Courts

(WNY News Now) In response to a Texas lawsuit that targets telemedicine abortion care, Attorney General Letitia James has pledged to protect New York abortion providers against out-of-state legal challenges. In response to a lawsuit brought by the Texas Attorney General against a New York-based physician who offers telemedicine abortion services, New York Attorney General Letitia James released a firm statement on Friday. In New York, abortion is and will remain protected and legal. New York is delighted to be a safe haven for access to abortion care, while other states take action to target people who receive or provide abortion care. We will never back down in the face of threats or intimidation, and we will always defend our providers against unfair attempts to penalize them for carryin...

(WNY News Now) The second defendant in the horrific kidnapping case of a 77-year-old victim in the Town of Niagara enters a guilty plea to criminal charges.Lockport, New York Gregory N. Perry, 32, of the Town of Niagara, entered a guilty plea to kidnapping in the second degree in Niagara County Court on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone. In a horrific event earlier this year, Perry and co-defendant Ashley N. McMillen allegedly detained a 77-year-old man against his will in order to finance their drug habit. This is the basis for the allegations.Perry will be sentenced to 15 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision, according to presiding Judge John Ottaviano's agreement. The sentencing date for Perry is set for January 21, 2025. McMillen, his 36-year-old ...

(WNY News Now) A Georgia man has entered a guilty plea to masterminding a multi-state bank fraud scheme that cost companies tens of thousands of dollars through false transactions and stolen checks.BUFFALO, N.Y. — Quentavious Price, 38, of Hampton, Georgia, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to conduct bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross. In addition to a fine of up to $1,000,000, the charges entail a required minimum sentence of two years in jail and a maximum sentence of thirty years.Price and his accomplices, Lorenzo Jones, Ameer Clark, and Montez White, flew from Atlanta to western New York between January and September 2022 in order to commit financial institution fraud. The gang made fake copies of checks written on the victims' account...

Hempstead, New York (WNY News Now)Former Hempstead, New York, Marlboro Owners Corporation cooperative president Juan Alayo entered a guilty plea to embezzling $26,738 in building funds. The plea deal, which holds the 72-year-old East Meadow man liable for Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Petit Larceny, was revealed by New York Attorney General Letitia James.Alayo will pay back the money that was taken and perform 210 hours of community service as part of the deal. If these requirements are not met, a year in jail will be imposed.A Betrayal of ConfidenceFrom 2016 to 2023, Alayo presided over the 16-unit co-op, which was primarily populated by Spanish-speaking immigrant residents. Under the pretense of valid costs, he fraudulently issued checks to himself and his business, A&J Clea...

Rochester, New York (WNY News Now).A Rochester man faces a hefty jail sentence after confessing to being a key player in a significant drug trafficking operation.In federal court, 48-year-old Shawnle McClary entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and 400 grams of fentanyl, as well as to possess weapons in connection with drug trafficking. The plea, which carries a required minimum term of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, was accepted by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola claims that McClary played a significant role in a drug distribution network that spanned from 2021 until January 2024. Timothy Jackson, Jr., Gary Fuller, and Felicia Collins were among the several people who worked ...

(WNY News Now) In a historic settlement, DFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris and New York Attorney General Letitia James hold two large auto insurers responsible for cybersecurity breaches that exposed the private data of thousands of New Yorkers.NEW YORK Two auto insurance companies, the Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) and The Travelers Indemnity Company (Travelers), were fined $11.3 million today by New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris for their inadequate data security, which resulted in the compromise of the personal data of over 120,000 New Yorkers. These incidents were a part of an industry-wide hacker attempt to steal customer data from online car insurance quote applicatio...

A major player in a bogus debt collection scheme is going to serve time in federal prison (WNY News Now).BUFFALO, N.Y. — Joseph Ciffa, 56, of Tonawanda, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct wire fraud and filing a false tax return and was sentenced to 37 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.Ten Years of Fraudulent ActivitiesCiffa's illicit debt collecting actions started in 2013 and continued for years. He oversaw an illegal organization that had its headquarters spread throughout several Western New York sites, including Grand Island, Kenmore, and Niagara Falls, starting in 2015. Under Ciffa's leadership, staff members used forceful and dishonest methods to collect and overcollect debts, including threatening criminal charges or posing as lawyers to pressure vi...

(WNY News Now) A guy connected to gang activities in Niagara Falls faces federal jail time for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute drugs, which included selling fentanyl close to public housing.Buffalo, New York. According to U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, 27-year-old Michael Pryor of Niagara Falls, New York, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his involvement in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy and the selling of fentanyl close to public housing.As a member of the Crips gang, Pryor entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, which included dealings within 1,000 feet of the Anthony Spallina Towers, a Niagara Falls public housing complex. Pryor worked with fellow defendants Shawn Pryor and Cameron Lee, who were also connected to the group...