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Child Porn Charges: Man From Region Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Child Porn Charges: Man From Region Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say
Child Porn Charges: Man From Region Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Federal prosecutors are pursuing child pornography charges against a man from the region after he allegedly sent and received numerous illicit images of children.  Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, was arraigned on charges that he distributed, received, and possessed child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, April 12. According to investigators, Smoaks sent and received images and videos of child pornography over the internet between February and March 2023. The illicit images were reportedly found on both his computer and an external hard drive. If convicted, he face…

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by Michael Mashburn
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$100M Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds $100M Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds
$100M Scheme: Hudson Valley Man Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds A New York man known as "the Magician" has been charged in connection with one of the largest-ever tax fraud schemes by a tax preparer, federal officials announced. Northern Westchester County resident Rafael Alvarez, of Cortlandt Manor, has been charged in connection with a $100 million tax fraud scheme involving tens of thousands of federal individual income tax returns with false information, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Monday, April 15.  According to federal officials, from 2010 to 2020, Alvarez, also known as "the Magi…

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by Ben Crnic
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'Threat Environment' Prompts Proactive Measures In Place In Hudson Valley, Sheriff Says 'Threat Environment' Prompts Proactive Measures In Place In Hudson Valley, Sheriff Says
'Threat Environment' Prompts Proactive Measures In Place In Hudson Valley, Sheriff Says As tensions in the Middle East rise following Iran's attack against Israel, authorities in the Hudson Valley are taking precautionary measures to look out for suspicious activity and to keep residents safe. As a result of "heightened threat environments," the Putnam County Sheriff's Office will enact "proactive measures" to keep the county safe, including extra visibility at several pre-determined locations, authorities said.  These measures follow an aerial attack conducted by Iran against Israel on Saturday, April 13, which the country said was made in response to an Israeli strike a…

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by Ben Crnic
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Psychologist Sexually Abused Teens At Juvenile Lockup In Region For Years, Police Say Psychologist Sexually Abused Teens At Juvenile Lockup In Region For Years, Police Say
Psychologist Sexually Abused Teens At Juvenile Lockup In Region For Years, Police Say A state psychologist is accused of sexually abusing numerous underage victims at a New York State juvenile detention center going back years. Maya Hayes, of Albany, was arrested Friday, April 12, following a New York State Police investigation into allegations of abuse at Columbia County’s Brookwood Secure Center, located in the town of Claverack. According to police, the 62-year-old sexually assaulted numerous victims at the facility over several years while employed as a clinician. No other details about the alleged abuse were made public.  Hayes' arrest followed a grand jury indic…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Dad Charged In 5-Year-Old Daughter's Death At Home In Region Dad Charged In 5-Year-Old Daughter's Death At Home In Region
Dad Charged In 5-Year-Old Daughter's Death At Home In Region A man from the region is facing charges for allegedly starving his 5-year-old daughter to death. Police were called to a home in Schenectady on Elmer Avenue near Poplar Street at around 3 a.m. Sunday, April 14, for a young girl who was unconscious and not breathing. Medics pronounced the girl dead a short time later, according to police. Investigators believe the child’s father, 33-year-old Robert Buskey, deprived her of food and water for at least four days, WRGB reports, citing court documents. Buskey was arrested on suspicion of second-degree manslaughter and three counts of end…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Support Pours In For Family Of Beloved Hudson Valley Firefighter Who Died At 26 Support Pours In For Family Of Beloved Hudson Valley Firefighter Who Died At 26
Support Pours In For Family Of Beloved Hudson Valley Firefighter Who Died At 26 Following the sudden loss of a young Hudson Valley firefighter who was always there to help others, his community is making sure his family gets the support they need.  Putnam County resident William "Billy" May of Brewster died on Friday, March 29 in Danbury, Connecticut at the age of 26, according to his obituary.  Earlier Report - Brewster Firefighter Billy May Dies At 26: 'Rising Star' Born in the Westchester County village of Bronxville in 1997, May graduated from Brewster High School in 2016 and had been a proud member of the Brewster Fire Department since 2020, where …

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by Ben Crnic
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Police Officer, Sheriff's Deputy, Suspect Killed In Shootout On Suburban Street In Upstate NY Police Officer, Sheriff's Deputy, Suspect Killed In Shootout On Suburban Street In Upstate NY
Police Officer, Sheriff's Deputy, Suspect Killed In Shootout On Suburban Street In Upstate NY Two police officers were killed overnight in a shooting on a suburban street in upstate New York. Click here for a new, updated story: Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban Street In NY The incident happened in Onondaga County in the village of Liverpool, located just north of Syracuse, shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday, April 14. According to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, Syracuse Police Officers encountered a suspicious vehicle at Emerson Avenue and Hamilton Street and attempted to stop it. However, the driver refused to stop and fle…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Charges Upgraded To Murder In Dutchess County 'Gator' Stabbing Case Charges Upgraded To Murder In Dutchess County 'Gator' Stabbing Case
Charges Upgraded To Murder In Dutchess County 'Gator' Stabbing Case Charges against one of two residents in the region charged in the stabbing of a man in a fight over tools have been upgraded to murder after the victim died days later in a case involving. the presence of an alligator. Related: Live Alligator Discovered At Scene Of Stabbing In Pawling Residence Dutchess County resident Giuseppe Vassallo, age 43, of Pawling, who was initially charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of Nathaniel Vieira, age 42, also of Pawling, on Saturday, March 2, saw his charges increased to murder on Thursday, April 11, said Sinead McLoughlin of the Dutc…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Man From Region Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Man From Region Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images
Man From Region Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Years in federal prison await a man from the region who confessed to blackmailing underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Richard Nejame, age 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, April 11. Prosecutors said Nejame messaged several underage girls on social media apps, including Snapchat, while pretending to be a teenage boy between October 2022 and May 2023. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted that he then convinced the girls to take nude pictures and videos of…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Measles Outbreak: Cases Surpass 2023 Numbers, NY Among Dozens Of States Reporting Sickness Measles Outbreak: Cases Surpass 2023 Numbers, NY Among Dozens Of States Reporting Sickness
Measles Outbreak: Cases Surpass 2023 Numbers, NY Among Dozens Of States Reporting Sickness Less than a month since a case of measles showed up outside of New York City, the number of cases has more than doubled across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On Friday, April 12, the CDC announced that the total number of measles cases in the US in 2024 has reached 121 — far surpassing last year’s number of 58 — with cases being reported in 18 states and jurisdictions, including New York State. The update comes after a Nassau County child under the age of 5 was announced as the state’s first measles case to be reported outside of New York C…

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by Sophie Grieser
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Total Solar Eclipse Rescue: Injured NY Woman Pulled To Safety From Mountain In Path Of Totality Total Solar Eclipse Rescue: Injured NY Woman Pulled To Safety From Mountain In Path Of Totality
Total Solar Eclipse Rescue: Injured NY Woman Pulled To Safety From Mountain In Path Of Totality An injured woman was rescued during the height of the solar eclipse in an area in upstate New York that was in the path of totality. According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the incident began in the middle of the afternoon on Monday, April 8, at Adirondack trailheads in Franklin County, in the town of Santa Clara. Just after 4:30 p.m., authorities received a call about a hiker with a lower leg injury near the summit of Mount Saint Regis.  Due to the terrain and trail conditions, Forest Rangers called for assistance from the New York State Police (NYSP) Avia…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Pair Of Winning Powerball Tickets Worth $100K Sold In Hudson Valley Pair Of Winning Powerball Tickets Worth $100K Sold In Hudson Valley
Pair Of Winning Powerball Tickets Worth $100K Sold In Hudson Valley Two lottery players have a pocketful of cash after purchasing a winning third-prize Powerball ticket in the Hudson Valley. According to the New York Lottery, the winning tickets were sold in Rockland County at the Shell Gas Station, owned by MS Corp, located at 255 S. Main St., in New City.  The winners picked four correct numbers, and the Powerball won with extra help by purchasing a Powerplay ticket, lottery officials said.  The winning numbers for the Wednesday, April 10 game were 6-7-12-24-36 and a Powerball of 15. No word yet on who the winners are. We will keep you posted.…

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by Kathy Reakes