Tag:

Scheme to Defraud

Pleasant Valley Bartender Busted Increasing Tips On Credit Cards, Police Say Pleasant Valley Bartender Busted Increasing Tips On Credit Cards, Police Say
Pleasant Valley Bartender Busted Increasing Tips On Credit Cards, Police Say A bartender in the region was busted for allegedly increasing tip amounts on credit cards to increase her pay. Dutchess County resident Melissa Dinsmore, 33, of Wappinger, was charged by the New York State Police on Friday, Sept. 20. According to Trooper AJ Hicks, the owner of the Publick House Restaurant and Bar in Pleasant Valley alerted police to the possible crime after being notified of the fraud by a customer. An investigation determined that Dinsmore, while working as both a server and bartender, fraudulently increased tip amounts entered by her customers who utilized credit cards t…
'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say 'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say
'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say They were hired to make repairs but ended up scamming Long Island homeowners instead, police allege. Nassau County Police arrested two men on suspicion of fraud and related charges Monday, July 22, for allegedly posing as construction contractors in order to con homeowners. Investigators said David Young, age 31, of Philadelphia, and Adam Turner, age 25, who is homeless, targeted elderly homeowners and offered to perform construction services through their unlicensed company, “Top Line Masonry.” The two then defrauded victims by falsely reporting damage that wasn’t there or by causing more…
Man Nabbed For $85K Roofing Scam On Long Island: Police Man Nabbed For $85K Roofing Scam On Long Island: Police
Man Nabbed For $85K Roofing Scam On Long Island: Police A New Jersey man was arrested on charges including grand larceny after he allegedly scammed a Long Islander into giving him money to fix her home’s roof. Danny Burton, age 26, was arrested on Monday, July 1 for the North New Hyde Park scheme, Nassau County Police said. Starting on Wednesday, June 26, Burton allegedly approached a 74-year-old woman at her North Fourth Street home. He told the woman he was a roof contractor and convinced her that her roof needed repairs. Burton reportedly told the woman to withdraw money from her bank account to pay him on multiple occasions. In total, …
Stock Swindler: Barred Long Island Broker Sentenced For Scheme Stock Swindler: Barred Long Island Broker Sentenced For Scheme
Stock Swindler: Barred Long Island Broker Sentenced For Scheme An investment broker who admitted to using his client’s money on luxury cars, plane tickets, and more has received his prison sentence. Peter Quartararo of Glen Cove was sentenced to two-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half years in prison on Friday, June 14, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. Quartararo, who is 57, was a stockbroker who had previously been barred from operating as such in 2013 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Original Report - Half-Million Dollar Scheme: Long Island Broker Admits Swindling Clients Despite that, starting in July 2018,…
NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced
NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced A former New York investment broker has received a lengthy stay in prison for running a million-dollar Ponzi scheme. Long Island resident Rand Heckler, age 67, of Glen Cove, was sentenced to up to seven-and-a-half years in prison on Wednesday, May 15, the Nassau County District Attorney (NCDA) announced. Heckler was an investment broker in 2015 when he began his scheme, recommending that his friend and his friend’s son that they invest in a hedge fund of stocks and securities that Heckler was managing. Original Story - $1 Million Ponzi Scheme: Glen Cove Investment Broker Pleads …
Man Scams $200K During Long Island Home Renovation Scheme, DA Says Man Scams $200K During Long Island Home Renovation Scheme, DA Says
Man Scams $200K During Long Island Home Renovation Scheme, DA Says A Long Island business owner has been arrested after he allegedly used customer’s funds for personal use, including eating out and child support payments, authorities said. Peter Ferrigan, age 56 of Amityville, faced his arraignment on Monday, Nov. 13 for the alleged scam, which lasted for three years, according to the Nassau County District Attorney. In July 2019, Ferrigan’s company, PBF Home Improvements, LLC., entered a contract with a customer for the demolition and new construction of their home, located on Arizona Avenue in Long Beach. Though the homeowners gave Ferrigan $852,095…
Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $20K In Stamps With Fake Checks: Police Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $20K In Stamps With Fake Checks: Police
Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $20K In Stamps With Fake Checks: Police A Long Island woman traveled to post offices across Long Island buying tens of thousands of stamps with false checks, police said. Stephany A. Moreira, age 27, was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 31 for charges including larceny and scheme to defraud, according to the Nassau County Police Department. From Tuesday, June 6 to Thursday, June 8, Moreira, a Lindenhurst resident, allegedly purchased 36,600 stamps throughout Nassau County using 21 insufficient checks. As a result, the US Postal Service lost $19,278, police said. Moreira is charged with: Grand larceny Scheme to defraud Issuing…
Long Island Woman Steals $4K From Residents Where She Was Employed, Police Say Long Island Woman Steals $4K From Residents Where She Was Employed, Police Say
Long Island Woman Steals $4K From Residents Where She Was Employed, Police Say A Long Island woman has been charged with grand larceny after allegedly stealing funds from resident's accounts where she was employed.  Nassau County resident Ashley Atkinson, age 22, of Freeport, was arrested on Thursday, June 29 for grand larceny in North Bellmore. According to the Nassau County Police detectives, Atkinson was employed as a staff member of the Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC), located at 1070 Bellmore Road who controlled the residents’ funds at the facility.  On numerous occasions, Atkinson made a total of 37 unauthorize…
Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands
Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands The president of a local autism charity is now a convicted felon after admitting that he defrauded Long Island businesses out of thousands of dollars. Gregory Vasicek, age 60, of Queens, pleaded guilty to a charge of scheme to defraud in Suffolk County Court on Friday, May 12. According to the Suffolk County DA’s Office, between April and May 2022, Vasicek wrote numerous checks from the bank account of his charity, Play4Autism, knowing that the organization did not have the funds to pay for the services and property being purchased. Among the companies that fell victim to his scheme were a…
Man Charged With Fraud For Ripping Off LI Customers Who Paid For Snow Removal Services Man Charged With Fraud For Ripping Off LI Customers Who Paid For Snow Removal Services
Man Charged With Fraud For Ripping Off LI Customers Who Paid For Snow Removal Services A man has been charged with allegedly taking money from multiple Long Island residents for snow removal services he never performed. Nassau County police arrested Christopher Picone, age 32, of Queens, on Friday, March 25 following an investigation. The incident began in December 2021 when Picone began to contact people through cell phone and social media to offer snow removal services for the upcoming winter season, police said. Over the course of several weeks, police said Picone contacted at least 15 victims and offered his services, which they accepted and paid in advance. P…
Long Island Woman Accused Of Defrauding Undocumented Immigrants Long Island Woman Accused Of Defrauding Undocumented Immigrants
Long Island Woman Accused Of Defrauding Undocumented Immigrants A local and federal investigation into a Long Island woman who posed as an immigration attorney to undocumented immigrants and bilked them out of thousands is facing a host of charges, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office announced. Suffolk County resident Tania Gonzalez, age 44, of Ronkonkoma, was arrested after she allegedly misrepresented herself as an immigration attorney to undocumented immigrants seeking assistance with immigration matters and stole more than $30,000 from the victims. The arrest came following a joint investigation by the Nassau County District Attorney, US De…
Volunteer Ambulance Corps Captain In Rockland Charged With Four Felonies For Larceny, DA Says Volunteer Ambulance Corps Captain In Rockland Charged With Four Felonies For Larceny, DA Says
Volunteer Ambulance Corps Captain In Rockland Charged With Four Felonies For Larceny, DA Says A volunteer paramedic in the Hudson Valley is facing charges for allegedly misappropriating thousands of dollars from the Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Capt. Matthew Gannon was arraigned on Thursday, Aug. 13 on multiple larceny charges connected to the financial troubles that plagued the organization, the Rockland County District Attorney announced. Specifically, Gannon was charged with: Grand larceny; Falsifying business records; Offering a false statement for filing; Scheme to defraud. Each of the charges against Gannon, 53, was a felony. Gannon allegedly misappropriated $22,1…
Man Arraigned On 87-Count Indictment For Allegedly Scamming Immigrant Families In Westchester Man Arraigned On 87-Count Indictment For Allegedly Scamming Immigrant Families In Westchester
Man Arraigned On 87-Count Indictment For Allegedly Scamming Immigrant Families In Westchester A man who allegedly was involved in a scheme to steal money by taking advantage of undocumented immigrants in Westchester, claiming he could help them gain legal citizenship, has been arraigned on an 87 count indictment. Washington State resident Juan Cedillo, 64, was arrested in February after he allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from illegal immigrants. On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., announced that Cedillo was charged this week with individual counts of scheme to defraud with he intent to defraud more than 10 people and t…
Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients
Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients A Westchester County businessman will spend time behind bars after admitting to lining his own pockets with hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of a scheme to steal business taxes from clients that employed his services. Pleasantville resident Stefan Malgarinos, 48, has been sentenced to prison time after pleading guilty to grand larceny and scheme to defraud, both felonies, related to stealing withholding tax money from state and federal authorities collected from his clients. Westchester County District Attorney District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., said that Malgarinos was …
Long Island Man Charged In 54-Count Indictment For Stealing Credit, Debit Cards From Vehicles Long Island Man Charged In 54-Count Indictment For Stealing Credit, Debit Cards From Vehicles
Long Island Man Charged In 54-Count Indictment For Stealing Credit, Debit Cards From Vehicles A Long Island man is facing a host of charges after allegedly breaking into vehicles in Nassau County over the course of more than a year and stealing credit, debit and gift cards. Alex Hines, 47, of West Hempstead, was arraigned on Thursday, Sept. 12 and arraigned on a 54-count indictment for breaking into vehicles between February last year and August this year. Hines has been charged with: Two counts of third-degree grand larceny; Four counts of fourth-degree grand larceny; Twenty counts of criminal possession of stolen property; Three counts of criminal mischief; Scheme to defraud; Thr…
New Victims Say Area Car Salesman Stole From Them, Police Say New Victims Say Area Car Salesman Stole From Them, Police Say
New Victims Say Area Car Salesman Stole From Them, Police Say Several new victims have come forward with claims that a Middletown car salesman previously working as a realtor stole cash from them. Michael Edison Ramos, 34, of Middletown has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly stealing numerous cash down payments. State Police investigators are now looking for victims who may have dealt with Ramos while he acted as a realtor in the Middletown area. Further investigation has revealed many of the victims are Spanish speaking. State Police say they received a report that a salesman at Nissan-Kia Middletown dealership failed to credi…
Alert Issued For Driveway Paving Scam Alert Issued For Driveway Paving Scam
Alert Issued For Driveway Paving Scam Area residents are being warned of a driveway paving scam. Several incidents had been reported in the Rochester area last summer, resulting in the arrests of several persons on charges of “Scheme to Defraud.” Late last week, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a resident in Garrison reporting an incident. On Tuesday, April 2, two white men approached the homeowner at his residence and identified themselves as being from a paving company, Putnam County Sheriff Robert L. Langley Jr. said.  The men told the homeowner that they had extra asphalt that was alleged…
Northern Westchester Businessman Admits To Swindling Clients Out Of Thousands Northern Westchester Businessman Admits To Swindling Clients Out Of Thousands
Northern Westchester Businessman Admits To Swindling Clients Out Of Thousands A Westchester County businessman has admitted to lining his own pockets with thousands of dollars as part of a scheme to steal business taxes from clients that employed his services. Pleasantville resident Stefan Malgarinos, 48, has pleaded guilty to grand larceny and scheme to defraud, both felonies, related to stealing withholding tax money from state and federal authorities collected from his clients. Malgarinos, the owner of Manos Business Management in Pleasantville, was hired by businesses in the tri-state area to file withholding tax returns, to pay withholding taxes collected f…
Hudson Valley Contractor Admits To Defrauding Customers Of $175,000 Hudson Valley Contractor Admits To Defrauding Customers Of $175,000
Hudson Valley Contractor Admits To Defrauding Customers Of $175,000 An area contractor is facing potential prison time and his corporation has agreed to pay back $175,000 for defrauding property owners who hired him to construct homes on their property. Goshen resident Charles Neustadt, 63, and JC Builders, Inc. pleaded guilty to felonies this week in Orange County Court. Neustadt pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny and theft of services. His business pleaded guilty to felony charges of grand larceny and scheme to defraud. As part of the plea agreement, Neustadt has agreed to pay back $175,000 and it has been recommended by the Orange County Distri…