullet wou…
Alert Issued For Capital Region Woman Missing Several Weeks Alert Issued For Capital Region Woman Missing Several Weeks
Alert Issued For Capital Region Woman Missing Several Weeks Police are asking for help in locating a woman from the region who has been missing for several weeks. Schoharie County resident Carlie Mace was officially reported missing on Monday, Aug. 5, weeks after relatives last had contact with her. Sheriff’s officials said her last known location was in Schenectady. Mace is 5-foot-6 and 210 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office at 518-295-8114. Share this story by clicking the Facebook icon below. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
Duo Busted Posing As Rideshare Drivers In Capital Region, Police Say Duo Busted Posing As Rideshare Drivers In Capital Region, Police Say
Duo Busted Posing As Rideshare Drivers In Capital Region, Police Say Police are warning Uber and Lyft customers to be on the lookout for fake rideshare drivers. In Saratoga County, the Saratoga Springs Police Department received multiple complaints about people pretending to work for rideshare companies and accepting fares around the Saratoga Racetrack and downtown areas. On Thursday, Aug. 1, the department conducted a targeted enforcement detail in those areas, ultimately arresting one driver and citing another. Najeebullah Afghan, age 32, of Schenectady, was taken into custody on suspicion of criminal impersonation. He was also given a City Code violation…
Woman Beaten To Death At Motel In Capital Region; Man Charged With Murder Woman Beaten To Death At Motel In Capital Region; Man Charged With Murder
Woman Beaten To Death At Motel In Capital Region; Man Charged With Murder A man was charged with murder in connection with the beating death of a woman at a motel in the region. Schenectady Police were called about an unresponsive woman at the Imperial Motel on State Street at around 4:20 a.m. Sunday, July 21. The victim, 49-year-old Renee Stratton, was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined she had suffered blunt force trauma, and her death was ruled a homicide. Investigators did not speculate on a possible motive for the killing. On Friday, Aug. 2, Schenectady Police announced that they had arrested 40-year-old Corydon Carlton, of Glens Falls in …
Woman Shot To Death At Capital Region Home With Several Children Present Woman Shot To Death At Capital Region Home With Several Children Present
Woman Shot To Death At Capital Region Home With Several Children Present Police are investigating after a woman was shot to death at a home in the region. The incident happened in Schenectady, at a residence on Charles Street near Albany Street, at around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, July 31. Schenectady Police said officers responding to a shooting found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds and a man with serious injuries. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The man, considered to be a person of interest in the shooting, was detained and taken to a hospital. Police did not elaborate on the nature of his injuries. Neither person has been publicly identified a…
$3M Jackpot: Capital Region Player Hits It Big On Scratch-Off Game $3M Jackpot: Capital Region Player Hits It Big On Scratch-Off Game
$3M Jackpot: Capital Region Player Hits It Big On Scratch-Off Game He rolled the dice and hit the jackpot. A man from the region has three million more reasons to be smiling after claiming the top prize on a scratch-off game. John Terry, of Schenectady, was the lucky player to claim a $3 million jackpot on the New York Lottery’s Xtreme Cash scratch-off-game. Terry purchased the fortuitous ticket in Albany County, at the Hannaford store located in Colonie on Wolf Road, according to lottery officials. After paying Uncle Sam his cut, he pocketed a lump sum payment totaling $1,406,160. Scratch-off games generated over $4.4 billion in total sales during fisc…
6 Teens Injured In July 4th Shooting At Capital Region Home 6 Teens Injured In July 4th Shooting At Capital Region Home
6 Teens Injured In July 4th Shooting At Capital Region Home Six teenagers are recovering after a shooting at a Fourth of July party in the region. Police in Albany were called about a shooting in the city’s Pine Hills neighborhood, on Myrtle Avenue near Quail Street, at around 12:15 a.m. Friday, July 5. When officers arrived, they found evidence of gunfire in the home’s backyard and in the street that occurred during a large gathering, police said. Minutes later, officers near Hudson Avenue and Quail Street, located five blocks away, were flagged down by a 17-year-old boy who had been shot in his arm. He was taken by ambulance to Albany Medical Cen…
Juvenile Shot At Capital Region Park; Search On For Suspect Juvenile Shot At Capital Region Park; Search On For Suspect
Juvenile Shot At Capital Region Park; Search On For Suspect A juvenile is recovering after being shot at a park in the region. The attack happened at around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, at Schenectady’s Jerry Burrell Park, near Schenectady and Hamilton streets. According to police, officers found the victim suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. They were taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment. Police did not reveal the juvenile victim’s age or gender, nor did they speculate on a possible motive for the shooting. No suspects had been arrested as of Thursday morning, June 13. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sch…
2 Lives Ended In 32 Seconds: Man Gunned Down Mom, Stepdad At NY Home, Jury Finds 2 Lives Ended In 32 Seconds: Man Gunned Down Mom, Stepdad At NY Home, Jury Finds
2 Lives Ended In 32 Seconds: Man Gunned Down Mom, Stepdad At NY Home, Jury Finds A protection order was no match for a disgruntled 21-year-old armed with an AK-47 rifle and set on murdering his own mother and stepfather in upstate New York, a jury found. Schenectady County resident Nicholas Fiebka, of Schenectady, was convicted of two counts of murder and related charges on Friday, June 7, in the deaths of his mother Alesia Wadsworth and stepfather, William Horwedel. Prosecutors said Fiebka entered his mother’s Princetown home on Nov. 21, 2022, armed with an AK-47 rifle with an illegal drum magazine capable of holding 75 rounds of ammunition and firing two shots with ev…
MMA Fighter's GF Charged In 5-Year-Old Girl's Starvation Death At Capital Region Home MMA Fighter's GF Charged In 5-Year-Old Girl's Starvation Death At Capital Region Home
MMA Fighter's GF Charged In 5-Year-Old Girl's Starvation Death At Capital Region Home A woman from the region is facing charges in connection with the starvation death of her MMA-fighter-boyfriend’s 5-year-old daughter. Schenectady County resident Brandi Terhune, age 22, of Schenectady, was arrested Monday, June 3, on suspicion of tampering with evidence and endangering the welfare of a child. Her arrest comes months after Schenectady Police were called to a residence on Elmer Avenue near Poplar Street at around 3 a.m. Sunday, April 14, for a young girl who was unconscious and not breathing. Medics pronounced the girl dead a short time later. Earlier Report: Chi…
Final Service Set For Popular Capital Region Restaurant After 7 Years Final Service Set For Popular Capital Region Restaurant After 7 Years
Final Service Set For Popular Capital Region Restaurant After 7 Years After seven years of dishing up Southern comfort food, a popular restaurant in the region is set to close. The Cuckoo’s Nest, located in Albany at 234 Western Avenue, will hold its final service on Sunday, May 19, husband and wife owners Devin and Kaytrin Ziemann announced on their website. Opened in 2017 after the couple discovered their “deep love and need for Southern cuisine” while traveling, its menu aims to strike a balance between comfort and innovation, the couple said. Diners in search of a hearty meal can choose from a number of Southern-inspired dishes including Nashville hot ch…
Gunman Who Killed Dad On 21st Birthday In Capital Region Gets Decades In Prison Gunman Who Killed Dad On 21st Birthday In Capital Region Gets Decades In Prison
Gunman Who Killed Dad On 21st Birthday In Capital Region Gets Decades In Prison Two years after a young father was gunned down on his 21st birthday in the region, the man who pulled the trigger is facing decades in prison. Anthony Romero, age 25, was sentenced to 37 years to life in prison in Schenectady County Court on Wednesday, May 1, after a jury convicted him of murdering Treavine Tate. Schenectady Police were called at around 11:30 p.m. on May 30, 2022, with reports of multiple gunshots near State and Hulett streets. Earlier Report: Suspect Sought After Man Fatally Shot In Schenectady On 21st Birthday Officers later learned that Tate, a former Bronx res…
New 'Upscale Yet Down-To-Earth' Restaurant In Capital Region Touted For 'Unique Flavor Palette' New 'Upscale Yet Down-To-Earth' Restaurant In Capital Region Touted For 'Unique Flavor Palette'
New 'Upscale Yet Down-To-Earth' Restaurant In Capital Region Touted For 'Unique Flavor Palette' Just weeks into business, a new restaurant in the region promising “creative, high-end comfort dinners” appears to be a hit with diners. Vice & Virtue Restaurant and Cocktail Bar – located in Schenectady at the former Pinhead Susan’s at 40 North Broadway – held its grand opening on Tuesday, March 12. Under the direction of executive chef Chris Rose, the eatery bills itself as serving up “bold and unique flavors” all in an “upscale yet down-to-earth” atmosphere. “At Vice & Virtue, you can expect an extraordinary culinary experience, where creative high-end dishes meet the comforting…
Girl's 'Uncomfortable' Interaction With Man Near Capital Region School Under Investigation Girl's 'Uncomfortable' Interaction With Man Near Capital Region School Under Investigation
Girl's 'Uncomfortable' Interaction With Man Near Capital Region School Under Investigation Police are investigating after a girl said a male driver approached her near an elementary school in the region and made her feel “uncomfortable.” The Schenectady incident happened at around 7:45 a.m. Thursday, April 25, outside Van Corlaer Elementary School on Guilderland Avenue.  Schenectady Police said the girl told school staff that she was walking in the area when a man approached her in a vehicle and began asking her questions that she wasn’t comfortable with. School staff immediately contacted police and detectives with the department’s Youth Aid Bureau located the man a short …
'Doughy, Drunk Pizza' Found At This Capital Region Restaurant, Popular Guru Declares 'Doughy, Drunk Pizza' Found At This Capital Region Restaurant, Popular Guru Declares
'Doughy, Drunk Pizza' Found At This Capital Region Restaurant, Popular Guru Declares Self-proclaimed pizza expert Dave Portnoy has rendered his verdict on another pizzeria in the region. The 47-year-old Barstool Sports owner found himself in Albany on Monday, April 8, and decided to stop by longtime joint Pizzeria Sapienza for his popular “One Bite Pizza Reviews” series on YouTube. Foregoing the “hour wait” to get a whole pie, Portnoy decided to base his review off just a single slice, though he admitted such a departure from his usual routine is “not really fair.” He then took two bites before describing the food as “doughy, drunk pizza.” His final verdict: “I’m gonna go…
Child Ingested Cocaine At NY Home Where MMA Fighter Dad Killed Daughter, DA Says Child Ingested Cocaine At NY Home Where MMA Fighter Dad Killed Daughter, DA Says
Child Ingested Cocaine At NY Home Where MMA Fighter Dad Killed Daughter, DA Says New details have surfaced in the case of a father accused of starving his 5-year-old daughter to death at a home in the region. Police were called to a Schenectady residence on Elmer Avenue near Poplar Street at around 3 a.m. Sunday, April 14, for a young girl who was unconscious and not breathing. Medics pronounced the girl dead a short time later. An investigation found that the girl’s father, 33-year-old Robert Buskey, starved her of food and water for at least four days before her death, WRGB reports, citing court documents. Earlier Report: Dad Charged In 5-Year-Old Daughter's …