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Money Laundering

First 'Most Wanted Fraudster' Surrenders To FBI: Here's What He's Accused Of First 'Most Wanted Fraudster' Surrenders To FBI: Here's What He's Accused Of
First 'Most Wanted Fraudster' Surrenders To FBI: Here's What He's Accused Of A new federal fugitive list just got its first catch. Said Abdullahi Ereg, 47, surrendered to the FBI at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday, June 10, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota said. The office said Ereg became the first person from the FBI's new Most Wanted Fraudsters List to be taken into custody. Ereg was indicted in 2024 on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, according to the Justice Department. The charges stem from the Feeding Our Future fraud case, an investigation into money meant to feed ch…
Dutchess Duo Accused Of $575K Credit Card Fraud Scheme Targeting Hundreds: Feds Dutchess Duo Accused Of $575K Credit Card Fraud Scheme Targeting Hundreds: Feds
Dutchess Duo Accused Of $575K Credit Card Fraud Scheme Targeting Hundreds: Feds Two Dutchess County residents are facing federal charges after authorities said they orchestrated a sweeping fraud scheme that targeted hundreds of victims and racked up more than half a million dollars in unauthorized purchases.  Opeyemi Olujobi, 28, also known as “Tyler Olujobi,” and Jennie Davidson, 29, both of Poughkeepsie, were arrested on Tuesday morning, April 21, and are expected to appear in White Plains federal court, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors allege the pair participated in a long-running “account takeover” schem…
Ex-NFL Player Convicted In $328M Medicare Fraud Scheme, Faces Decades In Prison: Feds Ex-NFL Player Convicted In $328M Medicare Fraud Scheme, Faces Decades In Prison: Feds
Ex-nfl Player Convicted In $328M Medicare Fraud Scheme, Faces Decades In Prison: Feds A former University of Connecticut football standout who reached the NFL before turning to healthcare was convicted in a $328 million Medicare fraud scheme, federal authorities announced. Keith J. Gray, 39, of McKinney, Texas, was convicted on Thursday, Feb. 19, for his role in what the US Attorney's Office described as a sweeping cardiovascular genetic testing scam. Gray is a former captain of the UConn Huskies football team, where he played center from 2004 to 2008, according to UConn Athletics. He served a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers, but injuries sidelined his NFL career.&nbs…
Another Supplier To Food Truck 'Hot Lunch' Drug Ring In Hudson Valley Gets Jail Time: DA Another Supplier To Food Truck 'Hot Lunch' Drug Ring In Hudson Valley Gets Jail Time: DA
Another Supplier To Food Truck 'Hot Lunch' Drug Ring In Hudson Valley Gets Jail Time: DA A man described by prosecutors as a major supplier in the sweeping “Operation Hot Lunch” takedown will spend years in state prison, marking another major milestone in what authorities say is the largest gun and narcotics trafficking case in Orange County history.  Newburgh resident Owen Beckford, also known as Marvin Ottley, 55, was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 28, to 15 years in prison in Orange County Court after previously pleading guilty to operating as a major trafficker and second-degree conspiracy. Beckford was also ordered to forfeit $8,909 as part of the sentence, the…
Kingpin Captured In $15B 'Pig-Butchering' Crypto Scheme Using Slave Labor Kingpin Captured In $15B 'Pig-Butchering' Crypto Scheme Using Slave Labor
Kingpin Captured In $15B 'Pig-Butchering' Crypto Scheme Using Slave Labor The suspected kingpin of one of the world's largest online scam and slave-labor operations has been captured, authorities said. Chen Zhi, 38, was arrested in Cambodia and extradited to China this week, according to Cambodian officials. US prosecutors have accused Chen, also known as "Vincent," of leading the Prince Group's network of "scam compounds," forcing trafficked workers to trick victims into fake cryptocurrency investments. In October 2025, Chen was indicted in the Eastern District of New York on conspiracy charges related to wire fraud and money laundering. Justice D…
MLB Rocked By Alleged Gambling Scheme: Players Accused Of Fixing Pitches For Payouts MLB Rocked By Alleged Gambling Scheme: Players Accused Of Fixing Pitches For Payouts
MLB Rocked By Alleged Gambling Scheme: Players Accused Of Fixing Pitches For Payouts Two Major League Baseball pitchers have been indicted on federal charges for their alleged roles in a scheme to rig bets on pitches during Major League Baseball games, according to the US Department of Justice for the Eastern District of New York.  The indictment, unsealed Sunday, Nov. 9, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, charges the players, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians, with wire fraud conspiracy and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. It also includes charges of conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. …
Man Sharing Babe Ruth’s Name Accused Of Fraud Using Dead Ballplayers’ IDs Man Sharing Babe Ruth’s Name Accused Of Fraud Using Dead Ballplayers’ IDs
Man Sharing Babe Ruth’s Name Accused Of Fraud Using Dead Ballplayers’ IDs He shares a name with baseball’s greatest legend, but prosecutors say this “Babe Ruth” swung for a different kind of home run, by allegedly stealing the identities of hundreds of ballplayers, dead and retired. A federal grand jury in Greeneville, Tennessee, returned a sweeping 91-count indictment late last week, charging George Herman Ruth, age 69, with masterminding an elaborate fraud scheme that netted more than half a million dollars. Ruth, whose full name matches that of Hall of Famer Babe Ruth (who was born George Herman Ruth in 1895), stands accused of mail fraud, aggravated identity …
Drains Clogged With Condoms Found At NY Spas In Federal Prostitution Case, DOJ Says Drains Clogged With Condoms Found At NY Spas In Federal Prostitution Case, DOJ Says
Drains Clogged With Condoms Found At NY Spas In Federal Prostitution Case, DOJ Says A New York woman is accused of running a multi-county prostitution ring at her massage parlors. Qingqin “Coco” Xie was charged with racketeering in Albany federal court on Wednesday, Aug. 20, following a two-year investigation involving the FBI, New York State Police, IRS, and Homeland Security Investigations. The probe culminated in a multi-agency police raid on Xie’s massage spas in Saratoga, Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, and Ulster counties, as Daily Voice reported. According to the criminal complaint, obtained by Daily Voice, online sex advertisements directed customers to Xie’s Moo…
$5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Americans $5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Americans
$5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Americans The phone rings in the middle of the night. It’s a family member, and they’re in trouble. A misunderstanding or mistake has put them in a serious bind, and they need thousands of dollars — immediately — or they're in big trouble.  Hundreds of people have received calls like that, but they were fake. Federal investigators call it the “grandparent scam.” The scheme allegedly targeted hundreds of older Americans — including at least 50 in Massachusetts — and stole more than $5 million, according to the US Attorney for Massachusetts. Federal prosecutors say they’ve charged 13 people who “r…
Impostor Scams Skyrocket Among Older Adults, FTC Warns: What To Do Impostor Scams Skyrocket Among Older Adults, FTC Warns: What To Do
Impostor Scams Skyrocket Among Older Adults, FTC Warns: What To Do Scams targeting older Americans are surging, causing victims to lose millions of dollars to scammers posing as government officials or trusted companies. The number of victims age 60 and older who lost more than $100,000 has increased by more than 700%, the Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday, Aug. 7. Those high-value thefts jumped from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024. Older adults who lost at least $10,000 also dramatically rose by more than 300%. "While younger consumers also have reported these scams, older adults were much more likely to report these ex…
Sex Slave Sting: Women Held In NJ Homes, Forced Into Brothels, AG Says Sex Slave Sting: Women Held In NJ Homes, Forced Into Brothels, AG Says
Sex Slave Sting: Women Held In NJ Homes, Forced Into Brothels, AG Says Eight people have been charged with racketeering and human trafficking for running a prostitution ring out of several homes in Trenton and Camden, authorities said. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the charges on Tuesday, July 1, following a months-long investigation that began in May 2024. At least 15 victims were located during raids at five properties, investigators said. According to the criminal complaints, Vilma Deleon Bracamonte, also known as “Janet,” 55, of Hamilton, and Maria Soledad Xec Chan, 42, of Trenton, were the alleged ringleaders. They face charges …
$5.6M Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs; Including New York Lands PA Man Federal Charges $5.6M Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs; Including New York Lands PA Man Federal Charges
$5.6M Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs; Including New York Lands PA Man Federal Charges A Pennsylvania man is accused of stealing over $5.6 million in pandemic aid using more than 1,000 stolen or fake identities, federal prosecutors announced on Monday, June 16. Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 32, has been indicted in Colorado on multiple federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a nationwide COVID-19 benefits scam, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Salako faces six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft, according to t…
‘Rides’ To Riches: NY Ambulette Owner Admits To $20M Medicaid Scam ‘Rides’ To Riches: NY Ambulette Owner Admits To $20M Medicaid Scam
‘Rides’ To Riches: NY Ambulette Owner Admits To $20M Medicaid Scam A Long Island ambulette company owner who lived lavishly on the backs of New York’s neediest has admitted to masterminding a multimillion-dollar Medicaid fraud scheme. Adnan “Eddie” Arshad, 46, of Mount Sinai, pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud and money laundering in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, June 11. Arshad confessed to leading a ring of fraudsters who stole approximately $20 million from Medicaid by falsely billing for non-existent medical transportation services over the course of nearly four years, prosecutors said. “While Mr. Arshad should have been transporting medi…
$10M Fraud: NY Dad, Son Get Years For Spending Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle $10M Fraud: NY Dad, Son Get Years For Spending Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle
$10M Fraud: NY Dad, Son Get Years For Spending Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle A New York father and son will spend years behind bars for conning investors out of millions of dollars that funded their lavish lifestyle. Long Island resident Eugene Austin, age 62, of Port Jefferson, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, April 23, following a jury conviction for wire fraud and money laundering. Austin’s 29-year-old son, Brandon Austin, of Coram, was previously sentenced to four years behind bars for his role in the scheme. The men offered to serve as a broker for sales of large quantities of cryptocurrency at below-market exchange r…
FBI In NY Still Searching For ‘Cryptoqueen’ Missing After $4B Scam FBI In NY Still Searching For ‘Cryptoqueen’ Missing After $4B Scam
FBI In NY Still Searching For ‘Cryptoqueen’ Missing After $4B Scam She promised the next Bitcoin. What investors got instead was a $4 billion black hole—and a fugitive who hasn’t been seen since 2017. Ruja Ignatova, the woman once known as the “Cryptoqueen,” remains one of the world’s most elusive fugitives and is currently on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list.  The founder of the fraudulent cryptocurrency OneCoin, Ignatova is accused of orchestrating a massive Ponzi-style scheme that duped investors around the globe out of billions. Authorities say the scam began in 2014, when Ignatova launched OneCoin Ltd., a Bulgaria-based company that marketed itself…
NY ‘Legal Assistant’ Scammed Desperate Families Out Of Thousands, Jury Finds NY ‘Legal Assistant’ Scammed Desperate Families Out Of Thousands, Jury Finds
NY ‘Legal Assistant’ Scammed Desperate Families Out Of Thousands, Jury Finds A New York man who posed as a legal expert in order to scam desperate families out of thousands of dollars was convicted of multiple federal crimes. Christopher Reese, 57, of East Meadow, was found guilty of fraud and related charges in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, March 20. Using an unlicensed legal operation, Reese defrauded criminal defendants and their families by promising to secure prison releases he had no authority to deliver, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District said. Reese, also known as “Christopher Eugene Thomas,” targeted inmates, friends, and family memb…
Iran Sent Hitmen To Kill NY Journalist: Two Mobsters Convicted In Foiled Plot Iran Sent Hitmen To Kill NY Journalist: Two Mobsters Convicted In Foiled Plot
Iran Sent Hitmen To Kill NY Journalist: Two Mobsters Convicted In Foiled Plot Two Eastern European mobsters were convicted in a chilling plot to assassinate an Iranian-American journalist on US soil—at the behest of the Iranian government. A Manhattan federal jury found Rafat Amirov, 46, of Iran, and Polad Omarov, 40, of Georgia, guilty on all five counts related to a murder-for-hire scheme targeting journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad on Thursday, March 20. The pair orchestrated the plan under orders from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), offering a hitman $500,000 to kill Alinejad outside her Brooklyn home, according to prosecutors. …
TD Bank Closing Five NY Banks Among Dozens Along East Coast: Find Out Where TD Bank Closing Five NY Banks Among Dozens Along East Coast: Find Out Where
TD Bank Closing Five NY Banks Among Dozens Along East Coast: Find Out Where TD Bank is closing nearly 40 branches along the East Coast as part of a broader restructuring plan. TD Bank will shut down 38 locations in 11 states and Washington, DC, a spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Voice on Thursday, Mar. 13. The branches will be closed by Thursday, June 5. The Canadian bank with US headquarters in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, cited shifting customer habits and a focus on digital banking as reasons for the closures. "We are focused on building the bank of the future by evolving our model and enhancing capabilities to improve the customer experience," the spokespe…
$5M Fraud: NY Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says $5M Fraud: NY Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says
$5M Fraud: NY Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says Twin financiers Adam and Daniel Kaplan, already charged with defrauding elderly and disabled clients out of millions, are now accused of threatening witnesses and fabricating evidence. The 35-year-old Kaplans, hailing from Long Island’s Great Neck, are named in a fresh superseding indictment that was filed in Central Islip federal court on Thursday, Feb. 20, charging them with an additional count of money laundering. Adam Kaplan was additionally charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and obstruction of justice, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District. The new charges pa…
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Just hours after a similar agreement was reached with Mexico, the United States has agreed to paused planned tariffs on Canadian goods for 30 days. The deal was reached late Monday afternoon, Feb. 3 after President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded their second conversation of the day. "I just had a good call with President Trump," Trudeau said in a statement announcing that Canada is implementing a $1.3 billion border plan  "reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increase…
Kingston Man Among Seven Arrested In Secret Drug Network Bust At Rutgers, Prosecutors Say Kingston Man Among Seven Arrested In Secret Drug Network Bust At Rutgers, Prosecutors Say
Kingston Man Among Seven Arrested In Secret Drug Network Bust At Rutgers, Prosecutors Say A covert social media network used by Rutgers University students to buy and sell drugs led to seven arrests following a months-long investigation, authorities said. The seven were arrested as part of the "Operation RU Pharm" investigation, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a news release on Thursday, Dec. 5. The undercover operation exposed a private social media network used by Rutgers students to distribute and purchase drugs. Investigators said they uncovered the online platform created by a former Rutgers student. Dealers posted menus of drugs for students w…
$4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five Plead Guilty, NY AG Says $4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five Plead Guilty, NY AG Says
$4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five Plead Guilty, NY AG Says Five Hudson Valley and Capital Region residents and seven transportation companies have admitted to stealing millions from Medicaid. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday, Dec. 5, that five have pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4.4 million from New York’s Medicaid program through fake billing, illegal kickbacks, and engaging in money laundering and other fraudulent schemes to conceal their crimes.  Muhammad Rizwan Khan, 38, Muhammad Usman Khan, 40, and Farhan Khan, 29, all of Orange County, and their related companies pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Or…
Iranian Operative, 2 NY Associates Nabbed In Plot To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says Iranian Operative, 2 NY Associates Nabbed In Plot To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says
Iranian Operative, 2 NY Associates Nabbed In Plot To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says An Iranian operative and two associates living in America have been charged in a murder-for-hire plot targeting United States citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump. Federal authorities have charged Farhad Shakeri, an alleged operative of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with two New York City associates in a plot to assassinate a US citizen critical of the Iranian government.  The case highlights the continued threat posed by Iran’s attempts to silence dissidents and even target top US. officials. According to the Department of Justice criminal complai…
Drug Trafficker In Region Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say Drug Trafficker In Region Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say
Drug Trafficker In Region Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say A drug dealer/trafficker from the region was allegedly busted with three kilos of cocaine and other drugs along with cash following a two-month investigation. Sullivan County resident Raheen Meredith, age 50, of Thompson, was charged on Friday, Oct. 25. According to Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Undersheriff Eric Chaboty, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Gang and Narcotics Intelligence Unit executed a search warrant in conjunction with “Operation Hard Rock,” a two-month-long investigation into wholesale cocaine distribution in Sullivan County.  Meredith was captured during a tr…
NY Rep. D’Esposito Denies Scathing Report He Gave Mistress, Fiancée’s Daughter Jobs NY Rep. D’Esposito Denies Scathing Report He Gave Mistress, Fiancée’s Daughter Jobs
NY Rep. D’Esposito Denies Scathing Report He Gave Mistress, Fiancée’s Daughter Jobs New York Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is vowing to stay in his congressional race following a scathing New York Times report alleging he gave his mistress and his fiancée’s daughter jobs in his district office. The Long Island Republican, age 42, hired the pair shortly after being elected to his 4th District seat in 2023 and paid them nearly $30,000 in taxpayer funds in a violation of House ethics rules, the outlet reports. New York’s 4th congressional district covers central and southern Nassau County, including Elmont, Hempstead, and Valley Stream. Asked whether the New York Times report was …
Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide Raked In Millions Acting As Undisclosed Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide Raked In Millions Acting As Undisclosed Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds
Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide Raked In Millions Acting As Undisclosed 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 …
Ex-NY Rep. Santos To Plead Guilty In Federal Trial: Reports Ex-NY Rep. Santos To Plead Guilty In Federal Trial: Reports
Ex-NY Rep. Santos To Plead Guilty In Federal Trial: Reports Former Republican Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty to federal charges weeks ahead of his upcoming trial, multiple news outlets are reporting.  The 36-year-old Santos, who represented New York's 3rd Congressional District, faces 23 federal charges including identity theft, wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress.  NBC News reported that Santos' lawyers and federal investigators are hammering out a plea deal on some of those charges that will be presented to a judge on Monday, Aug. 19. The details on that agreement, which charges he will admit to, and …
Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You' Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You'
Ex-Rep Santos Celebrates 'Squad' Member's 'Humiliating' Loss: 'We're Coming To Get You' Former Rep. George Santos may have been banished out into the political cold, but he's kept his grudges hot.  The 36-year-old former Republican who served New York's 3rd District posted a video Tuesday night, Aug. 6, celebrating after another member of the so-called "Squad" lost her primary. Related: Santos Announces Comeback Bid After Being Ousted From Congress Rep. Cori Bush, who has served Missouri's 1st District since 2021, lost her bid on Tuesday to remain on the Democratic ticket to local prosecutor Wesley Bell, who garnered 51 percent of the vote to Bush's 45, according to NBC News.…
$2M Scheme: 3 NYers Among 4 Nabbed For Defrauding Company, Feds Say $2M Scheme: 3 NYers Among 4 Nabbed For Defrauding Company, Feds Say
$2M Scheme: 3 NYers Among 4 Nabbed For Defrauding Company, Feds Say Four men have been accused of creating hundreds of fictitious brokerage accounts in defrauding a financial services company of more than $2 million. They have pleaded guilty in federal court in Central Islip to money laundering conspiracy in connection with the scheme involving the global financial services firm based in Menlo Park, California, which is located near San Francisco. Three of the four are Long Island residents: Edward Hernandez, also known as “Ghost,” age 33, of Lindenhurst; Christopher Flagg, also known as “Venus," age 28, of Copiague; Daquan Lloyd, also…
George Santos Launches OnlyFans Account: 'The Moment You've All Been Waiting For' George Santos Launches OnlyFans Account: 'The Moment You've All Been Waiting For'
George Santos Launches OnlyFans Account: 'The Moment You've All Been Waiting For' Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos announced that he now has an OnlyFans account where subscribers can get “full behind-the-scenes access” for $30 a month. The ex-lawmaker, a Republican from Long Island, served 11 months before he was ousted from his 3rd District seat representing parts of Nassau County and Queens. Since then, the admitted liar has stayed firmly in the public eye, appearing on internet shows, launching a Cameo account (which led to Santos suing late-night host Jimmy Kimmel), and even allegedly working on a documentary and a reality show. His next venture? Only…
Ex-NY Nurse May Dodge Jail After Making $1M Selling Fake Vaccine Cards, Prescriptions Ex-NY Nurse May Dodge Jail After Making $1M Selling Fake Vaccine Cards, Prescriptions
Ex-NY Nurse May Dodge Jail After Making $1M Selling Fake Vaccine Cards, Prescriptions A former pediatric nurse from Long Island could avoid jail time after confessing that she raked in over $1 million selling forged COVID-19 vaccine cards and opioid prescriptions. Julie DeVuono, age 51, of Amityville, pleaded guilty to filing forged vaccination record cards, laundering the criminal proceeds from selling the cards, and filing false prescriptions for opioids in Suffolk County Court in September 2023. According to prosecutors, DeVuono charged her customers $220 or $350, depending on the year, between June 2021 and September 2022 for entering their false vaccine information into…