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Fraud

Real Estate
NJ Mansion Seized From Chinese Billionaire Fraudster Listed At $33M NJ Mansion Seized From Chinese Billionaire Fraudster Listed At $33M
NJ Mansion Seized From Chinese Billionaire Fraudster Listed At $33M A historic Bergen County estate seized from a Chinese billionaire indicted in a $1 billion fraud scheme last year has hit the market for $33 million. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carl Gambino (@carlgambino.realestate) The Crocker Mansion, located at 675 Ramapo Valley Road in Mahwah, spans 50,000 square feet and sits on 12.5 gated acres. Originally built in 1907, the property features 21 bedrooms, a pool house, tennis courts, and a guest house. It was declared a historic landmark by Mahwah Township due to its unique place in loc…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Romanian Duo Charged in $289K Bitcoin-For-Fake-Gold Cryptocurrency Scam In Bergen County Romanian Duo Charged in $289K Bitcoin-For-Fake-Gold Cryptocurrency Scam In Bergen County
Romanian Duo Charged in $289K Bitcoin-For-Fake-Gold Cryptocurrency Scam In Bergen County A year-long investigation has led to charges against two Romanian men accused of orchestrating a cryptocurrency scam involving fake gold and Bitcoin valued at approximately $289,000, and a Bergen County victim, authorities said. The suspects, 33-year-old Ciprian A. Tiber and 43-year-old Ahmed Zarei, remain at large and are believed to have returned to Romania following the alleged fraudulent transaction in September 2023, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced. The investigation began when Hasbrouck Heights police contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crime…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Somerset Man Stole $600K In Benefits Meant For Dead Father: Feds Somerset Man Stole $600K In Benefits Meant For Dead Father: Feds
Somerset Man Stole $600K In Benefits Meant For Dead Father: Feds  A 66-year-old Somerset resident admitted to stealing over $600,000 in government benefits intended for his deceased father for more nearly two decades, authorities said. Steven Jones pleaded guilty to a charge of conversion of federal funds, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Jones’s father received federal retirement benefits before his death in October 2004, Sellinger said. Instead of notifying authorities, Jones falsified his father’s death certificate and orchestrated a scheme to continue receiving the payments, Sellinger said. On two occasions, Jones even had someone impersonate…

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by Sam Barron
News
Bergen County Man Defrauds Childhood Friend Out Of $84K In Investment Scam: AG Bergen County Man Defrauds Childhood Friend Out Of $84K In Investment Scam: AG
Bergen County Man Defrauds Childhood Friend Out Of $84K In Investment Scam: AG A Bergen County man and his associate are accused of scamming a childhood friend into liquidating her retirement account to fund a software venture, then misusing the money for personal expenses, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office announced. Michael Lakshin of Fair Lawn and Edward "Eddie" Aizman of Brooklyn, NY, along with their company Bowmo, Inc., face a civil enforcement action for defrauding at least one New Jersey investor, according to a complaint filed by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities on Friday, Nov. 22. Lakshin, leveraging a childhood connection, persuaded the investor t…

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by Cecilia Levine
Politics
Trump Taps Dr. Oz, Penn Alum, To Lead Medicare And Medicaid Services Trump Taps Dr. Oz, Penn Alum, To Lead Medicare And Medicaid Services
Trump Taps Dr. Oz, Penn Alum, To Lead Medicare And Medicaid Services President-elect Donald J. Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), citing the Pennsylvania-educated heart surgeon’s decades-long dedication to healthcare innovation and public advocacy. The announcement came Tuesday, Nov. 19, as Trump highlighted Oz’s qualifications and ties to the Keystone State. Dr. Oz earned both his medical degree and MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine and Wharton Business School, making him an Ivy League-trained physician and business leader. Trump lauded his achievements in a statement, ca…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
NJ Man Charged With Defrauding Victim In Loan Scheme Involving Batmobile, Ghostbusters Hearse NJ Man Charged With Defrauding Victim In Loan Scheme Involving Batmobile, Ghostbusters Hearse
NJ Man Charged With Defrauding Victim In Loan Scheme Involving Batmobile, Ghostbusters Hearse A 38-year-old Warren County man was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 23 for defrauding a 91-year-old man who loaned him money, after having settled the case in court, Daily Voice has learned. In May 2021, a 91-year-old Clarksburg resident loaned Asbury resident Christopher Sterlacci $400,000, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson and Hunterdon County Chief of Detectives Timothy Drew said. Several vehicles and properties were put up as collateral by Sterlacci for the loan, authorities said. After defaulting on the terms of the loan, it was discovered that the properties and vehi…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
NJ Police Officer John Paul Patrick Dies Weeks After On-Duty Medical Episode: Chief NJ Police Officer John Paul Patrick Dies Weeks After On-Duty Medical Episode: Chief
NJ Police Officer John Paul Patrick Dies Weeks After On-Duty Medical Episode: Chief The Springfield Police Department is mourning the loss of one of their own. Officer John Paul Patrick suffered a medical episode while on duty on Oct. 6, which Chief John Cook said ultimately led to his passing on Monday, Oct. 21. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Patrick was posthumously promoted to the rank of detective. He is survived by a wife, two young children, a host of caring family members and colleagues. Officer Patrick joined the SPD in May 2007 after graduating from the Cape May County Police Academy. After spending the early part of his career as a patrol officer, Patrick was assigned as…

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by Cecilia Levine
Politics
NJ Campaign Manager Gets Probation For Filing Phony Petitions In Gov Primary: AG NJ Campaign Manager Gets Probation For Filing Phony Petitions In Gov Primary: AG
NJ Campaign Manager Gets Probation For Filing Phony Petitions In Gov Primary: AG A 62-year-old Hunterdon County campaign manager was sentenced to two years of probation on Friday, Oct. 18 after pleading guilty to attempting to fraudulently place a candidate on the Democratic primary ballot in the New Jersey governor’s race in 2021, authorities said. James Devine, a Lambertville resident, submitted 1,948 fraudulent nominating petitions to the New Jersey Department of State’s Division of Elections, in an attempt to enable his candidate, Lisa McCormick, to compete in the primary, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Devine pleaded guilty in August. “Rather than…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Disbarred NJ Attorney Admits To Ponzi Scheme That Cost Investors $1 Million: Feds Disbarred NJ Attorney Admits To Ponzi Scheme That Cost Investors $1 Million: Feds
Disbarred NJ Attorney Admits To Ponzi Scheme That Cost Investors $1 Million: Feds A 61-year-old Hillsborough resident pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Oct. 9 to running a Ponzi-like wire fraud scheme that caused losses of more than $1 million, authorities said. Lawrence Coven, who had previously been disbarred as an attorney, operated and controlled Sunrise Enterprises LLC, which purported to provide financial services to investors, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said.  In reality, Coven induced investors into sending him funds by falsely representing that he would invest their money through Sunrise in exchange for large profits by providing short-term loans to borrowers …

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Central Jersey Widow Avoids Jail After Fraudulently Collecting $268K In Police Pension: AG Central Jersey Widow Avoids Jail After Fraudulently Collecting $268K In Police Pension: AG
Central Jersey Widow Avoids Jail After Fraudulently Collecting $268K In Police Pension: AG A Mercer County woman avoided jail time after admitting to stealing $268,000 from her dead husband's police pension after she remarried, authorities said. Sandra VonScheven, 49, of Hamilton Township, was given a suspended sentence of 364 days in county jail, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a news release on Thursday, Aug. 29. She won't have to go to jail if she completes probation. According to court documents and statements, VonScheven started receiving state benefits in November 2001 after her husband died. He had retired as a municipal police officer in New Jersey. Widows …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Squatter Falsely Claimed To Own Two Central Jersey Vacant Homes, Prosecutors Say Squatter Falsely Claimed To Own Two Central Jersey Vacant Homes, Prosecutors Say
Squatter Falsely Claimed To Own Two Central Jersey Vacant Homes, Prosecutors Say A Monmouth County man was accused of squatting in two vacant homes and falsely claiming to own them, authorities said. Markies Wells, 39, was given 13 charges, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Thursday, Aug. 15. He's also known as Messiah Law-Elbey and last had a legitimate address in Neptune Township. Keansburg police said Wells climbed through a back window of an abandoned Pine View Avenue home in March and changed the locks on the front and back doors. He was arrested and charged in the case. Holmdel police then found in July that Wells als…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Middlesex County Men Indicted In Alleged $7M Fuel Investment Scheme: AG Middlesex County Men Indicted In Alleged $7M Fuel Investment Scheme: AG
Middlesex County Men Indicted In Alleged $7M Fuel Investment Scheme: AG A New Jersey grand jury has indicted two Middlesex County men for allegedly defrauding fuel investors out of approximately $6.7 million, authorities said. The scheme used sham companies and false identities to deceive investors into believing they would receive large guaranteed returns from investments in fuel products, according to Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. Instead, the defendants diverted investor funds for their own benefit, Platkin said. Shahid Javed, 39, of Old Bridge, and Wilfredo Topacio, 64, of Woodbridge, were charged in an indictment with first-degree conspiracy, …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Mother, Son Admit Selling Cheap Parts To Military Through Jersey Shore Family Business: Feds Mother, Son Admit Selling Cheap Parts To Military Through Jersey Shore Family Business: Feds
Mother, Son Admit Selling Cheap Parts To Military Through Jersey Shore Family Business: Feds A New Jersey mother and son admitted to a years-long scheme to scam the Department of Defense by selling cheap military equipment not approved by their business's contracts, authorities said. Linda Mika, 73, of Jackson, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday, July 23 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. Her son, 53-year-old Kenneth Mika of Ewing, also pleaded guilty to the same charge on Tuesday, June 25. According to court documents and testimony, Linda and Kenneth Mika defrauded the DoD and the Defe…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Philly Area Gravestone Salesman Scammed Mourners Out Of $1.5 Million, Feds Say Philly Area Gravestone Salesman Scammed Mourners Out Of $1.5 Million, Feds Say
Philly Area Gravestone Salesman Scammed Mourners Out Of $1.5 Million, Feds Say The owner of a headstone company is accused of ripping off hundreds of grieving customers across greater Philadelphia, federal prosecutors allege in an indictment.  Gregory J. Stefan Jr., 54, of Upper Merion, is charged with seven counts of wire fraud, according to the US Attorney's Office.  Between January 2018 and September of last year, Stefan accepted more than $1.5 million from customers who ordered memorials for loved ones, then failed to deliver the headstones they bought, authorities said. Stefan accepted the orders from nearly 500 customers through his companies 1843 LLC…

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by Mac Bullock
News
PA Gravestone Thief's Brother Bilked NJ Widow Out Of $5,000, Indictment Says PA Gravestone Thief's Brother Bilked NJ Widow Out Of $5,000, Indictment Says
PA Gravestone Thief's Brother Bilked NJ Widow Out Of $5,000, Indictment Says Another New Jersey widow has come forward alleging she was bilked out of money for a gravestone she never got. Jerry J. Stefan, 49, of Gladwyne, PA, has been indicted alleging he bilked a Deptford, NJ widow out of $5,054 for a gravestone she never received for her late husband. He's the brother of a Pennsylvania gravestone dealer already charged in three states with defrauding gravestone customers. A Gloucester County grand jury indicted Jerry J. Stefan on June 26 on a charge he never provided a gravestone or returned the money he took. He was indicted on a third-degree charge of failure t…

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by Jon Craig
News
Poor Conditions, Fraud: State Seizes Control Of 2 NJ Nursing Homes Poor Conditions, Fraud: State Seizes Control Of 2 NJ Nursing Homes
Poor Conditions, Fraud: State Seizes Control Of 2 NJ Nursing Homes A pair of South Jersey nursing homes, riddled with poor conditions and alleged Medicaid fraud, have been turned over to the control of an independent receiver, authorities said. The state Comptroller previously suspended the owners of Deptford Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare and Hammonton Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare from New Jersey Medicaid. A Superior Court judge ordered the appointment of Allen Wilen of the Eisner Advisory Group, LLC to run the nursing homes effective June 17, according to the New Jersey Comptroller's Office. The judge's appointment means that the r…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
NY Judge Sees No Remorse, Sentences Bergen 'Bling Bishop' To 9 Years For Swindling Followers NY Judge Sees No Remorse, Sentences Bergen 'Bling Bishop' To 9 Years For Swindling Followers
NY Judge Sees No Remorse, Sentences Bergen 'Bling Bishop' To 9 Years For Swindling Followers 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A convicted con man from Bergen County known as the "Bling Bishop" used the opportunity he was given to speak before being sent to federal prison for nine years to annoy the judge on Monday. Lamor Whitehead of Paramus must serve a mandatory 7½ years following his conviction by a jury in lower Manhattan in March for swindling the life savings from a parishioners mother, among other crimes. One by one, some of those who were financially destroyed spoke to Manhattan Federal Court Judge Lorna Schofield during the June 17 sentencing hearing. Then it was Whitehead's turn. Bishop …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
UPDATE: NJ Man, 72, Admits Posing As Dead Guy To Collect Social Security, Medicaid For 14 Years UPDATE: NJ Man, 72, Admits Posing As Dead Guy To Collect Social Security, Medicaid For 14 Years
Update: NJ Man, 72, Admits Posing As Dead Guy To Collect Social Security, Medicaid For 14 Years A 72-year-old South Jersey resident admitted that he assumed a dead man's identity to collect more than $200,000 in Social Security payments and Medicaid benefits for 14 years. Dennis Gaudette of Franklinville was 57 years old when U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said he began the long-running con in March 2009. It continued until he was caught last year, the U.S. attorney said. Gaudette collected $43,464 in Social Security Retirement Income Benefits and $85,332.50 in Supplemental Security that he wasn't entitled to, Sellinger said. During the same time period, the state of Ne…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More 'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More
'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A once-prominent New Jersey lawyer must spend the next 4½ years in federal prison for swindling a family he represented out of $2 million -- and then, while on pre-trial release, impersonating another attorney in applying for a loan. The family had retained James R. Lisa, 68, of Jersey City, to gather millions that had been moved into offshore bank accounts by relatives decades ago and to resolve any tax issues that arose as a result, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Soon after being retained, Lisa moved more than $6 million back into the United States but told the famil…

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by Jerry DeMarco