School bus full of illegal marijuana for sale arrested in New York City

QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the closure of an illicit cannabis dispensary operating out of a converted school bus in Sunnyside. The owner of the vehicle, identified as 62-year-old Anthony Stevens of Brooklyn, faces charges including illegal sale and possession of cannabis.

The dispensary, nicknamed “The Green Empress,” reportedly targeted children with its product offerings, which included cannabis-infused items with names and packaging similar to popular children’s snacks such as “Skittles,” “Gummy Sharks” and “Jolly Ranchers.” This marketing strategy led to the exposure of the operation and subsequent raid.

District Attorney Katz emphasized the dangers of unregulated cannabis operations, which often target young people and circumvent safety, regulation and taxes, undermining legitimate businesses. He reaffirmed his commitment to addressing community complaints about such dispensaries.

The police action occurred on June 12, when detectives, along with NYPD officers, executed a search warrant on the bus located at the corner of 43rd Street and Queens Boulevard. They recovered several cannabis products, including a chocolate bar, concentrated cannabis straws and several items imitating candy brands.

Stevens, who was issued a court appearance ticket, is scheduled to appear in court on July 2. The ongoing crackdown reflects efforts to regulate and control the sale of cannabis, ensuring compliance with state laws. Currently, New York State is home to 133 licensed recreational dispensaries, including 14 in Queens, along with 42 medical dispensaries, three of them in Queens.

PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey – The Perth Amboy Police Department reported the arrest of Jawwad Evans, 22, of the Harbortown section of the city, on multiple charges of robbery and theft. The arrest occurred on Wednesday, June 12, following an investigation that led to the development of probable cause and the issuance of an arrest warrant.

Following his arrest, detectives obtained a search warrant for Evans’ residence. The subsequent search led to the discovery and seizure of numerous items believed to have been stolen. Among them were credit cards and other forms of identification belonging to at least 37 people.

This is not Evans’ first run-in with the law, as he has previously been charged with burglary and possession of stolen property. The ongoing investigation focuses particularly on vehicle thefts, mostly unlocked. Police are urging potential victims who have not yet reported their losses to come forward.

UTICA, NY – The City of Utica Police Department announced a new development in the ongoing investigation into a series of shooting incidents. On June 14, Ibrahim Talas, 18, of Utica, voluntarily surrendered to authorities. This follows an initial arrest related to an incident that occurred in the 1500 block of Dudley Ave on June 12.

Talas faces charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. Police had previously indicated that more arrests were expected in connection with this case.

The investigation into multiple reports of gunshots in the area continues, as authorities work to address and curb the recent wave of violence.

TRENTON — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), announced today that criminal charges have been filed against two members of the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) Board of Commissioners. ). The charges include official misconduct in the second degree and conspiracy to commit official misconduct, as well as perjury in the third degree.

The defendants, Vice Chairman Christopher Milam, 45, and Board Commissioner Bryan Bush, 52, both residents of Sewell, New Jersey, allegedly conspired to obstruct payments to a civil engineering firm. This act was allegedly political retaliation related to a dispute between a South Jersey Democratic Party leader and a Mercer County commissioner.

The OPIA Corruption Bureau’s ongoing investigation revealed that Milam and Bush conspired to stop payment for services already provided by the engineering firm, casting votes during three SJTA Board meetings in 2023 to prevent the authority from meet their financial obligations. The defendants allegedly had no legitimate motives for their actions, which were apparently politically motivated.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized a commitment to holding powerful figures accountable and stated that misuse of his office for political retaliation will not be tolerated. Drew Skinner, executive director of OPIA, noted that Milam and Bush’s actions represent a violation of the public trust, pointing to their alleged attempts to fabricate reasons for their decisions during grand jury testimony.

Other findings from the investigation indicate that on each occasion, votes cast by Milam and Bush prevented the board from achieving the majority needed for approval, resulting in unpaid bills for the engineering firm.

Evidence suggests that the political motives behind these actions were related to a text message from Milam to Bush, declaring an intent to retaliate against the Mercer County Commissioner who defied party directives.

In the early hours of Thursday, around 3:18 a.m., Baltimore Police officers, while on foot patrol in the Light Street Unit, were alerted to the presence of a potentially armed individual nearby. The alert came from fellow officers monitoring Citywatch cameras and provided a description of the suspect.

Police later located a man matching the suspect’s description on the unit block of West Lombard Street. After investigating, officers arrested the 23-year-old man and confiscated a Taurus 9mm handgun, which was identified as stolen property from Atlanta, GA.

The suspect has been taken to the Central Reservation Intake Center and faces charges related to possession of a firearm.

Alejandro Gonzalez, a 23-year-old man of 1158 Boynton Avenue, Bronx, has been arrested on multiple charges, including first-degree murder and assault. Gonzalez is charged with assault with intent to cause serious and less serious bodily injury with a weapon, as well as fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The incident that gave rise to these charges occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, February 17, at approximately 4:41 a.m., in front of 1206 Stratford Avenue. Police responded to a 911 assault call and discovered that emergency medical services had already transported the victim, a 46-year-old man, to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi in critical condition. The victim, identified as Jesús García-Desiderio of 1104 Manor Avenue, Bronx, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, February 20.

The investigation into this fatal incident continues as authorities work to reconstruct the events that led to Garcia-Desiderio’s death.