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• EDITION •
Two plead guilty in case of widespread medical taxi fraud
PLATTSBURGH FIRE TAKES LIFE OF ELDERLY WOMAN
Taxi cab owners charged in connection with alleged scheme to defraud state out of millions of dollars By Elizabeth Izzo STA FF W RITER
PLATTSBURGH | Two men implicated in an alleged scheme to defraud the state out of millions of dollars in Medicaid funds have pleaded guilty. Avalanche Taxi owner Arshad Nazir, 54, of Plattsburgh pleaded guilty in federal court last week to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and offering and conspiring to pay bribes and kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries, all felonies. Nazir has also been ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution to the state Department of Health. He faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and an additional fine of up to $250,000 at his sentencing on June 18. Nazir’s plea deal is contingent upon his also pleading guilty to state charges of second-degree grand larceny and failure to secure workers’ compensation — both felonies — in Essex County Court at a later date, according to the New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General’s Office. Capital Cab Corporation owner Muhammad N. Jahangir, 24, of Queensbury, pleaded guilty in Ticonderoga Town Court earlier this month to two misdemeanors, petit larceny and failure to secure compensation, a worker’s compensation crime. He’s expected to pay $17,600 in restitution and is due back in town court April 3. “Today’s guilty plea is proof that we will not tolerate the actions of those willing to victimize their customers in order to steal millions of taxpayer dollars,” New York State Police Acting Superintendent Keith Corlett said in a statement last week. » Taxi fraud Cont. on pg. 5
Beekman Towers resident Isabelle LaBarge died Feb. 15 after a fire in her apartment. PLATTSBURGH | A 71-year-old woman died from injuries she sustained in an apartment fire last Friday morning, police say. Beekman Towers resident Isabelle LaBarge was taken to CVPH Feb. 15 after firefighters found her incapacitated on the floor of her apartment. Plattsburgh City Police say she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Two other residents of the building were
also transported to CVPH. Police say those two residents suffered “breathing-related issues” but were released. Plattsburgh City Fire Department arrived at 50 Truman Ave. at approximately 7 a.m., responding to an automatic fire alarm activation. When they arrived, the crew found an active fire in a first-floor apartment, according to Plattsburgh City Police.
Special events coordinator to depart By Elizabeth Izzo STA FF W RITER
PLATTSBURGH | The City of Plattsburgh intends to phase out its special events coordinator position in favor of a volunteer committee model. Special Events Coordinator Tara Powers has resigned. Under the new model, rather than being run by a dedicated special events coordinator, city-sponsored events will be planned by volunteer committees with oversight by city staff. Powers, who has taken a job with the Law
Office of Mark Schneider, told The Sun that she intends to serve as a consultant with the city during the transition to this new model. “I look forward to assisting the incredibly talented and dedicated team in the city’s Community Development Office on this transition to a better and more sustainable model,” Powers said in a statement. Her last day is March 8. A steering committee under the umbrella of the Community Development Office (CDO) is currently in the midst of establishing a covey of new volunteer groups, according to the mayor’s office. Those interested in participating are encouraged to call 518-536-7458 or email powerst@cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov. » Events Cont. on pg. 5
STA FF W RITER
The United Way of the Adirondack Region closed its annual fundraising campaign with a projected $688,750 in donations. Representatives of the nonprofit, including (left to right) Campaign Chair Hannah Provost, United Way Executive Director John Bernardi and Development Director Kathy Snow, announced this year’s campaign closeout total at a press conference Feb. 15. Photo by Elizabeth Izzo
The City of Plattsburgh will be transitioning to a new model for planning special events. Special Events Coordinator Tara Powers, pictured here at a press conference last year, has resigned. Photo by Elizabeth Izzo
United Way campaign contributions dip By Elizabeth Izzo
PLATTSBURGH | The United Way of the Adirondack Region is closing their 2019 fundraising campaign with a projected total of $688,750. The results of the nonprofit’s annual campaign, announced at a press conference last Friday, represents a $36,522, or 5.3 percent, decline over last year’s total. The United Way of the Adirondack Region typically aims to raise $725,000 annually, a portion of which it doles out to any number
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Firefighters found LaBarge when they entered the residence to fight the fire. “Our heart goes out to the friends and loved ones of Ms. LaBarge,” Mayor Colin Read said in a statement. “I’m grateful that the three-minute arrival time by our first responders at the high rise complex ensured that this tragedy didn’t become even worse.” City Police were investigating the cause of the fire. ■
City pivots to volunteerrun events model
Nonprofit closes campaign with $688K pledged
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Photo by Elizabeth Izzo
of its 40 partner agencies throughout Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties. “We really hit the roads and knocked on a lot of doors,” Campaign Chair Hannah Provost said. “It was humbling to see how much need there is in the area, and I think that our results really speak to how much need there is right now. For a lot of people, these are uncertain times. The United Way is uniquely positioned to really help people in those tough spots.”
EVERYDAY OPERATIONS
The overall decrease in pledged donations as the annual fundraising campaign closes won’t affect everyday operations, according to Executive Director John Bernardi. But it could affect the nature of the application process for those applying for funds through the United Way. » United Way Cont. on pg. 2
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