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Scammers Stole Taylor Swift Eras Tour Tickets In $600K+ Ny-based Scheme, Prosecutors Say
Taylor Swift fans are hoping "Karma" comes to whoever scammed them out of expensive tickets to The Eras Tour.
Two people were accused of stealing nearly 1,000 tickets to high-demand events, including the popstar's record-breaking concert tour. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced arrests in the case in a news release on Monday, Mar. 3.
Tyrone Rose, 20, of Kingston, Jamaica, and Shamara Simmons, 31, of Queens, NY, were facing charges including grand larceny, conspiracy, and computer tampering.
"These defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swift…
Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Hudson Valley Dodges Prison
A father and daughter who scammed a 92-year-old woman out of more than $230,000 in Ulster County won’t spend a day in prison.
Frank Whittaker, 56, of Kingston, and his daughter, Christine Ellsworth, 39, of Accord, were sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution in Ulster County Court on Tuesday, March 4.
The daddy-daughter duo gained the victim’s trust by helping with yard work and household tasks, according to the New York Attorney General’s office. Over time, Whittaker convinced the woman to grant him Power of Attorney over her finances.
But instead of managing her money resp…
$64K In Gift Cards Stolen From ShopRite By Former Employee From Fishkill: Police
A former ShopRite employee from Dutchess County has been charged after allegedly stealing $64,100 worth of gift cards from a Westchester store, police announced.
Laura Picozzi, 33, of Fishkill, was taken into custody on Thursday, Jan. 30, following an investigation by Croton-on-Hudson Police into the theft of 151 gift cards from the ShopRite located at 460 South Riverside Ave., the department announced on Monday, March 3.
According to authorities, ShopRite loss prevention officers first alerted police to the theft in January. After reviewing the case, detectives identified Picozzi—a f…
Dunkin' Donuts Manager Steals Thousands In After-Hour Heists In Region: Police
A Dunkin’ Donuts manager is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from her store.
Heidi Howe, 46, of Ballston Spa, was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 10, following an investigation into multiple thefts reported at a Ballston Spa Dunkin’ store, New York State Police said.
Troopers concluded that Howe, who managed the location, entered the store after hours without authorization on several occasions in December 2024 and January 2025, police said. Altogether, she stole more than $3,000 in cash, according to police.
Howe was located by Washington County Sheriff’s deputies and turned over to St…
ATVs, Motorcycle Stolen From Facebook Seller: 3 Nabbed In Hudson Valley Burglary Case, Cops Say
Authorities have apprehended three Long Island men in a burglary ring who targeted a home in Putnam County after allegedly using Facebook Marketplace to gather information on their victim, police said.
Nassau County resident Percy Dickinson, age 25, of Freeport, was taken into custody on Tuesday, Jan. 28, after being wanted for his alleged role in a burglary in the Town of Southeast in April 2024, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday, Jan. 30.
The case began when deputies responded to a home on Briar Drive for a reported break-in at a garage, where two ATVs a…
NY State Workers Steal Debit Card Info From Disabled Residents In Region, Police Say
Three New York State employees are accused of stealing money from developmentally disabled residents in the Capital Region.
The women, all employees at the Capital District Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) in Clifton Park, were arrested on suspicion of fraud and larceny-related charges following an investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Officials identified the defendants as:
Lashea Pettway, 30, of Schenectady
Jessie Gabriel, 34, of Schenectady
Christin McGrath, 45, of Selkirk
An investigation found that all three women stole debit card …
Tax Preparer Steals $8K from Employer In Poughkeepsie, Police Say
A 29-year-old Hudson Valley man is facing serious charges after allegedly mishandling client payments and documents, leading to the theft of thousands from his employer, police said.
Dutchess County resident Jonathan Yousef Sawaged of Poughkeepsie was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 21, following a fraud investigation, the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department announced on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
According to the department, authorities began looking into Sawaged after receiving a complaint on Oct. 17, 2024, alleging that he, while working as a certified tax preparer at a local compa…
$50K Scheme: Former Top Hudson Valley School Officials Spent Funds On Personal Items, DA Says
Two former administrators at a Westchester County school district serving at-risk students have been charged with multiple public corruption offenses after using $50,000 for personal items, prosecutors announced.
Rockland County resident Oliver Levy, age 55, of Stony Point, the former superintendent of the Greenburgh-Graham Union Free School District, and Surendra Kumar, 48, of Yonkers, a former security system specialist, were arraigned on Wednesday, Jan. 22, on charges including second- and third-degree grand larceny and corrupting the government, the Westchester County District Attorney's…
Mail Thief Nabbed After Making High-Speed Escape In Hudson Valley
An 18-year-old man was nabbed by police for allegedly stealing mail that contained personal financial information out of residential mailboxes with two accomplices.
Lt. Daniel Schoales of the Stony Point Police said Mahamadou Sissoko, of the Bronx, was charged on Thursday, Jan. 8, for the crimes committed on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Tompkins Cove.
According to Schoales, Sissoko and the two accomplices were seen stealing mail. Police arrived as the trio attempted to flee in a vehicle driven by Sissoko.
The vehicle was later found off the roadway, down an embankment, and fully engulfed in f…
Hudson Valley Man Arrested In Connection With Vehicle Larcenies In Area: Police
A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a series of vehicle larcenies in the Village of Airmont, but police are still searching for additional suspects, authorities report.
The Ramapo Police Department arrested Keith Casas, age 29, of Airmont, in connection with multiple reports of larcenies from vehicles that occurred over two weekends in early December, said Det. Lt. Chris Franklin of the Ramapo Police.
According to Franklin, the thefts occurred overnight in Airmont, targeting unlocked vehicles. Items stolen included cash, credit cards, and personal belongings. The stolen c…
Hudson Valley Fire Company Financial Secretary Admits Stealing $17K, DA Says
A financial secretary for a fire company in the region has admitted to stealing more than $17,000 from the department.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced on Friday, Nov. 1, that Lynn T. Simpson, age 43, of Wallkill, pled guilty to grand larceny in the Third Degree in connection with the theft of $17,947 from the parade fund of the Washington Heights Fire Company in Middletown.
As part of the plea agreement, Simpson will repay all the stolen money, Hoovler said.
The department was scheduled to host a parade in September 2023, which includ…
NY Woman Cleans Out Bank Account To Fraudster Posing As Federal Agent, Police Say
A months-long investigation has led to the arrest of a man who authorities say impersonated a federal agent and used fear and intimidation to convince a Long Island victim to hand over money.
On Friday, Oct. 25, the suspect, Om Parkash, age 31, of Queens, was charged with second-degree grand larceny (a Class C felony).
In late July of 2023, Parkash contacted the victim in Sag Harbor stating she was involved in a fraud scheme involving large amounts of money, according to New York State Police.
From there, Parkash advised the victim she would have to give money to “federal a…
Hudson Valley Teen Runaway Nabbed For Stealing Cars, Burglary, Theft, Police Say
A 16-year-old runaway in the region has been nabbed for allegedly stealing two vehicles, burglary, and theft.
The arrest occurred in Ulster County on Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the town of Lloyd.
According to Lloyd Police Chief James Janso, the Lake Katrine teen was charged after a month-long investigation found the boy allegedly stole two vehicles, entered a residence, stole a cell phone and iPad, and took alcohol from a convenience store in Highland.
The teen was charged with
Burglary
Grand larceny, fourth-degree
Grand larceny, third-degree, two counts
Petit larceny.
Janso said as an adolesc…
