26 members of a suspected drug trafficking ring in Rockland County are under arrest on Federal narcotics charges for allegedly  distributing over 1,000 kilograms of mariuana in and around Spring Valley, Ramapo, Clarkstown, Mount Vernon, the Bronx and other areas of NYC.

Shortly after former State Senator Vincent Leibell pleaded guilty to charges of Tax Evasion and Obstruction of Justice charges, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara said "This is a sad day for the citizens of Putnam County and a scene that has become all-too-familiar in New York State."

Said Bharara, "Leibell has only himself to blame for the fact that, after 28 years in public office, this conviction will now be the capstone of that career," adding, "He will be the latest in a long line of public officials who have placed themselves above the law.

A Beacon man was sentenced to 23 years in prison in White Plains today for the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted enticement of a minor and possession of roughly 1,000 images of child pornography.  44 year old Christopher Schulze pleaded guilty June 3,2009 to the charges.

A woman, her brother and two others were indicted today  in an alleged conspiracy to murder a millionaire convention organizer at the Rye Town Hilton last year. 53 year old Ben Novack Junior was found bludgeoned to death on July 12, 2009 in his hotel room where he had been staying during an Amway Convention. 

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says 53 year old Narcy Novack, her brother, and two others were behind the brutal slaying.  Bharara says Narcy Novack opened the door for the killers who beat and slashed her husband and then gave them a pillow to hold over his face as he was being killed.

Narcy Novack was arrested in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She is being held without bail and is expected to be extradicted to New York.   Her brother, Cristobal Veliz and two other men, Dennis Ramirez and Joel Gonzalez were also named in the indictment which charges them with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Domestic Violence and Stalking, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison.

Bharara also says federal officals plan to file a civil forfeiture complaint seeking to forfeit all property in the Ben Novack estate and proceeds from his life insurance policy. The properties, he says, include: several homes in Florida, several bank accounts and a number of  vintage boats and automobiles.

A woman, her brother and two others were indicted today  in an alleged conspiracy to murder a millionaire convention organizer at the Rye Town Hilton last year. 53 year old Ben Novack Junior was found bludgeoned to death on July 12, 2009 in his hotel room where he had been staying during an Amway Convention. 

A Sleepy Hollow Police Officer, already charged with two counts of police brutality, is facing new charges. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara ,announced Thursday that 37 year old Jose Quinoy was charged with one count of witness tampering in addition to the two counts of civil rights violations on which he was previously indicted.

27 year old Elvis Santana of Yonkers, who led a 43 member cocaine distribution network in Westchester County, has pleaded guilty in federal court in White Plains to conspiring to distribute 28.5 kilograms of the drug over an eight month period.