Results tagged “investigation”

It was previously reported that the Army psychiatrist who went on a deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood Thursday had been on the FBI's radar over some Internet postings about suicide bombers. Now ABC News has it that Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan had been trying to make contact with people associated with al Qaeda, and U.S. intelligence agencies knew about it months ago, because these al Qaeda suspects were under electronic surveillance. One of these is the former imam of a Virginia mosque who praised Hasan for the shooting on his website (cached).

In what's become an SEC tradition, the government agency decided to reveal details of its botched Bernard Madoff investigations late Friday afternoon. The SEC offered up a jailhouse interview with Madoff; the NY Times reports he "said that the young investigators who pestered him over incidentals like e-mail messages should have just checked basics like his account with Wall Street’s central clearinghouse and his dealings with the firms that were supposedly handling his trades," adding, "If you’re looking at a Ponzi scheme, it’s the first thing you do."

     

The Larimer County Sheriff's Department will investigate the family suspected of falsely claiming that a 6-year-old boy was trapped inside a runaway helium balloon yesterday. Sources tell TMZ that officials have not decided if it's a criminal investigation, but detectives will interview each family member starting tomorrow. (The family's presumably all booked up with interviews today.) The investigation will try to determine whether the parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, filed a false report, perhaps motivated by an insatiable lust for fame—TLC confirms the family did pitch a reality TV show earlier this year.

After a two year study, a commission evaluating the State Liquor Authority has concluded that the SLA is highly dysfunctional. It's no shocker; the SLA has been mired in scandal forever, with investigations into alleged bribery and questionable favors doled out by the Governor to the top commissioners. In May, SLA chairman Daniel Boyle was ousted, weeks after the SLA Harlem office was raided by investigators on orders from the state Inspector General.

The NYPD Hate Crime unit is investigating the latest in a series of incidents wherein Brooklyn sidewalks have been strewn with "Kill Jews" notes. The anti-Semitic notes previously appeared in Boerum Hill and Clinton Hill earlier this month; now they've turned up in Bay Ridge. Yesterday morning, residents along Third Avenue discovered the sidewalk littered with hundreds of two-inch pieces of paper with "Kill Jews" written in black marker.

Amid allegations that his fellow cops helped "cover-up" his intoxication after fatally running over Vionique Valnord Saturday night, the lawyer for officer Andrew Kelly fiercely defended his client, who scored a perfect zero on his blood alcohol test, administered eight hours after the accident. Attorney Arthur Aidala told the Daily News, "To be crystal-clear, Andrew wasn't drunk. Andrew wasn't surprised by his blood-alcohol level. He knows what he did that day. He tried to save that woman. He got her breathing, and at one point, she opened her eyes. He's just sad that she's not breathing today."

Though the NYPD and federal agents say they've "successfully disrupted" an alleged terror plot targeting public transportation in NYC, officials are still uncertain whether more suspects remain to be captured. There's also the question of a bomb factory or an explosives stockpile, which would obviously have been an indispensable part of the plot. Four "anonymous government sources" tell Newsweek that more suspects (perhaps over a dozen) are being sought, and investigators are urgently searching for the explosives. Hopefully, the NYPD will be a tad more discreet from now on.

Please do heed the word "gruesome" before deciding whether to read further. Seriously. Police sources have told the Post that the body of slain Yale graduate student Annie Le was horrifically broken and mangled in order to fit through a wall opening the size of a computer screen. The corpse was found in a utility space in a bathroom wall near the basement lab where Le had been working the day she vanished.

The only thing falling faster than the acorns on the trees these days is government funding for the embattled community organizing group of the same name. After lopsided votes in both the Senate and the House earlier in the week to cut off federal money from ACORN, yesterday Governor Paterson ordered state agencies not to move forward on contracts with the group.

There have been too many headlines penned about crimes against women in the city's clubs. Inside Edition has now gone undercover, placing hidden cameras inside what they dub the "trendiest clubs" here. Their investigation lasted a month, during which time they also surveyed women on their safety. They report back that "42% of women surveyed have felt threatened by men inside or outside a bar or nightclub." The show obtained the below footage taken from Marquee's surveillance camera about five months ago, showing a female's limp body being dragged out of the club by a man, who kidnapped and raped her.

Brooklyn prosecutors expect to meet next week with gotcha "journalists" James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles to view raw hidden-camera footage recorded by the duo at an ACORN office in Brooklyn, where they duped employees of the community organizing group into giving bad advice to Giles, posing as a prostitute with O'Keefe as her pimp. A spokesman for the Brooklyn DA tells the Daily News, "This is a first step, and there are possible criminal charges." As you probably know by now, the heavily edited video has become a rallying cry for drown-government-in-the-bathtub right-wingers, and yesterday the House of Representatives voted 345 to 75 to deny funding for ACORN. The vote came on a provision attached to a student aid bill; on Monday the Senate voted 83 to 7 to deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN. According to the AP, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the latest allegations against ACORN as "horrible," but she still believes the group has many honest employees and stresses that it's up to House-Senate negotiators to determine whether the provision to cut funding remains in the final version of the bill.

The right-wing smear campaign against community organizing group ACORN is having the desired effect; yesterday the Senate voted 83-7 to deny housing and community grant funding to the non-profit organization. The vote—prompted by last week's arrest of ACORN employees in Florida accused of falsifying hundreds of voter applications last year—came as an unflattering secret camera video shot in ACORN's Brooklyn office surfaced. The video shows two ACORN employees advising a young couple, posing as prostitute and pimp, how to falsify documents to get a mortgage and tax breaks for a brothel housing El Salvadoran teens.

The NYPD confirmed that it raided Queens homes as part of a terrorism investigation—and the NYPD and FBI are briefing Congress right now. Apparently they were tracking a terror suspect; Congressman Peter King (R-Long Island) said, "He was being watched and concern grew as he met with a group of individuals in Queens over the weekend. The FBI went to court late last night for an emergency warrant to conduct the raids this morning." WCBS 2 reports that residents "say it was a blitzkrieg at about 2 a.m. at an address on 41st Avenue near 144th Street. The door to apartment 530 cannot be closed because agents had to ram it open. One of the men who lives in the apartment, who says he was not a target of the search, says he's a self-employed antique dealer." The man said, "They looking for some powder, some different things for making bombs and different things," adding he didn't know the roommates. And the Post's sources say, "The suspected terrorist, described as an ethnic Afghani resident of the Midwest in his 20s — who may have previously lived in Queens — had driven to New York City in recent days and visited multiple apartments in Queens over the weekend."

Local, state and federal authorities are looking for 24-year-old Annie Le, a graduate student last seen at a Yale research building in New Haven, Connecticut. While there are reports that her bloody clothes were found above a ceiling tile in the building and her body was even found in the building, FBI special agent Kimberly Mertz said, "We are not in a position today to conclude whether this is a missing persons case or whether criminality is involved... I will categorically say a body has not been found," adding, "Items that could potentially be evidence has been seized," but said they had not yet been associated to the pharmacology doctoral student. Le, whose credit card, purse and cell phone were left in her office a few blocks away, was to be married tomorrow at North Ritz Club in Syosset, but the wedding was canceled; Newsday reports, "Police have said that Le's fiance, Jonathan Widawsky of Huntington, a graduate student in physics at Columbia University, is not considered a suspect and that he is in New Haven cooperating with police." And Yale said reports (from the Post and a Fox affiliate) suggesting a professor was a suspect were "typical Fox News hysterical headline[s]."

Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada's non-profit (but profitable enough for him to have been paid $460,000 in 2007) Soundview Health Network remains a source of questions from state officials. Earlier this summer, the NY State Comptroller's office yanked a $3 million state grant to the clinic because Espada, on the application form, claimed there were no outstanding tax liens, claims or judgments over $15,000... only there were (the Post says it owes about $1 million in taxes now) and now Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office is investigating whether Espada gave false statements about his business's health. The Times Union also mentions the new investigation "is separate from ongoing probes involving Espada's campaign and the Soundview organization... Cuomo's office is looking into whether Espada improperly benefitted in his successful primary election last year by allegedly using Soundview employees and resources for political activities. Questions about Espada's residency and his failure to file complete campaign disclosures are also under investigation."

Oh, Charlie! Rep. Charles Rangel, the powerful Democrat from Harlem who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, has now added "more than $500,000 in previously unreported assets" in an amended 2007 financial report. According to CQ Politics, among the additions are "an account at the Congressional Federal Credit Union worth at least $250,000, an investment account with at least $250,000, land in southern New Jersey and stock in PepsiCo and fast food conglomerate Yum! Brands. None of those investments appeared on the original report, which was filled out by hand and filed in May 2008."

After the son of Bronxchester scofflaw Senator Pedro Espada Jr. resigned from his specially-created $120,000 senate job yesterday, a source close to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo tells the Post the AG is satisfied with the resignation and will not pursue a probe into alleged violations of the state's nepotism laws. Funny how the son of three-term governor Mario Cuomo is reluctant to accuse anyone of nepotism. Meanwhile, Espada "amigo" Ruben Diaz Sr. called on Cuomo to investigate the entire Senate for nepotism and not single out poor misunderstood Espada.

After a two year investigation, the office of the State Inspector General has found a "total agency breakdown" at the commission created by President Eisenhower to loosen the mob's grip on the Port of New York and New Jersey. In a press release [pdf] accompanying his report [pdf], Inspector General Joseph Fisch said, "Instead of ridding the waterfront of corruption, this agency itself was corrupt" and allowed "numerous abuses of authority in hiring, supervision and fiscal oversight." Almost the entire executive staff of the Waterfront Commission has been ousted as a result of the investigation, which uncovered such gems as the licensing of a convicted felon, the misuse of federal Homeland Security funds, and:
• The commission's auditing director, Frank Nastasi, ran a private tax business out of his commission office and accessed pornography on his official computer.
• Then-Acting Chief of Police Kevin McGowan regularly diverted two detectives from law enforcement duties in Brooklyn to guard choice parking spots in lower Manhattan for executive staff.
• The commission didn't conduct background checks on the longshoremen and stevedoring companies that unload ships, creating an important breach in the nation’s security web.

Observing the behavior of some politicians in Albany is like lifting up a rock and watching the cockroaches flip you off. After bringing the already slothful State Senate to a standstill this summer by aligning with Republicans, megalomaniacal scofflaw Pedro Espada Jr. of The Westchester Bronx was wooed back to the Democratic fold and handed the position of majority leader. But naturally the perks didn't stop there; it's now come to light that Espada's son, Pedro G., has been hired by the Senate for the job of "deputy director of intergovernmental relations."

It's been almost a week since the bound corpse of cleaning woman Eridania Rodriguez was found in an air duct at the Rector Street building where she worked, and almost two weeks since the mother of three first disappeared. And though cops have been tailing the building's freight elevator operator, Joseph Pabon of Staten Island, investigators still don't have enough to actually arrest him. This despite the fact that Pabon left early from work the night Rodriguez disappeared and had scratches on his neck, hands and arms, plus bruises on his biceps and the inside of his elbows that looked like fingerprints. Oh, and a hand-shaped bruise on his waist! Last night investigators got a warrant to bring Pabon in for additional fingerprinting, and then they let him go. A DNA test was conducted on Rodriguez, but if the results are in they haven't yet been leaked to the press. Pabon's lawyer tells the Daily News, "My sources say they are having a very difficult time trying to tie him to this crime." Meanwhile, cops and reporters continue to monitor Pabon's every move; last night he went to Popeye's at 9 p.m., in case you were wondering.

More grisly details have emerged from an investigation into the murder of Eridania Rodriguez, a 46-year-old cleaning woman who vanished during her shift at 2 Rector Street Tuesday night and was found dead at the building Saturday morning. After futilely searching a Pennsylvania landfill for her remains, some 100 officers returned to the building Saturday to search the building from top to bottom. The corpse of a woman strongly believed to be Rodriguez was found in an air duct on the 12th floor, which was under construction and had restricted access.

The more you peer under the rock that renegade Democratic Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. operates under, the more you understand why the Senate is so screwed. CBS2, which broke the story about how Espada probably illegally lives outside his Bronx district in fancy Westchester, has admittedly "been on his trail for months," and now they're reporting that he may have violated federal and state campaign finance laws. After not bothering to file campaign finance records for years, as required by law, Espada finally deigned to file some of them on Friday. But CBS2 says the records fail to "report significant amounts of spending, like for five glossy campaign mailings. Experts said mailings like this could cost as much as $20,000 apiece."

If you've been following along with any of the various scandals simmering around Democratic State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr.—whose defection was instrumental in returning control of the Senate to Republicans and put him next in line to be Governor (should tragedy befall David Paterson)—then you get why some people think he's "really an unsavory character," in the words of Baruch College political analyst Doug Muzzio. But we may have figured out the cause of his troubles: multiple personality disorder.

Yesterday, Governor Paterson announced that he will convene a state panel to investigate the "friendly fire" shooting that left an off-duty police officer dead after being fired upon by another cop. Paterson said, "We don't want to see this happen to any police officer of any color ever again. We want to try to put in protocols that prevent the shooting of police officers on or off duty who are trying to apprehend criminals."

An elementary school principal in Harlem has formally apologized for sending a questionnaire to teachers asking them to classify disruptive students by race. But that's not good enough for parents of students at PS 96, which is 71 percent Hispanic and 26 percent black; they're calling for the resignation of Principal Dr. Claudia Moore-Hamilton (who is black). Among other things, the survey asked teachers to identify their problem students as "Black," "Hispanic" or "Other." In an apology letter to parents and faculty, Moore-Hamilton, who's been in charge for one year, acknowledged that her "approach was inflammatory," and the DOE issued a statement agreeing that "the survey was inappropriate." But Fox News reports an investigation is ongoing, and parents say they're fed up after a year filled with fights and students' failed attempts to burn the school down. According to the Post, Assemblyman Adam Powell IV has even chimed in, demanding her removal and citing complaints that she gave children Christmas presents, only to take them back from those on a "naughty" list.

Sources tell NY1 that three witnesses heard the officer who fatally shot an armed, plainclothes off-duty officer In Harlem Thursday night identify himself as NYPD. Those three witnesses include the two other cops who arrived on the scene with officer Andrew who fired and the car break-in suspect that slain Officer Omar Edwards was chasing, Migueal Goitia. According to the Post, Goitia [earlier identified with the last name alias "Santiago"] has been hospitalized several times for unknown reasons since his arrest.

Earlier this morning, around 3:30 a.m., an explosion was reported outside of a building at Third Avenue and 92nd Street. The NYPD is conducting an investigation; according to WCBS 2, "Officials tell CBS 2HD it wasn't a bomb that went off, but an improvised explosive device. The device was planted on a bench outside the Starbucks."

Somewhat unusual: There are delays at the Lincoln Tunnel not due to traffic but because the police are investigating an alleged assault. WABC 7 reports, "Police say a woman claimed she was assaulted, possibly sexually, inside a white Hummer limousine just after 4:30 a.m... Four men reportedly left the scene in the Hummer limousine, and authorities were looking to question them." Therefore, the West 42nd Street's westbound lanes were closed at 10th Avenue, causing delays. WABC 7 also says the woman was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

550 workers who were illegally denied overtime at nine Amish Market gourmet groceries will divvy up nearly $1.5 million as part of a settlement with the state Department of Labor. At a press conference yesterday, Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith detailed the investigation of Amish Market and its related stores: Zeytinia, Zeytinz and Zeytuna. Acting on a tip from union officials, investigators conducted a simultaneous sweep of nine locations throughout the state in June 2007, arriving at the same time to prevent managers from coaching employees or destroying records. The investigation determined that many workers were clocking 45 to 60 hours a week but were not paid time and a half, while new hires often received subminimum wages during a so-called "trial period." Commissioner Smith told reporters, "It’s unfathomable to think that in this day and age—in these frightening economic times—an employer would actually believe it could get away with cheating workers out such an exorbitant amount of their hard earned money."

Kings County Hospital Center was founded 175 years ago, but it didn't become truly infamous until last year when that horrible video surfaced, depicting a woman being left for dead on the floor of the ER waiting room for nearly an hour. Now, after a year-long probe, the Justice Department has documented an appalling pattern of sexual and violent assaults at the psychiatric unit. Read no further if you think One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is hard to stomach.