Cyber-Footsie Scammers From NJ, MD, VA Swindle $7 Million From Mostly Elderly Victims, Feds Say Cyber-Footsie Scammers From NJ, MD, VA Swindle $7 Million From Mostly Elderly Victims, Feds Say
Cyber-Footsie Scammers From NJ, MD, VA Swindle $7 Million From Mostly Elderly Victims, Feds Say Mostly elderly victims across the United States were conned out of a whopping $7 million by a quartet of romance scammers from New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia – all of whom were arrested by the FBI, authorities said. The victims sent the money to the imposters thinking that they were helping out love interests, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. They lost a lot. Arrested this past week, Sellinger said, were: Nana Yaw Marfo, 37, of Virginia, who was accused of receiving at least $4.7 million; Chevon Braxton, 42, of Maryland, who was accused of collecting at least $1.3 million; Will…
Biden Tapping US Petroleum Reserve To Relieve Pump Prices Biden Tapping US Petroleum Reserve To Relieve Pump Prices
Biden Tapping US Petroleum Reserve To Relieve Pump Prices US President Joe Biden will be tapping the country's petroleum reserves in an effort to save American drivers some cash. One million barrels of oil a day will be released for six months, totaling180 million barrels, from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The soaring gas prices are in part caused by the US ban on oil imports from Russia due to its Ukrainian invasion. The national average for a gallon of gas had fallen to $4.18 as of April 4. Gas price comparisonAAA “The upward push on oil prices caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine is meeting stronger downward pressure from the plann…
COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US
Covid-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US With the new “stealth” COVID-19 sub-variant emerging from the shadows in the US and overseas, researchers are concerned that one subset of Americans could potentially lead to a possible new surge of infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron, which is known as B.1.1.529, has three sub-variants: the original BA.1 that remains the dominant strain, the “stealth” BA.2, which is picking up steam, and the more elusive BA.3. The new “stealth” variant - named for its difficulty to identify due to a lack of certain genetic characteristics - has been becoming more of a co…
Businessman Admits Laundering $653M In Drug Money Through Banks In NJ, NY, PA Businessman Admits Laundering $653M In Drug Money Through Banks In NJ, NY, PA
Businessman Admits Laundering $653M In Drug Money Through Banks In NJ, NY, PA A businessman admitted laundering what a federal prosecutor called a "staggering" $653 million in drug money by bribing employees in banks and other financial institutions in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Da Ying Sze, 43, of Queens said during a plea hearing in U.S. District Court in Newark on Tuesday, Feb. 22, that he deposited the cash into accounts in the names of shell companies and conspirators. Sze said he laundered the money from 2016 to 2021 by buying bank checks, writing personal and business checks and making international and domestic wires to thousands of individuals an…
Children's Bathrobes Recalled Due To Safety Hazards Children's Bathrobes Recalled Due To Safety Hazards
Children's Bathrobes Recalled Due To Safety Hazards The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled children's bathrobes. The Jan. 12 recall includes the China-based HulovoX 100% micro-polyester children's robes. The bathrobes failed to meet the federal flammability standards for children’s clothing, posing a risk of burn injuries to children. The products were sold in sizes 3T through 12 in 22 multicolored tie-dye and rainbow colors. The 3,500 long-sleeve robes were sold exclusively online at Amazon from January 2021 through May 2021 for about $30. The products have a sewn-in side seam belt, internal but…
Ex-Giants Manning, O'Hara Make Comic's Day At NJ Burger Icon Ex-Giants Manning, O'Hara Make Comic's Day At NJ Burger Icon
Ex-Giants Manning, O'Hara Make Comic's Day At NJ Burger Icon Chris Distefano left White Manna with more than a burger: He's got a photo with former New York Giants Eli Manning and Shaun O'Hara -- and quite a story to tell. "I look like a make-a-wish," he joked on an Instagram photo of the three outside of the River Street burger icon. Distefano went on to rehash the meet-up on hisYouTube channel where he hosts the "Chrissy Chaos" podcast. The comic said that Manning was professional and "kind of a G." "He was launching burgers off my chest and I haven't changed my jersey yet." Watch the full episode below (warning: contains explicit language). …
COVID-19: Feds Charge NYC-Area Pharmacy Owners In $30 Million Health Care Fraud COVID-19: Feds Charge NYC-Area Pharmacy Owners In $30 Million Health Care Fraud
Covid-19: Feds Charge Nyc-area Pharmacy Owners In $30 Million Health Care Fraud The owners of more than a dozen New York City-area pharmacies exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to scam Medicaid out of $30 million, then used the money to buy themselves real estate and luxury items, federal authorities charged. Peter Khaim, 40, and Arkadiy Khaimov, 37, both of Forest Hills, got others to pose as pharmacy owners or supervisors to take advantage of emergency override codes added to the Medicare system during the national state of emergency, an indictment returned by a grand jury in Brooklyn alleges. They used these to submit fraudulent claims for the expensive cancer medicati…
Feds: Chinese Citizen Who Financed $2.25M Exotic Turtle-Smuggling Operation Extradited To NJ Feds: Chinese Citizen Who Financed $2.25M Exotic Turtle-Smuggling Operation Extradited To NJ
Feds: Chinese Citizen Who Financed $2.25M Exotic Turtle-Smuggling Operation Extradited To NJ A Chinese citizen who bankrolled the smuggling of $2.25 million worth of rare, protected turtles out of the United States was extradited from Malaysia to face federal charges in New Jersey, authorities said. Kang Juntao, 24, of Hangzhou City, China, financed a nationwide ring of criminals who smuggled at least 1,500 protected turtles out of the U.S., many of whom were bound with duct tape and stuffed into socks, Justice Department officials said Thursday. “Wildlife trafficking is a serious crime that impacts imperiled species at home and abroad,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aure…
Feds Charge Jersey Shore Pain Management Doc With Massive $24.6M Billing Fraud Feds Charge Jersey Shore Pain Management Doc With Massive $24.6M Billing Fraud
Feds Charge Jersey Shore Pain Management Doc With Massive $24.6M Billing Fraud A Jersey Shore pain management doctor accused of running a $24.6 million fraud scheme billed insurance plans for more than 24 hours worth of services in a single day no fewer than 900 times, federal authorities said Monday. Morris Antebi, 68, of Long Branch, also billed Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies frequently on dates when travel records show he was overseas -- including trips to China, Israel, Turkey, the Dominican Republic and across Europe – and at other times when he was otherwise out of state, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Antebi, who specializes in pain ma…
Prosecutor: Carlstadt Silencer Smuggler Had Guns, Ammo, Bullet-Proof Vests, More Prosecutor: Carlstadt Silencer Smuggler Had Guns, Ammo, Bullet-Proof Vests, More
Prosecutor: Carlstadt Silencer Smuggler Had Guns, Ammo, Bullet-Proof Vests, More An ironworker caught smuggling silencers from China had an arsenal of guns, high-capacity magazines and police-issued bulletproof vests in his Carlstadt home, authorities said. Matthew Moran, 48, was released by a judge following his arrest on charges of possessing prohibited weapons and devices – namely: silencers. Matthew Moran, 48, was “identified as a person of interest in receiving shipments of suppressors, also called silencers, meant to reduce the sound and muzzle flash generated from a gunshot,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Saturday. Moran was targeted during a joint…
LAWSUIT: Morris County Violinist Lost Job Over 'Racist' Chinese Comment, Sues Montclair State LAWSUIT: Morris County Violinist Lost Job Over 'Racist' Chinese Comment, Sues Montclair State
Lawsuit: Morris County Violinist Lost Job Over 'Racist' Chinese Comment, Sues Montclair State A violin player in a world-renowned string quartet has filed a lawsuit against Montclair State University and his three partners claiming he was kicked out of the university's ensemble because of a social media comment deemed racist toward China -- despite allegedly resigning from the ensemble himself, according to a recent news report. Chinese government officials reportedly organized a social media campaign against Yi-Wen Jiang, a Morristown resident and member of Montclair State's ensemble-in-residence "Shanghai Quartet," because of his alleged comments, NorthJersey.com reports. Jiang, w…
Mysterious Seed Packets Arriving In Mail Could Be A Scam - Don't Plant Them Mysterious Seed Packets Arriving In Mail Could Be A Scam - Don't Plant Them
Mysterious Seed Packets Arriving In Mail Could Be A Scam - Don't Plant Them People who have received mysterious seed packages through the mail are being advised: Do not plant them. Agriculture departments in 30 states are warning people about unsolicited seed deliveries that appear to be coming from China. The USDA is aware that people have been receiving these odd seed packets and is working with Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection to investigate the situation. The USDA urges anyone who receives unsolicited seed packets to hold onto them, as well as their labels and packaging, and contact their state plant regulatory office: Connecticut: (203) 97…