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Police & Fire
Former AC Housing Authority Coordinator Fraudulently Obtained Covid-19 Relief Funds: Feds Former AC Housing Authority Coordinator Fraudulently Obtained Covid-19 Relief Funds: Feds
Former AC Housing Authority Coordinator Fraudulently Obtained Covid-19 Relief Funds: Feds A 50-year-old Atlantic City resident admitted on Monday, Jan. 13 to fraudulently obtaining thousands in COVID-19 relief funds, authorities said. Luquay Zahir previously served as  Ross Family Service Coordinator for the Atlantic City Housing Authority and Urban Redevelopment Agency when unlawfully obtained the funds, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna said. In 2020 and 2021, Zahir obtained more than $30,000 through a Paycheck Protection Program loan and Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act by submitting an applica…

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by Sam Barron
Business
American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers
American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers American Express said it will pay $230 million to resolve federal investigations into deceptive sales tactics and recordkeeping violations involving small business credit card and wire transfer products. The credit card company agreed to pay a $108.7 million civil penalty, the Department of Justice said in a news release on Thursday, Jan. 16. The settlement resolved claims against American Express of deceptive marketing and "dummy" account information. American Express was accused of engaging in unlawful sales tactics and falsifying records between 2014 and 2021. "When financial companies …

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by Chris Spiker
Real Estate
Chinese Billionaire Fraudster's Former Mansion Is Most Expensive NJ Listing At $33M Chinese Billionaire Fraudster's Former Mansion Is Most Expensive NJ Listing At $33M
Chinese Billionaire Fraudster's Former Mansion Is Most Expensive NJ Listing At $33M A historic Bergen County estate seized from a Chinese billionaire indicted in a $1 billion fraud scheme last year has become the most expensive residential listing in New Jersey, on the market for $33 million (scroll down to see the complete listing with photos). 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 local history. In Mar…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
USPS Worker Used Fake NJ Documents In $130K Welfare Fraud Scheme: DA USPS Worker Used Fake NJ Documents In $130K Welfare Fraud Scheme: DA
USPS Worker Used Fake NJ Documents In $130K Welfare Fraud Scheme: DA A Freeport woman and U.S. Postal Service employee is accused of defrauding public assistance programs of more than $130,000 by failing to report her income from two jobs and rental properties, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced Friday, Jan. 10. Angelique White, 32, allegedly received childcare and Medicaid benefits between 2017 and 2021 while omitting her income from the U.S. Postal Service, Northwell Health, and two rental properties she co-owned in Elmont and Freeport, according to Donnelly. White was arraigned Thursday before Judge Robert Pipia on charges of Grand La…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Athletic Director Stole $17K From Camden Catholic High School: Prosecutor Athletic Director Stole $17K From Camden Catholic High School: Prosecutor
Athletic Director Stole $17K From Camden Catholic High School: Prosecutor A 31-year-old former athletic director was arrested and charged on Tuesday, January 7 with stealing more than $17,000 from Camden Catholic High School, authorities said. Samuel Hardy served as athletic director between July 2019 and February 2024, Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay and Cherry Hill Police Chief John Ostermueller said.  Hardy rented the school's athletic turf for his own personal benefit, authorities said. Between March 2023 and February 2024, he rented the turf field to local sport organizations, but there were no contracts or records of payment…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
18-Year-Old Invaded Home At Gunpoint: Willingboro Police 18-Year-Old Invaded Home At Gunpoint: Willingboro Police
18-Year-Old Invaded Home At Gunpoint: Willingboro Police An 18-year-old Willingboro resident was arrested and charged after he entered a home at gunpoint on Saturday, Dec. 28, authorities said. At 7:45 p.m., Jazihe Williams entered a residence on Ballard Lane and proceeded to the second floor, where the homeowner was located in the main bedroom, Willingboro police said. Williams, armed with a black firearm, confronted the homeowner and demanded her purse, wallet, and cellphone, police said. After obtaining the items, Williams fled the scene, police said. Williams immediately began using several stolen credit cards to make food purchases at variou…

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by Sam Barron
Business
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sounding the alarm on a sophisticated new imposter scheme designed to steal your money and personal information.  These scams are becoming increasingly convincing, but learning to spot the red flags can help you stay protected. How the Scam Works Initial Contact: Scammers pose as representatives from well-known companies, such as Amazon or a tech support service. They’ll claim there’s a routine issue, like suspicious charges on your account, a computer virus, or an account breach. Escalation: The scammers lie, saying your name is tied to serious …

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Former Vineland Little League Prez Stole Nearly $48K From Organization: Cops Former Vineland Little League Prez Stole Nearly $48K From Organization: Cops
Former Vineland Little League Prez Stole Nearly $48K From Organization: Cops A Vineland man is accused of stealing nearly $48,000 from a local Little League organization while serving as its president, authorities said. Jose L. Ramos, 58, was arrested after an investigation revealed he used funds belonging to the South Vineland Little League (SVLL) for personal expenses between 2018 and 2024, police said. The theft came to light on Nov. 25, 2024, after Officer A. Hunter investigated the incident. Ramos, who served as the SVLL board’s acting president since 2017, allegedly withheld account records and bank statements from the board during his tenure. A fellow board …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
South Jersey Man Who Stole $50K From Grieving Families In Headstone Scam Indicted: Prosecutors South Jersey Man Who Stole $50K From Grieving Families In Headstone Scam Indicted: Prosecutors
South Jersey Man Who Stole $50K From Grieving Families In Headstone Scam Indicted: Prosecutors A Mays Landing man who operated a headstone business has been indicted after he was accused of defrauding more than 30 grieving families out of about $50,000, authorities said. A grand jury handed down the indictment against 71-year-old Jiolio "Joe" Cincotti on Thursday, Dec. 12, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. He was charged with third-degree theft by deception and money laundering offenses after taking payments for headstones that were never delivered. Investigators said between October 2020 and December 2023, Cincotti owned and operated Atlantic …

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by Chris Spiker
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
News
South Jersey Man Who Scammed $500K+ Sentenced In Foreign Currency, Car Loan Schemes: Feds South Jersey Man Who Scammed $500K+ Sentenced In Foreign Currency, Car Loan Schemes: Feds
South Jersey Man Who Scammed $500K+ Sentenced In Foreign Currency, Car Loan Schemes: Feds A Mount Laurel man will spend several years in prison after scamming hundreds of investors and car owners out of more than $500,000, authorities said. Michael Salerno, 55, was sentenced on Monday, Aug. 26 to three years and one month in prison, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Jacqueline Romero said in a news release. He had pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud after he was indicted for schemes in September 2020 and February 2023. Salerno operated Black Diamond Forex, L.P., BDF Trading, L.P., Advanta Capital Markets, Inc., and Advanta FX between …

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by Chris Spiker