Press Release - Jeffrey Brown

Press Release - Kristofer Surdis Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: AUGUST 26, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – KRISTOFER SURDIS

On August 25, 2016, Kristofer Surdis, age 43, a resident of Glenford, New York, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Falsely Reporting an Incident in the first degree, a Class D felony. That charge stemmed from a May 6, 2016 incident when the Hannaford Supermarket located in the Kingston Plaza received a threat via telephone that a bomb was about to go off in the store.  Police searched the location but did not locate a bomb.  An investigation found that Surdis had made the threat while an inmate at the Ulster County Jail on an unrelated charge.

Surdis, who has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1989, continues to be held without bail.  Sentencing is scheduled for September 29, 2016.

Press Release - Local Paving Contractor Arrested - Thomas Carpino

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: AUGUST 25, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – LOCAL PAVING CONTRACTOR ARRESTED

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Office and Kingston Police Department announce the arrest of Thomas Carpino, 48, of Hillcrest Avenue in Kingston.

The charges are Grand Larceny 3^rd degree (D Felony) and Scheme to Defraud 1^st degree (E Felony) on complaints referred to the District Attorney’s Office by Ulster County Consumer Affairs. The complaints involved consumers paying for driveway paving work that was never done.

Carpino was arraigned in Kingston City Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $20,000.00 bail or $40,000.00 bond.

Press Release - Terry Macon Appeal

PRESS RELEASE

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:     AUGUST 25, 2016

The Appellate Division, Third Department has today unanimously affirmed the February, 2014 conviction of Terry Macon, a/k/a Tennessee upon his plea of guilty convicting him of the crime of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony. 

In the early evening hours of November 14, 2012, the defendant made two separate $50 cocaine sales to a confidential informant in the presence of an undercover police officer in midtown Kingston.  In satisfaction of a four count indictment, defendant pled guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and waived his right to appeal; he was thereafter sentenced, in accord with the terms of the plea agreement, to five years in State prison with two years of postrelease supervision. 

On appeal, defendant challenged the validity of his waiver of appeal, the voluntariness of his guilty plea and claimed that he was denied meaningful representation.  The defendant also maintained that the sentence imposed by County Court was unduly harsh and excessive.  After considering these claims, the Appellate Division, Third Department rejected each of them. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Salvatore Adamo, Esq. Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.

Press Release - Avoid Internet Dating Scams

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: AUGUST 25, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – AVOID INTERNET DATING SCAMS

The growing popularity of online dating - coupled with anonymity - has led to an increase in Internet dating scams, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs. Consumers can minimize the risk by following a few simple rules:

• Use a reputable dating site which requires the use of a credit card. This is safer than a free site or chat room;
• Beware of emails that don’t seem to follow earlier conversations or contradict things previously said. Your “date” could be using a script copied from a previous target;
• Steer clear of any “date” that asks you to send money;
• Do not give out personal/financial information such as home address, phone number, bank account or credit card number;
• Do not deposit a check or money order from your “date” in your bank account, especially if they request you forward a portion of the money. If (when) the check bounces you will be responsible to the bank for the money you forwarded;
• Ask for more than one photograph. It is difficult for a scammer to fake more than one. If you sense discomfort or vagueness on the other end, be suspicious;
• Follow your instincts and ask questions. If something feels wrong, it probably is. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

If you encounter any of the aforementioned red flags, it may be wise to discontinue the communication. Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

Press Release - Leon Smith

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: AUGUST 24, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – LEON SMITH

Leon Smith pled guilty before the Hon. Donald A. Williams to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the third degree in Ulster County Court on August 23, 2016.  Smith was first charged, by Indictment Number 183-13, with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in November of 2013.  Taking into account his criminal history, Smith was offered, by the court, a sentence of 8 years with 3 years post release supervision in return for a plea, which offer he rejected.  The following May, Smith went to trial and was convicted of two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

In April of this year the Appellate Division reversed Smith’s conviction on the grounds that he did not have effective representation at trial and the case was placed back on the County Court trial calendar.

Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on his new plea on October 27, 2016.