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Excessive Force, Illegal Arrests: Feds Allege Violations By Mount Vernon Police Department
A police department in Westchester has been found to engage in a pattern of excessive force, illegal arrests, and unconstitutional searches, federal officials announced.
The findings, which centered on the Mount Vernon Police Department, were revealed on Thursday, Dec. 12, following a comprehensive investigation by the US Department of Justice.
According to the DOJ, the investigation uncovered numerous issues, including:
Excessive use of force, including taser-like devices and strikes, often against individuals who were already restrained or on the ground;
Unlawful strip searches an…
Duo Accused Of Running Prostitution Ring Out Of Westchester Massage Parlors: Feds
A husband and wife face charges after allegedly running an extensive prostitution business out of multiple New York massage parlors, including several in the Hudson Valley.
Putnam County residents Hong Ru Lin, age 50, and Kena Zhao, age 45, both of Putnam Valley, were arrested on Thursday, Sept. 14 for allegedly running a prostitution business out of numerous massage parlors in Putnam, Westchester, Queens, and Manhattan, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.
According to federal officials, Lin and Zhao started running the prostitution ring in Septem…
Fentanyl Deaths: Dealer Nabbed By Westchester Task Force After Multiple Overdoses, Feds Say
A Hudson Valley man who allegedly peddled fentanyl to customers including friends, has been charged in connection with the death of two, and the overdoses of at least five people.
Rockland County resident Justin Turnick, age 25, of Congers, was arrested on Wednesday, July 12 by agents with the Westchester Resident Agent Task Force for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), along with local law enforcement agencies, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Turnick was charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in death or serious bodily injury to five vi…
Quadruple Murder Case: Former Police Officer In Northern Westchester Found Guilty
A former police officer at several municipalities in Westchester and Dutchess counties has been convicted for the murders of four men in Orange County after a drug deal that went bad.
According to an indictment that was filed in White Plains Federal Court, Nicholas Tartaglione killed Martin Luna, age 41, Urbano Santiago, age 32, Miguel Luna, age 25, and Hector Gutierrez, 43, at the Likquid Lounge in the town of Chester in Orange County following the botched cocaine deal in April 2016.
The first victim was allegedly strangled with a zip tie, and three others were taken to an Otisville home i…
14 Hudson Valley Gang Members, Associates Charged With Racketeering, Narcotics, Other Offenses
The FBI and other law enforcement officials in the Hudson Valley raided numerous homes in a warrant sweep charging 14 members of a street gang for committing various racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses.
The "takedown," took place in Orange and Dutchess counties on Thursday, Dec. 1, focusing on Poughkeepsie and the city of Newburgh, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
An indictment charges several members of the Young Gunnaz Gang, aka “YG," with acts of violence. This includes Kashad Sampson, aka “Shoca,” a YG leader who is charged w…
