New York City briefs

Education Department

computers missing

The Department of Education has a computer problem -- the agency can't find many of them, according to an audit from the city comptroller.

The department cannot account for 1,817 computers and there are 394 laptops and tablets left unpacked in 10 agency facilities, according to an audit from Comptroller Scott Stringer looking at nearly $200 million in tech hardware purchased from Apple and Lenovo for 211,000 devices.

The report criticizes how the DOE keeps track of its computer hardware inventory, recommending a centralized system.

"Every school should be prepared to use the devices they have and DOE should have a plan for where its computer hardware can best be put to use," Stringer said in a statement.

The department disagreed with the comptroller office's findings and audit methods.

The agency said Stringer's office was using the wrong data to locate 1,090 of the 1,817 computers, saying there is "no proof" that they are unaccounted for.

East Hampton man guilty in art scam

An East Hampton man pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan yesterday to defrauding victims of $2.5 million in a nine-year scheme to sell phony art purportedly created by masters such as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, prosecutors said.

John Re, 54, faces up to 20 years in prison and also must forfeit $2.5 million and not sell the former USS Quest, a submarine he acquired with the proceeds of the fraud, until the debt is paid off, according to court records.

From 2005 until this year, Re allegedly invented false provenance for dozens of paintings and sketches by famous artists, telling some victims of the scam that the art had been found in a home belonging to a former acquaintance of the artists.

Prosecutors said he continued to peddle the phony art after works he sold had been repeatedly deauthenticated by forensic experts, and on at least one occasion threatened a victim who confronted him with violence and claimed an organized-crime connection.

A lawyer for Re did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.

Re is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10 by U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel. He was first charged in June.

Dismissal likely in

Stiviano assault case

A New York court is on track to dismiss criminal charges against a man accused of assaulting the woman who recorded former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racist comments.

A judge agreed yesterday to toss out Dominick Diorio's misdemeanor assault case if he avoids rearrest for six months. Authorities had said he punched V. Stiviano in the face in June and used racial epithets toward her.

Prosecutors say they consulted Stiviano about the dismissal plan. Her lawyer didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

Defense lawyer David Scott Smith says the dismissal is proper because authorities "can't prove what didn't happen."

Stiviano's recording led the NBA to ban Sterling. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer then bought the Clippers.

High-poverty schools get social service plan

New York City's Department of Education has matched several dozen high-poverty schools with 25 social service partners to create "community schools." The goal is to increase attendance, prevent dropouts and improve achievement.

The nonprofit agencies matched to the 45 schools include Catholic Charities, Good Shepherd Services and the Children's Aid Society.

Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said she's confident in the initiative because principals and parents were involved in the process.

The community schools will bring health and dental clinics, counseling, immigration services, tutoring and other programs to help students come to school prepared to learn.

The services are expected to begin early next year.