17 • TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014 Legislation Targets Immigration Fraud Increases Penalties For Convicted Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation to better protect immigrants living in New York from potential fraud or wrongdoing as they seek immigration-related assistance. These new New Yorkers will now benefit from stricter assistanceprovider requirements, including the addition of a new crime to discourage this type of fraud. This bill also designates the New York State Office for New Americans—which Cuomo launched last year—as a permanent executive office of state government, whose primary purpose is to offer support to the immigrant population. Complementing the legislation signed last Wednesday, Aug. 6, a statewide multilingual public service campaign is in progress to warn newcomers against fraud and encourage them to seek assistance if they feel they are a victim of an immigration-related scam. “New York has a long history of welcoming immigrants from around the world, and today we are continuing that heritage with a new law that protects new New Yorkers and solidifies the services we provide,” Cuomo said last Wednesday. “This bill will support those who come seeking a better future for their families, and I am proud to sign it into law today.” The legislation will strengthen protections by enhancing translation requirements, increasing civil penalties for violations of the law, and barring the use of job titles that aim to mislead an assistance-seeker into believing that a service provider is an attorney or otherwise specialized professional when the provider has no such credential. It creates two new crimes, felony and misdemeanor immigration assistance fraud. Additionally, the bill codifies the Office for New Americans, launched by the Governor in March 2013, which provides a range of services to New York’s recent immigration population. Just last year, the office helped over 34,000 people through neighborhood-based opportunity centers and a toll-free multi-lingual hotline (1-800-566-7636) offering a variety of services. The Opportunity Centers teach -SEE FRAUD ON PG. 52- Flushing Man Convicted In Cold Case Homicide Threw Rival Off Roof In 1995 A Flushing man has been convicted of second-degree murder for stabbing a man several times about the neck and upper body and then pushing him off the roof of an apartment building in 1995. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. identified the defendant as Andrew Caballero, 39, formerly of Kissena Boulevard in Flushing. Caballero was convicted Wednesday, Aug. 6 after a 2 1/2 week trial by a jury of nine women and three men of second-degree murder before Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry A. Schwartz. Justice Schwartz set a sentencing date of Sept. 10, at which time the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison. Brown said, “Murder cases may grow cold but they are never closed until justice is served. Thanks to the determined efforts of police and prosecutors in this case and the emergence of new evidence that day has finally come – nearly twenty years after the victim was brutally murdered. Having been convicted of the crime, the defendant will now face the consequences of his actions by spending a lengthy time behind bars.” According to trial testimony, the victim, Jason Kollmann, 21, of East Flushing, was with Caballero on the roof of Caballero’s Kissena Boulevard residence at approximately 8 p.m. on Feb. 1, 1995, when Caballero stabbed Kollmann several times about the neck, chest and back and then pushed him off the roof, causing him to land on a fifth-floor fire escape. Kollmann, who knew the defendant through Caballero’s girlfriend, was pronounced dead at -SEE HOMICIDE ON PG. 52- DDEENNTTAALL CCAARREE FFOORR TTHHEE EENNTTIRREE FFAAMMILLYY Santa LoCascio, D.D.S., P.C. PRROOVVIDDINNGG PRROOFFESSIOONNAALL && PERRSOONNAALLIZEDD CCAARRE 70-16 FRESH POND RD., RIDGEWOOD, N.Y. ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - DR.LOCASCIO/A 1-718-628-6588 Our Complete Dental Cleaning (Includes X-ray, Exam & Cleaning) Any Filling, Extraction or Emergency Visit $99 $99 We also accept most insurances Like Us On Facebook ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - UCPA
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