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NJ Man Posed As ‘Mohammed Ali’ In $59K NY Contractor Scam: Police
A man accused of posing as a contractor and stealing more than $59,000 from a Uniondale homeowner was arrested months after the alleged scam, detectives announced on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Zohaib Farrukh, 37, of Piscataway, New Jersey, was taken into custody by First Squad detectives with assistance from First Precinct officers on Friday, Nov. 22, at 3:15 p.m., according to the release.
The investigation began after a homeowner hired a construction company identified as North Falcon Construction Company of Avenue C in New York City and issued a check for $59,202.50 to a man who identified himsel…
How To Avoid Lottery, Prize Scams: You Didn’t Enter, But You 'Won'?
A surprise message says you hit the jackpot, but there’s a catch: you must pay a fee or hand over personal details to claim it.
That’s the hallmark of a lottery or prize scam—designed to separate you from your money and identity.
These schemes often arrive by email, text, phone, or mail and lean on pressure tactics to force quick decisions.
Scammers frequently demand “taxes,” “processing,” or “shipping” upfront, or ask for sensitive data to “verify” you.
Legitimate lotteries do not require payment to release a prize, and you should never be asked for your Social Security…
'Our Pesticides Kill COVID:' NJ Biotech Founder, Philly Firm Hit With Federal Charges
A New Jersey man and the Philadelphia-based biotech company he founded are accused of selling pesticides with false claims that they could kill the virus that causes COVID-19, federal prosecutors said.
James Young, 46, of Cherry Hill — founder of ViaClean Technologies, LLC — was charged by indictment with conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, mail fraud, and violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
Sean Storrie, 59, of Philadelphia, was also charged with FIFRA violations, prosecutors said.
The indictm…
$1M Cross-Country Title-Washing Ring Used Stolen Porsches, Audis, BMWs In PA: AG
A high-end title-washing ring based in central Pennsylvania profited more than $1 million by selling stolen luxury cars from Florida, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
The fraudulent operation was allegedly led by 44-year-old Anthony E. Troncoso, who, with a network of 12 others, used fake documents to “wash” vehicle titles, then sold over two dozen stolen cars to private buyers, dealers, and auction houses between 2022 and 2023, according to AG Sunday.
The vehicles—many of them Porsches, Audis, BMWs, Land Rovers, and other high-end brands—were stolen in Florida. …
$140K Fraud Committed By Former PA Senator's Aide Scamming Church, Supporters
A former aide to Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes admitted to stealing more than $140,000 from a North Philadelphia church where he was a deacon and from a city political ward he led, the FBI announced on Saturday, Aug. 2.
Willie Jordan, 68, of Upper Darby, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III to two counts of wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 30.
From 2020 to 2024, Jordan exploited his roles at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and Philadelphia’s 44th Ward for personal benefit, court d…
Nypd Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA
An NYPD officer who previously worked at a Westchester bank has been charged in a sweeping financial crimes case accusing him of stealing over $85,000 from elderly customers and using the funds to pay for personal expenses—including a Caribbean vacation, luxury car payments, and fitness program subscriptions.
Yeison Rodriguez Acosta, age 27, of Manhattan, was arraigned Thursday, July 17, in Rye City Court on a 30-count felony complaint stemming from a months-long investigation by the City of Rye Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, both agencies announced.…
Fyre Festival Brand Sold On eBay, Price Disappoints NJ Founder: 'This Sucks, It's So Low'
The name synonymous with a failed music festival, fraud, and bland cheese sandwiches has been sold on eBay.
A bidder purchased Fyre Festival's notorious brand, trademarks, and social media accounts for $245,300 on Tuesday, July 15. The eBay auction ended at 12:44 p.m., closing a chapter in one of the most infamous stories in music festival history.
According to the eBay listing, 42 bidders placed 175 bids in the auction. The brand's winning bidder hasn't been announced as of press time.
The listing claimed the winner would have access to "the most talked-about festival brand in t…
Republican NJ Commissioner Faked Military Status For Tax Break, Prosecutors Say
A sitting Sussex County Commissioner has been indicted for falsely claiming a veteran’s exemption on a New Jersey tax return, officials said.
William "Bill" Hayden, 58, of Frankford Township, was charged with one count of filing a fraudulent tax return (3rd degree), according to an announcement made by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) on Tuesday, July 15.
Hayden, who was elected to the Sussex County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 8, 2022, is also employed as a Region North Permit Supervisor with the New Jersey Department of Trans…
Funeral Home Owner Who Stashed 190 Decaying Bodies Gets Maximum Federal Sentence: 'Inhumane'
A Colorado man who gave grieving families urns filled with dry concrete instead of their loved ones’ ashes has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison — the maximum possible sentence, authorities announced Friday, June 27.
Jon M. Hallford, 45, of Colorado Springs, was the owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, which operated in Colorado Springs and Penrose alongside his wife, Carie Hallford.
Over a four-year period, Hallford failed to cremate or bury at least 190 bodies — while collecting more than $130,000 from families for services he never provided, the U.S. Attorney’s Office…
US Marshals Capture Fugitive Who Rammed Cop With Car At NJ Hotel: Police
A months-long manhunt ended this week with the arrest of a fugitive accused of trying to kill a police officer during a wild escape from a New Jersey hotel, authorities said.
Luis Duval-Jimenez, 31, of New Brunswick, was wanted for attempted murder of a police officer after an incident on May 15, in South Brunswick, officials said in a news release from the South Brunswick Police Department.
Duval-Jimenez was arrested early Wednesday, June 18, by the U.S. Marshals Service in North Arlington, police said.
The charges stem from a confrontation at Hotel Vincenza, located at 3793 Route 1, wher…
Trio Of Cubans Living In NJ Caught In Credit Card Skimming Scheme In PA: DA
Three Cuban nationals living in New Jersey have been ordered to stand trial for an elaborate credit card skimming scheme that targeted gas station customers in Lancaster County, authorities announced on Thursday, June 5.
Yosvel Gonzalez, 51, and Reinier Gracia-Martinez, 40, both of Elizabeth, NJ, along with Rudislandy Gracia-Toledo, 24, of North Bergen, NJ, are accused of installing hidden card skimmers at a gas station in the 1700 block of Hempstead Road in East Lampeter Township, then using stolen data to make thousands of dollars in purchases, according to the Lancaster County District At…
