(According to a recent estimate by Wells Fargo) Costco's pricing strategy and high level of customer trust have generated significant interest in the product, with Reddit posts, quick online sell-outs, and robust monthly e-commerce sales all showing a sharp uptick in momentum since the launch. It's incredible to think that this product was only introduced last August and generated about $100 million in sales in Costco's first quarter which ended in late November 2023. Although the price is not disclosed online to non-members, it is estimated that the product generally sells for about 2% above the spot price, which was $2,357 an ounce as of Tuesday morning. Therefore, the price at Costco would be a little over $2,400. The rise in gold prices this year, with spot prices increasing by over 13% in 2024, is due to a persistent bout of inflation that started in 2022 and investor fear over the state of the deteriorating U.S. fiscal situation. The government is on pace for a $2 trillion deficit this year, adding to a total debt load that has surpassed $34.6 trillion. It's fascinating to see how Costco's sales of gold have taken off, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for this unique product. so our question is, would you buy Costco Gold? Bar Highlights: 1oz 999.9 fine gold minted bar with a proof-like finish Swiss-made by an LBMA Good Delivery Refiner VERISCAN™ Bullion Identification Security System & iPhone® App Carbon Neutral certified by the Carbon Trust in accordance with the international PAS 2060 Carbon Neutrality Standard, identified by a ‘footprint’ label Each bar is individually controlled, registered, and secured within protective CertiPAMP™ packaging with an official Assay Certificate and a digital certificate accessed with a QR Code. Each assay card is covered with a thin removable protective film

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James has appointed Major Robert J. Simpson, 54, of Adams, NY as the 33rd Troop Commander of Troop D. Major Simpson began his career with the State Police on April 11, 1994, when he entered the New York State Police Academy. In 2003, he was promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to SP Watertown.  In 2005 he was promoted to Station Commander and over the next eight years was assigned to supervise several stations including SP Hastings, SP Pulaski, and then SP Watertown. Major Simpson was promoted to Lieutenant in October 2017 and was assigned to SP Watertown as the Assistant Zone Commander.   On May 27, 2021, Major Simpson was appointed to the rank of Captain and assigned to SP Watertown as the Zone 3 Commander. Major Simpson is a lifelong resident of Jefferson County and grew up in the town of Adams and is a 1989 graduate of Jefferson Community College. Major Simpson’s appointment as the Troop D Commander was effective March 14, 2024.  He replaces Major Vincent T. Lightcap, who was promoted to Staff Inspector and was assigned to Division Headquarters – Field Command. Major Simpson’s command covers seven counties in Central New York, including Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego. Operating from 27 facilities, the men and women of Troop D provide service to 167 towns, 89 villages, and five cities. Sources: https://troopers.ny.gov/news/state-police-announce-major-robert-j-simpson-will-serve-33rd-troop-commander-troop-d

On April 6, 2024, at approximately 3:04 PM, the State Police in Watertown received a call about an individual who fell out of a moving trailer on State Route 12E in the town of Brownville, Jefferson County. During the investigation, it was discovered that a 2019 Gray Ram pick-up truck driven by Robert P. Woroniecki, age 59 from Stony Brook, NY, was towing a 2024 Gray Airstream (House Trailer) westbound on SR 12E. His wife, Monika I. Woroniecka age 58, and other family members were in the trailer for the last 20 minutes of their trip from Stony Brook. According to witnesses behind the Airstream, they saw the passenger-side door of the Airstream open, and Monika Woroniecka's arm was hanging on the door. Due to the wind, the door swung open, causing her to be thrown out of the Airstream. Monika suffered head injuries after hitting the shoulder of the road. She was taken to Samaritan Medical Center's Emergency Room by Cape Vincent Ambulance but died due to her injuries. The investigation is still ongoing. Sources: https://troopers.ny.gov/news/state-police-investigating-fatal-incident-state-route-12e-brownville

UTICA, NEW YORK – Christopher Pence, age 43, of Cedar City, Utah, was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison for using the Internet to solicit and pay for the murders of two Rensselaer County residents. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Pence admitted that between July 16 and August 9, 2021, from his computer at his home in Utah, he accessed a “darknet” website dedicated to arranging contract killings.  Through the website, Pence arranged for the murder of two residents of Hoosick Falls, New York, and paid a website administrator approximately $16,000 worth of Bitcoin to facilitate the murders.  Pence then provided the website administrator with the names, addresses, and photographs of the intended victims, instructed the administrator to make the murders look like an accident or botched robbery, and requested that care be taken not to harm any of the children who resided with the victims. The intended victims were not harmed and the FBI arrested Pence in Utah on October 27, 2021.  He has remained in federal custody since that time.  Following his arrest, Pence told investigators that he solicited the murders of the victims because of the fraught relationship between his family and the victims following Pence’s family’s adoption of several of the victims’ children. United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered Pence to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. The FBI investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon prosecuted this case. Updated April 5, 2024 Sources: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/utah-man-sentenced-seven-years-prison-murder-hire-scheme

Wellcore Officials Forged Signatures on Grant Documents; Used Grant Funds to Hire Criminal Defense Lawyers, Dine at Albany-Area Restaurants, and Fund Home Renovations and Vacations. ALBANY, NEW YORK – Victoria Shaw, of Mahwah, New Jersey, the owner of Suffern, New York-based Wellcore, Inc., has agreed to pay $500,000 for her role in a scheme whereby she and a former Wellcore official forged signatures of community leaders on federal grant applications and then diverted for personal use federal funds intended to combat youth substance use, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman. “Protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse is one of my top priorities,” said United States Attorney Freedman. “Under the False Claims Act, Victoria Shaw paid far more in damages and penalties than she misappropriated, showing the important deterrent effect that this law can have in combatting fraud on federal programs.” Wellcore is a not-for-profit corporation that secures and administers Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grants. DFC is a grant program that provides resources to community coalitions to prevent youth substance use. A “community coalition” consists of community leaders representing twelve sectors that organize to meet the local prevention needs of the youth and families in their communities. As part of the DFC grant-application process, applicants must submit to the federal government copies of signed agreements with representatives from each sector reflecting that the individual has agreed to represent their sector for purposes of the grant. As part of the settlement agreement, Shaw admitted to the following: In 2009, Wellcore applied to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for a DFC grant on behalf of the South Orangetown Community Awareness of Substance Abuse (SOCASA) coalition. Wellcore forged signatures of sector representatives and addended them to SOCASA’s application, including signatures of a local business owner (using the wrong first name), a physician (using the wrong spelling of the last name), and a school principal. Wellcore then submitted or caused the application to be submitted to the government, with the forgeries, to provide the false impression that each purported signatory had agreed to serve as a sector representative for SOCASA. SOCASA received the DFC grant in 2009, which Wellcore administered for SOCASA. Wellcore renewed the DFC grant on SOCASA’s behalf in 2011, 2013, and 2015. In 2015, Wellcore applied to SAMHSA for a DFC grant on behalf of Suffern United Coalition Against Substance Abuse (SUCASA). Wellcore forged signatures of sector representatives and addended them to SUCASA’s application, including signatures of a law-enforcement official, a physician, and a school guidance counselor. Wellcore then submitted or caused the application to be submitted to the government, with the forgeries, to provide the false impression that each purported signatory had agreed to serve as a sector representative for SUCASA. SUCASA received the DFC grant in 2015, which Wellcore administered for SUCASA. Wellcore officials also misappropriated funds from the SUCASA and SOCASA grants for unallowable costs. For example, Shaw admitted that she used SOCASA grant funds to pay $15,000 to a criminal-defense attorney to represent a family member in a personal matter and that she spent thousands of dollars of DFC grant funds to pay for gym memberships for herself and for her immediate family members. Shaw also provided evidence that an individual who was previously affiliated with Wellcore misappropriated DFC grant funds while so affiliated. Shaw provided examples of how this individual misappropriated DFC grant funds, including by spending such funds to purchase home furnishings, to pay for their child’s day camp expenses, to pay for their child’s birthday party, to pay a contractor to do home-improvement work, to pay for personal travel, and to pay for their swim club membership. Wellcore officials had access to SOCASA and SUCASA grant funds and spent some such funds in the Northern District of New York, including for meals at several restaurants in Albany. “This is an egregious example of misappropriating federal grant funds for personal use,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi D. Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to preserve the integrity of HHS programs.” The investigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and HHS-OIG. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Katz. Updated April 1, 2024

Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a solemn order to lower the flags on all state buildings to half-staff, in honor of the fallen New York Police Officer Jonathan Diller who lost his life while serving on duty. Officer Diller was a brave and dedicated young man, who made public safety his top priority and served his community with utmost devotion. His sacrifice will never be forgotten, and his legacy of courage and selflessness will continue to inspire generations of law enforcement officers to come. Governor Hochul expressed her deepest condolences to Officer Diller's family, loved ones, and colleagues in the NYPD. She offered her thoughts and prayers for their comfort and healing during this difficult time. She also acknowledged the immeasurable sacrifice that Officer Diller made in service to his community, and the profound impact his loss has on all those who knew him. In honor of Officer Diller's extraordinary service, the flags will be lowered to half-staff on March 30, the day of his funeral services. This solemn gesture is a mark of respect and tribute to Officer Diller's dedication, bravery, and sacrifice. It serves as a reminder to all of us of the immense debt of gratitude we owe to those who serve and protect our communities every day. May Officer Diller rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing to all who knew him. SOURCES: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-directs-flags-half-staff-honor-fallen-nypd-officer-jonathan-diller

Cauterskill Road Bridge Being Replaced with New Structure New Bridge Will Include Safety Features and Increased Vertical Clearance, Expected to be Complete in Fall 2024 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of a $4.4 million bridge replacement project over I-87 in Greene County. The Cauterskill Road Bridge (milepost 112.7) in the Town of Catskill will be replaced with a modern structure. The current bridge was built in 1955 and carries the Cauterskill Road (County Route 47) over the Thruway (I-87). The bridge is one of dozens more than 60 years old on the Thruway that need to be replaced. Approximately 870 vehicles per day travel over the bridge. “New York continues to make historic investments in our infrastructure to enhance the safety, durability and lifespan of our transportation system,” Governor Hochul said. “This is one of dozens of projects on the Thruway and state roadways that will ensure communities are connected safely.” Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Frank G. Hoare, Esq. said, “This project is an example of the Authority’s reinvestment of toll dollars to address aging infrastructure on the Thruway system. This 70-year-old bridge will be replaced with a new structure that will meet modern standards, enhance safety and provide an improved riding experience for motorists.” State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “This investment to replace the nearly 70-year-old Cauterskill Road Bridge over I-87 in Greene County will help ensure commuters have a safer ride and that our local infrastructure is better equipped to meet the challenges posed by severe weather. I thank the Thruway Authority and Governor Hochul for their partnership in prioritizing the safety and maintenance of our roads and bridges." Assemblymember Chris Tague said, "The continued refurbishment and improvement of our roads and bridges is an important responsibility of the state, and I'm glad we're once again committing significant resources to ensure the Cauterskill Road Bridge remains strong and reliable. I'm grateful to Governor Hochul and her team for their direction of another $4.4 million to our capital region infrastructure, and I'm glad to hear that our bridges will remain strong and secure for millions of more drivers." The existing structure will be replaced with a new bridge featuring increased vertical clearance from 14’9” to 16’8”, safety guide rail, snow fencing, and a new riding surface. Beginning April 1, the Cauterskill Road Bridge will be closed to traffic, and a 12-mile detour will be in place. Motorists should take Cauterskill Road/County Route 47 north, turn right on NY-23 East, then turn right to merge onto US-9W South toward Catskill, stay right onto CauterskillAve., then turn right onto Cauterskill Road. Motorists may encounter traffic slowdowns or stoppages on the Thruway during construction. Variable Message Signs will advise motorists of the construction work and detour information. Bette & Cring LLC of Latham, NY is the project contractor following a competitive bidding process. Construction is expected to be complete in Fall 2024. The work is weather dependent, and dates are subject to change. Motorists are urged to be alert and follow the posted work zone speed limits. Fines are doubled for speeding a work zone. To further enhance safety for workers in a work zone, Governor Hochul signed legislation establishing the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot program. The safety enforcement program began in April 2023 and is in effect in various active construction zones on the Thruway. Work zones with speed camera enforcement will have clear signage leading up to the work zone. Motorists violating the posted speed limit within the work zone will be fined. Violation fines will be issued to the vehicle’s registered owner by mail. More information on the program can be found here. The Authority’s 2024 Budget invests a total of $451 million to support its Capital Program, which is expected to invest $2.4 billion into capital projects over the next five years—a $500 million increase following the recently enacted toll adjustment. The increased investment will lead to work on approximately half of the Thruway’s more than 2,800 lane miles as well as projects on approximately 90 of Thruway’s 817 bridges. For up-to-date travel information, motorists are encouraged to download its mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go. Travelers can also visit the Thruway Authority's interactive Traveler Map which features live traffic cameras. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.

Yesterday, the Syracuse Police ATV detail conducted their first city-wide operation of the year. Uniformed Syracuse Police Officers stopped two dirt bikes that were being operated illegally on public roadways in violation of local law. The operators of these dirt bikes were issued local law appearance tickets, which carry a fine of $500 for the first offense. Both dirt bikes were towed, and are being held. Both are subject to a $2,000 redemption fee. As a reminder, our stance on the illegal operation of ATVs is of ZERO tolerance. We strongly encourage those with ATVs to refrain from riding them on City streets or in City parks, and we remind you to ride responsibly in areas designated for the use of these types of vehicles. On behalf of the Syracuse Police Department, we would like to thank community members who report illegal ATVS and dirt bike operations. Tips can be submitted to ATVtips@syracusepolice.org. Please include the following details in the email: - Location of the illegal Operation - Make, model and color(s) of the ATV - Physical Description of the ATV operator - The Time(s) when operation was observed - Address where the ATV(s) are kept or stored - Any pictures or videos you have of the illegal operation - Your contact information; only if you wish to be contacted

State Police in Watertown are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred on Interstate 781 in the town of Pamelia, Jefferson County. On March 27, 2024, at 12:44 p.m., two motorcycles were traveling eastbound on Interstate 781  being operated by Cordell W. Dunning, age 26, and Matheau R. Philibert, age 27 both soldiers from Fort Drum near the overpass of State Route 37, when Dunning lost control of his motorcycle after his front tire touched the rear tire of Philibert’s motorcycle, and struck a guide rail.  Dunning was pronounced deceased at the scene. Philibert was not injured in the crash and tested negative at the scene for any alcohol/drug impairment. The investigation is continuing.

Press Release On March 27, 2024, at approximately 3:38 p.m., Troopers out of SP Malone responded to a drive-by shooting on State Route 37, in the town of Westville. Preliminary investigation determined the suspects’ vehicle to be a 2003 red Buick Le Sabre with two occupants, traveling on State Route 37.  While traveling westbound on State Route 37, the suspect shot the victims vehicle multiple times and an uninvolved vehicle causing damage to both vehicles.  The suspects’ vehicle fled the scene. No one was injured from the incident.  Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The suspect was identified as Ian M. LaRock, age 24, of Malone, NY, passenger in the vehicle .  He was arrested and transported to SP Malone for further questioning.   Investigation revealed the weapon used in the crime, to be a black and blue imitation BB handgun. LaRock was charged with Assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, Menacing 2nd, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd, Reckless Endangerment 2nd, and Criminal Mischief 3rd. LaRock was arraigned in the Town of Westville Court where he was remanded to Franklin County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash/ $20,000 secured bond. This is still an active criminal investigation. SOURCES: https://troopers.ny.gov/news/state-police-investigate-drive-shooting-westville-ny

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States; and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, announced that SAMUEL BANKMAN-FRIED, a/k/a “SBF,” was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for his orchestration of multiple fraudulent schemes.  The defendant, who was the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the cryptocurrency trading firm Alameda Research, misappropriated billions of dollars of customer funds deposited with FTX, defrauded investors in FTX of more than $1.7 billion, and defrauded lenders to Alameda of more than $1.3 billion.  BANKMAN-FRIED was previously found guilty on two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering following a one-month trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Samuel Bankman-Fried orchestrated one of the largest financial frauds in history, stealing over $8 billion of his customers’ money.  His deliberate and ongoing lies demonstrated a brazen disregard for customers’ expectations and disrespect for the rule of law, all so that he could secretly use his customers’ money to expand his own power and influence.  The scale of his crimes is measured not just by the amount of money that was stolen, but by the extraordinary harm caused to victims, who in some cases had their life savings wiped out overnight.  As a result of his unprecedented fraud, Bankman-Fried faces 25 years in prison and forfeiture of over $11 billion.  Today’s sentence will prevent the defendant from ever again committing fraud and is an important message to others who might be tempted to engage in financial crimes that justice will be swift, and the consequences will be severe.” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “There are serious consequences for defrauding customers and investors.  Anyone who believes they can hide their financial crimes behind wealth and power, or behind a shiny new thing they claim no one else is smart enough to understand, should think twice.  I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI for their outstanding work in bringing Mr. Bankman-Fried to justice.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Sam Bankman-Fried was justly sentenced to significant time behind bars for his multibillion-dollar defrauding of FTX customers.  The FBI will remain relentless in our efforts to ensure the perpetrators of fraud—no matter the nature—face appropriate punishment in the criminal justice system.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, the evidence offered at trial, and matters included in public filings: BANKMAN-FRIED was the founder and chief executive officer of FTX, an international cryptocurrency exchange.  From 2019 to 2022, BANKMAN-FRIED was the leader and mastermind of a scheme to defraud customers of FTX by misappropriating billions of dollars of those customers’ funds.  BANKMAN-FRIED took FTX customer funds for his personal use, to make investments and millions of dollars of political contributions to candidates from both parties, and to repay billions of dollars in loans owed by Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency trading fund that BANKMAN-FRIED also founded.  BANKMAN-FRIED also defrauded lenders to Alameda and equity investors in FTX by providing them false and misleading financial information that concealed his misuse of customer deposits. BANKMAN-FRIED repeatedly told his customers, his investors, and the public that customer deposits into FTX were kept safe and were held in custody for the customers, that customer deposits were kept separate from company assets, and that customer deposits would not be used by FTX.  He also repeatedly claimed that his trading company, Alameda, did not have any privileged access to FTX and did not receive special treatment from FTX.  Those statements were false, and BANKMAN-FRIED in fact channeled billions of dollars in customer deposits from FTX to Alameda, and then used those funds to make investments for his own benefit, to make political contributions, and to spend on real estate, among other expenditures.  He employed a variety of fraudulent means to perpetrate this fraud. For instance, BANKMAN-FRIED directed co-conspirators to alter FTX’s computer code to allow Alameda to withdraw effectively unlimited amounts of cryptocurrency from the exchange and made false statements to financial institutions to conceal his misuse of customer dollar deposits.  He also directed the creation of false financial statements for Alameda’s lenders, inflated FTX’s revenues and profits in numbers provided to investors, and backdated contracts and other documents to conceal his fraudulent conduct. * In addition to the prison term, BANKMAN-FRIED, 32, of Stanford, California, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and over $11 billion in forfeiture.  Judge Kaplan authorized the Government to use the funds recovered through the forfeiture process to provide compensation to victims of BANKMAN-FRIED’s crimes. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, with assistance from the Office’s Illicit Finance & Money Laundering and Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Units. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Roos, Danielle Sassoon, Samuel Raymond, Thane Rehn, and Danielle Kudla are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated March 28, 2024

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that federal inmate DANIEL V. SMITH was charged with the murder of a fellow inmate.  SMITH was presented this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern. According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in court:[1] On or about October 26, 2021, SMITH murdered Patrick Deck, an inmate at FCI Otisville. * SMITH, 63, was charged with one count of murder in the first degree, which carries a maximum sentence of death. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Coffman is 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 text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.