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FEMA Denies Emergency Assistance For LI Residents After Devastating Flooding FEMA Denies Emergency Assistance For LI Residents After Devastating Flooding
FEMA Denies Emergency Assistance For LI Residents After Devastating Flooding The federal government declined to help New York homeowners who were impacted by last summer’s severe flooding. Following a preliminary damage assessment on Long Island by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FMEA), the agency stated that Suffolk County did not meet the severity requirements for assistance. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office expressed disappointment over the decision but vowed to appeal it. Earlier Report: Homeowners Impacted By Suffolk Co. Flooding Could Get Up To $50K In Repair Grants; Here's How “(We) will continue fighting to ensure storm-impacted residents…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19: John Gotti's Long Island Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud COVID-19: John Gotti's Long Island Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud
Covid-19: John Gotti's Long Island Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud A New York man with ties to the Mafia formally confessed to a million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. Long Island resident Carmine Agnello, age 38, of Smithtown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in Central Islip federal court on Thursday, Sept. 26. Agnello is the grandson of the late John Gotti, former boss of the Gambino organized crime family. According to prosecutors, between April 2020 and November 2021, he fraudulently applied for, and received, at least three small business loans under the US Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP). The program…

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by Michael Mashburn
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NYPD Detective From Long Island Helps Dozens Get Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loans, Feds Say NYPD Detective From Long Island Helps Dozens Get Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loans, Feds Say
Nypd Detective From Long Island Helps Dozens Get Fraudulent Covid-19 Relief Loans, Feds Say An NYPD detective from Long Island is among four defendants accused of helping dozens of people obtain fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans. John Bolden, age 46, of Valley Stream, was indicted on wire fraud charges in Brooklyn federal court on Monday, Aug. 12. Prosecutors said Bolden and a second NYPD detective, Anthony Carreira, owned partnership interests in a franchise location for a tax preparation business. Together with clients and co-defendants, the pair helped more than 65 people submit fraudulent applications for loans under the US Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection P…

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by Michael Mashburn
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$1.7M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: Westchester Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced $1.7M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: Westchester Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced
$1.7M Covid-19 Fraud Scheme: Westchester Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced A mother-daughter duo has been sentenced to prison for defrauding the government of approximately $1.7 million.  Westchester County residents Alicia Ayers and her mother, Andrea Ayers, both of Mount Vernon, were found guilty of submitting more than 300 fraudulent applications for US Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans.  Andrea Ayers was a former Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Mount Vernon Police Department. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program to provide low-interest …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme COVID-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme
Covid-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme Two former government employees from Long Island will spend more than a year in federal lockup for defrauding loan programs meant to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Arthur Cornwall, age 43, of Babylon, and Sean Williams, age 42, of Valley Stream, were each sentenced to 18 months in prison in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, March 20, after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Prosecutors said Cornwall, a former signal maintainer with the New York City Transit Authority, and Williams, a former New York State Court officer, received nearly $770,000 in small business loan…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Long Island Businesses, Homes Damaged During Severe Weather Eligible For Recovery Loans: Hochul Long Island Businesses, Homes Damaged During Severe Weather Eligible For Recovery Loans: Hochul
Long Island Businesses, Homes Damaged During Severe Weather Eligible For Recovery Loans: Hochul Businesses and homeowners on Long Island may be eligible for low-interest recovery loans to repair damage from severe wind and rain earlier in the year. The loans will be available for Long Islanders starting on Friday, March 15, according to an announcement by Gov. Kathy Hochul. “New Yorkers and their businesses should not have to carry the burden of storm recovery alone, and these loans will go a long way in helping those impacted build back better and stronger,” she said. The announcement comes nearly two months after a multi-hazard weather event hit much of the state and Long Island…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say
Covid-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say Two men from Westchester and a Long Island woman face charges after participating in a more than $14 million scheme to steal from a program created to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials said.  New Rochelle resident Glenroy Walker, age 65, Mount Vernon resident Gary Wheeler, age 46, Freeport resident Sherril Baez, age 50, and three others are charged with scheming to steal more than $14 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Tuesday, June 6.  The …

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by Ben Crnic
News
COVID-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud COVID-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud
Covid-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud A New York woman will spend time in federal prison after admitting that she took advantage of loan programs meant to help businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Debra Hackstadt, age 68, of Albany, was sentenced to 16 months behind bars Tuesday, Nov. 8, in federal court in Albany after pleading guilty to wire fraud in May 2022. Earlier Report: COVID-19: Albany Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Hackstadt admitted to fraudulently obtaining 32 government-backed loans worth more than $1.6 million betwee…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say
Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say An eye doctor from Westchester who had practices throughout the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County who was previously charged with healthcare fraud has been sentenced for attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic through loan fraud. Westchester resident Ameet Goyal, age 58, of Rye, who operated The Eye Associates Group, with practices in Rye, Mount Kisco, Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, and Greenwich, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for orchestrating a seven-year fraud scheme and for obtaining government loans intended for small businesses during the pandemic. In addition t…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Admits In NY To Laundering Millions From Fraud Schemes Targeting Victims Across US Man Admits In NY To Laundering Millions From Fraud Schemes Targeting Victims Across US
Man Admits In NY To Laundering Millions From Fraud Schemes Targeting Victims Across US A 36-year-old man has pleaded guilty in New York to a charge related to a money-laundering scheme involving the theft of tens of millions of dollars. Fred Asante, of Virginia, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Feb. 16, to conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to Damian Williams, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. He was arrested on Feb. 17, 2021, Williams reported. “Fred Asante admitted today to laundering money from victims of various fraud schemes, including cruel scams targeting elderly online daters searching for companionship," Williams said. …

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
African American Chamber Of Commerce President Phil Andrews Earns Statewide Honor African American Chamber Of Commerce President Phil Andrews Earns Statewide Honor
African American Chamber Of Commerce President Phil Andrews Earns Statewide Honor The president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce  Phil Andrews is the 2019 "Small Business Champion," a recognition by the New York District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The district includes New York City, Long Island, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties. The LIAACC is the largest African American chamber in New York state said, Andrews.  Being recognized in this way serves as a "motivational factor" to continue the work "we do on a daily basis for many years into the future," he …

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by Donna Christopher