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$9.6M Scheme: Businessman Admits To Fraud Involving Banks, Including 1 In Hudson Valley
The owner of a New York business admitted to running a multimillion-dollar check-kiting scheme to keep his company operating.
Long Island resident John B. Mensch, age 54, pleaded guilty in connection with a nearly year-long fraud conspiracy involving banks in Suffolk County and the Hudson Valley, federal authorities announced Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 2.
Mensch, of Quogue, faces up to five years’ imprisonment as well as financial penalties, including restitution to the two banks of approximately $9.6 million.
According to court filings, Mensch was the owner and operator of East End, a…
Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide Raked In Millions Acting As Undisclosed Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds
This story has been updated.
A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is accused of acting as an agent for the Chinese government.
Long Island residents Linda Sun, age 41, and her husband Chris Hu, age 40, were arrested at their Manhasset home on Tuesday morning, Sept. 3, on charges of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, money laundering, and related charges.
According to federal prosecutors, Sun – who served as Hochul’s deputy chief of staff before being fired in 2023 – engaged in numerous political activities at the behest of Chinese government …
Westchester Postal Carrier Took Credit Cards, Checks From Mail, Stole Identities: Feds
A Westchester County postal carrier from Long Island faces federal charges after taking credit cards, checks, and identities from the mail to steal money from those along her route, officials announced.
Nassau County resident Tameka Babulal of Hempstead, age 36, was arrested in connection with the alleged identity theft scheme on Wednesday, May 22, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.
Babulal, a mail carrier who worked in the Westchester County city of Mount Vernon, was arrested along with her husband, Hempstead resident 36-year-old Joel Babul…
$40M Fraud: New Canaan Insurance Firm Owner Admits To Scam, Could Face Decades In Prison
A "brazen" insurance company owner from Fairfield County admitted to $40 million of insurance fraud that paid for expenses relating to boating, luxury cars, and golf, officials say.
In a New York federal court, Anthony Riccardi, of New Canaan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud on Tuesday, Feb. 21, according to the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Riccardi, the 50-percent co-owner and executive vice president of Employee Benefit Solutions LLC, a Connecticut insurance firm, was …
Former NY Legislator, Ex-Girlfriend Both Convicted Of Defrauding Business Of $250K
A former county legislator in New York and an accomplice from Connecticut have been convicted by a jury of scamming a business out of more than a quarter of a million dollars.
George Guldi, who served as a Long Island legislator representing the South Fork of Suffolk County, and Litchfield County resident Victoria Davidson, of Lakeville, Connecticut, defrauded Ditech Financial LLC, a mortgage lender, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced.
“George Guldi, while in prison, concocted and conducted a scheme along with his co-consp…
Police In Hudson Valley Help Catch Suspects Of Nationwide 'Felony Lane Gang' Fraud Scheme
Two suspects who admitted to being part of a nationwide fraud scheme were caught with the help of police in the Hudson Valley.
The two men, Joshua Mallory, age 37, and Gary Grier, age 36, both of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 20 to being part of the multi-state "Felony Lane Gang," a fraud scheme involving suspects breaking into cars and stealing debit cards and checkbooks, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York.
Between 2015 and 2020, Mallory, Grier, and several co-conspirators traveled across the country breaking …
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry
A woman has been accused of embezzling $4 million from her New York employer and its clients to pay for, among other things, her wedding, travel, and making payments to a cosmetic surgeon.
Long Island resident Carmen Miranda, age 50, of Massapequa, was charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with her scheme to embezzle over $4 million from her employer and its clients in Manhattan.
Miranda, who is also known as “Millie Miranda,” was an account manager at a small business management firm that primarily serviced clients in the entertainment indus…
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Using Dead Person's Checks In Fraud Scheme
A 36-year-old man was arrested and accused of defrauding a bank out of more than $4,000.
Ulster County resident Thomas Mann, of Clintondale, was arrested on Wednesday, April 6, and charged with eight counts of second-degree forgery, one count of third-degree grand larceny, and eight counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, according to New York State Police.
State Police in Ellenville received a report on Thursday, March 10, of fraud involving a checking account of a person who died, police said.
Investigators found that Mann began using the deceased individual's ch…
Thief Who Swiped 94,000 Credit Card Numbers At Michaels Stores In NY, NJ, CT, PA Sentenced
A member of an ID theft ring that stole more than $600,000 from customers at Michaels stores in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison on Thursday.
Jose “Tito” Salazar, age 45, of Riverside, CA was part of a crew that replaced card-reading terminals at the arts and crafts retailer with wireless imitations that they used to capture customers' bank account numbers and PINs, Acting US Attorney for New Jersey Rachael A. Honig said.
They then created copycat cards that were then used to withdraw more than $500,000 from hun…
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Man Admits To Stealing $4M In Relief Funds
A Hudson Valley man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud and admitted to obtaining more than $4 million meant for businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ulster County resident Jean Lavanture, age 48, of Saugerties, also known as JR, and "Rudy" Lavanture, is the third person to plead guilty in this case, according to the US Attorney's Office.
In pleading guilty, Lavanture admitted to conspiring with another person to obtain $4,309,581 in Paycheck Protection Program loans between June and August 2020, by submitting fraudulent loan applications in the nam…
Nypd Officer From Area Charged With Conspiring To Commit Bank, Loan Fraud
An NYPD police officer from the Hudson Valley is facing charges for allegedly participating in a $1.5 million auto loan scam that targeted people attempting to boost their credit scores.
Eduardo Rodriguez, 41, of Goshen in Orange County, has been charged with conspiring to commit bank and loan fraud, as well as making false statements to federal law enforcement officers. He was arrested on Tuesday, July 2, and arraigned in Manhattan Federal Court.
It is alleged that in June 2017, Rodriguez agreed with two other men, Ricardo Taboada, and Daniel Duran, to submit an application to a lender for…
