Suffolk County's War On Illegal Drugs

Suffolk County Police today arrested four Long Island men involved in a multi-state distribution network and seized more than $700,000 worth of drugs.  

Suffolk County Police Narcotics Section Detectives, along with the Illinois State Police, the New York State Police, the Nassau County Police Department, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, arrested four Long Island residents for distributing large quantities of cocaine and heroin in both Suffolk and Nassau Counties.  

Illinois State Police developed information indicating that illicit drugs were being transported from California, through the State of Illinois, and ultimately ending up on Long Island . During a follow-up investigation by Suffolk County Police Narcotics Detectives, it was determined that Athrondre Dennard of North Babylon, Byron Odom of Amityville, Shaun Ross of Hempstead, and Robert Blount of Roosevelt, were involved in a large-scale drug network that distributed in both Suffolk and Nassau Counties.  

"These arrests demonstrate the zero-tolerance approach we take towards those who seek to profit from harming our children with heroin, cocaine and other narcotics,” said County Executive Steve Levy. “I commend our Narcotics Unit and entire Police Department for their role in stopping this national distribution network."  

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer thanked all the agencies involved: "I applaud this outstanding collaborative effort among County, State and Federal agencies which has helped stem the flow of illicit narcotics into our communities and has resulted in serious charges against four major drug traffickers."  

The operation resulted in the seizure of 13 kilos of cocaine, over 100 grams of crack/cocaine, an ounce of “Black Tar” heroin, which is not usually found on Long Island, $19,200, two handguns, and two vehicles outfitted with traps utilized to secrete drugs.  

The following men were charged federally with Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics:

• Athrondre Dennard, 34, of 243 Columbus Ave., North Babylon
• Shaun Ross, 35, of 38 Crowell St. , Hempstead
• Robert Blount, 41, of 20 Royal Court , Roosevelt  
• Byron Odom, 45,of 777 County Line Rd. , Amityville  

All four men were arraigned in Federal Court in the Eastern District of New York in Central Islip where they were all ordered held with no bail.  

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven

Dept. Of Health Services Recommends Closing Blydenburgh 6pm-8am

 Hauppauge, NY – Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) Commissioner James L. Tomarken, MD, MSW, MPH, MBA, FRCPC, FACP, has been notified by the New York State Department of Health that nineteen additional mosquito samples sent to their laboratory have tested positive for West Nile virus.  These samples were collected between July 21^st and July 23^rd in Brookhaven: (4) Selden, Farmingville; Huntington: (6) Melville, Dix Hills, Greenlawn, South Huntington;  Smithtown: (3) Smithtown, Nesconset;  Riverhead: (2) Jamesport, Aquebogue;  Babylon: (2) West Babylon, North Babylon; and Islip: (2) West Islip, Ronkonkoma.  Two of the Smithtown samples were collected in Blydenburgh County Park.  To date a total of 38 mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus.  Six birds have tested positive.  There have been no human cases reported in Suffolk County this year.

To protect the public, the Department of Health Services has recommended that Blydenburgh County Park be closed from 6 pm to 8 am and all activities suspended during those hours. 

West Nile virus, first detected in Suffolk County in 1999 and again each year thereafter through 2010, is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. No humans, horses or birds have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Suffolk this year.

While most people infected with West Nile virus will experience mild or no symptoms, some can develop severe symptoms including: high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. Individuals, especially those 50 years of age or older or those with compromised immune systems, who are most at risk, are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. 

To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at 631-852-4270.

For medical questions related to West Nile virus, call 631-853-3055.

 For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ website at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health.

Lazio on Levy's Endorsement

New York, NY - Rick Lazio, the Republican and Conservative candidate for Governor, issued the following statement today in reaction to receiving the endorsement of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy:
 
Rick Lazio said, "I am grateful for Steve Levy’s endorsement today.  Like me, Steve has dealt first-hand with the consequences of the Albany political machine which is stifling the economy of our state.  I am pleased to have Steve Levy’s support for my agenda of reduced spending, a balanced budget, less taxes and more jobs for the people of New York."

EPA Report: 22 Million Cataract Cases Will Be Prevented by Stronger Ozone Layer Protection

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency marked the beginning of Cataract Awareness Month by announcing a new peer-reviewed report predicting that more than 22 million additional cataract cases will be avoided for Americans born between 1985 and 2100 due to the Montreal Protocol. The environmental treaty, signed by 196 countries, was designed to reduce and eventually eliminate ozone depleting substances. Too much UV radiation not only increases the risk for skin cancer, but also increases the risk for cataracts -- a clouding of the eye’s lens that affects more than 20 million Americans age 40 and older.

“Since the 1970s, we have prevented millions of skin cancer cases and deaths through our work protecting the ozone layer,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “I am excited to kick off Cataract Awareness Month by announcing that the science has now enabled us to estimate our impact on cataracts.”

Due to the success of the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is predicted to recover to pre-1980 levels after 2065. In the meantime, under a compromised ozone layer, more ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaches the Earth’s surface. While treatment for cataracts is widely available in the U.S., the costs are high, with direct medical costs estimated to be $6.8 billion per year

For the first time, EPA is able to include data on cataract risk by gender and skin type in the report. However, all people, regardless of gender and skin type, are at risk for cataracts. This is why it is important for adults and children to use eyewear that absorbs UV rays and to wear a wide-brimmed hat.  

The following changes in vision may be signs of cataracts:

• ·         Blurred vision, double vision, ghost images, the sense of a "film" over the eyes
• ·         Lights seem too dim for reading or close-up work, or feeling "dazzled" by strong light
• ·        

Information on the report:

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/effects/index.html.

More information on eye damage: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/eyedamage.pdf.

More information on the Montreal Protocol:  http://www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/

AG Cuomo Investigates Life Insurance Industry

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION OF LIFE INSURANCE INDUSTRY FOR DEFRAUDING MILITARY FAMILIES AND OTHERS OF MILLIONS IN CASH PAYOUTS

Subpoenas Served on Prudential Financial, Inc. and MetLife, Inc.; Entire Industry Under Investigation ~Insurers Appear to Have Reaped Hundreds of Millions in Secret Profits While Misleading Families into Putting Benefits into Insurer Controlled, Low Yield, Potentially Risky Accounts

NEW YORK, NY (July 29, 2010) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced his office has launched a major fraud investigation into the life insurance industry for practices that appear to have denied grieving military families and others of millions in life-insurance cash.

Cuomo served subpoenas on Prudential Financial, Inc. and MetLife, Inc. that provide life insurance policies to members of the military as well as nonmilitary federal employees. Cuomo’s investigation has already begun to closely scrutinize how military families and others were misled into putting benefits into insurer-controlled, low yield, potentially risky accounts which reaped millions of secret profits for the insurers.

“It is shocking and plain wrong for these multi-national life insurance companies to pocket hundreds of millions in profits that really belong to those who have lost family members and have already suffered immensely,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “To make matters worse, the insurance industry appears to be hoarding millions that belong to military families whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

Specifically, at this stage of the investigation, it appears that rather than receiving an automatic lump-sum payout from Prudential or MetLife upon the death of the policyholder, grieving families are told that the payout will be placed in an interest-bearing account. These accounts, known as “retained-asset accounts,” are controlled by the insurers and referred to respectively as the “Alliance Account” and the “Total Control Account.”

It appears that the substantial interest earned on these accounts mostly benefit and enrich the insurers at the expense of the families to whom the money really belongs. And, beneficiaries are not adequately informed by the insurers of the details of these accounts including the fact that the insurers are making huge profits at the expense of the grieving family.

Specifically, the insurers place the cash belonging to these families in the insurers’ corporate accounts, reportedly earning the companies upwards of 4.8%. The insurers then pay families as little as 0.5% interest, less than half the rate available at some FDIC insured banks. In short, beneficiaries are unaware that the insurers are reaping enormous, secret profits on these accounts, while the families are losing out on significant potential earnings.

Furthermore, because insurers do not put the cash owed to families in banks insured by the FDIC, but instead in the insurer's corporate account, these assets may not be safe, are not protected by FDIC rules, and may be subject to the insurer’s creditors.

Prudential beneficiaries also receive what appears to be a "checkbook," with "checks" bearing the name of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Prudential beneficiaries are not informed by Prudential that these so-called "checks" may not be able to be used to make purchases and are not bank checks at all. Instead, Prudential must send money to JPMorgan Chase before the checks can clear. Prudential beneficiaries are also not informed that under a 2008 law, they have one year to place the death benefits in a Roth IRA and earn tax-free investment gains for the rest of their lives. Thus, real financial harm is suffered by Prudential's lack of disclosure.

The subpoenas Cuomo has issued are broad-ranging and demand comprehensive data from the companies, including but not limited to the production of information relating to how and when beneficiaries are informed of the terms and conditions relating to the retained-asset accounts, as well as data relating to the difference between interest earned by the insurance companies and interest earned by the beneficiaries.

Cuomo has also begun a comprehensive review of the life insurance industry and its practices to determine the extent to which other companies are engaged in these or any other similar fraudulent practices. It appears at this stage of the investigation that some of these practices may be widespread in the industry.

The investigation, led by Consumer Frauds & Protection Bureau Chief Joy Feigenbaum, is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Laura J. Levine, under the direction of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice Maria Vullo and Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice Michael Berlin.