Tag:

Corruption

Brentwood Pawn Shop Owner Gets Prison For Running $2M Retail Theft Ring Brentwood Pawn Shop Owner Gets Prison For Running $2M Retail Theft Ring
Brentwood 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…
Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking
Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking The third time may be the charm for federal lawmakers hoping to oust embattled New York Rep. George Santos from office. House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, filed a resolution to expel Santos from Congress on Friday morning, Nov. 17. Members are expected to vote on the resolution the week after Thanksgiving.  Earlier Report: LI Rep Santos Won't Run For Re-Election: 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking, Committee Says The rare move came just one day after the committee, made up of five Republicans and five Democrats, released a report sayi…
Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From New York Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From New York
Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From New York The country's top court has reversed the wire-fraud conviction of a Northern Westchester County resident and former top aide to ousted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has already served years of prison time for the offense. In a decision on Thursday, May 11, the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled to reverse the fraud conviction of Joseph Percoco, of the hamlet of South Salem in the town of Lewisboro, who was sent to federal prison on corruption charges in 2018.  Percoco, age 54, had been accused of accepting over $300,000 in bribes from an energy company in 2014 while he had been …
'Down In Flames': Central Islip Business Owner Bribed Official For $1M In Federal Contracts 'Down In Flames': Central Islip Business Owner Bribed Official For $1M In Federal Contracts
'Down In Flames': Central Islip Business Owner Bribed Official For $1M In Federal Contracts The owner of a Long Island company could spend over a decade behind bars after admitting that he bribed a federal official in order to secure nearly $1 million in federal contracts. Michael Montenes, age 61, of St. James, pleaded guilty to bribery charges in federal court in Central Islip on Wednesday, May 3. Montenes is the owner of Hauppauge-based M.S. Hi-Tech, Incorporated, a distributor of electronic components. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District, between December 2017 and December 2020 Montenes paid a Procurement Officer employed at the Department of Energy…
$52M Scheme: Port Jefferson Station Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds $52M Scheme: Port Jefferson Station Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds
$52M Scheme: Port Jefferson Station Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds Ten people have been charged in connection with a massive scheme to defraud a leading cargo airline based in New York of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the services of its employees, federal authorities announced. The 10 charged are: Connecticut resident Abilash Kurien, age 45, of Wilton in Fairfield County; Hudson Valley resident Carlton Llewellyn, age 55, of Highland Mills in Orange County; Long Island resident Robert Schirmer, age 58, of Port Jefferson Station; Queens resident Patrick Lau, 43, of Flushing; Lars Winkelbauer, age 47, of Bangkok, Thailand; Skye …
11 Former Union Officials Admit To Accepting Bribes, Suffolk County DA Says 11 Former Union Officials Admit To Accepting Bribes, Suffolk County DA Says
11 Former Union Officials Admit To Accepting Bribes, Suffolk County DA Says The former president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council and 10 other former union officials have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from their acceptance of bribes and illegal cash payments. James Cahill, the former president of the organization that represents more than 200,000 unionized construction workers, along with 10 other defendants entered guilty pleas for the offenses in the conspiracy that took place from about October 2018 to about October 2020, Damian Williams, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Raymond Tierney…
Former Long Island County Executive Ed Mangano Sentenced For Bribery Former Long Island County Executive Ed Mangano Sentenced For Bribery
Former Long Island County Executive Ed Mangano Sentenced For Bribery Related story: Wife Of Former Nassau County Exec Also Sentenced For Role In Bribery Scheme A former county executive on Long Island has been sentenced following his conviction on bribery and corruption charges. Former Republican Nassau County exec Ed Mangano, now age 61, has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison and fined $20,000 for a years-long bribery case, the US Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday, April 14. Mangano was previously found guilty of: Conspiracy to commit federal program bribery; Federal program bribery; Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud; Honest…
Brian Benjamin Resigns As NY Lt. Governor After Arrest For Alleged Bribery, Fraud Scheme Brian Benjamin Resigns As NY Lt. Governor After Arrest For Alleged Bribery, Fraud Scheme
Brian Benjamin Resigns As NY Lt. Governor After Arrest For Alleged Bribery, Fraud Scheme New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's No. 2 has resigned following his arrest for an alleged campaign-funding scheme during a previous run for New York City comptroller. New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was arrested on Tuesday, April 12 on charges that include bribery, honest services wire fraud, and falsification of records following an investigation into probes from his former campaign. Original story - NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations Benjamin pleaded not guilty on Tuesday at an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was released an…
Ex-State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies In Prison Ex-State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies In Prison
Ex-State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies In Prison Embattled former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, has reportedly died at the age of 77 in a Hudson Valley prison. A Democrat, Silver was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in July 2021 on corruption charges and died at the Otisville Correctional Institution in Orange County on Monday, Jan. 24, officials announced. Silver, who at one point represented most of Manhattan, was found guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud, two counts of honest services mail fraud, two counts of extortion under the color of off…
Ex-Cuomo Aide Released From Federal Prison Ex-Cuomo Aide Released From Federal Prison
Ex-Cuomo Aide Released From Federal Prison A former top aide to ousted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been released from federal prison following a conviction on corruption charges, years before his sentence was set to expire. Original story - Ex-Cuomo Aide From Northern Westchester Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes Northern Westchester resident Joseph Percoco, of South Salem, who was serving time in a Hudson Valley prison, was transferred to a halfway house, according to the federal Residential Reentry Management office in Brooklyn. Earlier story - Former Cuomo Aide From Northern Westchester Ordered To Report To Prison Percoco…
Suffolk Attorney Sentenced For Stealing Wrongful Death Inheritance Suffolk Attorney Sentenced For Stealing Wrongful Death Inheritance
Suffolk Attorney Sentenced For Stealing Wrongful Death Inheritance A longtime attorney from Long Island will spend years in prison after admitting to stealing more than a million dollars from a child’s inheritance, federal officials announced. Smithtown resident Vincent Trimarco, Jr., age 52, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in a scheme to defraud a minor of her inheritance from a federal wrongful death lawsuit. Additionally, US Breon Peace said that Trimarco has been ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution and to forfeit an additional $1.5 million after he pleaded guilty in October 2020. Between Ap…
Three Former NYPD Police Officers From Long Island Admit To Bribery Scheme Three Former NYPD Police Officers From Long Island Admit To Bribery Scheme
Three Former Nypd Police Officers From Long Island Admit To Bribery Scheme Three former NYPD officers from Long Island admitted to their roles in a scheme to sell personal information of victims in exchange for bribes, federal officials announced. In Brooklyn federal court, Robert Hassett, age 36, of Farmingville, a former NYPD officer, pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in a scheme to sell the personal information of automobile accident victims in exchange for thousands of dollars worth of bribes. Prosecutors also said that Hassett also admitted that he participated in a scheme to steer vehicles damaged in automobile accidents to a tow truck company in c…
LI Correction Officer Nabbed For Smuggling Contraband Into Jail, DA Says LI Correction Officer Nabbed For Smuggling Contraband Into Jail, DA Says
LI Correction Officer Nabbed For Smuggling Contraband Into Jail, DA Says A Long Island corrections officer has been arrested for allegedly smuggling contraband, including cigarettes and lighters, into an area correction center in exchange for bribes. Harris Ferro, age 35, who faces up to seven years in prison, was arrested on Friday, Aug. 20, on a 22-count indictment, said acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith.  “Officers who accept bribes and compromise the integrity of their position for personal financial gain threaten the safety of their fellow officers and undermine the County’s correction system,” said Smith.  According to the indic…
Three Current, Former NYPD Officers From Long Island Charged In Bribery Scheme Three Current, Former NYPD Officers From Long Island Charged In Bribery Scheme
Three Current, Former Nypd Officers From Long Island Charged In Bribery Scheme Two NYPD officers and a retired officer from Long Island have been charged in federal court with running a bribery scheme that allegedly earned them thousands of dollars. The nine-count indictment was filed on Tuesday, May 11 charging Heather Busch, age 34, of Massapequa, Robert Hasset, age 36, of Farmingville, and Rober Smith, age 44, of Plainview, with five counts of using interstate facilities to commit bribery and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, said the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.  Smith is also charged with attempting to tra…
Ex-NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Released From Federal Prison Early Ex-NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Released From Federal Prison Early
Ex-NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Released From Federal Prison Early Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been released on furlough from federal prison in the Hudson Valley as he awaits a decision about whether the 77-year-old disgraced politician can serve out his term in home confinement. Silver, once one of New York’s most powerful politicians, was sentenced last year to six-and-a-half years in prison following his 2018 conviction on bribery and corruption charges. Specifically, Silver was found guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud, two counts of honest services mail fraud, two counts of extortion under the color of official ri…
LI Social Services Employee Accused Of Fraudulently Obtaining Benefits For Family Members LI Social Services Employee Accused Of Fraudulently Obtaining Benefits For Family Members
LI Social Services Employee Accused Of Fraudulently Obtaining Benefits For Family Members A Long Island Department of Social Services employee has been arrested for allegedly fraudulently obtaining benefits for her family members. Paola Masi, 30, of Patchogue, was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 22, for allegedly using her position to steal more than $5,000 in benefits for family members, said Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini. Masi has been employed by Suffolk DSS as a Social Services Examiner 1 since 2013 and is responsible for evaluating applications to determine an individual’s eligibility for benefits, the DA's Office said In 2018 and 2019, she allegedly used her pos…
Owner Of Long Island Company Sentenced For Paying Official To Approve Development Owner Of Long Island Company Sentenced For Paying Official To Approve Development
Owner Of Long Island Company Sentenced For Paying Official To Approve Development The owner of a prominent Long Island paving company has been sentenced for bribing an Oyster Bay commissioner to facilitate the construction of a senior housing development. Oyster Bay Cove resident Elia “Aly” Lizza was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge after pleading guilty to one count of bribery in January for bribing an official to construct Cantiague Commons in Hicksville. In addition to his discharge, Lizza also paid $350,000 to settle a civil forfeiture action brought against him by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Civil Forfeiture Bureau.  Nassau County Dist…
Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced For Conviction On Corruption Charges Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced For Conviction On Corruption Charges
Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced For Conviction On Corruption Charges Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, will spend the better part of a decade behind bars after being convicted on corruption charges. A federal judge in Manhattan sentenced Silver, 76, to six-and-a-half years in prison on Monday, July 20 following his 2018 conviction. The former Democratic leader, who acknowledged his wrongdoing at his sentencing, was also ordered to pay a $1 million fine. Silver, who at one point represented most of Manhattan, was found guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud, two counts of hones…
COVID-19: Dean Skelos Detainment Status Changes Yet Again COVID-19: Dean Skelos Detainment Status Changes Yet Again
Covid-19: Dean Skelos Detainment Status Changes Yet Again Will he stay or will he go? Disgraced former Long Island politician Dean Skelos, who contracted novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while serving time in prison, is now likely to be released from prison to serve home confinement. Skelos, 72, the former New York State Majority Leader, was sentenced to 51 months in prison in 2018 on corruption charges after accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes while he was in office. Earlier story - COVID-19: Dean Skelos Now Unlikely To Be Released From Prison, Report Says It has been an up-and-down ride for Skelos, who was initially schedu…
COVID-19: Dean Skelos Now Unlikely To Be Released From Prison, Report Says COVID-19: Dean Skelos Now Unlikely To Be Released From Prison, Report Says
Covid-19: Dean Skelos Now Unlikely To Be Released From Prison, Report Says Disgraced former Long Island politician Dean Skelos’ release from prison due to contracting novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is now officially in limbo. Skelos, 72, the former New York State Majority Leader was sentenced to 51 months in prison in 2018 on corruption charges after accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes while he was in office. Earlier story - COVID-19: Dean Skelos Contracts Virus, Will Be Released From Prison, Reports Say Skelos tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month and was to be released from the minimum-security Otisville federal prison in Orange C…
COVID-19: Dean Skelos Contracts Virus, Will Be Released From Prison, Reports Say COVID-19: Dean Skelos Contracts Virus, Will Be Released From Prison, Reports Say
Covid-19: Dean Skelos Contracts Virus, Will Be Released From Prison, Reports Say Disgraced former Long Island politician Dean Skelos will be released from prison after testing positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to serve home confinement, according to multiple reports. Skelos, 72, the former New York State Majority Leader was sentenced to 51 months in prison in 2018 on corruption charges after accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes while he was in office. Skelos tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, April 8, and had been in quarantine prior to his release from the minimum-security Otisville federal prison in Orange County, according to the…
Former Long Island Village Trustee Sentenced To Prison Time Former Long Island Village Trustee Sentenced To Prison Time
Former Long Island Village Trustee Sentenced To Prison Time A former elected official on Long Island will spend years behind bars after admitting to extorting business owners, accepting bribes, submitting false paystubs to obtain a mortgage and ticket-fixing, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced. Former Hempstead Village Trustee Perry Pettus was sentenced to a term of between two and a third years to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a host of charges accusing him of using his position and power for personal gain. Specifically, Pettus pleaded guilty to: Two counts of Bribe receiving; Five counts of grand larceny…
Former Suffolk DA Thomas Spota, Ex-Aide Convicted Of Covering Up Beating Of Prisoner Former Suffolk DA Thomas Spota, Ex-Aide Convicted Of Covering Up Beating Of Prisoner
Former Suffolk DA Thomas Spota, Ex-Aide Convicted Of Covering Up Beating Of Prisoner Former Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota and one of his former top aides have been found guilty of covering up the beating of a former heroin addict in 2012 who broke into his police cruiser in St. James. Spota, 78, and Christopher McPartland, 53, were found guilty following a six-week trial of all charges, including obstruction of justice, witness tampering and acting as accessories to the deprivation of inmate Christopher Loeb's civil rights. The jury deliberated for nearly a full day before returning the guilty verdict. When they are sentenced, Spota and McPartland will face…
Labor Union President Demanded, Accepted Bribes, Feds Say Labor Union President Demanded, Accepted Bribes, Feds Say
Labor Union President Demanded, Accepted Bribes, Feds Say A Fairfield County resident who serves as the president of the local International Longshoremen’s Association has been charged by federal prosecutors with demanding and accepting bribes. Glenn Blicht, 57, of Wilton, was arrested Friday, July 26 for honest services fraud and a violation of the Taft-Hartley Act for demanding and accepting at least $150,000 in bribe payments from an employer. The honest services fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He was also charged with one count of demanding or receiving prohibited payments as a labor union official, which carries…
Ex-Oyster Bay Supervisor Venditto Admits To Corruption Charges Ex-Oyster Bay Supervisor Venditto Admits To Corruption Charges
Ex-Oyster Bay Supervisor Venditto Admits To Corruption Charges This story has been updated. John Venditto, the former Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor, has admitted to state corruption charges, though the Republican will avoid spending any time behind bars. Venditto, 70, of Massapequa, pleaded guilty in Nassau County Court to a felony charge of corrupt use of a position of authority and a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct. He had initially pleaded not guilty in June 2017. After serving two decades as town supervisor, Venditto resigned in January 2017 as charges in a different federal corruption case - which was lifted in May last year - were pend…
Ex-Hempstead Village Trustee Admits To Receiving Bribes, Extorting Business Owners Ex-Hempstead Village Trustee Admits To Receiving Bribes, Extorting Business Owners
Ex-Hempstead Village Trustee Admits To Receiving Bribes, Extorting Business Owners A former Hempstead Village Trustee has admitted to extorting business owners, accepting bribes, submitting false paystubs to obtain a mortgage and ticket fixing, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced. Perry Pettus, 63, was in Nassau County Court on Thursday, June 13, to plead guilty to the corruption charges, which accused him of using his position and power for personal gain. In all, Pettus pleaded guilty to: Two counts of Bribe receiving; Five counts of grand larceny; Attempted grand larceny; Two counts of tampering with public records; Falsifying business records; T…
Ex-NYPD Detective Sentenced To Prison For Obstructing Drug Investigation Ex-NYPD Detective Sentenced To Prison For Obstructing Drug Investigation
Ex-nypd Detective Sentenced To Prison For Obstructing Drug Investigation A convicted corrupt former NYPD officer will spend time behind bars after obstructing an investigation into a Westchester drug deal whom he also temporarily ran an illegal sports betting business. Brooklyn resident Saed Rabah, 46, has been sentenced to two years in prison in White Plains federal court for knowingly providing misinformation to a federal law enforcement officer to obstruct a drug investigation into an alleged Yonkers dealer. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced the sentence on Friday, which also carries a year of supervised release and a $10,000 forfeiture. The alleged dr…
Ex-Cop, Wife Admit To Running Gambling, Prostitution Ring With LI Location Ex-Cop, Wife Admit To Running Gambling, Prostitution Ring With LI Location
Ex-Cop, Wife Admit To Running Gambling, Prostitution Ring With LI Location A former NYPD detective and his wife both pleaded guilty to running a multi-million dollar gambling and prostitution ring that reached from Queens to Long Island and allegedly involved seven active duty NYPD officers. Ludwig Paz, 51, who was assigned to the NYPD vice squad, pled to two counts of attempted enterprise corruption and one count of promoting prostitution, acting Queens District Attorney John Ryan said.  He also agreed to turn over $20,840 in illegal profits. His wife, Arelis Peralta, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted enterprise corruption. She has already been sent…
Hempstead Police Chief Among Four Facing Corruption Charges Hempstead Police Chief Among Four Facing Corruption Charges
Hempstead Police Chief Among Four Facing Corruption Charges Hempstead Police Department Chief Paul Johnson, Sgt. Joseph Savino, former Village Trustee Perry Pettus, and restaurant owner William Mendez have been hit with corruption charges for allegedly fixing tickets. The four appeared before a judge on Wednesday, May 1, where Johnson was charged with tampering with public records, grand larceny, official misconduct, obstructing governmental administration, criminal contempt and conspiracy. The chief pleaded not guilty.  The incident drew Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas' attention after receiving community complai…