$1.7M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced $1.7M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced
$1.7M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced A mother-daughter duo has been sentenced to prison for defrauding the government of approximately $1.7 million.  Westchester County residents Alicia Ayers and her mother, Andrea Ayers, both of Mount Vernon, were found guilty of submitting more than 300 fraudulent applications for US Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans.  Andrea Ayers was a former Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Mount Vernon Police Department. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program to provide low-interest …
Flip In Weather Pattern Coming After Days Of Frost, Freeze: 5-Day Forecast Flip In Weather Pattern Coming After Days Of Frost, Freeze: 5-Day Forecast
Flip In Weather Pattern Coming After Days Of Frost, Freeze: 5-Day Forecast The first half of the weekend will mark the end of a stretch of days with morning frost and freeze. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday, April 27, will be the last unseasonably cool morning for a while as temperatures gradually turn milder. By Saturday afternoon, temperatures will recover into the lower 60s in most spots amid plenty of sunshine. Clouds will increase after nightfall, and scattered showers overnight will linger into the middle of Sunday, April 28. "Despite some clouds, cool air, and a little shower activity to start the weekend, it has been relatively dry re…
In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway
In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway Despite social media buzz and some help from a couple of drone operators, there’s still no sign of a family of black bear cubs days after their mama was struck and killed on a highway in the region. The Columbia County incident happened Friday evening, April 19, on the Taconic State Parkway near Exit 99 in the hamlet of Spencertown. Two or three 10-pound cubs that are still nursing were left orphaned when the adult bear was hit and killed, according to the wildlife nonprofit Lucky Rehabilitation Center. “We located the body of their mom and will be gathering hair samples this morning in th…
Support Swells For Marine Vet Hospitalized In After Serious Crash In Harriman Support Swells For Marine Vet Hospitalized In After Serious Crash In Harriman
Support Swells For Marine Vet Hospitalized In After Serious Crash In Harriman A fundraising campaign has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help a Marine Corps veteran and martial arts school manager who was seriously injured in a Hudson Valley crash. Marine Corps veteran Mickaëlla "Micka" Nugent was seriously injured in a crash in the Orange County village of Harriman on Friday, April 12.  She was then rushed to Garnet Medical Center in Middletown before being airlifted to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where she currently remains.  Because Nugent, a graduate of Mamaroneck High School, was critically injured, she faces rising medica…
Criminal Investigation Opened In Helicopter Crash Killing NY National Guard Members: Report Criminal Investigation Opened In Helicopter Crash Killing NY National Guard Members: Report
Criminal Investigation Opened In Helicopter Crash Killing NY National Guard Members: Report Officials have launched a criminal investigation into a National Guard helicopter crash near the southern border that killed two members from New York and a third victim, ABC News reports. The incident – which saw a UH-72 Lakota helicopter go down near Rio Grande City, Texas, on Friday, March 8 – is now the focus of an investigation by the Starr County Sheriff’s Office into whether there was any criminal wrongdoing, officials told the outlet. That investigation is separate from a parallel probe being conducted by the Department of Defense. So far, authorities have not publicly said what cau…
Ceiling Collapse Causes Major Damage At Historic Mansion Overlooking Hudson River Ceiling Collapse Causes Major Damage At Historic Mansion Overlooking Hudson River
Ceiling Collapse Causes Major Damage At Historic Mansion Overlooking Hudson River A ceiling collapse caused significant damage at a historic mansion and museum in the Hudson Valley. The incident happened in Putnam County in the hamlet of Garrison at Boscobel House and Gardens, which overlooks the Hudson River. On Tuesday, April 16, the plaster ceiling in its historic library collapsed without warning, causing major damage to the room, its contents, and adjacent rooms, according to Boscobel.  No one was in the building when the incident happened. Boscobel said it is "working diligently alongside a team of engineers, art conservators, and local officials to ass…
Hudson Valley Man Admits Sexually Abusing 2 Children, DA Says Hudson Valley Man Admits Sexually Abusing 2 Children, DA Says
Hudson Valley Man Admits Sexually Abusing 2 Children, DA Says A Hudson Valley man faces years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two children over two years. Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced Thursday, April 25, that Alejandro Perez, 34, of Haverstraw, pleaded guilty to course of sexual conduct against a child and sexual abuse. Starting in the summer of 2021 and throughout the next two years, Perez subjected two children to sexual abuse on multiple occasions, said Scott Waters of the Rockland County District Attorney's Office. Waters said the sexual abuse consisted of oral sexual conduct as…
Hudson Valley School Bus Driver Of Year Named Hudson Valley School Bus Driver Of Year Named
Hudson Valley School Bus Driver Of Year Named With a smile and a shiny plaque in her hands, a Hudson Valley school bus driver was named Driver of the Year. Dutchess County resident, Linda Lawlor of the Hyde Park Central School District, was recently named School Bus Driver of the Year by the Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board.  County representatives presented Lawlor with a plaque on Wednesday, April 24, in front of Haviland Middle School. Lawlor has nearly 20 years of experience driving buses, with 10 years at Hyde Park. While getting the recognition was initially overwhelming, Lawlor considers it a great honor. “I…
President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine
President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine Two New York women convicted of non-violent federal drug offenses are among 16 people nationwide to receive clemency from President Joe Biden. Stacy Wilder, age 49, of Albany, served nearly six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine in the Northern District of New York in January 2003. She received a full pardon from the president. Had she been sentenced under current law and sentencing guidelines, Wilder would have received a significantly lower sentence, the White House said.  Since serving her time, Wilder has worked as a payro…
Drunk Driver Leaving Bar Admits Causing Deadly Orange County Crash Drunk Driver Leaving Bar Admits Causing Deadly Orange County Crash
Drunk Driver Leaving Bar Admits Causing Deadly Orange County Crash An admitted drunk driver is facing years in prison for causing a fatal crash on a Hudson Valley highway that left another person injured. Nicholle Hoke, age 45, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in Orange County Court on Wednesday, April 24. Orange County prosecutors said Hoke, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, was leaving an Ulster County bar in New Paltz on the night of June 24, 2023, when she crashed into another car on Route 9W in Newburgh at around 10 p.m. The impact killed one passenger in the other car and seriously injured another. An admitted drunk driver is facing years …
Hudson Valley Powerball Player $50K Richer Off Third-Place Ticket Hudson Valley Powerball Player $50K Richer Off Third-Place Ticket
Hudson Valley Powerball Player $50K Richer Off Third-Place Ticket A lucky Hudson Valley Lotto player is $50,000 richer after winning a third-prize ticket for selecting four correct numbers and the Powerball. According to New York Lottery officials, the Powerball ticket for the Monday, April 22 game was sold in Rockland County at the M&M Super Shoppe at 104 Lafayette Ave., in Suffern. The winning numbers for the game were 12-16-33-39-52 and a Powerball of 1. No word yet on who the winner is. The game numbers are drawn from a field of one to 69. The red Power Ball is drawn from a separate field of one to 26.  The Powerball drawing is televised e…
New Update: Biden's Hudson Valley Visit To Cause 'Significant' Traffic Impacts, Police Say New Update: Biden's Hudson Valley Visit To Cause 'Significant' Traffic Impacts, Police Say
New Update: Biden's Hudson Valley Visit To Cause 'Significant' Traffic Impacts, Police Say Before President Joe Biden's visit to Westchester, authorities are warning motorists of expected impacts to rush hour traffic. New, updated report - Biden Visit: These Westchester School Districts Announce Early Dismissals Biden will be in the county on Thursday, April 25, when he is scheduled to appear at a fundraising event in the village of Irvington-on-Hudson hosted by actors Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Earlier Report - President Biden To Visit Irvington: Here's When According to an announcement from the Irvington Police Department on Tuesday, April …
Orange County Man Sentenced For Possession of Gun, Drugs Orange County Man Sentenced For Possession of Gun, Drugs
Orange County Man Sentenced For Possession of Gun, Drugs A Hudson Valley man is headed to prison after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a weapon and possession of drugs. Orange County resident Steven Bostic, age 41, of Middletown, was sentenced Monday, April 22, to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, according to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court on the evening of April 30, 2023, City of Newburgh Police Officers responded to a domestic incident at a residence in the City. Upon arriving, officers heard yelling inside…
ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley
ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley The identity has been released of a man who was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train in the Hudson Valley.  The incident happened on the railroad's Harlem Line in Dutchess County at around 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Appalachian Trail station in Pawling, according to the MTA. On Sunday morning, April 21, MTA Deputy Communications Director Aaron Donovan identified the man who was struck as being from Connecticut: Fairfield County resident James Hare, age 62, of Newtown. Original report - Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valle…
Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley
Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley A person was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train overnight in the region. Click here for a new, updated story: ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Train In Hudson Valley The incident happened on the railroad's Harlem Line in Dutchess County at around 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Appalachian Trail station in Pawling, according to the MTA. The identity of the person has not yet been released. Service was suspended between Wassaic and Southeast from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
Cable Company Employee Electrocuted While Working In Capital Region Cable Company Employee Electrocuted While Working In Capital Region
Cable Company Employee Electrocuted While Working In Capital Region A cable company employee was electrocuted while working on a utility pole in the region. The Albany County incident happened at around 2 a.m. Friday, April 19, in the town of Berne on Long Road. The Spectrum Cable employee was in a bucket truck performing routine equipment maintenance on a utility pole when he came into contact with an electrical line, a spokesperson for Spectrum’s parent company Charter Communications told Daily Voice. Emergency crews arrived to find the truck on fire. Medics with the East Berne Fire Department pronounced the employee dead at the scene. His identity had…
Guardian Dogs Escape Hudson Valley Farm, Kill Poodle, Attack Owner: Report Guardian Dogs Escape Hudson Valley Farm, Kill Poodle, Attack Owner: Report
Guardian Dogs Escape Hudson Valley Farm, Kill Poodle, Attack Owner: Report Two guardian dogs from a nonprofit farm in Westchester may be euthanized after escaping the property and attacking a woman and her leashed poodle on a trail, according to a New York Times report.  The attack happened on Tuesday, February 6, when two guardian dogs escaped the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture in Tarrytown at 630 Bedford Rd. and ran into a woman and her 10-pound miniature poodle on a public trail. They then attacked the woman and killed the poodle, according to a new report by The New York Times. The two dogs, a Great Pyrenees named Luna and an Akbash na…
New Update: ID Released For Man Who Set Self On Fire Outside Trump Trial In NY Court New Update: ID Released For Man Who Set Self On Fire Outside Trump Trial In NY Court
New Update: ID Released For Man Who Set Self On Fire Outside Trump Trial In NY Court This story has been updated. A man survived after lighting himself on fire just steps away from the Manhattan courthouse where former President Trump’s alleged hush money trial was underway. The incident, which was broadcast live to a national audience on CNN, happened at around 1:40 p.m. Friday, April 19, right outside the New York Supreme Court near Foley Square. NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said the man walked into the park before reaching into a backpack and throwing several pamphlets onto the ground. He then doused himself with an accelerant and lit himself on fire. Flames could be s…
Man Captures Images Of Young Girls With Hidden Cameras At Hudson Valley Park: Feds Man Captures Images Of Young Girls With Hidden Cameras At Hudson Valley Park: Feds
Man Captures Images Of Young Girls With Hidden Cameras At Hudson Valley Park: Feds A 54-year-old man faces child pornography possession charges after placing hidden cameras in the bathroom of a public park in the Hudson Valley to capture images of young girls, officials announced. Putnam County resident John Towers of Mahopac was arrested on Thursday, April 18 on child pornography charges, the US Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, from July 24, 2018, to December 9, 2019, Towers put hidden cameras in the bathroom of a privately owned public park in Putnam County to secretly record sexually explicit images…
Child Ingested Cocaine At NY Home Where MMA Fighter Dad Killed Daughter, DA Says Child Ingested Cocaine At NY Home Where MMA Fighter Dad Killed Daughter, DA Says
Child Ingested Cocaine At NY Home Where MMA Fighter Dad Killed Daughter, DA Says New details have surfaced in the case of a father accused of starving his 5-year-old daughter to death at a home in the region. Police were called to a Schenectady residence on Elmer Avenue near Poplar Street at around 3 a.m. Sunday, April 14, for a young girl who was unconscious and not breathing. Medics pronounced the girl dead a short time later. An investigation found that the girl’s father, 33-year-old Robert Buskey, starved her of food and water for at least four days before her death, WRGB reports, citing court documents. Earlier Report: Dad Charged In 5-Year-Old Daughter's …
Campground Kidnapping: Man Gets Decades For Abduction, Sexual Assault Of NY 9-Year-Old Campground Kidnapping: Man Gets Decades For Abduction, Sexual Assault Of NY 9-Year-Old
Campground Kidnapping: Man Gets Decades For Abduction, Sexual Assault Of NY 9-Year-Old A confessed kidnapper who abducted a 9-year-old girl from a New York state park before sexually abusing her in a case that garnered national attention could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Saratoga County resident Craig Ross Jr., age 47, of Ballston Spa, was sentenced to 47 years to life in prison in Saratoga County Court on Wednesday, April 17. It followed his guilty plea to kidnapping and related charges in which he admitted to abducting the child as she rode her bike in Moreau Lake State Park in September 2023. Earlier Report: Campground Kidnapping: Man Admits Abducting, …
Ford Recalls Over 450K Of Some Of Its Most Popular Models Over Safety Concerns Ford Recalls Over 450K Of Some Of Its Most Popular Models Over Safety Concerns
Ford Recalls Over 450K Of Some Of Its Most Popular Models Over Safety Concerns Ford announced that it would recall over 450,000 Bronco Sport SUVs and Maverick vehicles because of an issue with the battery that can cause the drive train to lose power and increase the likelihood of wrecks.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a report on Friday, April 12, saying sensors in the car could fail to notice a change in the battery's power. If the power drops too low, the vehicle could turn off or lose important components such as hazard lights if the car breaks down.  The Broncos were produced from February 2020 until March 2024. Ford Maveric…
$3M Fraud: NY Theme Park Owner Stole COVID-19 Federal Aid $3M Fraud: NY Theme Park Owner Stole COVID-19 Federal Aid
$3M Fraud: NY Theme Park Owner Stole Covid-19 Federal Aid A man who owns a now-defunct Manhattan restaurant and a local theme park will spend time behind bars for stealing COVID-19 funds and putting it towards, among other things, a home in Nantucket. Long Island resident Donald Finley, age 61 of Locust Valley, faced his 24-month sentence on Tuesday, April 16, according to the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York. Original Story - COVID-19: Bayville Adventure Park Owner Admits To Stealing $3.2M In Federal Aid Finley, who owns Bayville Adventure Park and used to own a now-shuttered Jekyll & Hyde-themed restaura…
Orange County Man Steals $30K In Workers' Compensation Intended For Late Mother, DA Says Orange County Man Steals $30K In Workers' Compensation Intended For Late Mother, DA Says
Orange County Man Steals $30K In Workers' Compensation Intended For Late Mother, DA Says A Hudson Valley man is among two defendants accused of stealing thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation intended for his late mother. Orange County resident Bryan Dunn, age 51, of Maybrook, and Hunter Diaz, age 26, of Port Richey, Florida, were arraigned on insurance fraud and related charges in Orange County Court on Tuesday, April 16. According to prosecutors, Dunn and Diaz conspired to steal more than $30,000 in workers’ compensation checks that were issued to Dunn’s late mother. The two were arrested following an investigation by the multi-agency Orange County White Collar Crime …
Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC
Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC Nineteen people in nine states, including New Jersey and New York, reported illness after injections from a "counterfeit or mishandled" injection of botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. As of April 15, a total of 19 people from 9 states reported harmful reactions after receiving botulinum toxin injections from unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-healthcare settings, such as homes and spas, the CDC said.  Counterfeit Botox packages. FDA States reporting these reactions include Colorado, Florida, Illinois, K…
NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia
NY Man Known As 'Sal The Shoemaker' Admits Running Illegal Gambling Operation For Mafia An associate of the Genovese organized crime family known as “Sal the Shoemaker” admitted to operating an illegal gambling business associated with La Cosa Nostra. Long Island resident Salvatore Rubino, age 60, of Bethpage, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 16, at federal court in Brooklyn to operating the business. Earlier this month, four co-defendant members and associates of the Genovese crime family admitted to various felony charges stemming from their long-running operation of several lucrative gambling operations in New York City. Of the five charged, four are from Long Isl…
Update: Police Still Investigating Loud Booming Noise In Hudson Valley Update: Police Still Investigating Loud Booming Noise In Hudson Valley
Update: Police Still Investigating Loud Booming Noise In Hudson Valley Authorities have offered more possible explanations for a loud booming noise heard in the Hudson Valley. The possible explosion was heard by several Putnam County residents on Saturday, April 14 just before 9 p.m. when the Carmel and Kent Police Departments received several reports of a loud booming noise in the Lake Carmel area.  Earlier Report - 'Loud Boom' Heard In Carmel, Kent: Police Investigating After the noise was reported, both departments were unable to pinpoint the cause or find any damage related to it.   Days later, on Tuesday, April 16, Carmel Police agai…
Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street
Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street More than a quarter of a million dollars has been raised to support the families of a police officer and sheriff's deputy killed in a shootout with a suspect who also died on a quiet suburban street in upstate New York earlier this week. The two officers were  Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hoosock, age 37, and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen, age 29. Hoosock is survived by his wife, Caitlin, and their three young children, ages 7, 5, and 3. As of Wednesday morning, April 17, a Fund the First drive for the families of the two has pulled in around $255,000 of a go…
$100M Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds $100M Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds
$100M Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds A New York man known as "the Magician" has been charged in connection with one of the largest-ever tax fraud schemes by a tax preparer, federal officials announced. Northern Westchester County resident Rafael Alvarez, of Cortlandt Manor, has been charged in connection with a $100 million tax fraud scheme involving tens of thousands of federal individual income tax returns with false information, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Monday, April 15.  According to federal officials, from 2010 to 2020, Alvarez, also known as "the Magi…
'Threat Environment' Prompts Proactive Measures In Place In Hudson Valley, Sheriff Says 'Threat Environment' Prompts Proactive Measures In Place In Hudson Valley, Sheriff Says
'Threat Environment' Prompts Proactive Measures In Place In Hudson Valley, Sheriff Says As tensions in the Middle East rise following Iran's attack against Israel, authorities in the Hudson Valley are taking precautionary measures to look out for suspicious activity and to keep residents safe. As a result of "heightened threat environments," the Putnam County Sheriff's Office will enact "proactive measures" to keep the county safe, including extra visibility at several pre-determined locations, authorities said.  These measures follow an aerial attack conducted by Iran against Israel on Saturday, April 13, which the country said was made in response to an Israeli strike a…
Psychologist Sexually Abused Numerous Teens At NY Juvenile Lockup For Years, Police Say Psychologist Sexually Abused Numerous Teens At NY Juvenile Lockup For Years, Police Say
Psychologist Sexually Abused Numerous Teens At NY Juvenile Lockup For Years, Police Say A state psychologist is accused of sexually abusing numerous underage victims at a New York State juvenile detention center going back years. Maya Hayes, of Albany, was arrested Friday, April 12, following a New York State Police investigation into allegations of abuse at Columbia County’s Brookwood Secure Center, located in the town of Claverack. According to police, the 62-year-old sexually assaulted numerous victims at the facility over several years while employed as a clinician. No other details about the alleged abuse were made public.  Hayes' arrest followed a grand jury indic…