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Important Fraud Prevention Notice from Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.

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Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) today warned its customers that crooks have launched a new round of predatory phone calls aimed at stealing O&R customers’ money. This latest round of harassing phone calls started last week when O&R customers reported a rash of phone calls seeking payment for bogus O&R bills.The scheme goes this way: Crooks posing as O&R employees call unsuspecting customers, inform them that their O&R account has been suspended for non-payment and that an O&R crew will be at their home in 15 minutes to disconnect their electric service.That threat is quickly followed by a demand for immediate payment of the bogus bill balance by prepaid debit card. Customers who have challenged the crook’s report about the fraudulent bill, saying that they checked their account balance online during the phone call, are dismissed as incorrect. The crook then aggressively renews the demand for immediate payment until the customer agrees to pay or hangs up on the crook.

Here are two big reasons not to believe any crook who makes a shutoff threat:
• NO PREPAID DEBIT CARDS – O&R does not accept bill payment for electric and gas utility bills by Green Dot or any other prepaid debit cards. Never has.
• NO IMMEDIATE SHUTOFF – Disconnecting O&R electric or gas service for non-payment of bills involves a multi-step process – including written communications from O&R to the customer over a period of several days, or even weeks — not hours. That process is regulated by the NYS Public Service Commission and NJ Board of Public Utilities.
          Customer vigilance is key to fighting off these crooks.
Remember, if you are feeling threatened or otherwise uncomfortable about your security during the exchange, immediately report the incident to your local police department at 911.

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Crime

Rockland County Sheriff Corrections Officer Arrested For Possessing Child Pornography

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Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today the arrest of Daniel Dworkin, 44 of Valley Cottage, New York, a correctional officer Sergeant at the Rockland County Jail. Dworkin was arrested by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office on November 21, 2024, and charged with fifty -one (51) counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child (PL. 263.15) and fifty-one (51) counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child (PL. 263.16).
This investigation was started by an online cyber tip report from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children which was then turned over to the ICAC regional task force here at Rockland County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation led to the execution of search warrants for the defendant’s home and electronic devices.
District Attorney Tom Walsh said, “As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Rockland County, it saddens me to announce today’s arrest of Daniel Dworkin, a Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant at the Rockland County Jail. My Office is committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community—our children. Upon taking office as District Attorney, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office became a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). The mission of the ICAC Task Force is to protect children by identifying individuals online who are attempting to lure children to meet for sex or those disseminating child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The charges against this individual are deeply disturbing, particularly given his position of public trust. Those who exploit or endanger children will be held fully accountable for their actions.
I commend the continued integrity and professionalism of my Office’s investigators and prosecutors who work tirelessly to investigate and apprehend individuals who are violating the law. The residents of Rockland County should know that the men and women of the Rockland County Corrections Division of the County Jail are true professionals. The actions of this individual in no way reflect the values and dedication shown everyday by those officers.”
The investigation was conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), a group comprised of the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, New York State Police, Federal Agencies, and other local law enforcement who work together to identify and prosecute individuals who prey on children using the internet. The Clarkstown Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations assisted with the case.
Dworkin was arraigned in Clarkstown Justice Court by the Honorable Leslie Kahn. Bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, $1.5 million partially secured bond with 10 percent down.
It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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Crime

New City Couple Sentenced To State Prison For Murder Of Grandfather

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Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today the sentencing of Constantinos Doonan, a/k/a “Dino” (DOB 7/17/92) of New City, New York on a charge of Murder in the Second Degree (class “A” Felony), and Jo-Ann Haughey (DOB 1/15/96) of New City, New York on a charge of Manslaughter in the First Degree (Class “B” Felony), in the killing of Constantinos Mastakouris. Constantinos Doonan, a/k/a “Dino” is the grandson of the deceased Constantinos Mastakouris.
In the County of Rockland, on or about and between January 29 –30, 2023, acting individually and in concert with each other, the defendants brutally caused the death of Constantinos Mastakouirs of 45 Ruth Drive, New City, New York.
Mr. Mastakouris was strangled and choked to death; after he was killed, the defendants wrapped his body in a tablecloth, kiddie pool, and shower curtain and then placed the body in a crawl space in the basement of 45 Ruth Drive, New City, New York. After they placed the body in the crawl space, the defendants stole Mr. Mastakouris’ belongings, including but not limited to his car, jewelry, and credit card.
District Attorney Tom Walsh said, “Today, the defendants in this case were held responsible for their heinous crimes that resulted in the senseless murder of an 85-year-old man, who was the grandfather of one of the defendants. The killing of one’s grandfather is evil and an unimaginable act. The actions of the defendants have left their family completely shattered by this horrific act. The defendants are being held fully accountable for their crimes and will serve lengthy prison terms. I commend the investigation by the Clarkstown Police Department and prosecution by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Dominic Crispino and Supervising Assistant District Attorney Sharleen Bailon.”
Doonan and Haughey were sentenced on December 3, 2024. Doonan was sentenced to twenty (20) years to life in state prison on the second-degree murder conviction. Haughey was sentenced to fifteen (15) years in prison on the manslaughter in the first-degree conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the Clarkstown Police Department. Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Dominic Crispino and Supervising Assistant District Attorney Sharleen Bailon prosecuted the case.

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