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Tag: Economic Crimes Unit
Man Admits Kidnapping Paterson Business Owner, Driving Across State Lines In U-Haul Truck
A 38-year-old New York man has admitted to his role in the kidnapping of a Paterson business owner in October 2020 in which he drove him across state lines in a U-Haul truck and called his family for ransom money, federal officials said.
Reginald Law, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with kidnapping and Hobbs Act robbery, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said this week.
On Oct. 8, 2020, Law and his conspirator, Maurice Cottman, went into a Paterson business where they accosted the victim, who was work…
Controller From NJ Who Embezzled $2.37M From Madison Avenue Firm Gets 27 Months In Fed Pen
UPDATE: A controller from Middlesex County was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for embezzling $2.37 million from his Madison Avenue employer.
Gerard Beauzile, 63, South Plainfield, conducted an elaborate, long-running scheme to issue bogus checks to himself that he then deposited into his bank account, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
Beginning a decade ago and continuing through the end of 2020, Beauzile admitted issuing 140 checks to himself from the Manhattan-based company, which offers news, analysis, research and data for the "global energy industry," accordin…
Elderly Bergen Couple's Trusted Personal Assistant Stole $2.9M Of Their Money, Feds Charge
An elderly Bergen County couple had $2.9 million stolen by a now-former Ridgewood Public Library tech administrator whom they'd hired to be a part-time assistant at their home, federal authorities said following his arrest.
Charles Gallo, 34, of Hawthorne, was responsible for managing the victims’ monthly bills, handling their banking and helping them with email and other issues involving technology after being hired in 2018, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
The couple trusted Gallo with their personal bank accounts, credit card accounts, online retail accounts and email, the U.S. at…
Superstorm Sandy Contractors Admit Ripping Off Homeowners: Prosecutor
A pair of out-of-state contractors has admitted to stealing from customers whose homes were damaged by Superstorm Sandy, authorities said.
On Friday, May 6,, John Bishop, 57, of Celebration, Florida, pleaded guilty to theft by failure to make required disposition, they said.
On Monday, May 9, Bishop’s business partner, Paul Rueda, 50, of San Diego, Texas, pleaded guilty to the same charge, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Both defendants’ guilty pleas relate to their stealing funds through contractor businesses they operated between October 201…
$1.5M Cosmetics Company Scam Sends Englewood Swindler To Federal Prison For 2½ Years
A former Englewood resident must serve nearly 2½ years in federal prison for scamming three investors out of $1.5 million.
Matthew Benjamin, 54, used the victims' money for car and house rental payments, food, international travel, legal fees, technology equipment and summer camp tuition for family members, among other purposes, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said.
Benjamin, currently of New York, told the victims that his purported company, Clear Solutions Group, had lucrative contracts to purchase closeout or excess cosmetic inventory from one company that he planned to …
Former Bergen Resident From CT Admits Embezzling $540,000 From Security Firm
A former Bergen County resident now living in Connecticut admitted Wednesday that she embezzled $540,000 from a local company.
Melissa Corso, 50, and her husband lived in Closter when she worked for a Delaware-based security systems supplier with an office in Ridgefield Park, federal authorities said.
Corso, currently of Groton, CT, and co-worker Joseph Spaccavento steered customer payments owed to their former employer to a PayPal account registered to him and linked to her work email, according to an FBI complaint.
The customers, in turn, sent more than $3.1 million through 1,150 transa…
Englewood Swindler Admits Conning Families Out Of $1.5M In Cosmetics Company Scheme
A former Englewood resident admitted in federal court that he scammed three investors out of $1.5 million with a bogus cosmetics company.
Matthew Benjamin, 53, used the money instead for car and house rental payments, food, international travel, legal fees, technology equipment and summer camp tuition for family members, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
Benjamin, currently of New York, told the victims that his purported company, Clear Solutions Group, had lucrative contracts to purchase closeout or excess cosmetic inventory from one company that he planned to sell to another, Carpenito…
Feds: Englewood Swindler Cons Families Out Of $1.5M In Cosmetics Scheme
The FBI on Wednesday arrested an accused swindler from Englewood who scammed at least three families out of $1.5 million with a phony cosmetics investment scheme, federal authorities said.
Matthew Benjamin, 53, used the money for car and house rental payments, food, international travel, legal fees, technology equipment and summer camp tuition for family members, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
Benjamin told the victims that his company, Clear Solutions Group, had lucrative contracts to purchase closeout or excess cosmetic inventory from one company that he planned to sell that another,…
