It is with deep sadness that Superintendent Steven G. James announces the line-of-duty death of retired Major Frank J. Keyser at the age of 65.  On Sunday, January 11, 2026, Major Keyser passed away from an illness stemming from his assignment in and around the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Major Keyser retired from the New York State Police on November 30, 2020, following 34 years of dedicated service. Major Keyser spent most of his career in Troop F and was last assigned to Division Headquarters in Albany. Major Keyser is survived by his wife, Louise, and his son, Austin. Funeral Arrangements will be announced at a later date. Sources: https://troopers.ny.gov/news/state-police-announce-line-duty-death-retired-major-frank-keyser

Press Release Update: On January 13, 2025, at approximately 5:55 p.m., New York State Police responded to State Route 9 in the town of Chazy for a reported vehicle versus dirt bike collision involving serious personal injury. An investigation determined that a mini gas-operated dirt bike, operated by a 14-year-old male with a 13-year-old male passenger, both from Chazy, Clinton County, was traveling south on State Route 9 in the middle of the roadway with no lights equipped on the bike. A tan 1998 Buick La Sabre, operated by Hannah R. Bessette, age 23, of Chazy, Clinton County, was also traveling south on State Route 9 when she failed to observe the dirt bike and struck it from the rear. As a result of the collision, both juveniles were ejected from the dirt bike and sustained injuries. Bessette was not injured. The 14- and 13-year-old males were transported to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital for further medical treatment. The 14-year-old male sustained minor injuries, and the 13-year-old male sustained life-threatening injuries and is currently listed in critical condition. Further investigation determined there were no signs of impairment, and no criminal activity was identified on the part of Bessette. This investigation remains ongoing.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Harry T. Chavis, Jr., and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Jocelyn E. Strauber, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ANTHONY HERBERT—the former Citywide Public Housing Liaison at the New York City Mayor’s Office—with committing bribery, kickback, and fraud offenses.  HERBERT was arrested this morning and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni. “New Yorkers deserve honest and competent public officials,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “As alleged, at a time when Anthony Herbert was serving as City Hall’s liaison to the City’s public housing residents, he engaged in blatant pay-to-play schemes to enrich himself.  The women and men of the Southern District of New York are committed to holding accountable government officials who abuse their positions of trust to benefit themselves.” “It’s alleged Anthony Herbert used his position in the NYC Mayor’s Office to create a side hustle of bribery and fraud,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr.  “He allegedly took advantage of his role to line his pockets by offering unfair advantages to certain businesses.  Today’s indictment is the result of the incredible partnership between IRS-CI special agents and SDNY investigators, and now Herbert will face justice for his alleged criminal acts.”  “This former Mayor’s Office official was responsible for engaging with members of the community on behalf of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, first as the Brooklyn Borough Director and then as the liaison between residents and leadership of public housing, and City Hall,” said DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber.  “He allegedly exploited this position of trust and influence to enrich himself, accepting $16,000 in bribes and kickbacks in return for favors, including pressuring other government officials to give City contracts to one company, and steering publicly-funded financial assistance payments to a second business, according to the indictment.  As charged, he allegedly filed false financial disclosures with the City omitting the payments he received to conceal his criminal conduct.  I thank the IRS and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership on this investigation and for their commitment to hold accountable City employees who abuse their position for their own gain.” As alleged in the Indictment: [1] From in or about February 2022 through in or about September 2025, HERBERT worked for the Office of the New York City Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (“Community Affairs”) within City Hall.  In that capacity, HERBERT first functioned as the Brooklyn Borough Director for Community Affairs from in or about February 2022 through in or about February 2023, and then as the Citywide Public Housing Liaison until in or about September 2025.  In the latter role, HERBERT was responsible for engaging with residents and leadership of the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) on behalf of City Hall. HERBERT abused his position repeatedly and flagrantly by soliciting and receiving bribes and kickbacks in exchange for HERBERT’s agreement to advise and pressure other City officials to take actions benefiting those who paid HERBERT bribes and kickbacks, in two distinct schemes. In the first scheme, HERBERT solicited and received from a particular individual (the “Security Company Executive”) thousands of dollars in cash payments in exchange for HERBERT advising and pressuring other City officials to award the Security Company Executive’s security guard company with City contracts, including for providing services at NYCHA developments. In the second scheme, HERBERT advised, pressured, and fraudulently induced other City officials to approve payments to a director of a particular funeral home (the “Funeral Home Director”) under a financial assistance program for burial services for low-income families, in exchange for thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the proceeds of those reimbursement payments from the Funeral Home Director.              Finally, in or about April 2021, HERBERT submitted a fraudulent loan application—on behalf of a fictitious baked goods company he claimed to operate—to induce a bank to issue HERBERT a $20,418 loan pursuant to the federal Paycheck Protection Program that was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.                                  * HERBERT, 61, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with two counts of bribery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of federal program fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI, DOI, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine Ghosh and Daniel H. Wolf are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.      [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated January 13, 2026

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, announced that Carlos Orense Azocar was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and related weapons charges.  ORENSE AZOCAR was convicted after a two-week trial in December 2023 before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, who imposed today’s sentence. “Carlos Orense Azocar is one of the most prolific cocaine traffickers ever sentenced in this courthouse, responsible for the distribution of hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Orense Azocar and his co-conspirators, including high-ranking government and military officials, inflicted incalculable damage on this community. Alongside our partners at the Bilateral Investigations Unit of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, we are committed to ending the exploitation of the American people by drug cartels and the governments who enable them.” “Carlos Orense Azocar was a criminal kingpin who built an empire on deception, fraud, and bribery,” said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole.  “Orense Azocar’s close ties to the Venezuelan government provided resources to help him evade law enforcement and move massive shipments of cocaine across the Western Hemisphere.  Today's sentence sends a clear message: DEA will relentlessly pursue and hold international drug traffickers accountable, no matter how far they run or how powerful they believe themselves to be.” According to court documents and the evidence presented at the trial: Beginning in or about 2003, ORENSE AZOCAR and his drug trafficking organization distributed tons of cocaine destined for importation into the United States.  ORENSE AZOCAR helped transport, receive, and distribute loads of cocaine ranging from hundreds to thousands of kilograms, from Venezuela to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere, using air and maritime routes.  ORENSE AZOCAR operated fincas, or ranches, in Venezuela, where he stored his cocaine in underground tanks, stored hundreds of deadly weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition, and which had clandestine landing strips from which he dispatched airplanes loaded with cocaine.  ORENSE AZOCAR also loaded cocaine on “go-fast” boats that sped from the Venezuelan coastline to intermediate delivery points in the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic and close to Puerto Rico.  To aid in his cocaine distribution, ORENSE AZOCAR worked with and paid bribes to high-ranking officials throughout the Venezuelan government, including military generals and army officials; national police commissioners; and high-ranking officials in the Venezuelan intelligence agencies.  ORENSE AZOCAR’s corrupt Venezuelan government connections secured access to military-grade weaponry, protection from military and law enforcement raids, safe passage for ORENSE AZOCAR’s cocaine convoys through checkpoints, and fraudulent airplane transponder codes to permit ORENSE AZOCAR’s cocaine-laden aircraft to freely depart Venezuela en route to Central America and Mexico.  ORENSE AZOCAR similarly partnered with armed guerrilla forces operating in Colombia and Venezuela to source cocaine and secure safe passage for his cocaine shipments.  ORENSE AZOCAR distributed hundreds of tons of cocaine and made tens of millions of dollars through his narcotics trafficking. To protect and expand his cocaine trafficking organization, ORENSE AZOCAR employed high-powered weaponry.  He had armed security teams that guarded his finca; traveled in armored vehicles with armed security; and used armed security, military forces, and police to protect his convoys of cocaine.  Among other weapons, ORENSE AZOCAR employed automatic rifles, submachine guns, handguns modified to operate as machine guns, and a 50-caliber mounted machine gun.                                 * Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, Rome Country Office, and Miami Field Division, as well as the SDNY Digital Forensics Unit and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for securing the arrest and June 2022 extradition from Italy of Orense Azocar.  Mr. Clayton additionally thanked the Government of Italy for its assistance extraditing ORENSE AZOCAR to the United States. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky, Michael D. Lockard, and Kevin T. Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution.  Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated January 12, 2026 Sources: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/large-scale-politically-connected-venezuelan-cocaine-trafficker-sentenced-life-plus-30

An audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli of New York City’s largest housing voucher program found that weak oversight and administrative lapses are contributing to rising costs and placing some vulnerable families in unsafe housing. The program, known as the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) is overseen by the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS), and it is designed to help low-income New Yorkers avoid homelessness. It’s projected to cost the city $1.2 billion in city Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, up from $176 million in 2019. “Stronger oversight of the CityFHEPS program is critical to helping individuals and families access safe housing and stay in their communities,” DiNapoli said. “Improving how the program operates will better protect tenants and taxpayer dollars.” Oversight of Homebase Providers  DSS contracts with seven nonprofit homebase providers to help those at risk of homelessness avoid entering shelters and apply for rent subsidies, enabling them to remain in the community. Auditors reviewed 75 CityFHEPS cases from a pool of approximately 8,000 from January 2022 to May 2024 and examined $671 million in contracts across the seven providers. Key audit findings included: Unsafe Apartments: Families were placed in apartments with serious housing-code violations, including mold, infestations and missing window guards. In some cases, DSS failed to conduct required safety checks, known as pre-clearance inspections, before move-in, including an instance where a family was placed into a unit that had just been vacated by another tenant for habitability issues that had not been fixed. The audit also found landlords who continued to receive rent payments for uninhabitable apartments, increasing costs and forcing families to relocate. Missing Documentation: Nearly half of the case files reviewed were missing required proof of income or eligibility, undermining the integrity of the program’s qualification process. Weak Landlord Oversight: DSS has not implemented a system to disqualify landlords with repeated building code violations or poor performance. The audit found landlords in the program on the city’s Public Advocate’s Worst Landlord Watchlist who continued to receive rent payments through the program. Improper Payments: DSS paid broker’s fees in direct violation of program rules, in one case $6,800 to a company affiliated with the landlord. Broker fees are permitted only when the broker is an independent party, not the landlord or anyone affiliated with the landlord. In multiple cases, DSS approved rents above market rates by an average of $525 per month without documentation of required rent-reasonableness assessments. DiNapoli’s audit recommends DSS: Strengthen oversight of Homebase providers to ensure required documentation is complete and accurate. Expand pre-clearance inspections for all apartments before approving subsidies. Create a landlord disqualification list to bar participation by building owners with unresolved safety or habitability issues. Verify household income for all adults and ensure rent payments are reported correctly. Improve data tracking so all cases and services are fully documented. DSS said it has updated its case management systems to better track cases and plans to launch new teams focused on monitoring landlords and improving oversight of housing safety and conditions by mid-2026. This audit builds on DiNapoli’s October 2024 audit of CityFHEPS, which found systemic weaknesses in data reliability and rent payment oversight. Together, these audits highlight the need for stronger management and accountability to make housing assistance more efficient and to ensure it reaches New Yorkers who need it most. Audit  Administration of the CityFHEPS Program for Department of Social Services Homebase Clients Related Work  New York City Department of Social Services: Administration of the CityFHEPS Program for the Department of Homeless Services Shelter Residents Sources: https://www.osc.ny.gov/press/releases/2026/01/dinapoli-audit-nycs-cityfheps-program-reveals-weak-oversight-and-rising-costs

According to the Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, a West Winfield man was arrested following a Property Damage Motor Vehicle Accident in the Town of Paris.   On December 19th, 2025, at around 12:05 a.m., Road Patrol Deputies responded to a one car property damage motor vehicle accident on Oneida St in the Town of Paris.  Upon arrival,  Deputies detected indicators of impairment on the operator of the motor vehicle and conducted a DWI investigation. Subsequent to an investigation, Edwin Carlson III (Age 56) of West Winfield, NY, was arrested and charged with the following: -(1) Count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the First Degree VTL 511(3a1), a Class E Felony.  -(1) Count of Driving While Intoxicated VTL 1192(3), an unclassified misdemeanor.  -(1) Count of Driving While Intoxicated VTL 1192(2), an unclassified misdemeanor. (BAC of 0.08 or more) -(1) Count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated VTL 1192(2aa), an unclassified misdemeanor.  (BAC of 0.18 or more)  - Several other traffic violations and traffic misdemeanors.   Carlson was transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building for processing and is scheduled to appear in the Paris Town Court on a later date.     The Sheriff's Office was assisted on scene by the New Hartford Town Police Department.

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol, this morning, just before 10:00 AM a 16-year-old male juvenile was found to be in possession of a non-functional, plastic replica of a pistol in his school bag at the Adirondack High School in Boonville.  School Administration and the Special Patrol Officer were alerted to the situation and secured both the student and his school bag without incident.  No threat was reported to have been made. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office Juvenile Aid Unit responded to the school for investigation.  The juvenile, whose name will not be released due to age, was cited with Criminal Nuisance in the second degree, a class B Misdemeanor, and Endangering the welfare of a child, a class A Misdemeanor, and was issued appearance tickets directing him to appear at Oneida County Probation on an upcoming date.  The juvenile was then released to a parent.

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, on December 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., Deputies responded to the intersection of State Route 365 and Koenig Road in the Town of Floyd for a reported two-car personal injury motor vehicle accident.  On scene, Deputies determined that Tyler Razzano (20) of Holland Patent, NY was operating a blue 2016 Hyundai sedan eastbound on 365 at a time when a gray 2021 Chevrolet pickup truck traveling southbound from the stop sign at the intersection of Koenig Rd entered the intersection without yielding the right of way to oncoming traffic. The pickup was operated by Randall Yaddow Jr. (25) of Whitesboro, NY. Razzano was transported to Wynn Hospital by AmCare Ambulance for complaints of neck pain and general pain throughout his body. Yaddow refused medical attention at the scene but was transported by private vehicle to Rome Memorial Hospital for complaints of chest pain.  Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene. Yaddow was issued a citation for failing to yield the right of way, returnable to Floyd Town Court at a later date.  The Oneida County Sheriff's Office was assisted on scene by the Floyd Fire Department, AmCare Ambulance, and Cushmans Automotive.

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, a Utica man has been arrested for weapon possession.  On December 16, 2025, Road Patrol Deputies observed a vehicle being operated by Benjamin Noon, age 47, of Utica. Noon was known to Road Patrol Deputies for having an outstanding Oneida County Family Court Warrant of Arrest. A traffic stop of the vehicle Noon was operating was conducted on Old Burrstone Road in the City of Utica. Deputies were able to take Noon into custody without incident. While affecting the arrest of Noon metal knuckles were observed inside the vehicle, within a small open cubby area of the center console, in plain view. Noon was then transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building.  After further investigation, a member of the Criminal Investigation Unit charged Noon with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony. Noon was then taken to the Oneida County Correctional Facility to await CAP Court.  After CAP Court, Noon was then remanded to the Oneida Correctional Facility on no Bail for the Weapon Possession charge. Noon is scheduled to appear in Utica City Court at a later date and time for further proceedings regarding the Weapon Possession charge, as well as numerous Vehicle and Traffic Law Offenses.  The Sheriff's Office Warrants Unit also lodged the Family Court Warrant of Arrest against Noon, and he is being held on the Warrant with a $20,000.00 Cash Undertaking Order from Oneida County Family Court. Noon is scheduled to appear in Oneida County Family Court at a later date and time as well. According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, a Utica man has been arrested for weapon possession.  On December 16, 2025, Road Patrol Deputies observed a vehicle being operated by Benjamin Noon, age 47, of Utica. Noon was known to Road Patrol Deputies for having an outstanding Oneida County Family Court Warrant of Arrest. A traffic stop of the vehicle Noon was operating was conducted on Old Burrstone Road in the City of Utica. Deputies were able to take Noon into custody without incident. While affecting the arrest of Noon metal knuckles were observed inside of the vehicle, within a small open cubby area of the center console, in plain view. Noon was then transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building.  After further investigation, a member of the Criminal Investigation Unit charged Noon with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony. Noon was then taken to the Oneida County Correctional Facility to await CAP Court.  After CAP Court, Noon was then remanded to the Oneida Correctional Facility on no Bail for the Weapon Possession charge. Noon is scheduled to appear in Utica City Court at a later date and time for further proceedings regarding the Weapon Possession charge, as well as numerous Vehicle and Traffic Law Offenses.  The Sheriff's Office Warrants Unit also lodged the Family Court Warrant of Arrest against Noon, and he is being held on the Warrant with a $20,000.00 Cash Undertaking Order from Oneida County Family Court. Noon is scheduled to appear in Oneida County Family Court at a later date and time as well.

Upstate New York — December 2025 As the holiday season settles over Upstate New York, cities and towns across the region are rolling out some of their most beloved winter traditions. From dazzling light displays to outdoor adventures and festive performances, residents and visitors have no shortage of ways to celebrate the final month of the year. Holiday Events and Light Displays Illuminate the Region Communities are embracing the season with a variety of holiday festivals and markets. Saratoga Springs’ annual Victorian Streetwalk once again transforms downtown into a nostalgic winter village, complete with carolers, twinkling lights, and costumed entertainers. Nearby, Kingston’s Snowflake Festival draws families with its mix of holiday activities and small-town charm. In the Adirondacks, “Wild Lights” returns, offering visitors an immersive nighttime walk through illuminated forest paths and whimsical installations. Winter Outdoor Activities Welcome the Cold December also marks the unofficial start of winter recreation in Upstate New York. The ice rink at Albany’s Empire State Plaza has opened for the season, providing free skating with a stunning view of the Capitol. Across the Adirondacks and Catskills, ski resorts are preparing for the first major snowfalls, hoping to open slopes, snowshoe trails, and tubing runs by mid-month. Holiday-themed train rides are also underway on regional rail lines, giving passengers a cozy, scenic way to experience the season. Performances Bring Seasonal Cheer Arts organizations throughout the region are filling December calendars with concerts, plays, and dance productions. Capital Region venues are hosting classical holiday concerts, including choral showcases and traditional performances of The Nutcracker . This year also marks the final run of “The McKrells Christmas,” a longtime Albany favorite known for its lively mix of music and holiday spirit. With festive traditions in full swing, Upstate New York is offering a little something for everyone this December—whether it’s gliding on a winter rink, taking in a holiday show, or wandering through a glowing forest of lights.

New Hartford, N.Y. — December 6, 2025 A Utica man is facing a felony burglary charge after New Hartford Police say he was arrested twice within just a few hours for separate thefts at two Sangertown-area retailers. At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, officers assigned to the Sangertown Square Mall detail responded to Target after store loss-prevention personnel reported a man actively stealing merchandise. When police arrived, they identified the suspect as 30-year-old Marcus Howard , who had already been arrested earlier that same day for an unrelated theft. According to police, Howard had been taken into custody earlier on Saturday after a shoplifting incident at Walmart on Commercial Drive. In that case, Howard was charged with NYS PL 155.25 – Petit Larceny (Misdemeanor) . He was processed, issued an appearance ticket, and released. Roughly three hours after his release, police say Howard entered Target—despite being previously barred from the store due to an earlier larceny . Because he re-entered while prohibited and committed another theft, Howard now faces enhanced charges: NYS PL 140.20 – Burglary in the Third Degree (Felony) NYS PL 155.25 – Petit Larceny (Misdemeanor) Howard was transported to the New Hartford Police Department for processing on the new charges, including the felony burglary count. He was then taken to the Oneida County Jail, where he is being held pending arraignment in the Oneida County Centralized Arraignment Part Court. The New Hartford Police Department has not released additional details as the investigation remains ongoing.

New Hartford, N.Y. — December 6, 2025 New Hartford Police say a 15-year-old male has been charged with a felony following an incident at Target inside Sangertown Square Mall on Saturday. Officers assigned to the mall detail responded after store personnel reported the teen was caught stealing merchandise. According to police, further investigation revealed that the juvenile had previously been arrested at the same Target earlier this year for petit larceny. Because of the prior incident, the teen now faces upgraded charges, including: NYS PL 140.20 – Burglary in the Third Degree (Felony) NYS PL 155.25 – Petit Larceny (Misdemeanor) The juvenile—whose name is not being released due to age—was taken to the New Hartford Police Department for processing. He was issued an appearance ticket to answer the charges at the Oneida County Probation Department and released to a parent. Police also stated they plan to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine whether the parent may bear any criminal responsibility. If warranted, additional charges could be filed. Authorities remind the public that Sangertown Square Mall enforces a strict youth supervision policy. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian age 21 or older during all operational hours.  Guests should be prepared to show valid photo identification upon request. Failure to comply with mall policy may result in removal from the premises. The investigation remains ongoing.