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NJ Woman Who Pulled $400,000 GoFundMe Scam With Homeless Vet, Ex-BF Gets Federal Prison Time
UPDATE: A New Jersey woman who helped pull a scam that conned 14,000 GoFundMe donors across the country out of $400,000 to purportedly benefit a homeless veteran is headed to federal prison.
Katelyn McClure, 32, of Bordentown got a far lighter sentence under the terms of her plea deal with the government than did her former boyfriend, Mark D’Amico, who concocted the cruel scheme.
McClure was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Camden on Thursday to a plea-bargained year and a day in a federal penitentiary. D’Amico, the "mastermind," earlier this year got 27 months in a fed pen in exchange …
Teaneck Vending Machine, Jukebox Company Owner Admits Stealing $368,783 From Pension Fund
A well-known Teaneck businessman whose vending machine and jukebox company paid five figures last year to settle a copyright infringement suit admitted Wednesday in federal court in Newark that he embezzled $368,783 from the business' employee pension fund.
Howard Preschel, 63, founded and served as the trustee for the pension fund established by CMG Vending Inc., which operated, leased, and rented vending machines throughout New Jersey and New York, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
He began skimming the money from the fund as early as November 2010, and by April 201…
Payroll Clerk Gets 18 Months For Helping Con Clifton Trucking Company Out Of $920,000
A now-former payroll clerk was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Monday for helping con a Clifton trucking company out of $920,380.
Lisa Popewiny, 56, also of Clifton, admitted her guilt last September, joining three brothers who also accepted deal from the government rather than face a jury in U.S. District Court in Newark.
Like Popewiny, Miguel Vidal, Angel D. Vidal, and Angel Gabriel Vidal previously pleaded guilty to similar charges for their roles in the scheme -- and, in doing so, agreed to testify against her if she took the case to trial.
The brothers admitted they allowe…