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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
News
$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
Police & Fire
Shooting Victim Takes Self To Hospital After Early-Morning Robbery In Region Shooting Victim Takes Self To Hospital After Early-Morning Robbery In Region
Shooting Victim Takes Self To Hospital After Early-Morning Robbery In Region Police in the region are asking for help following an early-morning shooting that sent a man to the hospital. The Albany County incident happened shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday, April 13, in Albany’s West Hill neighborhood. Police said a 41-year-old man walked into the emergency room at Albany Medical Center Hospital with a gunshot wound to the knee. The wound was not considered life-threatening. The victim told investigators that he was shot during a robbery on First Street between Henry Johnson Boulevard and Lexington Avenue. No suspects had been arrested as of Monday afternoon, April 1…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Double The Fun: Pair Of $500K Winning Lottery Tickets Sold At Convenience Store In Region Double The Fun: Pair Of $500K Winning Lottery Tickets Sold At Convenience Store In Region
Double The Fun: Pair Of $500K Winning Lottery Tickets Sold At Convenience Store In Region You could say lottery lightning struck twice at a convenience store in the region. A pair of PICK 10 tickets – worth $500,000 each – was sold in Albany, at the Mobil station located at 247 New Scotland Avenue, New York Lottery announced. The lucky tickets were purchased for the drawing held on Sunday, April 14. PICK 10 numbers are drawn from a field of one to 80. To hit the jackpot a player must match their 10 numbers to 10 of the 20 winning numbers drawn. Players can check their ticket’s status on the New York Lottery website.

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Update: Person Dies After Hitting Tree On I-684 In Northern Westchester Update: Person Dies After Hitting Tree On I-684 In Northern Westchester
Update: Person Dies After Hitting Tree On I-684 In Northern Westchester A person was killed in an afternoon crash on a busy highway in Northern Westchester after striking a tree, police said. The crash happened on Sunday, April 14 around 3:15 p.m. on Interstate 684 North in Bedford, when a vehicle left the roadway near mile marker 13.9 north of Exit 4 (Route 172) and collided with a tree, Trooper AJ Hicks of the New York State Police said on Tuesday, April 16. Earlier Report - Serious Crash Causes Delays On I-684 In Bedford The driver, whose name has not yet been released pending notification of their family, was killed in the crash.  The incident c…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Seen Her? Alert Issued For Missing CT Woman Last Seen In Danbury Area Seen Her? Alert Issued For Missing CT Woman Last Seen In Danbury Area
Seen Her? Alert Issued For Missing CT Woman Last Seen In Danbury Area Authorities are asking the public for help locating a missing Connecticut woman who has been missing for two weeks. According to Connecticut State Police, Troop L, 44-year-old Litchfield County resident Elizabeth Gyurko of the town of Litchfield, was last seen in Fairfield County in the Danbury area on Sunday, April 7. Police said Gyurko was wearing black jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. She is described as 5 feet, 89 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.  If you have any information on her whereabouts, contact Connecticut State Police at 860-626-7900 and reference case number 2400148…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
'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
Police & Fire
Dutchess County Man Out On Bail, Nabbed Again With Fentanyl, Gun, Police Say Dutchess County Man Out On Bail, Nabbed Again With Fentanyl, Gun, Police Say
Dutchess County Man Out On Bail, Nabbed Again With Fentanyl, Gun, Police Say A Hudson Valley fentanyl dealer recently released from jail has been busted again, this time with alleged drugs and a gun. Dutchess County resident Jose J. Cruz, age 22, of Poughkeepsie, was charged multiple drugs and a weapon charge on Monday, April 15, in the town of Poughkeepsie. According to the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office, Drug Task Force agents had been investigating the sale of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in the Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park areas.  The investigation led to the Drug Task Force identifying Jose J. Cruz, age 22, of the town of Poughkeepsie…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
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
Police & Fire
Developing: 15 Protestors Charged After Closing Down Dutchess County Bridge Developing: 15 Protestors Charged After Closing Down Dutchess County Bridge
Developing: 15 Protestors Charged After Closing Down Dutchess County Bridge New York State Police arrested 15 people during a protest calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict after they shut down parts of a major highway and a bridge.  The incident occurred in Dutchess County on I-84 and the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge around 8 a.m., Monday, April 15. According to Trooper AJ Hicks of the New York State Police, the bridge was closed for approximately 45 minutes for state police to clear the bridge and detain the protestors. During the protest, traffic was backed up on I-84 in Dutchess County from East Fishkill to the bridge. Hicks said the protesters c…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
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
News
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