Tag:

Ponzi Scheme

NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced
NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced A former New York investment broker has received a lengthy stay in prison for running a million-dollar Ponzi scheme. Long Island resident Rand Heckler, age 67, of Glen Cove, was sentenced to up to seven-and-a-half years in prison on Wednesday, May 15, the Nassau County District Attorney (NCDA) announced. Heckler was an investment broker in 2015 when he began his scheme, recommending that his friend and his friend’s son that they invest in a hedge fund of stocks and securities that Heckler was managing. Original Story - $1 Million Ponzi Scheme: Glen Cove Investment Broker Pleads …
Westchester Man, Partner Sentenced For Roles In $1M Ponzi Scheme Westchester Man, Partner Sentenced For Roles In $1M Ponzi Scheme
Westchester Man, Partner Sentenced For Roles In $1M Ponzi Scheme A Westchester County man and his business partner have been sentenced for their roles in a nearly decade-long $1-million Ponzi scheme. White Plains resident James Doyle, age 74, and Carl Carro, age 61, of Walton, Delaware, were convicted of defrauding investors in New York and throughout the nation. On Thursday, Jan. 12, Carro was sentenced to four to eight years in prison, and Doyle was sentenced to five years probation, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced. As part of their respective sentences, Carro and Doyle agreed to pay a total of more than $1 million in judgments …
Bernie Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get $372M More In Distributions, Feds Announce Bernie Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get $372M More In Distributions, Feds Announce
Bernie Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get $372M More In Distributions, Feds Announce Thousands of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme victims will be receiving their portions of the latest distribution of more than $370 million. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams announced that the Madoff Victim Fund will be distributing approximately $372 million to 40,000 victims worldwide who were involved in the fraud scheme. Earlier Report: Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get Nearly $500M More In Distributions To date, approximately $4 billion has been distributed to Madoff’s victims. Williams said that this eighth payment will bring the victims’ total re…
Decomposed Body Found In Connecticut Home ID'd As Ponzi Swindler, Jeffrey Epstein Mentor Decomposed Body Found In Connecticut Home ID'd As Ponzi Swindler, Jeffrey Epstein Mentor
Decomposed Body Found In Connecticut Home ID'd As Ponzi Swindler, Jeffrey Epstein Mentor A body found in a Connecticut home during a welfare check has positively been identified as Steven Hoffenberg, a longtime mentor of Jeffrey Epstein. Hoffenberg, the one-time owner of the New York Post and businessman who spent 18 years in prison for a $460 million Ponzi scheme, was found in the New Haven County home around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, in the city of Derby. According to the Derby Police, the medical examiner's office confirmed on Friday, Aug. 26, that the badly decomposed body was that of Hoffenberg.  An initial autopsy did not find signs of trauma on the body, the…
NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims
NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims A New York man was sentenced for his role in a $12 million Ponzi scheme that targeted nearly 50 victims from throughout the region and the nation between 2015 and 2017. Long Island resident Matthew Eckstein, age 52, of Syosset, was sentenced on Monday, July 11 to three-and-a-half to 10-and-a-half years in prison. Eckstein originally pleaded guilty to the charges on September 26, 2019, but later withdrew his plea. A new indictment was secured in August 2020, but court closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the case. “This defendant preyed upon seniors and hard-working men…
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Ponzi-Like Fraud Scheme Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Ponzi-Like Fraud Scheme
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Ponzi-Like Fraud Scheme A Hudson Valley man will spend years behind bars after being busted for operating a multi-million dollar investment club that was actually a Ponzi scheme targeting a Haitian community, federal authorities announced. Rockland County resident Ruless Pierre, age 52, of Nanuet, has been sentenced to 84 months in prison in connection to a Ponzi-like securities fraud scheme that targeted his own community in the region. Specifically, Pierre was convicted of securities fraud, wire fraud, and structuring offenses by a jury in May 2021. US Attorney Damian Williams said that between 2016 and 2019, P…
Hudson Valley Man Convicted For Running Multimillion-Dollar Ponzi, Embezzlement Schemes Hudson Valley Man Convicted For Running Multimillion-Dollar Ponzi, Embezzlement Schemes
Hudson Valley Man Convicted For Running Multimillion-Dollar Ponzi, Embezzlement Schemes A Hudson Valley man has been convicted for operating a multimillion-dollar investment club that was actually a Ponzi scheme. Rockland County resident Ruless Pierre, age 51, of Nanuet, was convicted in Manhattan federal court of securities fraud, wire fraud, and structuring charges on Thursday, May 27. According to the allegations contained in the complaint, indictment, and the evidence presented at trial: From at least November 2016 through October 2019, Pierre solicited money from investors of Ruless Pierre Consulting Group by falsely promising them that he would earn a 20 percent return…
Owner, CEO Of Manhattan Investment Fund Among Trio Indicted For $1.8B Ponzi-Like Scheme Owner, CEO Of Manhattan Investment Fund Among Trio Indicted For $1.8B Ponzi-Like Scheme
Owner, CEO Of Manhattan Investment Fund Among Trio Indicted For $1.8B Ponzi-Like Scheme A man who was the head of a Manhattan investment fund was arrested on Thursday and is facing securities fraud charges for his role in an alleged $1.8 billion Ponzi-like scheme that saw his company paying clients with their own money.  Long Island resident David Gentile, age 54, of Manhasset, the founder, owner, and CEO of GPB Capital Holdings, was charged with two others for scheming to defraud investors by misrepresenting the source of funds used to make monthly distribution payments to them, federal officials said. Specifically, the three were charged with securities and wire fraud, …
Westchester Man Arrested For Role In Decade-Long $1M Ponzi Scheme Westchester Man Arrested For Role In Decade-Long $1M Ponzi Scheme
Westchester Man Arrested For Role In Decade-Long $1M Ponzi Scheme A Westchester County man was arrested this week for his role in a near decade-long Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors in New York and other parts of the country out of more than $1 million. White Plains resident James Doyle, 72, and Carl Carro, 59, of Walton, Delaware, the purported managing directors of headhunting companies Endeavor Management Solutions and Endeavor Consultancy, have been charged in a 42-count indictment for their roles in the schema. Specifically, the two were charged with multiple counts of money laundering, grand larceny, securities fraud, and scheme to defraud. Ne…
NY Man Admits To Running $200M Ponzi Scheme In Region NY Man Admits To Running $200M Ponzi Scheme In Region
NY Man Admits To Running $200M Ponzi Scheme In Region A 53-year-old man has admitted to running a $200 million Ponzi scheme in New York based on false statements to investors about inflated returns for nonexistent wholesale jewelry deals, federal authorities announced on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Long Island resident Gregory Altieri, 53, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for running the scheme.  As part of the plea, Altieri, of Melville in Suffolk County, also admitted to committing securities fraud in connection with the scheme.  When sentenced, Altieri faces up to 20 years in prison.  “With today’s guilty plea, Altieri is hel…
Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get Nearly $500M More In Distributions Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get Nearly $500M More In Distributions
Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get Nearly $500M More In Distributions Thousands of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme victims will be receiving their portions of the latest distribution of nearly $500 million. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss announced that the Madoff Victim Fund will be distributing approximately $488 million to more than 37,000 of his victims involved in the fraud scheme. To date, approximately $2.7 billion has been distributed to Madoff’s victims. Strauss said that this sixth payment will bring the victims’ total recovery to 80.05 percent of their losses. Ultimately, more than $4 billion will be returne…
New Rochelle Native Craig Carton Returns To WFAN After Prison Stint New Rochelle Native Craig Carton Returns To WFAN After Prison Stint
New Rochelle Native Craig Carton Returns To Wfan After Prison Stint Westchester native Craig Carton is back in the WFAN booth more than three years after he was last on the air following a conviction for operating a Ponzi scheme. Carton, who grew up in New Rochelle, was ordered to spend 42 months in prison last April, three years of supervised release, ordered to pay $4,835,186.56 in restitution, and to forfeit $4,590,000 for running a Ponzi scheme that purportedly covered his gambling debts. On Thursday, Oct. 29, after 1,150 days off the air, Carton was back on WFAN in the afternoon drive, making a solo guest spot during the last hour on what will be his f…
Former Wall Street Trader Sentenced For Running $19M Ponzi Scheme Former Wall Street Trader Sentenced For Running $19M Ponzi Scheme
Former Wall Street Trader Sentenced For Running $19M Ponzi Scheme A former Wall Street trader has been sentenced to over five years in prison after admitting to defrauding investors in a $19 million Ponzi scheme. Long Island resident Paul A. Rinfret, 71, of Manhasset, had pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud last fall. This week, Rinfret was sentenced to 63 months in prison. According to Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District Audrey Strauss, Rinfret alleged that he touted “extremely high returns in his trading,” when in reality he simply stole the investors’ money to fund a lavish lifestyle. I…
Metro Area Jewelry Wholesaler Indicted For $200 Million Ponzi Scheme Metro Area Jewelry Wholesaler Indicted For $200 Million Ponzi Scheme
Metro Area Jewelry Wholesaler Indicted For $200 Million Ponzi Scheme A jewelry wholesaler from Long Island is facing charges for allegedly operating a $200 million Ponzi Scheme in New York. Long Island resident Gregory Altieri, of Melville in Suffolk County, the president of LNA Associates, was indicted for allegedly operating a two-year $200 million scheme based on nonexistent wholesale jewelry deals and false promises of inflated returns, federal officials said. It is alleged that beginning in August 2017, Altieri solicited between $75 million to $85 million from more than 80 investors in Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, and elsewhere, to allegedly purc…
WFAN May Welcome Back Westchester's Craig Carton After Prison Stint, Reports Say WFAN May Welcome Back Westchester's Craig Carton After Prison Stint, Reports Say
Wfan May Welcome Back Westchester's Craig Carton After Prison Stint, Reports Say Could disgraced WFAN sports radio talking head Craig Carton make a return to the station after serving out his jail sentence for operating a Ponzi scheme? The Westchester native is reportedly on the radar of WFAN higher-ups after “ally” Chris Oliviero was hired in May to run WFAN as Entercom’s senior vice president and market manager. Last April, Carton, who grew up in New Rochelle, was ordered to spend 42 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,835,186.56 in restitution and to forfeit $4,590,000 for running the Ponzi scheme that reportedly covered his g…
New Distribution Of More Than $378M Allotted To Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims New Distribution Of More Than $378M Allotted To Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims
New Distribution Of More Than $378M Allotted To Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims Thousands of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme victims will be receiving their portions of the fifth distribution of more than $378 million this week. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced that the Madoff Victim Fund will be distributing $378.5 million to more than 26,000 of his victims involved in the fraud scheme. To date, approximately $2.7 billion has been distributed to Madoff’s victims. Berman said that the fifth payment will bring the victims’ total recovery to 73.65 percent of their losses.  Ultimately, more than $4 billion will be returned due to losses suffered in Madoff’s Ponz…
Financial Advisor Admits To Running $5M Ponzi Scheme, SDNY Says Financial Advisor Admits To Running $5M Ponzi Scheme, SDNY Says
Financial Advisor Admits To Running $5M Ponzi Scheme, Sdny Says A financial adviser from Fairfield County admitted to running a yearlong multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. Norwalk resident James Booth, 74, who operated Booth Financial Associates, pleaded guilty solicited money from clients, falsely promising to invest the money in opportunities offered outside of their ordinary advisory and brokerage accounts. Booth pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud. When he is sentenced on Feb. 21 next year, he will face up to 20 years in prison. In total, Booth fraudulently obtained nearly $5 million from his customers. Instead of investing their money,…
Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get New $469M Distribution, Bringing Payout To $2.4B Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get New $469M Distribution, Bringing Payout To $2.4B
Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get New $469M Distribution, Bringing Payout To $2.4B Thousands of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme victims will see some more relief as the Department of Justice begins the latest distribution of more than $469 million. This week, the Madoff Victim Fund, which was established by the DOJ, began distributing $469.6 million in additional funds that were forfeited to the government in connection to Madoff's scheme. The money will be distributed to more than 27,000 victims, bringing the total to approximately $2.4 billion. The latest distribution marks the fourth in a series of payments from the Madoff Victim Fund as part of Madoff’s fraud, which tot…
Area Broker Sentenced For Ripping Off Millions From Investors In Ponzi Scheme Area Broker Sentenced For Ripping Off Millions From Investors In Ponzi Scheme
Area Broker Sentenced For Ripping Off Millions From Investors In Ponzi Scheme A prominent Hudson Valley investment adviser will spend more than a decade behind bars after admitting to defrauding clients out of more than $11 million. Hector May, 78, of Orangeburg in Rockland County, the former president of Executive Compensation Planners in Manhattan has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and ordered to pay $8.4 million in restitution to his victims. May pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in White Plains federal court late last year. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office,  May admitted that from 1995 through last year, he use…
Westchester Real Estate Developer Sentenced For Operating Ponzi Scheme, Ordered To Forfeit $58M Westchester Real Estate Developer Sentenced For Operating Ponzi Scheme, Ordered To Forfeit $58M
Westchester Real Estate Developer Sentenced For Operating Ponzi Scheme, Ordered To Forfeit $58M A real estate developer will spend time behind bars for operating a years-long $58 million Ponzi scheme that included properties in the area. Michael D’Alessio, 53, was sentenced on Friday, April 5 to six years in prison for his elaborate scheme to defraud investors in luxury real estate developments in Manhattan, the Hamptons, Westchester and elsewhere.  In addition to the prison term, D'Alessio was sentenced to three years of supervised release and order to pay forfeiture in the amount of $58,090,047. D'Alessio is the former president and CEO of real estate development firm Michael …
Financial Adviser Admits To Stealing $11.5M From Clients Financial Adviser Admits To Stealing $11.5M From Clients
Financial Adviser Admits To Stealing $11.5M From Clients Hector May, a prominent investment adviser, has pleaded guilty to federal charges to participating in a conspiracy to defraud clients in the area out of more than $11 million. May, 77, of Orangeburg in Rockland County,  the president of Executive Compensation Planners in New York City, admitted stealing the money with the help of an unindicted co-conspirator, said Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in…
New Payoff To Thousands Of Victims Of Madoff Ponzi Scheme Totals $695 Million New Payoff To Thousands Of Victims Of Madoff Ponzi Scheme Totals $695 Million
New Payoff To Thousands Of Victims Of Madoff Ponzi Scheme Totals $695 Million Thousands of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme victims will soon see some relief, as the Department of Justice begins the latest distribution of nearly $700 million. This week, the Madoff Victim Fund, which was established by the DOJ, began distributing $695.4 million in funds that were forfeited to the government in connection to Madoff’s scheme. The money will be distributed to more than 27,000 of Madoff’s victims, many of whom call the area home. The latest distribution marks the third in a series of payments from the Madoff Victim Fund as part of Madoff’s fraud, which totaled more than $4 bi…
Westchester Developer Admits To Ponzi Scheme, Could Face Decades In Prison Westchester Developer Admits To Ponzi Scheme, Could Face Decades In Prison
Westchester Developer Admits To Ponzi Scheme, Could Face Decades In Prison A real estate developer has admitted to operating a years-long Ponzi scheme that included properties in Westchester. Michael D’Alessio, 53, has pleaded guilty to one count of committing wire fraud and one count of concealing assets from a bankruptcy court. He faces up to 20 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines when he is sentenced on March 22 next year. The elaborate scheme involved defrauding investors of luxury real estate developments in Manhattan, the Hamptons, Westchester and other locales. D'Alessio is the former president and CEO of real estate deve…
New Rochelle Native, Ex-WFAN Host Craig Carton Found Guilty Of Ponzi Scheme New Rochelle Native, Ex-WFAN Host Craig Carton Found Guilty Of Ponzi Scheme
New Rochelle Native, Ex-wfan Host Craig Carton Found Guilty Of Ponzi Scheme After just a weeklong trial, former WFAN sports talk personality and Westchester native Craig Carton has been found guilty on all counts in his fraud trial. The 49-year-old Carton, who grew up in New Rochelle, was found guilty of wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy for his role in a Ponzi scheme, which was aimed with an eye toward clearing gambling debt. The scheme was tied to a fake ticket scam. The trial kicked off last week on Oct. 31. Carton now faces up to 45 years in prison following the conviction. He remains released on bail. “The government is dead wrong. The government ha…
New Rochelle Native, Ousted WFAN Radio Host Craig Carton's Trial Begins New Rochelle Native, Ousted WFAN Radio Host Craig Carton's Trial Begins
New Rochelle Native, Ousted Wfan Radio Host Craig Carton's Trial Begins Westchester native and former WFAN sports talk personality Craig Carton’s fraud trial has started this week. The 48-year-old Carton, who grew up in New Rochelle, has been charged with wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy for his role in an alleged Ponzi scheme, which was allegedly aimed with an eye toward clearing gambling debt. The scheme was tied to a fake ticket scam. In his opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Quigley said that Carton diverted the money to pay for gambling debt and personal expenses. Carton’s lawyers have reportedly said he is the victim of an alleg…
Investment Fund Co-Founder From Area Charged In Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Investment Fund Co-Founder From Area Charged In Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
Investment Fund Co-Founder From Area Charged In Multi-Million Dollar Fraud The former co-founder of a multi-million dollar hedge fund is facing charges claiming that he lied to his investors and misappropriated nearly $20 million as part of a Ponzi scheme. Jason Rhodes of Fairfield County was arrested on Tuesday morning on conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud, and investment adviser fraud charges.  The charges stem from his participation in an elaborate scheme to defraud investors in the hedge fund and using investor funds to repay earlier investors in a Ponzi-like manner. Beginning in November 2013, Rhodes, a resident of the village of Rowayton in Norwalk, a…
Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced For $22M Ponzi Scheme Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced For $22M Ponzi Scheme
Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced For $22M Ponzi Scheme A former hedge fund manager from Northern Westchester will spend nearly a decade behind bars after defrauding 45 investors out of more than $22 million through an elaborate Ponzi scheme that allowed him to live a lavish lifestyle. Michael Scronic of Pound Ridge, the former manager of the Scronic Macro Fund has been sentenced to 96 months in prison, Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced on Thursday. Scronic was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and must pay $22,026,427 in restitution to his victims. Scronic, 46, admitte…
'I’ll Be Back,' New Rochelle Native, Ousted Radio Host Craig Carton Says 'I’ll Be Back,' New Rochelle Native, Ousted Radio Host Craig Carton Says
'I’ll Be Back,' New Rochelle Native, Ousted Radio Host Craig Carton Says Westchester native and WFAN sports talk personality Craig Carton vehemently denied that he was engaged in an alleged Ponzi scheme tied to a fake ticket scam during his first radio appearance nearly a year after he was charged in federal court. The 48-year-old Carton, who grew up in New Rochelle, has been charged with wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy for his role in the scheme, which was allegedly aimed with an eye toward clearing gambling debt. His tiral is scheduled to begin on Oct. 29. Carton co-hosted the “Boomer and Carton” morning show for a decade alongside retired NFL quar…
White Plains Real Estate Developer Charged With Operating Ponzi Scheme White Plains Real Estate Developer Charged With Operating Ponzi Scheme
White Plains Real Estate Developer Charged With Operating Ponzi Scheme A real estate developer is facing up to two decades behind bars for operating an alleged years-long Ponzi scheme that included properties in the Hudson Valley. Michael D’Alessio, 52, has been charged with committing wire fraud in connection to his elaborate scheme to defraud investors in luxury real estate developments in Manhattan, the Hamptons, Westchester and elsewhere. D'Alessio is the former president and CEO of real estate development firm Michael Paul Enterprises in White Plains. A career real estate developer and contractor, D’Alessio was the CEO of an investment and development fi…
Area Man, 49, Sentenced For $6M Ponzi Scheme Area Man, 49, Sentenced For $6M Ponzi Scheme
Area Man, 49, Sentenced For $6M Ponzi Scheme A 49-year-old Wilton man was sentenced to more than three years in prison Tuesday for using hedge-fund money for his own personal use as part of a $6 million-plus Ponzi scheme. Steven Simmons was sentenced to 37 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood. Simmons, who solicited over $6 million in investments for a hedge fund, misappropriated nearly $2 million of these funds for his own use and that of a co-conspirator, said Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Other investor funds solicited by Simmons were used by the owner of the He…
Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Pleads Guilty To $22M Ponzi Scheme Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Pleads Guilty To $22M Ponzi Scheme
Westchester Hedge Fund Manager Pleads Guilty To $22M Ponzi Scheme A former hedge fund manager from Northern Westchester pleaded guilty Thursday to defrauding 45 investors, many of them friends and neighbors, of $22 million in a Ponzi scheme. Michael Scronic of Pound Ridge, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cathy Seibel on July 9.  “Michael Scronic lied about the performance of his investment fund, telling investors that his returns were as high as 13 percent," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman said. …