(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a man who stole lottery tickets from an East Northport store in May.

On May 13, at approximately 8 p.m., a man entered the BP gas station, located at 245 Larkfield Road, East Northport, and stole 17 tickets each worth $30. The suspect went behind the counter and stole the tickets, worth a total of $510, when the attendant was not in the store. The man fled in a green minivan.

Suffolk County Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man who stole lottery tickets from an East Northport store in May. Photo Credit: SCPD.

The suspect is described as white, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, between 30 and 40-years-old, with a thin build. He was wearing red sneakers, a blue shirt and a yellow baseball cap. The suspect has frequented the store in the past and possibly lives in Northport.

On May 13 a man entered the BP gas station and stole 17 tickets worth a total of $510, when the attendant was not in the store. 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.

Brooklyn-Based National Children’s Leukemia Foundation Allegedly Raised Money From Donors Across America By Touting Non-Existent And Defunct Programs; Bulk Went to Fundraisers; Less than 1% To Helping Children Suffering From Cancer

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that his office has filed a court action to shutter the National Children’s Leukemia Foundation (NCLF), and to hold accountable its founder, its president, its vice president, who is the founder’s son, and its auditor. The lawsuit comes after an investigation by the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau allegedly revealed that the NCLF, which touted itself as a leading organization in the fight against leukemia, did not conduct most of the programs advertised on its website and in its solicitations – including claims it operated a bone marrow registry and fulfilled the last wishes of dying children – flouted critical filing obligations required of it under New York law. The court papers charge that, despite claims it had a board of directors and other significant financial and scientific controls, the two-decade-old organization was largely a one-man operation, run by founder Zvi Shor, 64, out of the basement of his Brooklyn home. NCLF’s president and vice president are alleged to have breached their duties to the organization and to have aided and abetted Shor in running the organization; the auditor is accused of making false filings.

“Nothing is more shameful than pocketing millions of dollars donated by good-hearted people who just wanted to help children afflicted with a terminal illness,” said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “My office will continue to identify, investigate, and shutter so-called charities that use legitimate-sounding names to exploit the generosity of New Yorkers and betray the public’s trust. Those charitable organizations that do help our most vulnerable citizens, and put donors’ money to its intended use, are an essential part of the fabric of our state. I urge New Yorkers to continue giving to the neediest among us, but to give wisely.”

The lawsuit alleges that between 2009 and 2013, the NCLF raised $9.7 million from donors across America by:

• Repeatedly lying about having a bone marrow registry, an umbilical cord blood banking program, and its own cancer research center; and telling donors it had filed a patent application for a new lifesaving treatment for leukemia when it had not;
• Lying when it told potential donors that funds raised would be used to “fulfill wishes of terminally sick children,” including sending these children to Disney World, when NCLF had not done so in years;
• Making false official filings, including annual financial filings submitted to the Attorney General’s Office, by reporting individuals as directors of the organization without their knowledge, and falsely reporting a large portion of fundraising expenses as public education about cancer;
• Filing false audit reports, when no audits were in fact conducted.

As the petition charges, between April 2009 and March 2013, NCLF collected approximately $9.7 million in revenue from thousands of donors across the country. Of that, $8.9 million was solicited by professional fundraisers hired by Shor, who were in turn paid approximately $7.5 million – or 83% – of the money raised. Of the remaining funds, according to the organization’s filings, the organization spent less than 1% percent – $57,541 – of its income on direct cash assistance to leukemia patients and transferred another 5% – $655,000 – to a shell organization in Israel run by Shor’s sister, allegedly for research purposes. Over the same time period, Shor was paid a salary of nearly $600,000, and awarded himself another $600,000 in deferred compensation.

The Attorney General’s investigation found that NCLF’s president, Yehuda Gutwein, 58, who lives in Brooklyn, was president in name only. Gutwein, a certified public accountant, took over the title in May 2010, when reports surfaced that Shor, who had been president since the organizations 1991 founding, was convicted of felony bank fraud in the Eastern District of New York in 1999. Shor’s son, Shlomo Shor, 43, also of Brooklyn, stepped in as a director and vice president, but did nothing other than sign checks and forms, as he was ordered to do by his father.

New York law requires that the board of directors of a charitable organization be true overseers of the organization, and that directors perform their fiduciary duties, including reviewing documents and overseeing management. It also requires that forms submitted to the Attorney General’s office be accurate and that charities comply with accounting rules in reporting their program expenses.

Investigators also found that an accountant hired by NCLF, Shlomo Donn, 35, of Lakewood, New Jersey, signed audit reports that were filed with the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau, but did not in fact conduct any audits. From 2009 to 2013 the respondents submitted audit reports and other official documents to the Attorney General’s Office and the New York State Department of Health containing material falsehoods that concealed NCLF’s numerous violations of New York’s charities laws. These false reports – signed variously by Shor, Gutwein, Shlomo Shor and Donn – misrepresented NCLF as an organization overseen by a 13- to 16-member board of directors and a separate medical advisory board, with a large and diverse array of programs that directly assist cancer-stricken children. NCLF’s financial statements also misreported millions of dollars in fundraising expenses as “education” or “awareness raising.” This false reporting made NCLF appear to spend more on programs than it did in fact.

The charges against the auditor signal an increased focus on accountants and auditors of not-for-profits by Attorney General Schneiderman’s Charities Bureau.

The petition filed in Kings County Supreme Court today seeks to recover the full amount of all funds raised through fraudulent representations.

The investigation into NCLF was initiated as a result of the Bureau’s “Pennies for Charities” report, which showed that a tiny fraction of donations raised by many professional fundraisers actually went to the charitable causes donors intended to support. The Bureau revoked NCLF’s registration in January 2014 as the investigation developed.

The case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Yael Fuchs, with the support of Charities Bureau accountants David Nadel, Judith Welsh-Liebross, and Joseph Stoeffel, and Legal Assistants Carolyn Fleishman and Jacqueline Sanchez. Senior Investigator Edward Conlan also provided assistance. Sean Courtney is the Enforcement Section Chief of the Charities Bureau. James Sheehan is the Charities Bureau Chief. Alvin Bragg is Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice.

More information about the Charities Bureau and organizations regulated by the Bureau may be found at www.charitiesnys.com.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that killed a man in Selden on Monday, July 20.

Zachary Rauso was driving a 1999 Mercury southbound on Dare Road, when his vehicle was involved in a collision with a Suffolk Transit bus that was traveling northbound on Dare Road.

Suffolk County Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that killed a man in Selden on Monday, July 20. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Rauso, 20, of Selden, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. The bus driver, Leonard Secaira, 52, and the lone passenger on the bus were transported via Selden Rescue to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The bus was inspected by the Suffolk County Police Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Safety Section and towed from the scene. The Mercury was impounded for a safety check.

The investigation is continuing. Detectives are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Anyone that witnessed this crash and has not yet been interviewed by detectives is asked to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

(Long Island, NY) The Seventh Squad reports the details of a Robbery that occurred on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 2:41 am in Bellmore.

According to detectives, a male white subject, in his twenties, 6’ tall, 300 Lbs., with a mustache wearing blue shorts, a black hooded sweatshirt, blue baseball hat, black sneakers, and white socks entered the 7-11 store located at 2800 Sunrise Highway. The subject took a 12 pack of beer and was heading to the counter. The clerk recognized the subject as the same man who stole beer a week ago.

The clerk told the subject he would have to pay for the beer at which time the subject pointed a black handgun at the victim. The subject left the store with the beer and fled south on Bellmore Avenue after entering the passenger side of an unknown vehicle. The victim was alone in the store at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.

Detectives request that anyone with information regarding this crime to contact the Nassau Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

Police Officer Jose E. Urena Pleads Guilty To Felony Count Of Falsifying Business Records In Relation To Scheme to Defraud Insurance Companies; Will Be Sentenced To 1 to 3 Years In Prison

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced the conviction of Jose E. Urena, a New York City police officer assigned to the NYPD’s 25th Precinct, in relation to a scheme to defraud automobile insurance companies through a series of false claims. The scheme was designed to free him from financial responsibility for high-end vehicles he couldn’t afford, to pocket insurance money for personal use, to pay for repairs of pre-existing damage and to add expensive features to various vehicles.

“Gaming the system, whether to steal money or to avoid financial responsibility, is both unethical and illegal,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Today’s conviction sends a clear message: there must be one set of rules for everyone, particularly those sworn to uphold the law.”

An investigation by the Attorney General’s Auto Insurance Fraud Unit revealed that Officer Urena submitted a series of four fraudulent auto insurance claims in two years, and filed false documents and gave false testimony in an attempt to conceal his crimes. In October 2014, Urena was arrested on an 11-count indictment in New York County. In November 2014, the Attorney General re-arrested Urena on a second indictment in Westchester County Court.

According to the indictments and statements made by prosecutors, in May 2012, Officer Urena falsely reported a claim to Nationwide Insurance Company that his leased 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 had been vandalized. After Nationwide paid $9,289.39 for the vandalism claim, Urena allegedly used the money to repair pre-existing damage to the car.

In January 2013, Officer Urena filed another fraudulent claim for the same Mercedes-Benz, according to today’s allegations. Just one day before his lease on the Mercedes was due to expire, when the car was almost $2,000 over the allowable mileage limit, and one week after cashing a $6,242.03 insurance check for repairs that were never made, Urena reported the car stolen. In fact, it had not been stolen; he had given the keys to an individual to dispose of the Mercedes so that he would not be responsible for any payments he owed. Just hours after the alleged theft took place, the Mercedes was found burned out in a warehouse district in the Bronx. As part of a subsequent Nationwide investigation into his theft claim, Urena signed a notarized Affidavit of Vehicle Theft, falsely swearing that his car had been stolen. In addition, Urena lied during a Nationwide deposition, stating that the Mercedes had been stolen and it had been in good condition when it had been allegedly stolen.

Just two months later, in March 2013, Urena was having trouble making payments on a financed 2007 Mercedes Benz S550. To free himself from financial responsibility for that car, Urena allegedly staged an accident by rear-ending a U-Haul truck, after which his insurance company, GEICO, wrote off the Mercedes as a total loss.

Urena’s fourth false claim occurred in July 2014, when he submitted a claim to GEICO after his 2011 Dodge Charger was involved in an accident. Urena inflated the amount of the claim to cover the cost of repairing pre-existing damage to the car and to make cosmetic improvements Urena used part of the resulting $7,503.97 insurance payout to add features to the car including a new grille, expensive tires and a painted roof.

Urena pleaded guilty today in Westchester County Court before the Honorable Justice Barry E. Warhit to one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree (a Class E felony). He is scheduled to be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison on October 22.

In addition to today’s plea, Urena is expected to plead guilty in New York County Supreme Court on August 4, 2015 to felony charges of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, in exchange for a sentence of 2 to 6 years in prison, to run concurrent to his sentence in Westchester County.

The Attorney General’s Office thanks the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Nationwide Insurance Company, GEICO Insurance Company, Mercedes Benz, and the New York State Department of Financial Services for their valuable assistance in this case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel Nina Sas with the assistance of Supervising Legal Analyst Paul Strocko and Legal Analyst Jonathan Hofman of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau’s Auto Insurance Fraud Unit. The Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Gary T. Fishman and Deputy Bureau Chiefs Stephanie Swenton and Meryl Lutsky. The Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Division is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.

The investigation was handled by Investigators Kevin McCann and Adrian Klapper, Supervising Investigators Natalie Shifrin and Edward Keegan and Deputy Chief of Investigations Leonard D’Alessandro of the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit. The Investigations Division is led by Chief Dominick Zarrella.

(Long Island,  NY) The Seventh Squad reports the details of a Robbery that occurred on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 2:41 am in Bellmore.

According to detectives, a male white subject, in his twenties, 6’ tall, 300 Lbs., with a mustache wearing blue shorts, a black hooded sweatshirt, blue baseball hat, black sneakers, and white socks entered the 7-11 store located at 2800 Sunrise Highway.

Nassau County Police reports the details of a Robbery that occurred on Monday, July 20, in Bellmore. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The subject took a 12 pack of beer and was heading to the counter. The clerk recognized the subject as the same man who stole beer a week ago. The clerk told the subject he would have to pay for the beer at which time the subject pointed a black handgun at the victim. The subject left the store with the beer and fled south on Bellmore Avenue after entering the passenger side of an unknown vehicle.

The victim was alone in the store at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.

Detectives request that anyone with information regarding this crime to contact the Nassau Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

(Long Island, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking the public’s help in identifying the subject (s) and subject’s vehicle in connection with an Attempted Burglary which occurred in Bellmore, New York.

On Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at approximately 04:00 P.M., the subjects (s) were present at a residence located on Orange Avenue in Bellmore.

Nassau County Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying subject (s) in connection with an Attempted Burglary which occurred in Bellmore, NY. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

While at residence the subject (s) did place a patio chair underneath the living room window. The subject(s) pried opened the rear window breaking the glass window in an attempted to gain access. The subject (s) fled scene to Merrick Rd.

Crime Stoppers is asking for anyone who can identify the above pictured subjects and vehicle, or with any information about this crime to call our toll free hotline: 1-800-244-TIPS (8477).

(Long Island, NY) Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County Police Department are seeking the public’s help in identifying a subject in connection with a Robbery which occurred in Massapequa, New York.

On Sunday, July 19, 2015, at approximately 1:30 P.M. at Pathmark located at 941 Carmans Rd in Massapequa, a subject attempted to leave the store without paying for merchandise.

Nassau County Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a subject in connection with a Robbery which occurred in Massapequa, NY. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

When the subject was confronted by the victim at the checkout register, the subject assaulted the victim, and fled with the merchandise.

Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who can identify this subject, or with any information about this crime to call our toll free hotline: 1 800 244-TIPS (8477).

Humphrey Udeh, Owner Of Brooklyn-Based Advanced Medical Supply, Convicted Of Illegally Billing Medicaid For Expensive Pediatric Nutritional Formula; Judge Orders Udeh Pay $1.7 Million Fine

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the conviction and sentencing of Humphrey Udeh, 43 of Baldwin, NY, for defrauding Medicaid of over $1 million. Udeh billed the state for over three thousand units of a highly-specialized and expensive liquid pediatric nutritional formula, when he actually dispensed over-the-counter nutritional supplement formulas. New York State Supreme Court Acting Justice John G. Ingram presided over Udeh’s jury trial in Supreme Court, Kings County, and today sentenced Udeh, who was convicted of grand larceny and other healthcare fraud-related charges, to serve 7 to 21 years in state prison and pay a $1.7 million fine.

“This defendant had a formula for fraud, filing inflated claims for nutrition designed to help needy children with rare illnesses,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “The scam drained over a million dollars of taxpayer money, ultimately hurting our most vulnerable and neediest citizens. This sentencing makes it clear: Those who defraud Medicaid will face justice.”

The Attorney General’s investigation found that, between January 2010 and September 2012, Advanced Medical Supply, which is owned by Udeh and located in Crown Heights, fraudulently received funds from Medicaid and HealthFirst, a Medicaid Managed Care Organization, for dispensing a high-priced liquid pediatric formula to Medicaid recipients who cannot chew or swallow food, and must obtain nutrients via a feeding tube. In reality, Udeh dispensed an over-the-counter formula, Pediasure, which is much cheaper than the specialized formula he falsely claimed to be providing.

The investigation revealed that, in order to perpetuate the scam, Udeh utilized generic prescriptions of pediatric formula and false letters of medical necessity, obtained by employees of Advanced Medical Supply from unsuspecting physician and medical facilities. He used the generic prescriptions and false letters to support his fraudulent claims.

Co-Defendant Keva Johnson also pled guilty to crimes relating to the false billing scheme.

In addition to the $1.7 million fine imposed by the court, an asset forfeiture and civil lawsuit brought by the Civil Enforcement Division of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is pending against Humphrey Udeh and other defendants.

Charges are pending against other defendants. They are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Attorney General would like to thank the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General for assistance during the investigation. The Attorney General would also like to acknowledge the cooperation and assistance provided by HealthFirst, a New York State Medicaid Managed Care contractor.

This case was tried before the jury by New York City Region Deputy Regional Director Twan V. Bounds and Special Assistant Attorney General Mark Cannon of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of Regional Director Christopher M. Shaw. The investigation was conducted by Special Investigator Dominick DiGennaro and Senior Special Investigator David Ryan with the assistance of Supervising Investigator Victor Maldonado and Deputy Chief Investigator Kenneth Morgan. Associate Special Auditor Investigator Patricia Iemma conducted the financial analysis with the assistance of of Regional Chief Auditor Thomasina Smith. Thomas O’Hanlon is the Chief of Criminal Investigations-Downstate, Amy Held is the Acting Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Kelly Donovan is the Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice.

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I – South Huntington) recently joined the South Huntington community at the annual Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair Parade. Lupinacci, along with other elected officials, marched in honor of the brave men and women who serve in our local volunteer fire departments.

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (center) marching in the parade. Photo Credit: NYS.

“The Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair is a shining example of the South Huntington community coming together,” said Lupinacci. “Events like the Huntington Manor Fireman’s Fair give us the chance to experience the rich and diverse culture of Huntington Station. I have attended this parade since I was a young boy, and I am proud to see it continue as a staple in our community.”

Lupinacci also encouraged residents of South Huntington to visit the fair at Stimson Middle School this week to celebrate Huntington’s volunteers, and announced that there will be fireworks courtesy of the Huntington Manor Fire Department Wednesday throughFriday at 9:30 p.m.