Bronx News Roundup, May 14

Federal prosecutors are seeking a stiffer sentence for former Bronx state senator Efrain Gonzalez who they say lied to a judge when he said he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea because he believed he was innocent.  Gonzalez, who is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25, could now be facing 11 to 14 years in prison.

A year ago, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges for diverting state funds to pay for personal expenses, including an apartment in the Dominican Republic, Yankee tickets and labels for his own brand of cigars. Earlier this year, Gonzalez said he was pressured into pleading guilty by his former lawyer, Murray Richman, and wanted to withdraw his plea and take his chances in a trial. The judge refused to allow Gonzalez to withdraw his plea, calling his coercion claims, "preposterous."

On Wednesday, police busted up what they described as a major drug operation in Morris Heights. After a months-long sting operation, arrested the alleged leader of the lucrative drug business, Jose Delorbe, and 14 others in connection with it. Officials said Delorbe had turned 1571 Undercliff Avenue into a guarded fortress -- New Jack City-style -- where they stashed and sold large quantities of cocaine and heroin. More on NY1.

Speaking of drug dealers, an NYPD cop pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing from dealers in the Bronx, Queens, Manhattand Brooklyn. 

A bunch of the Parks Department's electronic mini-cars caught fire yesterday while they were being charged in Orchard Beach.


Some more on Bronx boxer Maureen Shea, who's fighting tonight at the Paradise Theater.

Enjoy the weekend!

Bronx Events Through November 23

Bronx Pugilist Maureen Shea figts Dec. 3. (Photo by David Greene)

Bronx Borough President Rueben Diaz Jr. will hold a candlelight vigil on Monday, Nov. 23 outside the Bronx County building at 851 Grand Concourse to call an end to gun violence. The vigil will be in memory of victims of homicides, organized as part of the National Day of Outrage. Elected officials, community leaders, victims and their family members will join Diaz Jr. in an effort to draw attention to the impact of gun violence on the public safety in the Bronx and in the city. The vigil begins at 4:30pm. For more information visit http://bronxboropres.nyc.gov/.

The Bronx Library Center, located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road, hosts Traditional Music and Dance from West Africa, Nov. 21 at 2:30pm. For more information call 718-579-4244 ext. 26.

On November 21, the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, located at 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd., presents
Street Beat featuring urban rhythm, hip hop and break dancing performed by musicians and dancers. The event begins at 8:00pm. Tickets are $10-25. For more information, call 718-960-8833

The Bronx Museum of the Arts at 1040 Grand Concourse @ 165^th Street will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Grand Concourse on Tuesday, November 24. The celebration starts at 10:30am and will be joined by 3rd and 5th grade students from P.S 73 singing “Happy Birthday” to the Grand Concourse. For more information visit http://www.blogger.com/www.bronxmuseum.org

The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents The Nutcracker performed by the Moscow Classical Ballet. The performance will be held on Sunday, November 29 at 6pm.Tickets range from $25-35, and $10 for children under twelve. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.lehmancenter.org or call the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833.

Female pugilist Maureen Shea, 28, of Throggs Neck, will be back in action during a Star Boxing show at the Manhattan Center on Dec. 3. Shea (13-2, 7 KO's) is expected to face Jenna "Cowgirl" Shriver (9-4-1, 2 KO's) from Tampa, FL. The two will be battling for the interim WBA Female Super Bantamweight Title. Shea, a Throggs Neck native, got the last minute call after fellow Bronxite and former Riverdale resident Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin pulled out of the show with a ruptured appendix. For more information on the card visit the Star Boxing website at: www.starboxing.com or call (718) 823-2000; tickets start at $52.

The New York Botanical Garden presents several events this fall: The Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden offers Gardens ‘Round the World featuring Caribbean Garden, a pinwheel-shaped plot garden featuring Caribbean crops. The Holiday Train Show will take place from Nov. 21 through Jan. 10 and features a display of New York landmark replicas created out of plant materials, as well as model trains. For more information and a detailed schedule, call (718) 817-8700 or visit nybg.org.