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'Ruthless' Gang Members Charged In Murder, Robbery Spree In Suffolk County 'Ruthless' Gang Members Charged In Murder, Robbery Spree In Suffolk County
'Ruthless' Gang Members Charged In Murder, Robbery Spree In Suffolk County Three alleged gang members are in federal custody in connection with several murders and home robberies that occurred on Long Island. In a 32-count superseding indictment unsealed in federal court in Central Islip on Thursday, Jan. 4, Bloods gang members Dwayne Murray, Kendrick Seymore, and Lavalle Wilson are charged with attempted murder and other charges. Prosecutors allege that the trio took part in numerous violent acts on the gang’s behalf, including robberies, home invasions, and “vicious” shootings and murders. Murry is accused of fatally shooting 36-year-old Wayne Cherry in the hea…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
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 In 23-Count Federal Case, 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…

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by Michael Mashburn
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'Disgraced His Uniform': $600K Fraud Scheme Lands Ex-NYPD Union Head From Long Island In Prison 'Disgraced His Uniform': $600K Fraud Scheme Lands Ex-NYPD Union Head From Long Island In Prison
'Disgraced His Uniform': $600K Fraud Scheme Lands Ex-nypd Union Head From Long Island In Prison A former NYPD union boss from Long Island is heading to prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the very union that he led. Edward Mullins, age 61, of Port Washington, was sentenced to two years behind bars in federal court in Manhattan on Thursday, Aug. 3, after pleading guilty to fraud. From 2002 to 2021, Mullins served as president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), which represents all current and former sergeants in the NYPD. Earlier Report: Former NYPD Union Head From Long Island Charged WIth Fraud According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Sou…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Quadruple Murder Case: Former Police Officer In NY Found Guilty Quadruple Murder Case: Former Police Officer In NY Found Guilty
Quadruple Murder Case: Former Police Officer In NY Found Guilty A former police officer at several municipalities in Westchester and Dutchess counties has been convicted for the murders of four men in Orange County after a drug deal that went bad. According to an indictment that was filed in White Plains Federal Court, Nicholas Tartaglione killed Martin Luna, age 41, Urbano Santiago, age 32, Miguel Luna, age 25, and Hector Gutierrez, 43, at the Likquid Lounge in the town of Chester in Orange County following the botched cocaine deal in April 2016. The first victim was allegedly strangled with a zip tie, and three others were taken to an Otisville home i…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Long Island Doctor Sentenced For Million-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme Long Island Doctor Sentenced For Million-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme
Long Island Doctor Sentenced For Million-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme A Long Island doctor is heading to federal prison after admitting that he bilked the Medicare system out of more than a million dollars as part of an elaborate fraud scheme. Morris Barnard, age 59, of Great Neck, was sentenced to 2 ½ years behind bars in federal court in Central Islip on Thursday, Jan. 5. It followed his March 2022 guilty plea to healthcare fraud. Earlier Report: New Details: Nassau Doctor Admits To Million-Dollar Medicare Scheme Prosecutors said between October 2015 and February 2020, Barnard, a gastroenterologist practicing in Great Neck, submitted over $3 million i…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Long Island Man Who Sexually Abused Kids, Taught Others To Produce Child Pornography Sentenced Long Island Man Who Sexually Abused Kids, Taught Others To Produce Child Pornography Sentenced
Long Island Man Who Sexually Abused Kids, Taught Others To Produce Child Pornography Sentenced A Long Island man who admitted to sexually abusing young children and teaching others how to produce child pornography will spend more than two decades in federal prison. Christopher Bertsch, age 38, of Wantagh, was sentenced to 28 years behind bars Monday, Oct. 24, in federal court in Central Islip. It followed his guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child in November 2020. Prosecutors said an investigation into Bertsch had turned up a trove of dozens of videos and hundreds of images depicting him sexually abusing young kids. One victim was just 18 months old at the time, prosecutors…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Father-Daughter Long Island Duo Accused Of Acting As Illegal Agents For China Father-Daughter Long Island Duo Accused Of Acting As Illegal Agents For China
Father-Daughter Long Island Duo Accused Of Acting As Illegal Agents For China A father and daughter from New York are among several people accused of acting as illegal agents of the Chinese government who allegedly worked to force a US resident to return to China. Long Island residents Quanzhong An, age 55, and his daughter, Guangyang An, age 34, both of Roslyn, were named in an eight-count indictment unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn Thursday, Oct. 20. The indictment charges a total of seven Chinese nationals with taking part in an international forced repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt,” which prosecutors said involved surveilling, harassing, and …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
CT Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Of Victims Across US Out Of Millions CT Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Of Victims Across US Out Of Millions
CT Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Of Victims Across US Out Of Millions A Connecticut man who took part in a massive scheme defrauding elderly victims out of millions of dollars is heading to federal prison. Rodney Thomas, age 31, of New Haven, was sentenced to six years behind bars Tuesday, Aug. 23 in federal court in Bridgeport after a jury convicted him of multiple charges stemming from the scheme. Federal prosecutors said Thomas and several others bilked 200 elderly victims across the country out of more than $5 million through bogus lottery and romance scams carried out between August 2015 and March 2020. Some unsuspecting victims were duped into sendin…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Huntington Chiropractor Admits To $1 Million Health Care Fraud Huntington Chiropractor Admits To $1 Million Health Care Fraud
Huntington Chiropractor Admits To $1 Million Health Care Fraud A New York chiropractor has admitted to fraudulently obtaining nearly $1 million in insurance payouts for services that were never provided. Long Island resident Peter Adamczack, age 65, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to health care fraud Monday, Aug. 15, in federal court in Central Islip. Prosecutors said Adamczack, a licensed chiropractor in East Meadow, submitted over $1 million in fraudulent acupuncture claims to a private insurance company between 2016 and 2020. Adamczack was not licensed to perform acupuncture, but claimed that the services were provided by an unaffiliated acupuncturi…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Long Island Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar Scheme Long Island Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar Scheme
Long Island Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar Scheme Federal officials announced that four have been arrested and charged for their alleged roles in the multi-billion dollar collapse of Archegos Capital Management. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said that the firm’s former CFO, Long Island resident Patrick Halligan, age 45, of Syosset, and New Jersey resident of Bill Hwang of Tenafly in Bergen County, have been arrested in connection to what Williams said was a racketeering scheme to manipulate the prices of publicly traded securities and to defraud global investment banks. Also charged, according to the De…

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by Zak Failla
News
Accused Central Islip MS-13 Associate Found Guilty In Deaths Of Four Accused Central Islip MS-13 Associate Found Guilty In Deaths Of Four
Accused Central Islip MS-13 Associate Found Guilty In Deaths Of Four A 22-year-old associate of the MS-13 street gang on Long Island has been found guilty on all counts for her role in a quadruple homicide after luring her victims to a Suffolk County park, officials announced. Leniz Escobar, who was also known as “La Diablita,” or “The Little Devil” was found guilty of orchestrating a 2017 massacre in Suffolk County to gain favor as an associate for the gang before claiming to be a victim of the attack. Earlier story - MS-13 Member Sentenced For Long Island Murders Of Four With Machetes, Knives, Clubs, Axe Specifically, Escobar was convicted of racketeering…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island MS-13 Gang Members Charged With Murdering Mother Whose Body Was Found In Trunk Long Island MS-13 Gang Members Charged With Murdering Mother Whose Body Was Found In Trunk
Long Island MS-13 Gang Members Charged With Murdering Mother Whose Body Was Found In Trunk Several purported members of the MS-13 gang members from Long Island are facing charges for a host of crimes and the murder of a mother whose body was later found in the trunk of a car, federal authorities announced. An indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging 11 members of the street gang with multiple crimes that include predicate racketeering acts involving murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, witness tampering and witness retaliation, and related narcotics and firearms offenses. Four were also charged for their roles in the April 11, …

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by Zak Failla
News
New Details: Long Island Doctor Admits To Million-Dollar Medicare Scheme New Details: Long Island Doctor Admits To Million-Dollar Medicare Scheme
New Details: Long Island Doctor Admits To Million-Dollar Medicare Scheme A doctor on Long Island admitted to scheming to bilk Medicare out of more than a million dollars as part of an elaborate fraud scheme, federal authorities announced. Morris Barnard, age 58, of Great Neck, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 7 to health care fraud in connection with the scam to bill Medicare for medical procedures that were never actually performed. US Attorney Breon Peace said that beginning in October 2015 through February 2020, Barnard submitted more than $3 million in billings to Medicare for colonoscopy and gastroenterological procedures that were never done.  Earli…

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by Zak Failla
News
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $550K From Firm Located In NY, CT Woman Accused Of Embezzling $550K From Firm Located In NY, CT
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $550K From Firm Located In NY, CT A woman is facing charges for allegedly engaging in an elaborate scheme to bilk her employers’ business based in New York and Connecticut out of more than a half-million dollars to live a lavish lifestyle, authorities announced. Bronx resident Susana Rivera, age 40, the former Director of Accounting and Human Resources for a kitchen remodeling firm located in Westchester and Fairfield County, with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with her alleged embezzlement of more than $550,000 from her employer. US Attorney Damian Williams said that beginning in October 2019, River…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Security Officer At JFK Long Island Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Security Officer At JFK
Long Island Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Security Officer At JFK Three women from New York are facing charges for allegedly assaulting a security officer after refusing to leave a jetway at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, federal officials announced. Long Island residents Janessa Torres, age 21, Johanna Zavala, age 44, both of Central Islip, and Bay Shore resident Jordan Nixon, age 21, were charged in federal court for allegedly assaulting the officer and a second employee on Sept. 22, 2021. Prosecutors said that the three women refused to leave the jetway after they were informed that they would be denied boarding for a Delta Airlines s…

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by Zak Failla
News
Marina Owner Sentenced For Scuttling Abandoned Vessels In LI Sound Marina Owner Sentenced For Scuttling Abandoned Vessels In LI Sound
Marina Owner Sentenced For Scuttling Abandoned Vessels In LI Sound The owner of a Fairfield County marina will avoid time behind bars but was hit with a heavy fine as he was sentenced for abandoning boats in the Long Island Sound. John Magness, formerly of Southbury in New Haven County, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $45,000 fine for scuttling several sailboats and motorboats between Black Rock Harbor and the Pennfield Reef Lighthouse in the Long Island Sound. Magness, who now lives in Bristol, Maine, was the owner of the Bluefish Cove Marina in Bridgeport. Acting US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that while he was preparing to …

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by Zak Failla
News
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…

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by Zak Failla
News
Former CEO From Long Island Sentenced For Bribery Scheme Former CEO From Long Island Sentenced For Bribery Scheme
Former CEO From Long Island Sentenced For Bribery Scheme A New York man who was a CEO for a company in the region will spend time behind bars for his role in a multi-million dollar bribery scheme. Long Island resident Alan Kaufman, age 62, of Jericho, the former CEO of the now-defunct Melrose Credit Union, has been sentenced to 46 months in prison after being convicted in a scheme with Long Island businessman Tony Georgiton. US Attorney Audrey Strauss said that Kaufman accepted free housing and hundreds of thousands of dollars in financing for the purchase of his personal residence, after approving millions of dollars in loans to Georgiton’s comp…

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by Zak Failla
News
Suffolk County Man Admits To $4.7M Mortgage-Fraud Scheme Suffolk County Man Admits To $4.7M Mortgage-Fraud Scheme
Suffolk County Man Admits To $4.7M Mortgage-Fraud Scheme An unlicensed mortgage broker on Long Island has admitted to his role in a multi-million dollar Ponzi-like scheme to defraud his clients, federal officials announced. Commack resident Brent Kaufman, age 50, pleaded guilty to stealing $4.7 million in mortgage refinancing proceeds that were meant to pay off the existing mortgages of his clients. Acting US Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis said Kaufman worked as an unlicensed mortgage broker and assisted clients in Queens and Long Island with refinancing their mortgages. At the closing for a mortgage refinancing, the money from the new mortgage is …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Lieutenant Governor Issues New Statement On Cuomo Sexual Harassment Investigation Lieutenant Governor Issues New Statement On Cuomo Sexual Harassment Investigation
Lieutenant Governor Issues New Statement On Cuomo Sexual Harassment Investigation Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who could be next in line if Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ousted from office, is calling on New Yorkers to be patient as the independent investigation into accusations against the governor commence. This week, an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by Cuomo was launched, led by former acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim and prominent employment discrimination attorney Anne L. Clark. Related story - Calls For Cuomo To Resign Draw Attention To Next In Line Lieutenant Governor As AG Starts Probe Seven women have now come forward in recent weeks claim…

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by Zak Failla
News
Owner, CEO From Long Island Among Trio Indicted For $1.8B Ponzi-Like Scheme Owner, CEO From Long Island Among Trio Indicted For $1.8B Ponzi-Like Scheme
Owner, CEO From Long Island 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, …

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Man Charged With Defrauding Investors Long Island Man Charged With Defrauding Investors
Long Island Man Charged With Defrauding Investors A Long Island man will face decades in prison after being charged with bilking investors out of more than $700,000, federal prosecutors said. Massapequa resident Mark Lisser, 40, was charged with wire fraud for lying to investors and potential investors to induce them to invest in what they falsely believed were shares of several companies prior to the companies’ initial public offering. Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said that between October 2018 and January 2019, Lisser was a partner in Knightsbridge Private Parners, which operated a series of websites and call centers used to solici…

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by Zak Failla
News
NYC Restaurateur From Long Island Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme NYC Restaurateur From Long Island Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme
NYC Restaurateur From Long Island Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme A Manhattan restaurateur from Long Island will spend time behind bars after he admitted to a near million dollar tax evasion scheme. Nassau County resident Adel Kellel, 63, of New Hyde Park, the former owners of Raffles Bistro in New York City, has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in Manhattan federal court earlier this year to a $771,195 scheme, acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said. In addition to his prison term, Kellel was also ordered to pay $613,478 in restitution to the IRS and $157,717 to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Strauss s…

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by Zak Failla
News
NYPD Officer From Long Island, Four Others Accused Of Conspiracy To Import, Distribute Cocaine NYPD Officer From Long Island, Four Others Accused Of Conspiracy To Import, Distribute Cocaine
Nypd Officer From Long Island, Four Others Accused Of Conspiracy To Import, Distribute Cocaine An NYPD officer from Long Island and four others are facing charges for allegedly conspiring to import and distribute cocaine as part of their roles in a multinational drug trafficking organization. Hauppauge resident Amaury Abreu, an NYPD officer, Roosevelt resident Julio Bautista and South Ozone Park resident Gustavo Valerio were charged on Monday, Nov. 9 for a cocaine distribution scheme that began in January 2016 and ran through last month. Roosevelt resident Cesar Diaz-Bautista, and Uniondale resident Junior Ortiz were also charged as part of the conspiracy to distribute cocaine in New…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-LI Liquor Distributor Sentenced For Defrauding Investors In Product Featured On 'Shark Tank' Ex-LI Liquor Distributor Sentenced For Defrauding Investors In Product Featured On 'Shark Tank'
Ex-LI Liquor Distributor Sentenced For Defrauding Investors In Product Featured On 'Shark Tank' A former liquor distributor on Long Island whose product was featured on the TV show “Shark Tank” will spend time in prison after being sentenced for defrauding investors. Joseph Falcone, 60, who formerly operated a wine and liquor distribution business known as 3G’s Vino was sentenced to two years in prison for wire fraud in connection to his fraud scheme. In addition to his prison sentence, Falcone was also ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution to seven investigators following his guilty plea last June. Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said that in December 2012, Falcone establis…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Trio Indicted In $107M Scheme To Defraud Lottery-Winning Clients Long Island Trio Indicted In $107M Scheme To Defraud Lottery-Winning Clients
Long Island Trio Indicted In $107M Scheme To Defraud Lottery-Winning Clients Three on Long Island have been indicted for their roles in a $107 million “Lottery Lawyer” scheme. Dix Hills resident Jason Kurland, Oyster Bay resident Francis Smookler, Roslyn resident Frangesco Russo, and Staten Island resident Christopher Chierchio were charged in Brooklyn federal court with multiple charges of: wire fraud,  wire fraud conspiracy,  money laundering,  and money laundering conspiracy. Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said that Kurland, 46, has declared himself a “Lottery Lawyer” purporting to represent dozens of lottery winners throughout the country wit…

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by Zak Failla
News
Suffolk Woman Sentenced For ID Theft, Credit Card Fraud Scheme Suffolk Woman Sentenced For ID Theft, Credit Card Fraud Scheme
Suffolk Woman Sentenced For ID Theft, Credit Card Fraud Scheme A Long Island woman on supervised release after being convicted of running scams in Kentucky will spend years in prison and was ordered to pay more than a million dollars in restitution for an identity and credit card fraud scheme. Amityville resident Lisa Reid, 47, has been sentenced to 90 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after she targeted dozens of victims as part of an elaborate scheme that ran for nearly two years. In addition to her time behind bars, Reid was also ordered to pay $1,009,235.69 in restitution to her victims. U.S. Attorney John Durham said…

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by Zak Failla
News
MS-13 Gang Member Arrested In El Salvador For Long Island Murder MS-13 Gang Member Arrested In El Salvador For Long Island Murder
MS-13 Gang Member Arrested In El Salvador For Long Island Murder A fugitive member of the MS-13 street gang wanted for a murder on Long Island was located and arrested in El Salvador by a transnational anti-gang unit and the FBI, federal officials said. José Jonathan Guevara-Castro, 25, also known as “Suspechoso,” an alleged member of MS-13, was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 13 in Acajutla, Sonsonate, El Salvador. for an alleged murder on Long Island. Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said that Guevara-Castro has been charged in a 24-count indictment, along with seven other MS-13 members, with racketeering offenses, murder and narcotics trafficking. …

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by Zak Failla