Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed
Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed After more than a month, the question of who backed the half-million-dollar bond to free embattled New York Congressman George Santos from custody while his federal criminal case plays out has finally been answered. Documents unsealed in US District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Thursday, June 22, show that Santos’ father, Gercino dos Santos, and his aunt, Elma Preven, are the co-signers on his $500,000 bond. Santos' lawyer had argued that publicizing his relatives' identities could subject them to harassment from news organizations, but the judge rejected the plea. The 34-y…
Methuen Brunch Spot Closes After Years Of Making Customers Feel Like Family Methuen Brunch Spot Closes After Years Of Making Customers Feel Like Family
Methuen Brunch Spot Closes After Years Of Making Customers Feel Like Family A brunch restaurant is closing its doors, saying that nothing they have done to try and save their business worked.  Savastano's, located on Merrimack Street in Methuen, announced that the brunch restaurant would close permanently on Friday, June 30 via a Facebook post. The eatery, known for its home-cooked breakfasts and lunches, opened only months before the COVID-19 pandemic began necessitating non-essential business closures.  It shut down for three months in 2020 and never recovered, according to the Facebook post.  The closure is not due to a lack of regulars, according to the post…
COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: New Rochelle Man Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: New Rochelle Man Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say
Covid-19 $14.7M Scheme: New Rochelle Man Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say Two men from Westchester and a Long Island woman face charges after participating in a more than $14 million scheme to steal from a program created to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials said.  New Rochelle resident Glenroy Walker, age 65, Mount Vernon resident Gary Wheeler, age 46, Freeport resident Sherril Baez, age 50, and three others are charged with scheming to steal more than $14 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Tuesday, June 6.  The …
One Of NJ Town's Oldest Restaurants Closes: 'Hard But Good Decision' One Of NJ Town's Oldest Restaurants Closes: 'Hard But Good Decision'
One Of NJ Town's Oldest Restaurants Closes: 'Hard But Good Decision' The Tortilla Press, one of the oldest restaurants in Collingswood, has shuttered after two decades in business. The BYOB Mexican eatery at 703 Haddon Ave.  announced last weekend's sudden closing on Facebook. We have closed our Tortilla Press restaurant in Collingswood and my wife and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank... Posted by The Tortilla Press on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 Mark Smith and his wife, Lydia Cipriani, took over the former home of the Collingswood Family Restaurant in 2002. Their other restaurant, The Tortilla Press Cantina in Pennsauken remains open. The couple d…
Iconic Pizzeria Closes After 52 Years In Yonkers: 'Time For Me To Just Let Go,' Owner Says Iconic Pizzeria Closes After 52 Years In Yonkers: 'Time For Me To Just Let Go,' Owner Says
Iconic Pizzeria Closes After 52 Years In Yonkers: 'Time For Me To Just Let Go,' Owner Says A pizzeria in Westchester that became a community staple for over half a century and became the setting of countless memories has closed as its owner prepares to enjoy retirement.  Raceway Pizza, located in Yonkers at 775 Yonkers Ave., has closed, owner Luigi Petrozza announced on social media on Wednesday, May 24.  Petrozza, whose family began the restaurant in 1971, cited his retirement as the reason for the restaurant's closing.  "Working here with my mom and dad for many, many years...it's going to be sad, but it's time for me to just let go and do what I have to do now," Petrozza sai…
Popular Restaurant Closes Last Location In CT After 'Last Few, Very Difficult Years' Popular Restaurant Closes Last Location In CT After 'Last Few, Very Difficult Years'
Popular Restaurant Closes Last Location In CT After 'Last Few, Very Difficult Years' A beloved Connecticut restaurant has suddenly shut down its second and final location only months after closing its original, flagship locale.  The owners of Lucky Taco announced the permanent closure of their Tolland County location at 73 East St. in Vernon's Northeast Shopping Center on Tuesday night, May 9 on social media.  The closure comes after the business's original Hartford County flagship location at 829 Main St. in Manchester was shut down for good in mid-March after nine years in business as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Earlier Report - Popular Restaurant …
IRS Bags Hundreds Of Tax Cheats, Money Launderers As COVID Relief Fraud Tops $3.2 Billion IRS Bags Hundreds Of Tax Cheats, Money Launderers As COVID Relief Fraud Tops $3.2 Billion
IRS Bags Hundreds Of Tax Cheats, Money Launderers As COVID Relief Fraud Tops $3.2 Billion It wasn't long after the government began offering COVID relief loans three years ago that IRS investigators were hot on the tails of scammers. Since then, agents with IRS Criminal Investigation have pursued 975 tax and money-laundering cases nationwide involving $3.2 billion worth of fraudulently obtained loans, credits and payments meant to help American workers, families, and small businesses who were rocked by the pandemic. Over that time, IRS-CI has kept its conviction rate at nearly 100%, federal authorities say. It has produced indictments against 458 defendants, …
NJ COVID Scammer Who Pocketed $1.8M In Taxpayer-Funded Rescue Loans Gets Three Years In Fed Pen NJ COVID Scammer Who Pocketed $1.8M In Taxpayer-Funded Rescue Loans Gets Three Years In Fed Pen
NJ COVID Scammer Who Pocketed $1.8M In Taxpayer-Funded Rescue Loans Gets Three Years In Fed Pen UPDATE: A North Jersey businessman who collected $1.8 million in COVID-19 pandemic loans that he wasn't entitled to, then diverted the money into accounts held by family members -- including his young children -- was sentenced to three years in federal prison on Wednesday. Rocco A. Malanga, 39, formerly of Hackettstown, must serve out the entire plea-bargained sentence approved by a U.S. District Court judge in Newark on March 22 because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Malanga lied on documents to three different lenders to secure federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) mo…
Known Racist Convicted Of Spitting On Black Neighbor In DC During Pandemic: Feds Known Racist Convicted Of Spitting On Black Neighbor In DC During Pandemic: Feds
Known Racist Convicted Of Spitting On Black Neighbor In DC During Pandemic: Feds A man with a history of racist tirades against African-American neighbors in Washington, DC, was found guilty of spitting in the face of one during a hate crime at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gueorgui Iskrenov was found guilty following a three-day trial for bias-related assault in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, federal officials announced on Thursday, Feb. 2. Prosecutors said that at approximately 2 p.m. on July 20, 2020, the victim, an African American woman, was walking her service dog and crossing the exit ramp of her apartment complex by the Wharf in Southwest,…
Waiter Guilty Of Fatally Stabbing 'Dedicated' Busboy, Father Of 2 At Long Island Restaurant Waiter Guilty Of Fatally Stabbing 'Dedicated' Busboy, Father Of 2 At Long Island Restaurant
Waiter Guilty Of Fatally Stabbing 'Dedicated' Busboy, Father Of 2 At Long Island Restaurant A former waiter at a Long Island restaurant is facing decades in prison after being convicted of fatally stabbing his co-worker during an argument over tips. A Nassau County jury found David Jimenez-Salazar, age 25, of Farmingdale, guilty of first-degree manslaughter Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the death of Elvin Padilla at the La Candela Restaurant in Hicksville in July 2020. Prosecutors said it was around 10:40 p.m. on July 16, 2020 when Jimenez-Salazar got into an argument with Padilla, a 37-year-old father of two and busboy at the restaurant. Padilla had accused him of shorting him $20 from th…
'Three Devastating Years' Cause Watertown Italian Eatery To Close 'Three Devastating Years' Cause Watertown Italian Eatery To Close
'Three Devastating Years' Cause Watertown Italian Eatery To Close Struggles that began with the COVID-19 pandemic is causing a cornerstone of Watertown's dining scene to close.  Porcini's, located at 68 School Street in Watertown, announced on their website that the restaurant will permanently close on Saturday, Jan. 14 after 23 years of serving up pasta, seafood, and veal.  "The past 3 years have been devastating to our business, as we have struggled through the results of the COVID pandemic," the restaurant's statement read. "Like many restaurants, we tried to make things work, but unfortunately cannot keep this business going." Por…
Despite Rave Reviews, Father/Daughter New Rochelle Restaurant Struggling In 'Difficult Economy' Despite Rave Reviews, Father/Daughter New Rochelle Restaurant Struggling In 'Difficult Economy'
Despite Rave Reviews, Father/Daughter New Rochelle Restaurant Struggling In 'Difficult Economy' Although a Westchester County restaurant specializing in cheesesteaks has received much praise since opening, the owners say that they are still struggling because of inflation.  Earlier Report - Newly Opened Father/Daughter Westchester Restaurant Specializes In Cheesesteaks Crotty's Cheesesteaks, located in New Rochelle at 8 Eastchester Rd., was opened in January 2021 by father and daughter Joe Crotty and Lindsay Walsh. In addition to a wide variety of cheesesteaks with vegetarian & gluten-free options, the restaurant also serves salads and "delicious extras" such as fried pickles, ac…