Tag:

Identity theft

Woman Stalks Albany, Troy Victim For Months, Files False Child Abuse Claims, Police Say Woman Stalks Albany, Troy Victim For Months, Files False Child Abuse Claims, Police Say
Woman Stalks Albany, Troy Victim For Months, Files False Child Abuse Claims, Police Say A woman from the region is accused of stalking a person for months, stealing their identity, and wrongly accusing them of child abuse. Rensselaer County resident Nacirema Harris, age 28, of Troy, was arraigned on more than a dozen charges, including burglary and identity theft, in Albany County Court on Friday, March 8. New York State Police said troopers began investigating the case in January 2024. After determining that Harris had followed the victim in both Troy and Albany, they obtained a warrant to search her Troy residence. Further investigation determined that Harris targeted the v…
George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races' George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races'
George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races' Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos is mounting a comeback campaign. The Republican ex-lawmaker from Long Island – who was ousted from his 3rd District seat representing parts of Nassau County and Queens – announced a primary challenge against Rep. Nick LaLota for his 1st District seat. In a statement on X shared during President Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday night, March 7, Santos said New York hasn’t had “a real conservative represent them” since he left office “thanks to RINO, empty suits like Nick LaLota.” Earlier Report: Exiled Congressman Turned Reality …
Exiled Congressman Turned Reality TV Star? 2 George Santos Productions In Works, He Claims Exiled Congressman Turned Reality TV Star? 2 George Santos Productions In Works, He Claims
Exiled Congressman Turned Reality TV Star? 2 George Santos Productions In Works, He Claims If disgraced former New York congressman and admitted liar George Santos is to be believed, you haven’t seen the last of him. The Republican ex-lawmaker told City & State New York he’s been busy working on both a documentary and a reality TV show since being ousted from his 3rd District House seat representing parts of Nassau County and Queens. “So there’s just so many things that I’m working on now that I prefer to engage in instead of going into a messy primary to take on (newly sworn-in Democratic Rep.) Tom Suozzi,” Santos told the outlet. Earlier Report: Not Laughi…
George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows
George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos may avoid leaving his fate up to a trial in his federal fraud case. The Republican ex-congressman is currently in talks with federal prosecutors for a possible plea deal in his 23-count criminal case, according to a filing in Central Islip federal court on Monday, Dec. 11. In the joint filing, US Attorney Breon Peace and Santos asked the court to schedule the next status conference in approximately 30 days, saying “the parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial.” Earli…
Wynantskill Man Accused Of Trying To Cash Forged Checks At Bank Wynantskill Man Accused Of Trying To Cash Forged Checks At Bank
Wynantskill Man Accused Of Trying To Cash Forged Checks At Bank A 48-year-old man was captured after a months-long investigation into identity theft and larceny at a Fairfield County bank.  James Greco, of Wynantskill, New York, located in Rensselaer County, was charged on Tuesday, Nov. 21 on a warrant for the July incident at a Wilton bank. According to Lt. Anna Tornello, of the Wilton Police, Greco entered the bank and forged checks in the victim’s name, and then deposited the cash into other accounts. After an extensive investigation, and with the help of several other law enforcement agencies, Greco was identified as the suspect and …
Medical Company Data Breach: Affected NY Residents Warned Of Potential Identity Theft Medical Company Data Breach: Affected NY Residents Warned Of Potential Identity Theft
Medical Company Data Breach: Affected NY Residents Warned Of Potential Identity Theft Millions of New Yorkers are being warned by Attorney General Leticia James to protect themselves against identity theft following a data breach at a medical transcription company.  The warning, issued by James on Tuesday, Nov. 28, urges New York residents to take action to prevent their identities from being stolen in the midst of a data breach at medical transcription company Perry Johnson & Associates.  The Nevada-based company, which provides transcription services to healthcare organizations and physicians to help them dictate and transcribe patient notes, first becam…
Santos Saga: Ethics Committee Won’t Recommend Punishment For Embattled NY Rep, Report Says Santos Saga: Ethics Committee Won’t Recommend Punishment For Embattled NY Rep, Report Says
Santos Saga: Ethics Committee Won’t Recommend Punishment For Embattled NY Rep, Report Says After months of investigating embattled New York Rep. George Santos, the House Ethics Committee won’t recommend any punishment for the freshman lawmaker, ABC News reports. Instead, the ten-member committee, made up of five Republicans and five Democrats, will leave any disciplinary actions up to the House as a whole, Chair Michael Guest told the outlet. Santos, a Long Island Republican whose 3rd District includes parts of Nassau County and Queens, found himself in the committee’s sights in March 2023 after admitting that he lied about much of his background on the campaign trail. Earlier…
George Santos Campaign Staffer Admits Defrauding Donors By Impersonating Speaker's Aide George Santos Campaign Staffer Admits Defrauding Donors By Impersonating Speaker's Aide
George Santos Campaign Staffer Admits Defrauding Donors By Impersonating Speaker's Aide A campaign staffer who worked to elect New York Rep. George Santos has confessed to impersonating a high-level Congressional aide in order to raise money for him and line his own pockets. Samuel Miele, age 27, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in Central Islip federal court on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Miele was a fundraiser for Santos’ congressional campaigns in both 2020 and 2022, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District. Earlier Report: George Santos Pleads Not Guilty To 10 New Federal Charges; Here's When He'll Stand Trial Santos ran as a Republican and was elected to …
George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process'
George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' New York Rep. George Santos, who admitted to lying about his background and is facing nearly two dozen federal criminal charges, is claiming victory after an effort to expel him from Congress failed. The freshman Republican lawmaker from Long Island, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, easily survived a resolution brought by his fellow New York Republicans to oust Santos from the House on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The resolution failed with 179 members voting in favor and 213 voting against. Nineteen members voted “present.” Earlier Report: George Santos Pleads Not…
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns As New Yorkers across the state report being contacted by scammers impersonating their banks, officials are cautioning consumers to keep their eyes peeled. In a statement on Friday, Oct. 27, NY Attorney General Letitia James provided tips to avoid getting scammed by callers pretending to be bank or government officials. “Scammers claiming to be a trusted bank, or any institution relied on for financial services, can seriously harm New Yorkers by taking their money and their personal information,” she said. James said the Office of the Attorney General has been receiving calls from New Y…
George Santos Pleads Not Guilty To 10 New Federal Charges; Here's When He'll Stand Trial George Santos Pleads Not Guilty To 10 New Federal Charges; Here's When He'll Stand Trial
George Santos Pleads Not Guilty To 10 New Federal Charges; Here's When He'll Stand Trial Beleaguered New York Rep. George Santos was back in a federal courtroom to formally answer to a host of new fraud charges. The Republican lawmaker, whose 3rd District on Long Island includes parts of Nassau County and Queens, pleaded not guilty to 10 new counts in US District Court in Central Islip on Friday, Oct. 27. Judge Joanna Seybert set a trial date for Thursday, Sept. 9, 2024. Earlier Report: George Santos Stole Thousands From Donors, Inflated Fundraising Totals, New Indictment Alleges In their 23-count superseding indictment, which includes allegations of wire fraud and ident…
George Santos Stole Thousands From Donors, Inflated Fundraising Totals, New Indictment Alleges George Santos Stole Thousands From Donors, Inflated Fundraising Totals, New Indictment Alleges
George Santos Stole Thousands From Donors, Inflated Fundraising Totals, New Indictment Alleges Federal prosecutors have slapped embattled New York Congressman George Santos with an array of additional criminal charges just days after his ex-campaign treasurer implicated him in an alleged scheme to dupe donors. In a 23-count superseding indictment filed in US District Court in the Eastern District on Tuesday, Oct. 10, prosecutors outlined two new schemes that allegedly helped the freshman Republican lawmaker cheat his way into office. The first, dubbed the “Credit Card Fraud Scheme,” allegedly took place between December 2021 and August 2022. Prosecutors say Santos stole the personal …
George Santos' Ex-Campaign Treasurer Admits Role In Reporting Thousands In Fictional Loans George Santos' Ex-Campaign Treasurer Admits Role In Reporting Thousands In Fictional Loans
George Santos' Ex-Campaign Treasurer Admits Role In Reporting Thousands In Fictional Loans The woman who once oversaw the finances of embattled New York Rep. George Santos’ congressional campaign has confessed to filing fictional finance reports on his behalf, saying he was well aware of the scheme. Nancy Marks, a former campaign treasurer during Santos’ two congressional bids, pleaded guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in federal court in Central Islip on Thursday, Oct. 5. She admitted that she and Santos, a Republican whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, recorded phony campaign finance reports stating that Santos had…
'High Risk, High Reward': Santos Staffer Impersonated Speaker's Aide To Fundraise, Feds Say 'High Risk, High Reward': Santos Staffer Impersonated Speaker's Aide To Fundraise, Feds Say
'High Risk, High Reward': Santos Staffer Impersonated Speaker's Aide To Fundraise, Feds Say A campaign staffer who worked to elect New York Rep. George Santos impersonated a high-level Congressional aide in order to raise money for the then-aspiring lawmaker, a scheme that Santos was well aware of, federal prosecutors allege. Samuel Miele, age 27, is charged with wire fraud and identity theft as part of a five-count indictment that was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Aug. 16. Miele was a fundraiser for Santos’ congressional campaigns in both 2020 and 2022, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District. Earlier Report: Trio Of Schemes T…
Multimillion-Dollar Scheme: Woman From Region Nabbed For Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, Feds Say Multimillion-Dollar Scheme: Woman From Region Nabbed For Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, Feds Say
Multimillion-Dollar Scheme: Woman From Region Nabbed For Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, Feds Say A 49-year-old woman from the region has been charged with conspiring to commit money laundering and bank fraud, stealing more than $10 million from victims. Sullivan County resident Tetiana Berriors, of the hamlet of Smallwood, was arrested on Thursday, June 8, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. According to court documents, Berriors conspired to commit money laundering and bank fraud in connection with laundering the proceeds of a series of business email compromise scams that sought to deceive victims into sending nearly $10 million to bank accoun…
Duo Nabbed In NY Break-Ins Part Of 'South American Theft Group,' Police Say Duo Nabbed In NY Break-Ins Part Of 'South American Theft Group,' Police Say
Duo Nabbed In NY Break-Ins Part Of 'South American Theft Group,' Police Say Two members of an organized crime ring are behind bars in connection with numerous home break-ins across the country, including in Westchester County and on Long Island, authorities said. Jorge Luis Araneda Pogge, age 39, and Ingrid Johana Gomez, age 33, were both arrested in Queens Thursday, Jan. 12, following a multijurisdictional investigation that began in 2020, according to Harrison Police. The pair is accused of taking part in multiple residential burglaries and other theft-related crimes throughout the country, including the Town of Harrison and Nassau County. Pogge and Gomez are b…
Waitress In Schodack Steals Diner's Credit Card, Charges Over $1K, Police Say Waitress In Schodack Steals Diner's Credit Card, Charges Over $1K, Police Say
Waitress In Schodack Steals Diner's Credit Card, Charges Over $1K, Police Say A waitress in the Capital Region is facing charges for allegedly stealing a customer’s credit card and then going on a shopping spree. State police in Rensselaer County were called Thursday, Sept. 22, with reports that someone had made over $1,500 in unauthorized charges to the victim’s credit card. Investigators determined that the culprit was 26-year-old Kimberly Gibson, of Castleton-on-Hudson, who works as a waitress at the Schodack Diner, located on Highway 9 in Schodack.  The victim had recently visited the diner and used the same credit card to pay for hear meal, police said. …
Home Health Aide In Capital District Stole ID Of Elderly Woman Under Her Care, Police Say Home Health Aide In Capital District Stole ID Of Elderly Woman Under Her Care, Police Say
Home Health Aide In Capital District Stole ID Of Elderly Woman Under Her Care, Police Say A home health aide in the Capital District is facing charges after allegedly stealing the identity of an elderly woman under her care. Washington County resident Sherrilyn Ostrander, age 32, of Hudson Falls, was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 6, for felony identity theft, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators determined that Ostrander used the victim’s debit card to make numerous charges amounting to a “substantial loss to the victim,” police said. The elderly victim lives in the Town of Moreau in Saratoga County and was under Ostrander’s care at the time, according to …
Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds In Capital District Announce Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds In Capital District Announce
Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds In Capital District Announce Three men are facing federal charges for allegedly using other people’s identities to defraud the New York Labor Department out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Errol Murray, age 21, of Yonkers; Taliek Lanier, age 22, of Albany; and Thomas Brace, age 61, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, formerly of Albany, were all arrested on federal charges of mail and wire fraud, plus identity theft. Federal prosecutors said the trio conspired with a 36-year-old Albany woman, Jamie Johnson, and provided her with the personal identifying information of other people. Jonson pleaded guilty in February 2022 of…
Former State Employee From Albany Pleads Guilty To Unemployment Insurance Fraud Former State Employee From Albany Pleads Guilty To Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Former State Employee From Albany Pleads Guilty To Unemployment Insurance Fraud A former employee at the New York State Department of Labor has admitted to using his position to commit unemployment insurance fraud. Albany resident Wendell Giles, age 52, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft Thursday, Aug. 25, in federal court in Albany. Original Report: Former State Employee From Albany Indicted For Unemployment Insurance Fraud Prosecutors had alleged that Giles conspired with another NYSDOL worker, Carl DiVeglia, to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits, including federally funded pandemic relief benefits. Together, they submi…
Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams
Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams Police are warning the public about a new increase in scams that are "difficult to investigate." The scams, which take place all over the country, have also been reported region. "Even though the police may be made aware of these types of cases, they can be difficult to investigate because many times the suspects are in another country or quickly leave the scene where very little suspect information is available," the Trumbull Police Department in Fairfield County, Connecticut, said. Here's a list of the types of scams: The caller claimed to be a family member that has an illness or was …
Albany Man Admits To $207K Unemployment Insurance Fraud Albany Man Admits To $207K Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Albany Man Admits To $207K Unemployment Insurance Fraud A Capital District man could spend decades in federal prison after admitting to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits. Kahleke Taylor, age 21, of Albany, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges Tuesday, Aug. 9, in federal court in Albany. Prosecutors said Taylor stole the personal information of other people on social media and then used that information to file false unemployment insurance applications with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). On one application, filed in A…
Don't Fall For It: State Warns Of Scammers Sending Fake Texts About Bank Activity Don't Fall For It: State Warns Of Scammers Sending Fake Texts About Bank Activity
Don't Fall For It: State Warns Of Scammers Sending Fake Texts About Bank Activity State officials are warning New Yorkers about a rise in text message scammers who are targeting their personal information. The so-called phishing scheme targets cell phone users by impersonating financial institutions claiming that a customer’s account is compromised “due to unusual activity,” according to the New York State Division of Consumer Protection. But the messages are really just an attempt to trick the user into sharing their personal information like credit card, banking, and social security numbers. The messages may ask the user to make a payment or claim a prize, the agency …
Federal Jury Convicts NY Man In $600M Medical Billing Fraud Scheme Federal Jury Convicts NY Man In $600M Medical Billing Fraud Scheme
Federal Jury Convicts NY Man In $600M Medical Billing Fraud Scheme A federal jury has convicted a New York man for perpetrating a massive medical billing fraud scheme that netted hundreds of millions of dollars. Long Island resident Matthew James, age 54, of Saint James, appeared in US District Court in Central Islip on Wednesday, July 13, where he was found guilty on nine counts that included wire fraud and identity theft. The verdict followed a six-week trial in which federal prosecutors laid out how James ran phony medical billing companies to defraud insurance companies of more than $600 million. Working with his co-conspirator doctor clients around …
Employees Foil Attempted $85K Theft At North Greenbush Bank Employees Foil Attempted $85K Theft At North Greenbush Bank
Employees Foil Attempted $85K Theft At North Greenbush Bank Some observant employees at a Capital District bank are being credited with foiling a New York City man’s alleged attempt to fraudulently withdraw tens of thousands of dollars. In Rensselaer County, workers at the Berkshire Bank in North Greenbush called police shortly before 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 9, with reports that a man was attempting to withdraw $85,000. The employees were suspicious about the man’s drivers license and thought he was acting “strangely,” according to North Greenbush Police. When the transaction was denied, the man reportedly requested to withdraw $5,000. Arriving …
Selling Meth, Stealing IDs Nets Albany Man Years In Prison Selling Meth, Stealing IDs Nets Albany Man Years In Prison
Selling Meth, Stealing IDs Nets Albany Man Years In Prison A Capital District man has learned his fate after admitting that he sold large quantities of methamphetamine and stole other people’s identity. Albany resident Matthan Carroll, age 36, was sentenced to 94 months - or nearly eight years - in prison Thursday, July 7, in federal court in Albany. It followed his guilty plea to multiple charges, including distribution of methamphetamine, making fake government identification documents, and aggravated identity theft. Carroll admitted to selling 277 grams of meth and sending a portion of the drug through the US mail system, according to the US At…
Troy City Council Member Admits To Casting Ballots In Others' Names Troy City Council Member Admits To Casting Ballots In Others' Names
Troy City Council Member Admits To Casting Ballots In Others' Names A city council member in New York's Capital District has pleaded guilty to identity theft after sending in absentee ballots using other people’s names. Kimberly McPherson, age 61, of Troy, copped to the charges Wednesday, June 8, in federal court in Albany. Along with her plea, she agreed to resign from the Troy City Council, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the North District. Prosecutors said McPherson illegally cast an absentee ballot using the name of another person in the 2021 primary election. She did the same thing again, twice, in the general election, prosecutors said. M…
Alert Issued For Wanted Rensselaer County Man Alert Issued For Wanted Rensselaer County Man
Alert Issued For Wanted Rensselaer County Man Police are asking for help locating a wanted New York man. Capital District resident Shawn Guilbault, age 26, is wanted on a bench warrant out of Rensselaer County for charges stemming from an alleged vehicle theft, New York State Police said. The theft reportedly occurred in Schaghticoke in September 2021. He is wanted on grand larceny and identity theft charges, police said. Guilbault is described as having brown hair and brown eyes, standing 6-feet tall and weighing 175 pounds. He is believed to have connections to the Troy area, police said. Anyone with information on his whereabout…
Duo From Area Accused Of Using Stolen Debit Card Duo From Area Accused Of Using Stolen Debit Card
Duo From Area Accused Of Using Stolen Debit Card Two suspects are facing charges in New York after allegedly using a stolen debit card in Saratoga County, state police announced. In March, New York State Police troopers in Clifton Park launched an investigation after a Ballston Lake resident reported that someone had stolen a purse from a vehicle parked at Stewart’s on State Highway 9 in Malta. According to police, the victim’s debit card was subsequently used shortly after it was stolen to make purchases at a pair of stores in Clifton Park. During the investigation, police were able to identify two suspects - later determined to be Crai…