News: Fake Nursing Schools Ripped Off Hundreds

(Long Island, N.Y.) A group of franchised nursing schools intentionally defrauded six million dollars from potential students. Information from the state attorney general claimed that the schools printed bogus certifications. The students were mostly Caribbean immigrants; five schools were located throughout Long Island.

A statement from the attorney general that came last Thursday accused the schools of targeting students and stealing from them. The State Supreme Court indicted the schools and showed that the eleven individual defendants, who were the owners of the schools, had lied. They claimed that students who completed the programs would be eligible to take the New York State Nursing Board Exam to become registered or licensed practical nurses.

Reports stated that students paid between seven thousand and twenty thousand dollars to attend the schools. The programs held no value in the education system, and many students spent up to two years in the degreeless track. None of the material they studied was accredited or given value by any academic community.

Most of the owners of the individual franchised schools were between the ages of thirty and fifty. They claimed that the school would ensure that students remained eligible for the required accrediting exam. Reports stated that an ILPN vowed that the school was accredited, and sources claimed that this could have been instrumental in misleading the students. The Department of Education had never given permission to the schools to operate in New York.

One student stated that she had the desire to become a nurse but was currently unemployed. She claimed that she dreamed of the profession ever since she was a little girl and always had a strong desire to help people. Though she’s in her late forties, she believes that she will continue to pursue her nursing ambitions.

One of the schools in Brooklyn, named Envision Review Center, was sued by students after they had received fake transcripts. Sources stated that most of the students were hardworking people who saved their income to advance. They were financially devastated as a result of the schools’ fraud.

Most of the schools declined to comment on the allegations. Four of the schools have already been shut down and many believe that scams have been increasing due to a tough economy. Sources stated that it’s important to verify accreditation before paying for schooling.

News: Taconic Tragedy TV Special

(Long Island, N.Y.) Two years ago Long Islanders were stunned after a woman drove a minivan filled with children drunk along the wrong way of the Taconic State Parkway. Tonight, an HBO documentary special entitled “There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane,” will air. The documentary attempts to explain why the thirty-six-year-old mother-of-two, and aunt of the deceased little girls, would do the unthinkable by putting all of their lives in danger.

Eight people were killed, including the driver, in July of 2009. The woman had been behind the wheel of her brother’s minivan, which was a Ford Windstar model. The title of the documentary is a phrase that was uttered from the woman’s niece, who called home when she grew alarmed at her aunt’s behavior. The documentary begins at nine o’clock and will last for an hour-and-a-half; it will attempt to capture many perspectives.

Video surveillance at a gas station and McDonald’s, the places of two different pit stops made before the accident, capture the woman and vehicle. Reports stated that the video from McDonald’s was not released, but the one taken from the gas station shows her wearing sunglasses and driving recklessly from the pump. She had exchanged words with the employee, but he never looked up.

Some sources claimed that she ordered chicken selects, an item that was not being served at the time she and the kids arrived at McDonald’s. She also ordered an iced coffee and orange juice, and the gas station footage shows her looking for something in the store. She left without purchasing any items.

She later drove about two miles in the wrong direction; her daughter was killed in the crash and her five-year-old son was the sole survivor.

Her daughter, three nieces, and three passengers in the other vehicle, a Trailblazer, were also killed. Reports stated that she frequently made the trip, one that began from the campsite she attended with her husband and ended at her West Babylon home. Her autopsy revealed large quantities of alcohol, the equivalent to ten shots, and an ingredient found in marijuana; sources estimated that she must have smoked within the hour of the crash.

Reports claimed that a bottle of vodka was found inside the vehicle, but others stated that no one at the McDonald’s or gas station said she was intoxicated. Some believe that the store employees may have denied her intoxication, fearing the possible consequences for doing nothing to stop her. The accident was considered the worst in Westchester County history within the last seventy-five years.

The woman’s husband remained loyal, claiming that she was incapable of putting her children and nieces at risk. He hired an investigator and lawyer to help prove she was innocent of reckless behavior. There was an issue over the release of her medical records, and controversy circled many aspects of the case.

The woman allegedly suffered from severe dental pain, and sources claimed that she smoked pot at night to battle insomnia. Details released about the day of the accident stated that she tailgated, honked, flashed her brights, passed cars on the shoulder, drove on grass, and stopped two times along the side of the road out of sickness.

Several phone calls were made to her brother and sister-in-law after her niece called home. The phone was later abandoned on the side of the road and the woman drove in another direction. Reports stated that police weren’t notified of the accident until everyone in the crash was already dead.

News: LI Bus Crashes Into McDonald’s

(Long Island, N.Y.) An accident occurred at roughly nine-thirty Sunday night on Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale. A forty-two-year-old man from Hempstead was driving eastbound on Hempstead Turnpike in a 2003 Ford Econoline van. A later investigation revealed that he had been driving intoxicated while his license had been suspended.

According to reports, the drunk driver slammed into three vehicles along the roadway, one of which was an MTA bus. The driver of the bus is a fifty-one-year-old man, and reports stated that there were no passengers at the time of the incident. Sources claimed that the other two vehicles were a Mercury and Mazda.

The driver of the 2004 Mercury was a twenty-seven-year-old and the Mazda was a make from 2011. The impact from the accident caused the MTA bus to crash into a nearby McDonald’s. Reports stated that the McDonald’s is located on a corner and that no one was hurt while inside the restaurant.

The drunk driver sustained injuries and was hospitalized along with the other drivers. One of them suffered from facial and knee injuries; another suffered from unknown injuries. The driver allegedly was hospitalized for a head injury, and all were taken for medical treatment after emergency responders arrived at the scene of the accident.

The drunk driver was charged with driving while intoxicated. Reports stated that the MTA bus crashed into the McDonald’s sidewalk and caused extensive damage. Photographs were taken showing wreckage, affected parts of the restaurant, and the multiple vehicles involved in the crash.

The man was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Reports stated that he had been driving with a suspended registration and will be charged for driving an uninsured motor vehicle. Many followers of the case have felt that he received too much leniency from initial responders.

It is uncertain whether the man had a lawyer at the time of the incident, but it is expected that he will be arraigned in the near future. He was arrested shortly after police and authorities on the case were notified of the horrific crash. It was determined that he had been drinking prior to the accident once further investigation was conducted.

This incident is one of many to occur on Long Island roadways that involve drunk drivers with suspended licenses. Some Long Island residents feel that stricter laws should be enforced and serve as a measure to prevent drivers from getting behind the wheel under such circumstances.

News: Subway Bomber’s Father Found Guilty

(Long Island, N.Y.) The father of the twenty-six-year-old Queens suicide bomb plotter was found guilty of attempting to cover up his son’s plans. The bomber’s dad will face a maximum term of forty years in prison. He was convicted of one count of conspiracy and another count of obstruction of justice; he will be sentenced at the end of the year.

The father’s defense lawyer argued that the man’s weak grasp of English caused a miscommunication between him and prosecutors. Reports stated that police and authorities on the case also had a difficult time understanding his relatives. The twenty-six-year-old son pleaded guilty to conspiring with Al-Qaeda to attack the subway using homemade explosive devices.

The bomber was caught in early 2010 in a case that authorities described as one of the most serious threats to the United States since the September 11th attacks. He pleaded guilty in a federal courthouse to terrorism charges. He was accused of building and detonating a bomb on a New York City subway.

Sources stated that the father’s nephew testified that he was told to dispose of chemicals after he had knowledge of FBI surveillance. The father was discovered to have lied to investigators and destroyed evidence that would have incriminated his son.

Reports stated that the son pleaded guilty to supplying material support for a terrorist organization. He also pleaded guilty to conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction and to commit murder in a foreign country.

The attorney general stated that the combined efforts of intelligence communities, as well as law enforcement’s efforts, were the keys to catching the terrorists in time. Sources also stated that the attorney general confirmed that the threat was real and would have been deadly.

Police and authorities on the case stated that while at war against an adaptive and intelligent enemy, Americans must use all of their tools to win that war and incapacitate the terrorists. Authorities also stated that the criminal justice system is one of the tools that will help Americans win a war on terror.

Attorneys on both sides of the case declined to make comments. Many believed that the guilty plea suggested that the bomber was willing to cooperate with investigators. Sources additionally stated that plea bargains are helpful in obtaining valuable intelligence, which can be used in other ongoing investigations.

The Queens bomber was convicted by a Brooklyn jury early last year. There are three other suspects that have been officially charged with the case.

News: Boy’s Killer Loses Attorney

(Long Island, N.Y.) The thirty-five-year-old killer of an eight-year-old boy from Borough Park, Brooklyn may need a new attorney. Reports stated that one of his two attorneys quit last night and confessed that representing the killer affected his conscience. The attorney is allegedly the father of three boys, and could no longer continue with the case.

Reports also stated that the killer may be eligible to receive the death penalty. His former attorney claimed that his eldest son was close in age with the murdered boy. Sources claimed that the boy’s young life consisted of a structured regimen of prayer, and that members of the tight-knit community felt responsible for the crime.

Statistics estimated that the average Orthodox family living in Borough Park, Brooklyn has five children. Figures from 2002 claimed that there are over 76,000 Jews living in the area. It’s likely that the population has grown considerably in the last decade.

Other boys in Borough Park, like the eight-year-old victim, begin school at the age of three and study in a sex-segregated environment. Students are also taught secular subjects in addition to their religious pursuits. Reports estimated that the education can cost up to four-hundred dollars per month for each child.

Borough Park children are typically isolated from secular kids and have a limited or nonexistent understanding of pop culture. Reports stated that the defense attorney who allegedly stepped down from representing the eight-year-old’s killer claimed that the horrific way he was murdered led him to the decision to drop the case. Sources stated that Tylenol was among the drugs the killer administered on the boy before killing him and dismembering him.

The thirty-five-year-old killer has been admitted into Bellevue Hospital to undergo a psychiatric exam. Reports stated that he had claimed to be hearing voices. The killer allegedly wrote a handwritten confession on a legal pad during questioning by police and authorities on the case.

The killer claimed that the boy asked him for a ride to a nearby bookstore, but changed his mind on the way. He then stated that the boy agreed to accompany him to a wedding upstate. According to reports, the killer returned from the party around midnight that evening.

He stated that the boy fell asleep watching television, and that when he woke up he agreed to take him home before seeing flyers for the missing boy. In a state of panic, the killer claimed to have killed the boy because he was afraid to take him home and face the consequences of the abduction.

News: Update – Brooklyn Boy Was Drugged

(Long Island, N.Y.) Sources stated that the eight-year-old boy from Borough Park, Brooklyn was drugged after being abducted on the route to his mother on July 11th. He was given a cocktail of drugs including an antipsychotic called quetiapine and a muscle relaxant called cyclobenzaprine. The cocktail also included Vicodin, and it is uncertain whether any of the drugs had been prescribed to the thirty-five-year-old killer.

The drugs were administered before the boy was killed and dismembered. His remains were found two days after his abduction in a dumpster two miles down the road. His severed feet were found inside the killer’s refrigerator at his apartment on East Second Street.

The Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy determined that the boy died from a combination of the drugs and smothering. Investigators claimed that the killer used a bath towel to suffocate the boy. Reports stated that the boy fought his killer prior to death, a detail that the killer supported in his initial confession.

The boy became lost after missing a turn on his first attempt to walk home alone from day camp. Police and authorities on the case believe he was abducted roughly thirty-five minutes later. Investigators discovered this chain of events after digging up various street cameras in the area and piecing together the footage. Investigators also used this technique to identify the killer.

Reports stated that the killer said he tried to find the boy’s mother at the location where the boy was supposed to meet her. The killer also stated that the boy agreed to attend a wedding with him located in upstate New York. A gas attendant allegedly claimed that he saw the killer on his way up to the wedding, and that the boy with him needed to use the restroom.

None of the wedding guests reported seeing the boy among those who attended. Police and authorities on the case believe that the boy must have fallen asleep after returning to the apartment. The killer also claimed that the boy chose to stay with him the next day while watching television; however markings on his wrists suggested he was restrained during the kidnapping.

Reports also stated that the killer worked until his shift was over on Tuesday and then returned home. Investigators believe that the boy was killed that evening. Sources claimed that the killer said he murdered the boy in a panic, fearing the consequences of the abduction.

Followers of the case believe that the killer likely panicked after seeing the large amount of searchers and posters of the missing boy. He acknowledged the community’s strong response to the abduction and dedication to bringing the boy to safety. Sources stated that he will likely receive life in prison and that he is currently in Bellevue Hospital Center in a specialized psychiatric wing.

A grand jury indicted the killer on eight different counts of murder and kidnapping. He will be arraigned on July 28th, and reports stated that he will likely use the insanity defense. It’s uncertain if further investigations will be conducted, and authorities on the case have not released an official time of death.

News: Tough Times Trim $2B from MTA Budget

(Long Island, N.Y.) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has begun revising their capital plan ending in 2014 with the goal of eliminating $2 billion. The capital plan will fall short by $9 billion. Sources claimed that the capitol plan will run out of funds by the end of the year.

According to sources, cuts were used to purchase new trains, renovate stations, and perform routine track work. This would prevent commuters from having traditional access to buses if their subway line is down. The agency revising the budget is responsible for New York City buses and subways, nine bridges and tunnels, as well as the Long Island Rail Road.

Last year the MTA cut $2 billion from their capital plan. This reduced the capital plan to around $24 billion. Reports stated that the initial plan was to cut $28 million from the capital plan.

Sources claimed that the MTA will appeal to state and federal lawmakers to help fund the shortfalls that they are unable to satiate. An MTA spokesman stated that the capital plan cuts were about doing things more efficiently and that the new cuts will not compromise the system in a noticeable way. He also stated that passengers will not notice any change in their everyday commutes.

The chairman of the MTA finished outlining and releasing the new capital plan yesterday. The capital cuts will leave new projects in jeopardy of being removed from future plans of expansion. A new plan for saving nearly $500 million and allocating new resources aids in keeping things efficient.

Sources claimed that the emphasis was placed on keeping the MTA’s transportation system running. Reports also stated that there was less of a focus on creating jobs. The MTA is planning on lowering costs by using the weak construction market in a way to lock in lower costs from the contractors; a MTA spokesman stated that some bids even came in lower than expected.

The litany of ways cited for reducing costs could include layoffs, reducing purchasing costs, slowing maintenance costs, reducing administrative payroll, and reducing partnerships with contractors and trade unions. Over $300 million will be saved by cutting costs of track work.

These cuts come alongside recent news that nearly half of the fare-avoiders are kids who potentially cost the MTA millions of dollars a year. Many continue to not pay for their children even if they are taller than the established forty-four-inch standard. Passengers under that height are allowed to ride free.

News: Truck Crashes Into Historic Greenport Church

(Long Island, N.Y.) A Greenport pastor woke at roughly a quarter to midnight last night after hearing a loud crash. He looked outside and discovered that a vehicle had plowed through the north side of the First Baptist Church. The church is located on Main Street, and reports stated that no one was harmed during the incident.

The pastor stated that he thought that an air conditioner had fallen out of a window. He then discovered the crashed pickup truck; he also stated that he noticed a fence gate had been knocked over as a result of the crash. The building’s electric was shut off as a safety measure, and the town building department stated that the building was solid and structurally sound.

The black pickup truck was lodged under the main preaching area of the historic building. Reports stated that the church, built in 1831, has been in establishment for roughly one hundred and eighty years. The church was originally located on Old North Road and was moved to its current location around 1846.

Sources stated that the driver of the vehicle fled the scene. Police and authorities on the case were accompanied by a K-9 unit which was brought in to locate the man and assist in the investigation. Investigators eventually located the alleged hit-and-run driver and arrested him.

Reports stated that the driver had fled on foot in an unknown direction. It only took a team of investigators and detectives about an hour to locate the twenty-three-year-old driver. He is currently in police custody.

According to sources, the man was allegedly using his boss’ truck. Investigators stated that he did not have permission to use the 1999 Dodge 1500 pickup. The vehicle was owned by Mohr Landscaping of Cutchogue where he worked.

The driver of the truck is now being held and awaiting arraignment for the charges of driving without a license. He is also being charged with unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. The suspect will be arraigned early Wednesday at the Southold Town Justice Court.

The pastor has run the church for over fifteen years. Reports stated that he was shocked when he saw the truck dangling from the crash site.

News: Elderly Woman Mugged On Long Island

(Long Island, N.Y.) Two men forcefully tore a purse from a seventy-nine-year-old woman around seven yesterday evening in Elmont. The incident occurred near 238th Street. The woman was knocked over and her head was smashed into a sign.

Sources stated that the purse contents included the victim’s keys. It also included around ten dollars in cash and other personal items. According to Nassau County Police, the two suspects were both teenagers. Reports stated that both of the men responsible fled on foot and escaped without being identified.

Some feel that the increase in petty crime and robbery in recent years is directly linked to the decline in the economy. This robbery is reminiscent of the string of purse-snatchings, which terrorized Long Island women last year. Most of the crimes occurred at the end of the year, and the suspects have been profiled.

Hospital staff is ensuring that yesterday’s victim has not sustained any harsher injuries as a result of the attack. She has been escorted to the hospital and is being treated for cuts to her arm.

The suspects of the previous crimes had been targeting elderly woman, believing that they would be more susceptible victims. Sources stated that some of the attacks occurred in East Meadow, North Bellmore, North Merrick, and Wantagh. More attacks have occurred in other towns across Long Island, and authorities estimate that many attacks continue to go unreported.

Police stated that the suspects in last year’s attacks were also two men. Reports stated that one of the suspects was described as a clean-shaven black man in his early twenties. The other was described as a taller black man in his mid-twenties.

Many followers of the case have noted that crimes seem more likely to occur after the typical workday between the hours of 7pm to 11pm. In many of the cases, Long Island residents have begun to take steps toward protection by keeping alert during these critical hours.

Nassau County Police are asking anyone with further information to call Crime Stoppers. They urge the public to keep in mind that all calls will remain confidential and anonymous. Any information about each of the suspects could likely aid police and authorities with this ongoing investigation.

News: L.I. Teen on Drugs Charged with Possession

(Long Island, N.Y.) A nineteen-year-old Southampton woman was stopped this past Saturday for not wearing her seatbelt. It was later determined that she was under the influence of marijuana. Reports stated that she was charged with possession of marijuana and driving while impaired by drugs in addition to the charge for not wearing her seatbelt.

Police and authorities on the case discovered that the woman was in possession of two ounces of marijuana. This comes just two years after two Long Island teachers from John F. Kennedy Intermediate School in Deer Park were killed by a teenager in a similar incident. The teen pled not guilty to the charge of DUI and was held on bond for $1 million.

The nineteen-year-old Brookville teen, who had been allegedly driving while under the influence of drugs, struck the teachers. The teen killed one of them and left the other hospitalized. Reports stated that the teacher was not expected to survive and that the teen’s parents were not expected to be able to make his bail.

His attorney, who was allegedly a former prosecutor, did not comment. The prosecutor in the case against him claimed at the hearing that the police smelled marijuana on his breath. Police and authorities, who arrived at the scene, found pills in his sock when they performed a search of his vehicle.

According to the teacher’s fellow educators, the deceased was passionate about exercising. Some claimed that there was irony in the case being that the teacher died doing what she loved. Reports stated that the superintendent at John F. Kennedy Intermediate School considered the teacher to be an outstanding worker who stayed extra hours to further help her students.

Also passionate about martial arts, the deceased teacher often shared the lessons of the craft with her students by giving assemblies on the sport. Reports stated that the assemblies were always popular among her students and were known for attracting a considerable showing. A colleague claimed that she was loved by students, fellow school employees, and members of the administration.

This case is similar to that of another Long Island teenager who struck an elderly man on April 20th 2010. The teen faces charges for manslaughter and may be affected by the problems at the Nassau County Police Crime Lab. The crime lab was shut down because of numerous misconduct citations and questionable procedural discrepancies.