Subscribe
52°
Hudson Valley Contractor Pocketed $50K Meant For Employees, DA Says
A New Rochelle contractor has been re-arrested and hit with new felony charges for allegedly stealing more than $50,000 in wages from his own employees.
Artemio Fuerte, 40, was arraigned in New Rochelle City Court Tuesday, March 3, on charges including grand larceny and scheme to defraud, both felonies. He also faces five counts of failure to pay wages when due under labor law, a misdemeanor.
Fuerte, the owner and operator of Fuerte Construction Services LLC, withheld approximately $51,720 in wages from five employees between September 2022 and October 2025, the Westchester County DA’s offi…
NY Man Dodged $600K In Workers’ Comp Premiums: DA
A construction company owner who underreported more than $3.5 million in payroll to dodge workers’ compensation premiums has been sentenced, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Mahendranauth Khargie, 36, and his Queens-based iron and erection company, GC Stud Inc., pleaded guilty on Oct. 21 to Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, a felony. The company also pleaded guilty to failing to secure required workers’ compensation coverage, prosecutors said.
The pair were sentenced on Tuesday, Dec. 2, to a Conditional Discharge and ordered to pay $625,000 in…
NJ Man Posed As ‘Mohammed Ali’ In $59K NY Contractor Scam: Police
A man accused of posing as a contractor and stealing more than $59,000 from a Uniondale homeowner was arrested months after the alleged scam, detectives announced on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Zohaib Farrukh, 37, of Piscataway, New Jersey, was taken into custody by First Squad detectives with assistance from First Precinct officers on Friday, Nov. 22, at 3:15 p.m., according to the release.
The investigation began after a homeowner hired a construction company identified as North Falcon Construction Company of Avenue C in New York City and issued a check for $59,202.50 to a man who identified himsel…
How To Avoid Lottery, Prize Scams: You Didn’t Enter, But You 'Won'?
A surprise message says you hit the jackpot, but there’s a catch: you must pay a fee or hand over personal details to claim it.
That’s the hallmark of a lottery or prize scam—designed to separate you from your money and identity.
These schemes often arrive by email, text, phone, or mail and lean on pressure tactics to force quick decisions.
Scammers frequently demand “taxes,” “processing,” or “shipping” upfront, or ask for sensitive data to “verify” you.
Legitimate lotteries do not require payment to release a prize, and you should never be asked for your Social Security…
Woman Scams Victim Out Of $500K In NY, Said Funds Were For College, Childcare: Sheriff
A Brooklyn woman has been arrested for allegedly scamming a Putnam County resident out of hundreds of thousands of dollars over several years while claiming the funds were being used for school, medical bills, and childcare, authorities announced.
The arrest of Natasha Mansfield, 26, for second-degree grand larceny was announced by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, Sept. 4.
According to Acting Putnam County Sheriff Brian Hess, the investigation into Mansfield began in August 2024, when a Carmel resident reported being defrauded out of about $500,000.
The victi…
$84K Theft Scheme Targets Nonprofit School In NY: Fifth Suspect Arrested, Police Say
The final suspect has been arrested in connection with a scheme that stole more than $84,000 from a Northern Westchester nonprofit school, police said.
The case involved Lincoln Hall, a residential facility in Somers that supports underserved families. In February 2024, three Lincoln Hall checks totaling $84,772.14 were stolen, altered, and deposited into multiple bank accounts, New York State Police said in an announcement on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, investigators arrested the fifth and final suspect, Lenys A. Solano Cueva, age 50, of the Bronx, for allowing a $29,4…
Duo Falsified Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Inspections Across NY, Feds Say
A Putnam County man and a North Carolina resident have been charged in a federal fraud case accusing them of falsifying hundreds of critical safety inspections on natural gas pipelines in Westchester County and New York City, prosecutors announced.
Michael Vasconcellos, 44, of Mahopac, and Liam Treibert, 30, of Wendell, North Carolina, were indicted on charges of wire fraud, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday, Aug. 28.
Both men were arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 27: Treibert in North Carolina, where he will appear before a federal judge i…
$200K Scheme: Ex-Finance Manager Stole From NY Construction Firm, DA Says
A former construction company finance manager is accused of orchestrating a months-long scheme to steal more than $200,000 from her Westchester-based employer, prosecutors said.
Michele Rinaldo, 52, of The Bronx, was arraigned Wednesday, Aug. 13, in Westchester County Court on a sweeping set of charges connected to her alleged theft from a White Plains-based construction firm, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Friday, Aug. 22.
According to a felony complaint filed in the case, Rinaldo handled payroll and accounting for the firm, which the DA's Office did not nam…
$1M Cross-Country Title-Washing Ring Used Stolen Porsches, Audis, BMWs In PA: AG
A high-end title-washing ring based in central Pennsylvania profited more than $1 million by selling stolen luxury cars from Florida, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
The fraudulent operation was allegedly led by 44-year-old Anthony E. Troncoso, who, with a network of 12 others, used fake documents to “wash” vehicle titles, then sold over two dozen stolen cars to private buyers, dealers, and auction houses between 2022 and 2023, according to AG Sunday.
The vehicles—many of them Porsches, Audis, BMWs, Land Rovers, and other high-end brands—were stolen in Florida. …
NY Duo Posed As FBI Agents, Scammed Man Out Of $15K, Police Say
Two Brooklyn residents are accused of impersonating FBI agents to con a man into handing over $15,000 in a phony arrest threat.
Wei Baoguo, 34, and Yu Sheng Gui, 38, were arrested Monday, Aug. 4, in Orange County following a criminal investigation by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the agency said.
Investigators concluded that the pair contacted a 27-year-old man and falsely claimed to be FBI agents, according to police. They allegedly told the victim he was under investigation and would be arrested unless he paid them $15,000.
The victim agreed to meet with the…
$140K Fraud Committed By Former PA Senator's Aide Scamming Church, Supporters
A former aide to Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes admitted to stealing more than $140,000 from a North Philadelphia church where he was a deacon and from a city political ward he led, the FBI announced on Saturday, Aug. 2.
Willie Jordan, 68, of Upper Darby, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III to two counts of wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 30.
From 2020 to 2024, Jordan exploited his roles at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and Philadelphia’s 44th Ward for personal benefit, court d…
Nypd Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients In NY For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA
An NYPD officer who previously worked at a Westchester bank has been charged in a sweeping financial crimes case accusing him of stealing over $85,000 from elderly customers and using the funds to pay for personal expenses—including a Caribbean vacation, luxury car payments, and fitness program subscriptions.
Yeison Rodriguez Acosta, age 27, of Manhattan, was arraigned Thursday, July 17, in Rye City Court on a 30-count felony complaint stemming from a months-long investigation by the City of Rye Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, both agencies announced.…
