Tag:

Wire Fraud

COVID-19: John Gotti's Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud COVID-19: John Gotti's Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud
Covid-19: John Gotti's Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud A New York man with ties to the Mafia formally confessed to a million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. Long Island resident Carmine Agnello, age 38, of Smithtown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in Central Islip federal court on Thursday, Sept. 26. Agnello is the grandson of the late John Gotti, former boss of the Gambino organized crime family. According to prosecutors, between April 2020 and November 2021, he fraudulently applied for, and received, at least three small business loans under the US Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP). The program…
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…
Ex-Rep. Santos To Plead Guilty In Federal Trial: Reports Ex-Rep. Santos To Plead Guilty In Federal Trial: Reports
Ex-Rep. Santos To Plead Guilty In Federal Trial: Reports Former Republican Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty to federal charges weeks ahead of his upcoming trial, multiple news outlets are reporting.  The 36-year-old Santos, who represented New York's 3rd Congressional District, faces 23 federal charges including identity theft, wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress.  NBC News reported that Santos' lawyers and federal investigators are hammering out a plea deal on some of those charges that will be presented to a judge on Monday, Aug. 19. The details on that agreement, which charges he will admit to, and …
Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You' Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You'
Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You' Former Rep. George Santos may have been banished out into the political cold, but he's kept his grudges hot.  The 36-year-old former Republican who served New York's 3rd District posted a video Tuesday night, Aug. 6, celebrating after another member of the so-called "Squad" lost her primary. Related: Santos Announces Comeback Bid After Being Ousted From Congress Rep. Cori Bush, who has served Missouri's 1st District since 2021, lost her bid on Tuesday to remain on the Democratic ticket to local prosecutor Wesley Bell, who garnered 51 percent of the vote to Bush's 45, according to NBC …
Mass. Man Admits To Stealing Money Meant For Veteran Suicide Prevention: Feds Mass. Man Admits To Stealing Money Meant For Veteran Suicide Prevention: Feds
Mass. Man Admits To Stealing Money Meant For Veteran Suicide Prevention: Feds A Haverhill man pleaded guilty to siphoning nearly $50,000 from a nonprofit focusing on helping veterans considering suicide to use on OnlyFans models and a cruise, authorities announced.  David Duren, 48, admitted to wire fraud on Monday, July 1, the US Attorney for New Hampshire said. He faces up to 20 years in prison during his sentencing on Oct. 10.  Duren was a program manager at a healthcare provider in Nashua, New Hampshire, and oversaw a $750,000 program funded by a Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant. The money was earmarked for treatments and services for ve…
Ex-Central Mass Retail Manager Who Stole $400K From Employer Sentenced To Prison: Feds Ex-Central Mass Retail Manager Who Stole $400K From Employer Sentenced To Prison: Feds
Ex-Central Mass Retail Manager Who Stole $400K From Employer Sentenced To Prison: Feds A 49-year-old Worcester County former retail manager must repay the money he stole and pay nearly $90,000 in back taxes after he admitted to a payroll scheme at his former company, authorities said.  Anthony Prizio, of Blackstone, was sentenced to three years in prison on Monday, June 24, after he pleaded guilty in February to six counts of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He must also pay $431,399 in restitution to his former unnamed employer.  Prizio was a manager at a Worcester second-hand retail store, and investigators said he f…
$2.2M Scheme: Mass Man Convinces Victims To Invest In Youth Sports Ventures, Steals Funds $2.2M Scheme: Mass Man Convinces Victims To Invest In Youth Sports Ventures, Steals Funds
$2.2M Scheme: Mass Man Convinces Victims To Invest In Youth Sports Ventures, Steals Funds A Massachusetts man will spend years in prison for defrauding investors who believed they had been financing youth sports ventures, federal officials announced. Middlesex County resident Adrian Kawuba, of Watertown, age 34, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for taking part in a $2.2 million scheme to defraud investors into financing what they thought were youth sports ventures in Africa, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on Thursday, April 11. According to federal officials, Kawuba would tell victims that he would invest their money into …
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 …
Mass Man Used Money Meant For Suicide Prevention For Veterans On OnlyFans, Cruise: Feds Mass Man Used Money Meant For Suicide Prevention For Veterans On OnlyFans, Cruise: Feds
Mass Man Used Money Meant For Suicide Prevention For Veterans On OnlyFans, Cruise: Feds A Massachusetts man stole money from a nonprofit that was meant to prevent veterans from committing suicide and spent it on a cruise, OnlyFans models, and landscaping, federal authorities said.  David Duren, a/k/a Dawud Hakiem Duren, 48, was indicted in a New Hampshire federal court on Tuesday, March 5, on charges of wire fraud and federal program fraud, the US Attorney for New Hampshire said.  Duren was a program manager at a healthcare provider in Nashua, New Hampshire, and oversaw a $750,000 program funded by a Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant. The money was ear…
Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds
Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds A former Republican state senator who represented Worcester and Middlesex counties was charged with illegally taking thousands in COVID relief money and concealing cash from the IRS, federal authorities said.  Dean Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on 25 counts of wire fraud and three charges of filing false tax reports on Friday, Nov. 17, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.  Tran served in the Massachusetts Senate from 2017-2021.  Investigators said Tran collected $30,120 in unemployment benefits after being voted out of o…
Man Conned 300 Mass Families To Pay For His Plastic Surgery, Vacations, Gambling: Feds Man Conned 300 Mass Families To Pay For His Plastic Surgery, Vacations, Gambling: Feds
Man Conned 300 Mass Families To Pay For His Plastic Surgery, Vacations, Gambling: Feds The only thing the kids who signed up for MB Sports Camps learned about baseball was how to steal — but not bases.  Mehdi Belhassan, 53, of Tampa, Fla., was convicted last week after a six-day trial of two counts of wire fraud, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He was accused of stealing $380,000 from 303 families across the state and country and a $191,000 advance from an online payment company.  Belhassan ran the annual MB Sports Camps. In 2019, however, he collected parents' money like usual, but this time, ran away with it to pay for plastic surgery and "extravagant…
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: Owner Of NY Theme Park, Restaurant Admits Stealing $3.2M In Federal Aid COVID-19: Owner Of NY Theme Park, Restaurant Admits Stealing $3.2M In Federal Aid
Covid-19: Owner Of NY Theme Park, Restaurant Admits Stealing $3.2M In Federal Aid 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…
Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds
Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds The former president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts and the group's ex-lobbyist were sentenced Wednesday, May 10, after they were convicted on charges that they turned the union into a "criminal enterprise" that defrauded its members, authorities said.  Dana A. Pullman, 60, of Worcester — the former president of SPAM  — was sentenced to 30 months behind bars and three years of probation, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Anne M. Lynch, 71, of Huff, the union's lobbyist, received two years in prison and two years of supervised release, the prosecutor add…
Ex-Mass Detective Stiffed Multiple Landlords Despite Making $187K A Year: Feds Ex-Mass Detective Stiffed Multiple Landlords Despite Making $187K A Year: Feds
Ex-Mass Detective Stiffed Multiple Landlords Despite Making $187K A Year: Feds Despite making a comfortable living as a Stoneham police detective sergeant, Robert Kennedy left a wake of jilted landlords who say he owes them thousands in unpaid rent stretching back years. Now, federal authorities allege he broke the law by lying on rental applications to hide his shady past.  Robert Kennedy, 53, is charged with one count of wire fraud, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He made his first appearance in court on Friday, March 31.  #BREAKING: Today, #FBI Boston special agents arrested former @StonehamMAPD Detective Sgt. Robert A. Kennedy for wire fraud. He allege…
Woman Who Was Chief Financial Employee In CT Gets Years In Prison For Stealing Over $700K Woman Who Was Chief Financial Employee In CT Gets Years In Prison For Stealing Over $700K
Woman Who Was Chief Financial Employee In CT 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…
Central Mass Financial Advisor Who Stole $2.8M Sentenced To More Than 8 Years: Feds Central Mass Financial Advisor Who Stole $2.8M Sentenced To More Than 8 Years: Feds
Central Mass Financial Advisor Who Stole $2.8M Sentenced To More Than 8 Years: Feds A Worcester-based financial adviser who admitted to stealing nearly $3 million from his clients will spend more than eight years behind bars, federal authorities said.  James Kenneth Couture, 42, of Sutton, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of investment adviser fraud, and one count of witness tampering last year, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Along with the 100 months in prison, the judge sentenced Couture to pay back nearly $2 million in restitution to his victims and forfeit almost $3 million, the prosecuto…
Car Full of Fools Gold Sinks Scammer's Plan To Swindle Central Mass Woman: Feds Car Full of Fools Gold Sinks Scammer's Plan To Swindle Central Mass Woman: Feds
Car Full of Fools Gold Sinks Scammer's Plan To Swindle Central Mass Woman: Feds A Jersey City, NJ, man posing as a DEA agent attempted to scam an Athol woman out of more than $330,000 in a complicated grift involving non-existent drug dealers and a car loaded down with fake gold in a Texas Roadhouse parking lot, federal authorities said.  Gaurang Contractor, 38, an Indian national, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the charge of wire fraud, the US Attorney's Office announced on Friday, Dec. 9.  Investigators said Contractor contacted the woman in August and claimed to be a DEA agent named Oscar White. He told her that she was implicated…
Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who Stole $40 Million In Electronics Sentenced Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who Stole $40 Million In Electronics Sentenced
Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who 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…
CT Man Sentenced For Swindling Grandparents Out Of $679K CT Man Sentenced For Swindling Grandparents Out Of $679K
CT Man Sentenced For Swindling Grandparents Out Of $679K A Connecticut man will spend time in federal prison after admitting that he swindled his grandparents out of nearly $700,000. Hartford County resident Douglas Senerth, age 33, of South Windsor was sentenced to 18 months behind bars Thursday, July 22, in federal court in Hartford after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Earlier report: CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K Prosecutors said that between 2011 and 2019, Senerth was able to convince his grandmother and late grandfather to fork over $419,000 by claiming to be a college student and telling them the money was going towar…
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…
Boston Food Truck Owner Charged With Stealing $1.5M In COVID Funds: Feds Boston Food Truck Owner Charged With Stealing $1.5M In COVID Funds: Feds
Boston Food Truck Owner Charged With Stealing $1.5M In COVID Funds: Feds A 55-year-old Boston food truck owner faces up to 20 years in prison after he has was charged him with lying to get $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday, July 20. Loc Vo, who owns Smart Gourmet, is accused of fraudulently filing loan applications from April 2020 until July 2021 for programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the U.S. Attorney in Boston said. The programs were to help businesses stay afloat during the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic.  But federal authorities said Vo used the money to invest…
Ex-Owner Of Illicit Boston-Area Massage Parlor Sentenced For Fraud Ex-Owner Of Illicit Boston-Area Massage Parlor Sentenced For Fraud
Ex-Owner Of Illicit Boston-Area Massage Parlor Sentenced For Fraud A woman was sentenced to three years of probation for fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds, the US Attorney's Office for Massachusetts reports.  Chynna Savath, age 57, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is the former owner of a massage parlor located in Franklin called Thai Body Work.  Savath apparently obtained $34,391 in fraudulent payments from filing fake applications under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in June 2020, the office reports.  The applications also did not mention that Savath…
Massachusetts Man Admits To Embezzling Over $360K From Non-Profit Massachusetts Man Admits To Embezzling Over $360K From Non-Profit
Massachusetts Man Admits To Embezzling Over $360K From Non-Profit A Northborough man is facing up to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling over $360,000 from a non-profit organization in Sturbridge, the US Attorney's Office for Massachusetts reports.  Kyriakos "Rick" Kapiris, age 36, worked at the non-profit as an IT manager from April 2015 to May 2020. During his time there, Kapiris had access to two of the company's credit cards to pay for equipment and certain services, the office reports. However, Kapiris created three vendor accounts to embezzle funds and fabricate sales invoices starting in 2016, the office reports. Kapiris the…
Former Greater Boston-Area Resident Nabbed For $2.5M COVID Relief Fraud, Feds Say Former Greater Boston-Area Resident Nabbed For $2.5M COVID Relief Fraud, Feds Say
Former Greater Boston-Area Resident Nabbed For $2.5M COVID Relief Fraud, Feds Say A former resident  from the Greater Boston area and owner of a local painting company is facing 20 years in prison for using a fake loan application to snag $2.5 million in COVID relief funds, the US Attorney's Office for Massachusetts said.  Vinicius Santana, age 34, formerly of Revere, who now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, allegedly submitted four Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications for his company, Complete Home Care (CHC), in April 2020, the office reports.  PPP funds were established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Safety (CARES) Act in Ma…
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…
Western Mass Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company Western Mass Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company
Western Mass Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company 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…
Massachusetts Man Admits To Attempting To Buy Jeep With Counterfeit Check Massachusetts Man Admits To Attempting To Buy Jeep With Counterfeit Check
Massachusetts Man Admits To Attempting To Buy Jeep With Counterfeit Check A Massachusetts man is facing years behind bars after admitting to purchasing a Jeep using a counterfeit check. David Hogan, age 58, of Worcester, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud Monday, April 25, in federal court in Boston. Prosecutors said Hogan visited a Newton dealership in March 2021 and gave them a $56,000 check for a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, which he then drove off the lot. But when the dealership tried cashing the check, they were told the bank account had been frozen, prosecutors said. When they confronted Hogan about the bad check, he promised to wire them the money, but…
COVID-19: Springfield Woman Admits To Fraud Related To Pandemic COVID-19: Springfield Woman Admits To Fraud Related To Pandemic
Covid-19: Springfield Woman Admits To Fraud Related To Pandemic A Western Massachusetts woman admitted to a $1.2 million unemployment fraud scheme that she ran during the COVID-19 pandemic to illegally obtain unemployment benefits. Audri Ford-Victory, age 61, of Springfield, pleaded guilty in US District Court to one count of wire fraud in connection to her involvement in a scheme with a co-conspirator to profit from the pandemic. Prosecutors said that Ford-Victory and her co-conspirator submitted more than 100 fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims resulting in more than $1.2 million in payments. Approximately half of the PUA claims…
Duo, Including CT Man, Accused Of Using Project Fraud Scheme To Pay Personal Expenses Duo, Including CT Man, Accused Of Using Project Fraud Scheme To Pay Personal Expenses
Duo, Including CT Man, Accused Of Using Project Fraud Scheme To Pay Personal Expenses Two men have been charged in separate criminal complaints with conspiracy and fraud offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in construction project fraud schemes. New Haven County resident Don Richards, age 53, of Milford, and William Sacco, age 48, of Pelham, New Hampshire, were arrested in connection with the case, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Both men were described in a criminal complaint as senior project managers at a Massachusetts mechanical contracting company during the time of the scheme.  From June 2014 through Dece…