Press Release - Maurice Stansberry Sr. conviction

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JULY 29, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE -  ULSTER COUNTY JURY CONVICTS KINGSTON MAN OF MURDER, ROBBERY AND GUN POSSESSION

    

An Ulster County trial jury of 8 men and 4 women deliberated for about 4 hours last Friday and returned a verdict convicting 39 year old Maurice Stansberry, Sr., of 27 Washington Avenue, Kingston, for the murder of Mark Lancaster. Stansberry Sr. shot and killed Lancaster on Sawkill Road on December 1, 2018 following an armed robbery.

Minutes before the murder, Stansberry, his son Maurice Stansberry Jr., and a third individual, Kevin Gardener, had gone to the Sawkill Trailer Park for a marijuana deal which had been set up by Gardener. Stansberry Sr. was armed with a loaded nine millimeter pistol. When he was shown the pot he pointed the loaded gun at the pot dealer, the victim’s son, and demanded the pot.  He and Gardener then ran back to their waiting get-away car driven by Stansberry Jr. and fled.

When Lancaster learned that his son had been robbed he chased the Stansberry car about a mile and a half on Sawkill Road heading towards Washington Avenue and pulled in front of the vehicle causing it to stop. As Lancaster got out of his car Stansberry Sr. pulled out the pistol, racked it, and announced that “I’m going to shoot one of these motherfuckers.” Lancaster, who was unarmed, opened the driver’s door of the Stansberry car and demanded that they give back his property. Stansberry Sr. then shot him in the lower abdomen. The bullet passed through him severing major blood vessels, causing severe internal bleeding and hemorrhage resulting in Lancaster’s death. 

Maurice Stansberry Sr., Maurice Stansberry Jr., and Kevin Gardener were indicted by an Ulster County Grand Jury for felony Murder, Robbery, and Weapons charges. Felony Murder is defined as a murder committed during the commission of or immediate flight from certain felonies, armed robbery being one of them. Felony murder extends criminal liability to all of the parties knowingly involved in the underlying felony.

Stansberry Sr.’s trial began last Monday and ended Friday with a verdict convicting him for Murder, 4 counts of Armed Robbery, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2^nd degree, and Criminal Use of a Firearm in the 1^st degree. The murder conviction carries a maximum prison sentence of up to 25 years to life. His sentencing is set for October 4. 

Stansberry Sr. has multiple misdemeanor convictions dating back over 20 years as well as a prior felony conviction for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, third degree. He is believed to be a member of the Bloods Street Gang.

Prior to the Stansberry trial, Kevin Gardener pleaded guilty to felony murder and removed himself from the trial of the case. He is expected to be sentenced October 1 in Ulster County Court. Maurice Stansberry Jr. cooperated with the DA’s Office in exchange for a negotiated plea and sentence recommendation; the disposition of his case is expected later this Fall.

Stansberry Sr. was represented by Russell Schindler of the Public Defender’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Emmanuel Nneji and Timothy Lawson.

Press Release - Welfare Fraud Arrests

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JULY 18, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE – WELFARE FRAUD ARRESTS

SEAN WESTLAKE: On July 16, 2019, Sean Westlake, age 59 of Kingston, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felony of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree and misdemeanor Welfare Fraud 5th degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that between January 2019 and May 2019, Mr. Westlake did not disclose his rental income, nor his income from employment and filed a SNAP Recertification with the Department of Social Services not indicating the income.  Due to the undisclosed income, Mr. Westlake received $790.00 in SNAP benefits he was not entitled to. Mr. Westlake was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.

WALTER KAMINSKI: On July 15, 2019, Walter Kaminski, age 71 of Napanoch, NY,  was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, Grand Larceny 3rd degree  and 2 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that Mr. Kaminski had filed 2 application/recertification documents with the Department of Social Services, not revealing that he was self-employed/owner of a medical transportation business, which resulted in Mr. Kaminski receiving $3,588.00 in SNAP benefits from December 2018 through June 2019 that he was not entitled to. Mr. Kaminski was processed and issued appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court.

SEAN BOLAND: On July 11, 2019, Sean Boland, age 37 of Saugerties, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree and 4 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, revealed that Mr. Boland filed both SNAP and Temporary Assistance applications, not disclosing to the Department of Social Services the fact that he was employed by a local carpet company, which resulted in Mr. Boland receiving $6,323.00 in Temporary Assistance benefits between July 2018 and May 2019 that he was not entitled to. Mr. Boland was processed and issued appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court.

ALFRED DEGROAT: On July 5, 2019, Alfred Degroat, age 42 of Port Ewen, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the misdemeanor of Welfare Fraud 5th degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit and Housing Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that Mr. Degroat had repeatedly signed housing documents filed with the Department of Social Services, which contained false information and allowed unauthorized clientele to reside with him in a motel room, which was specifically provided to Mr. DeGroat to shelter him alone, by the Department of Social Services.  Mr. Degroat was processed and issued an appearance ticket for Ulster Town Court.

JASON CAVALLARO: On June 28, 2019, Jason Cavallaro, age 33 of Kingston, NY, was picked up on an arrest warrant by Saugerties Police and turned over to the Ulster County Sheriff's Department, charging him with felony Offering a False Instrument for Filing 2nd degree and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that in November 2018, Mr. Cavallaro had recertified for SNAP benefits, falsified information on an employment information form and then forged his employers signature, which he then presented to the Department of Social Services. Mr. Cavallaro, who had been given an opportunity to surrender himself, but refused to do so, was arraigned in Ulster Town Court and remanded to the Ulster Co. Jail in lieu of $10,000.00 bail, pending a reappearance in Town Court. 

TAMMY BROWN: On June 19, 2019, Tammy Brown, age 56 of Kingston, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree and 6 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, along with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, revealed that Ms. Brown had filed multiple SNAP applications with the Department of Social Services between April 2013 and May 2018, not disclosing that she was gainfully employed as a Day Care Provider, resulting in Ms. Brown receiving $8,459.00 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to.  Ms. Brown was processed and issued appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court.

CAROL LaPORTE: On June 20, 2019, Carol LaPorte, age 64 of Kingston, NY, was arrested by Ulster County Sheriff's Deputies and charged with the felonies of Welfare Fraud 3rd degree, Grand Larceny 3rd degree & 3 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st degree.

An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Department of Social Services Special Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Ulster County District Attorney, discovered that between January 2016 and July 2018 Ms. LaPorte had filed 3 applications for assistance with the Department of Social Services, not disclosing her rental income or her income from self-employment, resulting in Ms. LaPorte receiving $3,836.00 in SNAP benefits,  $2,076.00 in Home Energy Assistance benefits and $3,975.00 in Heating Equipment Replacement benefits that she was not entitled to. Ms. LaPorte processed and issued appearance tickets for Ulster Town Court.

Press Release - Government Imposter Scams

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JULY 15, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE - GOVERNMENT IMPOSTER SCAMS CONTINUE TO PROLIFERATE

Fraudsters try all sorts of tricks to separate people from their money. But when they find something that works, they tend to stick with it.

That’s why you’re increasingly likely to get a phone call from someone who says they work for a government agency – the IRS, the FBI, or the Social Security Administration – telling you to do something that usually involves handing over money.

In a new report, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) names the government imposter scam as the most frequent reason consumers complain to the agency. The number of complaints reached record levels earlier this year, totaling about 1.3 million since 2014.

The FTC says it received about 46,600 complaints in May alone from consumers who were contacted by someone who claimed to be calling on behalf of a government agency.

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs states government agencies seldom call consumers and, if they do, they do not try and collect money over the phone. If a caller says they’re working for the government and they want you to give them money, it’s safe to assume that they aren’t and that they’re just trying to scam you.

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

Press Release - Juan Torres-Hernandez sentence

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JULY 11, 2019

Juan Torres-Hernandez, 49, of 108 Livingston Street in Saugerties, was sentenced Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in Ulster County Court to 4 years in state prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision for his conviction to Attempted Sexual Abuse. He will be required to register under the New York State Sexual Offender Registration Act for a minimum of twenty years.  Additionally a stay away Order of Protection on behalf of the victim was issued until December 13, 2033.

The conviction arose from an incident which took place in July of 2018 at the Northeast Center For Special Care when he attempted to subject another person to sexual contact when such other person was incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless.  Torres Hernandez was an employee of the Northeast Center For Special Care at the time and entered the victim’s room in his capacity as a member of the janitorial staff.  Another staff member walked in on the offense and reported to authorities immediately. 

The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Bureau Chief, Katherine R. Van Loan.  The defendant was represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.  The defendant, who is a citizen of El Salvador, was working on a properly issued temporary employment visa which is scheduled to expire on September 9, 2019.       

Press Release - Ryan Williams conviction

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JULY 2, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE - DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES - POUGHKEEPSIE MAN SENTENCED FOR MURDER IN FLEEING CASE

     RYAN WILLIAMS, 29, of 28 May Street, Poughkeepsie NY, was sentenced Tuesday, July 2, 2019, in Ulster County Court to 25 years to life in prison for his conviction to Murder in the Second Degree, Depraved Indifference Murder.  The case stems from an incident which took place on Route 299 in the Town of Lloyd when the defendant, operating a Porsche Cayenne in speeds in excess of 128 MPH, fled from a Town of Lloyd police officer. At the intersection of Route 299 and South Street in the Town of Lloyd the defendant crossed into oncoming traffic, nearly missing an ambulance, and struck a Ford 150 pickup truck killing the driver Danielle Pecoraro, 40, of Lloyd NY.  Ms. Pecoraro’s daughter, Mercedes Rosado, a passenger in the truck, was seriously injured as was a passenger in a vehicle which defendant’s Porsche crashed into following the impact with the pickup truck.

     The defendant’s BAC at the time of the crash was .33.

     Prior to trial the People sought to have evidence that the defendant had been convicted of crimes committed while fleeing from a police officer on four previous occasions arguing that that information is relevant to the jury’s determination of whether the defendant was acting with depraved indifference to human life. However, the court ruled that the evidence of defendant’s previous fleeing form a police officer, though relevant, would be prejudicial to the defendant and, accordingly, the jury was not allowed to hear that proof.

     At sentencing Ms. Rosado, the oldest of Ms. Pecoraro’s four children, addressed the court.  “Someone was going to die that day . . . the community lost a gem of a woman but I lost my best friend.  Why did I live and she die, I live everyday with the pain of losing my best friend”.

    In his comments to the court prosecuting attorney Joey Drillings stated “that the defendant acted with depraved indifference to human life in that he recklessly engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death. He acted with

an utter disregard for the value of human life -  a willingness to act, not because he intended grievous harm to the person who was killed, but because he simply did not care whether or not grievous harm resulted.  He took a grossly unreasonable risk to human life and did not care how that risk turned out. His actions reflected a wicked, evil, inhumane state of mind, as manifested by his heinous and despicable acts”. 

    Williams, who has not had a valid license to drive in NYS since 2011, stated in papers filed with the court prior to sentencing that he did not intend to injure anyone.

   In handing down the life sentence County Court Judge Donald Williams stated to the defendant “your action and conviction legally and morally rises to the same level as premeditated or intentional murder”.

    Williams was represented by Carol Morgan, Esq.  The case was prosecuted by Sr. Assistant District Attorneys Joey Drillings and Lisa Bondarenka.