Skip to main content

Featured

Bronx News: Who’s Banking on Big Bucks from Casinos? New York’s Transit System

  The MTA is projecting billions in revenue from proposed NYC-based gaming halls, which are poised to win up to three licenses later this year. This article originally appeared in The City. By Jose Martinez and Lauren Hartley Bronx Voice October 23, 2025 BRONX NEWS - New York’s mass-transit system is banking on billions of dollars from the state’s bet to bring full-scale casinos to the city. With three gaming-palace proposals still on the table — two in Queens and one in The Bronx — the MTA is counting on close to $2 billion through 2029 just from casino-licensing fees earmarked for the transportation authority’s annual operating budget. Billions more could come from tax revenue, depending on how licenses are awarded.  “More service, better service, no layoffs,” Janno Lieber , MTA chairperson and chief executive, said Oct. 10 in response to a question from THE CITY about the potential impact of casinos on the transit system. “That’s what we accomplished thank...

Assault Rifles, Handguns Recovered During Sting

Gun Runners Sold Arsenal to Undercover Cops

Investigators recovered a string of weapons during an undercover sting. 

BRONX - Two Bronx men have been sentenced to a decade in prison each for selling an arsenal of high powered weapons to undercover officers during a sting. 




Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that two Bronx men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in selling multiple firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices to an undercover NYPD officer.


 

“The community is safer thanks to the undercover officer who stopped the recycling of these weapons,” Clark said. “Two of the recovered guns had been used in shootings in the Bronx and Manhattan. Getting these guns, which were sold in broad daylight, off our streets is a huge feat and sending the gun sellers to prison sends the right message that gun violence has to stop.”




 

Clark said the defendant, Dereck Velasquez, 30, last of Boston Road, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and five years post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo. He pleaded guilty to first degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm and fourth degree Conspiracy on January 31, 2023.


 

Eric Colvin, 26, last of East 145th Street, was sentenced on January 23, 2023, to nine years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo. He pleaded guilty to second-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm on January 6, 2023.

 

Velasquez admitted to selling 10 or more firearms to an undercover officer between September 28, 2021, and February 1, 2022. 




Colvin admitted to selling five or more firearms to an undercover officer between October 28th, 2021, and February 1, 2022. Both defendants were high-ranking members of the Forest Over Everything crew, affiliated with the Bloods, and were charged with conspiring to sell a total of 33 firearms to an undercover police officer.


According to the investigation, most of the weapons were sold in the Bronx on Tinton Avenue, East 163rd Street and other streets near the Forest Houses in the Morrisania section.


Investigators traced two of the firearms to shootings in the Bronx and Manhattan through ballistics evidence found at the scenes.




Comments

Popular Posts