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Economic Crimes Unit

Man Admits Kidnapping Paterson Business Owner, Driving Across State Lines In U-Haul Truck Man Admits Kidnapping Paterson Business Owner, Driving Across State Lines In U-Haul Truck
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 Controller From NJ Who Embezzled $2.37M From Madison Avenue Firm Gets 27 Months In Fed Pen
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 Elderly Bergen Couple's Trusted Personal Assistant Stole $2.9M Of Their Money, Feds Charge
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…
'Altared' State: NJ Sisters Admit Staging Sham Marriages To Keep Non-Citizens In US 'Altared' State: NJ Sisters Admit Staging Sham Marriages To Keep Non-Citizens In US
'Altared' State: NJ Sisters Admit Staging Sham Marriages To Keep Non-Citizens In US UPDATE: Two sisters from Newark admitted obtaining phony marriage licenses and staging bogus wedding ceremonies, receptions and other events in an elaborate scheme to help undocumented non-citizens avoid deportation, federal authorities said. Regina Johnson, 59, and her sister, Andrea Torres, ran the sham scam for nearly three years, recruiting and paying U.S. citizens to pose as spouses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Their clients: non-citizens looking to remain in the country despite the lack of legal status or proper documentation. As part of the fraud, the sisters "…
Online Sting Scheme: Indian National Admits Scamming Elderly In NJ, Around World Online Sting Scheme: Indian National Admits Scamming Elderly In NJ, Around World
Online Sting Scheme: Indian National Admits Scamming Elderly In NJ, Around World UPDATE: An Indian national who participated in an international conspiracy that preyed on senior citizens in New Jersey and throughout the U.S. was sentenced to a plea-bargained 33 months in federal prison, authorities said. Ashish Bajaj, 29, of India, will have to serve out the entire term because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty also sentenced Bajaj to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $2.4 million in restitution to his victims. Bajaj lived in different parts of the United States, including New Rochelle, NY, and Anahe…
Hudson County Man Seized By Federal Agents In $1M ID Theft Scheme Hudson County Man Seized By Federal Agents In $1M ID Theft Scheme
Hudson County Man Seized By Federal Agents In $1M ID Theft Scheme A Hudson County man was seized by federal agents early Thursday on charges of pocketing more than $1 million from victims whose identities they said he stole. Marc Lazarre, 37, of Secaucus was charged with bank fraud and aggravated ID theft charges following his arrest the morning of Oct. 20, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Lazarre swiped bank account and personal identity information to open accounts in the victims’ names without their knowledge and then withdrew funds, Sellinger said. Lazarre also "unlawfully obtained checks made out to victims, used fraudulent identificati…
$1.5M Cosmetics Company Scam Sends Englewood Swindler To Federal Prison For 2½ Years $1.5M Cosmetics Company Scam Sends Englewood Swindler To Federal Prison For 2½ Years
$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 …
'Heavy Luggage' Bust: Puerto Rican Man Admits Plot To Smuggle 330 Pounds Of Coke Into Teterboro 'Heavy Luggage' Bust: Puerto Rican Man Admits Plot To Smuggle 330 Pounds Of Coke Into Teterboro
'Heavy Luggage' Bust: Puerto Rican Man Admits Plot To Smuggle 330 Pounds Of Coke Into Teterboro A Puerto Rican resident admitted coordinating a private shipment of more than 300 pounds of cocaine into Teterboro Airport, federal authorities said. Mariano Enrique Arroyo Perez, 29, took a deal from the government rather than risk a trial, pleading guilty Tuesday in federal court in Newark to conspiring to distribute five or more kilos of coke, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. The conspiracy unraveled after four men not on the manifest boarded a private Teterboro-bound plane in Puerto Rico with "particularly heavy" luggage, raising the pilots' suspicions, Honig said. Investiga…
FBI: Jersey City Stockbroker Scams Investors Out Of $600,000 With Bogus Ticket-Reselling Biz FBI: Jersey City Stockbroker Scams Investors Out Of $600,000 With Bogus Ticket-Reselling Biz
FBI: Jersey City Stockbroker Scams Investors Out Of $600,000 With Bogus Ticket-Reselling Biz FBI agents busted a now-former stockbroker from Jersey City who they said ran a side hustle that scammed victims out of more than $600,000 through a fictional ticket-reselling business. Michael J. Clarke, 62, lost his job once it came to light that his promises of getting discounted tickets that he could later sell at premium rates for concerts and sporting events -- as well as seat licenses to the U.S. Open -- were lies, authorities said. Clarke, who was a licensed municipal securities trader, promised victims who fronted him the money for the purported ticket brokerage that they'd get a …
Ridgefield Park Man Gets 15 Months In Fed Pen For Major Mortgage Fraud Ridgefield Park Man Gets 15 Months In Fed Pen For Major Mortgage Fraud
Ridgefield Park Man Gets 15 Months In Fed Pen For Major Mortgage Fraud A Ridgefield Park man was sentenced Friday to 15 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Dennys A. Tapia, 55, took a deal from the government rather than go to trial, pleading guilty to a single count of conspiring to commit bank fraud last December. He'll have to serve out the entire sentence because there's no parole in the federal prison system. Tapia and a number of unnamed co-conspirators produced bogus documents to a loan officer for potential borrowers, including fraudulent lease agreements, bank statement…
Jersey Shore Wrestling Champ Arrested By FBI On Child Porn Charges Jersey Shore Wrestling Champ Arrested By FBI On Child Porn Charges
Jersey Shore Wrestling Champ Arrested By FBI On Child Porn Charges A New Jersey state wrestling champion and coach who made national headlines when he revealed that he’s gay was arrested by the FBI Wednesday on child porn charges, federal authorities said. Alec Donovan, 24, of Brick Township also used an app to “solicit and engage in conversations with minors, including requesting nude photographs from the minors and sending nude photographs to them,” Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. Donovan, who records show has coached at the Shorething Wrestling Club in Lakewood, “sent three videos containing images of child sexual abuse and received two vide…
Former Bergen Resident From CT Admits Embezzling $540,000 From Security Firm Former Bergen Resident From CT Admits Embezzling $540,000 From Security Firm
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…
Feds: California Gal Admits Running $9.9 Million Counterfeit Coupon Scam Feds: California Gal Admits Running $9.9 Million Counterfeit Coupon Scam
Feds: California Gal Admits Running $9.9 Million Counterfeit Coupon Scam A California woman admitted in federal court in New Jersey that she created and sold more than $9.9 million worth of counterfeit coupons used at retail stores throughout the country.Using the name “Mandy Carr,” Tong Lor printed Carolina coupons with fake bar codes for household items such as diapers, laundry detergent, and toiletries and then mailed them to customers nationwide, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Lor, 34, of Modesto sold the counterfeit coupons via invitation-only Internet groups associated with her businesses: Mandy’s Treasure Box, Mandy's Knitting Club, and …
Bergen County Con Man Who Lived Large Off $5M Of Victims' Money Gets 51 Months In Fed Pen Bergen County Con Man Who Lived Large Off $5M Of Victims' Money Gets 51 Months In Fed Pen
Bergen County Con Man Who Lived Large Off $5M Of Victims' Money Gets 51 Months In Fed Pen A Bergen County con man bought a new car, joined a private club, gambled big, traveled wide -- and more -- with nearly $5 million that he'd swindled from prospective investors. Now he's headed to federal prison. A U.S. District Court judge in Newark sentenced Matthew O’Callaghan, 43, of Upper Saddle River via videoconference Thursday to a plea-bargained 51 months -- a little over four years -- in a federal penitentiary.O'Callaghan “impersonated two bank executives interested in funding syndicated loans for global companies,” Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. Referring to…
COVID-19: Feds Nab Fleeing Sussex Man Accused Of Pocketing $5.6M Small Biz Pandemic Loan COVID-19: Feds Nab Fleeing Sussex Man Accused Of Pocketing $5.6M Small Biz Pandemic Loan
Covid-19: Feds Nab Fleeing Sussex Man Accused Of Pocketing $5.6M Small Biz Pandemic Loan A Sussex County man who collected $5.6 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic loans that he wasn't entitled to was about to board a flight to Pakistan when federal agents arrested him, authorities said. Azhar Sarwar Rana, 30, of Newton, took the money -- designed to keep struggling small businesses afloat during the pandemic – and invested millions in the stock market, made a payment to a luxury car dealership and sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to accounts in Pakistan, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Rana submitted an application for a stimulus loan under the federal Paycheck Prote…
Englewood Swindler Admits Conning Families Out Of $1.5M In Cosmetics Company Scheme Englewood Swindler Admits Conning Families Out Of $1.5M In Cosmetics Company Scheme
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 Feds: Englewood Swindler Cons Families Out Of $1.5M In Cosmetics Scheme
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,…
FBI: Upper Saddle River Swindler Lived High Life Conning Corporations Out Of Millions FBI: Upper Saddle River Swindler Lived High Life Conning Corporations Out Of Millions
FBI: Upper Saddle River Swindler Lived High Life Conning Corporations Out Of Millions The FBI on Thursday arrested an accused con man from Upper Saddle River who authorities said cunningly duped lenders and corporations of out millions of dollars that funded a lavish lifestyle. Matthew O’Callaghan, 43, “impersonated two bank executives interested in funding syndicated loans for global companies,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Referring to himself as bank executives “Edward Tierney” and “Michael Nash,” O’Callaghan induced the victims into making trades in which they agreed to pay a bank to take on a commitment to fund revolving credit facilities, Carpenito said. He “su…
Feds: Hudson Accountant Swiped Hundreds Of Thousands From Englewood Affordable Housing Corp Feds: Hudson Accountant Swiped Hundreds Of Thousands From Englewood Affordable Housing Corp
Feds: Hudson Accountant Swiped Hundreds Of Thousands From Englewood Affordable Housing Corp A Hudson County accountant embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing affordable housing to Englewood residents, federal authorities said Tuesday. Yezenia Castillo, 44, of Hoboken, was charged with four counts of wire fraud for “using her position as the accountant for the non-profit company to issue unauthorized checks made payable to herself or entities she controlled,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Although federal authorities didn’t publicly identify the company, Daily Voice learned that Castillo worked for the Great Englewood H…