COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say
Covid-19 $14.7M Scheme: Westchester Duo Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say Two men from Westchester and a Long Island woman face charges after participating in a more than $14 million scheme to steal from a program created to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials said.  New Rochelle resident Glenroy Walker, age 65, Mount Vernon resident Gary Wheeler, age 46, Freeport resident Sherril Baez, age 50, and three others are charged with scheming to steal more than $14 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Tuesday, June 6.  The …
Nearly $400K Gold Bar Scam: Long Island Woman Conned Out Of Savings, Police Say Nearly $400K Gold Bar Scam: Long Island Woman Conned Out Of Savings, Police Say
Nearly $400K Gold Bar Scam: Long Island Woman Conned Out Of Savings, Police Say Two men were arrested after scamming a Long Island woman out of hundreds of thousands of her personal savings, police said. A 76-year-old Westbury woman received multiple calls from scammers who eventually got her to take out nearly $400,000 worth of her money and use it to purchase gold bars which the con artists then took from her, according to Nassau County Police. The first incident occurred on Friday, May 19, when the woman received a call from an unknown man claiming that her computer had been compromised and she needed to secure her finances. In order to do that, the scammer alle…
COVID-19: Couple Schemed To Steal Over $12K In Long Island Relief Funds, DA Says COVID-19: Couple Schemed To Steal Over $12K In Long Island Relief Funds, DA Says
Covid-19: Couple Schemed To Steal Over $12K In Long Island Relief Funds, DA Says A Long Island couple is now facing charges after they fraudulently obtained COVID relief fund money, officials claimed. Hicksville residents Michael Arbassio, aged 65, and Eileen Dantini, aged 61, were arraigned on Wednesday, May 17 for allegedly filing false documents so that they could claim tens of thousands in COVID relief money, according to the District Attorney’s office. According to the charges, Arbassio and Dantini had lived together as tenants in their Hicksville residence for 10 years, for which they paid monthly rent. However, on September 29, 2021, Arbassio allegedly submit…
Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands
Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands The president of a local autism charity is now a convicted felon after admitting that he defrauded Long Island businesses out of thousands of dollars. Gregory Vasicek, age 60, of Queens, pleaded guilty to a charge of scheme to defraud in Suffolk County Court on Friday, May 12. According to the Suffolk County DA’s Office, between April and May 2022, Vasicek wrote numerous checks from the bank account of his charity, Play4Autism, knowing that the organization did not have the funds to pay for the services and property being purchased. Among the companies that fell victim to his scheme were a…
$185K Scam: Fake Arrest Scheme Costs Long Island Woman Thousands, Police Say $185K Scam: Fake Arrest Scheme Costs Long Island Woman Thousands, Police Say
$185K Scam: Fake Arrest Scheme Costs Long Island Woman Thousands, Police Say Authorities are asking the community to be on high alert for scams after a local woman was swindled out of nearly $200,000. From Wednesday, April 26 to Monday, May 8, a 78-year-old Wantagh woman received calls from someone claiming to be her grandson, the Nassau County Police said. The suspect pretending to be the woman’s grandson reportedly told her that he needed money for bail and instructed the victim to withdraw money from her bank and send it to various locations. Over the course of nearly two weeks, the victim had complied multiple times, transferring a total of $185,325 from her…
Bad Cop: Fake Arrest Swindles $9,800 Cash From Long Island Woman, Authorities Say Bad Cop: Fake Arrest Swindles $9,800 Cash From Long Island Woman, Authorities Say
Bad Cop: Fake Arrest Swindles $9,800 Cash From Long Island Woman, Authorities Say The incident closely resembles a scam that occurred two weeks prior. A Massapequa woman, age 86, was conned by a trio of scammers, including one pretending to be a police officer, according to a statement released by the actual Nassau County Police Department. The incident occurred at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, when the victim was contacted over the phone by the fake police officer. She was told that her daughter had been arrested and needed $9,800 for bail.  After the initial call, the victim was connected to a second scammer who claimed to be a public defender, according to …
$600,000 Stolen: Long Island Yacht Club Bookkeeper Sentenced, DA Says $600,000 Stolen: Long Island Yacht Club Bookkeeper Sentenced, DA Says
$600,000 Stolen: Long Island Yacht Club Bookkeeper Sentenced, DA Says Over the course of seven years, the woman siphoned club funds into her personal accounts and falsified business records, authorities report. Anna Maria Restrepo, a 59-year-old Glen Head resident, was sentenced on Thursday, April 27 to three to six years in prison on grand larceny charges, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. Restrepo (who is also known as Anna Maria Saboski), had been stealing hundreds of thousands from the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club for nearly her whole employment with the club. According to the District Attorney, Restrepo was hired as a bookkeeper and …
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses $31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses
$31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Attorneys, Doctor Sentenced For Defrauding NY Businesses Sentences have been handed out for two attorneys and a doctor convicted of defrauding New York businesses and their insurance companies of more than $31 million through a massive, three-year trip-and-fall fraud scheme. The three men all live on Long Island -- 60-year-old George Constantine in Plainview, 50-year-old Marc Elefant in Woodmere, and 67-year-old Andrew Dowd in Miller Place. Constantine and Dowd were convicted at a trial in mid-December 2022 of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. Dowd was also found guilty of additional counts of conspiracy to co…
Criminal Couple: LI Duo Fraudulently Claim $112K In Benefits, Lie On Paperwork, DA Says Criminal Couple: LI Duo Fraudulently Claim $112K In Benefits, Lie On Paperwork, DA Says
Criminal Couple: LI Duo Fraudulently Claim $112K In Benefits, Lie On Paperwork, DA Says A husband and wife from Long Island are facing more than half a dozen charges after fraudulently collecting $112,000 in public assistance, authorities said. Levittown residents Terry Ann Powell-Bajwa, age 45, and Khurram Bajwa, age 40, were arraigned in Nassau County Court on Thursday, April 6. According to prosecutors, between 2017 and 2021, Powell-Bajway allegedly lied on applications that she submitted to the Nassau County Department of Social Services (NCDSS) and the New York State Health Benefits Exchange (NYSHBE). Among these, authorities report that she falsely listed herself as a s…
Man Steals $420K From Long Island Victim, Police Say Man Steals $420K From Long Island Victim, Police Say
Man Steals $420K From Long Island Victim, Police Say A man accused of stealing nearly $420,000 from a Long Island woman has been arrested. East Islip resident Kenneth McConnell was arrested on Thursday, April 6 for what Nassau County police call an “elderly scam” in Woodmere that included identity theft and pawning off stolen property. The scam reportedly lasted from January 2020 to December 2021. According to police, McConnell received payments from a 61-year-old woman for plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work that was never performed. Further investigation revealed that he had stolen jewelry from the victim and sold it at a pawn shop. D…
NY Rep. George Santos Confesses To Defrauding Brazilian Clerk Of $1,300 In Clothing: Report NY Rep. George Santos Confesses To Defrauding Brazilian Clerk Of $1,300 In Clothing: Report
NY Rep. George Santos Confesses To Defrauding Brazilian Clerk Of $1,300 In Clothing: Report Embattled New York Rep. George Santos has formally confessed to defrauding a Brazilian shop clerk of $1,300 in clothing and shoes, CNN reports.  The admission is part of an agreement requested by Santos’ attorney in January 2022 and accepted by Brazilian prosecutors that ensures he won’t be prosecuted for the crime, according to the outlet. Related Report: 'I've Been A Terrible Liar,' George Santos Admits After He 'Got Away With It' In 2020 It states that the freshman Republican lawmaker, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, agrees to confess to the fraud and p…
LI Man Stole Dead Brother's ID To Collect $160K In Disability Benefits While Working, DA Says LI Man Stole Dead Brother's ID To Collect $160K In Disability Benefits While Working, DA Says
LI Man Stole Dead Brother's ID To Collect $160K In Disability Benefits While Working, DA Says A Long Island man is accused of stealing his dead brother’s identity in order to collect six figures worth of disability benefits while still working, authorities said. Stavros Tsakonis, age 61, of Shirley, was arraigned on a 30-count indictment that includes grand larceny and identity theft in Suffolk County Court on Monday, March 13 Prosecutors said Tsakonis received more than $160,000 in disability benefits between February 2015 and January 2023 while claiming to the US Social Security Administration that he was too disabled to work. However, investigators discovered that he had all…