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New York Attorney General

Trump Moves To Fire Virginia US Attorney For Not Charging NY AG Letitia James: Reports Trump Moves To Fire Virginia US Attorney For Not Charging NY AG Letitia James: Reports
Trump Moves To Fire Virginia US Attorney For Not Charging NY AG Letitia James: Reports President Donald Trump reportedly wants to oust Erik Siebert, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, after he failed to charge New York Attorney General Letitia James with mortgage fraud. Trump said on Friday that he supports removing Siebert from his position after being asked about the probe into James' Virginia home. Siebert's office had been investigating mortgage fraud allegations against James brought up by the administration regarding her home in Virginia. Trump nominated Siebert for his position earlier this year. “Yeah, I want him out, yeah,” Trump said in response…
NY Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values NY Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values
NY Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values A New York appellate court struck down the half-billion-dollar penalty imposed on President Donald Trump and his company for lying about his wealth and inflating property values. The state supreme court's Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, overturned the roughly $527 million fine known as "disgorgement" on Thursday, Aug. 21. The appellate court justices were split on whether New York Attorney General Letitia James proved The Trump Organization committed fraud, but the majority said the fine was "excessive" and unconstitutional. James can appeal the decision to New…
From 'Party' To Problem: Bad Bunny Fans Warned Of Fake Ticket Scams From 'Party' To Problem: Bad Bunny Fans Warned Of Fake Ticket Scams
From 'Party' To Problem: Bad Bunny Fans Warned Of Fake Ticket Scams Fans planning to see Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico are being urged to watch out for fake tickets after some concertgoers spent thousands to attend—only to be turned away at the door. In a warning issued Tuesday, Aug. 12, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office said it received complaints from New Yorkers who bought tickets to see the Puerto Rican superstar, then traveled to San Juan only to be told at the venue their tickets were invalid.  The concerts run through Sept. 14, 2025. “Bad Bunny is a musical icon in New York, and scammers are taking advantage of his popularity to sell f…
DOJ Probing NY Attorney General’s Office Over Trump, NRA Lawsuits: Report DOJ Probing NY Attorney General’s Office Over Trump, NRA Lawsuits: Report
DOJ Probing NY Attorney General’s Office Over Trump, NRA Lawsuits: Report Federal prosecutors are investigating whether New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office violated the legal rights of President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association through civil lawsuits, NBC News reports. The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York is leading the probe, which is in its early stages, according to the outlet. A spokesperson for James’ office issued the following statement: “Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American. We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the Nation…
$13M Medicaid Scam: NY Transport Companies Stole Millions In Taxpayer Dollars, AG Says $13M Medicaid Scam: NY Transport Companies Stole Millions In Taxpayer Dollars, AG Says
$13M Medicaid Scam: NY Transport Companies Stole Millions In Taxpayer Dollars, AG Says Several New York medical transport companies, including some in the Hudson Valley and New York’s Capital Region, are being forced to pay back millions of dollars after a sweeping Medicaid fraud investigation by the state, officials announced.   The enforcement effort, revealed Monday, June 30, targeted 25 companies across the state, including businesses in Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Columbia, Albany, and Saratoga counties. Sixteen companies have agreed to repay over $13 million in stolen Medicaid funds, and seven others are now facing lawsuits, New York Attorney General Letitia…
Business Owner Gets $100K Penalty For Illegal Dumping Near Ten Mile River In Dover Plains: AG Business Owner Gets $100K Penalty For Illegal Dumping Near Ten Mile River In Dover Plains: AG
Business Owner Gets $100K Penalty For Illegal Dumping Near Ten Mile River In Dover Plains: AG A former Bronx business owner who illegally dumped waste in sensitive Dutchess County wetlands is being forced to clean up the mess — and pay a steep penalty, officials announced.  New York Attorney General Letitia James said on Wednesday, June 25, that Salvatore Cascino and his company, Ten Mile River, LLC, will pay $100,000 and face a court order to clean up the environmental damage caused by years of unlawful dumping on property along the Ten Mile River in Dutchess County at 42 Midfield Ln. in Dover Plains.  If Cascino fails to comply with the cleanup schedule, he will owe an a…
Former NYPD Officer Sentenced 100 MPH Drunk Driving Haverstraw Crash That Killed Husband Former NYPD Officer Sentenced 100 MPH Drunk Driving Haverstraw Crash That Killed Husband
Former Nypd Officer Sentenced 100 MPH Drunk Driving Haverstraw Crash That Killed Husband A former NYPD officer from the Hudson Valley has been sentenced after pleading guilty to causing the crash that killed her husband while she was driving drunk at over 100 miles per hour in Rockland County. Bernadine Thomas, 36, of Maybrook in Orange County, was sentenced to five years of probation for criminally negligent homicide after causing the February 2023 crash that claimed the life of her husband, Chevy Thomas, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Thursday, May 29.  The sentencing follows Thomas’s February 3 guilty plea in Rockland County Court before Judge Kevi…
Car Wash Discriminated Against Jewish Customers Before Passover In Spring Valley, NY AG Says Car Wash Discriminated Against Jewish Customers Before Passover In Spring Valley, NY AG Says
Car Wash Discriminated Against Jewish Customers Before Passover In Spring Valley, NY AG Says A Rockland County car wash has been ordered to end a discriminatory "Passover Special" scam that allegedly charged Jewish customers more than three times the standard price for services, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.  The investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Super 4 Seasons, a car wash business located in Spring Valley at 68 Eeast Route 59, promoted inflated pricing in the weeks leading up to Passover, a Jewish holiday that involves extensive cleaning, including the removal of leavened products—or "chametz"—from homes and vehicles, Ja…
Police Crash Killing Father Of Twins In Troy Does Not Warrant Criminal Charges, AG Finds Police Crash Killing Father Of Twins In Troy Does Not Warrant Criminal Charges, AG Finds
Police Crash Killing Father Of Twins In Troy Does Not Warrant Criminal Charges, AG Finds A police officer in upstate New York will not face criminal charges after hitting and killing a new father with his patrol car. A year-long investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge Troy Police Department officer Justin Byrnes in the death of Sabeh Alalkawi, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday, Feb. 10. Byrnes was responding to a domestic disturbance call in Troy shortly after midnight on Feb. 22, 2023 when he approached the intersection of Hoosick and 15th streets with lights and sirens activated, Troy Police said. As he approached a red …
No Charges for Troopers In Fatal Shooting Of Armed Man In Ramapo: AG No Charges for Troopers In Fatal Shooting Of Armed Man In Ramapo: AG
No Charges for Troopers In Fatal Shooting Of Armed Man In Ramapo: AG A year-long investigation into the police shooting death of a man in Rockland County has concluded with no charges, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.  A report on the investigation into the death of Rakim Tillery following a traffic stop on the New York State Thruway in Ramapo in January 2024 was released by the AG's Office of Special Investigation on Tuesday, Feb. 4.  According to the report, Tillery, who had been linked to an earlier incident in Albany, was armed and fired at troopers on Jan. 3, 2024, as they approached his vehicle during the stop. One…
Former NYPD Officer Admits Role In Husband's Death After Driving Over 100 MPH In Haverstraw Former NYPD Officer Admits Role In Husband's Death After Driving Over 100 MPH In Haverstraw
Former Nypd Officer Admits Role In Husband's Death After Driving Over 100 MPH In Haverstraw A former New York City police officer from the Hudson Valley has pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide after driving drunk at over 100 mph and causing the crash that killed her husband in Rockland County, authorities announced.  Bernadine Thomas, age 36, of Maybrook in Orange County, entered the guilty plea on Monday, Feb. 3 before Rockland County Court Judge Kevin Russo, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.  Thomas admitted to driving with a blood alcohol content of .10 while reaching speeds of up to 109 mph on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Havers…
Massive Drug Trafficking Network Dismantled In Poughkeepsie, 7 Arrested Massive Drug Trafficking Network Dismantled In Poughkeepsie, 7 Arrested
Massive Drug Trafficking Network Dismantled In Poughkeepsie, 7 Arrested A major drug trafficking network responsible for distributing cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl throughout the Hudson Valley has been dismantled, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced. Seven individuals, including network leaders, were busted Friday, Jan. 10, following a yearlong investigation led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit.  Authorities seized over 10,500 fentanyl-laced pills worth $75,000, more than eight kilograms of cocaine valued at $200,000, three firearms, in…
$4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five In Orange, Saratoga Counties Plead Guilty, NY AG Says $4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five In Orange, Saratoga Counties Plead Guilty, NY AG Says
$4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five In Orange, Saratoga Counties Plead Guilty, NY AG Says Five Hudson Valley and Capital Region residents and seven transportation companies have admitted to stealing millions from Medicaid. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday, Dec. 5, that five have pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4.4 million from New York’s Medicaid program through fake billing, illegal kickbacks, and engaging in money laundering and other fraudulent schemes to conceal their crimes.  Muhammad Rizwan Khan, 38, Muhammad Usman Khan, 40, and Farhan Khan, 29, all of Orange County, and their related companies pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Or…
Former Hempstead Co-Op Prez Dodges Prison After Embezzling $26K Former Hempstead Co-Op Prez Dodges Prison After Embezzling $26K
Former Hempstead Co-Op Prez Dodges Prison After Embezzling $26K The former president of a Long Island co-op formally confessed to embezzling tens of thousands of dollars. Juan Alayo, age 72, of East Meadow, pleaded guilty to grand larceny and related charges on Friday, Nov. 15. New York Attorney General Letitia James said Alayo embezzled more than $26,700 between 2016 and 2023, during his tenure as president of the Marlboro Owners Corporation cooperative in Hempstead. An investigation found that he routinely wrote checks to himself and his company, A&J, that were neither discussed nor approved by the co-op board. He concealed his thefts by falsifyi…
Cocaine-Fentanyl Trafficking Operation Busted In Capital Region Cocaine-Fentanyl Trafficking Operation Busted In Capital Region
Cocaine-Fentanyl Trafficking Operation Busted In Capital Region A major cocaine and fentanyl operation of 21 individuals who were charged with 222 crimes was busted following a year-long investigation in the Capital Region. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the "takedown" occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in New York City and Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties. According to James, the operation was responsible for selling large quantities of powder and crack cocaine, as well as fentanyl and heroin.  The investigation led to the recovery of more than 4.5 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of approximately $450…
Charges Reinstated Against Trooper For Murder Of Girl In Kingston Crash Charges Reinstated Against Trooper For Murder Of Girl In Kingston Crash
Charges Reinstated Against Trooper For Murder Of Girl In Kingston Crash A state appellate panel has reinstated a murder charge against a former New York State Police trooper who allegedly rammed a vehicle twice at 130 miles per hour during a traffic stop, killing an 11-year-old girl. The incident occurred in Ulster County on I-87 in Kingston on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, around 11:30 p.m. In a statement released by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, Sept. 19, James said the charges of murder, depraved indifference murder, and reckless endangerment had been reinstated against former Trooper Christopher Baldner in connection with the death of 11-ye…
NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers
NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers Voters in New York are being warned about scammers who are trying to confuse them ahead of the state’s primary elections. The New York State Board of Elections has received reports from voters across the state who have received unsolicited text messages from an outside group pushing incorrect polling place information. “The State Board would like to remind voters that the best place to get information about elections and voting is directly from the New York State Board of Elections and the County Boards of Elections,” the agency said in a press release Monday, June 24. “Voters are enc…
Westchester Native, Ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner Visits NY In Support Of Trans Athletes Ban Westchester Native, Ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner Visits NY In Support Of Trans Athletes Ban
Westchester Native, Ex-Olympian Caitlyn Jenner Visits NY In Support Of Trans Athletes Ban Caitlyn Jenner, a former Olympian and media personality, paid a visit to Long Island to publicly back a recent executive order banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports. On Monday, March 18, the former Olympian, who came out as a trans woman in 2015, held a press conference alongside Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in support of his polarizing transgender athlete ban. The executive order, which went into effect on Thursday, Feb. 22, prohibits the Nassau County Parks & Recreation Department from issuing permits to female teams that include transgender women, …
NY Doctor Forced Invasive, Unnecessary Tests On Patients, Attorney General Claims NY Doctor Forced Invasive, Unnecessary Tests On Patients, Attorney General Claims
NY Doctor Forced Invasive, Unnecessary Tests On Patients, Attorney General Claims A New York doctor has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a kickback scheme that involved him defrauding Medicaid and giving patients unnecessary tests, officials announced. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday, Nov. 22 the indictment of Long Island resident Payam Toobian, M.D., alongside his company, America’s Imaging Center, Inc., for over 10 years of alleged Medicaid fraud. Through his corporation, Toobian, age 51, of King's Point, ran Empire’s Imaging, a diagnostic radiology center based in Queens. From January 2006 to August 2017, the AG’s Office …
Uber, Lyft To Pay Historic $328M Settlement For 'Cheating' NY Drivers Out Of Wages, Benefits Uber, Lyft To Pay Historic $328M Settlement For 'Cheating' NY Drivers Out Of Wages, Benefits
Uber, Lyft To Pay Historic $328M Settlement For 'Cheating' NY Drivers Out Of Wages, Benefits In a major victory for rideshare drivers, Uber and Lyft have agreed to a historic, multi-million dollar settlement after wrongly withholding wages from New York drivers. The companies will pay a combined $328 million in backpay to thousands of current and former drivers as part of twin settlements announced by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, Nov. 2. It comes after an investigation found that Uber and Lyft withheld hundreds of millions of dollars from drivers and kept them from receiving benefits available under New York labor laws, according to James. Specifically, Ub…
Police Shoot, Kill Sword-Wielding Man Inside Long Island Home Police Shoot, Kill Sword-Wielding Man Inside Long Island Home
Police Shoot, Kill Sword-Wielding Man Inside Long Island Home Police shot and killed a 54-year-old man inside a Long Island home after he allegedly charged at them with a sword. See updated story here: Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting Of Elite Fencer At Elwood Home Under Investigation By NY AG Officers responded to an Elwood home on Mander Lane at around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, after a neighbor called 911 for a man acting violently, according to Suffolk County Police. When they arrived, a resident of the home, Alan Weber, refused to come outside and was screaming and breaking property in the home, police said. Officers then made their way …
Storm Price Gouging: Consumers Warned To Watch For Rising Expenses In NY Amid Massive Rainstorm Storm Price Gouging: Consumers Warned To Watch For Rising Expenses In NY Amid Massive Rainstorm
Storm Price Gouging: Consumers Warned To Watch For Rising Expenses In NY Amid Massive Rainstorm Officials are urging New Yorkers to keep an eye out for stores and services that may be using the rainstorm to charge extra for essential goods. On Friday, Sept. 29, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning to consumers against price gouging amidst the ongoing state of emergency caused by rainstorms and flooding across Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and New York City. Related: State Of Emergency: 'Extreme Weather Event' Threatening Areas In NY, Hochul Says Price gauging can affect anything from essential goods — such as food, gas, and batteries — to services like …
Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Yonkers: AG Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Yonkers: AG
Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Yonkers: AG A fraudulent immigrant assistance service provider based in Westchester has agreed to pay restitution to several victims whom she misled and even threatened in some cases, officials said.  Jacquelin Mercado, an immigrant assistance service provider based in Yonkers, has entered into an agreement with the Office of the New York Attorney General after she was found to be posing as an attorney and illegally offering legal advice to customers, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday, Aug. 23.  According to the Attorney General's Office, Mercado's role …
Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case
Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case A New York jury has found former President Donald Trump’s company guilty of all charges in a tax fraud scheme that prosecutors said spanned more than a decade. Jurors deliberated for just over a day before finding the Trump Organization guilty on 17 counts, including criminal tax fraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records, in State Supreme Court in Manhattan Tuesday, Dec. 6. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the scheme was orchestrated by “high managerial agents”, including chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg and controller Jeffrey McConney. BREAKING: For the …
Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law
Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law A federal judge has temporarily blocked a New York law that makes it harder for people to legally carry concealed guns. In his ruling Thursday, Oct. 1, US District Judge Glenn Suddaby in the Northern District of New York allowed a lawsuit from the advocacy group, Gun Owners of America, to move forward. The group claims that the new law is just as unconstitutional as one that was overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2022. Previous Report: Want A Gun In NY? Be Ready To Share Your Social Media Accounts Under New Law Dubbed the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, the law requires license a…
NY AG Suing Donald Trump, 3 Of His Children For Financial Fraud NY AG Suing Donald Trump, 3 Of His Children For Financial Fraud
NY AG Suing Donald Trump, 3 Of His Children For Financial Fraud New York's Attorney General announced that she has filed a $250 million civil lawsuit against Donald Trump and three of his adult children for financial fraud. The AG, Letitia James, said in a press conference in New York City just before noontime on Wednesday, Sept. 21 that Trump "repeatedly and persistently" misstated the value of assets. "The complaint demonstrates Donald Trump inflated his net worth by billions of dollars," said James, who also named Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump in the suit.  The 222-page complaint details 23 examples of inflating asset…
Trump Takes The Fifth In New York AG Deposition Examining Company's Finances Trump Takes The Fifth In New York AG Deposition Examining Company's Finances
Trump Takes The Fifth In New York AG Deposition Examining Company's Finances Donald Trump says he will not answer questions in a civil investigation of his business practices in New York. The former president invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a deposition on Wednesday morning, Aug. 10 at the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James. The move comes just two days after the FBI conducted a search at Trump's Mar-A-Lago compound in Palm Beach, Florida. The search was reportedly connected to classified documents that may have been taken from the White House to the compound instead of being turned over to the National Archive…
Bodybuilder Admits To Getting $200K In Disability Pay While Training For Events, NY AG Says Bodybuilder Admits To Getting $200K In Disability Pay While Training For Events, NY AG Says
Bodybuilder Admits To Getting $200K In Disability Pay While Training For Events, NY AG Says A bodybuilder from New York who fraudulently collected disability benefits was busted after he was caught lifting weights on his wife’s Instagram account. Anthony Ragusa, age 52, formerly of Long Island, admitted to illegally collecting more than $200,000 in benefits from the Social Security Administration, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James. He pleaded guilty in Suffolk County Court Tuesday, June 14, to one count of second-degree grand larceny, a felony. Ragusa first applied for disability benefits in 2013 after claiming that a fall at work had left him so injured he co…
Federal Judge Dismisses Donald Trump’s Lawsuit Against NY AG Federal Judge Dismisses Donald Trump’s Lawsuit Against NY AG
Federal Judge Dismisses Donald Trump’s Lawsuit Against NY AG A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump and his Organization seeking to stop New York Attorney General Letitia James’ probe into his business practices. In US District Court in the Northern District of New York, Judge Brenda Sannes rejected the former president’s allegation that the AG targeted him for political gain, permitting her two-year investigation to continue. Earlier story - Trump Loses Appeal, Must Testify Under Oath In New York's Probe Of Business Practices Sannes’ ruling found that there was no evidence to support the theory that James, a …
COVID-19: AG Recovers $40K For Couples Who Had Wedding Canceled In Hudson Valley COVID-19: AG Recovers $40K For Couples Who Had Wedding Canceled In Hudson Valley
Covid-19: AG Recovers $40K For Couples Who Had Wedding Canceled In Hudson Valley Tens of thousands of dollars were recovered by New York Attorney General Letitia James for couples who had their weddings canceled at a Hudson Valley country club during the pandemic. James announced on Monday, March 21 that her office has secured more than $40,000 for New Yorkers who had their weddings canceled due to COVID-19 mandates and shutdowns at the Orange County venue Falkirk Estate and Country Club in Central Valley. According to James, couples reported that Falkirk refused to refund them their deposits when their weddings were canceled due to pandemic restrictions on large gather…
Judge Upholds Order Banning Nassau County Pet Stores From Buying, Adopting New Puppies Judge Upholds Order Banning Nassau County Pet Stores From Buying, Adopting New Puppies
Judge Upholds Order Banning Nassau County Pet Stores From Buying, Adopting New Puppies A judge upheld New York Attorney General Letitia James’ order barring a Long Island pet store from purchasing or adopting puppies after selling mistreated and sick pets to unwitting customers. In December 2021, James announced that her office secured a court order banning Shake A Paw stores in Hicksville and Lynbrook in Nassau County from purchasing or adopting new puppies. Earlier story - Long Island Pet Stores Banned From Purchasing, Adopting New Puppies, NY AG Says According to investigators, Shake A Paw: Falsely advertised sick pets as healthy Fabricated health certificates; Failed…