Beginning Monday, State Police in Western New York, along with other law enforcement agencies, will be participating in the annual “Click It or Ticket” national campaign, a two-week period during which police will issue tickets for unrestrained drivers and passengers, Major Christopher L. Cummings, Troop “A” Commander announced today.  “The “Buckle Up New York – Click It Or Ticket” enforcement period is a statewide, zero-tolerance enforcement effort coordinated by the State Police and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to increase safety restraint use in New York State,” he said.

Single-focused enforcement campaigns, such as this, have played a critical role in the state’s rise in seat belt use. The goal is to continue reducing traffic deaths by maintaining New York’s standing as one of the highest belt use states in the nation.

Special seat belt checkpoints and other stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during a heavy wave of enforcement, May 21 – June 3, 2012

New York State law requires that all front-seat occupants must be properly secured, regardless of age. It also applies to all rear-seat passengers under the age of 16. Drivers and front-seat passengers who are age 16 or older may be fined up to $50 for not buckling up. Drivers failing to have children under age eight in a child restraint device or anyone under the age of 16 properly secured may be fined $100 and receive three points on their drivers’ license.

New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic law requires the use of safety restraints as follows:

• All front seat occupants ages 7 and older must wear a seat belt.

• All rear seat passengers ages 7 through 15 must wear a seat belt.

• All children less than 4 years old must be restrained in a federally-approved child safety seat. However, if a child less than 4 years old weighs more than 40 pounds, the child may be restrained in a child restraint system in conjunction with safety belts. The restraint system must meet size and weight recommendations of the manufacturer.

• Children ages 4, 5, and 6 must be properly restrained in an appropriate child restraint system, one that meets the child’s height and weight recommendations, according to the child restraint manufacturer. As of Nov. 24, 2009, this requirement will apply to children until their eighth birthday. There are no exemptions for height or weight for children under eight.

• Drivers are responsible for passengers under age 16 who are found to be in violation of the law.

“Wearing a safety belt triples your chance of surviving a crash. Proper use of safety belts and child safety seats save countless numbers of lives every year. We are participating in Click It or Ticket because we’re committed to preventing the tragic loss of life and devastating injuries that come with not buckling up. It can’t be over emphasized: Safety belts and child safety seats save lives, added Major Cummings.”

1. Headquarters: FBI Releases 2011 Preliminary Statistics for Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

   The FBI announced that 72 of the nation’s law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty during 2011. Full Story

2. Seattle: Financial Advisor Indicted in $46 Million Investment Fraud Scheme

   Mark F. Spangler, a long-time Seattle financial advisor, was charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and investment advisor fraud. Full Story

3. Dallas: Reward for Information About the Recent Mailings of White Powder Letters in the North Texas Area

   Representatives from FBI Dallas and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the recent mailings of letters containing white powder in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Full Story

4. Phoenix: State Representative Charged in Bribery Scheme
   
   Paul Ben Arredondo, a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, was charged with bribery, fraud, attempted extortion, and false statements in connection with receiving more than $6,000 in tickets to sporting and special events. Full Story
5. Birmingham: Former Organ Center Executive Sentenced for Fraud

   Demosthenes Lalisan, the former director of the Alabama Organ Center, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for his role in a scheme to take kickbacks from a funeral home that did business with the organ center. Full Story

6. Los Angeles: Manager of International Computer Hacking Ring Sentenced for Defrauding Banks

   Nichole Michelle Merzi was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in an international phishing operation that used spam e-mails and bogus websites to collect personal information in an effort to defraud American banks. Full Story

7. Washington: Former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Manager Pleads Guilty in Alleged $30 Million Bribery and Kickback Scheme

   Kerry F. Khan, a former program manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, pled guilty for his participation in a scheme that allegedly involved more than $30 million in bribes and kickback payments and the planned steering of a government contract potentially worth $1 billion. Full Story

8. Jacksonville: Man Indicted for Sextortion and Cyberstalking

   Christopher P. Gunn was indicted on multiple charges involving the online sextortion and cyberstalking of girls ranging in age from 13 to 17 years old. Full Story

9. Baltimore: Chief Financial Officer Sentenced in $78 Million Dream Home Mortgage Fraud Scheme

   Carole Nelson was sentenced to 29 months in prison for money laundering in connection with her participation in a massive mortgage fraud scheme that falsely promised to pay off homeowners’ mortgages on their “Dream Homes.” Full Story

10. San Francisco: Mongols Motorcycle Gang Member Sentenced for Murder

    Christopher Bryan Ablett, a member of the Modesto Chapter of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the president of the San Francisco chapter of Hells Angels. Full Story

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 nationally, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours.

“Too many drivers and passengers on the road at night are not wearing their seat belts, and it all too often ends in tragedy,” Koss said. “Our goal is to save more lives, so the New York State Police and our local traffic safety partners will be out enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.”

Seat belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year. NHTSA statistics show that in 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.

Yet, too many motorists may need a tough reminder. In 2010, 22,187 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA, and 51 percent of them were NOT wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.

Click It or Ticket– Day and Night!

ALBANY, NY (05/17/2012)(readMedia)– Since the beginning of the state’s economic recovery in November 2009, New York State has added 335,100 private sector jobs and regained all of the private sector jobs it lost during the recession, the State Labor Department reported today. New York State’s economy added 100 private sector jobs in April 2012. The state’s private sector job count now stands at 7,319,600 – an all-time high. Only five states – including New York – have more private sector jobs today than they did before the recession.

Although the state’s unemployment rate of 8.5% remained unchanged from March to April 2012, the number of unemployed New Yorkers declined by 3,000 from 810,700 in March to 807,700 in April 2012. In order to have achieved a decline in the unemployment rate from 8.5% to 8.4%, the number of the unemployed would have required a decrease of 4,500.

“The statistics show New York grew and continues to grow jobs in the private sector, and we are seeing that growth reflected in the number of job seekers returning to work. In April, the number of unemployed state residents fell by 3,000,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, Deputy Director of the Division of Research and Statistics.

Note: The data above are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month; for example, April 2011 versus April 2012.

1) Unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted):

The state’s unemployment rate for April 2012 held steady at 8.5%. The number of unemployed New Yorkers decreased over the month — from 810,700 in March to 807,700 in April 2012.

Unemployment Rates (%)*

	April 2012*	March 2012	April 2011
United States	8.1	8.2	9.0
New York State	8.5	8.5	8.0
New York City	9.5	9.7	8.8
NYS, outside NYC	7.7	7.6	7.5

*Data are preliminary and subject to change, based on standard procedures outlined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

See State and Area Jobs Data

See Labor Market Overview

See Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet

 

For the complete report, please see the attached NYSDOL May 17, 2012 Job Numbers Report.

Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced today the indictment of Martin S. Kimber, 59, of Ruby, New York. Kimber is charged in three counts with violations of the chemical weapon statute (counts one and two), which prohibits individuals from possessing, stockpiling, or using a toxic chemical as a weapon; and with a violation of the consumer product tampering statute (count three).

The indictment alleges that in December 10, 2010 and December 23, 2010, Kimber received medical care at the Albany Medical Center and that on January 24, 2011, he wrote to complain about having to pay for his treatment. It further alleges that on February 22, 2011, the Albany Medical Center Associate Medical Director wrote back to explain why the bills were appropriate and discussed the outcome associated with the defendant having provided inaccurate information about his injury and his decision not to complete the care proscribed by his treating physician.

The indictment alleges that on March 2, 2012, Kimber spread mercury, a known toxic substance, throughout various areas of the Albany Medical Center cafeteria, including in and around food served to customers, and on and around heating elements use in food preparation. It further describes three previous instances, March 28, 2011, April 11, 2011, June 23, 2011, where mercury was spread around the hospital on days when New York State toll records establish the defendant traveled from his home in Ruby, New York and exited at the get-off for the Albany Medical Center. The indictment alleges that on March 2, 2012, Kimber’s activities were captured on hospital video surveillance cameras in the Albany Medical Center cafeteria— where mercury was subsequently found —including on food consumed by at least one patron. Canisters of mercury were subsequently found by law enforcement officers in Kimber’s home and car. The person who ate the contaminated food was subsequently treated in the hospital’s emergency room. An emergency chemical response team at the Albany Medical Center responded promptly to the mercury contamination on each occasion and removed it from the premises.

The defendant was arrested on April 25, 2012 and is in jail, being held in pretrial detention. On March 2, 2012, following a detention hearing, United States Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter determined that Kimber poses a serious danger to the community and that no combination of release conditions could be established to permit him to be released without continuing to pose a danger to the community.

A complaint filed in support of an arrest warrant was unsealed on April 26, 2012. It alleged that a search warrant was executed at Kimber’s house and automobile. Besides the seizure of two canisters of mercury, the complaint further alleged that approximately 21 guns were removed from Kimber’s residence. Literature reflecting sympathy for domestic terrorism (The Turner Diaries) was observed during the search, which states on the cover page, “This book contains racist propagnda” and “The FBI said it was the blueprint for the Oklahoma City bombing. Searching officers further observed a Nazi swastika on a wall of Kimber’s home.

The two chemical weapons counts each contain a maximum possible term of life in jail and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross loss to any victim. The consumer product tampering charge contains a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in jail and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross loss to any victim.

Mercury is a known hazardous substance that has been very well-studied. Among other things, mercury is a human neurotoxin that kills nerve cells, can result in brain and lung damage, respiratory failure, ataxia, speech impairment, constriction of the visual field, hearing loss, and somatosensory change. Mercury is readily absorbed through unbroken skin, by intestinal absorption after ingestion, and by inhalation of vapors. It accumulates in the body and can cause damage to internal organs including kidneys.

The allegations in the Indictment and criminal complaint are mere accusations and all persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistance has been provided by the Towns of Albany and Ulster Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Benedict. Questions may be directed to AUSA Benedict at 315-448-0672.

ALBANY—United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Clifford C. Holly, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Division, announced that Leonard M. Gaines, age 55, of Albany, New York, pled guilty today in United States District Court in Albany before District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino to one count of distributing child pornography.

Pursuant to a written plea agreement, Gaines admitted that on December 19, 2011, while using a file sharing program, he distributed, via the Internet, multiple still images containing child pornography. Gaines also admitted that following the March 2, 2012 execution of a federal search warrant at his Albany residence, investigators recovered additional electronic still images and videos of child pornography.

Sentencing was scheduled by Judge D’Agostino for September 6, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Albany, New York. Gaines faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years’ imprisonment, up to a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment. Gaines was released pending his sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.