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Addressing Diabetes, Heart Health Go Hand-in-Hand for American Heart Month

By Dr. Edleen Sarette-Exama, DNP, MSN RN, Care Coordinator, VNS Health Health Plans  Bronx Voice  February 18, 2025 BRONX - While February is Heart Health Month, given the statistics, heart health should really be a priority all year long.  In New York State alone, almost 18% of adults 65 and older report they have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 27% of all deaths are the result of CVD. And here’s another alarming fact: While many factors can increase the chances of cardiovascular disease and stroke, people with diabetes have twice the chance of developing CVD compared to the population as a whole. As a registered nurse and care manager at the home- and community-based health care nonprofit VNS Health, I work with individuals who often suffer from multiple chronic illnesses. Diabetes in particular is  common, especially among people of color. Diabetes is a challenging disease to manage, and it can fee...
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Affordable Housing Scammer Pleads Guilty

Stole $27,000 from Housing Seekers


File photo


Threatened to Call ICE


BRONX - A Bronx woman admitted to stealing more than $27,000 in rent deposits from people seeking affordable housing apartments. When she failed to deliver the apartments, she threatened the victims to keep quiet by stating she would have them deported. 


Stephanie Antonio, 27, of East 182nd Street, pleaded guilty September 22, 2022 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus to third-degree Grand Larceny with a promised sentence of 1-3 years in prison. Judge Marcus ordered the defendant to pay $28,980 ($27,600 plus a five percent restitution surcharge) in restitution in monthly payments to the victims. If the defendant pays the restitution in full, she will replead to Petit Larceny and will be given probation, instead of serving time in prison.


“The defendant took deposits from people desperately looking for an affordable apartment and never delivered a key and finalized lease,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. “Not only did she steal more than $27,000 from nine people, but she also threatened several of the victims that she would call immigration authorities to have them deported. She pleaded guilty and has been ordered to pay restitution or face jail time. We will not tolerate these deplorable rent scams that hurt Bronx residents.”


According to the investigation, between May 17, 2019 and September 30, 2019, Antonio told victims she was an employee of a property management company and that she was a licensed realtor. Although she was briefly employed by the property management company, it was only to take photos for its Instagram page, and Antonio used that position to gain access to keys for apartments. The victims gave her $2,200-$4,000 deposits for apartments she could not deliver.


According to the investigation, Antonio intimidated multiple victims by threatening to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and have them deported if they were to go to police. 


In one instance, she filed an assault case against one victim that was later dropped when the victim showed proof that she was working at the time.

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