Author: Dan Rose

A 29-year-old Flushing man is accused of allegedly buying a car with a $47,321 loan he took out in another individuals name as well as siphoning money from the accounts of other individuals to pay for the loan payments and insurance.

According to Queens County District Attorney Richard Brown, Jin Guang, 29, of Flushing, was denied a loan for a car at Hyundai of Long Island City and returned the next day with another individual who agreed to co-sign for the loan. The loan was approved in the amount of 47,000.

About six months later, a New Jersey man filed a report with his local police department, claiming that someone fraudulently took a loan out in his name at Hyundai of Long Island City dealership in the amount of $47,000.

It’s additionally alleged that a mother and daughter who shared an account at Dime Savings Bank noticed several unauthorized charges on their account, including a $2,000 payment towards Hyundai towards the loan and a $950 credit card payment on an account in Guang’s name.

Last month, another victim came forward and reported that his debit card had a charge of $590 paid to Progressive Insurance for the Hyundai that Guang purchased.

“The main defendant is accused of orchestrating several very complicated and devious plots to fraudulently acquire goods for himself by using the hard-earned money and good credit acquired by others,” Brown said in a statement. “The victims in this case include a car dealership in Queens, a New Jersey man, a mother and daughter and a property owner in Flushing, to name a few. Each victim’s life has been thrown into credit and banking chaos due to the defendant’s alleged greed.”

Police arrest Guang as a result of a routine motor vehicle stop in Flushing on March 28. According to the complaint, at the time of his arrest, police found a New York State benefits card on the driver of the vehicle, Qiu R. Chen, a 26-year-old Flushing woman, that had a different name and picture on it. A Citibank Diamond Preferred Mastercard, Visa card and a Macy’s credit card in the same name as the New York State benefits card was also found on Chen. In addition to the suspected fraudulent documents, police recovered ketamine from the car.

Both Chen and Guang were placed under arrest at the scene. According to a release from Brown’s office, Guang and Chen were each charged in a criminal complaint with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, petit larceny, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and driving by unlicensed operator. In a separate complaint, Guang was additionally charged with second-, third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, second- and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first- and second-degree identity theft, first-degree falsifying business records and petit larceny.

Bail was set at $100,000 for Guang and $5,000 for Chen and both defendants are ordered to return to court on April 12, 2016. If convicted, Jin faces up to 15 years in prison and Chen up to 4 years in prison.

The street by Little Meadows Early Childhood Center in Fresh Meadows will receive new “No Standing on School Days” signs, according to Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.

Rozic announced the signage in cooperation with the Department of Transportation (DOT). She said the center expressed concerns for child safety after noticing a surge of cars parked in front of the building during “all times of the day.” Fifty parents signed a petition requesting a solution to the issue.

“Working with the local community to quickly and efficiently bring about tangible positive changes is what my job is all about,” Rozic said.

Rozic visited the site with Queens DOT Commissioner Nicole Garcia and requested that the placement of the signs be expedited. The sign will also ease bus flow and traffic issues, Rozic said.

Legislation proposed by State Senator Tony Avella to make St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, an official New York City school holiday passed the Senate on Tuesday.

Avella introduced the bill after the Irish community expressed disappointment that parent-teacher conferences were scheduled on the same day. The schedule conflict happened in 2011, during the 250th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“With establishing Saint Patrick’s Day as a school holiday in New York City schools, the Senate is proudly honoring this holiday and recognizing the historic contributions of the Irish community,” Avella said in a statement. “St Patrick’s Day is an important day of cultural and religious celebration for the millions of Irish American citizens of New York City.”

Avella and members of the Independent Democratic Caucus (IDC) recently met with Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, to discuss issues important to the Archdiocese. Dolan was happy to learn about the passage of Avella’s bill, according to Avella’s office.

Councilman Paul Vallone joined Councilmen Costa Constantinides and Vincent Gentile to celebrate the 195th anniversary of Greek Independence at City Hall.

At the celebration of Greek history and culture, Vallone presented proclamations to the Greek Orthodox Council of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3 and two Whitestone residents, George Isaakidis and Rev. Fr. Dionysios Anagnostopoulos.

Isaakidis owns Harpell Chemists, a pharmacy that has been in Whitestone since 1906. He is also an active member of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church.

Rev. Anagnostopoulos serves as the presiding priest of the church.

“The Greek-American community continues to be one of the most culturally proud and vibrant in our City, especially in my district with the parishes of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church and the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church of Whitestone,” Vallone said. “This year I was proud to recognize George Isaakidis and Father Dionysios, two pillars of the Whitestone community.”

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic met with CUNY Hunter College student Daphne Ko, who is also a constituent, while in Albany.

Ko participated in the University Faculty Senate Poster Day. Her work was displayed as part of a presentation called “Exploration & Observation: Undergraduate Student Research & Creative activities.

Motorists driving or standing in bus lanes on the Q44 Bronx-Flushing-Jamaica Select Bus Service (SBS) during designated hours will now be fined $115, according to the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT).

For the past 60 days, the DOT has been issuing warnings to motorists based on the cameras. The corridors, according to the DOT, have signage indicating the specific hours in which the cameras will be in enforcement.

Camera enforcement already exists on:

· Bx12, along the Fordham Road SBS corridor

· M15, along the First Avenue and Second Avenue SBS corridors

· M34, along the 34^th Street SBS corridor

· M60, along the 125^th Street SBS corridor

· B44, along the Nostrand Avenue and Rogers Avenue SBS corridor

· S79, along the Hylan Boulevard-Richmond Avenue SBS corridor

According to state law, the City bus lanes camera program is allowed to be expanded to 16 total routes.

The Landmark Preservation Commission voted to prioritize the Bowne Street Community Church at 143-11 Roosevelt Avenue for landmark designation.

The church was one of three Queens sites to be prioritized on Tuesday, including the Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City and the Lydia Ann Bell House in Bayside.

Councilman Peter Koo, who chairs the council’s landmarks committee, praised the decision.

“For more than a decade, the community has waited for a decision regarding the Bowne Street Community Church,” Koo said in a statement. “Yesterday, we finally took one long-awaited step closer to realizing actual landmark status for one of Flushing’s most historical buildings.”

“With a landmark designation, we will ensure the Bowne Street Community Church will not be lost to future generations,” he added. “I look forward to expressing my support at the upcoming hearing.”