Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas and Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter held a joint press conference Monday announcing a new initiative to work with immigrants victimized by violent crime or fraud. While the county police department has long worked on crime issues with the immigrant community, the focus on going after those who defraud immigrants is new. The new program will go after “notaries” who promise legal services that are never delivered. Assistant District Attorney Silvia Pastor Finkelstein, who speaks Spanish and French, was named the director of the office’s new Immigrant Fraud Investigations program.
Singas promised that immigrants who come forward as victims or witnesses will not be turned over to ICE. She said:
“Criminal activity in Nassau County will not be tolerated. County residents understand that the systematic targeting of immigrants in our communities creates a climate of lawlessness that endangers everyone. Open communication and a sense of trust among victims, witnesses and the criminal justice system is essential to effective prosecution, regardless of the languages spoken or documentation status of victims and witnesses. All residents of Nassau County are safer when victims and witnesses feel comfortable coming forward to, and working with, law enforcement, whose priorities are public safety and justice for all. My office’s new immigrant-focused outreach and prosecution initiative will provide these assurances and enhance public safety for all Nassau County residents.”
The DA’s office has staff that speaks Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Greek, Italian, Polish, German, Russian, Belarusian, Hebrew, and Bengali. Other languages will be accommodated with interpreters.
