“Eighteen individuals went to extreme lengths to exploit a grieving family by allegedly conspiring to sell the family’s brownstone without their permission and fraudulently obtain a mortgage for profit,” said District Attorney Bragg. “We will prosecute those looking to take advantage of homeowners for personal gain and do not stop investigating until we know the full scope of fraud. Deed theft is one of the key areas of focus for our Housing and Tenant Protection Unit – if you may be a victim, please contact our Housing and Tenant Protection Unit at 212-335-3300 or email Danyhousing@dany.nyc.gov.”

“New York City employees must accurately document their time – they owe it to their coworkers, and to their fellow taxpayers,” said District Attorney Bragg. “We will continue to work with the Department of Investigation to ensure honest timekeeping and protect the City’s coffers.”

“A conductor for New York City Transit saved over the course of his career, intending for his daughter to inherit his hard-earned pension,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Instead, we allege, after he passed, his wife stole the pension death benefits that should have gone to her stepdaughter. City employees work too hard for their retirement savings to be drained through theft, and I thank the New York City Department of Investigation for its partnership combatting fraud.”

“Michael Chase and Jose Colon allegedly used the dark web to sell dangerous drugs in exchange for cryptocurrency, before moving the funds into fictitious business accounts. They allegedly shipped drugs to all fifty states, jeopardizing the health and safety of individuals across the country,” said District Attorney Bragg. “I want to thank our partners at USPIS and the Suffolk County D.A.’s Office for their partnership in this investigation.”

“Mohamed Orabi allegedly scammed a mobile food vendor out of thousands of dollars by promising them a permit. He continued this despicable conduct even after he was indicted for allegedly scamming other mobile food vendors,” said District Attorney Bragg. “My Office will continue to protect hard working New Yorkers and prosecute those who take advantage of them. If you have been scammed, please call our office’s Immigration Affairs Unit hotline at 212-335-3600 or via WhatsApp at 347-371-0877.”