The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul in federal court, arguing that a pair of Illinois immigration-related laws unlawfully interfere with federal authority and operations—an example of the administration’s broader pushback against state measures it views as obstructing federal immigration enforcement. The challenged package includes the “Illinois Bivens Act,” which creates a state-law cause of action tied to alleged constitutional violations committed during “civil immigration enforcement,” and the “Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act,” which bars civil immigration arrests at (and, as described in reporting and advocacy materials, within a buffer zone around) Illinois courthouses; supporters frame the laws as due-process and courthouse-access protections, while DOJ frames them as unconstitutional constraints and liability exposure designed to chill federal enforcement.
Justice Department Sues J.B. Pritzker, Kwame Raoul Over the Illinois Bivens Act
Today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, challenging their unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal law enforcement officers through the so-called “Illinois Bivens Act” and “Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act.”
Not only are the laws illegal attempts to regulate and discriminate against the federal government through novel causes of action, but, as alleged in the complaint, the laws threaten the safety of federal officers who have faced an unprecedented wave of harassment, doxxing, and even violence. Threatening officers with ruinous liability and even punitive damages for executing federal law and for simply protecting their identities and their families also chills the enforcement of federal law and compromises sensitive law enforcement operations. The danger is acute.
“The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect law enforcement from unconstitutional state laws like Illinois’ that threaten massive punitive liability and compromise the safety of our officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
“Unfortunately, Illinois politicians prefer to attack law enforcement with lawsuits and punitive damages rather than support ICE’s Criminal Alien Program, which prioritizes the safe removal of dangerous criminal aliens like murderers, child rapists, and other serious offenders,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois. “Courthouse arrests are only necessary in the first place because Illinois refuses to honor federal detainers at the jails and prisons, instead preferring to release criminals back into our communities.”
On her first day in office, Attorney General Bondi instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. Today’s lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country, including in New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, California.
December 22, 2025 Office of Public Affairs U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington DC 20530 Press Release Number: 25-1235
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick released the “Manhattan Plan,” a borough-wide housing blueprint aimed at easing Manhattan’s severe housing shortage by adding 100,000 new homes over the next 10 years. Shaped by an extensive public engagement effort that generated more than 2,500 ideas, the plan focuses on building more housing near transit and job centers, enabling growth in areas that currently limit new development, redeveloping city- and government-owned sites, accelerating office-to-residential conversions, and streamlining regulations to cut red tape and speed delivery. The administration points to early momentum through actions such as the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (nearly 10,000 homes), the planned transformation of 100 Gold Street into a mixed-use tower with 3,700 apartments (at least 25% permanently affordable), and zoning changes to create nearly 700 homes above a future Second Avenue Subway station in East Harlem—framing the initiative as part of broader citywide efforts to expand housing supply and improve affordability.
Most Pro-Housing Administration in City History: Mayor Adams, City Planning Release “Manhattan Plan,” Ambitious Proposal to Build 100,000 New Homes in the Borough Over Next Decade
“For too long, the cost of living in Manhattan has gone up, working-class families have gone away, and our city’s housing crisis has grown more severe. Our administration promised to change that, advancing bold plans to bring thousands of new homes to the borough and make sure that Manhattan is still a place you can live and raise a family,” said Mayor Adams. “We passed the first citywide rezoning in six decades, landed the plane on our Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, and with today’s announcement, are putting forward our ambitious ‘Manhattan Plan’ to bring 100,000 new homes to the borough. With the innovative ideas laid out here, we will help create the homes that Manhattan needs, deliver the more affordable future that all New Yorkers deserve, and reinforce, once again, our position as the most pro-housing administration in city history.”
“Between our five neighborhood plans, City of Yes, and now a first borough-wide plan, we have cemented our legacy as the most pro-housing administration in our city’s history.” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “I am very pleased to lay out this roadmap to unlock more housing in our most job- and transit-rich borough. I thank the visionary team at the Department of City Planning and Director Garodnick for their leadership in making Manhattan more accessible and affordable.”
“For generations, Manhattan was the place where people of all backgrounds could start their life’s journey and find new opportunities. This important plan lays out how it can fulfill that role once again,” said DCP Director Garodnick. “By embracing the ambitious, transformative ideas outlined in this framework, we can ensure that many more New Yorkers can live, work, and follow their dreams in a more affordable, welcoming, and vibrant Manhattan.”
Manhattan’s unparalleled job market, transit access, and walkability helped make the borough a site of enormous opportunity through the 20th century and drove a housing boom that unlocked all the island had to offer for millions of New Yorkers. But Manhattan’s housing production has dropped sharply when compared to the previous century. Today, Manhattan produces less housing than every other borough except for Staten Island; income-restricted affordable housing is also in extremely short supply.
Due to the lack of housing options, today, almost half of Manhattanites are rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, and about a quarter are severely rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than half of their income on rent. The Manhattan Plan looks to address this severe housing shortage through a set of strategies to help create 100,000 new homes over the next decade. Delivering these additional homes will allow more New Yorkers of all income levels to live near transit, jobs, schools, parks, and cultural resources — reaffirming Manhattan’s historic role as a place of opportunity. Ultimately, new housing will deliver a win-win-win: giving New Yorkers more affordable places to live, workers more opportunities to connect with nearby jobs, and small businesses more foot traffic.
The Manhattan Plan was developed through extensive public input gathered through pop-up events in every community district in the borough, online engagement, briefings, interviews, and focus groups held in English, Spanish, and Chinese. More than 2,500 ideas on where and how to bring new housing to Manhattan were generated from this public input process, including over 900 responses to the website survey and over 1,000 contributions to an interactive map.
The Manhattan Plan is built around six key themes that reflect the many ideas received for where and how the city can increase the borough’s housing supply:
Housing near transportation and job centers: To take advantage of the borough’s role as the nation’s largest job center and one of its most significant transit hubs, the plan suggests bolstering housing opportunities near both resources, such as the recently-approved 125th Street and Lexington Avenue Project by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which will use “City of Yes’” new, high-density R11 zoning district to generate nearly 700 new homes, including around 170 permanently-affordable, income-restricted homes.
Housing in areas with greater housing potential or low housing production: While much of Manhattan permits new housing, many mid-density areas have the capacity for additional housing and affordable housing through land use changes. There are also opportunities to map the city’s high-density R11 and R12 zoning districts, a key component of City of Yes that could create permanently affordable homes in some of the densest parts of the borough.
Housing on city- or government-owned sites: The Manhattan Plan describes ideas for the increased use of government-owned sites for new housing, either as standalone developments or mixed-use projects with resources like schools or libraries on the ground floor. This work is already underway through projects like 100 Gold Street, an office building with several city agencies that will be transformed into a mixed-use tower with 3,700 apartments, at least a quarter of them permanently affordable.
Housing on private sites: Although much of Manhattan is developed, there are opportunities for new housing on remaining vacant or underutilized private sites, such as those that are currently home to automotive uses, self-storage, parking lots, and more. The city will explore how to best incentivize the redevelopment of these sites for new housing, including through office-to-residential conversions.
Improving the development process and regulatory environment: The Manhattan Plan explores ways to lessen regulatory barriers, cut red tape, get shovels in the ground, and help New Yorkers move into new homes faster. This work could include streamlined city agency processes, expedited financing, expanded funding streams, and other reforms.
Expanding development models and building methods: From Housing Development Fund Corporation cooperatives to Mitchell-Lamas to Community Land Trusts, New York City has a long history of creative housing ownership and management models. This plan suggests ideas for expanding alternative ownership and development models for new housing.
When Mayor Adams came into office, he promised to turn the page on decades of dysfunction, make real progress against New York City’s long-standing housing crisis, and create 500,000 units of housing by 2032; four years later, he delivered, and the Adams administration is well on the way to that goal by creating, preserving, or planning over 433,000 homes through its efforts to date.
The Adams administration also passed landmark changes to overhaul the city’s outdated zoning code and spark the creation of new housing. In December 2024, Mayor Adams passed “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” — the most pro-housing legislation in city history — to create over 80,000 new homes and invest $5 billion in housing and infrastructure. Additionally, Mayor Adams passed five neighborhood plans to create nearly 50,000 homes over the next 15 years in the Bronx Metro North neighborhood, Central Brooklyn, Midtown South in Manhattan, and Long Island City and Jamaica in Queens. The Adams administration’s rezoning efforts in less than four years alone are expected to create more new housing than the previous two mayoral administrations’ rezoning efforts in 20 years combined.
Additionally, the Adams administration put public housing first, helping to unlock nearly $5.5 billion in capital repairs for over 24,000 residents through the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together program and helping establish the Preservation Trust to repair, rehabilitate, and modernize 25,000 apartments under control of the New York City Housing Authority.
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, the President signed into law:
S. 1071, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026,” which authorizes fiscal year 2026 appropriations principally for Department of War programs and military construction, Department of Energy national security programs, Intelligence programs, and Department of State programs; supports a military basic pay increase and other authorities relating to the United States Armed Forces; and provides authorities related to and makes other modifications to national security, foreign affairs, homeland, commerce, judiciary, and other related programs.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the successful disruption of a Queens-based organized retail theft ring responsible for stealing over $2.2 million in merchandise from 128 Home Depot locations across nine states. A 780-count indictment charges 13 individuals with first-degree grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and conspiracy, leveraging new provisions in the FY 2025 Enacted Budget—secured by Governor Hochul—that permit aggregation of stolen goods values across incidents and enhance penalties for fencing operations. The case, developed through a joint investigation by the Queens DA’s Office and the New York State Police Organized Retail Theft Task Force (funded with more than $40 million in state resources), marks a significant enforcement milestone: 11 defendants have been arraigned, with maximum penalties of up to 25 years for theft crew members and 15 years for fences. The operation’s takedown contributes to broader statewide results, including 1,261 arrests, recovery of $2.6 million in stolen goods, and a 14% year-over-year decline in retail theft in New York City as of December 2025.
Governor Hochul and Queens District Attorney Katz Announce Indictment Charges in $2.2 Million Organized Retail Theft Bust
Governor Kathy Hochul and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that 13 individuals have been charged in a 780-count indictment for operating a stolen goods and resale ring that targeted Home Depot locations in New York and eight other states. The individuals are facing grand larceny, conspiracy, and criminal possession of stolen property charges, including those included in the FY25 Enacted Budget that strengthened larceny laws by combining the value of merchandise stolen in separate incidents. In addition to these new crimes targeting organized retail theft, the FY25 Enacted Budget included a new crime specific to assault on retail workers, and more than $40 million for law enforcement secured by Governor Hochul. That funding created a dedicated Organized Retail Theft Task Force within the New York State Police, the work of which was integral to this case, and augmented efforts by district attorneys and local police departments to investigate and prosecute these cases.
“Since taking office, my highest priority has been driving down crime and keeping New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “Following a post-pandemic spike in retail theft, I committed new funds to establish a dedicated organized retail theft task force and secured stronger laws to hold people who commit these crimes accountable. With better support for District Attorneys, local police departments and the State Police, we’re stopping organized retail theft rings in their tracks and ensuring a safer retail environment for business owners, staff and shoppers throughout New York.”
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “Thirteen defendants, over $2.2 million in merchandise, 319 incidents of theft, nine states and 128 separate Home Depot stores are the facts alleged, resulting in a 780-count indictment. The defendants took breaks for lunch and dinner, sometimes hitting the same Home Depot up to four times in one day. The stolen items were then resold to consumers, through a Brooklyn storefront or on Facebook Marketplace. Working with our partners at the New York State Police, we brought this brazen operation to a halt. I thank Governor Hochul for signing laws that provide prosecutors’ offices with tools to more efficiently investigate, and more effectively charge, organized retail theft and fencing operations.”
The District Attorney’s Office investigation began in June 2024, when members of the District Attorney’s Detective Bureau observed stolen air conditioners from Home Depot while conducting surveillance in a separate matter. The District Attorney’s Crime Strategies and Intelligence Bureau built the case in-house and worked closely with the New York State Police’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force, part of the agency’s Special Investigations Unit.
“Since taking office, my highest priority has been driving down crime and keeping New Yorkers safe”
Governor Kathy Hochul
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “This case sends a strong message to would-be criminals – if you engage in retail theft, we will find you and hold you accountable to the full extent of the law. Retail theft has real victims – threatening the safety of shoppers and retail workers, creating enormous losses for businesses, and rising prices for the rest of us. I want to commend the outstanding work of our investigators and our partners at the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, and I want to thank Governor Hochul for the support she has provided to help us fight back against organized retail theft.”
Eleven individuals were arraigned yesterday on a 780-count indictment including charges of first-degree grand larceny, first-degree criminal possession of stolen property, fourth-degree conspiracy, and other crimes. One defendant remains at large and another will be arraigned at a later date. If convicted, members of the alleged theft crew face up to 25 years in prison, and the alleged black market retailers, known as fences, up to 15 years in prison.
According to the indictment and investigation, members of the theft and fencing ring are accused of stealing home construction tools, building supplies, power tools, smoke alarms, air conditioners, paper towels and other goods totaling more than $2.2 million during a 13-month period from August 2024 to September 2025. The items — stolen during 319 different incidents — were then sold to black market resellers, known as fences, who allegedly ordered the specific items to be stolen and then resold those goods to consumers.
The theft crew met almost daily to determine the locations of Home Depots they would target based on a review of merchandise in each store. Among the most common items stolen were insulation kits, buckets of reflective roof coating, power tools, air conditioners and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The amount of merchandise stolen in a single day ranged from about $1,800 to nearly $35,000.
Not including arrests and stolen goods recovered from this operation, the State Police and local law enforcement partners have recovered more than $2.6 million in stolen goods, made 1,261 arrests and filed 2,219 charges across 1,057 retail theft enforcement operations. As of December 2025, retail theft is down 14 percent year over year in New York City. Across the rest of the state, larceny is down 14 percent in the first seven months of 2025 vs. 2024.
Following a post-pandemic spike in reported retail theft in New York City and a statewide surge in reported larcenies, Governor Hochul also advanced new initiatives to strengthen laws, hold perpetrators accountable, protect retail workers and support small businesses, including:
Elevating the assault of a retail worker from a misdemeanor to a felony, ensuring any person who causes physical injury to a retail worker performing their job is subject to enhanced criminal penalties
Allowing prosecutors to combine the value of stolen goods when filing larceny charges, and allowing retail goods from different stores to be aggregated for the purposes of reaching a higher larceny threshold when stolen under the same criminal scheme
Making it illegal to foster the sale of stolen goods to go after third-party sellers
Securing $5 million to fund tax credits to help small businesses invest in and alleviate the financial burden for added security measures
State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime, it hurts workers, drives up costs for families and threatens the stability of small businesses in our communities. I commend District Attorney Katz, the New York State Police and all law enforcement partners whose dedicated work brought this operation down. Their collaboration shows what is possible when we give agencies the tools they need to investigate and prosecute these complex cases. We must continue working together to protect retail workers, strengthen enforcement and ensure that every neighborhood in Queens remains a safe and reliable place to shop and do business.”
State Senator John Liu said, “This brazen retail theft ring and the rise in shoplifting following the pandemic show exactly why we strengthened retail theft laws in the state budget. Retail theft has preyed on our local businesses for far too long, with thieves targeting everything from paper towels to air conditioners. Thank you to DA Katz, Governor Hochul, and our local law enforcement for showing that the days of taking what you want and simply walking through the front door without fear of consequences are over, and that New York is committed to protecting our local businesses and restoring safety in our communities.”
Assemblymember Clyde Vanel said, “New York is sending a powerful message that coordinated retail theft rings will find no safe harbor here. This indictment makes clear that the new tools secured in the FY25 Budget, thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and the Legislature, are delivering real results. Dedicated and results-driven district attorneys like Melinda Katz are now better equipped than ever to take down organized crime and protect our communities and businesses.”
Assemblymember Steven Raga said, “The scale of this organized retail theft shows exactly why the Legislature strengthened our laws to combat organized criminal activity. These crimes impact the safety of workers, increase costs for consumers, and harm the economic health of communities across Queens. As a former retail worker myself, I understand how these incidents create real risks for people on the frontlines and destabilize the neighborhoods they serve. I commend Governor Hochul, District Attorney Katz, and the Task Force for taking decisive action that brings accountability and restores trust. This is the type of collaborative enforcement our state needs to keep people safe.”
Assemblymember Sam Berger said, “Queens is fortunate to have DA Melinda Katz taking on retail theft and bringing organized criminal rings to justice. I’m grateful to the brave men and women in state and local law enforcement who work every day to keep our communities safe. I was proud to stand with Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the Legislature to give prosecutors the tools they need to hold repeat offenders accountable.”
Retail Council of New York State President and CEO Melissa O’Connor said, “Governor Hochul and District Attorney Katz have made it abundantly clear that organized retail crime and habitual retail theft will not be tolerated in New York. This criminal activity goes well beyond the obvious financial loss for retailers – it is a serious issue that compromises the safety of store employees and customers. I want to thank Governor Hochul, District Attorney Katz and the New York State Police for holding these crime syndicates accountable to the full extent of the law. We will continue to work with the executive, lawmakers, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies to further our shared goal of safer communities.”
In the NYC Mayor’s Office “Week in Review” video for November 29 to December 5, 2025, Mayor Adams highlighted a landmark $38.9 million settlement with Starbucks, the largest worker protection settlement in city history, requiring over $35.5 million in restitution to more than 15,000 baristas for violations of the Fair Workweek Law, emphasizing accountability regardless of company size. The administration also celebrated the opening of the “Harlem Field of Dreams,” an $11 million renovation of Brigadier General Charles Young Playground into a state-of-the-art multi-sport turf field serving over 800 young athletes. Additional investments included creating Brooklyn’s first “blue belt” in Prospect Park with nature-based solutions to combat climate-induced flooding, and $30 million in capital funding for Staten Island public spaces, including the zoo, Bloomingdale Park Playground, and Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
Combating Antisemitism and Executive Actions
Mayor Adams addressed rising antisemitism by traveling to New Orleans for the Combat Antisemitism Movement Conference and African American Mayors Association discussions. In response to a recent protest outside a Park Synagogue, he signed Executive Order 61 to protect New Yorkers’ right to pray peacefully without harassment, while upholding free speech and assembly rights, directing the NYPD to evaluate protest guidelines around houses of worship. Another executive order prohibited city leadership from boycotting or divesting from Israel, ensuring investment decisions remain financially sound and free from discriminatory practices.
Housing Progress and Ongoing Commitment
The video marked the one-year anniversary of the “City of Yes” housing initiative, declaring the Adams administration the most pro-housing in city history by reforming outdated zoning laws to build more affordable homes in every neighborhood. This revolutionary effort aims to tackle the housing crisis head-on, affirming a commitment to working-class New Yorkers. Overall, the week underscored continued progress in public safety, community spaces, equity, and affordability, with the administration focused on “getting stuff done” for residents.
Federal prosecutors have announced the conviction of 70 current and former New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) employees in a sweeping bribery and corruption case involving “micro-purchase” construction and repair contracts. Investigators found that staff routinely demanded cash kickbacks from contractors in exchange for awarding or speeding up small housing projects, diverting millions of dollars and further undermining public trust in New York City’s public housing system.
All 70 NYCHA Employees Charged In February 2024 Sweep Convicted Of Bribery, Fraud, Or Extortion Offenses
Less Than 22 Months After the Arrests—Which Were the Largest Number of Federal Bribery Charges on a Single Day in Department of Justice History—All 70 Charged Defendants Have Pled Guilty or Were Convicted at Trial for Accepting Cash Payments
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Jocelyn E. Strauber, Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (“HUD-OIG”), Brian D. Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), Jonathan Mellone, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Harry T. Chavis, announced that all 70 employees of the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) who were arrested and charged in February 2024 have now been convicted of bribery, fraud, or extortion offenses.
Of the 70 defendants charged in February 2024 with accepting bribes in exchange for awarding NYCHA repair contracts, three defendants were convicted after jury trials, 56 defendants pled guilty to felony offenses, and 11 defendants pled guilty to misdemeanor offenses. Sentencings are ongoing, but sentences imposed to date range up to 48 months in prison. The defendants were collectively responsible for accepting over $2.1 million in bribes in exchange for awarding NYCHA contracts worth over $15 million. As a result of the convictions, the defendants will collectively pay over $2.1 million in restitution to NYCHA and will forfeit over $2 million in criminal proceeds.
“Today’s plea of the 70th and final NYCHA pay-for-play contracting scheme defendant marks an important milestone in one of the largest single-day corruption cases in the history of the Justice Department,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “All 70 charged defendants have now been convicted for attempting to criminally leverage the contracting process of work for affordable housing for New Yorkers to line their own pockets. NYCHA residents deserve better. New Yorkers deserve better. This broad and swift action demonstrates our Office’s commitment to combatting corruption in our nation’s largest public housing authority—home to 1 in every 17 New York City residents.”
“Today, the last of the 70 NYCHA employees charged with bribery and extortion in connection with the awarding of micro-purchase contracts pled guilty, closing the chapter on an investigation in which DOI and our federal partners exposed widespread corruption that touched almost one-third of NYCHA’s 365 developments in each of the five boroughs,” said DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber. “All the defendants, many of them supervisors, now have taken responsibility for separate schemes that, in total, involved more than $15 million in no-bid contracts, awarded in exchange for the payment of more than $2.1 million in bribes to employees who chose to serve themselves instead of the residents of NYCHA, driving up costs of maintenance and improvements in a public housing system dependent on scarce resources. To date, approximately $2 million in restitution to NYCHA and nearly $2 million in forfeiture has been ordered. Equally important, DOI’s 14 recommendations to improve controls with respect to NYCHA’s micro-purchase contracting have been implemented – three of which were similar to DOI’s 2021 recommendations that were rejected by NYCHA. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and our federal law enforcement partners for their commitment to thwart corruption that drains public housing resources, and NYCHA for the implementation of much-needed contracting reforms.”
“Today’s final guilty plea is an important milestone in bringing to an end the egregious pay-to-play bribery scheme that wasted millions of dollars that should have benefited HUD tenants in New York and raised serious questions about the integrity of NYCHA operations,” said HUD-OIG Acting Inspector General Brian D. Harrison. “All 70 of the NYCHA employees who failed to uphold the basic duty of not stealing from public housing have now admitted guilt or been found guilty at trial within two years of indictment, a testament to the investigative excellence of HUD OIG and its law enforcement partners. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its support and prosecutions in this case and know that this sends a clear signal to corrupt public officials that they will be held accountable.”
“Nearly two years ago, HSI New York and our law enforcement partners announced a sweeping investigation that uncovered a brazen corruption and extortion scheme that marked the largest number of federal bribery charges in a single day in history,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “Today’s guilty plea is the latest step in exposing a scheme that exploited NYCHA’s operations, shortchanged its communities, and siphoned trust and resources from NYCHA residents—New Yorkers who deserve better. Working in lockstep with our federal, state, and local law enforcement counterparts, HSI will keep pressing forward to protect New Yorkers and ensure that anyone who attempts to jeopardize their well-being faces decisive consequences.”
“An important part of the mission of DOL-OIG is to investigate fraud and other federal crimes involving matters within the jurisdiction of the Office of Inspector General,” said DOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone. “The seventy convictions obtained in this investigation send a clear message that public corruption will not be tolerated. We are committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who exploit governmental programs and the American workers.”
“IRS-CI will continually use its unique expertise in tax and finance to find leverage in assisting with complex investigations,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis. “We are proud to build on our law enforcement partnerships to continue to bring criminals to justice.”
According to information contained in court filings and public court proceedings, including as proven at trial:
NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country, providing housing to 1 in 17 New Yorkers in 335 developments across the City and receiving over $1.5 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development every year. When repairs or construction work require the use of outside contractors, services must typically be purchased via a bidding process. However, at all times relevant to the cases referenced above, when the value of a contract was under a certain threshold (up to $10,000), designated staff at NYCHA developments could hire a contractor of their choosing without soliciting multiple bids. This “no-bid” process was faster than the general NYCHA procurement process, and selection of the contractor required approval of only the designated staff at the development where the work was to be performed.
The defendants, all of whom were NYCHA employees during the time of the relevant conduct, demanded and received cash in exchange for NYCHA contracts by either requiring contractors to pay up front in order to be awarded the contracts or requiring payment after the contractor finished the work and needed a NYCHA employee to sign off on the completed job so the contractor could receive payment from NYCHA. The defendants typically demanded approximately 10% to 20% of the contract value—between $500 and $2,000 depending on the size of the contract—but some defendants demanded even higher amounts.
* * *
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of DOI, HUD-OIG, HSI, DOL-OIG, and IRS-CI, which work together collaboratively as part of the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, as well as the special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the cooperation and support of NYCHA’s senior executive leadership.
These cases are handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry J. Fang, Jacob R. Fiddelman, Meredith Foster, Catherine Ghosh, and Justin Horton are in charge of the prosecutions, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Deininger, Jane Kim, Benjamin Burkett, Matthew J. King, and Amanda C. Weingarten also handled individual cases.
Contact
Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford (212) 637-2600
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York Public Corruption Press Release Number: 25-244
As Americans prepare for Thanksgiving 2025, families across the country are seeing signs of economic relief that the Trump Administration credits to its efforts to unleash American energy, cut regulations, and fight inflation, following what it describes as the worst inflation crisis in 40 years under Joe Biden and the Democrats. Local reports from states including Colorado, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and others show gas prices falling—often below $3 per gallon and in some places nearing $2—just in time for holiday travel, while multiple Farm Bureau surveys reveal that the cost of a classic 10-person Thanksgiving meal has dropped, with notable savings on turkeys and other staples and some states like Louisiana and Michigan coming in well below the national average. While emphasizing that this is not “mission accomplished” and that Americans are still paying too much after years of what it calls reckless Democrat spending and regulation, the Trump Administration frames these lower gas and grocery prices as early evidence that its push for bold, structural economic changes is beginning to deliver tangible savings for American families.
More Relief on the Way as Economic Wins Bring Savings to Gas Pump, Thanksgiving Table
As millions of American families prepare to gather for Thanksgiving, they’re seeing a dose of the economic relief President Donald J. Trump is fighting to deliver. After inheriting the worst inflation crisis in 40 years from Joe Biden and Democrats, the Trump Administration’s actions to unleash American energy, slash regulations, and crush inflation are translating into lower gas prices in many states and a decrease in the cost of Thanksgiving dinner.
Make no mistake: this is not “mission accomplished.” Americans are still paying far too much after four years of reckless Democrat spending and regulation — and that’s why the Trump Administration is relentlessly fighting to deliver the bold, structural changes that will bring lasting relief to all American families.
Here’s what local news outlets are reporting as those signs of change start to appear:
KDVR-TV (Denver, CO): Cheapest gas prices in Denver hit less than $2 Sunday ahead of Thanksgiving weekend Gas prices in Denver are trending down just in time for the busy Thanksgiving travel weekend, with one station in the city even hitting less than $2 on Sunday, according to GasBuddy. Just in the last week, gas prices in Denver have fallen 14.5 cents per gallon, hitting a $2.47 per gallon average Monday morning, GasBuddy reported. That number is lower than the national average of $3.03 per gallon, and it is even nearly 30 cents lower than Denver’s average prices a year ago.
KIMT-TV (Des Moines, IA): Lower Turkey Prices Bring Thanksgiving Savings to Iowa Iowans can look forward to saving on their Thanksgiving meals this year. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s survey reveals the average cost of a classic 10-serving holiday meal is $55.18, down 5% from last year. In the Midwest, the average is slightly lower at $54.38. The survey highlights a decrease in frozen turkey prices as a major factor in the overall savings. Items like a 16-pound turkey, fresh cranberries, and dinner rolls have all seen price drops, attributed to lower wheat prices.
KSAT-TV (San Antonio, TX): San Antonio gas prices set to hit pandemic-era lows for Thanksgiving San Antonio drivers may have noticed some interesting movement at the pump this week… Thanksgiving travelers are still expected to see cheaper gas at the pump compared to last year.
The Detroit Free Press (Detroit, MI): Ingredients that go into Preparing a Thanksgiving Meal to Cost Less this Year In Michigan, those making the holiday meal will pay even less, $51.80 for a meal serving 10 people, Theresa Sisung, industry relations specialist for the Michigan Farm Bureau, told the Free Press.
WBIW Radio (Bloomington, IN): Indiana gas prices drop sharply ahead of holiday travel Hoosier drivers are getting a break at the pump just in time for the busy holiday travel season, with average gasoline prices in Indiana falling 12.3 cents per gallon in the last week.
WGRZ-TV (Buffalo, New York): The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner is Down for the Third Year in a Row The American Farm Bureau Federation says the average price for a 16-pound turkey in the U.S. is $21.50. That’s down more than 16 percent from last year.
WKYC-TV (Cleveland, OH): Gas prices plummet in Northeast Ohio Gas prices have gone down in Northeast Ohio within the last week, bringing the average cost in Akron and Cleveland below $3 per gallon. Akron saw the biggest drop, falling 38.1 cents within the last week.
WMUR-TV (Manchester, NH): Lower gas prices expected for Thanksgiving travelers this year Anyone who plans to hit the roads for Thanksgiving travel this year will likely see the cheapest gas prices in the past few years. According to GasBuddy, gas prices in New Hampshire are expected to be the lowest they have been for the Thanksgiving holiday since 2021.
KDKA-TV (Pittsburgh, PA): Gas prices in the Pittsburgh area on the decline ahead of Thanksgiving travel One small consolation for your trip is the price of gas… We are on a downward trajectory. We should see some solid relief in Pittsburgh over the next few weeks in terms of falling gas prices.
WLUK-TV (Green Bay, WI): Gas prices drop ahead of busy travel week Average gasoline prices in Green Bay have fallen 5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.75/g today, according to GasBuddy… GasBuddy forecasts a national average price of gas of $3.02 per gallon on Thanksgiving Day, matching last year and marking one of the cheapest holiday averages since 2021.
The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA): Thanksgiving Dinner with Turkey is Bargain in Louisiana, Where Costs Are Below U.S. Average A Thanksgiving family feast to feed 10 people in Louisiana this year is more affordable than any other state in the U.S. except for Arkansas, according to the annual American Farm Bureau cost survey. The cost for 11 market basket items including a whole frozen turkey in Louisiana in 2025 is $44.70. That’s more than $10 cheaper than the national average of $55.18.
WAND-TV (Decatur, IL): Illinois Farm Bureau: Turkey Prices have Dropped Around 16% Thanksgiving dinner prices in Illinois are going down. The Illinois Farm Bureau said that turkey prices have dropped around 16%, just over a dollar per pound. Other Thanksgiving staples like stuffing and pie crusts are also getting cheaper.
KJZZ Radio (Phoenix, AZ): Arizona Thanksgiving Meal Prices are Down 21 Cents from Last Year, Farm Bureau Says If you’re already preparing for next week’s Thanksgiving celebration, you might have noticed slightly lower food costs. A traditional Thanksgiving — we’re talking turkey and all the fixings plus desert for an Arizona family of 10 — will cost $53.17 or roughly $5.31 per person, according to the Arizona Farm Bureau.That’s down 21 cents from last year.
WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids, MI): Thanksgiving Dinner Will Cost Less This Year With Michigan Families Getting Bigger Savings Good news is coming to Michigan dinner tables this Thanksgiving as families will spend less on their holiday feast compared to last year. According to the Michigan Farm Bureau’s annual Thanksgiving dinner survey, the average cost for a traditional meal serving 10 people has dropped to $51.80 in Michigan — nearly $4 below the national average of $55.12.
On 23 November 2025, representatives of the United States and Ukraine met in Geneva for discussions on the U.S. peace proposal. The talks were constructive, focused, and respectful, underscoring the shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace.
Both sides agreed the consultations were highly productive. The discussions showed meaningful progress toward aligning positions and identifying clear next steps. They reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver a sustainable and just peace. As a result of the discussions, the parties drafted an updated and refined peace framework.
The Ukrainian delegation reaffirmed its gratitude for the steadfast commitment of the United States and, personally, President Donald J. Trump for their tireless efforts aimed at ending the war and the loss of life.
Ukraine and the United States agreed to continue intensive work on joint proposals in the coming days. They will also remain in close contact with their European partners as the process advances.
Final decisions under this framework will be made by the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States.
Both sides reiterated their readiness to continue working together to secure a peace that ensures Ukraine’s security, stability, and reconstruction.
United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Willie Jordan, 68, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, $142,991 in restitution, and forfeiture of $142,991 by United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III for two separate fraud schemes Jordan conducted.
The defendant was charged by information with two counts of wire fraud and pleaded guilty in July of this year.
As detailed in court filings and statements made in court, Jordan was a deacon and trustee for Religious Organization #1, located in Philadelphia, Pa. Jordan was responsible for managing and overseeing various financial matters involving Religious Organization #1, including collecting funds for the organization, depositing those funds in the organization’s bank accounts, and paying the organization’s expenses.
Religious Organization #1 placed Jordan in a position of trust and allowed him to exercise almost total control over its funds. The defendant did not receive a salary from Religious Organization #1. Rather, he received his salary from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he was a Director of Operations for a state senator.
From at least in or about January 2020 through at least in or about January 2024, Jordan exploited Religious Organization #1 for his personal financial benefit. On a regular basis, the defendant improperly issued checks to himself from Religious Organization #1’s business checking account, and made it appear that such checks were to reimburse him for expenses that he incurred on behalf of Religious Organization #1. In fact, Jordan did not incur those expenses and simply issued those checks for his personal benefit. The defendant engaged in this activity fraudulently and without the knowledge or permission of Religious Organization #1, its trustees, or members.
As part of this scheme, Jordan issued approximately 82 fraudulent checks to himself totaling approximately $57,384, resulting in significant losses to Religious Organization #1.
As presented in court filings and statements, Political Organization #1 was one of 66 wards in Philadelphia and a subdivision of Political Organization #2, which represented the interests of a political party in the City of Philadelphia.
From in or about 1996 through in or about April 2025, the defendant was the elected leader of Political Organization #1 and controlled and managed the organization’s finances. Jordan did not receive a salary from Political Organization #1.
From at least in or about January 2020, through at least in or about January 2024, Jordan exploited Political Organization #1 for his personal financial benefit. He opened two bank accounts in name of Political Organization #1, made himself the sole signatory on the accounts in the name of Political Organization #1, and obtained, for both accounts, debit cards that he controlled.
On a regular basis, the defendant improperly conducted financial transactions, through debit card charges, checks, and ATM cash withdrawals, using Political Organization #1’s bank accounts to transfer the funds of Political Organization #1 to himself or others, for his personal benefit.
Jordan used Political Organization #1’s funds for personal purchases at airlines, car dealerships, furniture stores, grocery stores, and other retail establishments. He also used those funds to pay his personal credit card bills, utility bills, and cellular telephone bills. In or about the summer of 2023, Jordan used the funds of Political Organization #1 to pay more than $12,500 in expenses for a family member’s funeral. The defendant engaged in these personal financial transactions without any benefit flowing to Political Organization #1 and without the knowledge or permission of any of its members.
As part of this scheme, Jordan defrauded Political Organization #1 and its members of at least $85,607.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen and Special Assistant United States Attorney James E. Price.
Two men from Texas and Florida were sentenced today to four years and two years in prison, respectively, for their roles as leaders of a marketing company that solicited Medicare beneficiaries for medically unnecessary genetic testing. The Florida man received an additional two years in prison, to be served concurrently, for his role in falsifying the ownership information in Medicare enrollment documentation for a clinical laboratory.
According to court documents, Paul Wexler, 56, of Spring, Texas, and Paul Bleignier, 64, of Seminole, Florida, operated a telemarketing company that recruited Medicare beneficiaries for cancer genetic (CGx) testing that was medically unnecessary. CGx testing uses DNA sequencing to detect mutations in genes that could indicate a higher risk of developing certain types of cancers in the future. It is not a method of diagnosing whether an individual presently has cancer, and Medicare covers CGx testing in limited circumstances. Further, Wexler, Bleignier and their co-conspirators solicited and received kickbacks in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries for CGx testing that was not eligible for Medicare reimbursement. Through the scheme, Wexler and Bleignier caused Medicare to be billed $17.3 million, and they were paid $5.2 million.
While the criminal case for genetic testing fraud was pending, Bleignier opened a clinical laboratory and enrolled it in Medicare. Medicare requires a certification listing anyone with 5% or more ownership interest, but Bleignier used other people’s identities to disguise his involvement. The claims related to that laboratory were further tainted by kickbacks. Bleignier and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for $3,012,156 in claims that were ineligible for reimbursement, and they were paid $916,106.
In April 2024, Wexler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. In November 2022, Bleignier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive kickbacks, and in November 2024, he pleaded guilty to making false statements related to health care matters. At sentencing the two were ordered to pay $1.2 million in forfeiture each and $5.2 million in restitution. Bleignier was ordered to pay an additional $916,106 in forfeiture for his role in falsifying the ownership information in Medicare enrollment documentation.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Charles D. Strauss of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
