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Saturday, apr 27
Tag:
Fraud
News
Founder Of LGBTQ+ Non-Profit In DC Charged For Fraud After 'Unexpected Return' To US: Feds
The trailblazing founder of Casa Ruby, a DC-based non-profit that provided services to the LGBTQ+ community is facing charges for alleged fraud and money laundering, according to prosecutors. Ruby Corado, 53, made her initial court appearance in DC on Wednesday to face charges for allegedly defrauding Paycheck Protection and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs, and money laundering after fleeing the country, authorities announced. Specifically, Corado is accused of diverting at least $150,000 of $1.3 million in taxpayer-backed emergency relief funds, intended for the organi…
News
Non-Profit Employee Accused Of Stealing From Maryland Organization: State's Attorney
A Frederick woman who schemed to defraud a non-profit in Westminster where she worked has been charged, the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office announced. Randi Lynn Ryan, 48, has been arrested and charged for an alleged scam targeting the Carroll County Arts Council, Inc. over the course of nearly two years. It is alleged that Ryan, while working as a financial coordinator for the non-profit, was issued a Bank of America credit card to use for the organization's business; however, an audit conducted in June 2023 found that Ryan was not compliant in turning over requested do…
Police & Fire
Gas Station Employee Saves Wawa Manager From Scam Before Attempted Robbery In Annapolis: Police
A gas station employee in Annapolis prevented the manager of a neighboring Wawa from a scam just moments before the manager was targeted during an attempted robbery with cash still in hand, authorities said. Officers responded to investigate the back-to-back attempted robbery and fraud reports at the Wawa at 321 Buschs Frontage Road in Annapolis around 8:55 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 5. The victim, who is the manager, told police that she received a phone call around 3:30 a.m. from a man claiming to represent Wawa. The caller told the manager that Wawa had an overdue bill that needed to be paid …
News
Half-Baked Convict Admits To Illegally Possessing USPS 'Arrow' Keys, Stolen Checks In MD: Feds
A convict from Montgomery County admitted to illegally possessing USPS “arrow keys” used to open collection boxes outside a local post office, authorities announced Monday, Feb. 5. Andrew Steven Martin, 30, of Silver Spring, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of US Postal Service keys used to access US Postal Service mail receptacles, as well as being a felon in possession of ammunition, Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland said. Martin was charged following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of a bag of marijuana in the center vehicle console and a h…
News
Man's Brother Pretended To Be NY Mobster As Part Of $4M Embezzlement Scheme In MD/DC: Feds
Henry Hill immortalized the line "as far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster." That mantra didn't work out well for a pair of brothers - one of whom pretended to be a New York mobster - to get a Maryland man to embezzle more than $4 million from his employer in Washington, DC. New York native Corry Blue Evans, 31, has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in an elaborate fraud, extortion, and money laundering scheme that involved several other close-knit co-conspirators who worked to exploit the multi-million dollar scheme. The sentence comes y…
Police & Fire
Duplicitous Duo Assaulted Arresting Deputy During Frederick Fraud Investigation, Officials Say
DeWight Gilbert and Morgan Milligan did not go down quietly following an investigation into a fraud scheme that spanned several Maryland communities. The Hyattsville residents are facing a host of charges in Frederick County after allegedly assaulting an officer near an area bank on Saturday morning who tracked them down for a string of scams. At around 10:20 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office responded to the Fulton Bank on Presidents Court in Frederick, where Gilbert - who was known to them for several fraudulent transactions - was spotted. Res…
News
Former State Employee, Brother Guilty Of Profiting From Pandemic In Maryland: AG
A former state employee in Maryland who conspired with his brother to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic will have time to ponder his decisions behind bars, the Attorney's General Office announced. James DiPino, 62, and Paul DiPino, Jr., 56, were sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but one year and one day suspended after admitting to bribery charges in connection to their procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said that in the spring of 2020, right as the the pandemic was becoming a national concern, James DiPino …
News
Montgomery County Schools DOT Employees Admit To Misconduct For $320K Fraud Scheme
The former Director of the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Transportation (DOT) has copped to his role in a scheme that allowed another top official to steam hundreds of thousands of dollars. Todd Michael Watkins, 56, of Jefferson, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misconduct in office for conspiring with Charles Ewald, the former Assistant Director of the DOT, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney announced on Friday, June 30. Prosecutors say that Watkins assumed his position in 2009, and beginning in 2016 and through September 2021, he failed to properly manage the…
Lifestyle
Maryland State Police Caution About Fraudsters Posing As Officers
Maryland residents are being advised to be on high alert following a recent rash of fraudsters posing as police. An alert was issued by Maryland State Police over the weekend warning residents to be aware of possible phone scam fraud attempts by police impersonators. Officials say that they've received multiple reports from several residents throughout the state who advised that they'd been contacted by people claiming to be either state troopers or police officers in an attempt to scam victims out of cash or personal information. According to police, the poser tells possible victims that …
News
'Most Evil We Have Seen:' MD Man In 'Financial Despair' Gets Max Sentence For Murdering Boss
The schemer in Maryland who went through elaborate measures to plot and kill his boss after he was fired will never see the light of day after being sentenced on Monday, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy announced. Billy Phillips, 38, of Rockville, was sentenced to life in prison, plus 65 years after admitting to killing his boss, Bethesda resident Geoffrey Biddle, 66, nearly two years ago, according to officials on Monday, May 1. "For a period of time, Biddle trusted Phillips to work for his company, and he abused that trust by using what he learned during his employment to …
News
MD Sheriff Pleads Not Guilty To Machine Gun Scheme, Replacement Named
Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins has pleaded not guilty to all counts after being embroiled in a machine gun purchasing scheme, though he ha agreed to step down and a replacement has been named. Jenkins, 66, a Thurmont resident, was arraigned this week and pleaded not guilty after being accused last week by a federal grand jury indictment for an alleged years-long scheme to import machine guns into the county with Machine Gun Nest owner Justin Krop. Initially, Jenkins had planned to remain active in office as the legal proceedings played out, but on Wednesday, April 12, after his arr…
News
Manhunt For Former Top Hogan Aide In MD Hits Week Three; $20K Reward Offered By Feds
Weeks after he skipped out on a scheduled fraud trial, federal officials are offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Gov. Larry Hogan's former Chief of Staff Roy McGrath. A manhunt is underway by the US Marshals Services and other law enforcement agencies as they attempt to locate McGrath, 53, the former governor’s top aide, after he failed to make a scheduled court appearance on Monday, March 13. @USMSBaltimore has initiated an interstate fugitive investigation. It is now seeking to apprehend the former Maryland governor’s top aide after he failed to appe…
News
Manhunt Launched For Former Top Hogan Aide Who Skipped Federal Fraud Trial In Maryland
The search is on for one of former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s top lieutenants who is on the lam after he failed to make a scheduled court appearance for fraud and theft charges this week. A manhunt is underway by the US Marshals Services and other law enforcement agencies as they attempt to locate Roy McGrath, 53, the former governor’s top aide, after he failed to make a scheduled court appearance on Monday, March 13. @USMSBaltimore has initiated an interstate fugitive investigation. It is now seeking to apprehend the former Maryland governor’s top aide after he failed to appear in cou…
News
Former Baltimore City Assistant State's Attorney Admits To Obtaining Phone Records, Stalking Ex
Former Baltimore City Assistant State's Attorney Adam Lane Chaudry has reached a plea agreement admitting that he obtained confidential phone records to stalk two romantic partners, federal officials announced. Chaudry, 43, pleaded guilty on Friday, Dec. 9 to two counts of fraud in connection with obtaining confidential phone records, admitting that he committed the crime knowing the information could be used in furtherance and with the intent to commit stalking. Between June 2009 and June 18, 2021, prosecutors say that Chaudry caused three grand jury subpoenas to be sent to a telecommunica…
Police & Fire
Former Baltimore Prosecutor Who Abused Power To Stalk Ex-Partners Faces Federal Charges
A former Baltimore City Assistant State's Attorney has been indicted on federal charges for unlawfully obtaining phone records, authorities announce. Adam Lane Chaudry, 43, has been charged with 10 counts of fraud in connection with obtaining confidential phone records after an indictment alleged that Chaudry committed the crime knowing that information may be used in the intent to commit stalking, according to the Department of Justice. From June 2009 to June 18, 2021, Chaudry worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. From September 2015 …
News
Maryland Men Convicted Of Running $13M Money Laundering Scheme
Two Maryland men have been convicted after running a $13 million business email compromise scheme, authorities say. Onyewuchi Victor Ibeh, 33, of Mitchellville, and Jason Eugene Joyner, 42, of Hyattsville, participated in the scheme to launder proceeds by infiltrating computer systems of victim companies through phishing and malware attacks, according to the Department of Justice. Once the pair would gain access to the accounts, prosecutors said they would pose as the victim's business partner and claim the bank account information has changed so the victim business sends money to accounts …
Police & Fire
Police Ask For Help Identifying Suspects In Rockville Theft
Police are asking for the public's help identifying two suspects connected to an auto theft and fraud incident from Rockville that happened in June, authorities say. Surveillance footage has been released of the suspects who allegedly stole the parked vehicle from a parking lot near OneLife Fitness on Research Boulevard, Thursday, June 2, according to Montgomery County police. Multiple credit cards that were in the vehicle at the time were also stolen and then used to make fraudulent purchases in several Virginia stores. Anyone with information about these crimes or suspects involved…
News
Thrifty Furniture Sellers Settle In Frederick County For Shifty Scam
Several business owners in Maryland will face no further prosecution after reaching an agreement to refund payments for work that was unfulfilled or failed to match expectations, the Attorney General's Office announced. The AG’s Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement of the civil charges against Christopher Engel, Karol Engel, Matthew Dihel, MOCHA Furniture Limited Liability Company, Urbana custom décor Limited Liability Company, and Farmstead Custom Furniture LLC in Frederick County, according to AG Brian Frosh. Frosh said the group was "collectively charged with v…
Police & Fire
Wanted Man In Maryland Facing Drug Charges After Providing Phony Name: Sheriff
A wanted man tried to pull a fast one over on sheriff’s deputies in Maryland by providing a false name to investigators before being ultimately apprehended in Culvert County. David Tyrone Patterson, 42, of Greensboro, is facing drug and fraud charges after being busted with heroin and paraphernalia after providing investigators with a phony ID, the sheriff’s office announced on Wednesday, June 29. Deputies responded to the 500 block of Fox Run Boulevard in Prince Frederick to conduct a welfare check on Patterson, according to a spokesperson from the sheriff's office. Upon arrival, investi…
Police & Fire
Suspects Wanted For Separate Credit Card Theft, Fraud Incidents In Maryland
Law enforcement agencies in Maryland are seeking the public’s assistance in locating two pairs of suspects who allegedly fraudulently used stolen credit cards in separate incidents in Harford County. An alert was issued by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, June 24, as they attempt to track down the four suspects who are wanted on fraud and theft charges. These two wanted suspects used a stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards at the Fallston Walmart.Harford County Sheriff's Office First, between 5:37 p.m. and 5:53 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, two women (pictured above) pu…
News
$6.8M
Covid-
19 Scam: Ex-Hedge Fund Manager Gets 4+ Years, No Parole
A dual New York/Florida resident was sentenced in New Jersey to a plea-bargained 51 months in federal prison for fraudulently collecting more than $6.8 million in COVID-19 payroll protection loans -- $3 million of which he lost in the stock market. Gregory J. Blotnick, 35, will have to serve just about all of the sentence because there's no parole in the federal prison system. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti sentenced Blotnick in Newark to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $4,577,631. Blotnick told the judge last f…
News
NJ: Elderly Siblings With 8th-Grade Educations Swindled In $500,000 Investment Scam
A former investment adviser swindled four elderly New Jersey customers out of $529,780 that he used for gambling, meals and car payments, state authorities said. Three of the victims conned by Mario E. Rivero, Jr. were elderly siblings who had eighth-grade educations, couldn't speak or read English and had "diminished capacity," Acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said on Monday, March 14. Rivero -- who'd known the siblings for more than 10 years before becoming their financial professional -- told them and others that their money "would be invested in his mother's and fr…
Police & Fire
Man Wanted For Identity Theft In Lehigh Valley, Police Say
Police are seeking the public’s help identifying a man wanted for fraud in the Lehigh Valley area. The man pictured above is a suspect in an identity theft case in Bethlehem, city police said Monday. Anyone with information about the man’s identity is asked to contact Bethlehem Police at 610-865-7000 or email Detective Molony at smolony@bethlehem-pa.gov.
Police & Fire
NJ Scammer Admits Selling Bogus Tom Brady Super Bowl Rings
A 24-year-old New Jersey man pleaded guilty to fraud for pretending to be a New England Patriots player to buy and sell Super Bowl rings engraved with Tom Brady's last name, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Scott V. Spina Jr., of Roseland, could face decades in prison when he's sentenced May 23, for charges of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft, authorities said. Spina's guilty plea comes one day after the quarterback announced his retirement after 22 seasons and seven Super Bowl titles. Spina ordered three replica Super Bo…
Police & Fire
Two Suspects Arrested In String Of Thefts, Assaulting Gym Member At LA Fitness In MoCo: Police
Two suspects have been arrested for committing a series of thefts at an LA Fitness in Silver Spring and assaulting a gym member in the process, police say. Misgana Kebde, 18, and Kai Torela, 19 were arrested and charged for committing the thefts from June to October 2021 at the gym on Bel Road, according to Montgomery County Police. On June 15, Kebede assaulted a gym member after they accused him of stealing his headphones. Kebede fled the scene before police arrive. Both Kebde and Torela are also accused of stealing debit and credit cards from lockers and vehicles parked at the location. …
News
PA Dentist Killed Wife On Safari To Get $4.8M Life Insurance Policy: FBI
A Pennsylvania dentist has been charged with murdering his wife while on a hunting safari in order to claim the $4.8 million from her life insurance policy, according to recently unsealed court documents. Lawrence Rudolph, 67, the founder of Three Rivers Dental in Pittsburgh, was arrested by the FBI in Mexico and extradited to the US in December for foreign murder and fraud charges, according to court documents. He is accused of killing his wife, Bianca, while in Zambia on a hunting safari in Oct. 2016, according to the criminal complaint. Rudolph originally told authorities in Zambia that…
News
Cold Feet? Makeup Artist Charged With Fraud After Skipping Weddings In 5 States But Kept Funds
Imagine it's the day before your wedding. You've planned a beautiful event and you have your perfect hair and makeup look picked out to go with your dream dress-- you have even hired a special makeup and hair artist. Then you receive a message via social media saying that the makeup and hair artist is not coming, the service you have already been paid for will not be refunded, and when you go to respond you are "blocked." That's what happened to 18 women in five states. Holly Ann (Klein) Boyer, 37, registered owner of DBA: Extreme Beauty, located at 2421 Scenic Drive, Manheim in Penn Townsh…
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