Man Nabbed Attempting To Cash Fraudulent Check From Fairfield County Business, Police Say Man Nabbed Attempting To Cash Fraudulent Check From Fairfield County Business, Police Say
Man Nabbed Attempting To Cash Fraudulent Check From Fairfield County Business, Police Say A Connecticut man was busted allegedly attempting to cash a fraudulent check from a Fairfield County business. New Haven County resident Ian Picerno, 39, of Seymour, was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 13, by Monroe Police for attempting to cash a fraudulent check at Union Savings Bank located at 411 Monroe Turnpike, said Lt. Stephen Corrone. Picerno walked up to the drive-thru window of the bank and attempted to cash a check from an auto body shop in Danbury, Corrone said.  The teller identified the check as being fraudulent and contacted the Monroe Police Department,…
CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors
CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors A Connecticut man has been indicted on 17 counts of allegedly defrauding investors of an alcoholic beverage company. Brian Hughes, 56, of Madison, was indicted on Friday, Jan. 15, following his arrest, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. The indictment alleges that in March 2015, Hughes founded Handcrafted Brands, for the purpose of raising money to purchase Salute American Vodka, an alcoholic beverage company.  After founding the company, Hughes allegedly solicited and received funds from investors for the purchase and development of Salute.  &nb…
Seven From Westchester Among 12 Gambino Crime Family Members Admitting To Multiple Crimes Seven From Westchester Among 12 Gambino Crime Family Members Admitting To Multiple Crimes
Seven From Westchester Among 12 Gambino Crime Family Members Admitting To Multiple Crimes A dozen members and associates of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra admitted to multiple crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, fraud, obstruction of justice and related offenses for criminal activities throughout the New York metropolitan area committed as part of the illicit activities of the Gambino family. One additional defendant pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return.  The defendants also agreed to pay $1.6 million in penalties. The pleas were entered throughout the past week at federal court in Brooklyn. According to court filings and facts presente…
CT Contractor To Pay $3.2 Million To Resolve Criminal, Civil Investigation CT Contractor To Pay $3.2 Million To Resolve Criminal, Civil Investigation
CT Contractor To Pay $3.2 Million To Resolve Criminal, Civil Investigation A Connecticut electrical contractor has been fined $3.2 million for alleged fraud connected with public construction contracts. Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc., of Farmington, was ordered to pay the fine, along with internal reforms to as part of a criminal and civil investigation into its business practices, said John Durham, U.S. States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to the state attorney, in April 2007, the state of Connecticut Department of Transportation selected Ducci Electrical to be the prime contractor for a construction contract valued at $79,234,692 to rep…
Westchester Man Arrested For Role In Decade-Long $1M Ponzi Scheme Westchester Man Arrested For Role In Decade-Long $1M Ponzi Scheme
Westchester Man Arrested For Role In Decade-Long $1M Ponzi Scheme A Westchester County man was arrested this week for his role in a near decade-long Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors in New York and other parts of the country out of more than $1 million. White Plains resident James Doyle, 72, and Carl Carro, 59, of Walton, Delaware, the purported managing directors of headhunting companies Endeavor Management Solutions and Endeavor Consultancy, have been charged in a 42-count indictment for their roles in the schema. Specifically, the two were charged with multiple counts of money laundering, grand larceny, securities fraud, and scheme to defraud. Ne…
Woman Signs, Cashes $995 Check That Didn't Belong To Her, Police Say Woman Signs, Cashes $995 Check That Didn't Belong To Her, Police Say
Woman Signs, Cashes $995 Check That Didn't Belong To Her, Police Say A Long Island woman was arrested by area police for allegedly signing and cashing a check for $995 that did not belong to her in Connecticut, police said. Laverne Thomas, 52, of Bay Shore, was arrested by Milford Police on Monday, Nov. 16, on an active warrant for the event which took place in Nov. 2017, said the Milford Police. Thomas is accused of fraudulently signing and cashing a check in the amount of $995 from a checking account that was not hers. She was charged with forgery and released on a promise to appear ticket. 
CT Meat Supplier Sentenced For Fabricating E. Coli Test Results CT Meat Supplier Sentenced For Fabricating E. Coli Test Results
CT Meat Supplier Sentenced For Fabricating E. Coli Test Results A Connecticut meat supplier has been sentenced to two years of probation for fabricating E. coli test results at his meat processing business Matt Beqiri, 33, of Tolland, was sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, Beqiri is the owner and general manager of New England Meat Packing, located in Stafford Springs, a federally inspected business engaged in the slaughtering, processing, selling, and transporting of meat and meat food products fo…
Employee At CT Used Car Dealership Admits To Role In Loan Fraud Scheme Employee At CT Used Car Dealership Admits To Role In Loan Fraud Scheme
Employee At CT Used Car Dealership Admits To Role In Loan Fraud Scheme An employee of an area car dealership has pleaded guilty to write fraud as part of an auto loan scheme. Justin Williams, 42, of Rocky Hill, pleaded guilty on Friday, Nov. 20, to taking part in the scheme at Car Nation in Middletown, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, Williams worked as a salesman and de facto general manager at Car Nation, sometimes known as Middletown Motorcars, which was owned and operated by George Hajati.  In connection with automobile loan applications for multiple borrowe…
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…
Teen Busted After Attempting To Fill Fake Prescription Numerous Times, Police Say Teen Busted After Attempting To Fill Fake Prescription Numerous Times, Police Say
Teen Busted After Attempting To Fill Fake Prescription Numerous Times, Police Say A teen was busted on numerous charges after he allegedly attempted to fill a fraudulent prescription at a Fairfield County pharmacy. Dwayne Smith, 19, of Bridgeport, was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 28, after a pharmacist in the central Greenwich area contacted the Greenwich Police and reported suspicious activity, said Captain Mark E. Zuccerella. After receiving the tip, plainclothes officers responded to the area and detained three suspects that were believed to be involved in passing the fake prescription in order to obtain a controlled substance, said Zuccerella. The pharmaci…
Haddad, Auto Shops Owner, Accused Of Fraud - Again Haddad, Auto Shops Owner, Accused Of Fraud - Again
Haddad, Auto Shops Owner, Accused Of Fraud - Again The owner of autobody shops in Worcester and Everett is being accused of fraud - again. Adam Haddad pleaded guilty on Monday, Sept. 21, to a payroll scheme that resulted in the loss of almost $300,000 in taxes to the IRS, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts. Haddad is a licensed automotive appraiser who owns Accurate Collision in Worcester and ADH Collision in Everett. Haddad was also accused of fraud in 2019 when he allegedly used hammers and wood to damage cars brought to his shop and file false insurance claims, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.  Haddad pleaded n…
Alert Issued For Package Text Message Scam Alert Issued For Package Text Message Scam
Alert Issued For Package Text Message Scam A new text messaging scam involving mailed packages that allow fraudsters to gain access to personal information has been making the rounds across the country, federal officials warn. The Federal Trade Commission is among the agencies that have issued an alert after consumers made numerous complaints after receiving a text message saying that a package pending, telling the user to click a link to set up delivery for the item. Once the link is clicked, users will be instructed to provide personal identifying information. Scammers have posed as drivers from FedEx, USPS, UPS, and other deliver…