Monday, December 30, 2019

Press Release - Been an Honor to Serve as Ulster County DA


FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: DECEMBER 30, 2019

It’s been an honor to serve with the men and women of the criminal justice community that serve Ulster County.  Perhaps it’s time for Denise and me to take a long slow walk through still woods beside a quiet brook with our old dog.  Stay safe out there.

Friday, December 27, 2019

Press Release - One Ring Phone Scam



FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: DECEMBER 27, 2019
RE:  BEWARE THE “ONE RING” PHONE SCAM

For illegal robocallers, the goal isn’t always getting you to answer. Sometimes it’s getting you to call back.

Every so often, your phone may ring once and then stop. If that happens to you, and you do not recognize the number, do not return the call. You may be the target of a “one ring” phone scam.

One-ring calls may appear to be from phone numbers somewhere in the United States, including three initial digits that resemble U.S. area codes. But savvy scammers often use international numbers from regions that also begin with three-digit codes…for example, “232” goes to Sierra Leone and “809” goes to the Dominican Republic. Scammers may also use spoofing techniques to further mask the number in your caller ID display.

If you call back, you risk being connected to a phone number outside the U.S. As a result, you may wind up being charged a fee for connecting, along with significant per-minute fees for as long as they keep you on the phone. These charges may show up on your bill as premium services, international calling, or toll-calling.

Variations of the scam rely on phony voice-mail messages urging you to call a number with an unfamiliar area code to “schedule a delivery” or to notify you about a “sick” relative.

To avoid this scam, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs (845-340-3260) advises:
·         Don’t answer or return any calls from numbers you don’t recognize.
·         Before calling unfamiliar numbers, check to see if the area code is international.
·         If you do not make international calls, ask your phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.
·         Always be cautious, even if a number appears authentic.

Friday, December 13, 2019

Press Release - Maurice Stansberry Jr. sentence



DATE: DECEMBER 13, 2019
FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
RE: PRESS RELEASE – MAURICE STANSBERRY JR.


MAURICE STANSBERRY JR. SENTENCED TO PRISON

Following his conviction by his guilty plea in Ulster County Court on June 27 for Robbery in the 2nd degree, 18-year-old Maurice Stansberry, Jr., of 27 Washington Avenue in Kingston, was sentenced to five (5) years in prison, with 5 years of post-release supervision. A protection order for the family of Mark Lancaster who was killed in the course of the robbery was issued.

Stansberry Jr. admitted that he and his codefendants planned the robbery to obtain marijuana and possessed a loaded handgun, which was used during the commission of the crime.

Maurice Stansberry Sr. shot and killed Mr. Lancaster on Sawkill Road close to noon time on December 1, 2018 after a gunpoint robbery of marijuana from Lancaster’s teenage son at Sawkill Trailer Park moments before. Stansberry Jr. was the driver during the robbery and after the murder of Mark Lancaster.

Mark Lancaster’s mother, Donna Quiles, spoke to the court about their loss and the continuing impact and trauma the murder has had on their family. She highlighted choices and options that Stansberry Jr. could have taken to avoid the ultimate result of their conduct. She also spoke about the intense careless and insensitive comments and actions from officials of the Kingston High School and others, as well as postings on social media by various users, who only seem to care about this defendant as a star athlete for the school. She asked the Court to impose the maximum sentence that was agreed to in exchange for Stansberry Jr.’s cooperation with the prosecution of the case.

Stansberry Jr. testified in the trial which convicted his father of murder and a host of other serious violent felonies arising from the robbery.

Stansberry was represented by Kevin Harp who indicated that Stansberry did not want him to ask for a more lenient sentence. In his brief statement which was punctuated by questions from Judge Williams, Stansberry blamed himself and “choices I  made .. . . . . to fit in . . . with my dad.” He apologized to Mark Lancaster’s family.

The case was prosecuted by Sr. Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji.