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Bank Fraud

$9.6M Scheme: Quogue Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy $9.6M Scheme: Quogue Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy
$9.6M Scheme: Quogue Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy The owner of a New York business admitted to running a multimillion-dollar check-kiting scheme to keep his company operating. Long Island resident John B. Mensch, age 54, pleaded guilty in connection with a nearly year-long fraud conspiracy involving banks in Suffolk County and the Hudson Valley, federal authorities announced Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 2. Mensch, of Quogue, faces up to five years’ imprisonment as well as financial penalties, including restitution to the two banks of approximately $9.6 million. According to court filings, Mensch was the owner and operator of East End, a…
Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide From Long Island Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide From Long Island Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds
Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide From Long Island Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds This story has been updated. A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is accused of acting as an agent for the Chinese government. Long Island residents Linda Sun, age 41, and her husband Chris Hu, age 40, were arrested at their Manhasset home on Tuesday morning, Sept. 3, on charges of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, money laundering, and related charges. According to federal prosecutors, Sun – who served as Hochul’s deputy chief of staff before being fired in 2023 – engaged in numerous political activities at the behest of Chinese government …
Police Recover $49K Taken From Bay Shore Resident In Scam Police Recover $49K Taken From Bay Shore Resident In Scam
Police Recover $49K Taken From Bay Shore Resident In Scam Police recovered nearly $50,000 that was taken from a Long Island man in a scam earlier this week. An 89-year-old Melville resident called a number he found on the Internet on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at approximately 1:30 p.m. to help him with a computer password problem.  The person on the phone convinced him that his bank accounts had been hacked and that he needed to remove his money from the bank, according to Suffolk County Police. The victim was instructed to lie about why he withdrew his money and was told that the bank officials were involved in the theft.  The…
Westchester Postal Carrier Took Credit Cards, Checks From Mail, Stole Identities: Feds Westchester Postal Carrier Took Credit Cards, Checks From Mail, Stole Identities: Feds
Westchester Postal Carrier Took Credit Cards, Checks From Mail, Stole Identities: Feds A Westchester County postal carrier from Long Island faces federal charges after taking credit cards, checks, and identities from the mail to steal money from those along her route, officials announced.  Nassau County resident Tameka Babulal of Hempstead, age 36, was arrested in connection with the alleged identity theft scheme on Wednesday, May 22, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced. Babulal, a mail carrier who worked in the Westchester County city of Mount Vernon, was arrested along with her husband, Hempstead resident 36-year-old Joel Babul…
$3 Million Scheme: NY Financial Advisor Sentenced For Fraud $3 Million Scheme: NY Financial Advisor Sentenced For Fraud
$3M Scheme: East Northport Financial Advisor Sentenced A New York financial advisor will be spending time behind bars after he admitted to defrauding a local bank out of millions. Long Island resident Gary Confredo, a 61-year-old from East Northport, received his sentence of 42 months on Tuesday, May 14, the United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York announced. Confredo, also known as Gary Conte, is the former operator of Goldstar Financial Management Corporation, a financial services business based in Commack. Original Story: East Northport Financial Advisor Admits To $3M Bank Loan Scheme However, between November…
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns
New Yorkers At Risk Of Scam Calls, Attorney General Warns As New Yorkers across the state report being contacted by scammers impersonating their banks, officials are cautioning consumers to keep their eyes peeled. In a statement on Friday, Oct. 27, NY Attorney General Letitia James provided tips to avoid getting scammed by callers pretending to be bank or government officials. “Scammers claiming to be a trusted bank, or any institution relied on for financial services, can seriously harm New Yorkers by taking their money and their personal information,” she said. James said the Office of the Attorney General has been receiving calls from New Y…
$108K Scam: Long Island Bank Employee Ran Check Scheme, Police Say $108K Scam: Long Island Bank Employee Ran Check Scheme, Police Say
$108K Scam: Long Island Bank Employee Ran Check Scheme, Police Say A Long Island woman was arrested after she used her position as a bank employee to pull off a hundred-thousand-dollar scam. Cricel A. Santamaria, age 24, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 3 for the crime she allegedly committed while working at a Jericho bank, according to Nassau County Police. Santamaria, a resident of Hauppauge, was working at Webster Bank, located at 1 Jericho Plaza, on February 4, 2022, when authorities allege she fraudulently accessed check images. She then sold them on the messaging app Telegram. In total, the bank lost approximately $108,000 due to Santamaria’s sche…
Long Island Tax Preparer Got $13M In Fraudulently Obtained Business Loans, Feds Say Long Island Tax Preparer Got $13M In Fraudulently Obtained Business Loans, Feds Say
Long Island Tax Preparer Got $13M In Fraudulently Obtained Business Loans, Feds Say A business owner on Long Island is facing federal charges after allegedly conning his way into millions of dollars in government-backed loans. Sandeep Grover, age 54, of Massapequa, is charged with major fraud against the US and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, according to an indictment that was unsealed by the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District on Wednesday, May 24. Grover is the owner of Excellent Business Services Inc., a tax preparation business based in Seaford. Prosecutors allege that between April 2020 and June 2021, he submitted over 100 applications for …
Crips Gang Nabbed For Alleged Murders, Fraud, More On Long Island: US Attorney Crips Gang Nabbed For Alleged Murders, Fraud, More On Long Island: US Attorney
Crips Gang Nabbed For Alleged Murders, Fraud, More On Long Island: US Attorney A federal court unsealed a 59-count indictment, which charges eight people for various offenses related to their roles in a subset of the Crips street gang, officials have announced. According to the Eastern District of New York’s US Attorney’s Office, those charged were either members or associates of the Insane Crips Gang, or “ICG.” Seven of the eight people were arrested on the morning of Thursday, April 13, and were arraigned later that day. Officials said one defendant remains at large. The indictment, authorities said, charges seven people with racketeering and conspiracy to commi…
Former Long Island Law Firm Employee Indicted For Stealing $500K from 7 Trusts, DA Says Former Long Island Law Firm Employee Indicted For Stealing $500K from 7 Trusts, DA Says
Former Long Island Law Firm Employee Indicted For Stealing $500K from 7 Trusts, DA Says A former Long Island law firm employee has been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $500,000 from seven trust bank accounts that benefitted people with special needs. Michelle Byrd, age 53, of Hempstead, was arraigned Wednesday, March 8 on one count of grand larceny and 180 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.  “The victims of this alleged scheme included adults with Cerebral Palsy, stroke victims, and a woman who had lost her arms and legs due to medical malpractice," Donnelly said. DA Donnelly said that, acco…
$65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud $65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud
$65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud A former bond trader and hedge fund manager in New York could spend decades in federal prison for defrauding his friends and lending institutions out of over $65 million. Nassau County resident Jeffrey Parket, age 59, of Great Neck, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bank fraud in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday, Feb. 15. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District, Parket swindled his victims out of millions of dollars between 2016 and December 2021 by lying about his financial condition and pledging fake collateral in order to obtain short-term loans. He claime…
Former NY Legislator, Ex-Girlfriend Both Convicted Of Defrauding Business Of $250K Former NY Legislator, Ex-Girlfriend Both Convicted Of Defrauding Business Of $250K
Former NY Legislator, Ex-Girlfriend Both Convicted Of Defrauding Business Of $250K A former county legislator in New York and an accomplice from Connecticut have been convicted by a jury of scamming a business out of more than a quarter of a million dollars. George Guldi, who served as a Long Island legislator representing the South Fork of Suffolk County, and Litchfield County resident Victoria Davidson, of Lakeville, Connecticut, defrauded Ditech Financial LLC, a mortgage lender, Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced. “George Guldi, while in prison, concocted and conducted a scheme along with his co-consp…
Ex-Director Of NY Charity Sentenced For Embezzling Over $1M Ex-Director Of NY Charity Sentenced For Embezzling Over $1M
Ex-Director Of NY Charity Sentenced For Embezzling Over $1M The former executive director of a New York charity is heading to federal prison after being convicted of embezzling more than $1 million to fund a life of luxury. Long Island resident Wafa Abboud, age 55, of Merrick, was sentenced to nearly three years behind bars in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Jan. 11.  It followed her convictions on charges of embezzling funds, bank fraud, and money laundering after a two-week jury trial in July 2019. Earlier Report: Ex-Director Convicted Of Stealing Nearly $1M From Long Island Charity Prosecutors said Abboud ran Human First, a no…
Long Island Financial Advisor Admits To $3M Bank Loan Scheme Long Island Financial Advisor Admits To $3M Bank Loan Scheme
Long Island Financial Advisor Admits To $3M Bank Loan Scheme A Long Island financial advisor could spend decades in federal prison after admitting to his role in a $3 million bank loan scheme. Gary Confredo, age 60, of East Northport, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud in federal court in Central Islip Friday, Nov. 4. Prosecutors said Confredo, also known as Gary Conte, conspired with others to submit fraudulent applications for commercial loans and lines of credit to Bank of America on behalf of his clients at the Commack-based Goldstar Financial Management Corp. Between November 2016 and October 2019, he submitted altered tax retu…
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $4M From NY Company Serving Clients In Entertainment Industry A woman has been accused of embezzling $4 million from her New York employer and its clients to pay for, among other things, her wedding, travel, and making payments to a cosmetic surgeon. Long Island resident Carmen Miranda, age 50, of Massapequa, was charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with her scheme to embezzle over $4 million from her employer and its clients in Manhattan. Miranda, who is also known as “Millie Miranda,” was an account manager at a small business management firm that primarily serviced clients in the entertainment indus…
Long Island Man Among Trio Convicted For ATM Skimming, Money Laundering Conspiracy Long Island Man Among Trio Convicted For ATM Skimming, Money Laundering Conspiracy
Long Island Man Among Trio Convicted For ATM Skimming, Money Laundering Conspiracy A Long Island man could get decades in prison after a jury convicted him of leading a massive ATM skimming and money laundering scheme that bilked millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims. Following a seven-day federal trial in Manhattan, a jury found three defendants, including Suffolk County resident Nikolaos Limberatos, age 56, of Deer Park, guilty on multiple charges. For Limberatos, that was one count of aggravated identity theft. He had already pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit access device fraud, conspiring to commit wire and bank fraud, and conspiring to commit money lau…
Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say
Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say An eye doctor from Westchester who had practices throughout the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County who was previously charged with healthcare fraud has been sentenced for attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic through loan fraud. Westchester resident Ameet Goyal, age 58, of Rye, who operated The Eye Associates Group, with practices in Rye, Mount Kisco, Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, and Greenwich, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for orchestrating a seven-year fraud scheme and for obtaining government loans intended for small businesses during the pandemic. In addition t…
Thief Who Swiped 94,000 Credit Card Numbers At Michaels Stores In NY, NJ, CT, PA Sentenced Thief Who Swiped 94,000 Credit Card Numbers At Michaels Stores In NY, NJ, CT, PA Sentenced
Thief Who Swiped 94,000 Credit Card Numbers At Michaels Stores In NY, NJ, CT, PA Sentenced A member of an ID theft ring that stole more than $600,000 from customers at Michaels stores in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison on Thursday. Jose “Tito” Salazar, age 45, of Riverside, CA was part of a crew that replaced card-reading terminals at the arts and crafts retailer with wireless imitations that they used to capture customers' bank account numbers and PINs, Acting US Attorney for New Jersey Rachael A. Honig said. They then created copycat cards that were then used to withdraw more than $500,000 from hun…
Long Island Man Sentenced In ‘Shotgun’ Mortgage Scheme That Cost Banks $9 Million Long Island Man Sentenced In ‘Shotgun’ Mortgage Scheme That Cost Banks $9 Million
Long Island Man Sentenced In ‘Shotgun’ Mortgage Scheme That Cost Banks $9 Million A Long Island man was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for his role in a $9 million ‘shotgun’ mortgage scheme in New Jersey and New York. Yorce Yotagri, age 54, of Freeport, admitted last year that he partnered with Jorge Flores of Oakdale and Jose Piehrahita, also of Freeport, to secure several home equity lines of credit for the same properties and pocket the money before the lending banks found out, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. One of those properties was in Jersey City, a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Newark says. Yotagri lived on another i…
COVID-19: LI Duo Nabbed For $13M Fraud Scheme To Get Loans Intended To Help Small Businesses COVID-19: LI Duo Nabbed For $13M Fraud Scheme To Get Loans Intended To Help Small Businesses
Covid-19: LI Duo Nabbed For $13M Fraud Scheme To Get Loans Intended To Help Small Businesses A pair of men facing charges for an alleged human smuggling operation and a third woman - two of whom are from Long Island - are being accused of allegedly stealing millions of dollars that were earmarked for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Related story - Long Island Man Accused Of Smuggling Vietnamese Nationals To Work At Nail Salons Hicksville residents Ngoc Manh Nguyen, Victoria Dieuy Ho, and Bronx resident Dat Tat Ho have been arrested and charged for allegedly stealing more than $13 million in federal funding that was designated for small business owners from the g…
Long Island Man Admits Role In NJ/NY ‘Shotgun’ Mortgage Scheme That Cost Banks $9 Million Long Island Man Admits Role In NJ/NY ‘Shotgun’ Mortgage Scheme That Cost Banks $9 Million
Long Island Man Admits Role In NJ/NY ‘Shotgun’ Mortgage Scheme That Cost Banks $9 Million A Long Island man admitted in federal court in Newark that he participated in a $9 million ‘shotgun’ mortgage scheme in New Jersey and New York. Yorce Yotagri, 53, of Freeport partnered with two other Long Island men – identified as Jorge Flores of Oakdale and Jose Piehrahita, also of Freeport – to secure several home equity lines of credit for the same properties and pocket the money before the lending banks found out, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Craig Carpenito said. One of those properties was in Jersey City, a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Newark says. Yotagri lived on ano…
Man Wanted For Fraudulently Withdrawing Large Amount Of Money From Long Island Bank Man Wanted For Fraudulently Withdrawing Large Amount Of Money From Long Island Bank
Man Wanted For Fraudulently Withdrawing Large Amount Of Money From Long Island Bank A man who fraudulently withdrew a large amount of money from a Long Island bank is at large and police are asking the public's help in locating him. According to detectives, an unidentified man entered the TD Bank located at 1600 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21 and fraudulently used documents to withdraw a large amount of US currency without permission from an account that did not belong to him, police said. The suspect is shown above wearing a blue shirt, gray striped tie, dark pants, and dark shoes with white soles. Detectives request anyone with informat…
Long Island Man Charged In International Fraud, Money Laundering Conspiracy Long Island Man Charged In International Fraud, Money Laundering Conspiracy
Long Island Man Charged In International Fraud, Money Laundering Conspiracy A Long Island man was among 18 charged in an international fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Officials announced on Thursday, Oct. 10 the unsealing of an indictment and two superseding indictments charging 18 people with participating in an international conspiracy to commit a variety of offenses, including access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Among those charged was Deer Park resident Nikolaos Limberatos, also known as Nicu Limberto, 53, who also has ties to Greece. Others charged: Florian Claudiu Martin, 44, of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Alex D…
Long Island Resident Charged In Mortgage Fraud Scheme Long Island Resident Charged In Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Long Island Resident Charged In Mortgage Fraud Scheme A Long Island resident was among five real estate professionals facing charges for their roles in a scheme to defraud prominent mortgage lenders. An indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court charging Iskyo Aronov, Michael Konstantinovskiy, Tomer Dafna, Avraham Tarshish and Michael Herskowitz with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and related wire fraud counts. Among those allegedly defrauded include the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and other borrowers. Konstantinovskiy, Dafna, Tarshish, and Herskowitz were arreste…
Man Sentenced For Account Takeover, Money Laundering Scheme Affecting Tens Of Thousands Man Sentenced For Account Takeover, Money Laundering Scheme Affecting Tens Of Thousands
Man Sentenced For Account Takeover, Money Laundering Scheme Affecting Tens Of Thousands A Brooklyn man will spend nearly five years in prison for stealing identities, defrauding banks and e-commerce retailers out of more than a million dollars, impacting tens of thousands of victims over a decade. Jason Mickel Elcock - also known as Prezzi - was sentenced in Manhattan federal court was sentenced to 57 months in prison or engaging in a decade-long scheme to steal personal and financial information from tens of thousands of individuals and businesses and unlawful possession of a firearm, resulting in a loss of more than $1.1 million to banks and online retailers Elcock pleaded g…
Woman Who Worked As Director Of Lynbrook Charity Convicted Of Stealing $1 Million For Luxuries Woman Who Worked As Director Of Lynbrook Charity Convicted Of Stealing $1 Million For Luxuries
Woman Who Worked As Director Of Lynbrook Charity Convicted Of Stealing $1 Million For Luxuries A federal jury convicted a Merrick woman who is the former director of a Long Island Charity of stealing almost $1 million for luxury items such as vacations and cosmetic surgeries. Wafa Abboud, 51, the former executive director of Human First, a charity in Lynbrook that serves developmentally disabled people, was convicted of embezzling funds, bank fraud, and money laundering.  The verdict followed a two-week trial before United States District Judge Edward R. Korman in Brooklyn.  When sentenced, Abboud faces up to 30 years imprisonment. Richard P. Donoghue, United States…
Ex-Director Convicted Of Stealing Nearly $1M From Long Island Charity Ex-Director Convicted Of Stealing Nearly $1M From Long Island Charity
Ex-Director Convicted Of Stealing Nearly $1M From Long Island Charity The former Executive Director of a not-for-profit organization on Long Island has been convicted of embezzling nearly a million dollars from the charity to live a life of luxury. Wafa Abboud, 56, of Merrick, who once ran Human First, which is based out of Nassau County, was found guilty of embezzling funds, bank fraud and money laundering following a two-week trial in Brooklyn federal court. From January 2011 until she was let go from Health First - which provides services to developmentally disabled people - was the charity’s executive director and was in charge of distributing the organiz…
NYPD Officer From Area Charged With Conspiring To Commit Bank, Loan Fraud NYPD Officer From Area Charged With Conspiring To Commit Bank, Loan Fraud
Nypd Officer From Area Charged With Conspiring To Commit Bank, Loan Fraud An NYPD police officer from the Hudson Valley is facing charges for allegedly participating in a $1.5 million auto loan scam that targeted people attempting to boost their credit scores. Eduardo Rodriguez, 41, of Goshen in Orange County, has been charged with conspiring to commit bank and loan fraud, as well as making false statements to federal law enforcement officers. He was arrested on Tuesday, July 2, and arraigned in Manhattan Federal Court. It is alleged that in June 2017, Rodriguez agreed with two other men, Ricardo Taboada, and Daniel Duran, to submit an application to a lender for…