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Mass Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In Bogus Lottery Scheme: Cops
A couple from Secaucus is facing a litany of charges after scamming residents in multiple states out of more nearly $2.2 million, police said.
Akeem Lee and Majda Hodzic-Lee called victims in Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Nebraska, saying they'd won the "Publishers Clearing House Lottery," Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said.
In exchange for the vehicles and large sums of money the victims were told they won, they were required by Lee and Hodzic-Lee to send cash, money orders and/or gift cards for taxes, fees and IRS …
Guns, $30K Cash, Drugs: Springfield Police Sieze Heroin, Cocaine, Illegal Weapons In Raids
Police in Western Massachusetts raided three locations earlier this week and seized several guns, body armor, drugs, and nearly $30,000 in cash, authorities said.
Springfield officers executed three search warrants on Tuesday, April 18, just before 3 p.m. at “The Smoking Pot” on Bridge Street, an apartment at the Overland Lofts in the 100 block of Chestnut Street, and an apartment in the 0-100 block of Lombard Street, officials said.
Investigators chose these areas after noticing an uptick in shots fired reports over the past several weeks, Springfield police said.
Detecti…
Newly Minted Millionaires Made Bank Cutting Catalytic Converters In Mass, NH: Feds
Seven men who police say are responsible for stealing nearly 500 catalytic converters from cars in Massachusetts and New Hampshire since last year were arrested Wednesday, April 12. The stolen car parts were worth about $2 million.
According to the US Attorney for Massachusetts, the theft ring included —
Rafael Davila, a/k/a “Robin Hood,” 35, of Feeding Hills, Mass.;
Jose Torres, a/k/a “Goldy,” a/k/a “Goldy Tech,” 37, of Springfield, Mass.;
Nicolas Davila, 25, of Springfield, Mass.;
Jose Fonseca, a/k/a “Charlito,” 26, of Springfield, Mass.;
Zachary Marshall, 26, of Holyoke, Mass.;
Santo …
'Cheated': Recovery Centers Across Mass Close, Operators Charged With Millions In Fraud: Feds
Instead of fostering recovery, the operator of a chain of addiction treatment centers used his position to launder money, steal millions of dollars, and write prescriptions under doctors' names without permission, said the US attorney's office.
Michael Brier, of Newton, used his position as operator of Recovery Connections Centers of America to rake in millions of dollars from Medicare, Medicaid, and other such organizations by falsifying healthcare claims, back-dating documents, and writing prescriptions using the names of doctors without their permission, according to Unite…
Men Busted For Running Organized Crime Loan Sharking, Gambling Ring: Mass AG
State and federal agents wrapped up a multi-year investigation with the arrest of three men who they say used threats, intimidation, and extortion to run a multi-million dollar gambling ring with the help of an organized crime syndicate.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced the arrests last week and laid out the state's case against them. They are, and their charges include:
Eric Rogers, 54, of Revere: Extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, witness intimidation, and gambling charges.
Michael McMahon, 44, of Boston: Extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion,…
Springfield Woman Gets Prison Sentence Much Shorter Than Her Husband: Feds
A judge sentenced a 32-year-old Springfield woman to more than seven years in jail after she pleaded guilty to taking part in a drug smuggling ring that moved crack, heroin, and cocaine from Massachusetts into Vermont, authorities said. Her husband got 19 years for taking part in the operation in 2019.
Nia Dinzey, aka Nia Moore-Bush, pleaded guilty over the summer to several drugs, money laundering, and firearms charges, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.
Investigators said Nia Dinzey and her husband, Dinelson Dinzey, would drive the drugs from Springfield to Barre, Ve…
‘Trusted Lieutenant’ Of NY College Sex-Cult Leader Admits To Conspiracy
A former Westchester County college student who fell under the spell of convicted sex-cult leader Larry Ray has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money for his illegal dealings.
Isabella Pollok, age 31, a former student at Sarah Lawrence College, located near the border of Yonkers and Bronxville, who was described as Ray's "trusted lieutenant," pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 7 to one count related to Ray's twisted plot in Manhattan federal court.
Ray, now age 62, will be sentenced in December on more than a dozen charges, including extortion, sex trafficking, and racketeering cons…
5 Men From Region Indicted For Scheme To Steal, Sell Catalytic Converters
An investigation into stolen catalytic converters across Connecticut has resulted in federal charges against five men accused of running a multi-state trafficking ring.
A federal grand jury in New Haven returned a nine-count indictment Tuesday, Aug. 16, charging the following individuals:
Alexander Kolitsas, age 28, of Wolcott;
Bryant Bermudez, age 31, of East Hartford;
Roberto Alicea, age 30, of New Britain;
Francisco Ayala, age 22, of Ansonia;
Theodore Owens, age 21, of Hartford.
Federal prosecutors said Bermudez began working for Kolitsas in November 2021 at his business, Downpipe D…
Massachusetts Man Admits To Drug, Firearms, Money Laundering, Fraud Charges
A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to charges related to cocaine trafficking, firearms, money laundering, and tax return fraud.
According to an announcement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, William Hoey, age 41, of Worcester, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 7, to the following charges:
Three counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine
Two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine
One count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance…
Plumbing Business Was A Front For Large-Scale Marijuana Cultivation
A man who created a fake plumbing business as a front for an illegal, large-scale marijuana growing operation has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
On Tuesday, March 2, Thomas Laverty, 40, of Clinton, was sentenced on prior drug, money laundering, and fraud convictions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts, said.
According to court documents, Laverty, along with co-conspirators, created the phony plumbing business Chuck Laverty & Son Inc., as a cover to grow weed. Laverty and others used the plumbing business’ bank accounts and locations to facilitate growing, storing and dist…
Women Accused Of Running $100 Million Health Care Scam Using Poor, Disabled People
Two Massachusetts women were arrested on Sunday, Jan. 31, in connection to a $100 million home health care fraud.
The government is seeking to recoup funds as well as five properties allegedly bought with stolen funds.
On Monday, Feb. 1, Faith Newton, 52, of Westford, and Winnie Waruru, 41, of Lowell, were each indicted on counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; health care fraud - aiding and abetting; and conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts.
Newton was also charged with money laundering conspiracy and seven counts of mo…
Lawyer Swindles Clients Out Of Millions; Forges Mom, Ex-Wife's Info To Further Scheme
A local attorney - who threw his own mother under the bus - brazenly stole, lied, and manipulated his clients out of millions of dollars has been sentenced to 66 months in prison.
Phillip R. Williams, of Easthampton, pleaded guilty in December, to wire fraud, engaging in financial transactions greater than $10,000 of proceeds derived from criminal activity, money laundering, and tax fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts, said.
On Friday, Sept. 25, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni sentenced Williams to over 5 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release…
