FOURTEEN SPRINGFIELD POLICE OFFICERS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH ASSAULT NEAR BAR AND COVER UP AFTERWARDS

FOURTEEN SPRINGFIELD POLICE OFFICERS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH ASSAULT NEAR BAR AND COVER UP AFTERWARDS

Officers Indicted on Various Charges Including Assault, Perjury, Misleading, and Conspiracy; Bar Owner and Bar Manager also Charged

WORCESTER — Thirteen Springfield Police Department officers and one former officer have been indicted on various charges in connection with an assault on four victims and an attempt to cover up the details of the assault afterwards, Attorney General Maura Healey and FBI Boston Division Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta announced today.

A specially-designated Statewide Grand Jury sitting in Worcester returned indictments against the following individuals today, in connection with the assault on the four alleged victims:

• Springfield Police Officer Daniel Billingsley, age 30, of Springfield
• Springfield Police Officer Anthony Cicero, age 29, of Hampden
• Springfield Police Officer Christian Cicero, age 28, of Longmeadow
• Springfield Police Officer Igor Basovskiy, age 34, of Springfield
• Springfield Police Officer Jameson Williams, age 33, of East Longmeadow

·         Springfield Police Officer Jose Diaz, 54, of Springfield

·         Nathan Bills Bar & Restaurant Owner John Sullivan, age 34, of Springfield

The above defendants are charged with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Shod Foot (4 counts each), Assault and Battery - Serious Bodily Injury (1 count each), Assault and Battery (3 counts each), and Conspiracy (1 count each).

The Statewide Grand Jury also returned indictments against the following individuals today, in connection with attempting to cover up details of the assault afterwards:

John Sullivan
Misleading a Federal Agent/Investigator

Springfield Police Officer Jose DiazMisleading a Police Officer/Investigator

Springfield Police Officer Darren Nguyen, age 40, of Holland
Perjury
Misleading a Police Officer/Investigator
Filing a False Police Report

Springfield Police Officer Shavonne Lewis, age 29, of Springfield
Perjury
Misleading a Police Officer/Investigator
Filing a False Police Report

Springfield Police Sergeant Louis Bortolussi, age 57, of East Longmeadow
Perjury
Misleading a Police Officer/Investigator
Filing a False Police Report

Springfield Police Officer Derrick Gentry-Mitchell, age 29, of Springfield
Perjury
Misleading a Police Officer/Investigator/Grand Jury
Filing a False Police Report

Springfield Police Officer James D’Amour, age 42, of Hampden
Perjury
Misleading a Police Officer/Investigator
Filing a False Police Report

Springfield Police Officer John Wajdula, age 34, of Springfield
Perjury
Misleading a Police Officer/Investigator/Federal Agent
Filing a False Police Report

Former Springfield Police Officer Nathaniel Perez, age 27, of West Springfield
Perjury
Misleading a Police Officer/Investigator
Filing a False Police Report

Springfield Police Officer Melissa Rodriguez, age 32, of Springfield
Perjury

Bar Manager Joseph Sullivan, age 42, of Hampden
Perjury
Misleading a Police Officer/Federal Agent/Investigator/Grand Jury

            All defendants will be arraigned in Hampden and/or Worcester Superior Courts at later dates.

These criminal charges are the result of a joint ongoing investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division. The AG’s Office alleges that on April 8, 2015, off-duty Springfield Police Department officers Billingsley, Anthony and Christian Cicero, Basovskiy, Williams, and Diaz and bar owner John Sullivan, physically assaulted four victims after a confrontation at Nathan Bills Bar & Restaurant in Springfield. The victims had already left the bar when the defendants allegedly located them down the street and assaulted them. The victims were allegedly beaten and kicked, and sustained significant injuries as a result of the assault, some permanent. The AG’s Office and the FBI collected statements from victims and witnesses, phone records, and video evidence that led to the identification of the defendants and these charges. 

The AG’s Office also alleges that after the assault, nine Springfield Police officers as well as John Sullivan and Joseph Sullivan (no relation) were a part of a long-standing and ongoing cover up of the assault. John Sullivan allegedly misled the FBI during the course of the investigation, and Diaz gave misleading statements in an interview with the Internal Investigations Unit of the Springfield Police Department. Nguyen, Lewis, Bortolussi, Gentry-Mitchell, D’Amour, Wajdula, Perez, Rodriguez, and Joseph Sullivan all allegedly committed perjury by lying when testifying in front of the Statewide Grand Jury, and many of these defendants also misled authorities and/or filed false police reports during the investigation.

These charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Carley and Senior Trial Counsel Dean Mazzone, both of AG Healey’s Criminal Bureau, with assistance from the FBI Boston Division, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, and Victim Witness Advocate Ellen Davis of the AG’s Office.

波士頓公校2020年預算11.39億元

Approved FY20 Boston Public Schools Budget Increases Exam School Access, Funding For Schools

Budget Season Adjustments Provide MBTA Passes For Grade 7-12 Students, Additional $3.2 Million For Schools

BOSTON — Wednesday, March 27, 2019 — Tonight, the Boston School Committee passed the fiscal year 2020 (FY20) Boston Public Schools (BPS) budget of $1.139 billion in a unanimous vote. The BPS budget represents a $26 million increase over the current year and a $200 million increase since Mayor Martin J. Walsh took office in 2014. More information on the FY20 budget proposal is available online atbostonpublicschools.org/budget. The FY20 budget, which will be voted on by the Boston City Council in June, makes targeted investments that directly support students and families, increases per-pupil spending, supports critical academic investments, and expands access to exam school admissions. During public budget deliberations over the past two months, BPS distributed an additional $3.2 million — over the $1.139 billion allocation from the City — from reserve funds to further support budgets. “The City of Boston should be proud that despite declining state aid we continue to invest more money than ever in the education of our children,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "Through this budget, we continue to increase funding for individual schools and students to support the enrichment of their academics. Our students deserve every opportunity to receive a high-quality education, and I am proud that our record investments in the Boston Public Schools reflect that commitment." This month, Mayor Walsh announced a partnership with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to provide free “M7” bus and subway passes for all Boston public, private, and charter students in grades 7-12. BPS is mandated to provide school transportation for all public, private, and charter students living in Boston outside of certain distances from their schools. Mayor Walsh and BPS Interim Superintendent Laura Perille joined numerous local and state leaders recently at the State House to advocate in support of comprehensive education finance reform. Despite the City of Boston’s continued commitment to invest in BPS, an ongoing decline in state funding leaves BPS at risk for receiving zero state funding within two years unless legislative changes are made. “In this budget, we are not only making strong investments in core teaching and learning work, but are equally deliberate in supporting strategies to close opportunity gaps,” said BPS Interim Superintendent Laura Perille. “We’re expanding supports for crucial initiatives such as science instruction, family engagement, exam school access, and supports for students deemed off-track to graduate. We must always keep make our most vulnerable learners a priority as we work to close persistent gaps.” The FY20 BPS budget reflects an increase in per-pupil spending by 25 percent over the past six years, from about $16,500 in FY14 to $20,700 in FY20. BPS is also allocating an additional $6 million for “soft landings” and items that serve high-need students. Soft landings are funds to support schools with declining enrollment. “I thank all of the community members who shared their priorities with us during the budgeting process,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael Loconto. “With additional funds to support schools with large concentrations of students in need, increases in per-pupil spending, free MBTA passes to unlock access to the City for thousands of students, and targeted investments in initiatives like exam school access, this budget continues our efforts to provide students with the tools needed for educational success.”   There are numerous targeted investments in the FY20 budget that would directly benefit students and families in FY20, including: ●    $3.8 million in new City funding to sustain access to high-quality preschool (K1) classroom seats in Boston as part of the Universal Pre-K initiative; ●    $750,000 to facilitate improved outcomes for students in schools identified as needing the greatest amount of support; ●    $500,000 for the BPS Office of Engagement to support improvements to family engagement at schools and at BPS Welcome Centers, where families register students for schools and receive various services; ●    $375,000 to strengthen science instruction; ●    $364,000 to host the exam that students must pass to gain entrance into one of the district’s three exam schools — the ISEE — in students’ current schools. This is another tool aimed at closing opportunity gaps for students of traditionally underserved backgrounds. ●    And, $350,000 to strengthen high school pathways. (More information on key investments is found lower in this release.) In addition to new investments in the proposed FY20 budget, BPS would sustain the research-backed investments core to the district’s efforts to close opportunity gaps. Those include the expansion of pre-kindergarten seats (K1), the district’s hiring initiative to attract and retain the best educators, the Extended Learning Time (ELT) initiative that extended minutes in the school day, and the Excellence for All academic enrichment program in grades 4-6. Key Investments ●    Expanding access to the exam school entrance test: BPS is allocating $364,000 to provide easier access for students wishing to take the test to attend one of the district’s three exam schools: Boston Latin School, Boston Latin Academy, and the John D. O’Bryant School for Mathematics and Science. This fall, BPS will begin providing the test to sixth-grade students in the schools they are currently attending. For many years, students have had to travel to one of a handful of testing locations on a Saturday in November, which can pose barriers for students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. This funding would help with family engagement and communication about the ISEE, and expanding test facilitation and the use of test proctors in conjunction with ERB, the company that provides the ISEE assessment. This investment follows multiple years of investment by BPS, Mayor Walsh, and partners to expand access to test preparation through the Exam School Initiative program. ●    Strengthening science instruction: BPS is investing $375,000 to ensure equitable access to Next Generation Standards-aligned science instruction in the elementary grades. The funding will also support professional development for teachers. This comes as BPS aims to improve the percentage of students scoring advanced or proficient in science on state assessments, and as the state accountability system begins putting the increased weight on science. ●    Strengthening high school pathways: BPS is allocating $350,000 toward efforts to assist high school students, including those who are not on track to graduate high school on time. This includes expanding the use of a technology-based system, Naviance, that provides interactive college- and career-readiness assessment tools and a data system to better identify “early warning indicators” for students who may be falling off-track for graduation. This $350,000 is in addition to $1.6 million provided to school budgets to support high school students and the expansion of vocational programming. ●    Assisting schools in greatest need of support: BPS will provide $750,000 to provide professional development and coaching focused on both improving instruction and providing appropriate supports for students in schools identified as having the greatest need for support toward student achievement. ●    Family Engagement Support: About $500,000 will be provided to the BPS Office of Engagement to support family engagement at schools across the district and improve services at BPS Welcome Centers. This includes the creation of a staff position to provide coaching and technical assistance to school administrators on improving family engagement efforts, along with funding to support increased customer service, quality control, and upgrades aimed at improving the experiences for families using Welcome Centers for registration and other purposes.

麻州生物科技協會年會(圖片)

波士頓舞蹈聯盟表揚波士頓芭雷舞團首名黑人領舞者

波士頓舞蹈聯盟頒獎晚會表演。(張雨坤攝)

(Boston Orange 張雨坤波士頓報導)波士頓舞蹈聯盟(Boston Dance Alliance)3月25日晚在波士頓藝術中心卡爾德伍德館(Boston Center for the Arts Calderwood Pavilion)舉行年度嘉年華會，表揚Tony Williams和Duggan Hill。

波士頓舞蹈聯盟主任Debra Cash頒獎表揚Duggan Hill。
(張雨坤攝)

Tony Williams獲得2019 Michael Shannon 博士舞蹈冠軍獎。他是波士頓芭蕾舞團(Boston Ballet)的第一位黑人首席舞者，最為人熟知的作品是反映波士頓多種族多元化的芭蕾舞劇"城市胡桃鉗子(Urban Nutcracker)”。

Tony Williams表示自己一項致力推動多元化。(張雨坤攝)

Tony Williams在領獎時，憶述了十幾年前”城市胡桃鉗子”第一次在多徹斯特(Dorchester)上演的場景，他感謝家人、朋友，和其他一路陪伴、幫助過他的人。他也談到自己致力追求種族多元化，透過舞蹈來跨越種族，性別和社會經濟地位，藉由藝術鼓勵創造力，給人帶來快樂與希望。

女媧體育會表演另類舞獅。(張雨坤攝)

Duggan Hill獲頒無名英雄獎。他在1985年斥資買下南端(South End)一棟火災後失修的樓宇，改建成”城市之光表演藝術中心(City Lights Performing Arts Center)”，為年輕人及藝術家提供免費的舞蹈、歌唱、表演課程，以及練習場地。華裔社區中，包括褚玲舞蹈團和女媧體育會(Nüwa Atheletic Club)都使用該場地排練。

Duggan Hill在領獎時表示，“如果你得付房租，波士頓是個很難生存的城市。”

這場嘉年華晚會有不少精彩表演，從傳統舞蹈到嘻哈街舞，不拘一格。

全由亞裔女性組成的”女媧體育會”，是個有心以結合傳統與創新方式來舞獅的團體，由於Duggan Hill的敞開大門，得以有排練場所。應Duggan Hill之邀，他們這晚出席表演。

當晚還有獲得波士頓駐地舞蹈家(Boston Dancemakers Residency)獎的Jenny Oliver，以及”聯繫舞蹈劇場(Connections Dance Theater)”，海德史都華德舞蹈團(Heather Steward Dance)這兩個舞團，表演了爵士舞，現代舞，Krump風格的街舞等，還演奏樂器。

波士頓舞蹈聯盟行政主任Debra Cash表示，聯盟既不辦表演，也不培訓舞者，但從幕後協助大波士頓地區舞者，得到所需資源。今年的嘉年華會約有170人出席。

DOMINICAN NATIONAL CHARGED WITH FENTANYL TRAFFICKING AND IDENTITY THEFT

DOMINICAN NATIONAL CHARGED WITH FENTANYL

TRAFFICKING AND IDENTITY THEFT

BOSTON – A Dominican national was charged today in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking fentanyl, false representation of a Social Security number, and aggravated identity theft.

            Omar Lugo, 44, a Dominican national residing in Dorchester, was indicted on two counts of distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, more than 40 grams of fentanyl. In February 2019, Lugo, whose last name was unknown at the time, was arrested and charged by complaint with aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number. He has been in custody since.

            Between November 2012 and July 2018, Lugo submitted applications for a Massachusetts Identification Card, a Massachusetts Learner’s Permit Exam, and a Massachusetts License using the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico.

            In October 2016 and January 2017, on two separate occasions in Boston, Lugo sold more than 40 grams of fentanyl to a source cooperating with the government.

            The charge of distribution of over 40 grams of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The Boston Police Department provided valuable assistance to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MAYOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RELEASES NEW REPORT EXPLORING UNTAPPED POTENTIAL AMONG BOSTON'S WORKFORCE

MAYOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RELEASES NEW REPORT EXPLORING UNTAPPED POTENTIAL AMONG BOSTON'S WORKFORCE

Study finds workers without bachelor's degrees can fill vacancies in high-demand industries

BOSTON - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - At a time when more and more jobs require a bachelor's degree (BA), a new report released today by the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development suggests that many Boston workers without a four-year degree possess the necessary skills to fill these jobs - and could fill more with the help of credentialed education and training in high-demand industries. The report, Untapped: Redefining Hiring in the New Economy, was commissioned by the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD) as part of ongoing efforts to improve job outcomes for non-college educated workers, who are disproportionately immigrants and people of color. "Boston is fortunate to have both a highly educated workforce and many hard-working people who are eager to develop and share their skills," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "We cannot allow a bachelor's degree to become the fault line between the prosperous and the struggling. My administration will be working together with local employers, community colleges, and job training programs to enact proposals that ensure all workers can contribute to our economy." While nearly 60 percent of Boston residents hold a bachelor's degree, the city's historically low 3.4 percent unemployment rate has left employers in need of more skilled workers to meet job demand. In the report, researchers from Northeastern University's Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy analyzed online job posting data for greater Boston compiled by Burning Glass Technologies. Alicia Sasser Modestino, Associate Director of the Dukakis Center, led the research. "This report is one of the first to use new sources of online data to compare the actual skill sets that workers list on their resumes to what employers list when advertising a job - going beyond just the education or experience requirements," said Modestino. The study found the following: A growing number of non-BA workers are pursuing certificates or associate degrees, but not in high-paying fields such as information technology or engineering Associate degree holders are equipped to fill some occupations that have been upskilled to require a BA, such as computer-related jobs, life science technicians, sales and related workers, and administrative assistants A high degree of overlap is found between non-BA and BA workers when it comes to certain baseline skills - such as organizational, problem solving, and multitasking skills The biggest skills gaps between non-BA and BA workers are seen in computer literacy and software skills "Not all residents may have equal opportunity to afford the investment of time and money that a bachelor's degree requires," said OWD Director Trinh Nguyen. "But their skills can still be optimized for employers' needs. Our office is hard at work enacting Mayor Walsh's vision of a more equitable Boston by cultivating more public-private partnerships, ensuring employers have a diverse and competitive workforce, and developing more apprenticeships, industry-specific job training, and expanded tuition-free community college." As part of the new Economic Development Center launched earlier this year, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development will kick off the "Jobs, Talent, and Career Series" with a panel discussion on the report's findings and recommendations. The panel discussion will be held 8:30 a.m.  - 10:30 a.m, March 27 at Wayfair Headquarters in Back Bay. The event will feature the report's lead author, Dr. Alicia Sasser Modestino of Northeastern University, as well as representatives from Google, Wayfair, Encore Boston Harbor, and Beth Israel Deaconess, who can speak to the success of this hiring model. Based on its findings, the Untapped report makes a number of policy recommendations: Incorporate employer input in the development of credentials in high-demand fields Boost completion rates at community colleges, particularly in STEM programs Improve vocational career pathways Expand English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) services and occupational training for immigrants "As Boston's economy continues to expand and we continue to pursue new employers, one of our best assets is our deep, homegrown talent pool," said John Barros, Chief of Economic Development. "In order to ensure all of our residents are benefiting from our robust economic climate and we are building a strong, sustainable business ecosystem, we are prioritizing alternative workforce development initiatives and collaborating with employers to build a more inclusive and productive workforce." Mayor Walsh's 2019 legislative agenda continues his administration's work to create greater opportunity for all residents, and serves all people of Massachusetts through its focus on equity and opportunity, ensuring Boston and Massachusetts' growth benefits all communities in the Commonwealth. Included in the legislative package is "An Act to Increase Access to Affordable Community College," which would replicate Boston's Tuition-Free Community College (TFCC) Initiative launched in June 2016, making it available statewide. TFCC was launched by Mayor Walsh and currently serves 295 students attending Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College and MassBay Community College. On Wednesday, Mayor Walsh announced that the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology will be the first private college.