Tag:

Fraud

U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania Announces Resignation U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania Announces Resignation
U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania Announces Resignation Gerard M. Karam, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, has announced his resignation, effective January 10, 2025. Appointed by President Biden in 2022, Karam described the role as "an honor of a lifetime" and expressed gratitude to federal and local law enforcement partners for their dedication to public safety and justice. During his tenure, Karam prioritized public safety, healthcare fraud, civil rights enforcement, and tackling fraud and theft. His office prosecuted numerous high-profile cases, including: A life sentence for a man convicted in the murder …
PA Mom, Sister Jailed For Neglecting Quadriplegic Relative Defrauding Medicaid Of $140K: AG PA Mom, Sister Jailed For Neglecting Quadriplegic Relative Defrauding Medicaid Of $140K: AG
PA Mom, Sister Jailed For Neglecting Quadriplegic Relative Defrauding Medicaid Of $140K: AG A Philadelphia mother and sister who served as caregivers to a quadriplegic man have been sentenced to prison for neglect that left him hospitalized in critical condition, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on Thursday, Dec. 19. Rashina Long, 48, and Jasmine Long, 33, pleaded guilty in September to neglect of a care-dependent person and Medicaid fraud, according to Henry. Both women were sentenced to two to four years in prison, followed by seven years of probation. They are also banned from working as caregivers during their sentences. The Longs were employed as direct …
Husband, Wife Led $20M Medicaid Fraud Ring At Pharmacy: PA AG Husband, Wife Led $20M Medicaid Fraud Ring At Pharmacy: PA AG
Husband, Wife Led $20M Medicaid Fraud Ring At Pharmacy: PA AG A husband and wife are accused of masterminding a $20 million Medicaid and Medicare fraud scheme from their South Philadelphia pharmacy, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on Thursday, Dec. 19. Elizabeth Thompson, 70, the registered owner of Broad Street Family Pharmacy, and her husband, Peter Dello Buono, 70, allegedly ran the scheme alongside pharmacist Frank Bengermino, 70, defrauding federal healthcare programs by faking prescriptions and pocketing the cash, investigators said. From 2016 to 2021, the couple and their co-conspirators allegedly billed Medicaid and Medi…
$12M Medicaid Fraud Scheme By PA Home Health Care Agency Lands 20 People Charges: AG $12M Medicaid Fraud Scheme By PA Home Health Care Agency Lands 20 People Charges: AG
$12M Medicaid Fraud Scheme By PA Home Health Care Agency Lands 20 People Charges: AG The owner of a Bala Cynwyd-based home care agency, her daughter, and 18 others have been charged in a multi-million dollar Medicaid fraud scheme, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on Friday, Dec. 13. Stephanie Mobley, 52, owned ComfortZone Home Health Care, LLC, a Medicaid-approved provider based in Bala Cynwyd. She, her second-in-command daughter, Naya Campbell, 29, of Audubon, and 18 others allegedly defrauded the Medicaid program by filing false reimbursement claims for services never provided, according to court documents. All 20 defendants face charges including …
Felon Mom With ‘Love Yourself First’ Tattoo Sentenced For Drowning 5-Year-Old In Susquehanna Felon Mom With ‘Love Yourself First’ Tattoo Sentenced For Drowning 5-Year-Old In Susquehanna
Felon Mom With ‘Love Yourself First’ Tattoo Sentenced For Drowning 5-Year-Old In Susquehanna A Lancaster County mother has been sentenced after pleading no contest to charges related to the drowning death of her 5-year-old son in the Susquehanna River, authorities confirmed to Daily Voice on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Autumn Lynn Vossler, 31, of Columbia, pleaded Nolo Contendere on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 — the day after her — to involuntary manslaughter and four counts of endangering the welfare of children, according to Susquehanna Regional Police and court records.  For the drowning, Vossler was sentenced to a prison term ranging from nearly five to nine and a half years on Thu…
Trump Taps Dr. Oz, Penn Alum, To Lead Medicare And Medicaid Services Trump Taps Dr. Oz, Penn Alum, To Lead Medicare And Medicaid Services
Trump Taps Dr. Oz, Penn Alum, To Lead Medicare And 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…
Trump Names Ex-SEC Chief, PA Native To Replace Damian Williams As SDNY's Top Prosecutor Trump Names Ex-SEC Chief, PA Native To Replace Damian Williams As SDNY's Top Prosecutor
Trump Names Ex-sec Chief, PA Native 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…
$80K+ Theft From Fire Company Social Club  Steward: Swatara Police $80K+ Theft From Fire Company Social Club  Steward: Swatara Police
$80K+ Theft From Fire Company Social Club Steward: Swatara Police A steward of the Friendship Fire Company Social Club has been arrested following an investigation into alleged theft and fraud, Swatara Township Police announced on Thursday, Nov. 7. Tamas Topos, 57, the former steward at the Friendship Fire Company Social Club, is accused of committing multiple acts of theft, financial mismanagement, and fraud. The investigation concluded that Topos allegedly stole approximately $80,940.65 from the Social Club and falsified financial records submitted to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Enforcement office. Topos has been taken into custody and is currently…
Fake Government Contract Fraud Scheme Nets PA Man Prison Time: USDOJ Fake Government Contract Fraud Scheme Nets PA Man Prison Time: USDOJ
Fake Government Contract Fraud Scheme Nets PA Man Prison Time: Usdoj A Philadelphia man is getting prison time after participating in a $622,000 fraud scheme involving fake government contracts, according to authorities. Darren Barr, 39, was sentenced to almost five years in prison after pleading guilty to an organized scheme that defrauded Lucas County Auditor in Ohio on Wednesday, Nov. 6, the US Department of Justice states in a news release. Barr collaborated with unnamed co-conspirators in a plan that had them pretending to be legitimate vendors Lucas County was authorized to do business with, according to the news release. This scheme began in March 201…
Voter Registration Forms Under Investigation In PA Tied To Arizona Company: Authorities Voter Registration Forms Under Investigation In PA Tied To Arizona Company: Authorities
Voter Registration Forms Under Investigation In PA Tied To Arizona Company: Authorities Some suspicious voter registration forms that are under investigation in Pennsylvania have been tied to an Arizona company, authorities said. About 30 irregular forms that were turned over to Monroe County District Attorney Mike Mancuso to investigate turned out to be fraudulent, according to a post on the district attorney's Facebook page.   Posted by Monroe County Office of the District Attorney on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 Several of the voter registration applications and mail ballot request forms were determined to be fraudulent because they weren't authorized by…
Hundreds Of Forged Voter Registration Found In 2.5K Questionable Applications: Lancaster DA Hundreds Of Forged Voter Registration Found In 2.5K Questionable Applications: Lancaster DA
Hundreds Of Forged Voter Registration Found In 2.5K Questionable Applications: Lancaster DA The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office has found hundreds of fraudulent voter registration applications while continuing to investigate the 2,500 applications dropped off at the county Board of Elections. Election workers initially noticed the irregularities before the applications had been processed and notified the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, as Daily Voice previously reported. Detectives quickly noticed "fraud indicators" such as "incorrect and non-existent addresses, false personal identification information, as well as false names and incorrect social security…
PA Judge Indicted For 31 Counts Of Fraud, Witness Tampering: USDOJ PA Judge Indicted For 31 Counts Of Fraud, Witness Tampering: USDOJ
PA Judge Indicted For 31 Counts Of Fraud, Witness Tampering: Usdoj A federal grand jury has indicted a Pennsylvania judge and lawyer on 31-counts of wire and mail fraud, as well as witness tampering and obstruction of justice, the US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday, Oct. 8.  Steven Stambaugh, age 61, of York, has been charged with twenty-six counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of tampering with a witness, and one count of obstruction of justice for a COVID-19 scheme, according to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam explained.  Stambaugh is accused of defrauding the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania "to ob…
NJ, NY Stolen Cars Shipped Overseas From PA Chop Shop: DA NJ, NY Stolen Cars Shipped Overseas From PA Chop Shop: DA
NJ, NY Stolen Cars Shipped Overseas From PA Chop Shop: DA Stacks of car parts being shipped to the Dominican Republic from a Chop Shop has lead to six arrest, the Buck County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday, Oct. 7.  A Pennsylvania State Police investigation lead to the dismantling of a Milford Township chop shop run out of a garage located at 2150 Rosedale Road, as detailed in the release.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen parts were sold and shipped to the Dominican Republic from the shop, according to the release. The following men were charged in connection to the illegal sale of the stole car parts fro…
Police FINALLY Remove Skimmer Redditors Warned About At PA Sheetz PNC ATM Police FINALLY Remove Skimmer Redditors Warned About At PA Sheetz PNC ATM
Police Finally Remove Skimmer Redditors Warned About At PA Sheetz PNC ATM A skimmer at Sheetz that Redditors warned people about three months ago was removed on Thursday, Sept. 12, police announced.   The skimmer was found on the PNC ATM at the Sheetz located at 1205 Lancaster Road in Manheim, police explained.  "If you used the ATM machine located inside the store over the past month, please review your bank transactions and report any fraudulent or suspicious activity to your bank and local police department," the police said.  Redditor users in the Lancaster subreddit have been posting about this since June.  The first post reads: "…
$100K+ Allegedly Stolen By Former PA Attorney General Director $100K+ Allegedly Stolen By Former PA Attorney General Director
$100K+ Allegedly Stolen By Former PA Attorney General Director A McKeesport Area School District police chief, Director of the Community Violence Fund program for the McKeesport Chapter of the NAACP, and Regional Director of the PA Office of Attorney General’s Region 5 Bureau of Narcotics Investigation is accused of stealing over $100,000 drug forfeiture money and numerous over monetary thefts, the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday night, Sept. 5.  Brenda D. Sawyer, 61, of North Versailles, was arrested on the following charges on Sept. 5 for her alleged crimes of taking the money which went missing from…
Caretaker Accused Of Stealing Up To $200K From Patient For Drugs In Lancaster County Caretaker Accused Of Stealing Up To $200K From Patient For Drugs In Lancaster County
Caretaker Accused Of Stealing Up To $200K From Patient For Drugs In Lancaster County A Lancaster County caretaker is accused of stealing prescription drugs and up to $200,000 from a patient she cared for, authorities said. Jamie Lynn Lloyd, 42, of Lilitz was charged with Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Identity Theft, Financial Exploitation of an Older Adult or Care-dependent Person, Theft by Deception, Criminal Use of Communication Facility, Access Device Fraud, Unlawful Use of Computer and Other Computer Crimes Arrest, according to Manheim Township police. In the spring of 2023, Lloyd began voluntarily helping the victim, including taking them to appointm…
Western PA Man Convicted For Fake 'Kidnapping For Drugs' Plot: DA Western PA Man Convicted For Fake 'Kidnapping For Drugs' Plot: DA
Western PA Man Convicted For Fake 'Kidnapping For Drugs' Plot: DA A McKean County man was convicted on Friday, Aug. 23 in a fake "kidnapping for drugs" plot, authorities said. Tuesday Hale, formerly of Bradford, was found guilty of crimes related to the staged kidnapping in August 2023, according to District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer. The conviction followed a two-day jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse, she said. Hale was charged after the City of Bradford Police received a report from a Bradford man who had received messages – including a staged picture – from his girlfriend’s cell phone stating that his girlfriend had been kidn…
Mom Steals $10K+ From PTO, East Pennsboro Police Allege Mom Steals $10K+ From PTO, East Pennsboro Police Allege
Mom Steals $10K+ From PTO, East Pennsboro Police Allege An Enola mom is accused of taking over $10,000 from a Parent Teacher Organization, East Pennsboro police announced on Thursday, Aug. 8.  Melissa Anne Robinson, 42, was identified as the suspected thief following an investigation that began at 10:36 a.m. on October 9, 2023, as detailed in the police release.  That morning, officers with the East Pennsboro police were called to meet with the East Pennsboro School District PTO about the over $10,000 stolen from the organization. Robinson so came to light as a suspect and allegedly admitted to making the withdrawals for the PTO's acc…
$1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company $1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company
$1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company A former employee from Pennsylvania admitted to defrauding a Connecticut insurance company to the tune of $1.5 million. James Keating, age 52, of Paoli, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in New Haven federal court on Tuesday, July 30. Prosecutors said Keating – who served as assistant vice president and a surety bond claims handler at Hartford County-based Allied World Insurance Company in Farmington – created a shell company to bill Allied World for unnecessary claims work that was never performed. Between 2017 and 2021, he also solicited and received kickbacks from Allied World…
$17K Scam Run By Lebanon Blackjack Dealer At Hollywood Casino: Affidavit $17K Scam Run By Lebanon Blackjack Dealer At Hollywood Casino: Affidavit
$17K Scam Run By Lebanon Blackjack Dealer At Hollywood Casino: Affidavit A blackjack dealer used multiple tricks and sleights of hand to help two friends make nearly $17,000 at a popular casino, Pennsylvania State Police detailed in court documents obtained by Daily Voice on Friday, July 19.  Yadav Bhandari, 22 of Lebanon, is accused of conspiring with Shankar Karki, 37, and Prakash Thapa, 24, both of Harrisburg to steal $16,555 in fraudulent winnings between July 13 and 14, State Police Trooper Michael Kaminskas detailed in the affidavit of probable cause.  Bhandari was caught on the security camera using "sleight of hand motions, capping, improp…
$35K Stolen By Dentist's Employee, Gettysburg Police Say $35K Stolen By Dentist's Employee, Gettysburg Police Say
Family Dentistry Staff Rebecca Chapman Accused Of $35K Theft A family dentistry employee stole approximately $35,000, Gettysburg Borough of Police announced on Wednesday, July 17.  Rebecca Ann Chapman, 57 of Gettysburg, was working at Brent Guise Family Dentistry on Feb. 20, 2024, when police were to the office at 150 Chambersburg Street for a "reported theft from the business by an employee," police stated in the release. An investigation led by Detective Brian Weikert determined that Chapman had stolen thousands from the "business over an extended period of time," according to the release.  Chapman has been charged with 12 felonies for t…
Red Lion Employee Spends $8K+ On Manheim Disability Service Provider's Credit Card: NLCRPD Red Lion Employee Spends $8K+ On Manheim Disability Service Provider's Credit Card: NLCRPD
Red Lion Employee Spends $8K+ On Manheim Disability Service Provider's Credit Card: Nlcrpd An employee at a disability service company is accused of making unauthorized purchases on her work's credit card totaling over $8,000, police announced on Thursday, July 11.  Kiara Kim Vandersluys, 30 of Red Lion, was an employee of Faithful Homes when she "used a company credit card for unauthorized purchases which totaled $8,028.48. The purchases included multiple food items, health care, and jewelry items," the police said.  The police were first alerted to these purchases by management at Faithful Homes located at 1467 Lancaster Road in Manheim on June 20, according to t…
Philly Area Gravestone Salesman Scammed Mourners Out Of $1.5 Million, Feds Say Philly Area Gravestone Salesman Scammed Mourners Out Of $1.5 Million, Feds Say
Philly Area Gravestone Salesman Scammed Mourners Out Of $1.5 Million, Feds Say The owner of a headstone company is accused of ripping off hundreds of grieving customers across greater Philadelphia, federal prosecutors allege in an indictment.  Gregory J. Stefan Jr., 54, of Upper Merion, is charged with seven counts of wire fraud, according to the US Attorney's Office.  Between January 2018 and September of last year, Stefan accepted more than $1.5 million from customers who ordered memorials for loved ones, then failed to deliver the headstones they bought, authorities said. Stefan accepted the orders from nearly 500 customers through his companies 1843 LLC…
PA Gravestone Thief's Brother Bilked NJ Widow Out Of $5,000, Indictment Says PA Gravestone Thief's Brother Bilked NJ Widow Out Of $5,000, Indictment Says
PA Gravestone Thief's Brother Bilked NJ Widow Out Of $5,000, Indictment Says Another New Jersey widow has come forward alleging she was bilked out of money for a gravestone she never got. Jerry J. Stefan, 49, of Gladwyne, PA, has been indicted alleging he bilked a Deptford, NJ widow out of $5,054 for a gravestone she never received for her late husband. He's the brother of a Pennsylvania gravestone dealer already charged in three states with defrauding gravestone customers. A Gloucester County grand jury indicted Jerry J. Stefan on June 26 on a charge he never provided a gravestone or returned the money he took. He was indicted on a third-degree charge of failure t…
Philly Woman Stole $184K In COVID Relief Money For Butt Lift: Warrant Philly Woman Stole $184K In COVID Relief Money For Butt Lift: Warrant
Philly Woman Stole $184K In COVID Relief Money For Butt Lift: Warrant A Philadelphia woman is accused of fraudulently cashing a COVID-19 relief check and spending the money on plastic surgery.  In an arrest warrant obtained by Local10.com, authorities said 30-year-old Ashley Stibbins-Parker made a bank account for a Georgia entity called "City of Weston LLC.''  Investigators believe she used the account to collect $184,838.72 in federal CARES Act funding meant for the real City of Weston in Florida.  Broward County commissioners sent the money to Weston City Hall via check in February 2021, but by the next month, it had been deposited into Sti…
PA Family Dollar Employee Bilked $170K Through Workers' Comp Scheme: AG PA Family Dollar Employee Bilked $170K Through Workers' Comp Scheme: AG
PA Family Dollar Employee Bilked $170K Through Workers' Comp Scheme: AG A Delaware woman will spend at least five years in a Pennsylvania prison after admitting to defrauding two employers through a workers' compensation scam, authorities say.  Victoria Newell-Brown, 56, pleaded guilty to 10 felonies in October, said the Attorney General's Office in a release.  In 2019, while working at a Family Dollar store in Philadelphia, prosecutors said Newell-Brown claimed she was "totally disabled" from a fall. The company paid her medical expenses, workers' compensation, and wage-loss benefits for $1,500 every two weeks for over two years, according to of…
PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security
PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security A Monroe County man was sentenced to five years in federal prison this week for covering up his father's death and continuing to cash his checks, according to the US Attorney's Office.  Timothy Gritman, 56, of Brodheadsville, pleaded guilty to Social Security and wire fraud in a federal court exactly one year ago, Feb. 14, 2023, Daily Voice reported. This year on Valentine's Day, Gritman was sentenced to five years plus three more of supervised release, prosecutors said in a release.  Authorities have said Gritman's father Ralph was 79 and "in poor health" when he was l…
South Korean Clothing Manufacturer Admits Customs Fraud, Agrees To Pay US $2 Million South Korean Clothing Manufacturer Admits Customs Fraud, Agrees To Pay US $2 Million
South Korean Clothing Manufacturer Admits Customs Fraud, Agrees To Pay US $2 Million A South Korean company has agreed to reimburse the United States $2 million for defrauding Customs officials about the value of imported clothing and apparel. Principals with Anyclo International Inc. admitted this week that the company evaded duties on clothing and apparel that it manufactured abroad and imported into the U.S. for nearly seven years, beginning in October 2012, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. The fraud involved preparing two invoices for the same shipments, the U.S. attorney said. One invoice bore the true value of the merchandise, Sellinger said. Th…
$6M Ponzi Scheme: Braggart Hedge Fund 'Tycoon' Busted By Undercover NJ Fed $6M Ponzi Scheme: Braggart Hedge Fund 'Tycoon' Busted By Undercover NJ Fed
$6M Ponzi Scheme: Braggart Hedge Fund 'Tycoon' Busted By Undercover NJ Fed The well-heeled hedge fund tycoon from Chicago seemingly couldn’t help but boast of some spectacular achievements during a meeting with an investment manager in New Jersey. There were annual returns of 336 percent, more than $2 billion raised in just 60 days and a list of investors that included a well-known owner of a professional sports team, authorities said. Phillip Galles, 57, also took a page from George Santos’s book, claiming that he’d graduated from a prominent university in the Midwest, they said. Galles’s “outlandish claims of experience, expertise and success” were all BS, a co…
NJ Psychic Pulls 'Death Card' Con On PA Couple: Police NJ Psychic Pulls 'Death Card' Con On PA Couple: Police
NJ Psychic Pulls 'Death Card' Con On PA Couple: Police A Pennsylvania-based fortune teller from New Jersey not only failed to predict the future but allegedly conned a family while doing it, according to court documents obtained by Daily Voice.  Police in Pennsylvania have formally charged 25-year-old Billie Loren Mitchell of Kearny, NJ on April 27, 2023, but have yet to apprehend and arraign her, according to a police release on May 9, 2023.  Mitchell runs Psychic World at 501 East Main Street in Palmyra, PA, and claims to be a "Clairvoyant psychic and certified holistic healer," as stated on her Facebook page.  An elderly coup…
PA High School Music Booster Treasurer Spoiled Herself Using Thousands In Stolen Cash: Police PA High School Music Booster Treasurer Spoiled Herself Using Thousands In Stolen Cash: Police
PA High School Music Booster Treasurer Spoiled Herself Using Thousands In Stolen Cash: Police A school district volunteer in Bucks County faces criminal charges after police claim she used her role as treasurer in the Music Boosters Association to steal over $25,000 in club funds.  Rebekah Ann Watson, 46, of Bensalem, surrendered to authorities on Friday, March 24, and was charged with access device fraud, theft by unlawful taking, and theft by failure to make required deposits, township police said in a statement.  The investigation into the Bensalem High School Music Booster Association's treasury was launched on Feb. 8, when the club's president and vice president repor…