Delco Pair Sexually Abused Intellectually Disabled Adults, DA Says Delco Pair Sexually Abused Intellectually Disabled Adults, DA Says
Delco Pair Sexually Abused Intellectually Disabled Adults, DA Says Two people from Chester are accused of sexually abusing two intellectually disabled adult women, said the Delaware County District Attorney's Office in a release.  Michael and Nicole Swanson are charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual assault, aggravated indecent sexual assault of a person with a mental disability, and related counts, according to court records and prosecutors.  Authorities said the victims, aged 27 and 30, were friends from a special education program at Chichester High School. The 27-year-old victim, who was then pregnant with Michael Swanson's child,…
Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $50K From SSA Using Late Grandmother's Pen Name: DA Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $50K From SSA Using Late Grandmother's Pen Name: DA
Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $50K From SSA Using Late Grandmother's Pen Name: DA A woman from Long Island used her dead grandmother’s pen name to collect Social Security benefits for years, authorities claimed. Freeport resident Alexandria Sobrane, age 46, was arraigned on Tuesday, March 18 for her alleged Social Security fraud, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. According to the DA’s Office, Sobrane’s grandmother, Hannah Sobrane, was born in 1920 and wrote children’s books under the pen name Babe Power. Starting in 1985, she retired and began receiving her Social Security benefits under the nom de plume she used for writing. However, in 2008, when the …
PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security
PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security A Monroe County man was sentenced to five years in federal prison this week for covering up his father's death and continuing to cash his checks, according to the US Attorney's Office.  Timothy Gritman, 56, of Brodheadsville, pleaded guilty to Social Security and wire fraud in a federal court exactly one year ago, Feb. 14, 2023, Daily Voice reported. This year on Valentine's Day, Gritman was sentenced to five years plus three more of supervised release, prosecutors said in a release.  Authorities have said Gritman's father Ralph was 79 and "in poor health" when he was l…
Essex County Town's Crossing Guard Fights To Save Her Home Essex County Town's Crossing Guard Fights To Save Her Home
Essex County Town's Crossing Guard Fights To Save Her Home Stacy Sedita is fighting to save her home, and the community is lending a helping hand. Sedita's family has lived in the house, located in the Gregory neighborhood of West Orange, since they built it in the 1950s. The home has been housed four generations of her family.  The family was hit hard by COVID, with Sedita losing her jobs as a crossing guard and staffer at a country club and discovering the utility bill and tax bill had not been paid as her grandmother's identity had been stolen, with someone else taking her Social Security checks.  Overall, Sedita owes $52,000 in back taxes, pay…
PA Man Disguised Himself As Late Dad To Get Social Security, Pension: Feds PA Man Disguised Himself As Late Dad To Get Social Security, Pension: Feds
PA Man Disguised Himself As Late Dad To Get Social Security, Pension: Feds A Pennsylvania man has admitted to fraudulently collecting his late father's retirement checks, and even disguising himself as an older man to sell the lie, federal authorities say. Timothy Gritman, a 55-year-old resident of Brodheadsville in Monroe County, pleaded guilty to Social Security and wire fraud in a federal court on Tuesday, Feb. 14, said US Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero in a statement.  According to prosecutors, Gritman's father Ralph was 79 and "in poor health" when he was last seen alive by other family members in 2016. The next summer, authorities say Gritman moved with …
Admitted Springfield Phone Scammer Must Repay $1.5M He Helped Steal: Feds Admitted Springfield Phone Scammer Must Repay $1.5M He Helped Steal: Feds
Admitted Springfield Phone Scammer Must Repay $1.5M He Helped Steal: Feds A Springfield man who pleaded guilty to his role in a phone scam operation that bilked more than $1.5 million from victims will spend two years in prison and repay what he stole, federal authorities said.  Utkarsh Thakur, 29, admitted to one count of money laundering in April, and a judge sentenced him this week, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Investigators said Thakur was a member of a group of scammers who would cold-call victims and claim to be law enforcement or people of authority and threaten them with arrest or loss of public assistance if they didn't pay up.…
Trumbull Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams Trumbull Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams
Trumbull Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams Police are warning the public about a new increase in scams that are "difficult to investigate." The scams, which take place all over the country, have also been reported region. "Even though the police may be made aware of these types of cases, they can be difficult to investigate because many times the suspects are in another country or quickly leave the scene where very little suspect information is available," the Trumbull Police Department in Fairfield County, Connecticut, said. Here's a list of the types of scams: The caller claimed to be a family member that has an illness or was …
Here's How Much Cuomo Will Be Collecting In Pension Payments Each Month Here's How Much Cuomo Will Be Collecting In Pension Payments Each Month
Here's How Much Cuomo Will Be Collecting In Pension Payments Each Month Andrew Cuomo is no longer sitting inside the Governor’s Mansion in Albany, but he is still collecting a hefty paycheck from New York State. The embattled former governor, who resigned over the summer following an investigation into nearly a dozen of complaints of sexual harassment, received his first pension check last month to the tune of $4,219.11, according to the New York State comptroller’s office. His first payment was sent in October 2021, officials said. Cuomo's annual benefits add up to $50,629.32, which he will get the amount for the rest of his life, plus future cost of living …
Western Mass Woman Sentenced For Stealing $260K-Plus In Government Benefits Western Mass Woman Sentenced For Stealing $260K-Plus In Government Benefits
Western Mass Woman Sentenced For Stealing $260K-Plus In Government Benefits A Hampden County woman was sentenced in federal court for stealing more than $260,000 in government benefits. Debbie Moore, age 57, of Springfield, was sentenced on Tuesday, July 27, to five years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced. The first six months of Moore's sentence are set to be served under house arrest. Moore pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money in September of 2020. The Attorney's Office said from November of 2003 through February of 2018, $261,933 in Social Security Retirement benefits intended for M…
Police: Thief From Elizabeth, 20, Steals Wayne Senior's Social Security Benefits Police: Thief From Elizabeth, 20, Steals Wayne Senior's Social Security Benefits
Police: Thief From Elizabeth, 20, Steals Wayne Senior's Social Security Benefits An Elizabeth man used more than $1,000 of an elderly Wayne resident’s money after stealing his Social Security benefits card, authorities charged. Anthony Belizaca, 20, was arrested after township detectives traced the thefts back to a business where he used to work, Detective Capt. Daniel Daly said. Belizaca drained what was left on the card – which is for obtaining and spending Social Security Benefits – to buy electronics and food, Daly said. Police charged him with credit card theft, theft by deception and wrongful impersonation, the captain said. Belizaca surrendered at headquarters …
COVID-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status COVID-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status
Covid-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status Some Americans are still waiting on the third round of COVID-19 stimulus checks as the federal government continues sending out millions of payments to those waiting. Two rounds of the latest batch of COVID-19 have already been distributed to eligible taxpayers who provided direct deposit information on their 2019 or 2020 returns, providing some relief to Americans struggling during the pandemic. According to the IRS, it has already distributed approximately 127 million payments for a total of $325 billion under President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. For the third stimulus payment, 30…
COVID-19: Here's How To Track Status Of Stimulus Check COVID-19: Here's How To Track Status Of Stimulus Check
Covid-19: Here's How To Track Status Of Stimulus Check Impatient Americans waiting on their third COVID-19 stimulus check now have a tool as the IRS reopened its “Get My Payment” tool. Using the online aid, taxpayers can keep track of their $1,400 payment that started hitting some Americans’ bank account as recently as this weekend. “Get My Payment” is updated daily, typically overnight, and is a means to avoid having Americans flooding the IRS phone lines asking where their stimulus check is. Officials noted that those working the phones do not have any information that isn’t listed on the IRS website. To check the status, one simply has to g…
Trump Built a National Debt So Big - Before COVID-19 - It’ll Weigh Down The Economy For Years Trump Built a National Debt So Big - Before COVID-19 - It’ll Weigh Down The Economy For Years
Trump Built a National Debt So Big - Before Covid-19 - It’ll Weigh Down The Economy For Years The “King of Debt” promised to reduce the national debt — then his tax cuts made it surge. Add in the pandemic, and he oversaw the third-biggest deficit increase of any president. One of President Donald Trump’s lesser-known but profoundly damaging legacies will be the explosive rise in the national debt that occurred on his watch. The financial burden that he’s inflicted on our government will wreak havoc for decades, saddling our kids and grandkids with debt, Propublica reported. The national debt has risen by almost $7.8 trillion during Trump’s time in office. That’s nearly twice as much …
Hunterdon Prosecutor Issues Warning After Woman Loses $1,500 To Sheriff’s Office Phone Scam Hunterdon Prosecutor Issues Warning After Woman Loses $1,500 To Sheriff’s Office Phone Scam
Hunterdon Prosecutor Issues Warning After Woman Loses $1,500 To Sheriff’s Office Phone Scam Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Michael J. Williams has issued a warning after a woman lost $1,500 in a phone scam that targeted numerous residents throughout the county in just one day. “Numerous” scam calls were received from county residents throughout the day on Thursday, Feb. 25, Williams said. The scammers claimed to be from the county sheriff’s office and demanded payment to avoid having an arrest warrant issued for the victim’s failure to report for jury duty, Williams said. “One woman paid $1,500.00 in green dot cards to avoid being arrested,” Williams said. County officials u…
COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn
Covid-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn Scammers are using the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States to trick people into paying for doses or early access that never comes, federal authorities are warning. As COVID-19 vaccines become more available, there has been a spike in scams seeking to exploit people’s desire to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus, according to the U.S. Department of Justice as well as local police departments and other law enforcement agencies. “Members of the public should be suspicious of unexpected or unsolicited contact from anyone unknown to them claiming to have inform…
Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card
Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card If a plain white envelope from Omaha, Nebraska arrives in the mail, don’t throw it away. It may be your federal stimulus payment. Last week, the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department began mailing Economic Impact Payments as prepaid debit cards. In addition to a P.O. Box in Omaha, the return address says the letter is from "Money Network Cardholder Services." Nearly 4 million Americans waiting for their slice of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act are expected to get their stimulus money in the form of an EIP Card, as opposed to a paper check signed by President Donald J. Trump. The trouble is, th…
COVID-19: Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments COVID-19: Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments
Covid-19: Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments Seniors and others who receive Social Security will automatically receive an economic impact payment associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS announced on Wednesday, April 1, that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive the benefit, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts. “Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return do not need to take any action, and will receive t…
Stimulus Checks: How Much You're Getting Stimulus Checks: How Much You're Getting
Stimulus Checks: How Much You're Getting Now that Congress has approved the $2.2 trillion stimulus package, you may be wondering what your cut will be. We’ve tried to simplify it for you. The IRS is doling out the dough to an estimated 125 million Americans. The money will come in the form of a check -- or direct deposit, if you’ve signed up for it with the IRS on your federal tax returns. Your income level will be determined based on either your 2019 tax returns, if you’ve filed, or your 2018 returns if you haven’t. Q: How much will you get? A: Here goes: If you earn no more than $75,000 a year in gross adjusted inc…
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Maloney: FY 2021 Budget A 'No Go' For Hudson Valley Workers, Families, Seniors Maloney: FY 2021 Budget A 'No Go' For Hudson Valley Workers, Families, Seniors
Maloney: FY 2021 Budget A 'No Go' For Hudson Valley Workers, Families, Seniors Cuts to students loan programs, wiping out the Students Loan Forgiveness Program and 8 percent less for the Department of Education has State Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney worried for "hard-working New York families." This week, the Democrat from Cold Spring detailed in a statement how President Trump's fiscal year 2021 budget proposal is a "no-go" for citizens of Hudson Valley. In it, Maloney addresses concerns over cuts to federal funding for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, among others. “The president’s budget shows his willingness to put his campaign promises before the needs …
22-Year-Old From Hudson Valley Running For State Senate 22-Year-Old From Hudson Valley Running For State Senate
22-Year-Old From Hudson Valley Running For State Senate An upstart 22-year-old from the area announced his intention to run for the New York State Senate. Rockland resident Matthew Weinberg, a Republican, is the latest candidacy to throw his hat into the ring for the New York State Senate District 38 seat that has been held by Democratic Sen. David Carlucci since 2010. Carlucci will be challenging for the retiring Nita Lowey’s seat in New York’s 17th congressional district.  In a statement, Weinberg, of Suffern, cited "disunity within his district, depressed property values due to some of the highest property and school taxes in the nation,…
Nita Lowey Says She Won't Seek Re-Election After 31 Years In Congress Nita Lowey Says She Won't Seek Re-Election After 31 Years In Congress
Nita Lowey Says She Won't Seek Re-Election After 31 Years In Congress Click here for a related story: Who's Up Next? Speculation Swirls About Possible Candidates For Nita Lowey's Congressional Seat Longtime Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who represented most of Westchester and all of Rockland,  will not seek re-election in 2020. Lowey, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, made the announcement on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 10 that she will not seek a 17th term in office. She retires after more than three decades in Congress. “It is my deep honor and privilege to serve my community and my country, and I will always be grateful to the pe…
Cranford Woman, 106, Faced Loss Of Her Home For Unpaid Taxes Cranford Woman, 106, Faced Loss Of Her Home For Unpaid Taxes
Cranford Woman, 106, Faced Loss Of Her Home For Unpaid Taxes A woman was facing the prospect of losing the house in Cranford she's lived in since the 1940s because of delinquent property taxes.  A GoFundMe campaign launched by her daughter and caregiver, however, has staved off disaster -- for now.  "Having checked with our municipal tax office, we cannot defer property taxes. The State of New Jersey has no hardship exemptions for centenarian homeowners on social security income. We have one option available to avoid the Cranford Township Tax Sale scheduled for September 18, 2019: Make a minimum PAYMENT OF $8,367.18," Roseanne Estwanick wro…
No Jail For Jersey City Woman Who Got $109K From Dead Dad's Social Security No Jail For Jersey City Woman Who Got $109K From Dead Dad's Social Security
No Jail For Jersey City Woman Who Got $109K From Dead Dad's Social Security A Jersey City woman was sentenced to probation for fraudulently collecting her father's Social Security and other benefits for years after he died, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Tuesday.  In addition to five years' probation, Sylvia Wilkerson, 68, must also make full restitution and has to perform 50 hours of community service. The state had asked that Wilkerson serve six months in jail, but Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mirtha Ospina instead imposed a sentence of noncustodial probation, Grewal said.  Wilkerson collected $272,000 over the course of 12 years after the…
Alleged Child Kidnapper Who Used Fake Name To Live In Area, Receiving Federal Benefits Indicted Alleged Child Kidnapper Who Used Fake Name To Live In Area, Receiving Federal Benefits Indicted
Alleged Child Kidnapper Who Used Fake Name To Live In Area, Receiving Federal Benefits Indicted The man who allegedly kidnapped his toddler in Canada, changed his name and came to America to hide in Connecticut is facing a host of charges. Allan Mann, Jr., who has dual Canadian and Ghanaian citizenship, allegedly abducted his 21-month-old, Jermaine Allan Mann, in Canada in 1987 during a court-ordered visit in Toronto. He then allegedly came to America, and acquired counterfeit birth certificates for the two of them. He also changed his name to Hailee Randolph DeSouza. On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced that Mann has been charged on a seven-count indictment for making fa…
Delgado Leads Faso In Congressional Race, New Poll Shows Delgado Leads Faso In Congressional Race, New Poll Shows
Delgado Leads Faso In Congressional Race, New Poll Shows Democratic challenger Antonio Delgado is leading the 19th Congressional District race among older voters over incumbent U.S. Rep. John Faso, according to a new poll commissioned by AARP.The poll released by the American Association of Retired Persons found Delgado of Rhinebeck has a lead of 43 percent to 36 percent over Faso, a Republican from Kinderhook. The poll surveyed registered voters who are 50 or older and residing in the 19th Congressional District, which includes Dutchess County. The margin of error is four percentage points, meaning the race also can be considered a tossup. Faso …