Tag:

Fraud

Manhattan's Top Federal Prosecutor To Resign Before Trump Presidency Manhattan's Top Federal Prosecutor To Resign Before Trump Presidency
Manhattan's Top Federal Prosecutor To Resign Before Trump Presidency US Attorney Damian Williams, who has overseen high-profile cases in the Southern District of New York, has announced his resignation, a move that comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and the expected nomination of his successor.  Williams’ resignation will take effect at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, according to a statement from his office on Monday, Nov. 25.  The resignation comes as President-elect Trump has announced plans to nominate Jay Clayton, a former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman under Trump’s first administration, to lead the of…
Scam Foiled As Man Nabbed Trying To Defraud Victim In Nassau County: Police Scam Foiled As Man Nabbed Trying To Defraud Victim In Nassau County: Police
Scam Foiled As Man Nabbed Trying To Defraud Victim In Nassau County: Police A Long Island man has been accused of scamming an elderly resident in a grandparent bail scheme and resisting arrest. Nassau County Police said the incident occurred on Friday, Nov. 22, at approximately 1:30 p.m. in South Farmingdale.  Detectives said New York City resident Cristhian Ortega Rodriguez, age 24, of the Bronx, posed as part of a scam targeting an 83-year-old man.  The victim received a phone call from someone claiming to be his grandson, who said he had been arrested and needed bail money. The victim was instructed to contact a lawyer, "Larry Hays," to arrange paymen…
Trump Taps Dr. Oz To Lead Medicare, Medicaid Services Trump Taps Dr. Oz To Lead Medicare, Medicaid Services
Trump Taps Dr. Oz To Lead Medicare, Medicaid Services President-elect Donald J. Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), citing the Pennsylvania-educated heart surgeon’s decades-long dedication to healthcare innovation and public advocacy. The announcement came Tuesday, Nov. 19, as Trump highlighted Oz’s qualifications and ties to the Keystone State. Dr. Oz earned both his medical degree and MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine and Wharton Business School, making him an Ivy League-trained physician and business leader. Trump lauded his achievements in a statement, ca…
Don’t Be Fooled: Police Warn Of Email Scammers Ahead Of Holidays Don’t Be Fooled: Police Warn Of Email Scammers Ahead Of Holidays
Don’t Be Fooled: Police Warn Of Email Scammers Ahead Of Holidays Police in New York are warning residents to beware scammers heading into the holidays. In a public service announcement Wednesday, Nov. 13, Nassau County Police were especially concerned about computer scams that claim someone’s bank or shopping account was “hacked.” Other scams include phony computer viruses and software updates, unsolicited job offers, fake lotto prizes, and bogus overdue notices from purported utility companies. “Legitimate agencies never ask for immediate payment via gift cards and never come to your home to collect cash,” the agency said. Police warned that the follo…
Trump Names Ex-SEC Chief To Replace Damian Williams As SDNY's Top Prosecutor Trump Names Ex-SEC Chief To Replace Damian Williams As SDNY's Top Prosecutor
Trump Names Ex-sec Chief To Replace Damian Williams As Sdny's Top Prosecutor President-elect Donald Trump is looking to replace Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, with a familiar face from his previous administration who hails from Pennsylvania.  Trump announced on Thursday, Nov. 14 that he would nominate Jay Clayton, who has no experience as a criminal prosecutor, to be the next US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  Clayton, age 58, previously served as Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission from May 2017 to December 2020, a role in which Trump wrote he "did an incredible job." Before that, he…
School Aide Accused Of Falsifying Payroll Records In Uniondale School Aide Accused Of Falsifying Payroll Records In Uniondale
School Aide Accused Of Falsifying Payroll Records In Uniondale A Long Island school aide has been accused of falsifying payroll records claiming to work with a special needs student. Keenya Lessey, age 48, of Baldwin, allegedly submitted 19 falsified timesheets claiming to have worked with the fourth-grader with special needs in the Hempstead Union Free School District when she was not, and wrongfully collected more than $10,000 in pay, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said. Timesheets claimed Lessey worked full-time with the student at the Academy Charter School in Uniondale during winter break and other d…
Know Him? Man Wanted For Scamming Victim Out Of Thousands On Long Island, Police Say Know Him? Man Wanted For Scamming Victim Out Of Thousands On Long Island, Police Say
Know Him? Man Wanted For Scamming Victim Out Of Thousands On Long Island, Police Say Do you know him? Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a wanted man who allegedly scammed a Long Island resident out of thousands. The man posted a house for rent on social media that was not available and  received $3,900 from the victim in Coram on Saturday, June 1 at approximately 9 a.m., according to police. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. If you have any information regarding these incidents, please rea…
Long Island Woman Cleans Out Bank Account To Fraudster Posing As Federal Agent, Police Say Long Island Woman Cleans Out Bank Account To Fraudster Posing As Federal Agent, Police Say
Long Island 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…
$5.78M Scam: Garden City Attorney Admits Defrauding 48 Victims In Real Estate Transactions $5.78M Scam: Garden City Attorney Admits Defrauding 48 Victims In Real Estate Transactions
$5.78M Scam: Garden City Attorney Admits Defrauding 48 Victims In Real Estate Transactions A New York attorney has admitted to running a scheme to defraud victims of nearly $6,000,000. Long Island resident Daniel Boldi, age 49, of Garden City acted as settlement agent and bank attorney in multiple property sales on Long Island and embezzled millions of dollars of his clients’ escrow and home loan funds, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. The scam involved 46 separate real estate transactions between September 2020 and January 2024, Donnelly said. Boldi pleaded guilty to 13 counts of grand larceny in the second degree (a Class C felony) and o…
$3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned NY Business $3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned NY Business
$3.4M Scheme: Ex-Controller Admits To Embezzling Family-Owned NY Business A senior member of a family-owned company has admitted to embezzling more than $3.4 million from the business over five years. According to court filings released on Thursday, Oct. 10, John Hickey, age 34, created false invoices that appeared to be from entities with which the Northern Westchester-based corporations did business from February 2018 to November 2023. The company, located in Armonk, manufactured flame retardant fabrics. Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Hickey then forged signatures that supposedly approved payment of those invo…
Would-Be Victim Foils Attempted Phone Scammer In Inwood, Police Say Would-Be Victim Foils Attempted Phone Scammer In Inwood, Police Say
Would-Be Victim Foils Attempted Phone Scammer In Inwood, Police Say A quick-thinking Long Islander avoided falling victim to an alleged phone scammer. The 73-year-old Inwood woman contacted Nassau County Police on Wednesday morning, Oct, 2, saying a man had called her claiming to work for her bank’s fraud department. During the call, he told the woman there were fraudulent charges on her bank card and they would arrange for someone to pick up the card from her home. Fortunately, the woman realized she was being scammed and contacted detectives. Eight hours later, police located the suspect, 28-year-old Darren Saunders, of Brooklyn, and arrested him witho…
Nassau County Rep. D’Esposito Denies Scathing Report He Gave Mistress, Fiancée’s Daughter Jobs Nassau County Rep. D’Esposito Denies Scathing Report He Gave Mistress, Fiancée’s Daughter Jobs
Nassau County 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 …
Man Claiming To Be Walmart Worker Scams New Hyde Park Woman Out Of $20K: Police Man Claiming To Be Walmart Worker Scams New Hyde Park Woman Out Of $20K: Police
Man Claiming To Be Walmart Worker Scams New Hyde Park Woman Out Of $20K: Police A phone call claiming to protect a Long Island resident's savings ended in a $20,000 scam, according to authorities. The victim, a 69-year-old New Hyde Park woman, received the call from an unknown man who falsely identified himself as a Walmart employee, according to Nassau County Police. The man advised the victim that there was fraudulent activity on her account and that the victim’s Social Security number was compromised.  The victim was then instructed to move her money out of her bank account to protect it. On Monday, September 9, the victim withdrew $20,000 and met with …
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 …
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…
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…
'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say 'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say
'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say They were hired to make repairs but ended up scamming Long Island homeowners instead, police allege. Nassau County Police arrested two men on suspicion of fraud and related charges Monday, July 22, for allegedly posing as construction contractors in order to con homeowners. Investigators said David Young, age 31, of Philadelphia, and Adam Turner, age 25, who is homeless, targeted elderly homeowners and offered to perform construction services through their unlicensed company, “Top Line Masonry.” The two then defrauded victims by falsely reporting damage that wasn’t there or by causing more…
$47K Scam: 1 Arrested, 2 At Large Following Long Island Scheme $47K Scam: 1 Arrested, 2 At Large Following Long Island Scheme
$47K Scam: 1 Arrested, 2 At Large Following Long Island Scheme One man has been nabbed for his alleged role in scamming a Long Island resident out of tens of thousands of dollars, leaving two other suspects at large, police announced. The Elmont scheme began at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 24. According to Nassau County Police, a 77-year-old man was using his computer at his Elmont home when we received a pop-up message asking him to call a certain phone number. He called the number and spoke to someone who claimed to be from the Federal Reserve. The scammer told him to withdraw all of the money in his bank account pending an investigation. The man comp…
Long Island Imposter 'Lawyer' Steals Thousands From Criminal Defendants, Feds Say Long Island Imposter 'Lawyer' Steals Thousands From Criminal Defendants, Feds Say
Long Island Imposter 'Lawyer' Steals Thousands From Criminal Defendants, Feds Say He had neither the qualifications nor the intentions to defend them, but a Long Island man successfully conned criminal defendants out of thousands of dollars, federal prosecutors allege. Christopher Reese, age 56, of East Meadow, was indicted on wire fraud and related charges by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York on Monday, June 24. According to prosecutors, Reese spent years falsely claiming to be a “legal assistant” or “paralegal” in order to con federal criminal defendants and their families out of thousands of dollars. Working without supervision from a licensed…
Scam Alert: Real Estate Fraudsters Targeting Vacant Properties On Long Island Scam Alert: Real Estate Fraudsters Targeting Vacant Properties On Long Island
Scam Alert: Real Estate Fraudsters Targeting Vacant Properties On Long Island Police are warning of an uptick in real estate scammers who are targeting vacant properties on Long Island. Southampton Town Police put real estate agencies on notice that they’ve seen an increase in criminals posing as property owners who seek representation in negotiating the sale of lien-free, vacant land. The scammers can successfully defraud a potential buyer by accepting funds that are transferred to an out-of-town account. Police warned real estate agents to watch for the following warning signs from potential clients who claim to be out of state: Listing the property below market…
$185M Scheme: NY Trio Nabbed For Defrauding 1,400 Investors, Feds Say $185M Scheme: NY Trio Nabbed For Defrauding 1,400 Investors, Feds Say
$185M Scheme: NY Trio Nabbed For Defrauding 1,400 Investors, Feds Say Three New York men have been charged in connection with a $185 million fraud scheme involving over a thousand investors, federal authorities announced. The three are Long Island resident Mario Gogliormella, age 47, of Manhasset; and New York City residents Steven Lacaj, age 27, of Manhattan, and Karim Ibrahim, age 34, of Queens, also known as “Chris Hayes." “By allegedly raising approximately $185 million from over 1,400 investors, Mario Gogliormella, Steven Lacaj, and Karim Ibrahim left a trail of shattered trust and financial ruin," US Attorney for the Southern Distric…
Nissan Dealers Fined $350K For 'Junk Fees' Levied On Long Island Lease Customers Nissan Dealers Fined $350K For 'Junk Fees' Levied On Long Island Lease Customers
Nissan Dealers Fined $350K For 'Junk Fees' Levied On Long Island Lease Customers If you purchased a Nissan vehicle on Long Island, you may have some cash coming your way. Two Nissan dealerships in Amityville and Patchogue have agreed to pay over $350,000 for charging customers “junk fees” when they purchased their leased vehicles. An investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office found that South Shore Nissan, in Amityville on Sunrise Highway, and Route 112 Nissan, in Patchogue on Medford Avenue, for years added unnecessary fees or falsified the price of leased vehicles that consumers bought when their lease ended. Route 112 Nissan was also found to have…
Know Him? Police Ask For Public's Help Locating Wanted Southampton Suspect Know Him? Police Ask For Public's Help Locating Wanted Southampton Suspect
Know Him? Police Ask For Public's Help Locating Wanted Southampton Suspect Do you recognize him? New York State Police on Long Island are asking for the public’s help in identifying the man in the images above. At approximately 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, troopers from the Riverside barracks responded to Shinnecock Hardware located in the town of Southampton for reports of a fraudulent purchase.  An unknown individual, described as a heavy-set Black man about 6-foot-2, entered the store and fraudulently purchased items totaling around $475. New York State Police Anyone who recognizes this individual is asked to contact state police at 631-756-3300. All…
$45K Scam: Florida Man Nabbed For Long Island Scheme, Police Say $45K Scam: Florida Man Nabbed For Long Island Scheme, Police Say
$45K Scam: Florida Man Nabbed For Long Island Scheme, Police Say A Florida man has been arrested after pretending to be a credit union representative and attempting to steal tens of thousands of dollars from a local woman who had already been scammed. The alleged scam occurred on Tuesday, May 28, according to Nassau County Police. At approximately 8 a.m. that day, a Hicksville woman received a call from someone claiming to be a fraud department representative with the Nassau Federal Credit Union. He told the woman that her bank account had been compromised and that she needed to withdraw $45,000 in order to keep the money safe. However, the woman h…
NY Resident Loses $341K In 'Pig Butchering' Scheme: Here's What It Is NY Resident Loses $341K In 'Pig Butchering' Scheme: Here's What It Is
NY Resident Loses $341K In 'Pig Butchering' Scheme: Here's What It Is The US Secret Service has seized a web domain used in a cryptocurrency confidence crime scheme known as “pig butchering” after a New York resident was swindled out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to federal authorities, scammers in pig butchering schemes encounter victims in various ways, including on dating applications, social media websites, and even random text messages masquerading as the wrong number. Scammers initiate relationships with victims and slowly gain their trust, eventually introducing the idea of making a business investment using cryptocurrency.  Vict…