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Police & Fire
Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester
Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester Residents are being warned to be cautious after a woman in New York was contacted by a scammer who posed as her family member in an effort to solicit money from her.  The Westchester County incident happened to a member of the Port Chester Senior Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 11, when she was victimized by a "grandparent scam," according to an announcement from the center shared by the Port Chester Police Department. According to the community center, the woman received a call from someone who sounded like her grandchild, who said that they were in trouble and needed money …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Westchester: AG Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Westchester: AG
Immigration Assistance Provider Posed As Attorney, Intimidated Customer In Westchester: AG A fraudulent immigrant assistance service provider based in Westchester has agreed to pay restitution to several victims whom she misled and even threatened in some cases, officials said.  Jacquelin Mercado, an immigrant assistance service provider based in Yonkers, has entered into an agreement with the Office of the New York Attorney General after she was found to be posing as an attorney and illegally offering legal advice to customers, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday, Aug. 23.  According to the Attorney General's Office, Mercado's role …

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
SanToast? Retired NYPD Detective Challenging NY Rep. George Santos To 'Return Integrity' SanToast? Retired NYPD Detective Challenging NY Rep. George Santos To 'Return Integrity'
SanToast? Retired Nypd Detective Challenging NY Rep. George Santos To 'Return Integrity' A familiar face with an impressive resume is taking on embattled Congressman George Santos, whose admitted lying streak and alleged criminal misconduct has left an indelible mark on New York -- and national -- politics. Republican Michael Sapraicone, a retired New York City Police Department detective and US Navy veteran, announced his campaign for the state’s 3rd Congressional District seat on Tuesday, July 25. The district, which the 35-year-old Santos won by seven points in 2022, represents parts of Nassau County and Queens. Related Report: Embattled Nassau Rep. George Santos 'Pr…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
$43K Stolen By Treasurer Of Hudson Valley Lacrosse Club, State Police Say $43K Stolen By Treasurer Of Hudson Valley Lacrosse Club, State Police Say
$43K Stolen By Treasurer Of Hudson Valley Lacrosse Club, State Police Say A Hudson Valley man who volunteered as a treasurer for a youth lacrosse development club has been charged with stealing more than $43,000 from the organization which is now closed. Dutchess County resident Robert R. Dichiara, age 65, of LaGrange, was arrested on Monday, June 26 by New York State Police. According to Trooper AJ Hicks, an investigation into the missing funds was initiated after the department received a complaint of missing monies from the Arlington Lacrosse Developmental Club. The investigation, conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation determined that Dichiara stol…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Former Treasurer In Hudson Valley Nabbed For Stealing Funds, Police Say Former Treasurer In Hudson Valley Nabbed For Stealing Funds, Police Say
Former Treasurer In Hudson Valley Nabbed For Stealing Funds, Police Say A former treasurer in the Hudson Valley is being accused of stealing funds. On Monday morning, June 19, New York State Police in Ulster County announced that Burton Gulnick Jr, age 51, from the city of Kingston was arrested on Friday, June 16. Gulnick was the treasurer for both the Town of Hurley Recreation Association and the Friends of Mike Hein Political Committee. Hein is a former county executive in Ulster County. State Police said investigators received allegations regarding Gulnick stealing funds from the Hurley Recreation Association and the Committee to Re-Elect Mik…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say
Covid-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say Two men from Westchester and a Long Island woman face charges after participating in a more than $14 million scheme to steal from a program created to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials said.  New Rochelle resident Glenroy Walker, age 65, Mount Vernon resident Gary Wheeler, age 46, Freeport resident Sherril Baez, age 50, and three others are charged with scheming to steal more than $14 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Tuesday, June 6.  The …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Bogus Businessman Charged With $65K Fraud In Hudson Valley Bogus Businessman Charged With $65K Fraud In Hudson Valley
Bogus Businessman Charged With $65K Fraud In Hudson Valley A nearly year-long investigation revealed that a 28-year-old opened a phony business account to steal $65,000, officials in the Hudson Valley say.  In Orange County, 28-year-old Reginald Williams, of Newburgh, was indicted and charged for allegedly stealing $65,000 from a real company on Wednesday, May 3, according to Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler. Williams was arrested and arraigned in the Town of Warwick Justice Court on Wednesday, April 19, after a year-long, multi-agency investigation revealed that Williams, working by himself and with others, opened a …

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by Morgan Gonzales
News
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses $31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses Sentences have been handed out for two attorneys and a doctor convicted of defrauding New York businesses and their insurance companies of more than $31 million through a massive, three-year trip-and-fall fraud scheme. The three men all live on Long Island -- 60-year-old George Constantine in Plainview, 50-year-old Marc Elefant in Woodmere, and 67-year-old Andrew Dowd in Miller Place. Constantine and Dowd were convicted at a trial in mid-December 2022 of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. Dowd was also found guilty of additional counts of conspiracy to co…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Welfare Fraud: 3 Women From Region Charged With Theft Of Funds Welfare Fraud: 3 Women From Region Charged With Theft Of Funds
Welfare Fraud: 3 Women From Region Charged With Theft Of Funds Three women from the region have been charged with allegedly stealing government funds following an investigation by the Sullivan County Welfare Fraud Task Force. Those charged are: Lisa Keitt, age 26, of Liberty, was arrested and charged on Sunday, March 19, and charged with theft of services and offering a false instrument. It is alleged that Keitt stole services totaling $505.74 in Medicaid transportation benefits. On Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, and on eight other dates, Keitt obtained a medical transportation ride by deception to two separate medical facilities to which s…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
NY Rep. George Santos Confesses To Defrauding Brazilian Clerk Of $1,300 In Clothing: Report NY Rep. George Santos Confesses To Defrauding Brazilian Clerk Of $1,300 In Clothing: Report
NY Rep. George Santos Confesses To Defrauding Brazilian Clerk Of $1,300 In Clothing: Report Embattled New York Rep. George Santos has formally confessed to defrauding a Brazilian shop clerk of $1,300 in clothing and shoes, CNN reports.  The admission is part of an agreement requested by Santos’ attorney in January 2022 and accepted by Brazilian prosecutors that ensures he won’t be prosecuted for the crime, according to the outlet. Related Report: 'I've Been A Terrible Liar,' George Santos Admits After He 'Got Away With It' In 2020 It states that the freshman Republican lawmaker, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, agrees to confess to the fraud and p…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
‘No Fortune For Fraud’: NY Reps Introduce Legislation Targeting George Santos ‘No Fortune For Fraud’: NY Reps Introduce Legislation Targeting George Santos
‘No Fortune For Fraud’: NY Reps Introduce Legislation Targeting George Santos Several freshman members of Congress are targeting embattled New York Rep. George Santos, a member of their own party, hoping to ensure that he can’t turn a profit should he be convicted of a crime. Speaking at a press conference outside the US Capitol on Tuesday, March 7, Republican New York Rep. Anthony D’Esposito - whose 4th District includes parts of Nassau County - announced that he was sponsoring legislation meant to bar current and former House members from profiting off their story should they violate election laws and other federal statutes. The proposals, dubbed the “No Fame fo…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Accused NY Fraudster Agrees To Forfeit $248M He Allegedly Racked Up From Thousands Of Investors Accused NY Fraudster Agrees To Forfeit $248M He Allegedly Racked Up From Thousands Of Investors
Accused NY Fraudster Agrees To Forfeit $248M He Allegedly Racked Up From Thousands Of Investors A New York man admitted to committing fraud and has agreed to forfeit to the US government hundreds of millions of dollars he's accused of racking up from tens of thousands of investors until his arrest less than a year ago. Long Island resident Eddy Alexandre, age 50, of Valley Stream, the leader of a purported cryptocurrency and foreign exchange trading platform called EminiFX, solicited more than $248 million after making false representations in connection with the EminiFX trading platform, the Southern District of New York, announced on Friday, Feb. 10. According to the allegations in …

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by Joe Lombardi