Tag:

Homeland Security Investigations

Man Nabbed In Undercover Online Predator Sting In Hudson Valley, DA Says Man Nabbed In Undercover Online Predator Sting In Hudson Valley, DA Says
Man Nabbed In Undercover Online Predator Sting In Hudson Valley, DA Says A man is facing multiple charges after an online predator sting in the region. From Tuesday, April 30, through Sunday, Sept. 1 of this year, Robert Fidler age 66, of Nyack engaged in internet chats and attempted to arrange meetings with what he thought were two teenage girls, the Rockland County District Attorney's Office said. An undercover officer of the DA Office's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force had assumed the personas of 13- and 14-year-old girls. During the conversations, Fidler described how he and the undercover officer would engage in sexual contact whe…
Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of New Federal Criminal Investigation: Report Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of New Federal Criminal Investigation: Report
Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of New Federal Criminal Investigation: Report A federal criminal investigation is focusing on well-known hip-hop artist and longtime New Yorker Sean "Diddy" Combs, according to a report by NBC.  Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, was told that he is a focus of an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by federal authorities in the Southern District of New York, NBC reported.  The outlet added that as part of the probe, a federal grand jury is hearing evidence. There is nothing to suggest that charges are coming, though.  Combs has not received a lett…
Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Faces New Sexual Abuse Allegation: Report Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Faces New Sexual Abuse Allegation: Report
Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Faces New Sexual Abuse Allegation: Report Following several previous accusations, well-known hip-hop artist and longtime New Yorker Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing a new lawsuit filed by a former model who claims the producer sexually assaulted her, according to reports.  CNN reports that former model Crystal McKinney, the winner of MTV's 1998 Model Mission competition show, filed the latest lawsuit against Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, on Tuesday, May 21. McKinney alleges that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2003 following a Men's Fashion Week event in New Yor…
Police Officer From Westchester Nabbed For Sexually Exploiting Child, Feds Say Police Officer From Westchester Nabbed For Sexually Exploiting Child, Feds Say
Police Officer From Westchester Nabbed For Sexually Exploiting Child, Feds Say A police officer from Westchester and his accomplice face criminal charges for sexually exploiting a child and having them send explicit videos and photos over the internet, federal officials announced.  Angad Beharry, a 46-year-old New York City Police Officer from Yonkers, and Gisainet Cristina Chirinos Viloria, a 23-year-old Venezuelan citizen from Goshen, Indiana, were both arrested on Thursday, Jan 25 on sexual exploitation charges, the US Attorney's Office for Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, between Aug. 31, 2022, and Sept.…
$1.5M Fraud: Hudson Valley Man Lied To Investors About Being Licensed Broker, Feds Say $1.5M Fraud: Hudson Valley Man Lied To Investors About Being Licensed Broker, Feds Say
$1.5M Fraud: Hudson Valley Man Lied To Investors About Being Licensed Broker, Feds Say A Hudson Valley man faces up to 20 years in prison for allegedly lying to investors that he was a licensed investment broker and making off with more than $1.5 million of his customer's cash.  Rockland County resident Jeffrey Tognetti Jr., age 26, of Piermont, was charged on Thursday, Aug. 31 with wire fraud, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. As alleged in public court proceedings in White Plains feral court, Tognetti ran a scheme that solicited and obtained funds from victims based on the misrepresentations that, among other things,…
Sexual Predator Sting: Attorney Nabbed After Arranging To Meet Girl In Hudson Valley, DA Says Sexual Predator Sting: Attorney Nabbed After Arranging To Meet Girl In Hudson Valley, DA Says
Sexual Predator Sting: Attorney Nabbed After Arranging To Meet Girl In Hudson Valley, DA Says An undercover investigation in the Hudson Valley has led to the arrest of a Long Island attorney who is accused of preying on a minor using online platforms. Long Island resident Daniel Waxman, age 55, was arrested on Wednesday, May 31 after authorities say he arrived in Rockland County to meet with whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl. From Monday, May 22 up until Wednesday, an undercover investigator from the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office posing as a minor engaged in a series of text conversations with Waxman, Rockland DA Thomas E. Walsh said. The undercover inve…
NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China
NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China A New York engineer is heading to federal prison for conspiring to steal General Electric’s trade secrets to benefit the Chinese government. Schenectady County resident Xiaoqing Zheng, age 59, of Niskayuna, was sentenced to two years behind bars in federal court in Albany on Tuesday, Jan. 3. It followed his March 2022 conviction on a charge of conspiracy to commit economic espionage. After a four-week trial, the jury either acquitted Zheng, or could not reach a unanimous verdict, on 11 other charges. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Zheng worked at GE Po…
Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants
Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants A Fairfield County man is facing charges after investigators found that his laptop contained about 1,000 images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants.  Christopher Bates Jr., age 36, of Greenwich, was arrested on a federal complaint charging him with child pornography offenses on Tuesday, Dec. 13, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Investigators found that an IP address at Bates' home was being used to access the dark web to view images that depicted the sexual abuse of children, Roberts Avery reported. …
Former Coach In Hudson Valley Charged With Transporting Minors, Now Cops, To Engage In Sex Acts Former Coach In Hudson Valley Charged With Transporting Minors, Now Cops, To Engage In Sex Acts
Former Coach In Hudson Valley Charged With Transporting Minors, Now Cops, To Engage In Sex Acts A former diving coach in the Hudson Valley is facing federal charges, years after he allegedly transported teenagers across state lines for sex. Victor Byrne, age 56, who formerly coached competitive divers in Rockland County, was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 31, in Orlando, Florida. Federal prosecutors said Byrne transported a 16-year-old victim from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Rockland County to engage in illegal sexual activity in July 2006. In February 2008, he transported another 16-year-old from New Jersey to Rockland County, again to engage in illegal sex, prosecutors said. Byrne worked…
Hudson Valley Man Indicted After Undercover Investigation Into Child Predators Hudson Valley Man Indicted After Undercover Investigation Into Child Predators
Hudson Valley Man Indicted After Undercover Investigation Into Child Predators A 32-year-old Hudson Valley resident is facing multiple charges after authorities said he sent sexually-explicit photographs and messages to an undercover officer who was posing as a child. Thomas Szeliga, of the hamlet of Orangeburg in Rockland County, was indicted on one count of second-degree attempted criminal sexual act and one count of first-degree attempted disseminating indecent material to minors, according to authorities. Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh II said that on or about and between Friday, June 3, and Monday, June 27, Szeliga exchanged sexually explicit…
Registered Sex Offender Busted By Undercover Officers In Hudson Valley Targeting 'Teen Girl' Registered Sex Offender Busted By Undercover Officers In Hudson Valley Targeting 'Teen Girl'
Registered Sex Offender Busted By Undercover Officers In Hudson Valley Targeting 'Teen Girl' A registered sex offender was busted by undercover officers during a sexual predator sting operation in the Hudson Valley, officials announced. In Rockland County, New Jersey resident Brian Reed, age 33, of Sussex, was busted and indicted following an online sting conducted by the District’s Attorney’s Special Investigative Unit. Rockland County DA Thomas Walsh II noted that Reed is a registered sex offender with a past conviction in New Jersey. According to Walsh, between Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26, Reed allegedly exchanged text messages, photos, and phone calls - all sexually…
Ex-NY Resident Indicted For Massive Fraud Scheme Involving Sports Betting Ex-NY Resident Indicted For Massive Fraud Scheme Involving Sports Betting
Ex-NY Resident Indicted For Massive Fraud Scheme Involving Sports Betting A former New Yorker is accused of being the mastermind of a massive sports betting fraud scheme that bilked victims out of tens of millions of dollars. Cory Zeidman, age 61, formerly of Long Island, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. He was arrested Wednesday, May 25, in Florida, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the East District. Federal prosecutors said Zeidman used national radio ads to lure sports fans into believing that they could “get in on the ground floor” of his phony sports betting organization and that it could provide i…
Hudson Valley Man Charged As Leader Of Organized Armed Robbery Conspiracy Hudson Valley Man Charged As Leader Of Organized Armed Robbery Conspiracy
Hudson Valley Man Charged As Leader Of Organized Armed Robbery Conspiracy A Hudson Valley man was arrested and accused of leading an organized armed robbery conspiracy in the region. Orange County resident Patrick Chellel, age 31, of the village of Montgomery, was arrested on Wednesday, March 23, and charged in a conspiracy to commit armed robberies of suspected drug dealers in Orange County, the Bronx and Hartford, according to Damian Williams, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. “As alleged, Patrick Chellel organized and directed a violent conspiracy to rob suspected drug dealers and associates at gunpoint," Williams said. "C…
Police Release New Info On Fatal Shooting Of College Student From Hudson Valley Police Release New Info On Fatal Shooting Of College Student From Hudson Valley
Police Release New Info On Fatal Shooting Of College Student From Hudson Valley The 21-year-old SUNY Potsdam student from the Hudson Valley who was killed just off-campus was fatally shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting, according to new information released by police. Putnam County resident Elizabeth Howell, age 21, who was a senior at SUNY Potsdam, was struck by three bullets that were fired from a grey, four-door Honda Civic at around 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, investigators from the Potsdam Police Department announced. Original story - Brewster HS Grad Killed In Upstate Shooting Was An Aspiring Educator Police said that her alleged shooter, St. Lawrence C…
Man, Woman In Hudson Valley Charged After Police Probe Shipments Of Drugs Through Mail Man, Woman In Hudson Valley Charged After Police Probe Shipments Of Drugs Through Mail
Man, Woman In Hudson Valley Charged After Police Probe Shipments Of Drugs Through Mail Two Hudson Valley residents were arrested following an investigation into a home receiving shipments of drugs through the mail. Orange County residents Muhammad Iftikhar, age 42, and Maria Younis, age 39, both of Goshen, were arrested following the investigation, which concluded on Tuesday, Feb. 8, New York State Police reported. Police said the two were arrested after a search warrant was executed at the Goshen residence, and law enforcement seized more than 50 grams of anabolic steroids and more than 20 grams of MDMA. Authorities said the investigation was conducted by State Police in co…
Six, Including Police Officer In Hudson Valley, Charged In Sex Trafficking, Bribery Scheme Six, Including Police Officer In Hudson Valley, Charged In Sex Trafficking, Bribery Scheme
Six, Including Police Officer In Hudson Valley, Charged In Sex Trafficking, Bribery Scheme A police officer who allegedly protected a prostitution ring in exchange for free sexual favors is among six facing a host of charges for their roles in operating a sex trafficking organization throughout New York, federal officials announced. In Brooklyn federal court, a 14-count indictment has been unsealed for six suspects who ran the operation - which included minors - while the cop protected them from being arrested by law enforcement. Those charged: Wayne Peiffer, age 48, of Highland in Ulster County; Jose Facundo Zarate Morals, age 32, of Queens. Luz Elvira Cardona, age 33, of Que…
Lack Of COVID Test Stops Kidnapper's Bid To Cross Canadian Border With Girl In Trunk Lack Of COVID Test Stops Kidnapper's Bid To Cross Canadian Border With Girl In Trunk
Lack Of COVID Test Stops Kidnapper's Bid To Cross Canadian Border With Girl In Trunk A teenage man who was stopped at the Canadian border for lack of a COVID-19 test had kidnapped a 16-year-old from Connecticut, sexually assaulted her, and put her in the trunk of his car, according to police. The kidnapping was reported in Connecticut when the suspect, 19-year-old Christopher Jesus Constanzo, abducted and sexually assaulted the female victim on Thursday, Dec. 2, according to Vermont State Police.  Constanzo is then reported to have held the victim in the trunk of his car while he drove from Connecticut toward the US border crossing in Highgate Springs, Vermont. Early …
Four Hudson Valley Brothers Accused Of $19M Scam To Defraud Amazon Four Hudson Valley Brothers Accused Of $19M Scam To Defraud Amazon
Four Hudson Valley Brothers Accused Of $19M Scam To Defraud Amazon Four brothers from the Hudson Valley have been charged for allegedly engaging in a scheme to systematically defraud Amazon.com of millions. "Through the course of the scheme, they manipulated Amazon’s vendor system in attempts to fraudulently induce Amazon to pay for goods that Amazon had not ordered," Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said. In executing the scheme, they fraudulently attempted to obtain at least approximately $32 million and successfully obtained at least approximately $19 million, Strauss said. The four are:…
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,…
Westchester Man Among Trio Charged With Attempted Murder In NYC Jail Westchester Man Among Trio Charged With Attempted Murder In NYC Jail
Westchester Man Among Trio Charged With Attempted Murder In NYC Jail An alleged gang member from Westchester was among three charged in federal court for their roles in a jail assault where they allegedly attempted to murder a fellow inmate. Kendall Newland, 25, of Mount Vernon, Kalvin Thwaites, 26, of Queens, and Andrew Burrell, 28, of the Bronx and all alleged members of the MacBallas street gang, have been charged with attempted murder for an assault attempt on an inmate inside a New York City Jail in June 2017. US Attorney for the Southern District Geoffrey Berman said that “the MacBallas gang is a criminal enterprise that operates principally in and aro…
Westchester Man Sentenced To Prison, Ordered To Pay $1.7M For Fraud Scheme Westchester Man Sentenced To Prison, Ordered To Pay $1.7M For Fraud Scheme
Westchester Man Sentenced To Prison, Ordered To Pay $1.7M For Fraud Scheme A 32-year-old Westchester resident was one of eight men from three states sentenced to prison in connection with a telemarketing fraud scheme targeting the elderly. Joseph Gowan of Port Chester, who was among those convicted following a 12-day trial before United States District Judge Sidney H. Stein, was sentenced by Stein to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $1,763,582.05 and to pay $1,705,586.05 in restitution.  “Motivated by greed and the possibility of a quick payday, these defendants aggressively targeted the elderly …
Feds Charge Tri-State Area Tour Company Founder With Trafficking Child Porn Feds Charge Tri-State Area Tour Company Founder With Trafficking Child Porn
Feds Charge Tri-State Area Tour Company Founder With Trafficking Child Porn The North Jersey founder of a nature tour company operating from the Jersey Shore north to Poughkeepsie and southern Connecticut was arrested by federal Homeland Security agents on charges of trafficking child porn. Vaughn Tiedeman, 46, of Living Adventure Tours, was ordered held without bail by a federal judge in Newark Monday afternoon on a charge of distributing child pornography. Between July 2018 and January 2019, Tiedeman, of West Milford, “distributed at least 50 videos and 100 images depicting the sexual abuse of children via the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network,” U.S. Attorney Craig…
Four Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Defrauding Users Of Dating Website Four Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Defrauding Users Of Dating Website
Four Charged In White Plains Federal Court With Defrauding Users Of Dating Website Four suspects are facing federal charges for allegedly engaging in a scheme to dupe their victims into believing that they had sent sexually explicit images to underage children and faced criminal prosecution if they did not pay to avoid involvement by law enforcement.  U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced that four suspects from South Carolina have been charged in White Plains federal court with participating in a scheme to defraud users of a dating website. Beginning in August last year, Homeland Security Investigations began investigating several people who reported they had…
Westchester Man, 34, Nabbed In Drug-Dealing Bust Westchester Man, 34, Nabbed In Drug-Dealing Bust
Westchester Man, 34, Nabbed In Drug-Dealing Bust A multi-agency investigation into an alleged Westchester drug dealer led to the arrest of a Mamaroneck suspect who was in possession of GBL and meth at the time of his arrest. New York State Police, Hudson Valley Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, Homeland Security Investigations’ (HIS) Border Enforcement Security Task Force, and the New York City Police Department Narcotics arrested Maurice Goldentaier, 34, who is facing multiple charges after being busted with the controlled substance. An investigation into Goldentaier with the assistance of the Westchester County District Attorney’s O…
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Sexually Exploiting 12-Year-Old Girl Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Sexually Exploiting 12-Year-Old Girl
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Sexually Exploiting 12-Year-Old Girl A 34-year-old Carmel man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Friday for engaging in, and videotaping, sexual activity with a minor in the fall of 2003.   John Asmodeo pled guilty on Oct. 23, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti, who also imposed Friday’s sentence. Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: “This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them. We will continue to use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish those who sex…