18 JUNE 11, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
DA’s offi ce launches Major Economic Crimes Bureau
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Queens District Attorney Melinda
Katz announced the creation
of the Major Economic Crimes
Bureau in her newly reorganized
Investigations Division. The new bureau
combines the former Organized
Crime and Rackets Bureau with
components of the former Economic
Crimes Bureau.
This new crime-fighting team will
investigate and prosecute a broad
array of large-scale financial crimes
that often fuel dangerous criminal
enterprises in the borough. The
Major Economic Crimes Bureau will
target organized groups engaging in
check-cashing and credit card fraud,
fishing and identity theft schemes,
auto theft rings, gambling, and loan
sharking operations, as well as dismantling
medical mills.
The bureau will collaborate with
a variety of local, state, and federal
law enforcement partners, often in
combination, to achieve these ends.
These investigations will utilize sophisticated
crime-fighting strategies,
such as wiretapping and location
data, and make use of New York’s
Enterprise Corruption statute where
appropriate.
“When I became your District Attorney,
I set out to reorganize the Office
to better serve the needs of our
communities,” Katz said. “At the helm
of this new and modernized Major
Queens District Attorney has established a new crime-fi ghting team that will target major fi nancial crimes in the
borough. Photo by Mark Hallum
Economic Crimes Bureau will be a
veteran prosecutor with a wealth of
experience fighting on behalf of the
people of Queens County.”
The DA appointed Assistant District
Attorney Mary Lowenburg to
lead the bureau. Throughout her
22-year career, Chief Lowenburg
has investigated and prosecuted
numerous Queens-based criminal
organizations engaging in crimes
ranging from organized auto crime,
larceny, and identity theft schemes
to narcotics and firearms trafficking
operations.
As part of her vision for the future,
Katz says she has implemented a
comprehensive approach to crimefighting
with the knowledge that economic
crimes frequently have ties to
violent criminal organizations that
pose a threat to the community.
To that end, the Major Economic
Crimes Bureau will work closely
with the District Attorney’s Violent
Crimes Enterprises Bureau, as well
as other bureaus, in a collaborative
partnership to fully dismantle
criminal organizations operating in
Queens.
Addabbo joins New York Legal Assistance Group to
provide free legal advice for struggling constituents
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
With the COVID-19 pandemic
receding and as the city
begins to reopen parts of its
economy, many Queens residents are
struggling with housing, unemployment
insurance, and other issues that
are diffi cult to navigate without legal
consultation.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo is
partnering with the New York Legal
Assistance Group (NYLAG) to provide
his constituents with free legal
advice by phone appointment.
On Thursday, June 11, NYLAG
will block off the hours of 10 a.m. to
3 p.m. to call those who register for
appointments through Addabbo’s office.
Each time slot is 45 minutes and
NYLAG will call everyone at their
scheduled appointment time and
conduct an intake interview if the
issue is something that NYLAG can
assist with and if not, the legal group
will endeavor to provide a referral
with a legal expert in the field.
“When involved in a legal situation,
with all the complications and specifics,
finding reliable legal advice
can be a difficult task,” Addabbo
said. “Add on top of that a global
health pandemic, and things may
seem out of reach. That is why I am
proud to once again partner with the
New York Legal Assistance Group,
who have a proven history of helping
my constituents with their legal
issues.”
In addition to housing and unemployment,
NYLAG can assist with
additional topics such as disability
and healthcare benefits, identity
theft, debt management, immigration,
divorce and custody, partner
violence, employment, and advanced
planning.
In the past, NYLAG has off ered
their services with their Mobile Legal
Help Center van located at various
sites in Addabbo’s district, however,
the legal group will conduct phone
calls to adhere to social distancing
rules while assisting individuals.
In order to schedule an appointment
for a free intake call from
NYLAG, contact Addabbo’s district
office at 718-736-1111.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo off ers free legal consultation by phone next week.
Photo by Mark Hallum
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
