White Plains Voters Pass $199.9 M 2014-15 Proposed Budget by 4 to 1 Margin. Eller, Stein Returned to Board of Ed (unopposed).

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 20, 2014: 

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Interim Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors , far left,observes the final numbers go up as the final election district results are chalked up by Michele Schoenfeld. Observing are Board of Education members: left to right: Charlie Norris, Rosemarie Eller, Rose Lovage and Peter Bassano

At 9:28 P.M. Tuesday evening, Clerk to the School Board Michele Schoenfeld wrote the final outstanding polling district still not accounted for, and once again White Plains voters representing 3% of all the city registered voters had overwhelming passed the proposed $199.9 Million school budget by  4 to 1 margin, 81.5% of voters approving the budget.

Interim Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors called it “a good showing.”

A total of 875 voted in favor and 199 voted opposed.

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Elected without opposition to second terms were Board of Education President Rosemarie Eller, left and Randy Stein. Eller received 908 votes, Stein 858

The approved budget raises the cost per pupil in White Plains (7,050 students is the enrollment anticipated for school year 2014-15) to $28,354 per student.

The budget increases the tax rate 2.9% from $183/$1,000 of assessed valuation to $600/$1,000 of assessed valuation to pay for a 2.3% increase in spending of $6.5 million over last year’s $193.4 Million budget.

As presently constituted, the $199.9 budget voters approved today increases the property taxes on a $650,000 home (median priced home) to approximately $10,000 ($9,885–an increase of $281) in school taxes next year, compared to $9,604 last year.

In 10 years, the school district has cut the budget only once and that was in 2010-11, under Dr. Christopher Clouet when he was Superintendent of Schools.

At the present growth rate of the school district, if wages stay the same and staff stays the same, and costs stay the same the district budget will reach $220 Million in 2019-20, four years from now.

The turnout according to Ms. Schoenfeld was slightly more than the 2013 budget turnout which saw 888 vote.

The unofficial totals on the budget vote by Election District:

Fire Station 7:   52 YES, 6 NO

Church Street School: 209 YES 44 NO

Rochambeau School: 65 YES 13 NO

Middle School 215 YES, 51 NO

Mamaroneck Ave School, 61 YES 10 NO

Ridgeway, 270 YES 75 NO

TOTAL; 875 YES, 199 NO

 

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IN THE MONEY: The Mayor Gets Raise. Council Increases Commish Salaries 2%, as 2014-15 Budget Passes with no cuts. Callahan Declines Full 2%, Increase, Takes 1%

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. May 19, 2014 UPDATED 9:20 A.M. E.D.T. UPDATED 11:50 A.M. E.D.T. UPDATED MAY 21, 2014. CORRECTION, May 21, 2014, 9 A.M. BOLD TYPE:

The Common Council passed the $176.1 Million proposed 2014-2015 budget Monday night, and increased salaries for Mayor Tom Roach,  City Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, managerial and confidential employees by 2%. The increase was previously predicted on WHITE PLAINS WEEK, the city news roundup show weeks ago.

John Martin, White Plains Common Council President,  confirmed the across-the-board increases to WPCNR Monday evening, in a written statement, saying, the increases in administration salaries “match the increases under the 3 current labor agreements (fire, CSEA, Teamsters). Basically we are keeping these employees in sync.”

The White Plains Police contract dispute awaits a binding arbitration recommendation.

The Common Councilmember salaries, according to Mr. Martin remain the same, at $38,971 for the Common Council President (Martin), and $36,471 for Common Council members.

Mayor Tom Roach will now earn  $148,800, an increase of $2,919, an increase of 2%.

“I felt we needed to amend the Mayor’s salary as it has not changed in 8 years and it does not make sense to pay the Mayor that much less than commissioners,” Martin told WPCNR Monday night. He pointed out that all the raises  authorized Monday night were “budgeted,” in the $176.1 Million spending program for 2014-15 approved Monday evening.

The highest paid city official, though will not be the Mayor.

Mr. Martin Tuesday morning contacted WPCNR to advise the present Corporation Counsel  John Callahan, though eligible for a $3,954 increase has declined to accept the new salary level he is eligible to receive under the increased salary structures (computed by WPCNR unofficially below)  adopted last night. Martin wrote in a statement this morning–

” I read your story this morning, and have a correction for you. John Callahan (Corporation Counsel) did not accept the 2% offered to him. His salary did not break the $200,000.00 figure.”

Upon examination of the approved salary schedule by WPCNR, Mr. Callahan will be getting a 1% raise instead of the 2% beginning July 1, 2014

His new salary as Corporation Counsel in Sec. 2-5-76 Appendix 1 Elected and Appointed Officials is reported as $199,653, $327 shy of $200,000.

The decline of the salary increase means he  will not  break the $200,000 salary watermark that would have made him the the first city official to break the $200,000 barrier.

Had Mr. Callahan chosen to accept the 2% across-the-board increase applied to the Corporation Counsel salary, he would have received a raise of $3,954, instead of the $1,977 (1% raise) he will be increased. It should be pointed out Callahan functions as Corporation Counsel and Mayor’s Chief of Staff.

The rest of the city legal brain trust does well.. The Chief Deputy Corporation Counsel receives a $3,288 raise to $167,671. The Deputy Corporation Counsel gets a $3,142 bump to $160,242.

The Assessor will earn $134,774, an increase of $2,643

The Commissioner of Building, $150,161, an increase of $2,944

Deputy Commissioner of Building,$133,712, a raise of $2,622

The City Clerk gets a $2,102 raise to $107,182

The Commissioner of Finance moves up to $179,181 from $176,060–a raise in salary of $3,121. He will also be paid an additional $20,000 for double duty as Chief Fiscal Officer according to the same ordinance, Sec. 2-5-76 (D) (1) (d). The Commissioner of Finance beginning July 1, 2014 will be paid $179,181 (including the additional compensation that was not increased). The $20,000 stipend was not increased. The percentage in increase in pay including the stipend is 1.77% (previously, WPCNR had placed the decimal point in the wrong position.)

The salary for the Commissioner of Finance effective July 1, 2014 is correctly listed on the ordinance adopted for Sec. 2-5-76 (A)(1) as $159,181. In addition to that salary the Commissioner of Finance also receives additional compensation as Chief Fiscal Officer, per that same ordinance for Sec. 2-5-76 (D)(1)(d), in the amount of $20,000 for serving as Budget Director.
So the total compensation effective July 1, 2014 is $179,181, with $20,000 of that amount representing a stipend to which no increase has been applied and which may be terminated at any time by the Common Council.

His Deputy Commissioner of Finance will receive $137,427–UP $2,695

The Director of Information Services (supervising the city website) receives a $2,705 raise to $137,957.

The Library Director moves from $146,696 to $149,630, an increase of $2,934.

The Personnel Officer moves on up to $158,120– up from $155,020, a $3,100 increase. Her Deputy Personnel Officer goes to $96,900, receiving a $1,900 increase

The Physician moves up $1,030 to $52,030.

The Parking Commissioner receives a $3,059 raise to $155,998, and his deputy Commissioners of Parking 1 & 2, receive $130,050  (up $2,550) and $136,896 (increase of $2,684).

The Commissioner of Planning moves up from $147,217 to over the $150,000 plateau to $150,161 (up $2,944). Her Deputy Commissioner of Planning is upgraded $2,497 to $127,345.

The Commissioner of Public Safety ascends to $187,294 a year, an increase of $3,672.

The Commissioner of Public Works receives a $3,537 salary increase, breaking through the $180,000 milestone for the first time. The Commissioner will be paid $180,405 in 2014-15.

His Deputy Commissioners of Public Works, 1 & 2 will  receive $146,447($2,870 raise) and $133,131 ($2,611 increase), respectively.

The Purchasing Commissioner is increased $2,310 to $117,794

Commissioner of Recreation and Parks moves up in salary to $145,900, a $2,861 raise and his Deputy Commissioner is granted a $2,464 increase to $125,653.

The Director of the Youth Bureau receives a $2,559 raise to $130.528.

Ten of the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners will earn more money than the Mayor of the city when the fiscal year begins July 1.

The total cost of the raises approved last night for commissioners, and management: $78,113, an average of  $2,789 per Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and the other posts.

The City budget for 2014-15 goes up 4 Million to $176.1 Million, a 2.3% increase over 2013-14, and raises property taxes 2.3% and the tax rate to $1,000 of assessed valuation to $196.14. It is the thirteenth straight year the Common Council has raised the city budget.

Martin, in his reporting Callahan’s decline of  the approved Corporation Counsel 2% increase, included this comment on the city budget,  echoing his commentary made in the televised Common Council Special Meeting Monday night:

I am disappointed that your story did not highlight the work that all of our city staff does to keep delivering the same level of services to our citizens despite being at the lowest employee count in many, many years.
I’m also disappointed that you did not mention that our budget does not borrow for pension costs unlike the state, county and over 130 other municipalities in NY that borrowed a record amount this year.
Last, I also wish you mentioned that we are not borrowing to pay tax refunds like so many others.
I am proud of this budget including the 2% raises we gave to virtually all city employees next fiscal year. They deserve it as does any hard working man or woman out there.
The comments of the members of the Common Council on the passage of the budget may be viewed at
http://whiteplainsny.swagit.com/play/05192014-1296

Tuesday, the city voted to approve the 2014-15 White Plains School Budget of $199.9 Million, enacting a $17 increase in the tax rate to $600 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, that will increase the taxes on a $650,000 home approximately $300

 

 

 

 

 

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FBI, D.A. CHARGE “20-SOMETHING HACKERS” IN WORLDWIDE MALWARE DATA STEALING

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WPCNR FBI WIRE. Special to WPCNR from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. May 19, 2014:

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and George Venizelos, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging Alex Yücel, the owner of an organization known as Blackshades, that, since 2010, has sold and distributed to thousands of people in more than 100 countries a sophisticated and pernicious form of malicious software, or malware, known as the Blackshades remote access tool, or RAT.

The RAT was co-created by Yücel and has been used to infect computers throughout the world to spy on victims through their web cameras, steal files and account information, and log victims’ key strokes.

Also unsealed today were criminal complaints against Brendan Johnston, who was paid by Blackshades to help market and sell malware, including the RAT, and provide technical assistance to its users; Kyle Fedorek, who purchased the RAT and used it to steal online account information from hundreds of victims; and Marel Rappa, who purchased the RAT and used it to spy on dozens of victims and steal online account information.

Yücel was arrested in Moldova in November 2013 and is pending extradition to the United States. Johnston was arrested yesterday in Thousand Oaks, California, and will be presented today in the Central District of California.

Fedorek and Rappa were arrested at their residences this morning and will be presented later today before United States Magistrate Judge James L. Cott in Manhattan federal court.

Michael Hogue, the co-creator of the RAT, was arrested in June 2012 as part of the government’s investigation known as Operation Cardshop and subsequently pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in January 2013. A transcript of his guilty plea was unsealed this morning.

In addition to the criminal charges, a domain name associated with the Blackshades website was seized pursuant to a seizure warrant obtained in Manhattan federal court.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said,

“Blackshades’ flagship product was a sophisticated program known as the remote access tool, or RAT for short. The RAT is inexpensive and simple to use, but its capabilities are sophisticated and its invasiveness breathtaking. As today’s case makes clear, we now live in a world where, for just $40, a cybercriminal halfway across the globe can—with just a click of a mouse—unleash a RAT that can spread a computer plague not only on someone’s property but also on their privacy and most personal spaces.”

Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI George Venizelos said,

“Armed with $40 and a computer, an individual could easily get the Blackshades remote access tool and become a perpetrator. It required no sophisticated hacking experience or expensive equipment. This tool was purchased by thousands of people in more than 100 countries. The charges unsealed today showcase the top to bottom approach the FBI takes to its cases. We tackled this malware starting with those that put it in the hands of the users, the creators, and those who helped make it readily available, the administrators. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who used Blackshades maliciously.”

According to the allegations contained in the indictment and criminal complaints unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

Overview

Since at least 2010, an organization known as Blackshades has sold and distributed malicious software to thousands of cybercriminals throughout the world. Blackshades’ flagship product was the Blackshades remote access tool, or RAT, a sophisticated piece of malware that enabled cybercriminals to secretly and remotely gain control over a victim’s computer.

After installing the RAT on a victim’s computer, a user of the RAT had free rein to, among other things, access and view documents, photographs and other files on the victim’s computer, record all the keystrokes entered on the victim’s keyboard, steal the passwords to the victim’s online accounts, and even activate the victim’s web camera to spy on the victim—all of which could be done without the victim’s knowledge. The FBI’s investigation has shown that the RAT was purchased by at least several thousand users in more than 100 countries and used to infect more than half a million computers worldwide.

Purchasing and Installing the Blackshades RAT

The RAT was typically advertised on forums for computer hackers and marketed as a product that conveniently combined the features of several different types of hacking tools. Copies of the Blackshades RAT were available for sale, typically for $40 each, on a website maintained by Blackshades.

After purchasing a copy of the RAT, a user had to install the RAT on a victim’s computer—i.e., “infect” a victim’s computer. The infection of a victim’s computer could be accomplished in several ways, including by tricking victims into clicking on malicious links or by hiring others to install the RAT on victims’ computers.

The RAT contained tools known as “spreaders” that helped users of the RAT maximize the number of infections.

The spreader tools generally worked by using computers that had already been infected to help spread the RAT further to other computers. For instance, in order to lure additional victims to click on malicious links that would install the RAT on their computers, the RAT allowed cybercriminals to send those malicious links to others via the initial victim’s social media service, making it appear as if the message had come from the initial victim.

For example, a RAT user could send an instant message, or IM, to potential victims that appeared to come from the initial victim, inviting them to click on a link that appeared to lead to a legitimate website but that in reality would install the RAT on the potential victim’s computer.

The Capabilities of the RAT

The RAT featured a graphical user interface, which allowed its users to easily view and navigate all of the victim computers that they had infected.

Among other things, the user interface listed IP address information for each infected computer, the computer’s name, the computer’s operating system, the country in which the computer was located, and whether the computer had a web camera.

Once a computer was infected with the RAT, the user of the RAT had complete control over the computer. The user could, among other things, remotely activate the victim’s web camera. In this way, the user could spy on anyone within view of the victim’s webcam inside the victim’s home or in any other private spaces where the victim’s computer was used.

The RAT also contained a keylogger feature that allowed users to record each key that victims typed on their computer keyboards. To help users steal a victim’s passwords and other login credentials, the RAT also had a “form grabber” feature. The form grabber automatically captured login information that victims entered into forms on their infected computers (e.g., login screens or order purchase screens for online accounts).

The RAT also provided its users with complete access to all of the files contained on a victim’s computer. A RAT user could use such access to view or download photographs, documents, or other files on a victim’s computer. Further, using a tool known as file hijacker, the RAT enabled users to encrypt, or lock, a victim’s files and demand a “ransom” payment to unlock them. The RAT even came with a prepared script demanding such a ransom.

The RAT also allowed users to exploit victims’ computers to launch other cyber attacks. Infected computers could be gathered into a network and used to launch Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against particular websites by repeatedly sending requests to the website in an effort to disable the website and deny service to legitimate customers.

Yücel and the Blackshades Organization

Yücel was the co-creator of the RAT and owned and operated the Blackshades organization. Yücel employed several paid administrators, including a director of marketing, website developer, customer service manager, and a team of customer service representatives; he hired and fired employees, paid employees’ salaries, and updated the malicious software in response to customers’ comments and requests. Blackshades generated sales of more than $350,000 between September 2010 and April 2014.

The Other Defendants

Johnston used Blackshades malware and was a paid employee of the Blackshades organization who, among other things, marketed and sold the RAT and provided technical assistance to users of the RAT to assist them in infecting and remotely controlling victims’ computers with the RAT. In certain online postings, Johnston described himself as an “authorized seller” and “admin,” or administrator, of Blackshades.

Fedorek was a customer of Blackshades who purchased the RAT and used it to steal financial and other account information from more than 400 victims. A search of Fedorek’s computer conducted by the FBI showed that Fedorek was also deploying a variety of other types of malicious software against his victims.

Rappa was a customer of Blackshades who purchased the RAT and used it to infect victims’ computers, spy on those victims using their web cameras, and steal personal files from their computers. A search of Rappa’s computer by the FBI showed that Rappa was also deploying a variety of other types of malicious software against his victims.

* * *

Yücel, 24, of Sweden, is charged with two counts of computer hacking, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiring to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of seven-and-a-half years in prison; one count of access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory term of two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence that is imposed.

Johnston, 23, of Thousand Oaks, California, is charged with two counts of computer hacking, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Fedorek, 26, of Stony Point, New York, is charged with two counts of computer hacking, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of access device fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Rappa, 41, of Middletown Township, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of computer hacking, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Hogue, 23, of Maricopa, Arizona, pled guilty in January 2013 to two counts of computer hacking, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. He is awaiting sentencing before the Honorable P. Kevin Castel.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

The charges unsealed today are part of an unprecedented global law enforcement operation involving the participation of 19 countries. As part of the operation, more than 90 arrests have been made and more than 300 searches have been conducted worldwide. Mr. Bharara noted that the investigation is ongoing.

Mr. Bharara praised the extraordinary investigative work of the FBI. Additionally, Mr. Bharara specially thanked all the international law enforcement agencies that assisted this investigation, including the Moldova National Investigation Inspectorate of General Police Inspectorate of Ministry of Interior; the International Relations Department of Prosecutor’s General Office of the Republic of Moldova; Eurojust; the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and United States Embassy personnel in Chisinau, Moldova; the FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché to Romania and Moldova; and the FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché to the Netherlands. He also thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section for their support.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Pastore and Sarah Lai are charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni with the Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit is in charge of forfeiture aspects of the case.

The charges contained in the indictment and complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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NOW ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD: LIZ PHILLIPS, PRINCIPAL CRITIC TELLS WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE STATE ELA EXAM. CRITIQUES THE NEW MATH EXAM

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2014508brooklyncouncil 061

LIZ PHILLIPS

PRINCIPAL OF THE WILLIAM PENN SCHOOL

P.S. 321 IN PARK SLOPE BROOKLYN

TALKS WITH JOHN BAILEY ABOUT

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THIS YEAR’S DISASTEROUS ELA ASSESSMENT,

WHAT’S RIGHT ABOUT THE NEW MATH ASSESSMENT TEST JUST ADMINISTERED

PLUS

HOW 80% OF HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PASSED LAST YEAR’S ELA TESTS

BEATING EVERY SCHOOL IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY

HOW THE COMMON CORE CAN BE FIXED.

EXCLUSIVE!

INTERVIEWED BY JOHN BAILEY ON

WESTCHESTER’S MOST INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEW PROGRAM

“PEOPLE TO BE HEARD”

WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

HAVE THEIR SAY

SEE THIS IMPORTANT INTERBVIEW NOW AT

WWW.WHITEPLAINSWEEK.COM

(COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER)

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Lots of Laughs on the Links in WPPAC’s Fox on the Fairway –new farce from Ken Ludwig

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. May 19, 2014:

High strung Nick Piacente playing Justin has landed a new job at Quail Valley Country Club

Susan Slotoroff

Susan Sloteroff as Louise, prepares to lineup a crucial putt for all the marbles at the best indoor golf tournament you’ll ever see in the new The Fox on the Fairway which debuted this weekend at White Plains Performing Arts Center Photographs, courtesy WPPAC

He can now marry crazy redhead waitress sweetheart,  Louise, played by manic, emotive, over-the-top excitable girl, funniest actress I have seen on stage in some time: Susan Slotoroff. Justin gives his mother’s engagement ring to her. The two go crazy on each other  on the sofa in the middle of the Quail Valley Country Club Tap Room.

But wait!

The big tournament between Quail Valley  and arch rival, Crouching Squirrel Golf and Racquet Club, run by the “evil” Dickie played deliciously devilishly by Cordell Stahl whose golf fashions spoof the obsession for  looking good on a course is coming up.

Nick Piacente and Jorge Acosta

Jorge Acosta as Bingham, catching Justin (the rubber mugged, athletic, wild man Nick Piacente ) in an awkward moment.

The young lovers  are steaming up the couch, and  are caught clinched by the shocked President of the Club, Mr. Bingham, played with bluster, blabber and pomposity by Jorge Acosta who is outraged. The steamed-up couple cowers behind the leather cushions, the audience’s collective jaws drop and incredulous laughter peels forth, eager for whatever comes next  in this wild-tee-shot-down-the-fairway-slicing-hooking-delighting-quipping-after-quip-bouncing-after-bounce-and-in-the-hole comedy!

It’s that way throughout the evening in White Plains Performing Arts Center’s newest production, The Fox on the Fairway

The stage is set for this outlandish farce of the snooty world of golf, penned in 2010 by 2-time Olivier Award winner Kenneth Ludwig who describes Fox as a homage to the farces of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He notes he wrote it–

“as a reminder of the values the (farce) tradition embodies, things like innocence, humor, good sportsmanship and honor. My hope is that it is still possible to come together in a darkened theater and embrace these values with a sense of joy.”

There’s lot of joy on the golf course in this creatively staged, outlandishly plotted play spoofing  the testosterone of rival golfers, snobbish  country clubs and the foibles of man-woman relationships consummated, longed-for, regretted, hoped for, never-forgotten. Yes, those in search in lust for pure laughter without a message, this is the show for you!

The  on-again off-again sweet hearts Mr. Piacente and Ms. Slotoroff fling themselves about in breathtaking bounces off furniture and bars, chase each other, fight and lose their emotions in over-the-top style not seen since Sid Ceasar and Imogene Coca.  From losing her engagement ring down a toilet and trying to hide it from Justin to Justin saying he would not trust her with his car. It’s the fragile emotions that romance has to negotiate exaggerated to laugh-out-loud max.

But the future is not only rocky for the lovers, it’s rocky for the club.

Jorge Acosta and Cordell Stahl

Dickie, played with “Snidely Whiplash” villainous glee by by the sartorially splendid Cordell Stahl, scheming Crouching Squirrel club owner, has spirited away Quail Valley’s top golfer to steal the upcoming club tournament clash.

 Acosta, as  Quail Valley Club Pres,  summons up all his  pompous pride and testosterone, bets Dickie $200,000 plus ownership of  the Quail Valley club and his wife Muriel’s antique shop his club will win the tournament.

Confused? Bewildered? Incredulous? It’s the good stuff , over-the-top, forget-your-troubles farce is made of! You’ll never get upset with a golf shot again after you see this baby.

Well, turns out Justin is so ecstatic Louise has agreed to marry him that Quail Valley Pres spots him booming drive after drive down the fairway with the help of trim, worldly wise, no-nonsense club executrix, played with sophisticated practicality by Amanda Renee Baker as Pamela, he realizes Justin can salvage the tournament.

Realistic “Golf Channel quality” club tournament  announcements played flawlessly over the sound system,uniquely create the tournament progress. The audience is treated to the Tiger Woods perfection  of Justin, who winds up leading the tournament after 17 holes. It’s the most exciting tournament you never see thanks to the sound effects.

But hold on! Louise is mad at Justin. And he falls to pieces on the 17th hole as rain stops the tournament.

Confusing?

Cordell Stahl and Marianne Matthews

Dickie (Cordell Stahl) and Muriel ( Marianne Matthews) rekindle their long lost affection at the Country Club Tournament formal.

Wait until Act II.

Bingham’s wife, Muriel comes on to the scene furious her antique shop is hanging in the balance with Justin a basket case over Louise’s refusing to marry him. Pamela reveals her love for Bingham, and Dickie, sporting an ever changing golf wardrobe that will make any golf togs aficionado’s mouth water, rekindles his old love for Muriel played with a Bronx accent to die for by  Marianne Matthews.

Jorge Acosta and Amanda Renee Baker

Amanda Renee Baker as Pamela, plots devilishly with Jorge Acosta as Quail Valley Club President on how they will convince Justin to play the final hole….and suprisingly find they have a lot in common…reminiscing leads to what do you think?

The slapstick bits are just too funny. Though we’re sophisticated Westchesteronistas who would never think about laughing at vaudeville bits 100 years old, you’ll laugh at these tried and true bits:

The madcap cast in total chaos,  throws around Muriel’s  Ming vase around the tap room—a scene right out of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit; there’s a mad chase of Nick trying to convince Louise to come back to him. It’s mirthful  mayhem on White Plains Main Street

Then Nick with one hole to play breaks his arm. Who can save the Quail Valley Country Club?

Amanda Renee Baker_Susan Slotoroff_Jorge Acosta

Pamela, ( Amanda Renee Baker) Club Treasurer, (a delightful partner in crime with Bingham(Acosta) Convince Louise to play one for the Quail Valley club.

Can Louise, who is a fair golfer herself, save the Quail Ridge, and how come her birthmarks are the same as Pamela, the club Treasurer? What is going on here?

You even get the high drama of one last dramatic putt by Louise.

It’s a  90 footer with a double break, will it go in? The staging of the final putt of the tournament is fabulously choreographed, as every twist and break has the audience on the edge of their seats, as the whispering voice of the tournament announcer delivers every nuance of the long twisting roll.

Does it go in?

You’ll have to be in the gallery in either of the next two weekends of performances to find out the answer.

Does everybody get together in the great tradition of The Importance of Being Ernest and  Noel Coward’s Private Lives?

Jeremy Quinn, Artistic Director and director of this show has nailed the timing down of all the performers who work together—time their lines perfectly. The bodies are flying around the big stage in a complexity of motion that glazes the audience’s eyes and keeps the laughs on coming .

The set by Dana Kenn is old Tamarack Country Club out of  Twisted Foot. Duffers and scratch golfers will feel right at home. Sound effects by  William Neal use bull horns, feedback, and filtered crowd noise of clapping and crowd reactions, are intricate,  realistic ,precise and the sounds are just as much actors as the comic virtuosos capering on the stage. Quinn has mixed all the many tools White Plains Performing Arts Center offers the director to  send up golf in not a mean way but a bizarrely reverent way – the essence of farce.

Call White Plains Performing Arts Center at 914-328-1600 for tickets in the no-bad-seat gallery:  May 22,23,24,25, May 29,30, 31,June 1. Or go to the WPPAC website, www.wppac.com

The Fox on the Fairway the most fun you will have on a golf course this year any year

 

 

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WBT Mary Poppins Practically Perfect! Child Actors Charm Supercalifragilisticexpialidosiously Lauren Blackman Soars Splendidly as Most Practical Nanny!

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. May 19, 2014

airborneLauren Blackman as Mary Poppins soars down from the ceiling lights in the Westchester Broadway Theatre revival of  Mary Poppins,  charming with her sugary affirmation of life, righting injustices and turning around attitudes to the delight of the audience of all ages.

Ms. Blackman recreates ” the Perfect Nanny,”  even resembles Julie Andrews of the Disney movie –but delivers  Poppins classics with satiny contralto authority refreshingly different from the Andrews soprano. Ms. Blackman uplifts the Mary Poppins favorites  leisurely, confidently with smooth phrasing, embellishing, polishing and projecting the familiar melodic delights in the most proper way.

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Blackman (center) cavorting in Hyde Park, bringing statues to life and putting joy into life for Jane and Michael Banks. That’s why she’s the Perfect Nanny. All Photos Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre by John Vechiola

 Spoonful of Sugar, Jolly Holiday, and her signature song, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, are staged with colorful costumes and poetic choereography conceived  seamlessly by Director and Choreographer Richard Stafford. The show’s scenes are a visual and vocal pleasure to enjoy–and will keep those young whipper-snappers’ attention.

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Ms. Blackman is delightfully upstaged by two partners in crime, the precociously perfect Michelle Moughan as Jane Banks and wise guy Gabriel Reis as Michael Banks (the child performers on Thursday evening in the roles). The child actors are on stage virtually the entire 2 hour and 15 minute performance. Here Laura Cable, right duets with Blackman and the Banks children on FEED THE BIRDS

The children handled their lines without peer, understandable diction, landing their many laugh lines with vaudeville timing, savvy and  pro style—waiting for the laughs.

Children attending any Mary Poppins performance will be delighted at these plucky performers who are as entertaining as Ms. Blackman. The trio of Blackman, Michellle and Gabriel had very good chemistry. (Jane Shearin and Brandon Singel are the alternate child actor team, whom I suspect will deliver no less!)

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Leo Ash Evans as Mary Poppins’ foil Bert, the chimney sweep (played by Dick Van Dyke roin the movie), plays the role of semi-narrator of this fantasy world where Nannies can fly—but so can he. He floats acrobatically on the rooftops in one of many lyrical and  engaging numbers in this show leading the chimneysweeps in Step in Time in act II. Evans  is charming in his number Chim Chim Cheree (below)

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Leisha Mather and Joseph Dellger as Winifred and George Banks (the banker husband) are the objects of Mary Poppins’ mission to Cherry Tree Lane. Her assignment: get George Banks to appreciate and love his family and children in a warmer way. Banks you see is absorbed in his work. (This is the perfect musical to take your investment banker or lawyer husband to) Banks is obsessed with order and the victim of a cruel nanny in his childhood, whom he calls “The Holy Terror.”

When Banks is upset by his children coming to his bank, Mary decides to leave and he  brings back “The Holy Terror” played with slinky, sly menace and grouchy chuckling panache by  Jan Neuberger, whose flamboyant singing of Brimstone and Treacle  is the very very model of what a nanny should not be.

The Banks children run away into the park. As the Banks search for the children, Mary Poppins flies to the rescue and returns to the household  to confront “The Holy Terror” The pas de deux between Neuberger and Blackman as The Terror and Poppins confront each other is magical in literally making The Holy Terror fly away–and she does.

George Banks meanwhile is anticipating losing his job and reflects on his life and the Poppins message of appreciating those who love you, takes hold.

Mary Poppins delivers her timeless message that Anything Can Happen  and there is always hope. And we make our own magic the way we choose to live our life.

Top numbers in this show to enjoy are Precision and Order (performed by a most precise and orderly banking staff); the wonderful carousel scene in the park where after Ms. Blackman engineers a rapid costume change, Blackman sings Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious; Jolly Holiday where Mary, Bert, the Banks children cavort with statues who come to life; Feed the Birds a song in this musical  to promote kindness  features the haunting voice of Laura Cable as the Bird Woman, dueting with Ms. Blackman.

Ms. Cable’s scene with Ms. Blackman, like most scenes in this show is the magic that theatre is for and the only place where you see magic happen before your eyes.

Congratulations to Westchester Broadway Theatre, in its 40th anniversary year of dinner theatre in Westchester, for staging this very complex technical and artistically challenging  show, eight years after the original opened for its long Broadway run.

The show opened in November 2006. It was nominated for 7 Tonys and ran for six years on Broadway playing 2,619 performances, before giving way to Disney’s Aladdin.

Now you can see it again through July 27. Call the box office at 914-592-2222 or visit the WBT website at www.BroadwayTheatre.com

 

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WHITE PLAINS WEEK COVERS THE DAY THE PRESIDENT CAME TO TARRYTOWN

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THE OBAMA REPORT

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PETER KATZ

FORMER ABC WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT

COVERS

THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE

ON THE NET AT

www.whiteplainsweek.com

(Copy link and paste into your browser)

WESTCHESTER’S MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPLETE NEWS PROGRAM

FOR 13 YEARS

WHITE PLAINS WEEK

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Anchor for all Seasons, Peter Katz, John Bailey, CitizeNetReporter, and the Dean of White Plains Journalism, Jim Benerofe

PLUS THE BIG THREE ON

THE COUNTY PLAYLAND REVIEW COMMITTEE CHOKES ON

 SUSTAINABLE PLAYLAND LIABILITY “PROMISE”

THE BREAKDOWN OF THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL BUDGET

THE OPENING OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER MUSEUM

THE FOUNTAIN IMPASSE AT RENAISSANCE SQUARE

CAMBRIA SUITES TAKE SHAPE ON MAIN

AND

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

JIM BENEROFE

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THE DAY THE PRESIDENT CAME TO TARRYTOWN: PRESIDENT OBAMA RECEIVES ROUSING RECEPTION

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President Barack Obama addressing some 300 politicians, officials, and citizens on the need for Congress to fund the rebuilding of the nation’s infrastructure by replenishing the Federal Highway Trust Fund by August. All Photos by Peter Katz

WPCNR THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT  By Peter Katz  – Special to WPCNR. Tarrytown, NY- May 14, 2014

President Barack Obama visited Tarrytown on Wednesday to use the aging Tappan Zee Bridge, and the construction work which is underway on a replacement bridge, as the backdrop for a speech pressuring Congress to appropriate funds to rebuild America’s transportation infrastructure.

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The Old Tappan Zee Bridge and the pilings of the New NY Bridge behind President Obama as the President in a 17-minute speech sketched the need for Congress to act swiftly to supply new billions for rebuilding America’s roads, rail and transit.

The event took place at the Washington Irving Boat Club fronting on the Hudson River. It was by invitation only, and Democrat politicians comprised a large segment of some 200 to 300 in attendance.

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Congresswoman Nita Lowey, with County Executive Robert Astorino, in background, far right

They included Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Congressman Elliot Engel, Mayor Tom Roach of White Plains, Assemblyman David Buchwald, County Legislator Ken Jenkins, and Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner just to name a few. Also seen was Christopher Clouet, who formerly was school superintendent in White Plains and now is superintendent in Tarrytown, where school was dismissed early to help keep traffic down while the President was in town.

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New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo introducing the President

A construction supervisor spoke first about how much the bridge project is contributing to the livelihoods of workers like himself, and introduced Governor Andrew Cuomo, mistakenly calling him by his father’s name, Mario. The Governor made a joke about not minding being called Mario, and spoke for a few minutes about the success achieved by his administration is getting the new bridge project underway after years of inactivity. The Governor introduced President Obama.

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The President declared, “I want us to be first when it comes to infrastructure around the world, because business are gonna come to where there’s good infrastructure to…move people, move services,” the President said. “First class infrastructure attracts first class jobs,” he continued.

Mr. Obama warned that if Congress doesn’t act by the end of the summer to appropriate needed funds, federal money for highway projects will run out.

“There will be no money; the cupboard will be bare and, all told, nearly 700,000 thousand jobs would be at risk over the next year,” the President warned.

He chastised the Republicans in Congress for offering tax loopholes to the wealthy while killing off investments on projects which will create jobs and help the majority of Americans.

“We’ve got more than 100,000 bridges that are old enough for Medicare,” the President said. “We’ve got leaky pipes that lose billions of gallons of drinking water every single day…nearly half our people don’t have access to transit at all, and I don’t have to tell you what some of our airports look like,” he continued.

The President announced a plan to accelerate 11 infrastructure projects in cities around the country, and cut as much red tape as possible. He acknowledged Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx who was in attendance, and who had warned that the Federal Highway Trust Fund could run out of money in August.

The President had flown in to Kennedy Airport on board Air Force One. Then, he was helicoptered to the former General Motors site on the Hudson River in Tarrytown where a motorcade drove him the short distance to the waterfront location of the speech.

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After the speech, the President spent a few minutes shaking hands and posing for pictures with people who were able to get far enough forward under the watchful eyes of the Secret Service.

Then, a motorcade took him back to the GM site where he was helicoptered to Manhattan where he was scheduled to attend two Democratic fundraisers tonight and the dedication of the 9/11 museum tomorrow.

His speech ran 17 minutes and he was in Tarrytown for an hour. Spectators gawked at the President’s limousine as it made its way in to the site. Members of the  Washington Irving Boat Club, guests of the President,  observed below

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The entrance to the Washington Irving Boat Club. Mayor Tom Roach of White Plains is at the far right.

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There were some Republicans in attendance, such as Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino . Construction workers who are working on the new bridge and officials of the Thruway Authority also were on hand.

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White Plains Mayor Tom  was  part of a galaxy of Democratic Party elected officials and dignataries

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Playland “As We Know it” Opening Weekend draws over 10,000 over two days.

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The vintage Dragon Coaster Rolls Again. Westchester County Recreation and Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia said “The Dragon” was very popular on Opening Weekend.

WPCNR PLAYLAND-GO-ROUND.  May 14, 2014:

The Westchester County Commissioner of Recreation and Parks reported to WPCNR that Playland Opening Weekend drew 5,500 admissions Saturday, despite threatening weather. On Mother’s Day, Sunday, the park drew 5,000 persons, Commissioner Peter Tartaglia said.

Tartaglia said that when a thunderstorm rolled through the park on Saturday many Playlanders took shelter and lingered, with many waiting out the short-lived cloudburst.

Tartaglia said all rides were open at the park and attractions were fully staffed. He said the park is employing 500 persons, and interviews to hire are still going on.

A reduced admission price of $15 a person for all day rides in effect for opening weekend and through June,  perhaps was a factor, he said. He also credited the promotion of  free ride admission for mothers on Mothers Sunday will be repeated for fathers on Sunday, June 15, Fathers Day.

Playland opens at noon Saturday. Same low prices:

$15 May Days!
May 10,11, 17, 18 and 23
(Cannot be combined with other discounts)
$30 Rides*
$20 Junior* Under 48″
FREE Child 2 years old and under Riding with a ride paying adult meeting ride height requirements and safety restrictions
$10 Spectator Non-Resident (No Rides)
FREE Spectator Resident (No Rides)
$1
per point		 Fun Card
(Requires Spectator Admission)		 (Rides are 5-6 points each)
* Westchester residents receive $5 Discount
Prices are subject to change & do not apply to special event concerts.
Active duty military personnel Special Admissions: Please click here.
Did You Know…
• Band not required for park entry for child 2 years old and under.
• For Resident Discount present: Credit Card with ZIP Code verification, NYS Photo ID or driver’s license, County Park Pass, school photo ID or report card.
• Height Line Charts available at Fountain Plaza and in Park (complete Park Rules and Information.)
• Metro Cards are available for purchase, CASH ONLY
• Visits Are Weatherproof!  If we close due to weather, we’ll credit rider bands only to come back this season. Some rides may not operate due to weather conditions.
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FBI Charges 90 with Medicare Fraud.

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WPCNR FBI WIRE. Special to WPCNR From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. May 13, 2014:

Attorney General Eric Holder and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in six cities has resulted in charges against 90 individuals, including 27 doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $260 million in false billings.

Attorney General Holder and Secretary Sebelius were joined in the announcement by Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, FBI Assistant Director Joseph Campbell, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson, and Deputy Administrator and Director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Program Integrity Shantanu Agrawal.

This coordinated takedown is the seventh national Medicare fraud takedown in Strike Force history. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a joint initiative announced in May 2009 between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.

Since their inception in March 2007, strike force operations in nine locations have charged almost 1,900 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for almost $6 billion. In addition, CMS, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, has suspended enrollments of high-risk providers in five strike force locations and has removed over 17,000 providers from the Medicare program since 2011.

The joint Department of Justice and HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force is a multi-agency team of federal, state, and local investigators designed to combat Medicare fraud through the use of Medicare data analysis techniques and an increased focus on community policing. Almost 400 law enforcement agents from the FBI, HHS-OIG, multiple Medicaid Fraud Control Units, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies participated in the takedown.

“Medicare is a sacred compact with our nation’s seniors, and to protect it, we must remain aggressive in combating fraud,” said Attorney General Holder. “This nationwide Medicare Strike Force takedown represents another important step forward in our ongoing fight to safeguard taxpayer resources and to ensure the integrity of essential health care programs. Department of Justice will not tolerate these activities. And we will continue working alongside the Department of Health and Human Services—as well as federal, state, and local partners—to use every appropriate tool and available resource to find, stop, and punish those who seek to take advantage of their fellow citizens.”

“The Affordable Care Act has given us additional tools to preserve Medicare and protect the tens of millions of Americans who rely on it each day,” said Secretary Sebelius. “By expanding our authority to suspend Medicare payments and reimbursements when fraud is suspected, the law allows us to better preserve the system and save taxpayer dollars. Today we’re sending a strong, clear message to anyone seeking to defraud Medicare: you will get caught and you will pay the price. We will protect a sacred trust and an earned guarantee.”

The defendants charged are accused of various health care fraud-related crimes, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, violations of the anti-kickback statutes, and money laundering. The charges are based on a variety of alleged fraud schemes involving various medical treatments and services, including home health care, mental health services, psychotherapy, physical and occupational therapy, durable medical equipment, and pharmacy fraud.

According to court documents, the defendants allegedly participated in schemes to submit claims to Medicare for treatments that were medically unnecessary and often never provided. In many cases, court documents allege that patient recruiters, Medicare beneficiaries, and other co-conspirators were paid cash kickbacks in return for supplying beneficiary information to providers, so that the providers could then submit fraudulent bills to Medicare for services that were medically unnecessary or never performed. Collectively, the doctors, nurses, licensed medical professionals, health care company owners, and others charged are accused of conspiring to submit approximately $260 million in fraudulent billings.

“Today, across the nation, scores of defendants were arrested for engaging in hundreds of millions of dollars in health care fraud,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General O’Neil. “Among the defendants charged were 27 medical professionals, including 16 doctors. The crimes charged represent the face of health care fraud today—doctors billing for services that were never rendered, supply companies providing motorized wheelchairs that were never needed, recruiters paying kickbacks to get Medicare billing numbers of patients. The fraud was rampant, it was brazen, and it permeated every part of the Medicare system. But law enforcement continues to strike back. Using cutting-edge, data-driven investigative techniques, we are bringing fraudsters to justice and saving the American taxpayers billions of dollars. Overall, since its inception, the Department of Justice’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged nearly 1,900 individuals involved in approximately $6 billion of fraud. We are committed to using every tool at our disposal to prevent, deter, and prosecute health care fraud.”

“We all feel the effects of health care fraud,” said FBI Assistant Director Campbell. “It leads to higher health care costs and makes it harder for seniors and those who are ill to get the care they need. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to preventing and prosecuting health care fraud at all levels. But we need the public’s help. Take the time to be aware of fraud and call law enforcement if you see anything suspicious included in the billings to your insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid or have any unusual encounters with health care providers. We can work together to ensure your hard-earned dollars are used to care for the sick and not to line the pockets of criminals.”

“Today’s arrests demonstrate the effectiveness of our Strike Forces in combating Medicare and Medicaid fraud,” said HHS Inspector General Levinson. “Through seamless teamwork, our agents and law enforcement partners bring lawbreakers to justice, protect beneficiaries and recover stolen taxpayer funds.”

“Fraud can inflict real harm on Medicare beneficiaries and CMS is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get criminals behind bars and out of the Medicare program as swiftly as possible,” said CMS Program Integrity Deputy Administrator Agrawal. “Today’s actions represent further consequences for bad actors, many of whom CMS had already stopped paying or even kicked out of the program. Fundamentally, this is about protecting the well-being of our beneficiaries and the investment of taxpayer dollars.”

In Miami, a total of 50 defendants were charged today and yesterday for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving approximately $65.5 million in false billings for home health care and mental health services and pharmacy fraud. In one case, two defendants were charged in connection with a $23 million pharmacy kickback and laundering scheme. Court documents allege that the defendants solicited kickbacks from a pharmacy owner for Medicare beneficiary information, which was used to bill for drugs that were never dispensed. The kickbacks were concealed as bi-weekly payments under a sham services contract and were laundered through shell entities owned by the defendants.

Eleven individuals were charged by the Houston Medicare Strike Force. Five Houston-area physicians were charged with conspiring to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary home health services. According to court documents, the defendant doctors were paid by two co-conspirators to sign off on home health care services that were not necessary and often never provided.

Eight defendants were charged in Los Angeles for their roles in schemes to defraud Medicare of approximately $32 million. In one case, a doctor was charged for causing almost $24 million in losses to Medicare through his own fraudulent billing and referrals for durable medical equipment, including over 1,000 expensive power wheelchairs and home health services that were not medically necessary and frequently not provided.

In Detroit, seven defendants were charged for their roles in fraud schemes involving approximately $30 million in false claims for medically unnecessary services, including home health services, psychotherapy, and infusion therapy. In one case, four individuals, including a doctor, were charged in a sophisticated $28 million fraud scheme in which the physician billed for expensive tests, physical therapy, and injections that were not necessary and not provided. Court documents allege that when the physician’s billings raised red flags, he was put on payment review by Medicare. He was allegedly able to continue his scheme and evade detection by continuing to bill using the billing information of other Medicare providers, sometimes without their knowledge.

In Tampa, Florida, seven individuals were charged in a variety of schemes, ranging from fraudulent physical therapy billings to a scheme involving millions of dollars in physician services and tests that never occurred. In one case, five individuals were charged for their alleged roles in a $12 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme that involved billing Medicare using names of beneficiaries from Miami-Dade County for services purportedly provided in Tampa area clinics, 280 miles away. The defendants then allegedly laundered the proceeds through a number of transactions involving several shell entities.

In Brooklyn, New York, the strike force announced an indictment against Syed Imran Ahmed, M.D., in connection with his alleged $85 million scheme involving billings for surgeries that never occurred; Dr. Ahmed had been arrested last month and charged by complaint. Dr. Ahmed has charged with health care fraud and making false statements. In addition, the Brooklyn Strike Force charged six other individuals, including a physician and two billers who allegedly concocted a $14.4 million scheme in which they recruited elderly Medicare beneficiaries and billed Medicare for medically unnecessary vitamin infusions, diagnostic tests and physical and occupational therapy supposedly provided to these patients.

The cases announced today are being prosecuted and investigated by Medicare Fraud Strike Force teams composed of attorneys from the Fraud Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of Texas, the Central District of California, the Middle District of Louisiana, the Northern District of Illinois, and the Middle District of Florida; and agents from the FBI, HHS-OIG, and state Medicaid Fraud Control Units.

A complaint or indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

To learn more about HEAT, go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov

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