Press Release - Vacation Rental Scams

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: MAY 29, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE – VACATION RENTAL SCAMS

GETTING A VACATION RENTAL? WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS

Some scammers start with real rental listings. Then they take off the owner’s contact information, put in their own, and place the new listing on a different site…though they might continue to use the name of the actual owner. In other cases, scammers hijack the email accounts of property owners on reputable vacation rental websites.

Other scammers don’t bother with real rentals – they make up listings for places that aren’t really for rent or don’t exist. To get people to act fast, they often ask for lower than average rent or promise great amenities. Their goal is to get your money before you find out the truth.

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs advises…

·       Don’t wire money or pay with a prepaid or gift card for a vacation rental. Once the scammer collects the money, it is almost impossible to get it back.

·       Don’t be rushed into a decision. If you receive an email pressuring you to make a decision on the spot for a rental, ignore it and move on.

·       Look out for super cheap rates for premium vacation properties. Below-market rent can be a sign of a scam. Do some extra research to confirm the deal is legitimate before jumping in.

·       Get a copy of the contract before you send any deposit money. Check that the address of the property really exists. If the property is located in a resort, call the front desk and confirm the location of the property and other details on the contract.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 845-340-3260.

Press Release - Ulrich Arlt sentence

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: MAY 24, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE - DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES:  NEW PALTZ MAN PLEADS SENTENCED FOR COURSE OF SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A CHILD  

Ulrich Arlt, 36, formerly of 15 South Ohioville Road in New Paltz, was sentenced Friday, May 24, 2019, in Ulster County Court.  The sentence immediately followed the court issuing a decision not to allow the defendant to withdraw his guilty plea.

 The court found that the defendant had not raised any legal basis as to why his plea should be withdrawn and his factual allegations were belied by the court transcript of what transpired at the time of his plea.  Arlt was sentenced to seven years in state prison to be followed by ten years of post-release supervision.  He will be required to register under the New York State Sexual Offender Registration Act for a minimum of twenty years, and a full “Stay Away” Order of Protection was issued in favor of the victim until May 24, 2034.   

Arlt pleaded guilty on December 12, 2018 to the Class “D” violent felony of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the Second Degree in Ulster County Court.  The defendant admitted that between August 1, 2015 and November 16, 2017, he engaged in two or more acts of sexual conduct with a child who was less than thirteen years old. 

The defendant was arrested on May 17, 2018, following an investigation by the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center.  He was indicted by an Ulster County Grand Jury on November 14, 2018 for the sole count to which he pled.

District Attorney Carnright stated, “The law prescribes very limited and very specific circumstances under which defendants are entitled to withdraw a previously entered plea of guilty.  This defendant did not come close to meeting the standards set by this state and as such was not permitted to further traumatize his victim by taking away the closure and healing which begins when a defendant enters a guilty plea”. 

The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Bureau Chief, Katherine R. Van Loan.  The defendant was represented by the law firm of Larkin, Ingrassia and Tepermayster, LLP.      

Press Release - Abram Almahri indictment

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: MAY 24, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE – New Paltz man indicted on homicide charges resulting from car collision in New Paltz

ABRAM ALMAHRI, 19, of Millbrook Terrace, New Paltz, was charged by an Ulster County Grand Jury with four counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and one count of Assault in the Second Degree this week.

The charges stem from a two vehicle collision on Henry DuBois Drive which occurred at about 10:30 PM on Friday, March 29, 2019. An investigation by the New York State Police revealed that Almahri was operating a 2008 Volvo when he failed to stop at a stop sign and collided into the rear of a 2012 Toyota Scion operated by Charlie Rodriguez.  Mr. Rodriguez was severely injured as a result of the collision.

Two passengers in Almahri vehicle, Walter Morales-Duarte and Jacob Davis, both of New Paltz, also suffered serious injuries.  A third passenger, Jade Randazzo, 25, of New Paltz, was killed in the crash. Abram Almahri’s blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit at the time of the collision.

This indictment reflects the Grand Jury’s finding that Almahri engaged in reckless driving while having a blood alcohol content of .18 or higher, which resulted in the death of Jade Randazzo.  The Grand Jury further found that Almahri’s reckless driving while intoxicated caused three other people to sustain serious physical injuries.

Aggravated Vehicular Homicide is a class B non-violent felony which carries a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in state prison.

Press Release - John Tyler Kuhn plea

FROM:     CHIEF JOSEPH SINAGRA

          DISTRICT ATTORNEY HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:     MAY 17, 2019

RE:       PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. JOHN TYLER KUHN

On this date, John Tyler Kuhn pleaded guilty in Ulster County Court to the Class C felony of Aggravated Vehicular Assault and the Class A misdemeanor of Driving While Intoxicated.

At the time of his plea, Mr. Kuhn admitted to being the driver of a vehicle that, on January 6^th, 2019, was involved in a one car crash which occurred on Route 32 in the town of Saugerties.  The collision resulted in catastrophic injuries to two other passengers.  A forth passenger was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital.

An investigation by the Town of Saugerties Police Department with assistance from the New York State Police and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office revealed that Mr. Kuhn was driving at a high rate of speed when he ignored a double yellow line and attempted to pass a vehicle.  While passing, he was forced to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle.  In so doing, Kuhn lost control of his car and crashed into a tree.  The collision caused two passengers to be ejected from the vehicle.  Kuhn sustained facial lacerations but was otherwise uninjured. 

During today’s plea proceedings, Mr. Kuhn admitted to consuming alcohol to the point of intoxication on the morning of the crash. He acknowledged driving recklessly while intoxicated, and that his recklessness and intoxication resulted in the serious physical injuries sustained by two of his passengers.

The matter is scheduled for sentencing on July 19^th, 2019 in Ulster County Court before Judge Donald A. Williams.   

Press Release - Identity Theft

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: MAY 15, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE – IDENTITY THEFT

HELP! I’M A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT

Despite your best efforts to protect yourself, you have become a victim of identity theft. What do you do? The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs advises taking the following steps as soon as possible…

·       RECORD KEEPING – Be sure to keep records of all correspondence with the creditors and agencies you contact. Follow up all telephone calls with a letter and keep a copy.

·       CREDITORS – Notify all creditors and financial institutions, in writing and by phone, that your name and accounts have been compromised.

·       LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT – Immediately file a police or identity theft report with your local police. Get a copy of the report. Credit card companies, banks and credit reporting agencies may require you to show a police report to support your claim that a crime was committed.

·       FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT – Report the crime to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.identitytheft.gov.

·       THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES – Contact the three national credit reporting agencies by phone (Equifax 1-800-525-6285; Experian 1-888-397-3742; Trans Union 1-800-680-7289) or online (www.equifax.com; www.experian.com; www.transunion.com).

·       UTILITY COMPANIES – Ask utility companies to watch out for anyone ordering services in your name.

·       SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION – if you detect fraudulent use of your social security number, report it to the Social Security Administration at 1-800-269-0271 (www.ssa.gov).

·       FBI – if the identity theft was internet-related, file an FBI Internet Crime Complaint at www.ic3.gov.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.