Tag:

Wire Fraud

George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races' George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races'
George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races' Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos is mounting a comeback campaign. The Republican ex-lawmaker from Long Island – who was ousted from his 3rd District seat representing parts of Nassau County and Queens – announced a primary challenge against Rep. Nick LaLota for his 1st District seat. In a statement on X shared during President Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday night, March 7, Santos said New York hasn’t had “a real conservative represent them” since he left office “thanks to RINO, empty suits like Nick LaLota.” Earlier Report: Exiled Congressman Turned Reality …
Over $800K Scheme: CT Man Gets Prison Time For Stealing From Family Trust Over $800K Scheme: CT Man Gets Prison Time For Stealing From Family Trust
Over $800K Scheme: CT Man Gets Prison Time For Stealing From Family Trust A 69-year-old Connecticut man will spend time in prison for stealing over $800,000 from his relatives' family trust that he administered, officials announced.  Fairfield County resident Curtis Solsvig of Stamford was sentenced on Tuesday, March 5 to 18 months in prison for his wire fraud scheme, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced. According to federal officials, in 1996, Solsvig began serving as a trustee of a married couple's trust intended to benefit their two children. Beginning in 2011, Solsvig, a relative of the victims, began stealing around $…
Over $955K Scheme: Former Office Manager From Cheshire Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement Over $955K Scheme: Former Office Manager From Cheshire Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement
Over $955K Scheme: Former Office Manager From Cheshire Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement A 53-year-old former office manager from Connecticut will spend years in prison for embezzling nearly $956,000 from the family-owned construction business she worked for, officials announced. New Haven County resident Erin Sullivan of Cheshire, age 53, was sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 21 to 24 months in prison for her embezzlement scheme and tax fraud, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced. According to federal officials, Sullivan was employed as the office manager for the Orange-based construction business she worked for. Beginning at least as early as 2016, Su…
George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows
George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos may avoid leaving his fate up to a trial in his federal fraud case. The Republican ex-congressman is currently in talks with federal prosecutors for a possible plea deal in his 23-count criminal case, according to a filing in Central Islip federal court on Monday, Dec. 11. In the joint filing, US Attorney Breon Peace and Santos asked the court to schedule the next status conference in approximately 30 days, saying “the parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial.” Earli…
$720K Scheme: Former CT Attorney Defrauds Clients, Gets Jail Time $720K Scheme: Former CT Attorney Defrauds Clients, Gets Jail Time
$720K Scheme: Former CT Attorney Defrauds Clients, Gets Jail Time A former real estate attorney based in Fairfield County will spend time in prison after stealing more than $700,000 from his clients for both his own use and for paying debts owed to others.  Westerly Rhode Island resident William McCullough, age 63, was sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 15 to 12 months and one day in prison for stealing more than $700,000 from clients of his Stamford-based law practice, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  Earlier Report - Former Stamford Attorney Admits Defrauding Clients Of More Than $700K According to fede…
New Haven County Congressman Votes Against Expelling Rep. George Santos: 'I'm Not F'ing Around' New Haven County Congressman Votes Against Expelling Rep. George Santos: 'I'm Not F'ing Around'
New Haven County Congressman Votes Against Expelling Rep. George Santos: 'I'm Not F'ing Around' A Connecticut congressman is defending his decision to vote against expelling New York Rep. George Santos from Congress despite the fact that he is facing almost two dozen federal criminal charges.  Rep. Jim Himes, who represents Connecticut's 4th congressional district, voted against expelling Santos during a resolution to oust him brought by his fellow New York Republicans on Wednesday night, Nov. 1.  Earlier Report - NY Rep. George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' The 4th District includes parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties, including the cities of B…
George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process'
George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' New York Rep. George Santos, who admitted to lying about his background and is facing nearly two dozen federal criminal charges, is claiming victory after an effort to expel him from Congress failed. The freshman Republican lawmaker from Long Island, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, easily survived a resolution brought by his fellow New York Republicans to oust Santos from the House on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The resolution failed with 179 members voting in favor and 213 voting against. Nineteen members voted “present.” Earlier Report: George Santos Pleads Not…
CT Man Pleads Guilty Of Ripping Off Rapper 50 Cent Of $2 Million In Business Scheme CT Man Pleads Guilty Of Ripping Off Rapper 50 Cent Of $2 Million In Business Scheme
CT Man Pleads Guilty Of Ripping Off Rapper 50 Cent Of $2 Million In Business Scheme A Fairfield County man admitted orchestrating a $2.19 million scheme to defraud an alcohol company owned by rapper 50 Cent by causing them to overpay for champagne and cognac and collecting kickbacks. District of New Jersey US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Mitchell E. Green, age 44, of Westport, pleaded guilty Monday, Sept. 18  to one count of wire fraud. “Though he was supposed to negotiate the best deal possible for his employer, Green set up secret side deals to inflate what his employer paid so that he could reap millions of dollars in kickbacks," Sellingere said. A…
$750K Fraud Case: Shelton Man Sentenced $750K Fraud Case: Shelton Man Sentenced
$750K Fraud Case: Shelton Man Sentenced A Fairfield County man has been sentenced to prison for defrauding Amazon for almost $750,000. Oshane Steward, age 31, of Shelton, was sentenced on Tuesday, Sept. 5 to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, Stewart created multiple vendor accounts with Amazon allowing him to sell merchandise through the website on a third-party basis.  He often opened the accounts using false names, email addresses, and other identifying inform…
CT Man Returned $300K Of Items To Home Depots That He Never Paid For: Feds CT Man Returned $300K Of Items To Home Depots That He Never Paid For: Feds
CT Man Returned $300K Of Items To Home Depots That He Never Paid For: Feds A Connecticut man is accused of ripping off nearly $300,000 from more than two dozen Home Depot stores across eight states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, authorities said.  Henrique Costa-Mota, age 26, of West Hartford, is charged with conspiracy and wire fraud in the scheme that he allegedly ran from June 2021 until February 202, the US Attorney for Rhode Island said.  Costa-Mota is accused of going to Home Depot locations across the Northeast dressed as a contractor. He would walk in empty-handed, take several doors from the back of the store, and then "return" them t…
COVID-19: Businessman Admits Stealing $3.2M For Personal Use, Including Buying Nantucket Home COVID-19: Businessman Admits Stealing $3.2M For Personal Use, Including Buying Nantucket Home
Covid-19: Businessman Admits Stealing $3.2M For Personal Use, Including Buying Nantucket Home A man who owns a theme park and restaurant in New York has admitted to stealing over $3 million through federal COVID-19 aid with some of those funds used to buy a home on Nantucket. Long Island resident Donald Finley, age 61, of Roslyn, the owner of Jekyll & Hyde Restaurant in Manhattan and the Bayville Adventure Park in Nassau County, pleaded guilty to disaster relief fraud and wire fraud on Thursday, May 25. As stated in court filings by the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace: Between March 2020 and March 2021, amid the COVID pandemic, Finley fra…
$450K Scheme: CT Man Admits Helping Defraud Victims On Social Media $450K Scheme: CT Man Admits Helping Defraud Victims On Social Media
$450K Scheme: CT Man Admits Helping Defraud Victims On Social Media A Connecticut man faces more than 20 years in prison after admitting to taking part in a scheme to defraud numerous victims by befriending them on social media.  New London County resident Dexter Enwerem, age 36, of Norwich, pleaded guilty to taking part in a scheme to defraud women through social media on Tuesday, May 23, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.  According to federal officials, between September 2019 and March 2021, a co-conspirator of Enwerem would contact multiple victims, who were mostly women, through their Facebook and Inst…
NY Congressman George Santos Now In Custody, Facing 13 Federal Charges: Here's Rundown NY Congressman George Santos Now In Custody, Facing 13 Federal Charges: Here's Rundown
NY Congressman George Santos Now In Custody, Facing 13 Federal Charges: Here's Rundown Click here for a new, updated story: Trio Of Schemes That Led To Santos Arrest Detailed By Feds; Rep Not Resigning Over 'Witch Hunt' US Congressman George Santos was arrested early Wednesday, May 10 on a 13-count indictment. The arrest took place early Wednesday in Central Islip. According to the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York's Office, Santos, a 34-year-old right-wing Republican, was charged with: Seven counts of wire fraud,  Three counts of money laundering,  Theft of public funds,  Two counts of making false statements on federal disclosure forms.…
COVID-19 $500K Fraud Scheme: West Haven Man Who Conspired With State Rep Gets 8-Year Sentence COVID-19 $500K Fraud Scheme: West Haven Man Who Conspired With State Rep Gets 8-Year Sentence
Covid-19 $500K Fraud Scheme: West Haven Man Who Conspired With State Rep Gets 8-Year Sentence A 50-year-old Connecticut man convicted of using his businesses to swindle nearly $500,000 in COVID-19 relief fund cash with the help of a former state representative will spend the next eight years behind bars, authorities said.  New Haven County resident John Trasacco, of West Haven, was sentenced to 96 months in prison on Monday, April 3, after being convicted of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in December, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. The judge also ruled Trasacco must pay $143,994 in restitution. Trasacco was accused of working with Michael DiMass…
COVID-19: Wife Of Former CT Lawmaker Gets Prison Time For Stealing Relief Funds From West Haven COVID-19: Wife Of Former CT Lawmaker Gets Prison Time For Stealing Relief Funds From West Haven
Covid-19: Wife Of Former CT Lawmaker Gets Prison Time For Stealing Relief Funds From West Haven The wife of a former Connecticut state representative will spend time in prison for participating in a scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds from the city of West Haven.  West Haven resident Lauren DiMassa, age 38, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on Thursday, March 23 for her role in the scheme, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.  DiMassa is the wife of former state representative and West Haven city employee Michael DiMassa, who was authorized to approve the $1,150,257 in financial as…
CT Resident Tricked Into Sending $400K To Fake Account For Home CT Resident Tricked Into Sending $400K To Fake Account For Home
CT Resident Tricked Into Sending $400K To Fake Account For Home A Stamford resident who was tricked into wiring $426,000 to a fraudulent account was able to recover their money thanks to the FBI and local police. The incident began on Friday, March 10 when an investigator with the Stamford Police, who is also a member of the FBI's Cyber Task Force, received a phone call from a local realtor who reported they had fallen victim to wire fraud, said Capt. Tom Scanlon, of the Stamford Police. The local resident was attempting to purchase a home in Fairfield County but a suspect had somehow infiltrated their email conversations and tricked the resident into w…
Madison Man Used Investor Funds To Pay Taxes, Credit Card Expenses, Gets Prison Time Madison Man Used Investor Funds To Pay Taxes, Credit Card Expenses, Gets Prison Time
Madison Man Used Investor Funds To Pay Taxes, Credit Card Expenses, Gets Prison Time A current Fairfield County resident formerly from New Haven County will spend years in prison for tax evasion and defrauding investors by using their funds to pay his personal expenses. New Canaan resident Brian Hughes, age 58, formerly of Madison, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on Monday, March 6 for defrauding investors of two companies, and for tax evasion, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  The charges stem back to March of 2015 when Hughes founded Handcrafted Brands, LLC (HBC), in order to raise money to purchase the alcoholi…
$40M Fraud: CT Insurance Firm Owner Admits To Scam, Could Face Decades In Prison $40M Fraud: CT Insurance Firm Owner Admits To Scam, Could Face Decades In Prison
$40M Fraud: CT Insurance Firm Owner Admits To Scam, Could Face Decades In Prison A "brazen" insurance company owner from Fairfield County admitted to $40 million of insurance fraud that paid for expenses relating to boating, luxury cars, and golf, officials say.  In a New York federal court, Anthony Riccardi, of New Canaan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud on Tuesday, Feb. 21, according to the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  Riccardi, the 50-percent co-owner and executive vice president of Employee Benefit Solutions LLC, a Connecticut insurance firm, was …
$1.5M Embezzlement Case: Woman Who Served As CFO Sentenced For Stealing From Shelton Company $1.5M Embezzlement Case: Woman Who Served As CFO Sentenced For Stealing From Shelton Company
$1.5M Embezzlement Case: Woman Who Served As CFO Sentenced For Stealing From Shelton Company The former chief executive officer for a Fairfield County company will serve the next two years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling $1.5 million, federal authorities said. She used the money on vacations, luxury cars, jewelry, and a time-share condominium, the prosecutor said.  Carolina Guerreno, age 50, of the Town of Fairfield, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud last year and has agreed to reimburse her former company, the US Attorney General for Connecticut said. She has repaid $400,000 so far, officials said.  Guerreno worked at a financial services company in…
CT Woman, Accomplice Who Served As Legislator Convicted Of Defrauding Business Of $250K CT Woman, Accomplice Who Served As Legislator Convicted Of Defrauding Business Of $250K
CT Woman, Accomplice Who Served As Legislator Convicted Of Defrauding Business Of $250K A former county legislator in New York and an accomplice from Connecticut have been convicted by a jury of scamming a business out of more than a quarter of a million dollars. George Guldi, who served as a Long Island legislator representing the South Fork of Suffolk County, and Litchfield County resident Victoria Davidson, of Lakeville, Connecticut, defrauded Ditech Financial LLC, a mortgage lender, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced. “George Guldi, while in prison, concocted and conducted a scheme along with his co-consp…
Woman Who Was Chief Financial Employee In Windsor Gets Years In Prison For Stealing Over $700K Woman Who Was Chief Financial Employee In Windsor Gets Years In Prison For Stealing Over $700K
Woman Who Was Chief Financial Employee In Windsor Gets Years In Prison For Stealing Over $700K A woman from Hartford County faces years in prison for stealing more than $700,000 from both her former employer and third-party lenders over the span of nearly four years.  Windsor resident Margaret Boisture, age 51, was sentenced to 33 months in prison on Tuesday, Jan. 10 for fraud, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Connecticut District.  Boisture was once the chief financial employee of ZoneFlow Reactor Technologies, a company developing a new technology to make hydrogen production more efficient. In this role, Boisture defrauded Zoneflow, PayPal, and the third…
Former Yale Head Coach From Madison Sentenced In College Admissions Case Former Yale Head Coach From Madison Sentenced In College Admissions Case
Former Yale Head Coach From Madison Sentenced In College Admissions Case A former Yale University women's soccer coach was sentenced for accepting bribes to facilitate the admission of students to Yale as purported athletic recruits. New Haven County resident Rudolph "Rudy" Meredith, age 54, of Madison, was sentenced to five months in prison and one year of supervised release on Wednesday, Nov. 9, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. He was also ordered to pay a $19,000 fine and forfeiture of $557,774, the US Attorney's Office said. The US Attorney's Office said Meredith pleaded guilty to one co…
COVID-19: Former West Haven State Representative Admits Stealing $1.2M Relief Funds COVID-19: Former West Haven State Representative Admits Stealing $1.2M Relief Funds
Covid-19: Former West Haven State Representative Admits Stealing $1.2M Relief Funds A former Connecticut state representative has admitted to stealing more than $1.2 million in COVID relief funds. New Haven County resident Michael DiMassa, age 31, of West Haven, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 1 to charges stemming from his involvement in schemes that resulted in the theft of more than $1.2 million dollars in COVID relief funds and other funds from the City of West Haven, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, DiMassa was a Connecticut state representative who was also em…
Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who Lived In Naugatuck Stole $40 Million In Electronics Sentenced Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who Lived In Naugatuck Stole $40 Million In Electronics Sentenced
Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who Lived In Naugatuck Stole $40 Million In Electronics Sentenced A former Yale University School of Medicine employee who stole $40 million in computer and electronic hardware from the university has been sentenced. Jamie Petrone, age 43, a former resident of Naugatuck, was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 13, to nine years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for wire fraud and filing a false tax return, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. She pleaded guilty to the charges on March 28. Earlier report - Former Yale Med School Employee Admits Stealing, Selling $40 Million In Elec…
Hollywood Exec Who Was White House Staffer Sentenced For Defrauding NY Investment Fund Of $30M Hollywood Exec Who Was White House Staffer Sentenced For Defrauding NY Investment Fund Of $30M
Hollywood Exec Who Was White House Staffer Sentenced For Defrauding NY Investment Fund Of $30M He once oversaw the visits of foreign heads of state meeting with President Ronald Reagan, helped vet candidates for presidential appointments, and later helmed a major Hollywood film distribution company. Now, William Sadleir is heading to federal prison after admitting that he defrauded a New York investment fund out of millions, according to the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District. Sadleir, age 68, of Beverly Hills, California, was sentenced to six years behind bars Friday, Sept. 9, in a Manhattan federal courtroom. It followed his January 2022 guilty plea to two counts of w…
Woman Admits Embezzling $1.5 Million From Shelton Company Woman Admits Embezzling $1.5 Million From Shelton Company
Woman Admits Embezzling $1.5 Million From Shelton Company A Connection woman has admitted to embezzling approximately $1.5 million from her employer. Fairfield County resident Carolina Guerreno, age 49, of the town of Fairfield, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at federal court in Hartford to a fraud charge related to her embezzlement, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced. Guerreno served as the chief financial officer of a financial services company located in Shelton. According to court documents and statements made in court: As part of…
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry A woman has been accused of embezzling $4 million from her New York employer and its clients to pay for, among other things, her wedding, travel, and making payments to a cosmetic surgeon. Long Island resident Carmen Miranda, age 50, of Massapequa, was charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with her scheme to embezzle over $4 million from her employer and its clients in Manhattan. Miranda, who is also known as “Millie Miranda,” was an account manager at a small business management firm that primarily serviced clients in the entertainment indus…
CT Resident Admits To Defrauding Employer, Lender Of Over $700K CT Resident Admits To Defrauding Employer, Lender Of Over $700K
CT Resident Admits To Defrauding Employer, Lender Of Over $700K A 50-year-old Connecticut resident has admitted to defrauding her employer and the company's lender of more than $700,000. Margaret Boisture, of Windsor, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, July 19, to one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. The US Attorney's Office said Boisture worked as the chief financial employee of ZoneFlow Reactor Technologies, a pre-revenue company that works to develop technology that improves the efficiency of production of hydrogen. Avery reported that PayP…
CFO Of CT-Based Company Admits To Embezzling $433K CFO Of CT-Based Company Admits To Embezzling $433K
CFO Of Ct-based Company Admits To Embezzling $433K A former Chief Financial Officer in Connecticut admitted to embezzling nearly $500,000 from his company through a scheme to steal funds from his employer, federal authorities announced. Hartford County resident David McManus, age 56, of Granby, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to fraud and tax offenses stemming from his embezzlement of funds from his former company. US Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said that McManus was the CFO for a Hartford-based company for nearly 14 years.  Between 2012 and 2018, McManus admitted to embezzling approximately $433,584 from the company by…
Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company In Region Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company In Region
Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company In Region A man from the region will have to pay millions of dollars after admitting to defrauding a Massachusetts-based company. Brian Halpern, age 49, of the town of Florida in Berkshire County, was sentenced in federal court in Boston Wednesday, April 27, after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, the US Attorney’s Office said. Federal prosecutors said between 1998 and 2019, Halpern and others defrauded a uniform-supply business by creating a phony supply company that sent the uniform business more than $3 million in invoices for products that were never delivered or used. A judge…
CT Man Charged In Multi-Billion Dollar Market Manipulation Scheme CT Man Charged In Multi-Billion Dollar Market Manipulation Scheme
CT Man Charged In Multi-Billion Dollar Market Manipulation Scheme Federal officials announced that four have been arrested and charged for their alleged roles in the multi-billion dollar collapse of Archegos Capital Management. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said that the firm’s former CFO, Long Island resident Patrick Halligan, age 45, of Syosset, and New Jersey resident of Bill Hwang of Tenafly in Bergen County, have been arrested in connection to what Williams said was a racketeering scheme to manipulate the prices of publicly traded securities and to defraud global investment banks. Also charged, according to the De…