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Southern District of New York

FBI Thwarts Iran-Linked Plan To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says FBI Thwarts Iran-Linked Plan To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says
FBI Thwarts Iran-Linked Plan To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says An Iranian operative and two associates living in America have been charged in a murder-for-hire plot targeting United States citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump. Federal authorities have charged Farhad Shakeri, an alleged operative of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with two New York City associates in a plot to assassinate a US citizen critical of the Iranian government.  The case highlights the continued threat posed by Iran’s attempts to silence dissidents and even target top US. officials. According to the Department of Justice criminal complai…
$3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned Business In Region $3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned Business In Region
$3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned Business In Region A senior member of a family-owned company has admitted to embezzling more than $3.4 million from the business over five years. According to court filings released on Thursday, Oct. 10, John Hickey, age 34, created false invoices that appeared to be from entities with which the Northern Westchester-based corporations did business from February 2018 to November 2023. The company, located in Armonk, manufactured flame retardant fabrics. Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Hickey then forged signatures that supposedly approved payment of those invo…
Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams Federal authorities released the indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday, Sept. 26, laying out their case for corruption, bribery, and misuse of public funds, reports said.  Federal investigators have charged the 64-year-old Democrat with five counts, including conspiracy to receive illegal foreign campaign contributions, wire fraud, and bribery, said Damian Williams, the US. attorney for the Southern District of New York in a news conference.  Click here to read the complete indictment from the SDNY. Here is what those allegations are as summari…
Alleged $1.3M Scheme: Kubient CEO Accused Of Accounting Fraud, Misleading Investors Alleged $1.3M Scheme: Kubient CEO Accused Of Accounting Fraud, Misleading Investors
Alleged $1.3M Scheme: Kubient CEO Accused Of Accounting Fraud, Misleading Investors A New York resident who was the chief executive officer of digital advertising technology company Kubient fabricated documented and misled investors and auditors, according to federal authorities. The scheme by Long Island resident Paul Roberts, age 48, of Melville caused Kubient to improperly recognize more than $1.3 million in fraudulent revenue in Kubient’s financial statements at the time of the company's initial public offering, according the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams. Roberts was charged this with one count of securities fra…
Powerful Attorney With CT Roots, Wife Missing After Luxury Yacht Capsizes In Italy: Reports Powerful Attorney With CT Roots, Wife Missing After Luxury Yacht Capsizes In Italy: Reports
Powerful Attorney With CT Roots, Wife Missing After Luxury Yacht Capsizes In Italy: Reports A New York attorney with Connecticut roots and his wife are among seven people missing after the yacht they were on capsized early this week in Italy, according to multiple reports. Christopher Morvillo, age 59, who attended the Canterbury School in Litchfield County, Connecticut, and later Fordham University, along with his wife, Neda Morvillo, age 57, are among six people who are unaccounted after the 184-foot luxury yacht overturned off the coast of Sicily on Monday morning, Aug. 19, according to ABC 7. Twenty-two people were on board the ship at the time of the incident near Palermo, ac…
Adult Film Actor From NY Accused Of Distributing Child Pornography Adult Film Actor From NY Accused Of Distributing Child Pornography
Adult Film Actor From NY Accused Of Distributing Child Pornography An adult film actor who resides in New York has been accused of sending and receiving hundreds of videos of child pornography, federal authorities announced. Justin Heath Smith, who uses the stage name “Austin Wolf.” sent images depicting children as young as infants, "including a ghastly video showing a young child bound, beaten, and raped," said Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In addition to sharing child pornography via the Telegram app, the 43-year-old Smith was also charged with possessing hundreds of additional videos conta…
$185M Scheme: NY Trio Nabbed For Defrauding 1,400 Investors, Feds Say $185M Scheme: NY Trio Nabbed For Defrauding 1,400 Investors, Feds Say
$185M Scheme: NY Trio Nabbed For Defrauding 1,400 Investors, Feds Say Three New York men have been charged in connection with a $185 million fraud scheme involving over a thousand investors, federal authorities announced. The three are Long Island resident Mario Gogliormella, age 47, of Manhasset; and New York City residents Steven Lacaj, age 27, of Manhattan, and Karim Ibrahim, age 34, of Queens, also known as “Chris Hayes." “By allegedly raising approximately $185 million from over 1,400 investors, Mario Gogliormella, Steven Lacaj, and Karim Ibrahim left a trail of shattered trust and financial ruin," US Attorney for the Southern Distric…
Not Laughing: George Santos Sues Jimmy Kimmel For 'Deceiving' Him Into Making Cameo Videos Not Laughing: George Santos Sues Jimmy Kimmel For 'Deceiving' Him Into Making Cameo Videos
Not Laughing: George Santos Sues Jimmy Kimmel For 'Deceiving' Him Into Making Cameo Videos Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos is taking his beef with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to federal court. In a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York on Friday, Feb. 16, the ex-Republican lawmaker accused Kimmel of copyright infringement and fraud for a series of personalized videos the talk show host commissioned from him on the website Cameo. The 35-year-old Santos began selling video shout outs on the site following his historic ouster from Congress amid federal criminal charges. Earlier Report: US House Expels Nassau Rep. George Santos In Historic Vote K…
Fairfield County Man Among 6 Genovese Crime Family Suspects Sentenced For Racketeering Fairfield County Man Among 6 Genovese Crime Family Suspects Sentenced For Racketeering
Fairfield County Man Among 6 Genovese Crime Family Suspects Sentenced For Racketeering Six members and associates of the Genovese organized crime family, including a Westchester man and a Fairfield County resident, have been sentenced on racketeering charges, federal officials said.  The sentencings were announced on Friday, Aug. 4 by US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams.  According to Williams, the six men were associated with the Genovese Organized Crime Family, part of a nationwide criminal organization known by various names such as "La Cosa Nostra" and the “Mafia."  Those sentenced included two "captains," who were r…
$30M Insider Trading Case: New England Police Chief Profited From Merger Info, Feds Say $30M Insider Trading Case: New England Police Chief Profited From Merger Info, Feds Say
$30M Insider Trading Case: New England Police Chief Profited From Merger Info, Feds Say Four men from New York and Massachusetts, including a police chief, are accused of making millions of dollars through an insider trading scheme involving one pharmaceutical company’s acquisition of another. The case, announced by the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York on Thursday, June 29, is one of four separate insider trading cases that reportedly generated a combined $30 million for those involved. Named in the case are: Shawn Cronin, age 43, of Dighton in Bristol County, Massachusetts and chief of the Dighton Police Department Joseph Dupont, age 44, of Rehoboth…
$52M Scheme: Fairfield County Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds $52M Scheme: Fairfield County Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds
$52M Scheme: Fairfield County Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds Ten people have been charged in connection with a massive scheme to defraud a leading cargo airline based in New York of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the services of its employees, federal authorities announced. The 10 charged are: Connecticut resident Abilash Kurien, age 45, of Wilton in Fairfield County; Hudson Valley resident Carlton Llewellyn, age 55, of Highland Mills in Orange County; Long Island resident Robert Schirmer, age 58, of Port Jefferson Station; Queens resident Patrick Lau, 43, of Flushing; Lars Winkelbauer, age 47, of Bangkok, Thailand; Skye …
$65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud $65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud
$65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud A former bond trader and hedge fund manager in New York could spend decades in federal prison for defrauding his friends and lending institutions out of over $65 million. Nassau County resident Jeffrey Parket, age 59, of Great Neck, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bank fraud in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday, Feb. 15. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District, Parket swindled his victims out of millions of dollars between 2016 and December 2021 by lying about his financial condition and pledging fake collateral in order to obtain short-term loans. He claime…
Accused NY Fraudster Agrees To Forfeit $248M He Allegedly Racked Up From Thousands Of Investors Accused NY Fraudster Agrees To Forfeit $248M He Allegedly Racked Up From Thousands Of Investors
Accused NY Fraudster Agrees To Forfeit $248M He Allegedly Racked Up From Thousands Of Investors A New York man admitted to committing fraud and has agreed to forfeit to the US government hundreds of millions of dollars he's accused of racking up from tens of thousands of investors until his arrest less than a year ago. Long Island resident Eddy Alexandre, age 50, of Valley Stream, the leader of a purported cryptocurrency and foreign exchange trading platform called EminiFX, solicited more than $248 million after making false representations in connection with the EminiFX trading platform, the Southern District of New York, announced on Friday, Feb. 10. According to the allegations in …
NY Man Plotted To Assassinate Journalist For Criticizing Iranian Government, Feds Say NY Man Plotted To Assassinate Journalist For Criticizing Iranian Government, Feds Say
NY Man Plotted To Assassinate Journalist For Criticizing Iranian Government, Feds Say A New York man is among three people implicated in an alleged plot to assassinate an Iranian-American journalist on US soil over her criticism of the Iranian government, authorities said. Westchester County resident Khalid Mehdiyev, age 24, of Yonkers, is named in a superseding indictment that was unsealed in the Southern District of New York on Friday, Jan. 27, against three people for murder-for-hire and money-laundering charges. Federal prosecutors allege that Mehdiyev is a member of a violent Eastern European criminal organization that has ties to Iran and has engaged in murders, kidna…
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme Results In Convictions For NY Attorney, Doctor $31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme Results In Convictions For NY Attorney, Doctor
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme Results In Convictions For NY Attorney, Doctor An attorney and doctor have been convicted of defrauding New York businesses and their insurance companies of more than $31 million through a massive trip-and-fall fraud scheme. Following a three-week trial, a jury in Manhattan just convicted George Constantine, a lawyer, and Andrew Dowd, an orthopedic surgeon, for their participation in the scheme from 2013 and 2018.  Both men live on Long Island -- the 60-year-old Constantine in Plainview, and the 67-year-old Dowd in Miller Place. The two were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and w…
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…
Fairfield County Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar Scheme Fairfield County Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar Scheme
Fairfield County Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar 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…
NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations
NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations New York State's No. 2 political official has been arrested in connection with a campaign-funding scheme during a previous campaign to run for New York City comptroller, federal officials announced. New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, who has been in the role for less than a year, is facing charges that include bribery, honest services wire fraud, and falsification of records following an investigation into probes from his former campaign. Benjamin - a former state senator from Harlem - joined New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration in September following her ascension into the role follo…
FBI Searches NY Home In Ashley Biden Diary Theft Inquiry FBI Searches NY Home In Ashley Biden Diary Theft Inquiry
FBI Searches NY Home In Ashley Biden Diary Theft Inquiry The FBI carried out a court-ordered search at the suburban New York home of the founder of a conservative group in connection to an investigation involving the possible theft of a diary belonging to Ashley Biden, President Joe Biden’s 40-year-old daughter, according to a brand-new report by The New York Times. The search happened on Saturday, Oct. 30 at a Westchester County apartment associated with James O'Keefe of Project Veritas in Mamaroneck, the report said. An investigation into the matter was launched in October 2020, shortly before the Nov. 3 presidential election after a Biden…
Trump Organization Faces New Criminal Inquiry By Westchester District Attorney's Office Trump Organization Faces New Criminal Inquiry By Westchester District Attorney's Office
Trump Organization Faces New Criminal Inquiry By Westchester District Attorney's Office Former President Donald Trump’s family business is facing potential new legal woes in Westchester after the District Attorney’s Office subpoenaed records from his golf club. First reported by the New York Times, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah’s office has started examining the financial dealings at the Briarcliff Manor golf club, subpoenaing records from the course, Trump National Golf Club Westchester, and the town of Ossining, which sets property taxes on the course. The full scope of the investigation has not been released, though the report states that the Trump Organi…
Cuomo Capable Of 'Mischief' During Two-Week Notice Period, Ex-SDNY Attorney Bharara Warns Cuomo Capable Of 'Mischief' During Two-Week Notice Period, Ex-SDNY Attorney Bharara Warns
Cuomo Capable Of 'Mischief' During Two-Week Notice Period, Ex-sdny Attorney Bharara Warns A former top federal prosecutor in New York found it curious that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation was scheduled to take effect in two weeks, warning of potential “mischief” before Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul officially takes over. Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017, expressed surprise regarding Cuomo’s intention to wait two weeks to resign, stating that he hopes “nothing nefarious” is in the works. Bharara said that there is no reason that Hochul couldn’t immediately take over following the New York Attorney General’s report that found Cuomo all…
Legal Expert Says Indictment Would Be 'Devastating' For Trump Organization Legal Expert Says Indictment Would Be 'Devastating' For Trump Organization
Legal Expert Says Indictment Would Be 'Devastating' For Trump Organization With the Trump Organization expected to face a criminal indictment this week, one of the nation’s top legal experts said that it could be "devastating" for the former president, and could potentially lead to bankruptcy for the company. Attorneys for the Trump Organization were advised that criminal charges will be filed in Manhattan as soon as Thursday, July 1, including top target, Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg, and other lead members of the organization. The former president himself is not expected to be charged with anything criminal. Related story - Trump Foundation Will C…
FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims In Child Porn FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims In Child Porn
FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims In Child Porn Authorities are asking for help in identifying possible victims from throughout the country in a sextortion investigation involving a New York man from Westchester County.  The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and Port Chester Police Department issued the joint advisory on Friday, Feb. 5. Investigators arrested Jose Zafra on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, and charged him with the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), or what is commonly known as child pornography. Based on the criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, investigators allege Zafra …
Fairfield County Man Indicted For Mob Assault On Capitol Police Officer Fairfield County Man Indicted For Mob Assault On Capitol Police Officer
Fairfield County Man Indicted For Mob Assault On Capitol Police Officer A Fairfield County man who was charged for allegedly being part of the pro-Trump mob that violently stormed the United States Capitol has been indicted by a grand jury with a second assault charged during the incident. Patrick Edward McCaughey III, age 23, of Ridgefield, has been charged with: Two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon Two counts of civil disorder Obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, with a deadly or dangerous weapon Engaging in p…
Former CEO From Fairfield County Charged With Securities Fraud Former CEO From Fairfield County Charged With Securities Fraud
Former CEO From Fairfield County Charged With Securities Fraud A Fairfield County man has been arrested for alleged securities fraud in which he stole more than $50 million from hundreds of individuals. Eric Malley, age 50, of New Canaan, was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 12, on charges of securities fraud and wire fraud for his role in a scheme to fraudulently induce hundreds of people to invest a total of more than $50 million in two real estate investment funds, said Audrey Strauss, acting US Attorney of the Southern District of New York. As alleged in the complaint unsealed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, Malley founded MG Capital Management in Jan…
Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get Nearly $500M More In Distributions Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get Nearly $500M More In Distributions
Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get Nearly $500M More In Distributions Thousands of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme victims will be receiving their portions of the latest distribution of nearly $500 million. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss announced that the Madoff Victim Fund will be distributing approximately $488 million to more than 37,000 of his victims involved in the fraud scheme. To date, approximately $2.7 billion has been distributed to Madoff’s victims. Strauss said that this sixth payment will bring the victims’ total recovery to 80.05 percent of their losses. Ultimately, more than $4 billion will be returne…
Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Running $5M Ponzi Scheme Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Running $5M Ponzi Scheme
Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Running $5M Ponzi Scheme A Fairfield County man has been sentenced to 42 months in prison in connection with his years-long Ponzi scheme to defraud customers of nearly $5 million. James T. Booth, 75, of Norwalk, was sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday, Nov. 17, Audrey Strauss, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said. Booth, who ran Booth Financial Associates, pleaded guilty in October 2019 to the crimes. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Booth ripped off clients of nearly $5 million through a variety of lies and misrepresentations.  “Today, James T. Booth was se…
Ex-Trump Strategist Steve Bannon Was On Yacht Off CT Coast When Arrested For Defrauding Donors Ex-Trump Strategist Steve Bannon Was On Yacht Off CT Coast When Arrested For Defrauding Donors
Ex-Trump Strategist Steve Bannon Was On Yacht Off CT Coast When Arrested For Defrauding Donors Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist for President Donald Trump, was aboard a yacht off the Connecticut coast when he was arrested and taken into custody for allegedly defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors. Bannon was on the yacht named "Lady May" off Westbrook, in Middlesex County, Connecticut on Thursday morning, Aug. 20 when six federal agents representing the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and a member of the United States Coast Guard who were aboard a Coast Guard marine unit arrived to serve Bannon his s…
Ex-Restaurant Owner From Fairfield County Admits To Fraud Charge Ex-Restaurant Owner From Fairfield County Admits To Fraud Charge
Ex-Restaurant Owner From Fairfield County Admits To Fraud Charge The former owner and operator of an upscale Northern Westchester restaurant admitted to wire fraud in connection with her multi-year scheme to defraud the restaurant’s lenders, mortgagee, bankruptcy creditors, and customers, authorities announced. Fairfield County resident Barbara Meyzen, also known as “Bobbie," 57, of Redding,  owned and operated the La Crémaillère Restaurant in the North Castle hamlet of Banksville starting in 1993.  She pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on Thursday, March 5  in White Plains federal court. La Crémaillère Restaurant inform…
Ex-Union Head From Wilton Sentenced For Demanding, Accepting Bribes Ex-Union Head From Wilton Sentenced For Demanding, Accepting Bribes
Ex-Union Head From Wilton Sentenced For Demanding, Accepting Bribes A man who was the former president of the local International Longshoremen’s Association will spend time in prison after he admitted to accepting $150,000 in bribes in exchange for not representing union members’ interests in New York. Fairfield County resident Glenn Blicht, 57, of Wilton, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to violating the Taft-Hartley Act by demanding and accepting bribes from an employer.  From 2009 through last year, Blicht served as an officer of the union, including as its president for many years.  In that role, he had a duty t…
Norwalk Financial Advisor Admits To Multimillion-Dollar Ponzi Scheme Norwalk Financial Advisor Admits To Multimillion-Dollar Ponzi Scheme
Norwalk Financial Advisor Admits To Multimillion-Dollar Ponzi Scheme A financial adviser from Fairfield County admitted to running a yearlong multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. Norwalk resident James Booth, 74, who operated Booth Financial Associates, pleaded guilty solicited money from clients, falsely promising to invest the money in opportunities offered outside of their ordinary advisory and brokerage accounts. Booth pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud. When he is sentenced on Feb. 21 next year, he will face up to 20 years in prison. In total, Booth fraudulently obtained nearly $5 million from his customers. Instead of investing their money,…