Tag:

Fraud

Manhattan's Top Federal Prosecutor To Resign Before Trump Presidency Manhattan's Top Federal Prosecutor To Resign Before Trump Presidency
Manhattan's Top Federal Prosecutor To Resign Before Trump Presidency US Attorney Damian Williams, who has overseen high-profile cases in the Southern District of New York, has announced his resignation, a move that comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and the expected nomination of his successor.  Williams’ resignation will take effect at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, according to a statement from his office on Monday, Nov. 25.  The resignation comes as President-elect Trump has announced plans to nominate Jay Clayton, a former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman under Trump’s first administration, to lead the of…
Norwalk Senior Citizen Scammed Out Of $10K; Police Warn Of More Fraud Attempts Norwalk Senior Citizen Scammed Out Of $10K; Police Warn Of More Fraud Attempts
Norwalk Senior Citizen Scammed Out Of $10K; Police Warn Of More Fraud Attempts Police are urging residents to remain cautious after a local senior was scammed out of more than $10,000 in a sophisticated fraud scheme.  The scammer posed as a Microsoft representative and convinced the victim to withdraw cash from their bank account and deliver it in a package to an individual who later came to their home. A similar incident occurred in Milford last week, according to police, suggesting this scheme is targeting residents in the area. Authorities are warning the public to stay alert to scams involving supposed computer or software issues, particularly those requesti…
Trump Taps Dr. Oz To Lead Medicare, Medicaid Services Trump Taps Dr. Oz To Lead Medicare, Medicaid Services
Trump Taps Dr. Oz To Lead Medicare, Medicaid Services President-elect Donald J. Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), citing the Pennsylvania-educated heart surgeon’s decades-long dedication to healthcare innovation and public advocacy. The announcement came Tuesday, Nov. 19, as Trump highlighted Oz’s qualifications and ties to the Keystone State. Dr. Oz earned both his medical degree and MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine and Wharton Business School, making him an Ivy League-trained physician and business leader. Trump lauded his achievements in a statement, ca…
Stamford Woman Swindled $300K From State Medicaid Over 2 Years: Police Stamford Woman Swindled $300K From State Medicaid Over 2 Years: Police
Stamford Woman Swindled $300K From State Medicaid Over 2 Years: Police A 59-year-old Connecticut woman faces decades in prison after state investigators claim she stole more than $300,000 from Medicaid by submitting false claims and changing patient's medical records.  Iselande Desyr, of Stamford in Fairfield County, is charged with one count each of health insurance fraud and larceny in the first degree by defrauding the public community, the state's Division of Criminal Justice said.  Desyr was the owner of Holistic Psychiatric Services, LLC, which claims to treat a variety of disorders in children and adults with holistic means on its website…
Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police
Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police A 63-year-old Connecticut woman told police for years she and another person were the target of an ongoing online harassment campaign that lasted years by an anonymous person who made their lives miserable. But she was sending the messages and threats, police in New Haven County said.  Deborah Ann Calloutas, age 63, of Wolcott, is facing several felonies linked to the alleged faked harassment that went on for years, Connecticut State Police said.  Calloutas first reached out to police in 2021 to say she and her unnamed friend were the targets of hackers who were doctoring their ph…
$400K Scheme: Woman Steals From CT Addiction Nonprofit, Spends Funds On Vacations $400K Scheme: Woman Steals From CT Addiction Nonprofit, Spends Funds On Vacations
$400K Scheme: Woman Steals From CT Addiction Nonprofit, Spends Funds On Vacations A 50-year-old woman has admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Connecticut nonprofit at which she served as executive director, federal officials said. New London County resident Michele Devine of Waterford, age 50, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with her alleged theft of almost $400,000 from a Norwich-based addiction and mental health nonprofit, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced on Monday, Oct. 21. According to federal officials, Devine served as the executive director of the Southeastern Regional Action Council on S…
$3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned Northern Westchester Business $3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned Northern Westchester Business
$3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned Northern Westchester Business 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…
Woman Who Stole $800K From Boys & Girls Club Of Greenwich Nabbed In Florida, Police Say Woman Who Stole $800K From Boys & Girls Club Of Greenwich Nabbed In Florida, Police Say
Woman Who Stole $800K From Boys & Girls Club Of Greenwich Nabbed In Florida, Police Say An out-of-state woman is behind bars for allegedly stealing $800,000 from a Fairfield County Boys & Girls Club through a wire transfer over the computer. Debora Marcoccio, age 68, of Florida, was extradited from the Lee County Jail in Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, by the Greenwich Police. According to Lt. Patrick Smyth of the Greenwich Police, the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich contacted the department in December of 2022 to report a fraud involving one of its financial accounts. Due to fraudulent email activity, one of the club's financial staff members sent a wire t…
Ousted Rep. George Santos  Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Ousted Rep. George Santos  Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case
Ousted Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Former Republican Congressman George Santos admitted to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a federal court on Monday, Aug. 19, authorities announced.  The 36-year-old former inhabitant of New York's 3rd Congressional District seat on Long Island was facing 23 felonies, and a trial set to begin next month.  A federal judge will sentence Santos on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said. According to federal sentencing guidelines, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year minimum sentence.&n…
Cryptocurrency Scammers Steal $63K From CT Resident; Here's How To Protect Yourself Cryptocurrency Scammers Steal $63K From CT Resident; Here's How To Protect Yourself
Cryptocurrency Scammers Steal $63K From CT Resident; Here's How To Protect Yourself Police are sounding the alarm after scammers successfully stole tens of thousands of dollars from a Connecticut resident. In New Haven County, a Cheshire resident contacted Connecticut State Police in April 2024 saying they had lost more than $68,000 worth of cryptocurrency in a scam. The victim told investigators they were tricked by a phishing scheme that offered new tokens. Instead, the scammers drained all the cryptocurrency in their digital wallet. Detectives were able to trace the victim’s stolen funds using blockchain analytics and located their wallet, which still had most of the c…
New Canaan Counselor With Stamford Office Ripped Off Medicaid For $80K, Officials Say New Canaan Counselor With Stamford Office Ripped Off Medicaid For $80K, Officials Say
New Canaan Counselor With Stamford Office Ripped Off Medicaid For $80K, Officials Say A Fairfield County counselor with a business in Stamford defrauded Medicaid by billing thousands in fraudulent claims for services he did not provide. According to state judicial officials, Andrew R. Golden, age 56, of New Canaan, was sentenced to three years in prison, which was suspended, and five years of conditional discharge.  The judge ordered Golden to pay $80,328.19 in restitution and to not act as a Medicaid provider or provide services to any Medicaid recipient. Golden has paid the restitution, said officials with the state Division of Criminal Justice,  The division sa…
$1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company $1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company
$1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company A former employee from Pennsylvania admitted to defrauding a Connecticut insurance company to the tune of $1.5 million. James Keating, age 52, of Paoli, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in New Haven federal court on Tuesday, July 30. Prosecutors said Keating – who served as assistant vice president and a surety bond claims handler at Hartford County-based Allied World Insurance Company in Farmington – created a shell company to bill Allied World for unnecessary claims work that was never performed. Between 2017 and 2021, he also solicited and received kickbacks from Allied World…
Attempted Fake Transaction At Darien Bank Lands Man In Jail, Police Say Attempted Fake Transaction At Darien Bank Lands Man In Jail, Police Say
Attempted Fake Transaction At Darien Bank Lands Man In Jail, Police Say A man who was wanted for allegedly attempting to make a fraudulent bank transaction in Fairfield County turned himself in to the police. Steven Guardindo, age 56, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was arrested on July 11 by Darien Police for the March 2023 incident. According to Darien Police Sgt. Mauricio Vigil, officers responded to the Fairfield Country Bank in Darien for a report of a man attempting to make a fraudulent transaction using a fake passport. By the time officers officers arrived, Guardino had already left. But bank employees told police he gave them the fake ID in t…
Don't Fall For It: Phone Scammers Impersonating Police Officers From Fairfield County Don't Fall For It: Phone Scammers Impersonating Police Officers From Fairfield County
Don't Fall For It: Phone Scammers Impersonating Police Officers From Fairfield County Don’t fall for it. Police in Connecticut are warning residents to be on the lookout for scammers who are impersonating law enforcement officers. In Fairfield County, the Greenwich Police Department issued a warning Friday, July 12, that residents have received phone calls from a “Detective Steve McMorris” about purported outstanding summons. The caller claims to be from the Greenwich Police Department of the Old Greenwich Police Department. “This call is a scam and DO NOT reply,” the agency said on Facebook. “The Greenwich Police Department does not have anyone by that name, and the Old …
$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…
Victim Loses $341K In 'Pig Butchering' Scheme: Here's What It Is Victim Loses $341K In 'Pig Butchering' Scheme: Here's What It Is
Victim Loses $341K In 'Pig Butchering' Scheme: Here's What It Is The US Secret Service has seized a web domain used in a cryptocurrency confidence crime scheme known as “pig butchering” after a New York resident was swindled out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to federal authorities, scammers in pig butchering schemes encounter victims in various ways, including on dating applications, social media websites, and even random text messages masquerading as the wrong number. Scammers initiate relationships with victims and slowly gain their trust, eventually introducing the idea of making a business investment using cryptocurrency.  Vict…
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…
29-Year-Old From Connecticut Focus Of Netflix Documentary On His Mom's Mysterious Death On Boat 29-Year-Old From Connecticut Focus Of Netflix Documentary On His Mom's Mysterious Death On Boat
29-Year-Old From Connecticut Focus Of Netflix Documentary On His Mom's Mysterious Death On Boat A 29-year-old from Connecticut who was accused of killing his mother and grandfather is the focus of a new Netflix documentary on the mysterious deaths.  Netflix said earlier this month the documentary will explore the mysteries surrounding Middlesex County native Nathan Carman, of Middletown, who was accused of killing his mother Linda Carman while on a fishing trip in 2016, and his grandfather, John Chakalos. three years earlier in 2013. Carman, who died while in police custody last year, allegedly killed his mother while fishing off the coast of Rhode Island on the family boat.…
Mass Woman Alters, Cashes Wilton Resident's Checks: Police Mass Woman Alters, Cashes Wilton Resident's Checks: Police
Mass Woman Alters, Cashes Wilton Resident's Checks: Police A Massachusetts woman has been arrested after she was allegedly caught altering and cashing a Connecticut resident’s checks years prior. Isis Serrano, a Boston resident, was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 7 for the Fairfield County incident, according to police. The 24-year-old woman is accused of fraudulently altering and cashing checks from a resident of the town of Wilton in 2019. She was 20 at the time of the reported crime. It is unclear for how long Serrano continued the alleged activity. She was extradited from Chicopee Massachusetts Women's Correctional Facility on an arrest warr…
Woman, 27, Charged In Westport Check Larceny Case Woman, 27, Charged In Westport Check Larceny Case
Woman, 27, Charged In Westport Check Larceny Case A 27-year-old woman has been charged with larceny and fraud for allegedly stealing a Fairfield County resident's check out of the mail and then changing the amount and cashing it. On Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, Westport Police initiated a larceny investigation after a resident reported they had a check stolen and fraudulently deposited into an unknown account.  The resident reported they sent a check made out for $560 from their home and the check was stolen and fraudulently deposited for $5,500, said Lt. Eric Woods of the Westport Police. Using search warrants, video sur…
CT Man Steals Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars From Tech Company: Here's His Sentence CT Man Steals Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars From Tech Company: Here's His Sentence
CT Man Steals Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars From Tech Company: Here's His Sentence A Connecticut man has received his sentence after stealing tens of thousands of dollars in products from a technology company, federal officials announced.  New London County resident Myron Ware of Colchester, age 49, was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 3 to three years of probation for defrauding a computer technology company, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced. According to federal officials, between 2017 and 2020, Ware would identify companies and organizations that had previously bought computer parts and components from the Texas-based company tha…
$100K Scheme: CT Man Fraudulently Obtained COVID Relief Funds, Used For Personal Expenses $100K Scheme: CT Man Fraudulently Obtained COVID Relief Funds, Used For Personal Expenses
$100K Scheme: CT Man Fraudulently Obtained COVID Relief Funds, Used For Personal Expenses A Connecticut man has admitted to fraudulently obtaining $100,000 in COVID-19 relief funds meant for his small business and instead using it for personal expenses, federal officials said.  Tolland County resident John Matava of Coventry, age 59, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 2 to charges related to his scheme to obtain COVID-19 relief funds, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  According to federal officials, in April 2020, Matava applied for a $100,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan from Celtic Bank for his purported business, J.…
Stamford Woman Accused Of Ripping Off Medicaid For Thousands Stamford Woman Accused Of Ripping Off Medicaid For Thousands
Stamford Woman Accused Of Ripping Off Medicaid For Thousands A Fairfield County woman who worked as a personal care service staff was charged with billing Medicaid for personal care services while the client was incarcerated or inpatient. Latasia Robertson, age 30, of Stamford, was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 6, by Inspectors from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.  She was charged with larceny by defrauding a public community and health insurance fraud, said the Chief State's Attorney Office. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, between August 2021 and March 2022, Robertson billed for support servic…
Former Fairfield Superintendent Sentenced To Prison For Environmental Crimes Former Fairfield Superintendent Sentenced To Prison For Environmental Crimes
Former Fairfield Superintendent Sentenced To Prison For Environmental Crimes A former public works superintendent in Fairfield County has been sentenced to prison for committing environmental crimes and conspiring with others to defraud. Scott Bartlett, age 61, of Fairfield, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Friday, Dec. 1, suspended after five years and five years of probation, said Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin. As part of his plea agreement, Bartlett, the disgraced superintendent for Fairfield, is also required to make restitution payments of $1 million to the town for the harm caused. Bartlett pleaded guilty in August to nine felony environmen…
Pickpocket Thief Working Darien Trader Joe's, Police Say Pickpocket Thief Working Darien Trader Joe's, Police Say
Pickpocket Thief Working Darien Trader Joe's, Police Say In the past two weeks, two women have had their wallets stolen out of their purses while shopping at a Fairfield County supermarket.  The first incident took place at the Darien Trader Joe's store at 436 Post Road when the victim told police she went to pay for her groceries her wallet was missing from her purse, said Sgt. Dan Skoumbros of the Darien Police.  She was later notified by her credit card company that someone had attempted to use the card at Target in Stamford. The second incident took place at the same grocery store on Sunday, Nov. 25 when another woman was miss…
Former CT Police Officer Charged With Stealing $184K From PBA, Cops Say Former CT Police Officer Charged With Stealing $184K From PBA, Cops Say
Former CT Police Officer Charged With Stealing $184K From PBA, Cops Say A former Connecticut police sergeant has been charged with allegedly stealing more than $184,000 from a Police Benevolent Association.  New Haven County resident Peter Parks, 42, of Milford was arrested on Monday, Nov. 27 for the theft over a period of several years from the Milford PBA, Milford Police said. Parks, who served as president of the non-profit organization, resigned from the department when a termination hearing was scheduled after an internal affairs investigation found evidence that he had stolen the money, the department said. Hired in 2004 by Milford Police, Parks was…
Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking
Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking The third time may be the charm for federal lawmakers hoping to oust embattled New York Rep. George Santos from office. House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, filed a resolution to expel Santos from Congress on Friday morning, Nov. 17. Members are expected to vote on the resolution the week after Thanksgiving.  Earlier Report: LI Rep Santos Won't Run For Re-Election: 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking, Committee Says The rare move came just one day after the committee, made up of five Republicans and five Democrats, released a report sayi…
4 CT Residents Charged With Stealing $19K From Public Assistance Programs 4 CT Residents Charged With Stealing $19K From Public Assistance Programs
4 CT Residents Charged With Stealing $19K From Public Assistance Programs Four Connecticut residents were recently arrested and charged, in unrelated incidents, with allegedly stealing a combined $19,111 from programs financed by the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The four included were arrested on separate warrants from the office of the state Chief State Attorney's Office and included: Livia Brown, age 35, of East Hartford, Hartford County Jetaun Green, age 41, of Bridgeport Lexxiani Lopez, age 23, of Hartford Carmelo Davila, age 34, of New Haven All four were charged with larceny and Davila, Green, and Lopez also were charged with one count of fal…
CT Conman Steals $200K In Gold Coins From Estate, Feds Say CT Conman Steals $200K In Gold Coins From Estate, Feds Say
CT Conman Steals $200K In Gold Coins From Estate, Feds Say A Connecticut man is facing federal charges for allegedly swindling a Western Massachusetts estate out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold coins. William Dawson, age 51, was indicted on fraud charges by a federal grand jury in Worcester on Wednesday, Oct. 18. According to prosecutors, Dawson met with an employee of a home cleanout business in January 2023 after the company was hired by an estate in Shrewsbury. The employee reportedly found 170 Queen Elizabeth II Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins inside the home, collectively worth around $290,000. With approval from the estate, the em…
$874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds $874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds
$874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds A 50-year-old Massachusetts man who once served as postmaster for a Fairfield County post office has admitted to defrauding the US Postal Service out of over $874,000 as part of a bribery, kickback, and embezzlement scheme that he operated, officials announced. Former Brookfield resident Ephrem D. Nguyen, age 50, pleaded guilty to a fraud offense related to his scheme on Friday, Oct. 13, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  According to federal officials, Nguyen, who now lives in Quincy, Massachusetts in Norfolk County, had been employed b…
Know Her? Woman Fraudulently Withdraws Over $20K From Several CT Banks, Police Say Know Her? Woman Fraudulently Withdraws Over $20K From Several CT Banks, Police Say
Know Her? Woman Fraudulently Withdraws Over $20K From Several CT Banks, Police Say Authorities are asking for help in identifying a woman accused of fraudulently withdrawing over $20,000 from banks in Connecticut.  Images of the suspect captured by surveillance cameras at a New London County bank were released by Waterford Police on Wednesday, Oct. 11.  According to the department, the suspect, who drives a white Chrysler Pacifica, is responsible for fraudulently withdrawing more than $20,000 from Citizens Bank and Charter Oak Bank locations in the area.  Anyone with information regarding the suspect's identity is asked to contact Waterford Police Off…