Tag:

Theft by deception

PA Robber, Child Rapist Nabbed By US Marshals In MD Found Dead In Cell PA Robber, Child Rapist Nabbed By US Marshals In MD Found Dead In Cell
PA Robber, Child Rapist Nabbed By US Marshals In MD Found Dead In Cell A robber — who was caught by US Marshals in Northern Maryland in July 2023 — has died in prison while serving time for raping a child, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.  Anthony James Raimo, 35 at the time of his arrest, of the 700 block of Harrisburg Pike, Dillsburg, was arrested on July 7, 2023, by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Washington County, MD Sheriff's Office, as Daily Voice previously reported. Raimo, now 37, was found unresponsive in his cell at State Correctional Institution in Houtzdale, PA, on October 8, 2024, accord…
Bedminster Resident Robbed Of $400K In Bank Fraud: Police Bedminster Resident Robbed Of $400K In Bank Fraud: Police
Bedminster Resident Robbed Of $400K In Bank Fraud: Police A resident of Bedminster Township was robbed of nearly $400,000 from fraudulent bank transactions, authorities said. On July 11, 2023, the resident discovered the illegal activity on their Home Equity Line of Credit Account.  It was determined that someone set up an online bank account and moved money from the victim’s Home Equity Line of Credit Account into a fraudulent checking account. Two checks, totaling $389,200.00, were subsequently issued from the fraudulent checking account, Bedminster Township police said. After a lengthy investigation, it was determined that Torian Devonte…
EMS Supervisor In Northeastern PA Defrauded Company Out Of $10K: Prosecutors EMS Supervisor In Northeastern PA Defrauded Company Out Of $10K: Prosecutors
EMS Supervisor In Northeastern PA Defrauded Company Out Of $10K: Prosecutors A former supervisor for the Hamlin Ambulance Company is accused of logging fake hours and giving herself and her daughter unauthorized raises, according to the state Attorney General's Office.  Nicole Price of Wayne County is charged with theft by deception, unlawful use of a computer, and a related misdemeanor, said AG Michelle Henry in a release.  Officials said Price used her position as supervisor and captain to overreport the number of hours she and her daughter worked, resulting in more than $8,400 in overpay.  She also allegedly gave herself and he…
Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In 'Publishers Clearing House Lottery' Scheme: Cops Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In 'Publishers Clearing House Lottery' Scheme: Cops
Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In 'Publishers Clearing House Lottery' Scheme: Cops A couple from Secaucus is facing a litany of charges after scamming residents in multiple states out of more nearly $2.2 million, police said. Akeem Lee and Majda Hodzic-Lee called victims in Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Nebraska, saying they'd won the "Publishers Clearing House Lottery," Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said. In exchange for the vehicles and large sums of money the victims were told they won, they were required by Lee and Hodzic-Lee to send cash, money orders and/or gift cards for taxes, fees and IRS …
NJ Man Steals $8K+ From Woman Using Passport At PA Bank: Police NJ Man Steals $8K+ From Woman Using Passport At PA Bank: Police
NJ Man Steals $8K+ From Woman Using Passport At PA Bank: Police An elderly woman has lost nearly $9,000 from her bank account after a New Jersey man used a fake passport card at a bank in Bethlehem, PA, police announced on Wednesday, Nov. 22.  Dax Perez Velazquez, 49 of West New York, NJ, somehow obtained a US passport card with his image on it but the elderly woman's name, and used it at a Member's 1st bank in Bethlehem, PA on September 30, Lower Allen Township police detailed in the release. The man initially made a cash withdrawal of $6,800 using the woman's account info and his fraudulent passport card at a teller window inside the bank and the…
Lehigh Valley Thief Stole Over $70K From Victim's Bank Account: Police Lehigh Valley Thief Stole Over $70K From Victim's Bank Account: Police
Lehigh Valley Thief Stole Over $70K From Victim's Bank Account: Police A suspected fraudster is accused of siphoning nearly $75,000 from a Lehigh Valley resident's bank account, according to authorities.  Aaron J. Pflum is charged with forgery, theft by deception, and related counts, said Forks Township police.  Investigators believe 30-year-old Pflum walked into the Fidelity Bank at 1250 Braden Boulevard in September and used a phony ID to transfer $65,000 out of a victim's account. He then made a $9,200 cash withdrawal, authorities said.  Bank staff later learned from another Fidelity Bank in Bethlehem that Pflum had used the same ID to …
Fraudster Leads Police On Foot Chase In Upper Merion: Authorities Fraudster Leads Police On Foot Chase In Upper Merion: Authorities
Fraudster Leads Police On Foot Chase In Upper Merion: Authorities An accused fraudster is in Upper Merion police custody after leading officers on a brief foot chase across Valley Forge Center plaza, officials say.  The suspect walked into the TD Bank at 100 E. Dekalb Pike on Oct. 26 and tried to withdraw $2,800, but the teller became suspicious and alerted management, authorities said.  The bank manager called police after confirming the withdrawal was unauthorized, but the suspect had fled on foot by the time officers arrived, the department said.  A nearby patrol officer spotted the suspect dart across North Henderson Road towards the S…
$744K+ Lottery Ticket Forged By PA Woman, Police Say $744K+ Lottery Ticket Forged By PA Woman, Police Say
$744K+ Lottery Ticket Forged By PA Woman, Police Say A Pennsylvania woman "manipulated and forged" a lottery ticket so it would appear that she won several hundreds of thousands of dollars, police announced on Friday.  Kathy Louise Free, 61, of State Line, changed a number on a Pennsylvania Lottery Tocket making it appear that she won $744, 260 in Sept. 2022, according to the Lower Swatara Township Police. The following criminal charges were filed against Free on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023: Felony Criminal Attempt Theft by Deception. Felony Forgery. Misdemeanor Possession of an Instrument of Crime. She was released on $1,000 unsecured b…
High Mom With Toddler Goes On 120MPH+ Chase Over 20 Miles: PA State Police High Mom With Toddler Goes On 120MPH+ Chase Over 20 Miles: PA State Police
High Mom With Toddler Goes On 120MPH+ Chase Over 20 Miles: PA State Police A toddler is in the hospital after his 25-year-old mom got high and sent police on a 121-mile-per-hour chase across two Central Pennsylvania counties, state police announced on Tuesday. Ashley Lynnette Acosta of Steelton had warrants out for her arrest in Cumberland and Dauphin counties when police attempted to pull her over at around midnight on June 27, 2023, according to the police and court documents. Several patrol cars began to pursue her on US Route 15 North in Lower Allen Township when she took off at speeds as high as 121 mph, according to PSP.  Police briefly lost sight of her be…
78-Year-Old PA Woman Robbed Husband For Years Before Poisoning His Coffee, Jury Finds 78-Year-Old PA Woman Robbed Husband For Years Before Poisoning His Coffee, Jury Finds
78-Year-Old PA Woman Robbed Husband For Years Before Poisoning His Coffee, Jury Finds A 78-year-old Pennsylvania woman had been fleecing her husband's finances for years before she fatally poisoned him to keep the theft a secret, a Union County jury has found.  Myrle Miller of Winfield was convicted of first-degree murder for her husband's 2018 death, as well as felony theft by deception, forgery, insurance fraud, and related counts, said Attorney General Michelle Henry's Office in a release. In the months before John Nichols died, a grand jury investigation found that Miller had systemically drained her husband's bank accounts and forged his signature on checks, author…
Eagles Fan Ripped Off In Phony Ticket Scam, State Police Say Eagles Fan Ripped Off In Phony Ticket Scam, State Police Say
Eagles Fan Ripped Off In Phony Ticket Scam, State Police Say The Philadelphia Eagles won big over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but one Birds fan wasn't able to attend.  A 39-year-old Lower Macungie man told state police he'd arranged to buy tickets to the game at Lincoln Financial Field from a fellow Facebook user for only $350 on Monday, Jan 23, troopers said in a statement.  But when the victim sent the money, the other user immediately deleted their account, police said.  The matter is being investigated as theft by deception, and anyone with information can call Pennsylvania State Police's Troop M Barracks at 610-861-2026.&n…
PennDOT Employee Ran Fraud Scheme Causing '268 Drivers' License Irregularities': State Police PennDOT Employee Ran Fraud Scheme Causing '268 Drivers' License Irregularities': State Police
PennDOT Employee Ran Fraud Scheme Causing '268 Drivers' License Irregularities': State Police While employed at two Lancaster County offices a PennDOT driver's license examiner allegedly convinced many Spanish-speaking immigrants to pay him money for passing knowledge tests for driver's licenses and permits, Pennsylvania state police announced on Wednesday, Jan. 4.  Angelo Carrion, 67, solicited money between $20 to $250 dollars from the customers some of whom had failed multiple times, according to a release by state police.  He resigned in April 2022 after PennDOT’s Risk Management office found irregularities— including “unusual testing patterns,” incomplete applications…
Police In ChesCo Looking For Man Who Used Fake ID To Rent Luxury Apartment, Missed Payments Police In ChesCo Looking For Man Who Used Fake ID To Rent Luxury Apartment, Missed Payments
Police In ChesCo Looking For Man Who Used Fake ID To Rent Luxury Apartment, Missed Payments Police in Chester County are looking for a man who they say used bogus identification to rent a luxury apartment and then failed to make monthly payments for about six months. Oluwaseye Stephen Ogunlade, 36, used an alias and counterfeit driver's license to apply and put down a deposit for an apartment at The Point at Exton complex on North Pottstown Pike in April, West Whiteland Police Detective Scott Pezick told Daily Voice. The man, who went by the name Steven Emmanual, has since missed his monthly rent payments, which eventually led to a police investigation.  "The polic…
PA Collision Center Owner Surrenders After Submitting $426K In False Insurance Claims PA Collision Center Owner Surrenders After Submitting $426K In False Insurance Claims
PA Collision Center Owner Surrenders After Submitting $426K In False Insurance Claims A Bucks County collision center owner who submitted nearly 300 false insurance claims, pocketing more than $426,000 in payouts has surrendered to authorities, they said. John Paul Reis, 56, of Newtown Township, turned himself in on Thursday, Aug. 25, on charges of insurance fraud, deceptive business practices, forgery, and theft by deception, all third-degree felonies, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office. The charges come after a four-year investigation by county detectives that began in Sept. 2018, after they received a referral from officials with …
Accused Scammer Busted At Doorstep Of Elderly Would-Be Victim Who Almost Lost Thousands: Police Accused Scammer Busted At Doorstep Of Elderly Would-Be Victim Who Almost Lost Thousands: Police
Accused Scammer Busted At Doorstep Of Elderly Would-Be Victim Who Almost Lost Thousands: Police A man accused of trying to scam an elderly woman out of thousands of dollars was busted as he showed up on her doorstep to collect the payment, state police said. Troopers taking the report of the scam at a home on Juniper Court in East Allen Township on Wednesday, July 27 were told by the 88-year-old homeowner that she received a call from someone claiming to be her grandson stating that he was in prison and needed money to get out of jail. Another person then got on the phone and claimed to be a lawyer before asking the woman for $6,500 in cash, police said. The woman reportedly withdrew…
PA Contractor Ripped Off $86K From Clients, AG Says PA Contractor Ripped Off $86K From Clients, AG Says
PA Contractor Ripped Off $86K From Clients, AG Says A contractor in Pennsylvania has been charged after he accepted deposits to build elevators in six residents' homes but never did any of the work, authorities said. Michael Bloom, of Williamsport, agreed to the projects, which totaled $86,110, AG Josh Shapiro said. He provided little or no services in return and refused to give his customers refunds. Five of the homeowners left in the lurch by Bloom were over 60 years old, the AG said. “The law is clear on this,” AG Shapiro said. “Contractors can’t enter into a contract, accept money from a homeowner, and then fail to deliver — and that’s …
Bail Scam Artist Needs Bail After He Tried To Scam PA Grandma Out of $15K: Police Bail Scam Artist Needs Bail After He Tried To Scam PA Grandma Out of $15K: Police
Bail Scam Artist Needs Bail After He Tried To Scam PA Grandma Out of $15K: Police An 82-year-old grandma nearly lost $15,000 to a bail scam artist on Monday, June 13, police say. Engerbert Perez Jimenez, 26, of Reading, called the Lancaster County woman and pretended to be her son’s lawyer claiming her grandson was in a serious car crash and was in the ICU and needed $8,000, according to the release by the Northern Lancaster County Regional police department. The woman quickly went to the bank and withdrew cash and met the man in Warwick Township and surrendered the cash, but then he called her back and demanded another $7,000 in cash claiming he need bail money for her…
Five From NJ Charged With Pocketing More Than $1M From Aircraft Equipment Scam Five From NJ Charged With Pocketing More Than $1M From Aircraft Equipment Scam
Five From NJ Charged With Pocketing More Than $1M From Aircraft Equipment Scam A crew of con artists from New Jersey swindled more than $1 million from businesses nationwide that thought they were buying aircraft equipment and replacement parts, state authorities charged. For five years, the thieves cut deals online for the purported sale of specialized equipment, including airline ground support parts and hydraulic jacks, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. As soon as the payments arrived, members of the crew either made a bunch of cash withdrawals or slid the money into a Somerset County accomplice's account, Platkin said. The buyers got bup…
'Magician' Had Accomplice Distract Roulette Dealer To Steal $10K From PA Casino: Police 'Magician' Had Accomplice Distract Roulette Dealer To Steal $10K From PA Casino: Police
'Magician' Had Accomplice Distract Roulette Dealer To Steal $10K From PA Casino: Police "Artist. Magician. Creator. Illusionist."  That's how Shaun Benward describes himself on social media pages. Police have a descriptive for Benward of their own: Thief. Benward — who was placed on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's exclusion list in 2015 — has been accused of using the art of distraction with help from accomplice Denile Derohan to defraud a casino in Pennsylvania, according to multiple media outlets citing an affidavit filed by the state police. Benward, 35, had Derohan, 42, distract the dealers while playing roulette at Pittsburgh's River Casino, …
State: Jersey Shore Chiropractor, 73, With Fraud History Files 261 Bogus Insurance Claims State: Jersey Shore Chiropractor, 73, With Fraud History Files 261 Bogus Insurance Claims
State: Jersey Shore Chiropractor, 73, With Fraud History Files 261 Bogus Insurance Claims A Bayonne-based chiropractor from the Jersey Shore with an insurance fraud conviction already on his record did it again, state authorities charged. Charles B. Boas, 73, of Matawan, got probation seven years ago after pleading guilty to collecting nearly $13,000 through bogus claims, records show. State officials announced Wednesday that they'd caught him in an even bigger scam -- this time involving hundreds of false submissions to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. A grand jury in Trenton indicted Boas on 261 counts involving health care claims fraud, theft by deception and tax evasions, Ac…
Central PA Man Cashed Bogus $2.7K Check From Shake Shack And Never Paid The Loss Central PA Man Cashed Bogus $2.7K Check From Shake Shack And Never Paid The Loss
Central PA Man Cashed Bogus $2.7K Check From Shake Shack And Never Paid The Loss If you somehow got a check that wasn't meant for you, would you cash it? A Harrisburg man got check from Shake Shack (which is thought to be counterfeit) and decided to deposited it. Roderick Lynn Malone Jr., 26, of Harrisburg, remotely deposited check #58697672 into his account on May 12, according to Lower Allen police. The check was drawn on the Shake Shack Enterprises, LLC account at JP Morgan Chase for the $2,700. Malone Jr. then used his debit card and the Cashapp to make purchases.  Member's 1st FCU received the check back as counterfeit on May 18. The bank contacted Mal…
Former NJ Councilman Lied About Income To Keep $92-A-Month Section 8 Apartment, State Charges Former NJ Councilman Lied About Income To Keep $92-A-Month Section 8 Apartment, State Charges
Former NJ Councilman Lied About Income To Keep $92-a-month Section 8 Apartment, State Charges An embattled former South Jersey councilman under-reported his income so he could keep a federally subsidized Section 8 apartment, state authorities charged. An investigation began after Penns Grove Gardens sought to evict Carl Washington Jr. for subletting to a tenant arrested at the apartment for drugs, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said Tuesday. Investigators from Bruck’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability Corruption Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General learned that Washington “falsely reported his i…
Did You Do Business With This Man? Arrest Made In $90,000 Bergen COVID Gloves Scam Did You Do Business With This Man? Arrest Made In $90,000 Bergen COVID Gloves Scam
Did You Do Business With This Man? Arrest Made In $90,000 Bergen COVID Gloves Scam A judge in Hackensack released an out-of-state man accused of illegally profiting off the COVID pandemic by pocketing $90,000 for what were supposed to be a million personal protective gloves. Nwaokoma Nwakanma, 30, of Westland, MI claimed to work for Bioneutral Chem Group, a bogus Newark-based company that purported to be a legitimate business, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Cresskill police got wind of the scam and alerted detectives from Musella’s Financial Crimes Unit in early June, the prosecutor said. They investigated and obtained an arrest warrant for Nwakanma, of West…
Report: NY Woman, 62, Attempted To Steal $155K From Victim’s Bank Account In Northampton County Report: NY Woman, 62, Attempted To Steal $155K From Victim’s Bank Account In Northampton County
Report: NY Woman, 62, Attempted To Steal $155K From Victim’s Bank Account In Northampton County A 62-year-old woman was arrested after attempting to make two withdrawals totaling more than $150,000 in another person’s name from a Northampton County bank, reports say. Rochel Cruz, of the Bronx, is accused of filling out a withdrawal slip totaling $55,000 using another person’s information at the Wells Fargo Bank on Schoenersville Road last Friday, LehighValleyLive reports citing court records. Cruz then returned to the same bank and asked for a cashier’s check made out to $100,000 cash, the report says. Cruz had a deposit slip and a fraudulent New Jersey driver’s license when pol…