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Immigrants Defrauded Out Of $40K By Fake Attorney: Nassau DA Immigrants Defrauded Out Of $40K By Fake Attorney: Nassau DA
Immigrants Defrauded Out Of $40K By Fake Attorney: Nassau DA A Ronkonkoma woman will spend up to four years in prison after posing as an immigration attorney and defrauding undocumented immigrants of more than $40,000, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday, Dec. 18. Tania Gonzalez, 48, also known as Tania Ayala, pleaded guilty earlier this year to grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges. Between December 2015 and March 2020, Gonzalez falsely claimed to be an immigration lawyer, offering legal assistance to immigrants desperate for help, according to DA Anne T. Donnelly. The DA's investigation revealed that Gonzalez mi…

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by Jillian Pikora
Business
Payback Time: NY Delivery Drivers Will Get Cut Of $4M Settlement Over Withheld Tips Payback Time: NY Delivery Drivers Will Get Cut Of $4M Settlement Over Withheld Tips
Payback Time: NY Delivery Drivers Will Get Cut Of $4M Settlement Over Withheld Tips Thousands of local delivery drivers are in for a much-deserved payday. Drizly, a now-defunct alcohol delivery platform, reached a $4 million settlement with the State of New York on Tuesday, Dec. 17, for failing to ensure that delivery workers received their rightful tips. According to New York Attorney General Leitita James, Drizly encouraged customers to tip delivery workers but sent the funds to liquor store owners instead. Store owners were responsible for distributing the tips, but in many cases, workers did not receive the money they earned. The investigation also revealed that Driz…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Former Hempstead Co-Op Prez Dodges Prison After Embezzling $26K Former Hempstead Co-Op Prez Dodges Prison After Embezzling $26K
Former Hempstead Co-Op Prez Dodges Prison After Embezzling $26K The former president of a Long Island co-op formally confessed to embezzling tens of thousands of dollars. Juan Alayo, age 72, of East Meadow, pleaded guilty to grand larceny and related charges on Friday, Nov. 15. New York Attorney General Letitia James said Alayo embezzled more than $26,700 between 2016 and 2023, during his tenure as president of the Marlboro Owners Corporation cooperative in Hempstead. An investigation found that he routinely wrote checks to himself and his company, A&J, that were neither discussed nor approved by the co-op board. He concealed his thefts by falsifyi…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
$9.6M Scheme: Long Island Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy $9.6M Scheme: Long Island Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy
$9.6M Scheme: Long Island Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy The owner of a New York business admitted to running a multimillion-dollar check-kiting scheme to keep his company operating. Long Island resident John B. Mensch, age 54, pleaded guilty in connection with a nearly year-long fraud conspiracy involving banks in Suffolk County and the Hudson Valley, federal authorities announced Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 2. Mensch, of Quogue, faces up to five years’ imprisonment as well as financial penalties, including restitution to the two banks of approximately $9.6 million. According to court filings, Mensch was the owner and operator of East End, a…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Business Owner From LI Who Scammed Customers Steals Wallet At Gym: Police Business Owner From LI Who Scammed Customers Steals Wallet At Gym: Police
Business Owner From LI Who Scammed Customers Steals Wallet At Gym: Police A 36-year-old former business owner from Long Island who admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from customers was apprehended after stealing a wallet from a Northern Westchester gym and using a credit card inside in the Hudson Valley, police said. The theft happened in Yorktown on Tuesday, Oct. 1, when a wallet was stolen from Club Fit at 600 Bank Rd., Yorktown Police said on Friday, Oct. 4.  Investigators quickly realized that the victim's credit card had recently been used in Putnam County, and when they obtained surveillance video from this location, they were able t…

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by Ben Crnic
News
'Cherry-Picking' Fraud: Financial Advisor Sentenced For Stealing $2.7M From 45 Clients 'Cherry-Picking' Fraud: Financial Advisor Sentenced For Stealing $2.7M From 45 Clients
'Cherry-Picking' Fraud: Financial Advisor Sentenced For Stealing $2.7M From 45 Clients A Connecticut investment advisor was sentenced for defrauding clients of $2.7 million through a “cherry-picking” securities scheme.Fairfield County resident Jonathan Vincent Glenn, age 55, of Greenwich, will serve 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentencing was announced in Hartford on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Glenn also must serve the first six months of his supervised release in home confinement. “Cherry-picking” is a fraudulent securities trading practice in which a responsible individual executes trades without assigning them to a particular trading ac…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Ex-LI Town Employee Admits Stealing $56K Of Deceased Mother's Pension Funds Ex-LI Town Employee Admits Stealing $56K Of Deceased Mother's Pension Funds
Ex-LI Town Employee Admits Stealing $56K Of Deceased Mother's Pension Funds A former town employee on Long Island confessed to stealing thousands of dollars from his deceased mother’s pension funds. Moses Johnson, age 63, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to grand larceny in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Prosecutors said Johnson’s mother died in April 2021 and he never notified the bank or the New York State and Local Retirement System of her death. Between April 2021 and June 2022, he collected a total of 15 unauthorized payments totaling $56,411. The stolen funds were traced from Johnson’s mother’s bank account into his bank account. Johnson worked for …

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
$2M Con Job: Freeport Contractor Admits Defrauding Victims Of Hurricane Sandy $2M Con Job: Freeport Contractor Admits Defrauding Victims Of Hurricane Sandy
$2M Con Job: Freeport Contractor Admits Defrauding Victims Of Hurricane Sandy A former New York contractor confessed to stealing millions of dollars from homeowners who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy to fund his lavish lifestyle. Alexander Almaraz, age 56, who formerly lived on Long Island in Freeport, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in Central Islip federal court on Thursday, Sept. 5. Prosecutors said Almaraz, who owned Design Concepts Group (DCG) in Freeport, targeted homeowners who suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and later received relief funds from the governor’s office. Earlier Report: Lamborghini, Porsche, Jaguar,…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Ex-Long Island Attorney Who Stole $800K From Clients Gets Prison Time Ex-Long Island Attorney Who Stole $800K From Clients Gets Prison Time
Ex-Long Island Attorney Who Stole $800K From Clients Gets Prison Time A former New York attorney is heading to prison after confessing that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his clients. Former Long Island resident Douglas Valente, age 57, now of Florida, was sentenced to between one and four years in prison in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Aug. 22. Prosecutors said Valente, the former principal attorney at the Valente Law Group in Stony Brook, stole more than $800,000 from three former clients by taking money from his escrow account. Earlier Report: Former NY Attorney Stole Nearly $1M From Clients, DA Says Among the victims was a cl…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Long Island Business Owners Dodge Prison After $1M Sales Tax Fraud Scheme Long Island Business Owners Dodge Prison After $1M Sales Tax Fraud Scheme
Long Island Business Owners Dodge Prison After $1M Sales Tax Fraud Scheme Two Long Island business owners will avoid prison after confessing that they intentionally dodged income taxes to line their pockets. Brian Soltan, age 62, of West Islip, and Gerald McCrystal, age 51, of Dix Hills, were both ordered to pay six-figure restitution payments in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, June 26. According to prosecutors, Soltan admitted that he intentionally failed to report more than $2.8 million in taxable sales between January 2011 and November 2015 from several auto body businesses he owned in East Islip. Those companies included Long Island Auto Body, Long Islan…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
COVID-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme COVID-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme
Covid-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme Two former government employees from Long Island will spend more than a year in federal lockup for defrauding loan programs meant to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Arthur Cornwall, age 43, of Babylon, and Sean Williams, age 42, of Valley Stream, were each sentenced to 18 months in prison in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, March 20, after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Prosecutors said Cornwall, a former signal maintainer with the New York City Transit Authority, and Williams, a former New York State Court officer, received nearly $770,000 in small business loan…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Illegal Dumpers Seen Flipping Off Witness At Long Island Wetlands Get Fitting Punishment Illegal Dumpers Seen Flipping Off Witness At Long Island Wetlands Get Fitting Punishment
Illegal Dumpers Seen Flipping Off Witness At Long Island Wetlands Get Fitting Punishment A Long Island couple will avoid jail time in lieu of a more creative punishment after they were busted dumping their junk in protected wetlands. Husband and wife Fabio and Judith Monasterolo, both of Holbrook, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Oct. 16, for illegally dumping cinder blocks and concrete near tidal wetlands in Brookhaven. According to prosecutors, Mr. and Mrs. Monasterolo, ages 51 and 55, respectively, were photographed dumping items from their pickup truck into the wetlands near Jefferson Drive and Grove Road in Mastic Beach in April 2023.…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims
NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims A New York man was sentenced for his role in a $12 million Ponzi scheme that targeted nearly 50 victims from throughout the region and the nation between 2015 and 2017. Long Island resident Matthew Eckstein, age 52, of Syosset, was sentenced on Monday, July 11 to three-and-a-half to 10-and-a-half years in prison. Eckstein originally pleaded guilty to the charges on September 26, 2019, but later withdrew his plea. A new indictment was secured in August 2020, but court closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the case. “This defendant preyed upon seniors and hard-working men…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
NY To Have $110M In Student Debt Canceled As Part Of $1.85B Settlement NY To Have $110M In Student Debt Canceled As Part Of $1.85B Settlement
NY To Have $110M In Student Debt Canceled As Part Of $1.85B Settlement New Yorkers will have millions of dollars in debt canceled after one of the nation’s largest student loan services agreed to relieve $1.85 billion in loan debt as part of a multi-state agreement, authorities announced. Navient, the target of a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general agreed to cancel $1.7 billion in private student loan debt and offered $95 million in restitution for thousands of students nationwide following an investigation into the company's business practices. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the agreement on Thursday, Jan. 13, which will include mo…

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by Zak Failla
News
Nationally Known Westchester Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Not Paying Taxes Nationally Known Westchester Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Not Paying Taxes
Nationally Known Westchester Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Not Paying Taxes A nationally known celebrity chef known as “Lord of the Pies” who owns restaurants in Westchester and Fairfield counties will spend time behind bars after admitting to not paying taxes. Bruno DiFabio, age 51, of Ridgefield, was sentenced on Thursday, May 6 to 30 days in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a federal tax offense in 2018. Specifically, DiFabio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to file false income tax returns and payroll tax returns.  Currently, DiFabio has ownership interests in several pizza restaurants in Connecticut …

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by Zak Failla
News
Nassau Business Owner Admits To $8M Tax Fraud Nassau Business Owner Admits To $8M Tax Fraud
Nassau Business Owner Admits To $8M Tax Fraud Two Long Island auto shops and their owner have been convicted of underreporting more than $8 million in taxable sales over the course of a decade, authorities said. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Friday, March 26 that Freeport resident Luis Crespo, the owner of Broadway Towing, Inc. and Broadway Auto & Towing, Inc. pleaded guilty to criminal tax fraud for failing to pay more than $700,000 in sales tax. Crespo, 53, also pleaded guilty to petit larceny and agreed to pay the state more than $900,000 in restitution. James said that between 2009 and 2018, a joint inve…

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by Zak Failla
News
Disbarred LI Attorney Sentenced For Using Stolen Funds To Pay Restitution On Prior Case Disbarred LI Attorney Sentenced For Using Stolen Funds To Pay Restitution On Prior Case
Disbarred LI Attorney Sentenced For Using Stolen Funds To Pay Restitution On Prior Case A disbarred Long Island attorney will spend time behind bars after being sentenced for stealing $675,000 from clients to help pay restitution from a separate case against him where he admitted to stealing nearly $230,000. Manhasset resident Alfred DiGiolomo, Jr., age 65, was sentenced this week to a term of one and one-third to four years in prison after pleading guilty on Dec. 21, 2020, to three counts of grand larceny for defrauding his clients to pay off fees from a previous case. Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said that DiGiolomo stole the $675,000 from two clients and …

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Attorney Admits To Scheme To Defraud Woman, Must Pay $1M In Restitution Long Island Attorney Admits To Scheme To Defraud Woman, Must Pay $1M In Restitution
Long Island Attorney Admits To Scheme To Defraud Woman, Must Pay $1M In Restitution A Long Island attorney admitted to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the beneficiary of an estate from her inheritance from a wrongful death suit. Vincent J. Trimarco, Jr., of Smithtown, who has been licensed to practice in the state of New York since 1997, pleaded guilty at federal court in Central Islip on Tuesday, Oct. 6. When sentenced, the 51-year-old Trimarco faces up to 20 years in prison. As a part of his plea agreement with the government, Trimarco agreed to pay more than $1 million in restitution. “Trimarco defrauded a young girl of …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Long Island Woman Sentenced For ID Theft, Credit Card Fraud Scheme Long Island Woman Sentenced For ID Theft, Credit Card Fraud Scheme
Long Island Woman Sentenced For ID Theft, Credit Card Fraud Scheme A Long Island woman on supervised release after being convicted of running scams in Kentucky will spend years in prison and was ordered to pay more than a million dollars in restitution for an identity and credit card fraud scheme. Amityville resident Lisa Reid, 47, has been sentenced to 90 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after she targeted dozens of victims as part of an elaborate scheme that ran for nearly two years. In addition to her time behind bars, Reid was also ordered to pay $1,009,235.69 in restitution to her victims. U.S. Attorney John Durham said…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-CEO From Long Island Sentenced For Scheme To Defraud Victims In Sale Of Worthless Stock Ex-CEO From Long Island Sentenced For Scheme To Defraud Victims In Sale Of Worthless Stock
Ex-ceo From Long Island Sentenced For Scheme To Defraud Victims In Sale Of Worthless Stock A former CEO from Long Island will spend time behind bars after admitting to his role in a scheme to defraud the elderly victims in the sale of worthless stock. Hauppauge resident Keith Orlean - also known as “Jack Allen” - was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty in Manhattan federal court. Orlean admitted to participating in a scheme targeting elderly persons to solicit purchases of stock using a series of valueless companies through a variety of lies and misrepresentations. For several years, Orlean and his co-conspirators operated a fraudulent scheme in which a salesm…

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by Zak Failla
News
Ex-Long Island Investment Advisor Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme Ex-Long Island Investment Advisor Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme
Ex-Long Island Investment Advisor Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme An investment advisor from Long Island will spend more than a decade behind bars for his role in defrauding his elderly victims in a multimillion-dollar scheme, U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue announced. East Setauket resident Steven Pagartanis, 60, was sentenced to a term of 170 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $6.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty in December to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for orchestrating a securities fraud scheme over the course of 18 years.   “Today’s sentence is a well-deserved reckoning for Pagartanis, who preyed on el…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Man Admits To $1M Bank Loan, Credit Card Fraud Schemes Long Island Man Admits To $1M Bank Loan, Credit Card Fraud Schemes
Long Island Man Admits To $1M Bank Loan, Credit Card Fraud Schemes A Long Island man who was operating a hyperbaric oxygen chamber business in Great Neck has admitted to a million-dollar bank loan and credit card fraud scheme involving a parent and child. Marcello Sozio, 62, of Huntington, will face up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in Central Islip federal court to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud banks and a customer of his business. As part of his plea, Sozio also agreed to pay approximately $1.1 million in restitution, U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue announced. Between March 2014 and December 2016, Sozio applied for and ob…

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by Zak Failla
News
Long Island Attorney Admits To Conspiracy To Obstruct Federal Proceeding Long Island Attorney Admits To Conspiracy To Obstruct Federal Proceeding
Long Island Attorney Admits To Conspiracy To Obstruct Federal Proceeding A longtime Long Island attorney admitted to his role in helping a client avoid paying millions of dollars in court-ordered restitution. Lawrence resident Mark Weissman, 55, who has been licensed to practice law in New York since 1989, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding. U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said that Weissman engaged in a scheme to impede the enforcement of another person’s obligation to pay millions of dollars in court-ordered restitution to victims in an unrelated securities fraud case. In 2011 and 2012, two people pleaded …

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by Zak Failla