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Former Congressional Candidate From Westchester Gets Years In Prison For Fraud Former Congressional Candidate From Westchester Gets Years In Prison For Fraud
Former Congressional Candidate From Westchester Gets Years In Prison For Fraud A former congressional candidate from Westchester who once held several leadership positions in county and city government will spend several years in prison for stealing restaurant workers' wages and using them for himself.  Mount Vernon resident Derickson Lawrence, age 67, who unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat to represent New York's 16th Congressional District in 2018 and 2016, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for defrauding his payroll company's client and a COVID-19 relief program, according to court documents.  Lawrence had been the chief…

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by Ben Crnic
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Former Congressional Candidate From Westchester Nabbed On Fraud Charges, Feds Say Former Congressional Candidate From Westchester Nabbed On Fraud Charges, Feds Say
Former Congressional Candidate From Westchester Nabbed On Fraud Charges, Feds Say A former congressional candidate from Westchester who held several leadership positions in county and city government has been convicted of federal fraud charges, officials announced.  Mount Vernon resident Derickson Lawrence, age 67, was convicted of fraud charges after defrauding his payroll company's client and a COVID-19 relief program, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced on Friday, March 22.  According to federal officials, Lawrence, who unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat to represent New York's 16th Congressional District in 2…

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by Ben Crnic
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COVID-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud COVID-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud
Covid-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud A New York woman will spend time in federal prison after admitting that she took advantage of loan programs meant to help businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Debra Hackstadt, age 68, of Albany, was sentenced to 16 months behind bars Tuesday, Nov. 8, in federal court in Albany after pleading guilty to wire fraud in May 2022. Earlier Report: COVID-19: Albany Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Hackstadt admitted to fraudulently obtaining 32 government-backed loans worth more than $1.6 million betwee…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud A woman from the Capital District is facing years in prison after admitting that she took advantage of loan programs meant to help businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Debra Hackstadt, age 67, of Albany, pleaded guilty Thursday, May 19, to fraudulently obtaining 32 government-backed loans, according to the US Attorney’s Office. The loans were issued to Hackstadt herself, various friends and relatives, and several companies that she controlled, prosecutors said. In all, investigators said she received more than $1.6 million between April 2020 and June 2021 through two separat…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19: NY Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans On Luxury Items COVID-19: NY Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans On Luxury Items
Covid-19: NY Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans On Luxury Items A New York doctor will spend time behind bars after being sentenced for spending millions of dollars obtained through fraudulently obtained small business loans during the pandemic in an effort to live a luxury lifestyle. Long Island resident Konstantinos Zarkadas, who had a Nassau County practice in Glen Cove, was sentenced in federal court to 51 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in COVID-19 emergency relief funds. In addition to his prison term, Zarkadas was also ordered to pay approximately $3.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty in November 2021 t…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
COVID-19: Ex-NY Jet Sentenced For Bogus $1.2M Relief Loan COVID-19: Ex-NY Jet Sentenced For Bogus $1.2M Relief Loan
Covid-19: Ex-NY Jet Sentenced For Bogus $1.2M Relief Loan Former NY Jet Josh Bellamy was sentenced to prison time for fraudulently claiming more than $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds that he spent on luxury items and a Hard Rock Hotel stay, federal prosecutors said. The 32-year-old Florida resident was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison last Friday, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, court papers show. The former NFL athlete also must pay restitution. Bellamy obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan of $1.2 million for his company, Drip Entertainment LLC, under bogus documents and false inf…

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by Cecilia Levine
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COVID-19: NY Doctor Admits To Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans To Purchase Luxury Items COVID-19: NY Doctor Admits To Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans To Purchase Luxury Items
Covid-19: NY Doctor Admits To Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans To Purchase Luxury Items A New York doctor has admitted to using more than $3 million in fraudulently obtained small business loans to purchase a yacht and other luxury items, federal authorities announced. Long Island resident Konstantino Zarkadas, a Nassau County-based medical doctor in Glen Cove, pleaded guilty to disaster relief fraud and wire fraud in connection with his receipt of millions of dollars in small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP) on Friday, Nov. 12 in Central Islip. When sentenced, Zarkadas faces up to 30 years in pri…

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Man Admits To Stealing $4M In Relief Funds COVID-19: Hudson Valley Man Admits To Stealing $4M In Relief Funds
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…

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by Kathy Reakes
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COVID-19: Alleged PPP Kickback Scheme Reportedly Under Investigation In Westchester COVID-19: Alleged PPP Kickback Scheme Reportedly Under Investigation In Westchester
Covid-19: Alleged PPP Kickback Scheme Reportedly Under Investigation In Westchester Some city employees in Mount Vernon are facing an investigation for allegedly concocting a plan to cheat the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, with rumors mounting of a potential federal probe into a kickback scheme, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard issued a memo to city employees warning that there could be consequences if there is truth behind rumors of a possible scam. "If you applied for and/or received a loan, grant or ANY form of payment as part of the recently discovered 'process' that required you pay a portion of the disbursement ba…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Westchester Doctor Accused Of Illegally Receiving Government-Guaranteed Loans COVID-19: Westchester Doctor Accused Of Illegally Receiving Government-Guaranteed Loans
Covid-19: Westchester Doctor Accused Of Illegally Receiving Government-Guaranteed Loans An eye doctor from Westchester who had practices throughout the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County who was previously charged with healthcare fraud is facing new charges for allegedly attempting to exploit the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Ameet Goyal, 57, of Rye, who operates The Eye Associates Group, with practices in Rye, Mount Kisco, Wappingers Falls, and Greenwich, was arrested and charged by federal officials for allegedly fraudulently billing patients last year. Earlier story - Area Doctor Billed Patients $8M For Surgeries He Didn't Do, Feds Say According to U.S. Attorne…

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by Zak Failla