(Long Island, NY) First Squad detectives report the details of three arrests for a robbery that occurred in East Meadow on Thursday, 06/04/15 at 3:45 P.M.

According to detectives, Sean Reilly, 21, and Daniel Pflaumer, 19, both of North Bellmore; and Kelly Connelly, 20, of Wantagh, while in a vehicle on Jefferson St., robbed a male victim, 21, (known to them) at knifepoint and threated the use of a gun (none displayed).

Nassau County Police report the details of three arrests for a robbery that occurred in East Meadow on Thursday, 06/04. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The victim complied and handed over cash and Xanax pills. First Precinct police officers located the defendants’ vehicle a short time later on Jerusalem Ave. where they were placed under arrest.

The defendants were found to be in possession of Xanax pills, a hypodermic needle and the victim’s baseball hat.

No injuries were reported.

All three defendants are each being charged with Robbery 1st Degree, Robbery 2nd Degree and Criminal Possession Weapon 4th Degree. Reilly is additionally being charged with Criminal Possession Controlled Substance 7th Degree. Reilly and Connelly are also being charged with Grand Larceny 4th Degree (from a different incident). All three defendants will be arraigned on Friday, 06/05/15 in First District Court, Hempstead.

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) The Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island (CISB) completed its endowment of a $25,000 scholarship fund at Hofstra University in memory of Larry S. Feldman, the real estate attorney and Farrell Fritz PC partner, who was an original CIBS board member and friend to many in the Long Island business community.

Pictured in a May 26 check presentation at the Cold Spring Country Club are (from left): Richard Guardino, executive dean of the Wilbur F. Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies
 and Hofstra University vice president for business development; Feldman’s widow, Blaire Feldman; the Feldman’s daughter, Mallie; CIBS immediate Past President Gary Joel Schacker, SIOR, of United Realty; CIBS strategic officer and former president David Pennetta, SIOR, of Cushman & Wakefield of Long Island Inc.; and current CIBS President David F. Chinitz, of Park Place Realty Group LLC. Photo Credit: Shelley Wax.

The fund was established in 2012 to honor Feldman, who served as CIBS’ counsel. Feldman, who specialized in real estate and land use and was at the forefront of commercial real estate development on Long Island, passed away in 2009 at age 51.

The Larry S. Feldman-Commercial Industrial Brokers Society Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student with an interest in real estate and selected on the basis of demonstrated academic achievement or potential and/or financial need.

Friday, June 5th, 2015, the Sea Jitney invites you to an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:30am at the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport Ferry terminal in the Village of Port Jefferson on Long Island

(Long Island, NY) In partnership with Seastreak, the Bridgeport–Port Jefferson Ferry and Hampton Jitney, a new intermodal service for the Tri-State area offers a convenient alternative for transportation linking New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut with Long Island.

Beginning May 22^nd, 2015, the seasonal weekend service called Sea Jitney began carrying passengers to and from these locations with the Port Jefferson dock as the hub.  From Port Jefferson, travelers now have the ability to go East to the Hamptons via Hampton Jitney bus service, West via the high-speed Seastreak ferry, and north across the Long Island Sound by way of the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry.

With departures from Manhattan at East 35^th St., and from Highlands, NJ, travelers enjoy a relaxing ferry ride to Port Jefferson where they can explore the scenic harbor-front village or continue on toward Eastern Long Island to Calverton, Southampton, Sag Harbor or East Hampton.

One-way fares range from $33 to $50 depending on origin and destination; reservations and advance payment are required.  The service is geared towards weekend travel with three departures from NYC and multiple departures from Bridgeport, CT on Friday, and three returning departures from the East End on Sunday.  One departure from NYC and Bridgeport is scheduled for Saturday.

The ferry trip takes approximately two hours from the city to Port Jefferson Village and an hour from Port Jefferson to the Hamptons.  For a complete schedule, go to www.seajitney.com.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police arrested a man on May 17 for a series of robberies, attempted robbery, burglary and attempted burglary during the months of May and June.

A man entered Kentucky Fried Chicken, located at 210 E. Main St., Bay Shore, on June 3 wearing a mask, with a brown paper bag over his left hand, implying that he had a gun at approximately 10:40 p.m. The suspect fled with proceeds from the store. A short time later, a man entered a 7-Eleven, located at 12 Saxon Ave., Bay Shore, also wearing a mask, with a brown paper bag over his left hand at approximately 11:30 p.m. The suspect left the store without any proceeds.

Suffolk County Police arrested Joseph Broekhuisen, 23, on May 17 for a series of robberies during the months of May and June. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Surveillance video was provided to Third Precinct Police Officers James Brucculeri and Jose Cardus who recognized the clothing of a man they had interviewed earlier in the day. Brucculeri and Cardus, along with the assistance of Police Officer Dana Rodriguez, began canvassing the Bay Shore area and located Joseph Broekhuisen at Park Avenue and Mechanicsville Road at 7:25 p.m. Broekhuisen, 23, who is undomiciled, was transported to the Third Precinct where he was interviewed by detectives and arrested.

Broekhuisen, in addition to admitting to both robberies on June 3, acknowledged that he had robbed a Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 27, Bay Shore on May 27, and a 7-Eleven on East Little Neck Road, West Babylon, on May 17. Broekhuisen also admitted that he burglarized West Babylon Cards and Gifts on Sunrise Highway, West Babylon and that he attempted to burglarize Nanitos Deli on Little Neck Road, West Babylon on May 19.

Broekhuisen was charged with three counts of Robbery 1st Degree, Attempted Robbery 1st Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree and Attempted Burglary 3rd Degree. He is being held at the Third Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on June 5.

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) New York State Senator Michael Venditto (R, C, I- Massapequa), recently joined with his colleagues in the State Legislature for their annual Animal Advocacy Day – an event that brings together lawmakers, law enforcement, and hundreds of pet owners and advocates to raise awareness of important animal issues. Senator Venditto is pictured above with Sawyer and Charlotte at the Animal Advocacy Day in Albany.

“Like many New Yorkers, I consider pets an extension of my family. Their health and safety, and the wellness of animals across New York, are a high priority for me. I am pleased that the New York State Senate also passed legislation to further protect animals from harm and cruelty,” said Senator Venditto.

State Senator Michael Venditto recently joined with his colleagues in the State Legislature for their annual Animal Advocacy Day. Photo Credit: NYS.

Among those bills passed: increases the potential jail time from 2 years to 4 when acts of cruelty against animals are committed in front of children; increases the maximum fine for abandonment of animals from $1,000 to $2,000; makes stealing a pet a crime of fourth-degree grand larceny, a class E felony; and increases the penalties for leaving a companion animal in a vehicle during times of extreme hot or cold temperatures, while also permitting police officers to remove animals from vehicles when they face serious physical injury or death.

New Jersey’s Largest Medical Marijuana Provider Plans Dispensaries Upstate, in Manhattan and on Long Island

(Long Island, NY) Empire State Compassionate Care, owned and operated by the principals of the largest medical marijuana distributor in New Jersey, announced today the four dispensary locations, as well as the location of the manufacturing facility, that they will use to provide high-quality medical marijuana to patients once New York State’s program becomes operational later this year. The locations are:

Dispensary locations:

• 1933 Kensington Avenue, Cheektowaga (a suburb of Buffalo)
• 3057 Erie Boulevard East, Syracuse
• 760 Fulton Ave, Hempstead (Nassau County)
• 40 West 27th Street, Manhattan

The manufacturing facility will be located at 320 Mt. Airy Road in New Windsor (Orange County), the former home of the Continental Organics, a “zero waste” agriculture company. The property features a recirculating aquaponics system and indoor and outdoor cultivation facilities, which make it a superior location for the production of medical marijuana, and is in an area zoned for agricultural use. Once at full capacity, Empire State Compassionate Care’s New Windsor operation will employ roughly 150 people from an area in need of economic opportunity.

“As we have already done for over 25,000 patients in New Jersey and Colorado, we are eager to help people across New York get the treatment they need to manage these debilitating illnesses,” said ESCC President David Weisser. “We’re excited to put in an application with locked-in dispensary and manufacturing locations.”
Empire State Compassionate Care (ESCC) is owned and operated by the same team as Garden State Dispensary (GSD), a nonprofit that produces and dispenses nearly 70% of the medical marijuana in New Jersey’s acclaimed pharmaceutical-grade medical model, and is among the leading producers in Colorado. In the six years the company has been in business, it has helped more than 25,000 patients. Two of the principals of ESCC, David and Michael Weisser, contribute much of their profits to cancer-related charities, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

(Long Island, NY) The three men Suffolk County Police arrested for sexually assaulting and robbing a 16-year-old female, and assaulting and robbing her male companion in Brentwood last Friday evening will be arraigned on an indictment today, Friday, June 5, in the criminal courthouse in Riverside.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said Judge Barbara Kahn (second floor of the courthouse) will unseal the indictment Friday at 11:00 am.

The three defendants are incarcerated in the Suffolk County jail in lieu of bail.

• Jose Cornejo, 17, of Brentwood, is charged with Rape 1st, Criminal Sex Act 1st Degree, Sex Abuse 1st Degree and Robbery 2nd Degree
• Escobar, 17, of Brentwood, is charged with Rape 1st, Criminal Sex Act 1st and Robbery 2nd Degree
• Bryan Larios, 18, of Brentwood, is charged with Rape 1st, Criminal Sex Act 1st Degree and Robbery 2nd Degree

According to police, the men approached the victims on Hilltop Drive, identified themselves as members of the street gang MS-13, claimed they had a gun, and robbed the victims, beating the male severely. The trio then forcibly took the teenage girl to a wooded area adjacent to the Brentwood County Club Golf Course where two of the defendants took turns sexually assaulting her.

District Attorney Spota will offer remarks regarding the investigation and indictment in the SCDA Law Library on the fifth floor of the courthouse following the arraignments. A bilingual interpreter will be available during the news conference.

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) The Luke Neuhedel Foundation, a 501c3 charity, presents GUYS & DOLLS at Maria Regina Church, 3945 Jerusalem Avenue, Seaford, NY on June 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 at 8pm and June 14 and 21 at 2pm. Tickets are $15 adults, $12 seniors/children under 10. Reservations 516-672-2528 or 516-882-9183, or on our website at www.lukefund.org.

LNF was founded in 2002 in memory of Massapequa resident Luke Neuhedel, diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer, at age 9 months. Luke battled his cancer for over 3 years, and LNF was founded by his family and friends in April 2002 to help children with cancer and their families. The Luke Neuhedel Foundation raises awareness of pediatric cancer and provide grants to children with cancer and their families throughout the NY area. All proceeds from this event provide assistance to children receiving cancer treatment.

Lawsuit Also Names Credit Union That Financed Consumers’ Purchases And Collection Agency That Attempted to Collect On Loans; Court Issues Temporary Injunction Requiring Company To Make Significant Changes To Its Business Practices

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that his office has filed a lawsuit in Albany County Supreme Court today and has obtained a temporary restraining order against The College Network and its owner, Gary Eyler. The suit charges that the company and Eyler induced prospective nursing students to pay thousands of dollars for ineffective study guides through false and deceptive business practices. The suit alleges that The College Network, headquartered in Indiana, preyed on as many as 2,000 New York consumers who sought to obtain associate degrees in nursing. The papers charge that, through advertising and high pressure sales tactics, The College Network created the false impression that it was offering online nursing degrees and that it was affiliated with Excelsior College, an accredited institution based in Albany that offers such degrees.

“Businesses operating in New York must conduct business fairly, and that means not using false and deceptive advertising to take advantage of consumers. As we allege, hard-working New Yorkers – many of them single moms and immigrants – were duped into buying expensive, inadequate study materials and access to ‘academic advisors’ who were falsely touted as experts,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Businesses that take advantage of people seeking to better their lives and communities deserve especially tough attention from law enforcement, and we will continue working to crack down on this kind of abuse in the education sector.”

According to court papers, The College Network targeted licensed practical nurses and paramedics with online ads that created the false impression that The College Network was affiliated with Excelsior College and offered associate degrees in nursing that consumers could earn “in just 18 months.” After consumers responded to the online advertisements, The College Network dispatched sales representatives, referred to as “program advisors,” to consumers’ homes. The advisors reinforced the false impression that The College Network was affiliated with Excelsior College and engaged in high-pressure sales pitches to induce consumers to sign up for The College Network’s “program.” However, the program consisted of little more than a series of study guides that many consumers found difficult to understand and that, contrary to the company’s representations, did not prepare them for the required exams they needed pass in order to get course credit.

The papers include affidavits from three dozen consumers from Buffalo, the Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City, Rochester and Syracuse, among other places, who state that they were duped by the company.

The College Network also promised consumers “24/7” access to “academic advisors” who were touted as experts in the subject matters covered in the guides and who could assist consumers who were having trouble understanding the material. Many consumers complained that these so-called advisors had no substantive expertise in the subject matter and were unable to help consumers who asked for assistance.

The papers allege that The College Network charged consumers approximately $500 for each study guide and required consumers to purchase upfront guides for every course they would need to earn their degree from Excelsior College.  In many cases, the total cost of the network’s program exceeded $10,000, which forced most consumers to accept the financing offered by The College Network.  In many cases, The College Network did not disclose that the loans were being provided by a credit union, not The College Network.

The suit also names Tennessee-based Southeast Financial Credit Union (“Southeast”), which partnered with The College Network to provide financing to consumers to purchase The College Network’s so-called “program,” and American Credit Exchange, a collection agency operated by Eyler that attempted to collect from consumers who defaulted on their loans.

Other deceptive practices alleged in the court papers include program advisors convincing consumers to finance third-party test administration fees by creating the false impression that The College Network would readily provide consumers with a check to sit for an exam. These fees added as much as $3,000 or more to the total amount of the loan. According to the suit, when consumers contacted The College Network to obtain a check so that they could register for an exam, many learned for the first time that The College Network would not send them a check until they scored as high as 90% on online quizzes and practice exams. Many consumers were unable to achieve the required score and those who managed to qualify then often had to wait months for their checks.

The court papers allege that consumers only discovered The College Network had misled them after the five-day cancellation period in their contracts had expired. When consumers subsequently sought to cancel their contracts, they were falsely told by The College Network, Southeast and American Credit Exchange that the debts were valid and that they were obligated to continue making payments, the papers state.

In addition to engaging in fraudulent and deceptive business practices under New York law, the lawsuit alleges that The College Network violated New York law by failing to provide the required notices of cancellation and by failing to provide refunds to consumers who did not use their study guides and cancelled their contracts.

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction barring The College Network from advertising or selling its nursing “programs” in New York, prohibiting Southeast and American Credit Exchange from attempting to collect on the debts stemming from The College Network’s fraudulent conduct, rescission of consumers’ contracts, restitution for consumers who were harmed by The College Network’s fraudulent conduct, and penalties and costs.

As part of the lawsuit, the Supreme Court granted with the consent of The College Network, a temporary restraining order requiring The College Network to make a number of changes to its business practices, including clearly and conspicuously disclosing on all contract documents that it is not affiliated with Excelsior College and is not a degree granting program.  The College Network has also agreed not to include third-party testing fees in any contract or financing agreement and to provide New York consumers with their test fee checks within seven days of request.  Southeast Financial agreed not to sell or transfer any promissory notes obtained by consumers to pay for goods and services related to The College Network’s nursing “programs.”

Consumers who have a complaint against The College Network are urged to file a complaint online or call 1-800-771-7755.

This investigation is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Amy Schallop and Emily L. Auletta, Deputy Bureau Chief Laura J. Levine and Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia, all of the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau and Executive Deputy Attorney General Karla G. Sanchez.

(Long Island, NY) This week, Assemblyman Dean Murray (R,C,I-East Patchogue) took part in Animal Advocacy Day at the state Capitol in Albany. Murray, owner of two dogs and a cat, addressed the hundreds in attendance, espousing the need for his co-sponsored legislation creating an animal abuser registry.

Assemblyman Dean Murray highlighting the need for an animal abuser registry during Animal Advocacy Day at the state Capitol in Albany. Photo Credit: NYS.

“Our pets are more than just animals; they’re our companions and part of our families,” said Murray. “That’s why I’m proud to co-sponsor legislation (Assembly Bill 3355) creating an animal abuser registry. Having a pet isn’t a right; it’s a privilege best left in the hands of caring, compassionate people. Animal abusers have proven themselves unworthy of that privilege. If you hurt an animal, you should not be given the opportunity to do so again. If my legislation passes the Assembly and Senate, they will not be.”