Press Release - Gregory C. Williams Sentencing

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2017

RE: PRESS RELEASE

DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES:  SEX TRAFFICKER SENTENCED FOR PROMOTING PROSTITUTION OF A CHILD

Gregory C. Williams, 39, who last resided at the Capri Motel in Port Ewen but previously lived in the City of Kingston, was sentenced Thursday, February 23, 2017, in Ulster County Court before Honorable Donald A. Williams.  Gregory C. Williams was sentenced to spend 2 1/3 to  7 years in state prison, the maximum sentence permitted by law, on his conviction for Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, a Class “D” felony.  On December 15, 2016, he admitted that on or about April 10, 2016, he advanced or profited from prostitution of a child under nineteen years old.    

The defendant was arrested on November 3, 2016 and charged with Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor and Offering a False Instrument for Filing after a joint investigation of the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center and the Kingston Police Department.  The investigation revealed that the defendant was prostituting a then, sixteen year old child.

This is the first felony conviction for child trafficking since the Ulster County Department of Social Services was selected to receive funds under the Safe Harbour Program run the by New York State Office for Family and Child Services.  While the Safe Harbour Program is primarily aimed at protecting and securing services for sexually exploited youth, the monies are also used for raising community awareness and training of both service providers and law enforcement.

District Attorney Carnright cited the importance of the Safe Harbour Program in “shining a spotlight” on criminal activity taking place in every community that would often be overlooked. Traffickers, including Gregory Williams, use various forms of manipulation to get vulnerable children into “the life” as it is commonly called and to keep them from leaving or reporting to law enforcement.  This manipulation can be physical abuse but also commonly includes promises of love, introducing a young adolescent to a lifestyle they could otherwise not afford and getting victims addicted to drugs which force the victim to continue participating in prostitution to support their habit.

The case was prosecuted by Ulster County Special Victims Bureau Chief Katherine R. Van Loan.  The defendant is represented by John Evans, Esq., a member of the Dutchess County Public Defender’s assigned due to a conflict with the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.   

  

 

Press Release - Jeffrey C. Brown Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2017

RE: PRESS RELEASE

DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES:  SAUGERTIES MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO COURSE OF SEXUAL CONDUCT AGAINST A CHILD

Jeffrey C. Brown, 54, of 227 Partition Street in Saugerties, pled guilty Thursday, February 23, 2017, to Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, a Class “B” violent felony, before Hon. Donald A. Williams of Ulster County Court.  Brown admitted that between September 1, 2014 and December 29, 2014, he engaged in at least two acts of sexual conduct which included at least one act of sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct or anal sexual conduct with a child who was less then thirteen years old.  An investigation conducted by the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center led to Brown’s arrest on August 25, 2016.

District Attorney Holley Carnright noted, “This man stole the trust and innocence of a child which cannot be replaced. It took great courage for this child to come forward and expose this man for what he is, a pedophile.”

Jeffrey C. Brown is scheduled to appear before Hon. Donald A. Williams on April 24, 2017 for sentencing.    

The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Bureau Chief, Katherine R. Van Loan of the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.  The defendant was represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.   

Press Release - Donald Fairweather Jr. appeal

PRESS RELEASE

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:     FEBRUARY 10, 2017

The Appellate Division, Third Department recently unanimously affirmed the July, 2014 conviction of Donald Fairweather, Jr. upon his plea of guilty convicting him of the crime of vehicular manslaughter in the first degree. 

On September 25, 2013, the defendant was driving his vehicle at a high speed while intoxicated and struck an oncoming vehicle, causing the death of Vadim Mushtak and serious injuries to Mushtak’s wife. 

Defendant was thereafter charged by indictment with various offenses stemming from the incident. Subsequently, defendant pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter in the first degree and waived his right to appeal.  County Court sentenced defendant to five to 15 years in prison with a recommendation that the defendant serve the full 15 years. 

On appeal, defendant argued that the sentence imposed was harsh and excessive.  In his pro se brief, defendant argued that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel.  These claims, however, were rejected by the Appellate Division, Third Department. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Neal D. Futerfas, Esq. of White Plains, New York.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.

Press Release - "Can You Hear Me" Phone Scam

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2017

RE: PRESS RELEASE - “CAN YOU HEAR ME?” PHONE SCAM ON THE RISE

If you receive a call and the caller asks, ”Can you hear me?”, you might end up a victim to fraud if you say “Yes.” It’s the latest phone scam targeting people across the country, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs.

Scammers are using robots to call and secretly record you. The answers you give them are then used against you – and your wallet. Here is an example…

Caller: “Hi, this is Josh from the consumer department – can you hear me okay?”

If you answer “Yes,” it’s secretly recorded. Later, the scammer calls back demanding payment, using the recording as proof that you agreed to pay for goods or services.

Scammers are using local numbers to get you to pick up. Ulster County Consumer Affairs advises screening calls or simply hanging up on a pre-recorded sales call or if someone asks, “Can you hear me?”

Press Release - Khalil Waheed indictment

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:  FEBRUARY 2, 2017

RE: PRESS RELEASE – KHALIL WAHEED INDICTMENT

KHALIL WAHEED INDICTED ON CHARGES OF CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE AND LEAVING THE SCENE WITHOUT REPORTING

Khalil Waheed, 24, of 112 Mountain View Ave., Kingston, was charged by an Ulster County Grand Jury with the felony charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide and Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting.

On September 20, 2016, Ashlee Crescione, 23, of Bruyn Ave., Kingston, was seriously injured by a vehicle driven by Waheed. The incident occurred near Crescione’s residence. Waheed fled the scene.

Crescione succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead on September 23, 2016. An investigation by the Kingston Police Department and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office led to Waheed’s arrest on October 6, 2016.