Dorothy Ogundu Convicted Of Using Her Non-Profit To Steal More Than $300K In City, State And Federal Grant Funds

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and New York City Department of Investigation (NYC DOI) Commissioner Mark Peters today announced the conviction of a nonprofit executive accused of pocketing taxpayer dollars intended for public services and capital improvements in New York City. A multi-agency joint investigation, including NYC DOI and two federal agencies, exposed the theft of approximately $300,000 in public funds provided by New York State, the New York City Council, and federal earmark grants. A jury convicted Dorothy Ogundu yesterday on 29 counts, including Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, and she faces up to 15 years in prison.

Dorothy N. Ogundu engaged in a scheme to defraud the City of New York, the State of New York and the United States using her not-for-profit corporation, Angeldocs, Inc. Angeldocs received a total of twelve government grants. Ogundu stole a portion of each of the twelve government grants by filing fraudulent requests for reimbursement and making false statements to the government agencies administering the grants. Ogundu used the money she stole from these government grants to pay the mortgage and utilities on a commercial property she owned, make improvements to that property to increase its value, purchase and ship vehicles to Nigeria, and make other purchases for her personal benefit and for the benefit of her for-profit business.

“Today’s conviction sends a clear message: if you use taxpayer funds to line your own pocket, you will face serious consequences,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We will continue to work with Comptroller DiNapoli and our law enforcement partners to use every tool at our disposal to crack down on anyone abusing the public trust.”

“Ms. Ogundu let her publicly-funded clinic gather dust while she stole $300,000 in government grants, buying vehicles to ship to Nigeria,” said State Comptroller Thomas P.DiNapoli. “By teaming up, our joint anti-corruption task force was able to expose her crimes and work to convict her of this shameful thievery.”

DOI Commissioner Mark G. Peters said, “This defendant manipulated a system meant to provide financial support to families struggling with health care costs for her own enrichment. DOI will continue to aggressively investigate evidence that City-funded organizations are misusing public funds and ensure that anyone who abuses their position or compromises public trust is held accountable.”

“In this case the theft of U.S. taxpayer funds through grant fraud is driven by nothing more than greed,” said Scott Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, New York Region. “We look forward to working with the N.Y. Attorney General Office and other federal investigators to bring these criminals to justice.”

“Ms. Ogundu was entrusted to use federal, state, and local funds to provide for the health and well-being of our citizens. The jury’s verdict proves, instead, that she bypassed the rules to siphon taxpayer dollars for her own use. The combined efforts and attention of our state and federal law enforcement partners should send a clear, strong message to our grant recipients that we will not tolerate the misuse of our funds for personal gain, and that those who fail to exercise integrity in connection with our grant programs should expect to meet a costly and unpleasant end,” said Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police have arrested a man for burglarizing residences in Suffolk County since March.

First Precinct Crime Section Officer Micheal Donlon was driving on North Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst on October 22 when he recognized a man from surveillance video of a prior residential burglary. Upon further investigation, Officer Donlon arrested the suspect, Ronald David, at approximately 12:05 p.m.

Suffolk County Police have arrested Ronald David, 47, for burglarizing residences in Suffolk County since March. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Following an investigation by detectives from the First, Third and Fifth Squads, David was charged with a residential burglary at each of the following locations:

• Woodland Drive in East Islip on March 30.
• Lakeview Avenue in Bayport on March 31.
• Butler Street in West Islip on April 1.
• South Ocean Avenue in Islip on April 1.
• South 7th in Lindenhurst on October 13.
• Bermuda Road in West Babylon on October 13.
• Lagoon Place in East Islip on October 19.

Among the items stolen were jewelry, credit cards, cash and electronics.

David, 47, who is undomiciled, was charged with charged with seven counts of Burglary 2nd Degree. He is being held at the First Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on October 24.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Long Island, NY) Harbor Country Day School, a nonprofit independent day school located in St. James’ Head of the Harbor, announced that its kindergarten through eighth grade enrollment has increased 64% inthe past five years.Even with the significant increase in enrollment, Harbor consistently maintains its commitment to low student-to-teacher ratio, which has been and will continue to be a hallmark of the school.

“Of course, we are thrilled to see our enrollment numbers continue to climb every year,” said Harbor Country Day Head of School, John Cissel. “We’ve always known what a unique and extraordinaryeducation our students receive here at Harbor, as have the families whose children have walked our halls. It’s gratifying to know that many new families are also discovering what is so special about Harbor.”

Since Harbor Country Day first opened its doors in 1958 to 38 students, the school has grown from a small local school into one of the area’s premier independent day schools. The nonprofit school draws its students from across Long Island, from as far east as Westhampton to as far west as Flushing,and from Nissequogue on the North Shore to West Islip on the South Shore.

“Over the past several years, we have taken steps to add a number of bold and innovative programs to our curriculum,” added Cissel. “We have a thriving Mandarin program for our students in preschool through eighth grade, which immerses students in the Chinese culture while teaching fluency in the Mandarin language. Our STEAM curriculum continues to flourish, as we have adopted the innovative Singapore Math program for all grades and created additional robotics and programming opportunities for students. And of course, we never lose sight of the ‘fundamentals’ of a solid education. Our reading and writing programs are more robust than they’ve ever been, and we will always look for new ways to challenge our students in those areas.”

Harbor Country Day will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, November 14, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. for those interested in learning more about the school.

About Harbor Country Day School
Founded in 1958 by conscientious parents, Harbor Country Day School is an independent, co-educational day school for children from preschool through 8^th grade situated in St. James’ Village of Head of the Harbor. The school employs a whole-child approach to education, wherein its rigorous curriculum is supported by a broad program in its academic, athletic, advisory, and visual and performing arts departments designed to develop all aspects of each child’s talents and interests. Harbor Country Day School’s summer camp program, Camp Harbor, is among the leading summer camp programs on Long Island. The school’s mission to “cherish childhood, cultivate wonder, and inspire confident learners and leaders” underscores every child’s experience at Harbor Country Day School and ensures that all of its graduates are prepared to lead fulfilling lives filled with wonder, confidence, and many successes.

Harbor Country Day School is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and is accredited by and a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS).  It is a non-sectarian, nonprofit organization under section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees.  For more information, visit www.hcdsny.org.

“No matter how deep the pockets of the polluters, or how many lawsuits they or their government allies file, the Clean Power Plan will prevail, and if we’re going to ensure a safer climate for future generations, it must.” — Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York

(Long Island, NY) The Clean Power Plan was published in the federal register today, beginning the process of cleaning up America’s dirtiest power plants, the leading source of U.S. global warming pollution. The rule’s publication is widely expected to trigger a new wave of polluter-driven attacks on the rule, both in the courts and in Congress.

Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York, issued the following statement in response:

“Global warming is here and its affecting us now. 2015 is almost certain to be the hottest year on record. Extreme storms have caused unusually large floods from South Carolina to Texas. California is still in the middle of a drought that is causing huge losses to agriculture and to the states’ forests. Today North America braces for the landfall of Hurricane Patricia, called the strongest hurricane ever recorded.

“To avoid even more frequent and severe climate impacts like Hurricane Patricia, we need the Clean Power Plan to curb our pollution and help the U.S. lead on an international agreement to stem the climate crisis. These carbon pollution limits are broadly supported by the American people, including health professionals, local government officials, and clean energy businesses. No matter how deep the pockets of the polluters or how many lawsuits they or their government allies file, the Clean Power Plan will prevail, and if we’re going to ensure a safer climate for future generations, it must.”

BACKGROUND

The American public supports placing real limits on global warming pollution by wide, bipartisan margins. Millions of Americans have called for strong climate action. Health professionals support the plan because it will clean our air and save lives. Local elected officials recognize that the rule is important for the safety of their communities.

The solar industry stands ready to help deliver increasingly large amounts of clean electricity. And America is beginning to tap into its offshore wind energy potential, supplementing the massive amount of wind energy we are already capturing, from Washington state to Iowa to Texas. States are making strides every day to reduce the pollution that causes global warming.

(Long Island, NY) Garden City Village Historian John Ellis Kordes will give a lecture in the Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom of the Ruth S. Harley University Center on Sunday November 1 at 3:00 p.m. For his talk, this well-known Garden City historian will cover the early history of aviation in Garden City. He will also cover the first solo transatlantic flight by Charles Lindbergh on which took off from Roosevelt Field on May 20^th, 1927.

It was his love of history and the village where he grew up that encouraged John Ellis Kordes to work with the Village of Garden City’s history since 1989. Mr. Kordes graduated from Garden City High School and Adelphi University. His underlying commitment and outstanding contribution to historical preservation and education in Garden City helped him earn the position as the official Garden City Village Historian in 1996. Since then, he has contributed even more to preserving the history and furthering education in the village.

Garden City Village Historian John Ellis Kordes. Photo Credit: John Ellis Kordes.

Kordes has used his professional skills in photography and his knowledge of local history to capture Garden City’s history in two documentary films, “The Long Island Motor Parkway” and “A.T. Stewart’s Garden City” and share it with a larger audience; the latter is still used as a teaching aid in the schools, helping new generations of Garden City residents understand their history. Apart from documentary-making, he has also made significant contributions in written history; he has penned articles and newspaper columns for local newspapers. He has authored and published two editions of his book “Visions of Garden City,” a gorgeous coffee table book including hundreds of photos and detailed history.

Along with archiving the history of Garden City in documentaries and books, he created the Garden City Heritage Tour Maps for walking tours, created postcards, calendars and a poster featuring the Village of Garden City and often gives historical tours of Garden City’s Cathedral of the Incarnation. He is a popular speaker and conducts lectures and historic bus tours of Garden City and even started an adult education program on Garden City history. For all his contributions, he was recently honored by the Oyster Bay Historical Society during the inaugural reception to salute “Long Island’s Top Advocates for Historic Preservation and Education.”

For further information, please call the Adelphi Cultural Events Hotline at (516) 877-4555.

About Adelphi University
New York’s Adelphi University is a nationally ranked, doctoral research university where students succeed by gaining the skills, knowledge and exposure to thrive as professionals and active citizens in an interconnected and fast-paced global society. Today, nearly 8,000 students from 38 states and 46 countries pursue degrees in person and online through Adelphi’s eight distinguished schools and programs—the College of Arts and Sciences, the Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, the Honors College, the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, the College of Nursing and Public Health and the School of Social Work. Chartered in 1896, Adelphi is known for offering a personalized education—one is which students are mentored by talented and committed faculty members and readily find opportunities to initiate, innovate, explore and understand. With dynamic learning hubs on Long Island, in Manhattan and in the Hudson Valley, Adelphi serves communities, both regionally and globally, through the research and practice of its faculty, the collaborative initiatives undertaken by its centers and programs, the staging of distinguished cultural events and, most essentially, the education of future leaders and informed citizens.

New Yorkers Can Protect Themselves By Following A Few Basic Guidelines

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Broome County District Attorney Gerald Mollen today issued a consumer alert advising consumers how to avoid potential scams that may occur with the onset of colder weather. Many consumers, especially older adults, are not able to shovel snow off sidewalks, driveways and roofs, or make necessary repairs to their homes themselves when a snowstorm hits.

“While responses to storms and other cold weather events are often overwhelmingly positive, a small handful of shady businesses exploit these crises to make a quick buck,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Few things are more reprehensible than exploiting an emergency to prey on your neighbors. Now is the time to plan and prepare for the possibility of cold weather scams.”

“My office has no tolerance for fraud, especially during weather emergencies,” said District Attorney Gerald Mollen. “Before the snow really begins to fall, New Yorkers can take a few precautions to protect themselves from being scammed.”

“Awareness is the most important line of defense against becoming a victim of a scam,” said New York State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo. “I’m urging all Southern Tier residents to be especially vigilant this winter season to make sure they stay safe.”

“Most businesses in this community play by the rules, but unfortunately there always some wiling to prey on others for financial gain,” said Binghamton Mayor Richard C. David. “These basic guidelines can help keep Binghamton residents, and all New Yorkers, safe from scams.”

Consumers should protect themselves when hiring contractors to perform storm-related services by considering the following:

• Shop around. Get at least three estimates from reputable contractors that include specific information about the materials and services to be provided for the job.
• Get it in writing. Insist on a written contract that includes the price and description of the work needed.
• Don’t pay unreasonable advance sums. Negotiate a payment schedule tied to the completion of specific stages of the job. Never pay the full price up front.
• Get references. Check with the Better Business Bureau, banks, suppliers, and neighbors. Always contact references provided to you.
• Know your rights. You have three days to cancel after signing a contract for home improvements. All cancellations must be in writing.

In addition, consumers should investigate the options they have for heating their homes during the cold winter months. Fuel oil and propane prices can vary significantly from supplier to supplier. Prices can also fluctuate dramatically throughout the heating season. Consumers considering entering into fuel oil and propane contracts for the season should make sure they understand all of the terms and conditions in the agreement, including any fees or charges for deliveries, minimum purchase requirements or other conditions.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, you should contact the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds Bureau by calling 1-800-771-7755 or clicking here.

The Office of the Attorney General has a robust record of investigating and prosecuting cold weather scams.

Last month, OAG obtained a consent order and judgment against a contractor for taking thousands of dollars from consumers in five New York counties for seasonal snow removal services that he failed to provide in the 2014-2015 winter season. At least 51 consumers pre-paid the contractor amounts ranging from $150-$400 for snow removal services they did not receive.

The consent order and judgment prohibit the contractor from owning or operating any business in New York State, including snow removal services, that requires receipt of advance payments from consumers, and requires that he pay restitution to victims, as well as civil penalties and costs totaling $4,000 to the State of New York.

In March 2015, OAG announced the filing of two lawsuits and a settlement against Buffalo-area contractors who price-gouged consumers for snow removal services in the aftermath of last November’s blizzard. The settlement, which was reached with a contractor that charged at least double what other competitors were asking for the same snow removal service, delivered restitution to each consumer in the amount they paid in excess of $300, and a fine in the amount of $150 per occurrence.

In September 2013, OAG announced a lawsuit against an unlicensed Westchester heating oil company for allegedly engaging in persistent fraudulent, illegal and deceptive conduct. The company allegedly took pre-payments for heating oil and oil-burner service that were supposed to be provided to consumers throughout the 2012-2013 heating season. However, instead of filling customers’ oil tanks, the company delivered the oil in amounts—sometimes as little as 15 gallons per delivery—which constituted only a small fraction of the oil the customers paid for in advance. The lawsuit seeks more than $80,000 in restitution for over 70 consumers.

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement in response to challenges filed today to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final Clean Power Plan:

“My office is prepared to join with our partners to aggressively defend EPA’s Clean Power Plan – rules that will significantly reduce climate change pollution nationally.  These rules give states the flexibility to choose the best measures to cut pollution, while maintaining electrical reliability and economic growth. These rules have a sound foundation in both science and the law, and build upon strategies New York and other states have used to successfully cut power plant emissions. And these rules are critical for protecting our public health, welfare, and environment today and into the future.”

The final Clean Power Plan was published today in the Federal Register.  In response to a lawsuit filed by West Virginia and other states seeking to stay the unpublished version of the rules in August, Attorney General Schneiderman, issued a joint statement with 15 Attorneys General and the City of New York that the coalition would oppose any challenge or attempt to stay the rules.This same coalition of states and cities, joined by others, anticipate intervening in the case next week.

EPA adopted the Clean Power Plan through a multi-year stakeholder process that drew heavily on successful strategies states have used in cutting power plant emissions while benefiting their economies.  For example, the nine-state Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – of which New York is a partner – has successfully reduced regional carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector by 40 percent from 2005 levels.  The program’s first three years saw a reduction of total energy bills across the nine states by $1.3 billion and added $1.6 billion to the regional economy – creating an estimated 16,000 jobs in the process.

(Long Island, NY) “As part of my series of upcoming senior events, I’m pleased to announce a ‘Brown Bag Medication Review’ program,” said Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau).

Seniors are asked to gather all of their medications (prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and supplements), put them in a ‘brown bag’ (or other container) and bring them to the Plainedge Public Library (1060 Hicksville Road, Massapequa) on November 5^th (between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm). At this event, seniors will sit down with a pharmacist or pharmacy intern, one-on-one, to review those medications.

Upon completion of the review, the senior will be provided with a personal medication record.

Reservations must be made for this event and slots are limited! Please call Senator Hannon’s Community Office at 516-739-1700 to reserve a slot.

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released the following statement on the decision by J. Crew stores to end on-call scheduling:

“After discussion with my office, J. Crew has agreed to end on-call shifts nationwide and to provide one week of advance notice about schedules to employees at all New York store locations. This agreement is the latest in an ongoing inquiry into the practice of on-call scheduling and is the sixth agreement we have reached with a major retailer this year. I commend J. Crew for taking these steps to ensure that employees have schedules that are more predictable. Workers deserve protections that allow them to have a reliable schedule in order to arrange for transportation to work, to accommodate child care needs, and to budget their family finances. Since my office launched an inquiry into on-call scheduling, Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath & Body Works, Gap, and Victoria’s Secret have also agreed to end this practice.”

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who burglarized a Hauppauge fitness center in September.

Suffolk County Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the man who burglarized a Hauppauge fitness center in September. Photo Credit: SCPD.

A man broke the outdoor fence lock and then broke the rear glass window with a rock to gain entry to the fitness center of the Devonshire Apartments, located at 1710 Devonshire Road, on September 9, at approximately 2:10 a.m. Once inside, the man stole a television.

A man broke into the fitness center of the Devonshire Apartments on September 9 and stole a television. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.