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Bribery

No, The FBI Says It Isn't Investigating 301 Election Bribery Claims Or Other Lies No, The FBI Says It Isn't Investigating 301 Election Bribery Claims Or Other Lies
No, The FBI Says It Isn't Investigating 301 Election Bribery Claims Or Other Lies The Federal Bureau of Investigations said it has seen a rise in fake stories using the agency's name and insignia being shared online in an attempt to undermine the recent presidential election.  The FBI cited four fake stories being shared on social media trading on the agency's reputation to give credence to lies.  Those included a video stating that “at least 301 electors reported attempted bribery and blackmail" from a political party, the agency said in a news release. Another claimed that agents had tried to cover up the bribery scheme by pressuring news media outl…
Andy Kim Wins Senate Race Replacing Bob Menendez Andy Kim Wins Senate Race Replacing Bob Menendez
Andy Kim Wins Senate Race Replacing Bob Menendez Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., won the election to the United States Senate, defeating Republican challenger Curtis Bashaw. BREAKING: Kamala Harris Wins New Jersey The Associated Press made Kim's call Tuesday, Nov. 5 just as polls closed at 8 p.m. Kim will be filling the seat left vacant following the resignation of former Sen. Rob Menendez, D-NJ, who was convicted of felony corruption and bribery charges. Kim will be appointed to the seat by Gov. Phil Murphy after his election is certified. Kim will be the first Asian American senator from the Garden State and the first Korean senator from any s…
Election Day 2024: How To Vote In New Jersey Election Day 2024: How To Vote In New Jersey
Election Day 2024: How To Vote In New Jersey New Jersey, it's time to cast your vote.  Aside from the national race for president between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, there are races in all 12 of the state's Congressional districts. Democratic U.S. Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw, a hotel developer, are vying for the vacant seat left by Democrat Bob Menendez, who was convicted in a federal bribery scheme, and more. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can click here to find your polling place.  You can also drop a mail ballot at your county's Board of Elections office or in the drop boxes across…
120 Accuse Mount Vernon's Sean Combs Of Sex Abuse In New Class Action Lawsuit: Report 120 Accuse Mount Vernon's Sean Combs Of Sex Abuse In New Class Action Lawsuit: Report
120 Accuse Mount Vernon's Sean Combs Of Sex Abuse In New Class Action Lawsuit: Report The legal troubles faced by Sean "Diddy" Combs, a New York native, are far from over, as the hip-hop mogul is facing allegations of sexual assault from over 100 new accusers, according to a report by NBC News.  Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee announced on Tuesday, Oct. 1 that he is currently representing 120 people with various allegations against Combs occurring over two decades, NBC reported.  These accusations against Combs, a New York City native who grew up in Westchester County's Mount Vernon, include sexual assault or rape; facilitated sex with a controlled substance;…
Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams Federal authorities released the indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday, Sept. 26, laying out their case for corruption, bribery, and misuse of public funds, reports said.  Federal investigators have charged the 64-year-old Democrat with five counts, including conspiracy to receive illegal foreign campaign contributions, wire fraud, and bribery, said Damian Williams, the US. attorney for the Southern District of New York in a news conference.  Click here to read the complete indictment from the SDNY. Here is what those allegations are as summari…
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs On Suicide Watch Before Sex Trafficking Trial: Report Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs On Suicide Watch Before Sex Trafficking Trial: Report
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs On Suicide Watch Before Sex Trafficking Trial: Report Days after being federally charged with sex trafficking and racketeering offenses, hip-hop producer and New York native Sean "Diddy" Combs is on suicide watch as he waits for his trial in prison, according to a report by People.  Following his arrest, the 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon was remanded to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday, Sept. 17, where he has been placed on suicide watch, according to People.  The outlet reported that it is not known if Combs is suicidal or how exactly how long he …
Correctional Officer Who Conspired With Inmate In Fairfax ADC, Gets Prison Time Correctional Officer Who Conspired With Inmate In Fairfax ADC, Gets Prison Time
Correctional Officer Who Conspired With Inmate In Fairfax ADC, Gets Prison Time The former Fairfax County Sheriff's deputy who conspired with inmates to distribute contraband at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center will be spending years on the other side of the steel bars. Robert Theodore Sanford, Jr., 37, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison after accepting bribes at the facility and for sexually trafficking a woman out of an apartment he rented, "for his own financial gain and sexual gratification," federal authorities announced this week. Between May 2021 and June 2023, Sanford was a correctional officer at the Adult Detention Center, and during…
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Now Facing Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Now Facing Sex Trafficking, Racketeering
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Now Facing Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Following several lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and other abuses, successful hip-hop producer and New York native Sean "Diddy" Combs now faces federal sex trafficking charges, officials announced.  Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, was arrested on Tuesday morning, Sept. 17 on a three-count indictment, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.  According to federal officials, beginning as far back as 2008, Combs ran a criminal enterprise that involved sex trafficking, forced…
Edgewater Real Estate Developer Fred Daibes Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud Edgewater Real Estate Developer Fred Daibes Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud
Edgewater Real Estate Developer Fred Daibes Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud Fred Daibes, a 67-year-old real estate developer previously convicted of bribing disgraced New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, pleaded guilty to bank fraud on Thursday, Sept, 5, authorities said. The former CEO and chairman of the board of directors at Mariner's Bank pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to making false entries in connection with a $1.8 million loan from his bank in 2008, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Daibes said the line of credit was for someone else, when it was actually for his benefit, Sellinger said. The loan said the source of repayment would be from the p…
Baltimore Man Who Took Deputies On 120 MPH Pursuit Taken Down By K9 In Virginia: Sheriff Baltimore Man Who Took Deputies On 120 MPH Pursuit Taken Down By K9 In Virginia: Sheriff
Baltimore Man Who Took Deputies On 120 MPH Pursuit Taken Down By K9 In Virginia: Sheriff A Baltimore man took police on a high speed pursuit in Virginia, but he wasn't quick enough to outrun a police K9 in Fauquier County, officials say. Marcus Johnson, 46, is facing multiple charges after being treated for a dog bite following a pursuit that approached 120 mph over the holiday weekend. According the the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office, shortly after noon on Sunday, Sept. 1, a deputy in the area of Opal spotted a reckless driver in a silver Cadillac casually drinking a beer, launching the pursuit. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Johnson took off, spe…
Former Metropolitan Police Officer Gets Prison Time For Bribery Scheme Involving Crash Victims Former Metropolitan Police Officer Gets Prison Time For Bribery Scheme Involving Crash Victims
Former Metropolitan Police Officer Gets Prison Time For Bribery Scheme Involving Crash Victims A former Metropolitan Police Department patrol officer who provided confidential information to attorneys for referral fees will spend time in prison, federal officials say. Vincent Forrest, 36, was convicted earlier this year for his role in a bribery scheme where he illegally provided private information from police documents in exchange for cash payments. On Wednesday, Aug. 28, authorities announced that Forrest has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy, bribery, and making false statements at trial. Forrest and Raquel DePaula, 43, of Beltsvil…
$2.4M Scheme: Former Cortlandt Town Employee, Business Owner Admit To Illegal Dumping Plot $2.4M Scheme: Former Cortlandt Town Employee, Business Owner Admit To Illegal Dumping Plot
$2.4M Scheme: Former Cortlandt Town Employee, Business Owner Admit To Illegal Dumping Plot A former Northern Westchester town employee has admitted to allowing a business owner to illegally dump unauthorized material at an environmentally fragile facility in exchange for cash bribes, federal officials announced.  Verplanck resident Robert Dyckman, age 52, and Cortlandt Manor resident Glenn Griffin, age 55, both pleaded guilty to charges related to the $2.4 million scheme, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Monday, Aug. 26.  According to federal officials, Dyckman, the former Assistant General Foreman for the Town o…
Union Mailman Found Guilty Of Taking Bribes To Transport Drugs: Feds Union Mailman Found Guilty Of Taking Bribes To Transport Drugs: Feds
Union Mailman Found Guilty Of Taking Bribes To Transport Drugs: Feds A 49-year-old former mailman and Union resident was convicted in federal court on Thursday, Aug. 15 of taking bribes to deliver drugs through the mail, authorities said.  For five years, from 2015 to 2010, Emerson Pavilus received cash payments in exchange for helping individuals intercept packages containing illegal narcotics and other illicit materials while working as a mailman in Flanders, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Pavilus provided his conspirators with addresses for vacant houses along his mail route to which they could ship illegal packages, Sellinger said. P…
Politicians Speak Out After DC Council Member Arrested On Bribery Charges Politicians Speak Out After DC Council Member Arrested On Bribery Charges
Politicians Speak Out After DC Council Member Arrested On Bribery Charges There has been an outcry from elected officials in Washington after DC Council Member Trayon White, Sr. was arrested in connection to a bribery investigation. White, who represents Ward 8, was arrested this week on the federal charge following an investigation into the bribery claims. The 40-year-old Democrat, who is the Chair of the Council’s Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs, which oversees several agencies including the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services is charged with accepting more than $150,000 in bribes. The complaint alleges that, beginning in J…
DC Council Member Trayon White Arrested By FBI For Allegedly Accepting Bribes: Feds DC Council Member Trayon White Arrested By FBI For Allegedly Accepting Bribes: Feds
DC Council Member Trayon White Arrested By FBI For Allegedly Accepting Bribes: Feds DC Council member Trayon White, Sr., who represents Ward 8, was arrested in connection to an investigation into claims of bribery, federal authorities announced on Monday. The 40-year-old Democrat, who is the Chair of the Council’s Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs, which oversees several agencies including the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services is charged with accepting more than $150,000 in bribes. The complaint alleges that, beginning in June 2024, White corruptly agreed to accept $156,000 in cash payments in exchange for using his position as a DC Cou…
Essex County Correctional Officer Took Bribes To Smuggle Contraband To Inmates: Feds Essex County Correctional Officer Took Bribes To Smuggle Contraband To Inmates: Feds
Essex County Correctional Officer Took Bribes To Smuggle Contraband To Inmates: Feds A 36-year-old Jersey City resident and former Essex County correctional officer admitted on Wednesday, July 17, to accepting $14,000 in bribes to smuggle in tobacco and a cell phone to inmates, authorities said. In January 2023, Efrin Wade, who worked at the jail for three years, began communicating with an individual whom he believed was seeking to smuggle in contraband to sell to other inmates, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. The individual was actually an undercover FBI agent, Sellinger said. Wade agreed to smuggle in tobacco and cell phones, prohibited for inmates at the facil…
Ex-Deputy Mayor Of Newark Admits Taking $25K Bribe In Restaurant Bathroom: Feds Ex-Deputy Mayor Of Newark Admits Taking $25K Bribe In Restaurant Bathroom: Feds
Ex-Deputy Mayor Of Newark Admits Taking $25K Bribe In Restaurant Bathroom: Feds Carmelo Garcia, who previously served as deputy mayor of Newark and one term in the state General Assembly, admitted to taking $25,000 in bribes, federal authorities said.  Garcia, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiring with two Newark business owners to obtain corrupt payments intended to influence and reward him for assisting them with the acquisition and redevelopment of various city-owned properties while serving on the Newark Department Economic and Housing Development, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Between 2017 and 2019, Garcia sought and received significant mone…
Westchester Correction Officers, Employees Smuggled Contraband Into County Jail In Valhalla: DA Westchester Correction Officers, Employees Smuggled Contraband Into County Jail In Valhalla: DA
Westchester Correction Officers, Employees Smuggled Contraband Into County Jail In Valhalla: DA Six correction officers and civilian employees face charges after allegedly accepting bribes and smuggling contraband to inmates at two jails in Westchester, officials announced.  Five of the defendants, including three Westchester County corrections officers and two civilian employees, were arrested on Tuesday, June 11, and arraigned in Mount Pleasant Justice Court on Thursday, June 20, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced.  According to the DA's Office, the five defendants allegedly smuggled contraband to inmates at the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla.…
Embattled Senator Bob Menendez Announces Wife Has Breast Cancer Embattled Senator Bob Menendez Announces Wife Has Breast Cancer
Embattled Senator Bob Menendez Announces Wife Has Breast Cancer Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who is facing federal corruption charges said his wife, Nadine, is battling breast cancer. “Nadine is suffering from Grade 3 breast cancer, which will require her to have mastectomy surgery,” Menendez said. “We are of course, concerned about the seriousness and advanced stage of the disease. She will require follow up surgery and possibly radiation treatment.” Like her husband, Nadine Menendez is facing corruption and bribery charges. While the senator's trial is currently underway, her trial was pushed back due to medical concerns. Her trial is currently schedu…
Former Long Island Housing Chairman Sentenced For $800K Kickback Scam Former Long Island Housing Chairman Sentenced For $800K Kickback Scam
Former Long Island Housing Chairman Sentenced For $800K Kickback Scam An ex-chairman for a Long Island housing authority will spend 10 years behind bars for fraud after he schemed to make construction contracts in exchange for kickback payments. Cornell Bozier, age 63 of North Baldwin, received his sentence of 10 years in prison on Monday, March 11, according to the US Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Eastern District of New York. From 2011 to 2013, Bozier served as the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Village of Hempstead Housing Authority (VHHA), during which the department received nearly $1 million in federal funds. As the department was …
Two Paterson Inspectors Took Bribes For Permits: NJ Attorney General Two Paterson Inspectors Took Bribes For Permits: NJ Attorney General
Two Paterson Inspectors Took Bribes For Permits: NJ Attorney General Two Paterson housing and zoning inspectors were indicted on Tuesday, Feb. 20 for accepting bribes in exchange for issuing illegitimate building permits, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Jose Fermin, a 50-year-old Prospect Park resident and Jose Juan Guerrero-Cruz, a 44-year-old Florida resident carried out their scheme between Dec. 2020 and Feb. 2022,  producing bogus documents that including imitation signatures purportedly written by Paterson’s Planning and Zoning Director, Platkin said.  Guerrero-Cruz and Fermin would accept money in exchange for Fermin producing the…
Troopers Accused Of Taking Bribes Suspended Without Pay Troopers Accused Of Taking Bribes Suspended Without Pay
Troopers Accused Of Taking Bribes Suspended Without Pay Two Massachusetts State Troopers have been suspended without pay following a sweeping indictment accusing them and former troopers of taking bribes to pass unqualified drivers applying for commercial driver licenses.  Sergeant Gary Cederquist, of Stoughton, and Trooper Joel Rogers, of Bridgwater, were the two active-duty troopers placed on unpaid leave. They are among six people charged on three counts of conspiracy to falsify records, three counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, three counts of extortion, six counts of honest services mail fraud, 31 counts of falsification of record…
‘Golden Mess’: Mass State Troopers Took Bribes For Commercial Drivers Licenses, Feds Say ‘Golden Mess’: Mass State Troopers Took Bribes For Commercial Drivers Licenses, Feds Say
‘Golden Mess’: Mass State Troopers Took Bribes For Commercial Drivers Licenses, Feds Say Two current and two former Massachusetts State Police troopers are among six people charged in a 74-count indictment related to an alleged conspiracy to falsify records and give passing scores to Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants in exchange for bribes, officials said. Those applicants include people who failed or did not take the CDL skills test, according to Acting US Attorney Joshua Levy for the District of Massachusetts. Related: Man Turned Massachusetts College Jobs Into An Illegal Fortune, Now He's Going To Prison: Feds The following people were charged on three coun…
Shady Concert Venue Operator, Bar Owner Sentenced For Bribing DC Tax Official: Feds Shady Concert Venue Operator, Bar Owner Sentenced For Bribing DC Tax Official: Feds
Shady Concert Venue Operator, Bar Owner Sentenced For Bribing DC Tax Official: Feds Two men are heading to prison for their roles in separate conspiracies to evade tax obligations through bribes to a former DC Office of Tax and Revenue employee. Andre De Moya, 51, of Temple Hills, and District resident Davoud Jafari, 72, will possibly spend years behind bars for their respective roles in multi-year schemes, federal authorities announced on Thursday. Specifically, De Moya was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while Jafari was hit with 24 months for their roles in the schemes. In both schemes, the bribe payments and communications were facilitated by middleman Anthony Merri…
Former Metropolitan Police Officer Guilty Of Bribery Scheme Involving Crash Victims Former Metropolitan Police Officer Guilty Of Bribery Scheme Involving Crash Victims
Former Metropolitan Police Officer Guilty Of Bribery Scheme Involving Crash Victims A former Metropolitan Police Department patrol officer who provided confidential information to attorneys for referral fees, federal officials say. Vincent Forrest, 35, was convicted this week for his role in a bribery scheme where he illegally provided private information from police documents in exchange for cash payments. Forrest and Raquel DePaula, 43, of Beltsville, were indicted by a grand jury in June 2021. According to court documents, beginning in April 2019, Forrest accessed confidential information from MPD Traffic Accident Reports. Additionally, the former officer used hi…
Man Turned Massachusetts College Jobs Into An Illegal Fortune, Now He's Going To Prison: Feds Man Turned Massachusetts College Jobs Into An Illegal Fortune, Now He's Going To Prison: Feds
Man Turned Massachusetts College Jobs Into An Illegal Fortune, Now He's Going To Prison: Feds A 53-year-old Connecticut man will spend the next eight months in prison after he admitted to taking bribes to sell contracts to build, maintain, and repair three colleges in Massachusetts, federal authorities said.  Floyd Young, of the city of Shelton in Fairfield County, pleaded guilty in August 2020 to one count of conspiracy and three counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He was sentenced on Wednesday, Dec. 20.  Along with his prison term, Young must also forfeit $919,066, the amount of bribes he receiv…
Corrections Officer Accused Of Smuggling Cold Cuts, Espresso Into NJ Prison For Inmate Indicted Corrections Officer Accused Of Smuggling Cold Cuts, Espresso Into NJ Prison For Inmate Indicted
Corrections Officer Accused Of Smuggling Cold Cuts, Espresso Into NJ Prison For Inmate Indicted UPDATE: A corrections officer who was charged with collecting up to $500 a month in bribes to smuggle cold cuts, espresso, jewelry and cologne into a New Jersey prison for a convict known as “Tommy Two Times” is now under indictment. Werner Gramajo, a 46-year-old senior correctional officer at Northern State Prison in Newark, admitted only to delivering the pressed meats -- and not any of the other items -- after he was caught, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. Gramajo, of Newark, also claimed that he wasn’t paid for it, Platkin said in announcing the indictment on Wednes…
Duo Nabbed For Smuggling Contraband Into Sing Sing Correctional Facility For Money: DA Duo Nabbed For Smuggling Contraband Into Sing Sing Correctional Facility For Money: DA
Duo Nabbed For Smuggling Contraband Into Sing Sing Correctional Facility For Money: DA Two men, including a correction officer, are accused of working to smuggle contraband into a Northern Westchester prison in exchange for payment, officials announced.  The suspects, Irvington resident Jose Estevez-Luciano, age 33, and Sleepy Hollow resident Francis De La Cruz, age 24, both face charges related to their alleged scheme to smuggle contraband into Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday, Nov. 2.  According to the DA's Office, both men participated in their scheme between Thursday, O…
NJ Voters To Sen. Menendez: Resign NJ Voters To Sen. Menendez: Resign
NJ Voters To Sen. Menendez: Resign New Jersey residents have a very unfavorable view of Bob Menendez. A Stockton University poll found just eight percent of New Jersey residents support Menendez, who was recently indicted on federal bribery charges, along with his wife, Nadine.  The poll found more than 71 percent said he should resign, and only eight percent want him to remain in office. The call for his resignation was bipartisan, with 78 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of Republicans in support. The couple has denied the allegations in the indictment. A majority of his Democratic colleagues have called on the se…
Former State Employee, Brother Guilty Of Profiting From Pandemic In Maryland: AG Former State Employee, Brother Guilty Of Profiting From Pandemic In Maryland: AG
Former State Employee, Brother Guilty Of Profiting From Pandemic In Maryland: AG A former state employee in Maryland who conspired with his brother to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic will have time to ponder his decisions behind bars, the Attorney's General Office announced. James DiPino, 62, and Paul DiPino, Jr., 56, were sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but one year and one day suspended after admitting to bribery charges in connection to their procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said that in the spring of 2020, right as the the pandemic was becoming a national concern, James DiPino …
Former FBI Special Agent From MD, DC Realtor Get Prison Time For Bribery Scheme Former FBI Special Agent From MD, DC Realtor Get Prison Time For Bribery Scheme
Former FBI Special Agent From MD, DC Realtor Get Prison Time For Bribery Scheme A former FBI special agent found himself on the wrong side of the law after conspiring with a DC real estate developer to share confidential information, authorities announced. David Paitsel, 42, formerly of Prince George's County, and Brian Bailey, a DC real estate developer have both been sentenced to years in prison and ordered to pay hefty fines for their roles in the schemes involving confidential details held by the DC Department of Housing and Community Development.  Paitsel, who now lives in North Carolina, was sentenced to 24 months, while Bailey, of Upper Marlboro, was hit wi…