Results tagged “indictment”

While you were busy doing Sudoku at your temp job, industrious 19-year-old computer whiz Adeniyi Adeyemi was using his three month temp job to launch a $1.1 million fraud scheme, according to a 149-count indictment. During his stint in the IT department at Bank of New York Mellon in November 2001, Adeyemi allegedly stole personal identifying information from dozens of employees, using the information from more than 30 bank and brokerage accounts in their names. Over the next eight years he used the stolen identities to set up more than 30 fraudulent bank and brokerage accounts, prosecutors say.

U.S. prosecutors say that two men, including a Queens building super, were indicted for allegedly trying to aid the Hezbollah: "Patrick Nayyar, an Indian citizen living in Queens, and Conrad Stanisclaus Mulholland, a U.K. citizen, have been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; providing material support; conspiracy to make a contribution of funds, goods, or services to and for the benefit of Hezbollah; and making a contribution of funds, goods or services." Authorities also claim Nayyar was here illegally, but his lawyer said he is here legally, though his visa may have lapsed, adding he was skeptical of the charges.

Yesterday a grand jury voted to indict NYPD Officer Andrew Kelly on charges of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated in an accident last month that killed a woman who was trying to hail a cab. If convicted, Kelly faces up to seven years in prison. Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes says that Kelly, 30, will also face trial on other charges, including speeding.

Najibullah Zazi was indicted earlier today in Brooklyn on charges of "conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction," the first terror charges brought in the Colorado-Queens terror case. He is still in Denver, where he is being held without bail. No further charges are expected against his father, Mohammed Zazi, who has already been charged with lying to investigators. The third suspect, Flushing imam Ahmad Wais Afzali, has been released in New York on a $1.5 million bond.

Today, the Brooklyn DA's office announced that Fabian Henderson, who allegedly threw a 1-year-old dog six stories off a Brooklyn roof, was indicted. The charges are "Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree and Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals. If convicted, he could face up to two years in prison."

Scott McGann, the man who allegedly brought a fake bomb (made of batteries and wires) to Laguardia Airport last Saturday and caused a lot of chaos, was indicted on charges of placing a false bomb and making a terrorist threat. He is currently being held at the psych ward at Bellevue, but the Daily News reports, "He will be arraigned Aug. 18 if he's found mentally competent. His family says he suffers from catatonic schizophrenia."

[UPDATE BELOW] Would you let this man drive your train? Sure, why not—as long as he knows how to drive, which this man most certainly does not. Bill Kutsch, a court stenographer in Manhattan and a lifelong resident of Setauket, Long Island, turned himself in to Nassau County police today to face a felony charge of reckless endangerment for allegedly operating a westbound LIRR train on July 2nd. You'll recall that a witness blew the whistle on Kutsch's joyride after he allegedly operated the double-decker diesel train as it traveled 25 miles from Hicksville to Hunters Point Avenue in Queens.

With former Giants star Plaxico Burress indicted on gun charges, his lawyer Benjamin Brafman said, "Although disappointed, we are not surprised, as the facts of this case have not been in dispute since the date of the incident. When you have the mayor and the district attorney both publicly demanding a maximum prison sentence, it was perhaps too much to hope for the grand jury to conduct a sympathetic review of the unique facts of this sad case."

Eight months after accidentally shooting himself in the leg (with his own gun) at a Manhattan nightclub, Plaxico Burress is going to testify in front of a grand jury tomorrow. According to the Post, his "attorney, Ben Brafman, hopes that his client can convince the grand jury assembled in Manhattan Supreme Court to forgo an indictment." Brafman said, "Mr. Burress is going to ... tell the truth about what happened that night... He's [also] going to ask [the grand jury] to believe that this unfortunate incident should not be used to ruin his life." The Manhattan DA's office, which wants the former Giants player in to go to jail, is also going to seek charges against Burress's teammate Antonio Pierce, because Pierce took Burress's unlicensed gun back to Burress's NJ home. Giants co-owner John Mara called charges against Pierce "unwarranted."

Remember when State Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) was charged with allegedly assaulting his girlfriend so badly that she had a black eye and stitches? That was last December, and the next month, the State Senate stripped him of the extra money he received for chairing the Consumer Protection Committee and of the chairmanship itself. Monserrate was later indicted on felony assault charges (also maintaining his innocence), but that doesn't matter to the State Senate: The Daily News reports that his chairmanship and $12,500/year chairman's stipend was "quietly reinstated...State Senate sources say the check was cut after Monserrate was secretly reappointed to his position as chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee. Sources said the move to reinstate him was likely part of the deal to bring the Queens Democrat back into the fold after he sided with Republicans in the June 8 coup that paralyzed the Senate for a month." Excuse us—we need to take a shower.

Two former aides of City Councilman Kendall Stewart will plead guilty to fraud charges related to embezzling nearly $200,000 of Council funds. Asquith Reid, Stewart's former chief of staff, and Joycinth Anderson, a former staffer, were indicted after an investigation revealed that money, which Stewart directed to three community groups (controlled by Reid and Anderson), was being used for cash or wired to relatives; the scheme was discovered during a probe of the Council's slush fund practices. Councilman Stewart (pictured) told the Times, "I hope they will not be serving any time. With all honesty, I don’t think they have done anything wrong. I think they are being punished for not keeping correct paperwork." But Jumaane Williams, who is challenging Stewart for his Council seat, said Stewart should resign, "At the worst, Mr. Stewart had to have been complicit and known what was going on. At the minimum, he signed off on things without reading it and wasn’t paying attention to what was going on in his office. Either one is very bad."

Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, who was indicted on fraud charges for basically selling his clout in Albany for $1 million, has resigned his seat in the 38th District in Queens. The Daily News reports that he will probably plead guilty to charges as early as tomorrow. Seminerio apparently decided to cut out the middle man after learning that people he did favors for were raking in cash; he said on a recording,"I was doing favors for these sons-of-bitches there, you know, they were, they were making thousands. 'Screw you, from now on, you know, I'm a consultant.'" had set up a shell company to funnel his "consulting" fees through. Seminerio, who served in the Assembly for 30 years, told PolitickerNY's Azi Paybarah in 2007, "The only thing that ever changes in Albany are the faces. The system stays intact." As for a successor, it could be a "free-for-all."

Bernard Kerik, BFF of Rudy Giuliani and former NYPD commissioner, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington D.C. The indictment relates to statements he made while being vetted to head the Department of Homeland Security in 2004—prosecutors say he was lying while Kerik's lawyer says he's being "overzealously" pursued. Kerik is accused of numerous misdoings—such as not claiming more than $500,000 in income on his tax returns, taking money from a contractor who had been angling for a city contract, taking a free Upper East Side apartment from a developer, claiming $80,000 in charitable deductions he never made—and will be tried in NY for those. Kerik's lawyer told WCBS 2, "Mr. Kerik looks forward to finally clearing his name of these corruption charges at his federal trial in New York set for October...However many trials it takes, Mr. Kerik will vigorously defend himself against these unfounded accusations and is confident that he will be completely vindicated." In 2007, Giuliani called hiring Kerik "a mistake."

Yesterday, State Senator Hiram Monserrate told reporters, "Sen. Monserrate is innocent, and I will not be resigning, thank you," after news that he was indicted on felony assault charges for allegedly hitting his girlfriend with a broken glass. However, Monserrate (D-Queens), who was sworn in as State Senator earlier this year, was suspended from chairing the Consumer Affairs Committee.

Fraudulent investor Bernard Madoff appears to be ready to enter a guilty plea, as he has just waived his indictment (meaning he's waiving the right to have a grand jury to review the charges). The Law Blog reports, "The waiver could presage a plea deal for Madoff. Often, prior to a plea, a defendant will waive his or her right to a grand-jury indictment. In such a case, the prosecutors’ 'charging document' — the document which lays out the case against the defendant — is called an 'information.'" (This morning, the U.S. Attorney's Office said it would file an "information".)

It was no Airbus A320 landing in the Hudson River, but the sight of a private plane, which had just taken off from Teterboro Airport, Route 46 in NJ and then crashing into a warehouse was definitely something else four years ago. Now, the Star-Ledger reports the U.S. Attorney's office has charged a charter company with "misrepresenting itself to customers as a certified charter operation." The feds say Platinum Jet Management "falsified flight records and routinely overloaded planes with fuel at airports where it was cheaper to top-off the tanks," and assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra said, "It is astounding -- and criminal -- that owners and operators of jet aircraft would repeatedly engage in such a dangerous game with passengers and airplanes loaded to the brim with jet fuel. What this indictment alleges is an anything-goes attitude by the defendants to get their planes in the air and maximize profits without regard to passenger safety or compliance with basic regulations."

Former State Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno was indicted on 8 counts yesterday for allegedly taking in $3.2 million in "consulting fees" that were actually payments from various parties who wanted the once powerful legislator's influence. Bruno, who spent 32 years in the State Senate, 13 of them as Majority Leader, said the FBI had conducted "a three-year fishing expedition that smells really, really bad and it really stinks," and vowed, "After being hounded for three years, I am being indicted on a prosecutor’s sleight of hand. I’ve been a fighter. And I don’t plan on changing now.”

We guess a federal grand jury didn't think there was enough excitement in Albany today, as one indicted former State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno for mail and wire fraud. Bruno had been under investigation by the FBI for years, and the Times Union writes, "Today's indictment marks the culmination of a three-year FBI investigation into the shadowy public and private dealings of the Brunswick Republican who rose through the ranks of state government and became one of the Capital Region's most iconic political leaders." Bruno spent 32 years in the Senate, 13 of them as Majority Leader, the investigation centered on his dealings with land, racehorses and labor unions.

The man in charge of rigging the crane that collapsed last March at East 51st Street and killed 7 people turned himself in today to face manslaughter charges. William Rapetti, 48, was also charged with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and second-degree assault; his lawyer told the NY Times, "He did nothing wrong, and operated at that site in a way that is beyond reproach." However, investigators believe that Rapetti was negligent with his rigging practices, using only four nylon slings, instead of the eight recommended by the crane manufacturer, to brace the crane to the building site (and one apparently failed because it was worn) while hoisting another crane component. Rapetti's lawyer added that his client "agreed to offer his full assistance and expertise in helping to determine the actual cause or causes of the crane collapse that day."

Former police commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded not guilty to additional charges at his arraignment in federal court yesterday. The Daily News reports the new charges accuse him of "falsifying income tax records and not declaring a BMW luxury car he got as payment for consulting services." Kerik was previously indicted on 16 other charges, including conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, tax fraud and making false statements (to the Department of Homeland Security), last year. Kerik had requested his DHS-related trial be moved from Washington D.C. to White Plains, but White Plains Federal Court Judge Stephen Robinson shot that down for now. Kerik is due back in court in February.

Whether or not a jury finds NYPD officer Richard Kern guilty of sodomizing tattoo artist Michael Mineo with a baton after he resisted arrest in the Prospect Park subway station in October, the incident could cost tax payers as much as $200 million. Aside from the criminal case being prosecuted against Kern and two other officers, Mineo is pursuing compensation for his injuries in civil court, where his lawyers have filed a notice of claim seeking $200 million in damages from the city, the NYPD, and the officers involved. In an exclusive, NY1 reports that officials are currently evaluating the legal papers... and wondering how they're going to come up with that kind of money.

As expected, NYPD officer Patrick Pogan, the rookie cop caught on video slamming a cyclist to the curb in a seemingly unprovoked assault during a July Critical Mass ride, turned himself in this morning. The grand jury indictment was then unsealed at State Supreme Court in Manhattan, and, according to NY1, Pogan was arraigned on a misdemeanor assault charge and a felony charge of filing a false report. (After arresting cyclist Christopher Long that night, Pogan accused Long of attempting assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, contending that Long rode his bike straight into him, knocking them both down. Those charges against Long were later dropped.)

     

Here's a lede you don't see every day, courtesy the NY Times: "A New York City patrolman used his baton to sodomize a man in a subway station, and two complicit colleagues helped him cover it up, the Brooklyn district attorney charged on Tuesday as he unsealed indictments against three police officers. Using graphic detail, the district attorney described an attack that he said left the man, Michael Mineo, with a gashed anus and blood on his hands." (We'll miss you when you're gone, paper of record.)

Early this morning, the three police officers facing charges related to allegations that they beat and sodomized a man on a subway platform turned themselves in to the Brooklyn DA's office. The three will be arraigned this afternoon. DA Charles Hynes detailed the indictments against the cops: Police Officer Richard Kern was indicted on charges including "aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree, assault in the first degree, and hindering an investigation" while "Andrew Morales and Alex Cruz were also charged with hindering the investigation."

It turns out that DNA evidence helped a grand jury decide to indict three officers accused of beating and sodomizing a Brooklyn man. The Post reports that "tests confirmed" that DNA from accuser Michael Mineo (pictured) "was found on a piece of [Officer Richard] Kern's equipment used in the alleged assault." The indictment will be unsealed tomorrow; it's said that Kern will face charges of aggravated sexual assault, while two other officers will be indicted on lesser charges. Legal experts tell the NY Times the case against the cops "will hinge on two key elements: the extent and nature of the man’s injuries and the intent of the officers who might have caused them." But, referring to how the NYPD handled the accusation (by way of denial), the Reverend Al Sharpton said, "The internal affairs department of the New York City Police Department repeatedly said that ... [Mineo's] charges were groundless. Clearly police cannot police themselves."

Lawyers for Bernard Kerik, the disgraced and indicted former NYPD commissioner, demand that feds explain how they got his former lawyer to rat him out. The Post reports a "sweeping, pre-trial motion" says that Joseph Tacopina told the governments things Kerik told him "in confidence." However, Tacopina claims nothing he told the feds was in client-lawyer protected conversation. Kerik also complained that he's being targeted for not paying taxes on his nanny while other high-profile people were accused of the same thing and never paid up. And regarding charges related to "making false statements," Kerik's lawyers say the government's questions--when being vetted for the Homeland Security top spot--were too vague, so not telling them about his links with mob isn't really lying.

Queens City Councilman Dennis Gallagher, whose office was raided last July after rape allegations and was indicted by a grand jury in August, is smiling - for now. A judge dismissed the indictment, believing the defense's claim that the "grand jury process was compromised." The jurors had complained the prosecutors were trying to make Gallagher look "foolish."

The off-duty police officer who fatally shot an unarmed Bronx man earlier this year was indicted on manslaughter charges. The indictment will be unsealed today, and police officer Raphael Lora will be arraigned. Manslaughter has a maximum penalty of 25 years. On a May night, Lora ran outside of his home when a minivan, driving the wrong way on the street, crashed into a car on the street. Lora chased the minivan, which was...

Anthony Marshall, the son of the late Brooke Astor, might have chosen a different lawyer if he suspected that he'd be eventually accused of looting his mother's estate. Or perhaps Francis X. Morrissey was the perfect man for the job. Papers are reporting today that Marshall's lawyer has a long history of profiting from soon-to-be-deceased clients. He was in court yesterday, arriving handcuffed, but leaving free on bail.It would seem to be the darkest moment...

Anthony Marshall, the only son of New York society legend Brooke Astor, pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of criminal activity related to the handling of his mother's finances. The 83-year-old former Marine spoke in court once (to utter "not guilty") and, after his bond was approved, left the courthouse using a cane. He also apparently cried. Among the accusations the Manhattan DA's office made against Marshall and his former lawyer Francis Morrissey (a PDF...