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Federal Court

Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events’ In NY, Feds Say Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events’ In NY, Feds Say
Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events’ In NY, Feds Say Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries preyed on aspiring models and coerced them into prostitution in order to satisfy his and others’ sexual desires, prosecutors alleged. The 80-year-old Jeffries – along with his life partner Matthew Smith and a third defendant, James Jacobson – are named in a 16-count sex trafficking indictment unsealed in Central Islip federal court on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Prosecutors said the trio relied on Jeffries’ wealth and status, along with a network of employees, contractors, and security professionals, to victimize dozens of men over a seven year peri…
COVID-19: John Gotti's Long Island Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud COVID-19: John Gotti's Long Island Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud
Covid-19: John Gotti's Long Island Grandson Admits To $1M Relief Fraud A New York man with ties to the Mafia formally confessed to a million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. Long Island resident Carmine Agnello, age 38, of Smithtown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in Central Islip federal court on Thursday, Sept. 26. Agnello is the grandson of the late John Gotti, former boss of the Gambino organized crime family. According to prosecutors, between April 2020 and November 2021, he fraudulently applied for, and received, at least three small business loans under the US Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP). The program…
LI American Airlines Mechanic Who Smuggled $250K Worth Of Cocaine On Flight Gets Prison LI American Airlines Mechanic Who Smuggled $250K Worth Of Cocaine On Flight Gets Prison
LI American Airlines Mechanic Who Smuggled $250K Worth Of Cocaine On Flight Gets Prison An airplane mechanic from New York will spend nearly a decade behind bars for smuggling over 25 pounds of cocaine on an American Airlines plane. Long Island resident Paul Belloisi, age 56, of Smithtown, was sentenced to nine years in prison in Brooklyn federal court on Friday, Sept. 6, for possessing and importing cocaine. Belloisi, a former mechanic for American Airlines, was arrested in February 2020 after US Customs and Border Protection discovered 10 bricks of cocaine in an electronics compartment beneath a plane arriving from Jamaica at Kennedy International Airport in Queens . The c…
Ousted NY Rep. George Santos  Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Ousted NY Rep. George Santos  Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case
Ousted NY Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Former Republican Congressman George Santos admitted to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a federal court on Monday, Aug. 19, authorities announced.  The 36-year-old former inhabitant of New York's 3rd Congressional District seat on Long Island was facing 23 felonies, and a trial set to begin next month.  A federal judge will sentence Santos on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said. According to federal sentencing guidelines, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year minimum sentence.&n…
$1B Scheme: Pair Of CEOs, Including Manhasset Man, Defrauded 10K Investors, Jury Finds $1B Scheme: Pair Of CEOs, Including Manhasset Man, Defrauded 10K Investors, Jury Finds
$1B Scheme: Pair Of CEOs, Including Manhasset Man, Defrauded 10K Investors, Jury Finds A New York resident was one of two CEOs convicted in federal court of a $1 billion fraud scheme involving thousands of investors. Long Island resident David Gentile, age 57, of Manhasset, and Jeffry Schneider, age 55, of Austin, Texas, were found guilty in federal court on all counts of an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and securities fraud. Gentile, the owner and CEO of GPB Capital Holdings, was also convicted on two counts of wire fraud. The verdict came after an eight-week trial. When sentenced on Thursd…
Trio Of Schemes That Led To Santos Arrest Detailed By Feds; Rep Not Resigning Over 'Witch Hunt' Trio Of Schemes That Led To Santos Arrest Detailed By Feds; Rep Not Resigning Over 'Witch Hunt'
Trio Of Schemes That Led To Santos Arrest Detailed By Feds; Rep Not Resigning Over 'Witch Hunt' Beleaguered New York Rep. George Santos is remaining defiant in the face of numerous federal criminal charges, refusing to resign from Congress and vowing to fight what he decried as a “witch hunt.” The 34-year-old Republican, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, pleaded not guilty to all 13 federal charges against him during his arraignment in Central Islip on Wednesday afternoon, May 10. He is charged with: Seven counts of wire fraud Three counts of money laundering Theft of public funds Two counts of making false statements on federal disclosure forms Follo…
‘Drug Dealer In White Coat’: NY Pharmacist Admits Illegally Distributing Opioids ‘Drug Dealer In White Coat’: NY Pharmacist Admits Illegally Distributing Opioids
‘Drug Dealer In White Coat’: NY Pharmacist Admits Illegally Distributing Opioids A New York pharmacist is facing decades in federal prison after admitting that he made hundreds of thousands of dollars by illegally distributing opioid medications. Long Island resident Daniel Russo, age 44, of the village of Cedarhurst in Nassau County, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiring to distribute and possess oxycodone, in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday, Feb. 17. Federal prosecutors said Russo, who owned and operated Russo’s Pharmacy in Far Rockaway, Queens, conspired with other medical professionals and employees to fill fraudulent prescriptions for oxycod…
$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…
Drug Dealer Guilty In Man's Overdose Death On Long Island Drug Dealer Guilty In Man's Overdose Death On Long Island
Drug Dealer Guilty In Man's Overdose Death On Long Island An admitted drug dealer already locked up could spend the rest of his life in federal prison for selling heroin to a 24-year-old Long Island man who died from an overdose. James Tunstall, age 48, of Freeport, was found guilty of distributing heroin that led to an overdose death by a federal jury in Central Islip on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The verdict followed a five-day trial over the death of Sergio Niko Alvarez, of Jericho, in October 2018. Federal prosecutors said Tunstall regularly sold cocaine and heroin to customers in Nassau County, and met Alvarez at an outpatient rehabilitation facility i…
Ex-Owner Of NY Commercial Check Cashing Companies Sentenced For $9.5M Fraud Scheme Ex-Owner Of NY Commercial Check Cashing Companies Sentenced For $9.5M Fraud Scheme
Ex-Owner Of NY Commercial Check Cashing Companies Sentenced For $9.5M Fraud Scheme The former owner of several check cashing businesses in New York is heading to federal prison after admitting to a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme. Long Island resident John Drago, age 58, of Central Islip, was sentenced to four years behind bars Friday, Oct. 21, in federal court in Central Islip. It followed his September 2021 guilty plea to fraud charges, in which he admitted to illegally structuring financial transactions and evading payroll taxes at several of his Long Island businesses. Federal prosecutors said between January 2010 and October 2013, Drago told employees to cash multi…
8 NY Members Of Genovese, Bonanno Families Facing Charges, Including PD Detective, Feds Say 8 NY Members Of Genovese, Bonanno Families Facing Charges, Including PD Detective, Feds Say
8 NY Members Of Genovese, Bonanno Families Facing Charges, Including PD Detective, Feds Say Eight New York members of organized crime families, including six from Long Island, are among nine men who have been charged by federal authorities with racketeering and related offenses. The charging documents were unsealed on Tuesday, Aug. 16 in federal court in Brooklyn, naming the suspects, including a Nassau County police detective, from the Bonanno and Genovese organized crime families, said Breon Peace, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s arrests of members from two La Cosa Nostra crime families demonstrate that the Mafia continues to pollut…
'Real Housewives' Star Admits To Running Telemarketing Fraud Scheme That Targeted Some NYers 'Real Housewives' Star Admits To Running Telemarketing Fraud Scheme That Targeted Some NYers
'Real Housewives' Star Admits To Running Telemarketing Fraud Scheme That Targeted Some NYers “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jennifer Shah has admitted to running a decade-long telemarketing scheme that tricked thousands of victims, including some New Yorkers, into bogus investment opportunities. Shah, age 48, of Utah, appeared in a federal courtroom in Manhattan on Monday, July 11, where she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing. Federal prosecutors said between 2012 and March 2021, Shah trafficked “lead lists” of potential victims that her co-conspirators used to convince victims to pay thousands of dollars for “…
Ex-NY Resident Admits To Multi-State Money Laundering Conspiracy Ex-NY Resident Admits To Multi-State Money Laundering Conspiracy
Ex-NY Resident Admits To Multi-State Money Laundering Conspiracy A former New York man could spend years in federal prison after admitting that he laundered tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits in a scheme involving numerous states. Christopher Vandermark, age 57, formerly of Gansevoort in Saratoga County, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in federal court in Albany on Tuesday, June 28. Federal prosecutors said Vandermark spent more than a year texting a North Carolina woman who directed him to open multiple bank accounts and give her the associated routing numbers. Between June 2020 and April 2021, the …
Supervisor At NY Drug Manufacturer Sentenced For Theft Of Medication Supervisor At NY Drug Manufacturer Sentenced For Theft Of Medication
Supervisor At NY Drug Manufacturer Sentenced For Theft Of Medication A former supervisor at a Long Island drug manufacturer is heading to federal prison for stealing animal medication. Gregory Settino, age 60, of Bethpage, was sentenced to a year and a day behind bars Wednesday, April 20, in federal court in Central Islip. He was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $800,000. Settino had pleaded guilty to stealing approximately $750,000 worth of the drug Adequan from his employer, American Regent, in Shirley. Adequan is an injectable drug typically given to horses and dogs to treat the degenerative effects of arthritis. Federal prosecutors alleged …
Here's Why Walmart Is Suing Competitor BJ's Wholesale For Theft Here's Why Walmart Is Suing Competitor BJ's Wholesale For Theft
Here's Why Walmart Is Suing Competitor BJ's Wholesale For Theft A battle is brewing between two of the country's largest big-box franchises. Walmart is suing rival BJ’s Wholesale Club claiming that the retail giant stole technology to launch a self-checkout feature similar to the ones used at the company’s subsidiary Sam's Club, which boasts nearly 600 locations in the US. Walmart alleges that the company worked for years to develop a “Scan & Go” feature that allowed Sam’s Club customers to ring up purchases on smartphones while shopping, eliminating the need for a long checkout line. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court, alleges that inn…
Gambino Family Captain From Westchester Sentenced For Racketeering, Ordered To Pay $1M Gambino Family Captain From Westchester Sentenced For Racketeering, Ordered To Pay $1M
Gambino Family Captain From Westchester Sentenced For Racketeering, Ordered To Pay $1M A high-ranking member of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra living lavishly in Westchester will spend time behind bars and pay a million dollars for his role in a racketeering conspiracy. Scarsdale resident Andrew Campos, age 51, was sentenced in federal court to 37 months in prison for the conspiracy. The court also ordered him to pay $1 million in restitution and a $15,000 fine. In January 2021, Campos pleaded guilty and admitted to participating in various acts of wire fraud and money laundering. US Attorney Breon Peace said that Campos and his co-conspirators carried …
Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK
Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK Three women from New York are facing charges for allegedly assaulting a security officer after refusing to leave a jetway at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, federal officials announced. Long Island residents Janessa Torres, age 21, Johanna Zavala, age 44, both of Central Islip, and Bay Shore resident Jordan Nixon, age 21, were charged in federal court for allegedly assaulting the officer and a second employee on Sept. 22, 2021. Prosecutors said that the three women refused to leave the jetway after they were informed that they would be denied boarding for a Delta Airlines s…
New Capitol Riot Arrest Made On Long Island New Capitol Riot Arrest Made On Long Island
New Capitol Riot Arrest Made On Long Island A Long Island man has been arrested by FBI agents on a charge of illegally being part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol. Justin McAuliffe, age 39, of Bellmore, was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 28, for taking part in the riotous insurrection at the capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, according to a complaint filed in federal court.  The complaint filed in Central Islip on Jan. 28, shows a picture of McAuliffe, an accountant on Long Island, sitting in the office of either an unidentified member of the Senate or the House and holding up two fingers in a "Victory" sign.  The FBI was led to McA…
Former Long Island Radio Station Manager Admits To Defrauding Company Of Thousands Former Long Island Radio Station Manager Admits To Defrauding Company Of Thousands
Former Long Island Radio Station Manager Admits To Defrauding Company Of Thousands The former general manager of a Long Island radio station has admitted to making hundreds of thousands of dollars of personal charges on the business account. Stephanie Bitis, of Sag Harbor, pleaded guilty on Monday, Nov. 16, in federal court to felony access device fraud, according to court documents. Bitis’ crime carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and forfeiture of any proceeds from her crime. The longtime resident and community activist served as Vice President/General Manager of LIRB from 2015 to 2017. She had previously worked at&nbs…
Queens Pharmacy Operator Accused Of Sending Cocaine To DEA Investigator’s Home Queens Pharmacy Operator Accused Of Sending Cocaine To DEA Investigator’s Home
Queens Pharmacy Operator Accused Of Sending Cocaine To DEA Investigator’s Home A pharmacy owner in Queens is facing charges for allegedly arranging to have cocaine sent to the home of a DEA agent who was investigating his business. Queens resident Dimitrios Lymberatos, 34, turned himself in to the DEA on Friday, Oct. 9 and is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court this afternoon on charges that include obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said that in November last year, a DEA Diversion Investigator conducted a regulatory into Lymberatos’ Queens pharmacy, which delayed the issuance of its registration to d…
Long Island Chiropractor Charged With Health Care Fraud Long Island Chiropractor Charged With Health Care Fraud
Long Island Chiropractor Charged With Health Care Fraud A Long Island chiropractor was charged in federal court for health care fraud after submitting false claims with the Department of Labor for services that he did not actually render, according to Acting Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney Seth Ducharme.  Joseph Stephan of Farmingdale, 50, reportedly billed the department's Office of Worker's Compensation Programs for dates where employees covered under the program did not visit him, or for services that they did not receive when they visited him. A complaint against Stephan was unsealed by a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday…
Former MS-13 Gang Leader Charged In Connection To Fatal Shooting Former MS-13 Gang Leader Charged In Connection To Fatal Shooting
Former MS-13 Gang Leader Charged In Connection To Fatal Shooting A former MS-13 gang leader on Long Island is facing charges for allegedly ordering a hit on a rival gang member. Queens resident Marcelo Esquivel has been charged in federal court with murder in-aid-of racketeering and causing death through the use of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of Daniel Licona-Gonzalez on July 2, 2012.  U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said that on the day of the fatal shooting, Esquivel, who was the leader of the Centrales Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13, directed two gang members to murder a member of the rival Latin Kings, providing them with a…
Long Island Man Indicted For Allegedly Causing Overdose Death Long Island Man Indicted For Allegedly Causing Overdose Death
Long Island Man Indicted For Allegedly Causing Overdose Death An alleged drug on Long Island is facing life in prison after being charged for allegedly selling the fentanyl that caused a fatal overdose. Selden resident Marlon Thompson was charged in federal court in Central Islip with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and heroin from April 2018 through May 2019, and distribution of a controlled substance containing fentanyl resulting in the fatal overdose of a Fredrick Koenig on Dec. 26 last year.   U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said that Thompson, 38, had previously been detained on state charges and is now in federal custody. He was ordere…
Ex-Suffolk DA's Obstruction Of Justice Trial Starts Ex-Suffolk DA's Obstruction Of Justice Trial Starts
Ex-Suffolk DA's Obstruction Of Justice Trial Starts The trial for former Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota and one of his former top aides has begun. Opening statements were heard on Thursday, Nov. 14, at Central Islip federal court, after Spota and his aide, Christopher McPartland, allegedly used their power to help cover up the crime of an associate. It is alleged that Spota and McPartland obstructed justice by covering for former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke, who allegedly abused a suspect, Christopher Loeb, in 2012. Loeb had allegedly stolen a duffel bag from an unmarked police vehicle in front of Burke’s home. Bu…
Long Island Man Sentenced For Supplying Heroin To Bloods Gang Long Island Man Sentenced For Supplying Heroin To Bloods Gang
Long Island Man Sentenced For Supplying Heroin To Bloods Gang A Long Island man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for selling heroin to a Queens-based Bloods gang. Valley Stream resident Stanley Fuller - also known as “Webo” and “Morty” - was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court to t10 years and one month in prison after pleading guilty to a pair of heroin distortion conspiracies involving the gang. He pleaded guilty in April. U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said that between April 2013 and July 2015, Fuller, 43, supplied large quantities of heroin to a “set” of the Bloods street gang known as the Paper Chasing Goons, or POV City, based…