Le Journal

Eight people face federal charges for allegedly operating a massive car theft ring. More than 100 cars were involved in the operation, which was worth millions of dollars. The cars were mainly stolen from the Bronx and Queens. The suspects allegedly went to great lengths to create new histories for the cars in order to sell them online. Police say eight suspects, ages 24-48, were charged in connection with the ring, which started around 2022 and continued until now. The men face charges including conspiracy to possess and sell stolen vehicles and wire fraud. If convicted, they could face decades behind bars. How the theft ring allegedly duped buyersThe suspects allegedly placed ads to sell them as used vehicles on Facebook Marketplace. The ads looked legitimate, but police said they were for stolen cars, including Hondas, Acuras and Jeeps. "They were changing the [vehicle identification numbers] of the cars, and then creating a new history for that by bringing the cars to get serviced at oil change locations, getting them inspected, bringing them to dealerships to get regular maintenance. And that would build a history for that car in Carfax," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Kenny explained how the investigation unfolded. "When we're looking at the LPR, meaning the license plate reader of the stolen car, we would see what car was following behind it. And the commonality was we saw a similar car, the same car on multiple steals," Kenny said.The alleged thieves would break the driver's side door lock, get into the car's computer, and change the key fob to the one they had. The vehicles were being sold out of state, and out of the country, Kenny said. So the feds got involved, too. "If it seems too good to be true, it is"So how can a consumer verify the car they're buying isn't a stolen vehicle, especially if the thieves are going to such great lengths?"If it seems too good to be true, it is," Kenny said. "If you see a $40,000 car listed for $24,000 for $26,000, your flags might want to get raised up right there and think that there's something wrong with that car."The investigation is ongoing. Kenny believes even more cars are involved. "New Yorkers are smart. They know that car theft rings and other fraud schemes inflict great harm on their victims and cost all of us," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said. "This is not a victimless crime; a stolen car disrupts daily life and inflicts lasting harm on innocent New Yorkers, robbing them of their sense of security and stability," HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel said. "Hondas continue to represent a significant number of auto thefts in New York City, and the NYPD is doing exactly what we do best to combat crime: finding the criminals responsible and stopping their illegal operations," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

A security guard shot and killed a knife-wielding man in the emergency room of Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital Thursday night, police in Newburgh, New York, said.A woman was injured by the same bullet that killed the suspect.Police said Carlos Ortiz, 45, pulled a fire alarm around 11 p.m. and was acting disorderly, prompting security staff to confront him. That's when, according to police, the man pulled a knife, and attacked one of the guards. An armed security guard then shot him. Ortiz was later pronounced dead.Chamika Hathurusinghe, who was at the ER with her husband after he injured his hand, was shot in the leg."The security guard was trying to get the guy with the knife. And I'm guessing the bullet just went through the dude with the knife and hit her in the leg," said Hathurusinghe's son Chareen Liyanagunawardhana. "The doctors are saying she should be fine, but she's still in a lot of pain."Liyanagunawardhana said his mom was sitting down moments before the shooting. Because she jumped up, she was hit in the leg, not the chest.Chamika Hathurusinghe was injured when a hospital security guard shot a man allegedly armed with a knife inside the Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital emergency room on Nov. 13, 2025. Chareen Liyanagunawardhana He said his mom underwent surgery Friday morning and he's anxious for more details."She's very much in pain. We got to pray a little bit together in the morning before they wheeled her up to surgery," he said.Normally, the state attorney general would have jurisdiction in fatal shootings involving law enforcement. Because the security guard was not a peace officer, the Orange County District Attorney will determine if the guard acted with justification."Our foremost responsibility is, and will always be, to provide a safe, secure, and healing environment for our patients, staff, and community," the hospital said in a statement. "We are grateful to our Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Public Safety and Security Team, as well as the City of Newburgh Police Department, for their ongoing dedication to safety and their swift, professional response in protecting our staff and our community."

In one of the most polluted corners of Brooklyn, there is a nursery of seedlings. The aim is to supply native plants to local parks and community gardens and to help neighbors connect with nature. CBS News New York's Hannah Kliger reports.

A 91-year-old Staten Island man racked up thousands of dollars in tickets and tolls on a car that isn't even his, and the borough president is warning people that similar fraud could happen in the future. CBS News New York's Tim McNicholas reports.

Heights University Hospital in Jersey City is shutting down and laying off workers.It will close as early as Saturday, but the emergency room will remain open and fully operational, according to new owners Hudson Regional Health.Officials say the emergency room will be self-contained with a lab and imaging center. The only difference is if a patient is admitted, they'll be transferred to one of their other hospitals. Closure blamed on lack of state, federal fundingFormerly known as Christ Hospital, the facility has been in the Jersey City community for more than 150 years.Hudson Regional Health officials blame the closure on a lack of state funding and less money coming in from the federal government, saying they notified the Department of Health of their financial troubles and would need at least $25 million to keep the hospital open. "We have not been able to secure the state's financial support to support this hospital," said Adam Alonso, chief strategy officer for Hudson Regional Health."Sixty-five percent of the population that's seen in this hospital is either charity care, undocumented, self-pay or Medicaid," said Dr. Nazir Kifaieh, CEO of Hudson Regional Health. "And at the same time, we were notified that the charity care funding was going to be chopped by 50 percent."The Department of Health says it was notified Thursday after the hospital failed to fund its payroll and started transferring the last of its 14 patients.State officials also say the hospital has been given almost $15 million in payroll and charity funding over just the last year. Hundreds of employees to be laid offThe facility employs 699 people, many of whom will lose their jobs, including nurse Rebecca Lowe, who worked through the pandemic."This is beyond devastating. I have dedicated 12 years of my life to Christ [Hospital] ... to have the rug pulled from under me and being told not to come to work," she said.Lowe said she didn't get paid Friday. Her union, representing 200 nurses, says members did not get proper notice."It seems to us that their only objective here was really to acquire the land, shut the hospital down and build condos," Health Professionals & Allied Employees President Debbie White said.Hospital officials strongly deny the closure was driven by new development plans.Jersey City resident Sonia Maldonado estimates she's been going to Heights University Hospital for about 20 years. Since she doesn't drive, she says she will now have to make her way to a bus stop to get to another hospital, which will be especially difficult since she uses a walker."I need to go far away. Far away is not easy for me, you know," she said.