Tag:

Wire Fraud

'Bitcoin Beautee' In MD Admits To Role In $1.89B Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme 'Bitcoin Beautee' In MD Admits To Role In $1.89B Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme
'Bitcoin Beautee' In MD Admits To Role In $1.89B Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme A Maryland woman went under the name of “Bitcoin Beautee” during her role alongside two others in a Cryptocurrency fraud scheme that netted more than $1.89 billion, she admitted in US District Court on Monday, Jan. 29. Brenda Chunga, 43, of Severna Park, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud for her role as a promoter of HyperFund, also known as HyperTech, HyperCapital, HyperVerse, and HyperNation, US Attorney Erek Barron announced. The plea came just four days after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Sam Lee, 35, an Australian citizen…
Wig-Wearing Identity Thief Who Trafficked Phony Oxy Pills In DMV Region Gets Time In DC Wig-Wearing Identity Thief Who Trafficked Phony Oxy Pills In DMV Region Gets Time In DC
Wig-Wearing Identity Thief Who Trafficked Phony Oxy Pills In DMV Region Gets Time In DC A Maryland man is heading to prison for his role in a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy across the DMV region, federal authorities announced. Silver Springs resident Tyronn Waters was sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty in July to distributing fentanyl and wire fraud charges as part of an elaborate scheme.  In August 2021, an investigation was launched into a drug trafficking ring running a fentanyl pill pressing operation in both DC and Maryland. According to prosecutors, the drugs included counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, produced using…
Man Returned $300K Of Items To Home Depots That He Never Paid For, Including MD Stores: Feds Man Returned $300K Of Items To Home Depots That He Never Paid For, Including MD Stores: Feds
Man Returned $300K Of Items To Home Depots That He Never Paid For, Including MD Stores: Feds A Connecticut man is accused of ripping off nearly $300,000 from more than two dozen Home Depot stores across eight states, including Maryland, 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 to a customer service …
Maryland Man Admits To Conning Customers Out Of $2.1M By Substituting Dirt, Debris For Scrap Maryland Man Admits To Conning Customers Out Of $2.1M By Substituting Dirt, Debris For Scrap
Maryland Man Admits To Conning Customers Out Of $2.1M By Substituting Dirt, Debris For Scrap The owner of a New Jersey-based scrap metal company told a customer that dirt and debris found packed into a container shipped to Korea that was supposed to hold aluminum scrap was a mistake, authorities said. Turns out it wasn’t. Creed White, 64, of Freeland, Maryland, admitted in federal court in Camden, NJ, this week that he scammed a dozen or so businesses out of more than $2 million, authorities said on Thursday, Aug. 3. Using the name “Dan Stein,” White contacted one of the victims through an Internet message board on behalf of his Camden-based company American Scrap company, a compl…
Manhunt For Former Top Hogan Aide In MD Hits Week Three; $20K Reward Offered By Feds Manhunt For Former Top Hogan Aide In MD Hits Week Three; $20K Reward Offered By Feds
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…
Corrections Officer From Maryland Used Stolen Labor Committee Funds For Lavish NYC Trip: DOJ Corrections Officer From Maryland Used Stolen Labor Committee Funds For Lavish NYC Trip: DOJ
Corrections Officer From Maryland Used Stolen Labor Committee Funds For Lavish NYC Trip: DOJ A District of Columbia Department of Corrections Officer from Maryland has been apprehended for embezzling tens of thousands of dollars so he and his friends could live a life of luxury in New York, federal officials announced. Andra Parker, 64, of Capitol Heights, was arrested on Monday, Dec. 19, and charged in federal court with embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from a D.C. Department of Corrections Labor Union. Prosecutors say that between June 2018 and May 2019 Parker served as chairman of the DC Department of Corrections Labor Committee, which represents all members of the DC Dep…
Fraudster Admits To Posing As Bail Bondsman As Part Of $840K Elder Fraud Scam In Maryland Fraudster Admits To Posing As Bail Bondsman As Part Of $840K Elder Fraud Scam In Maryland
Fraudster Admits To Posing As Bail Bondsman As Part Of $840K Elder Fraud Scam In Maryland Authorities announced that a 64-year-old man has admitted to his role in an $800,000 elder fraud scam where he targeted victims in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and the surrounding regions. Michael Odell Anderson, 64, of Crystal Beach, Florida, and Dun Lorring, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in relation to his participation in an elder fraud scam, the Department of Justice announced this week. Between April 2020 and December 2020, officials said that Anderson conspired with others to persuade elderly victims to give them thousands of dollars u…
Maryland 'Pastor' Convicted For Targeting Religious Investors In $28 Million Ponzi Scheme Maryland 'Pastor' Convicted For Targeting Religious Investors In $28 Million Ponzi Scheme
Maryland 'Pastor' Convicted For Targeting Religious Investors In $28 Million Ponzi Scheme A Maryland man has been convicted of operating a $28 million Ponzi scheme that promised victims personal wealth and financial freedom, authorities announce. Arley Ray Johnson, 63, convinced victims to invest in the company "1st Million", by holding promotional events at upscale hotels and event spaces, attending church-sponsored events, intending to target investments from churchgoers, and representing themselves as religious men more interested in the financial freedom of others than personal financial gain, according to the Department of Justice. Johnson and co-defendants Dennis Mbongeni …
Former Maryland-Based Lawyer Accused Of Stealing Near $4M From Clients, Employees: DOJ Former Maryland-Based Lawyer Accused Of Stealing Near $4M From Clients, Employees: DOJ
Former Maryland-Based Lawyer Accused Of Stealing Near $4M From Clients, Employees: DOJ A California man has been charged after allegedly using funds owed to clients from his law firm in Prince George's County to pay for personal expenses, officials say. Matthew C. Browndorf, 51, was charged with four counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering arising from a scheme that defrauded clients more than $3.9 million. The licensed attorney was a partner at a California law firm as well as the CEO of Plutos Sama, LLC, a company organized in Delaware but principally located in California. Plutos Sama owned Prince George's County firm, BP Fisher Law Group LLP, prosecutors…
Four Face Federal Indictment In Maryland For $3M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme Four Face Federal Indictment In Maryland For $3M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
Four Face Federal Indictment In Maryland For $3M Covid-19 Fraud Scheme Four Maryland residents are facing federal indictment for a CARES Act COVID-19 unemployment fraud scheme that saw over $3 million in losses, officials say. Three of the suspects had an initial court appearance in Baltimore on Thursday, July 21, while the fourth was scheduled to appear on Friday, July 22 in Florida. Those facing charges:  Tyshawna Davis, 38, of Gwynn Oak; Donna Jones, 55, of Cockeysville; Devante Smith, 27, of Hanover; Tila Woods, 44, of Baltimore. From June 2020 through May 2021, the four used the identification information of their victims to fraudulently obtain une…
Fired Baltimore PD Employee, Homicide Suspect Facing Federal Fraud Charges Fired Baltimore PD Employee, Homicide Suspect Facing Federal Fraud Charges
Fired Baltimore PD Employee, Homicide Suspect Facing Federal Fraud Charges A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a fired Baltimore civilian police employee once eyed as a homicide suspect with stealing his defunct business' tax prepare's identity to try to get COVID relief money. Dana Lamar Antonio Hayes, Jr., 37, submitted several bogus Economic Injury Disaster Relief(EIDL) loan applications and several Paycheck Protection Plan(PPP) loan applications to the Small Business Administration and two banks between March 2020 and Oct. 2021, according to the Department of Justice.    Hayes had been fired from his position as the chief of…
Maryland Governor's Former Chief Of Staff Charged With Falsifying Records In Federal Case Maryland Governor's Former Chief Of Staff Charged With Falsifying Records In Federal Case
Maryland Governor's Former Chief Of Staff Charged With Falsifying Records In Federal Case A former top official in the Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's administration is facing new charges for allegedly falsifying records in an attempt to defraud the government, federal authorities announced. Naples, Florida resident Roy C. McGrath, 52, who was initially appointed by the governor to serve as Executive Director of Maryland Environmental Service (MES) is facing fresh charges for alleged falsification of records tied to previous federal charges of wire fraud and theft. MES is a corporation owned by the State of Maryland to provide environmental services such as water and wastewater man…
Maryland Businessman Sentenced For $940K USPS Facilities Fraud Scheme Maryland Businessman Sentenced For $940K USPS Facilities Fraud Scheme
Maryland Businessman Sentenced For $940K USPS Facilities Fraud Scheme A Maryland businessman will spend more than a year behind bars for conspiring to commit wire fraud and overcharging the US Postal Service (USPS) for maintenance and repair services through his company. New Windsor resident Joseph Liberto, 47, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 12 months of home detention and three years of supervised release for a wire fraud conspiracy in connection with his company’s contract to perform work at USPS facilities. The sentence was announced on Wednesday, June 15. According to his plea agreement, while president and co-owner of Sie…