‘Government Agents’ Were Actually Rutherford Brothers In $400K Senior Scam, Prosecutors Say
Two New Jersey brothers are accused of running a scam that stole nearly $400,000 from elderly victims in New York and Connecticut, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Monday, Aug. 25.
Abhishek Barvalia, 31, and Tushar Barvalia, 32, of Rutherfo, were indicted on charges of second-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, and fourth-degree conspiracy, Gonzalez said. They were released without bail after being arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court and are due back Oct. 22.
Prosecutors say the scam ran from June 2023 to January 2024, targeting women ages 76, 78, 83, and 90 i…
Waterbury Woman ‘Thunder’ Led Stolen Check Scheme Targeting Local Businesses: Feds
A Waterbury woman known as “Thunder” is accused of leading a stolen check and bank fraud scheme that targeted small businesses across Connecticut, federal officials said.
Michelle Freeman, 37, of Waterbury, along with Leshanda Long, 43, of Hamden, and Omar Eaddy, 40, of Bridgeport, have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Each faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
According to prosecutors, Freeman, Long, and Eaddy carried out a scheme that involved stealing checks from mailboxes, altering them, and using “check runners” to cash them at banks and check-cashing…
Too Good To Be True: Lyndhurst Man Fooled Into $75K Scam Over Months, Cops Say
A $75,000 scam that spanned three months ended with an arrest in Lyndhurst, police said.
A township resident reported on Tuesday, Aug. 12, that they had fallen victim to an unsolicited scam beginning April 20, according to Chief Richard Jarvis. Over the next several months, the victim transferred money both digitally and in person, believing they were participating in an investment opportunity, Jarvis said.
Detective Michael Giangeruso was assigned to the case and identified a pattern in how the organized criminal enterprise was operating, police said. On Friday, Aug. 22, at approximately 9…
Current, Former Sjta Board Members Indicted in Retaliation, Perjury Case: NJ AG
A state grand jury has indicted a current and a former member of the South Jersey Transportation Authority Board of Commissioners, alleging they plotted to prevent the SJTA from paying an engineering firm and lied in grand jury testimony all over a feud involving the Mercer County Executive's race, authorities announced Thursday, Aug. 14.
Christopher Milam, 46, a former vice chairman and current commissioner and former Board Commissioner Bryan Bush, 53, both residents of Sewell, are charged with conspiracy, official misconduct and perjury, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
B…
Pair Steals $80K From Saratoga County Senior In Computer Scam, Police Say
Two downstate residents are accused of scamming a Saratoga County senior out of more than $80,000 in cash and gift cards, then returning to collect another $30,000 before being arrested.
Chuncheng Lin, 26, of Brooklyn, and Hui Lin, 40, of Flushing, were arrested Thursday, July 31, following a joint investigation by New York State Police and the US Department of Homeland Security.
The case began Monday, June 30, when an elderly Saratoga County resident reported being targeted in a computer scam, according to New York State Police.
The victim told troopers they were first two weeks earlier v…
Ex-Mass State Trooper Guilty In CDL Bribery Scandal Gets Month In Prison: Feds
A former Massachusetts State Police trooper has been sentenced for his involvement in a scheme to falsify records related to Commercial Driver’s License applicants, impacting public safety in the process.
Perry Mendes, 64, of Wareham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to one month in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, with the first two months on home confinement. The government had recommended a year behind bars.
In July 2025, Mendes pleaded guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to falsify records, falsifying records, and making fals…
Serial Burglar, Juvenile Nabbed For Stealing 2 BMWs: Fairfield PD
A 22-year-old Newark resident and a 17-year-old were arrested and charged with stealing two BMWs in Fairfield, authorities announced Thursday, Aug. 7.
On Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 7:57 a.m., officers responded to Colt Street for a report of a motor vehicle stolen from a driveway of a home overnight, Fairfield police said.
Altamir Thornton and the juvenile entered the home through a window and stole cash and a key fob to a 2024 BMW X7M, police said. The vehicle, along with a BMW X5 were later spotted in Glen Avenue that day. The BMW X5 was stolen from Piscataway, police said.
The two BM…
