Tag:

Money Laundering

LI Man Who Embezzled $8.4M From Private School To Buy Cars, Beach Houses Gets Prison Time LI Man Who Embezzled $8.4M From Private School To Buy Cars, Beach Houses Gets Prison Time
LI Man Who Embezzled $8.4M From Private School To Buy Cars, Beach Houses Gets Prison Time A former employee at a Long Island private school who lived the high life after embezzling millions of dollars will spend years in prison. David Ostrove, age 52, of West Islip, was sentenced to between 8 ⅓ and 25 years in prison in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, April 17, following his conviction for grand larceny and money laundering. Prosecutors said Ostrove transferred over $8.4 million from Williston Park’s Schechter School of Long Island into his own personal accounts between March 2014 and April 2022. Earlier Report: West Islip Man Embezzled $8.4M From Private School, Boug…
Employee Embezzled $8.4M From Williston Park Private School, Bought Cars, Beach Houses: Jury Employee Embezzled $8.4M From Williston Park Private School, Bought Cars, Beach Houses: Jury
Employee Embezzled $8.4M From Williston Park Private School, Bought Cars, Beach Houses: Jury An employee of a Long Island private school lived the high life after embezzling millions of dollars from his employer, a jury found. David Ostrove, age 52, of West Islip, was found guilty of grand larceny and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, March 12. Prosecutors said Ostrove transferred over $8.4 million from Williston Park’s Schechter School of Long Island into his own personal accounts between March 2014 and April 2022. During that time, he served as the school’s chief financial and technology office. An investigation found that he later used the stolen money to fu…
George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For LI Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races' George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For LI Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races'
George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For LI 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…
Long Island Pawn Shop Owner Gets Prison For Running $2M Retail Theft Ring Long Island Pawn Shop Owner Gets Prison For Running $2M Retail Theft Ring
Long Island Pawn Shop Owner Gets Prison For Running $2M Retail Theft Ring The owner of a Long Island pawn shop will spend years in prison and lose his business license after leading a multimillion-dollar retail theft ring. Carlos Ulloa, age 51, of Patchogue, was sentenced to three to nine years behind bars in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Feb. 2, after pleading guilty to corruption and related charges. According to prosecutors, between May 2020 and August 2022 Ulloa regularly received stolen goods from Suffolk County retailers at his business, EZ Cash Pawn & Jewelry in Brentwood. Earlier Report: 4 Nabbed In Million-Dollar Suffolk County Retail Theft…
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, 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…
Man's Brother Pretended To Be NY Mobster As Part Of $4M Embezzlement Scheme Man's Brother Pretended To Be NY Mobster As Part Of $4M Embezzlement Scheme
Man's Brother Pretended To Be NY Mobster As Part Of $4M Embezzlement Scheme Henry Hill immortalized the line "as far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster."  That mantra didn't work out well for a pair of brothers - one of whom pretended to be a New York mobster - to get a Maryland man to embezzle more than $4 million from his employer in Washington, DC.  New York native Corry Blue Evans, 31, has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in an elaborate fraud, extortion, and money laundering scheme that involved several other close-knit co-conspirators who worked to exploit the multi-million dollar scheme. The sentence comes y…
Santos Lashes Out At Former NY Republican Congressional Colleagues, Including LaLota Santos Lashes Out At Former NY Republican Congressional Colleagues, Including LaLota
Santos Lashes Out At Former NY Republican Congressional Colleagues, Including LaLota Former New York Rep. George Santos appears to be out for revenge following his historic expulsion from Congress. Within hours of being voted out of the US House on Friday, Dec. 1, the disgraced Santos began unleashing a series of social media posts targeting his former Republican colleagues. Unsurprisingly, all of those in his sights were among the 105 Republicans who voted to kick him out of office amid mounting accusations of criminality. Earlier Report: And Just Like That: Lock Changed, Website Scrubbed Following George Santos’ Historic Ouster First on the hit list was Staten I…
Santos Saga: Ethics Committee Won’t Recommend Punishment For Embattled LI Rep, Report Says Santos Saga: Ethics Committee Won’t Recommend Punishment For Embattled LI Rep, Report Says
Santos Saga: Ethics Committee Won’t Recommend Punishment For Embattled LI 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 …
Nassau Rep. George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' Nassau Rep. George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process'
Nassau Rep. 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…
$2M Fraud Scheme: Long Island Trio Steals Millions From Financial Services Company, Feds Say $2M Fraud Scheme: Long Island Trio Steals Millions From Financial Services Company, Feds Say
$2M Fraud Scheme: Long Island Trio Steals Millions From Financial Services Company, Feds Say Three Long Island men are among several people accused in an elaborate scheme to defraud a financial services company out of millions. An indictment unsealed in Central Islip federal court on Tuesday, Oct. 31, charges four men with conspiring to commit securities fraud and money laundering. The following Suffolk County residents are named in the indictment: Christopher Flagg (aka “Venus”), age 28, of Copiague Daquan Lloyd (aka “Payday”), age 29, of Copiague Eduardo Hernandez (aka “Ghost”), age 33, of Lindenhurst According to prosecutors, the group created hundreds of sham brokerage accoun…
COVID-19: Long Island Nurse Paid Off Mortgage By Selling Phony Vaccine Cards COVID-19: Long Island Nurse Paid Off Mortgage By Selling Phony Vaccine Cards
Covid-19: Long Island Nurse Paid Off Mortgage By Selling Phony Vaccine Cards A pediatric nurse from Long Island is facing jail time after admitting that she sold phony COVID-19 vaccination cards and then laundered the proceeds. Amityville resident Julie DeVuono, age 51, owner of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare, pleaded guilty to felony forgery and money laundering charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Sept. 15. She admitted that between June 2021 and January 2022, she sold people forged COVID-19 vaccine cards and then entered false information claiming the customers had received a vaccination into the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS). C…
Great Neck Resident Among 5 Businessmen Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds Great Neck Resident Among 5 Businessmen Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds
Great Neck Resident Among 5 Businessmen Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds Five businessmen, including one from Long Island, laundered millions of dollars a day in cash through fronts they set up in New York City’s Diamond District, federal authorities charged. Federal agents tied the quintet to $673 million in dirty money laundered through illicit operations over the past four years, US Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. In exchange, Youssef Janfar, aka “Joe Rodeo,” age 57, of Great Neck, and Edison, New Jersey residents Raj Vaidya, age 26; Rakesh Vaidya, age 51; Shrey Vaidya, age 23; and Neel Patel, 26, collected sizable fees, he said. Janfar pur…
'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…
Twins Trick Clients Out Of $5 Million In Great Neck Investment Advising Fraud, Feds Say Twins Trick Clients Out Of $5 Million In Great Neck Investment Advising Fraud, Feds Say
Twins Trick Clients Out Of $5 Million In Great Neck Investment Advising Fraud, Feds Say A pair of twin brothers and investment advisors are facing 20 years in prison after allegedly defrauding clients out of millions. The brothers, Adam and Daniel Kaplan, both age 34 and hailing from Great Neck, were indicted on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and more, the US District Attorney’s Eastern District of New York announced on Tuesday, July 25. Adam and Daniel, between May 2018 and November 2022, took on hundreds of clients as investment advisors from New York all the way to Arizona, according to the indictment and public records. During that time, the brothers used thei…
$9.5 Million Fraud: Glen Cove Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme $9.5 Million Fraud: Glen Cove Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme
$9.5 Million Fraud: Glen Cove Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme A Long Island man who is accused of using fake businesses to defraud over $9 million from federal disaster relief funds has pleaded guilty, authorities announced. On Friday, July 14, the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) of the US Attorney’s Office announced Rami Saab’s guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Saab, a 44-year-old from Glen Cove, was accused of stealing $9.5 million from banks and the Small Business Association (SBA) over the course of one year by creating fake companies so that he could claim COVID-19 relief loans. According to the charges, between M…
$10M Fraud Scheme: LI Father-Son Duo Spent Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle, Feds Say $10M Fraud Scheme: LI Father-Son Duo Spent Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle, Feds Say
$10M Fraud Scheme: LI Father-Son Duo Spent Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle, Feds Say A New York father and son are accused of conning investors out of millions of dollars that allegedly went toward funding their lavish lifestyle. Long Island residents Eugene Austin, age 60, of Port Jefferson, and his son Brandon Austin, age 27, of Coram, are named in an indictment that was unsealed in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, July 12. According to prosecutors, the men fraudulently offered to serve as a broker for sales of large quantities of cryptocurrency at below-market exchange rates and provide short-term investments in cryptocurrency for purportedly high returns. They als…
Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed
Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed After more than a month, the question of who backed the half-million-dollar bond to free embattled New York Congressman George Santos from custody while his federal criminal case plays out has finally been answered. Documents unsealed in US District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Thursday, June 22, show that Santos’ father, Gercino dos Santos, and his aunt, Elma Preven, are the co-signers on his $500,000 bond. Santos' lawyer had argued that publicizing his relatives' identities could subject them to harassment from news organizations, but the judge rejected the plea. The 34-…
Murder, Money Laundering: Alleged MS-13 Members From Nassau County, Queens, More Indicted Murder, Money Laundering: Alleged MS-13 Members From Nassau County, Queens, More Indicted
Murder, Money Laundering: Alleged MS-13 Members From Nassau County, Queens, More Indicted A new 48-count superseding indictment charging dozens of alleged MS-13 members – including a handful from Long Island – with murder, money laundering, and other charges has been released, officials announced. On Wednesday, June 21, the United States Attorney’s Office unsealed a superseding indictment that charges 23 alleged MS-13 gang members, six of them from Long Island, of attempted murder, racketeering, and more. Seven of the 23 individuals had been previously indicted and arrested, while the newly indicted were arrested in the days leading up to Wednesday, June 21. The original indi…
$100M Fraud: 'Lottery Lawyer' Of Long Island Gets 13 Years For Scheme Targeting Jackpot Winners $100M Fraud: 'Lottery Lawyer' Of Long Island Gets 13 Years For Scheme Targeting Jackpot Winners
$100M Fraud: 'Lottery Lawyer' Of Long Island Gets 13 Years For Scheme Targeting Jackpot Winners A New York lawyer will spend more than a decade behind bars for helping to defraud lottery jackpot winners out of more than $100 million. Long Island resident Jason Kurland, age 49, of Dix Hills, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison in US District Court in Brooklyn on Thursday, June 15. It followed his July 2022 conviction for wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. According to prosecutors, Kurland was a partner at a Long Island law firm between 2018 and 2020, and built a reputation for representing lottery…
Black Market Brothers: Alleged Long Beach Catalytic Converter Traffickers Indicted Black Market Brothers: Alleged Long Beach Catalytic Converter Traffickers Indicted
Black Market Brothers: Alleged Long Beach Catalytic Converter Traffickers Indicted Two brothers have been charged with an 81-count indictment for supposedly trafficking stolen catalytic converters from other states and selling the precious metals inside of them, authorities announced. On Friday, May 12, Long Beach brothers Alan and Andrew Pawelsky, aged 28 and 25, respectively, were charged for their involvement in trafficking catalytic converters on the black market, opening them up, and making millions off of the precious metals inside, according to the Nassau County District Attorney. According to the charges against them, the scheme lasted from June 2021 to December…
Trio Of Schemes That Led To Santos Arrest Detailed By Feds; Rep Not Resigning Over 'Witch Hunt' Trio Of Schemes That Led To Santos Arrest Detailed By Feds; Rep Not Resigning Over 'Witch Hunt'
Trio Of Schemes That Led To Santos Arrest Detailed By Feds; Rep Not Resigning Over 'Witch Hunt' Beleaguered New York Rep. George Santos is remaining defiant in the face of numerous federal criminal charges, refusing to resign from Congress and vowing to fight what he decried as a “witch hunt.” The 34-year-old Republican, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, pleaded not guilty to all 13 federal charges against him during his arraignment in Central Islip on Wednesday afternoon, May 10. He is charged with: Seven counts of wire fraud Three counts of money laundering Theft of public funds Two counts of making false statements on federal disclosure forms Follo…
Embattled Nassau Congressman George Santos Now Under Arrest, Facing 13 Federal Charges Embattled Nassau Congressman George Santos Now Under Arrest, Facing 13 Federal Charges
Embattled Nassau Congressman George Santos Now Under Arrest, Facing 13 Federal Charges Click here for a new, updated story: Trio Of Schemes That Led To Santos Arrest Detailed By Feds; Rep Not Resigning Over 'Witch Hunt' US Congressman George Santos was arrested early Wednesday, May 10 on a 13-count indictment. The arrest took place early Wednesday in Central Islip. According to the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York's Office, Santos, a 34-year-old right-wing Republican, was charged with: Seven counts of wire fraud,  Three counts of money laundering,  Theft of public funds,  Two counts of making false statements on federal disclosure forms.…
Pharmacy Owner From Great Neck Engaged In $26M Health Care Fraud Scheme, Feds Say Pharmacy Owner From Great Neck Engaged In $26M Health Care Fraud Scheme, Feds Say
Pharmacy Owner From Great Neck Engaged In $26M Health Care Fraud Scheme, Feds Say Two pharmacy owners, including one from Long Island, are facing federal charges for their alleged roles in a massive health care fraud scheme, authorities said. Taesung Kim, age 58, of Great Neck and Dacheng Lu, age 44, of Flushing, Queens are each accused of submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday, May 2, in federal court in Brooklyn. The pair owned and operated four pharmacies located in Brooklyn and Queens. According to federal prosecutors, between January 2015 and December 2022 Kim and Lu conspired with others to subm…
$5 Million Fraud Scheme: Man Who Scammed Long Islander Indicted $5 Million Fraud Scheme: Man Who Scammed Long Islander Indicted
$5 Million Fraud Scheme: Man Who Scammed Long Islander Indicted The scammer, along with co-conspirators, conned a Long Island man out of approximately $5.3 million, which they spent nearly all of. On Tuesday, April 25 at the Central Islip federal court, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, along with a New York FBI director, announced the charges against Odera Odabi. Odabi is charged with conspiring to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, according to the announcement. The 54-year-old Georgia man is alleged to have falsely informed a Suffolk County resident (known in the case as John Doe) that he needed to p…
COVID-19: Long Island Nurse Sold Fake Cards, Submitted Bogus Oxy Scripts: DA COVID-19: Long Island Nurse Sold Fake Cards, Submitted Bogus Oxy Scripts: DA
Covid-19: Long Island Nurse Sold Fake Cards, Submitted Bogus Oxy Scripts: DA A 50-year-old pediatric nurse faces over 30 counts in two different indictments for money laundering, providing fake COVID-19 vaccination cards, and creating false oxycodone prescriptions for people who were not her patients, authorities said. Amityville resident Julie DeVuono, owner of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare, was indicted on Wednesday, April 12, for multiple felonies involving forged vaccination records and prescriptions, the Suffolk County DA announced. It is alleged that DeVuono, acting in conjunction with employees Brooke Hogan and Marissa Urraro, abused her position as a hea…
NY Man Plotted To Assassinate Journalist For Criticizing Iranian Government, Feds Say NY Man Plotted To Assassinate Journalist For Criticizing Iranian Government, Feds Say
NY Man Plotted To Assassinate Journalist For Criticizing Iranian Government, Feds Say A New York man is among three people implicated in an alleged plot to assassinate an Iranian-American journalist on US soil over her criticism of the Iranian government, authorities said. Westchester County resident Khalid Mehdiyev, age 24, of Yonkers, is named in a superseding indictment that was unsealed in the Southern District of New York on Friday, Jan. 27, against three people for murder-for-hire and money-laundering charges. Federal prosecutors allege that Mehdiyev is a member of a violent Eastern European criminal organization that has ties to Iran and has engaged in murders, kidna…
'CryptoQueen' Charged In NY On FBI's 10 Most Wanted: May Have Armed Guards, Changed Appearance 'CryptoQueen' Charged In NY On FBI's 10 Most Wanted: May Have Armed Guards, Changed Appearance
'CryptoQueen' Charged In NY On FBI's 10 Most Wanted: May Have Armed Guards, Changed Appearance A woman charged in New York with stealing billions of dollars from investors around the world may have changed her appearance and be traveling with armed guards, according to federal agents.  Bulgaria native Ruja Ignatova, age 42, has been placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Ten Most Wanted Fugitive List for participating in a fake cryptocurrency scheme that defrauded victims of more than $4 billion in total.  The scheme began in 2014 when Ignatova founded OneCoin Ltd., a Bulgaria-based company that marketed a fake cryptocurrency to investors. To solicit funds, she would make f…
Sex Cult Leader At College In NY Draws 60-Year Sentence Sex Cult Leader At College In NY Draws 60-Year Sentence
Sex Cult Leader At College In NY Draws 60-Year Sentence A man who put a group of college students through sexual, psychological, and physical abuse after moving into his daughter's dorm room in Westchester County will spend the rest of his life in prison.  Earlier Report - Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Leader In Bronxville Found Guilty On All Charges Larry Ray, also known as Lawrence Grecco, was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Friday, Jan. 20 for leading a sex cult out of Sarah Lawrence College located near the border of Bronxville and Yonkers, according to Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. …
Ex-Director Of Nassau County Charity Sentenced For Embezzling Over $1M Ex-Director Of Nassau County Charity Sentenced For Embezzling Over $1M
Ex-Director Of Nassau County Charity Sentenced For Embezzling Over $1M The former executive director of a New York charity is heading to federal prison after being convicted of embezzling more than $1 million to fund a life of luxury. Long Island resident Wafa Abboud, age 55, of Merrick, was sentenced to nearly three years behind bars in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Jan. 11.  It followed her convictions on charges of embezzling funds, bank fraud, and money laundering after a two-week jury trial in July 2019. Earlier Report: Ex-Director Convicted Of Stealing Nearly $1M From Long Island Charity Prosecutors said Abboud ran Human First, a no…