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31Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Courts

Greene County Woman Found Guilty of Vehicular Homicide in High-Speed Crash Killing Mailman

(WNY News Now) – A Greene County woman faces a guilty verdict after a high-speed crash that killed a mail carrier on his delivery route, as Attorney General Michelle Henry announced today.Harrisburg, P.A. – On Monday, Tina Phillips, 49, was found guilty of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, and involuntary manslaughter regarding the 2021 crash.The Office of Attorney General presented testimony at trial that Phillips was driving nearly twice the speed limit when her vehicle veered off a road and struck Chad Varner, who was delivering mail on foot.“This completely preventable tragedy serves as a reminder that reckless and careless driving can have deadly consequences,” Attorney General Henry said. “No one expects to face this kind of danger when they go to work, and there is...

Man Sentenced to 11 Years After Police Find Gun and $700,000 in Cocaine in Wardrobe

31Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Courts

Man Sentenced to 11 Years After Police Find Gun and $700,000 in Cocaine in Wardrobe

(WNY News Now) – A Hertfordshire man has been sentenced to 11 years after authorities discovered a pistol, ammunition, and 13 kilos of cocaine in his residence, ending a significant criminal enterprise.Albanian national Irakli Rustemi, 33, from Hertfordshire, was investigated by officers from the Organised Crime Partnership – a specialist unit comprised of Metropolitan Police and National Crime Agency officers.In October last year, the OCP instructed Cambridgeshire Police armed officers to stop a white Citroen DS3 on the A10 at Buntingford, which was being driven by Rustemi, after receiving intelligence that those inside had access to a firearm.Checks established that Rustemi was an absconder from Immigration Enforcement with no leave to remain in the UK. Officers searched the vehicle and ...

Local Sales Tax Collections Rise by 1.4% in Q3, Growth Slows Across NY

30Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Comptroller

Local Sales Tax Collections Rise by 1.4% in Q3, Growth Slows Across NY

(WNY News Now) – Local sales tax collections showed a modest 1.4% increase in the third quarter, reflecting the slowest growth rate since the pandemic’s economic rebound, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli reported today.New York – Local government sales tax collections totaled $5.98 billion in the third calendar quarter (July-September) of 2024, an increase of 1.4%, or $82.7 million, compared to the same quarter last year, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Eight of the ten regions in the state, including New York City, saw collections rise.“Local sales tax collections are growing more slowly than they were in the pre-pandemic period,” DiNapoli said. “Given this lower year-over-year growth, local officials should temper their expectations for f...

30Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Buffalo

Buffalo Business Owner Admits to $3.5 Million Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Identities

(WNY News Now) – Rochester, NY – A Buffalo businessman has pled guilty to an extensive fraud operation that leveraged stolen identities from clients to secure millions in fraudulent loans. Paul Paredes, 53, pleaded guilty in federal court before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, crimes that may result in up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that since 2013, Paredes has owned J&E Business Consulting LLC, which provides services to client businesses, including acting as a broker between the credit card processing companies and smaller retail businesses. Small businesses provide J&E with their financial information, such as...

30Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Courts

AG Henry Sues Prospect Medical Holdings Over Alleged Mismanagement, Seeks Immediate Oversight of Crozer Health

(WNY News Now) – Attorney General Michelle Henry has filed a lawsuit against Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., alleging contract violations and systemic neglect in managing Delaware County’s Crozer Health System, leading to facility closures and reduced healthcare services for thousands.HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the filing of a lawsuit against Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., regarding years of the company’s mismanagement and neglect of Delaware County-based Crozer Health System, which has resulted in closures of facilities and shattered a network of care for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.The lawsuit alleges Prospect Medical has broken an Asset Purchase Agreement, approved by a court in 2016, by cutting services and closing facilities, while diverting ...

30Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Arrests

Lockport Woman Arrested Under Leandra’s Law for DWI with Child Passenger

(WNY News Now) – A Lockport woman faces felony DWI charges under Leandra’s Law after reportedly driving intoxicated with a child in the vehicle late Tuesday night.Lockport, NY – On October 29, 2024, around 11:46 p.m., a concerned driver alerted Deputy M. Brant of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office to a reckless driver near the Speedway on South Transit Road in Lockport. The witness reported nearly being struck by a vehicle, providing a description and license plate number to Deputy Brant, who was already on-site conducting a follow-up investigation.Upon locating the vehicle northbound on South Transit Road, Deputy Brant observed multiple traffic infractions before initiating a traffic stop. The driver, identified as 38-year-old Latasha N. Porter of Lockport, was found to be operating the ...

30Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Arrests

Niagara Falls Man Arrested in Drug Sale Investigation Following Warrant Execution

(WNY News Now) – Authorities in Niagara Falls have arrested a local man on drug charges after a targeted investigation by the Niagara County Drug Task Force.On October 25, 2024, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Antonio Scott, 45, of Niagara Falls, New York, on a felony charge of criminal sale of a controlled substance. The arrest occurred at approximately 9 a.m. at 7414 Niagara Falls Boulevard, following an investigation by the Niagara County Drug Task Force.Sheriff Michael Filicetti detailed the charge, which is classified as criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a serious felony in New York State. According to law enforcement, the warrant was executed after collecting sufficient evidence during the investigation, leading to Scott’s arrest...

Rochester Man Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Officers Amid Protests

30Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Assault

Rochester Man Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Officers Amid Protests

(WNY News Now) – A Rochester man who admitted to participating in violent protests and assaulting officers has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison.ROCHESTER, N.Y. — JohnMichael Santiago, 25, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to civil disorder and assaulting a federal officer, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced. Santiago’s conviction stems from a series of protests that escalated into confrontations with law enforcement in September 2020, following the public release of information regarding Daniel Prude’s death in police custody.Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan detailed that on September 4, 2020, protests began in Rochester in response to the Prude case, with a group of demonstrators damaging property and overtu...

30Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Community Concerns

$2.25 Million Settlement: Attorney General James Takes Action to Safeguard Patient Data from Cyberattacks

(WNY News Now) – New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured a landmark $2.25 million agreement with Albany ENT & Allergy Services (AENT) following two significant cyberattacks that compromised the medical records of over 200,000 patients.NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $2.25 million from a Capital Region health care provider, Albany ENT & Allergy Services, P.C. (AENT) for failing to protect the private information and medical data of New Yorkers. In 2023, AENT suffered two cyberattacks that compromised the medical records of over 200,000 New York patients. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that AENT did not maintain reasonable safeguards to protect patient data and did not adequately respond to the cyberattacks on its systems. ...

30Oct

By Grace ThompsonNo Comments

Arrests

Man Charged with Assault, Robbery, and Attempted Kidnapping on Route 60 in Gerry

(WNY News Now) – A Sinclairville man faces multiple felony charges following a violent incident on Route 60 in Gerry, where authorities allege he assaulted a victim with a dangerous object.Gerry, N.Y. – On the night of October 28, 2024, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported assault along Route 60 in the Town of Gerry at approximately 10:00 p.m. Upon arrival, deputies found a serious incident involving allegations of assault, robbery, and attempted kidnapping.According to the Sheriff’s Office, 47-year-old Robert Henry Jr. of Sinclairville, New York, allegedly attacked the victim, inflicting serious physical injuries using a dangerous object. Law enforcement reports also claim that during the assault, Henry forcibly took property from the victim and attempted to kidn...