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Financial Crimes Unit

Police Recover $49K Taken From Bay Shore Resident In Scam Police Recover $49K Taken From Bay Shore Resident In Scam
Police Recover $49K Taken From Bay Shore Resident In Scam Police recovered nearly $50,000 that was taken from a Long Island man in a scam earlier this week. An 89-year-old Melville resident called a number he found on the Internet on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at approximately 1:30 p.m. to help him with a computer password problem.  The person on the phone convinced him that his bank accounts had been hacked and that he needed to remove his money from the bank, according to Suffolk County Police. The victim was instructed to lie about why he withdrew his money and was told that the bank officials were involved in the theft.  The…
'Coordinated Scam': Police Intercept Monetary Exchange Targeting North Amityville Woman 'Coordinated Scam': Police Intercept Monetary Exchange Targeting North Amityville Woman
'Coordinated Scam': Police Intercept Monetary Exchange Targeting North Amityville Woman A suspect has been nabbed in connection with a computer scam that defrauded a Long Island woman of thousands of dollars.  Detectives said they believe it's a coordinated scheme involving multiple people. According to Suffolk County Police, a 65-year-old North Amityville resident received an alert on her computer informing her to contact Apple Support.  The woman called the number and was informed that her bank accounts had been hacked, and she had been charged $12,000.  To halt the reported withdrawal and fix the purported hack, she agreed to meet a courier a…
Financial Controller Uses Bogus Bonuses, More To Embezzle $1M From Bergen Biz: Prosecutor Financial Controller Uses Bogus Bonuses, More To Embezzle $1M From Bergen Biz: Prosecutor
Financial Controller Uses Bogus Bonuses, More To Embezzle $1M From Bergen Biz: Prosecutor A 62-year-old financial controller from Oakland embezzled $1 million from a Bergen County-based business, authorities charged. Charles J. Vincent, 62, “used his position as financial controller to divert approximately one million dollars belonging to his employer to his personal control,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said on Wednesday, Oct. 4. “The theft occurred over an extended period and employed several deliberate methods of diversion,” the prosecutor said. “These included large unauthorized payments to himself disguised as bonuses, as well as payments from company accounts to …
$5,000 Cash Package Intercepted On Long Island, Part Of Scam: Police $5,000 Cash Package Intercepted On Long Island, Part Of Scam: Police
$5,000 Cash Package Intercepted On Long Island, Part Of Scam: Police Police believe the woman who sent it was scammed. A package sent from nearly 180 miles away was intercepted by Suffolk County police on Wednesday, April 26 at 11:40 a.m., the department reported. Inside the package, which was wrapped like a present, detectives found $5,000 cash. The shipment was sent by a 79-year-old woman from Olyphant, Pennsylvania, who reportedly told police she sent the package after she received a call directing her to mail the money to an address in Coram. The money is being returned to the victim. According to police, the woman did not provide any further info…
Jersey Shore Cyberthief Swipes $300,000 From Bergen Retiree's Account: It Happens A Lot Jersey Shore Cyberthief Swipes $300,000 From Bergen Retiree's Account: It Happens A Lot
Jersey Shore Cyberthief Swipes $300,000 From Bergen Retiree's Account: It Happens A Lot An unemployed cyberthief from the Jersey Shore swiped more than $300,000 from an elderly Lodi resident’s retirement account after stealing the victim’s identity, authorities charged. Joseph Bilotta, 65, hijacked the online account, along with others in New Jersey and Maryland, “to fund his lifestyle,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Lodi police notified members of the prosecutor’s Financial Crimes Unit of the account takeover scheme in 2021, Musella said. They arrested Bilotta on theft charges following an investigation and sent him to the Bergen County Jail only to have a judg…
HEARTLESS: NJ Woman, 22, Charged With Conning Elderly Man In Grandparent Scam HEARTLESS: NJ Woman, 22, Charged With Conning Elderly Man In Grandparent Scam
Heartless: NJ Woman, 22, Charged With Conning Elderly Man In Grandparent Scam Authorities have charged a 22-year-old Paterson woman with scamming an elderly Florida resident who was told that his son-in-law needed bail money. Flor Loveras was charged with theft by deception and conspiracy following a lengthy investigation that began more than three years ago, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. She was released pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Paterson sometime before the end of the month, the prosecutor said on Monday, Feb. 13. The 76-year-old victim was contacted in October 2019 by someone claiming to be a bail bonds…
Construction Company Co-Owner Sentenced In South Jersey Tax Evasion, Theft Case Construction Company Co-Owner Sentenced In South Jersey Tax Evasion, Theft Case
Construction Company Co-Owner Sentenced In South Jersey Tax Evasion, Theft Case A 67-year-old Atlantic County man was sentenced to five years probation in connection with theft and tax evasion at a family-owned construction company. Pat L. Christopher, of Hammonton, was a former co-owner of the Christopher Construction Company, LLC. The victims, Dennis and Robert Christopher, were also co-owners of the business and the defendant’s brothers. They still maintain possession and control of Christopher Construction Company, LLC. An investigation conducted by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Financial Crimes Unit, specifically by Detective Kimberly McColligan, revea…
Police Warn Of Scams After Intercepting Cash Shipments On Long Island Police Warn Of Scams After Intercepting Cash Shipments On Long Island
Police Warn Of Scams After Intercepting Cash Shipments On Long Island Police are investigating two scams after intercepting shipments of thousands of dollars sent to addresses on Long Island. The Suffolk County Police Department reported that in the first case, a man contacted a 77-year-old Oklahoma woman on Tuesday, March 15, and claimed her grandson was arrested for running a red light in Kansas. The woman was told to send $4,000 to an address in Huntington Station so she could pay her grandson's bail, SCPD reported.  In the second case, a 66-year-old Maryland man received an email that said his computer had been infected with a virus and tech support…
Maryland Scam Victim Swindled Out Of Thousands Speaks Out (AUDIO) Maryland Scam Victim Swindled Out Of Thousands Speaks Out (AUDIO)
Maryland Scam Victim Swindled Out Of Thousands Speaks Out (Audio) A Maryland victim of a "Grandparent Scam" swindled out of thousands of dollars is speaking out, and police are cracking down on the suspect. The Prince George’s County Police Department received three reports of this scam since Jan. 20. In two of those cases, the scammers successfully stole thousands of dollars from their victims. In many “Grandparent Scam” cases, the suspects call an elderly victim and pretend to be one of their grandchildren who was just involved in a serious event such as a car crash or were arrested.  The person posing as the grandchild gives the victim a phone number…
Police Investigating Scam After Man Sent $8K In Cash To Suffolk Home Police Investigating Scam After Man Sent $8K In Cash To Suffolk Home
Police Investigating Scam After Man Sent $8K In Cash To Suffolk Home Police have asked the public for information after a 75-year-old man sent more than $8,000 in cash to a Long Island home because he was targeted by scammers. Southampton Village Police were notified that the New Mexico resident shipped $8,500 to a Southampton home because he thought he was a lottery winner and needed to pay fees to collect his prize, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. SCPD said officers waited at the home after the package was delivered at about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9, but no one came to retrieve it. Authorities asked anyone with information or who …
Teaneck Woman Assumes Dead Brother's ID To Get $20G In Social Security, Authorities Charge Teaneck Woman Assumes Dead Brother's ID To Get $20G In Social Security, Authorities Charge
Teaneck Woman Assumes Dead Brother's ID To Get $20G In Social Security, Authorities Charge A home health care worker from Teaneck assumed her dead brother’s identity to collect more than $20,000 in Social Security disability money, authorities charged. Wanda Lynn Sermon, 55, “failed to notify the Social Security Administration of her brother’s death and instead assumed control of his bank account,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Wednesday. For the next 16 months, Musella said, Sermon “continued to access Social Security disability benefit funds intended for [him],” pocketing $20,438 in the process. Detectives from his Financial Crimes Unit began investigating this su…
Passaic County Executor Charged With Pocketing $75,000 Passaic County Executor Charged With Pocketing $75,000
Passaic County Executor Charged With Pocketing $75,000 An estate executor from Passaic County diverted $75,000 for her own entertainment, to pay credit card bills and for other personal purposes, authorities charged. Nancy Williams, 64, “was responsible for distributing the assets of the estate to the beneficiary,” Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. “Instead, Williams illegally took the assets of the estate and converted the assets to her own use” for two years, beginning in August 2016, Valdes said. Members of her Financial Crimes Unit charged Williams with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, misapplication of entrust…
Bookkeeper Charged With Embezzling $75,000 From Passaic County Tile, Grout Company Bookkeeper Charged With Embezzling $75,000 From Passaic County Tile, Grout Company
Bookkeeper Charged With Embezzling $75,000 From Passaic County Tile, Grout Company The bookkeeper at a Passaic County tile and grout company embezzled more than $75,000 from her employer, authorities charged. Yvette Tripicchio, 47, of Hawthorne, was charged with two counts of theft in an indictment returned by a grand jury in Paterson, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Tripicchio deposited checks from GSD Industries in Pompton Lakes into her personal bank accounts, then “tampered with company records in an attempt to hide the theft,” the prosecutor said.  Valdes didn't disclose the suspected motive. Records show Tripicchio had taken a job as a lunch…
Prosecutor: Moonachie Fashion Warehouse Worker Swipes $300,000 In Merch With Shipping Scheme Prosecutor: Moonachie Fashion Warehouse Worker Swipes $300,000 In Merch With Shipping Scheme
Prosecutor: Moonachie Fashion Warehouse Worker Swipes $300,000 In Merch With Shipping Scheme A Hudson County man working at a fashion company’s Moonachie warehouse stole $300,000 worth of merchandise that he had delivered to various addresses, authorities charged. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Moonachie police pointed detectives from his Financial Crimes Unit to Isaac Martinez, 19, after discovering the thefts from the multi-national company in March. They, in turn, arrested Martinez, of Polk Street, on charges of conspiracy to commit theft by deception. He was released pending a July 7 first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Woman Accused Of Stealing More Than $3K From Person She Cared For, Police Say Woman Accused Of Stealing More Than $3K From Person She Cared For, Police Say
Woman Accused Of Stealing More Than $3K From Person She Cared For, Police Say A Hudson Valley caregiver has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $3,000 from a person she cared for by forging checks. Shawna Lowe, age 37, of Dover, was arrested on Monday, June 14, by New York State Police following an investigation by the Financial Crimes Unit, said Trooper AJ Hicks. An investigation determined Lowe stole over $3,000 using forged checks belonging to the victim she was employed to care for, Hicks aid. Lowe was charged with 26 counts of possession of a forged instrument and grand larceny. She was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in …
Prosecutor: Bean Counter Embezzled $1.1M From Bergen Firm With 'Ghost' Workers, Other Tricks Prosecutor: Bean Counter Embezzled $1.1M From Bergen Firm With 'Ghost' Workers, Other Tricks
Prosecutor: Bean Counter Embezzled $1.1M From Bergen Firm With 'Ghost' Workers, Other Tricks A bookkeeper from Hasbrouck Heights embezzled $1.1 million from a Bogota-based carpentry company by creating “ghost employees,” among other methods, authorities charged. Maribel Rios, 51 – also known as Maribel Roche – “engaged in various schemes” to “manipulate the company payroll system” over a three-year period, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Thursday. The prosecutor said these included: issuing payroll deposits to “ghost employees”; issuing company checks to accounts that she controlled; manipulating accounting software to justify the checks. Then she used the money on h…
Long Island Man Posing As Amazon Employee Attempted To Scam Nearly $20K Long Island Man Posing As Amazon Employee Attempted To Scam Nearly $20K
Long Island Man Posing As Amazon Employee Attempted To Scam Nearly $20K A Long Island man was arrest for attempting to scam nearly $20,000 from an out-of-state resident. The victim, an 89-year-old man who lives in Jackson, Mississippi, was contacted by an individual claiming to be an Amazon employee, Suffolk County Police said.  The individual attempted to convince the victim thousands of dollars had been inadvertently refunded to his account from Amazon, according to police. The victim was directed to send $19,650 to a business believed to be Amazon, located on Sunrise Highway in Copiague.   After sending the cash, the Suffolk County Poli…
Bergen Prosecutor: Feds Capture Parolee In $500,000 Ponzi Scheme Bergen Prosecutor: Feds Capture Parolee In $500,000 Ponzi Scheme
Bergen Prosecutor: Feds Capture Parolee In $500,000 Ponzi Scheme U.S. Marshals captured an ex-con who ran a Ponzi scheme while on federal probation that swindled a Fort Lee investor, among others, out of more than $500,000, authorities said. Giuseppe Valentino, 52, “solicited multiple investors in his company, Rhineau LLC, by representing that he had developed a proprietary algorithm for the execution of binary options,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Wednesday. A judge issued a warrant for Valentino’s arrest in March after Financial Crimes Unit detectives found that he’d collected a half-million dollars that he used for himself without inves…
13 Nabbed In $1 Million Long Island Tax Fraud Scheme 13 Nabbed In $1 Million Long Island Tax Fraud Scheme
13 Nabbed In $1 Million Long Island Tax Fraud Scheme Thirteen people were arrested and charged on a 108-count indictment on Wednesday for their roles in a massive tax fraud scheme that involved at least 10 suspects on Long Island. Prosecutors in Suffolk County announced on Wednesday, Sept. 23 that they’ve charged 13 people in a scheme that net them more than $1 million by stealing personal identification to create new identifies that were used to get loans and credit cards. The scheme targeted at least 20 people on Long Island and more than a dozen banks. It is alleged that the fraudsters stole Social Security numbers from vulnerable parties…
Jersey Shore's Golden Goose Store Owner Charged With Stealing $263,000 In Customers' Jewels Jersey Shore's Golden Goose Store Owner Charged With Stealing $263,000 In Customers' Jewels
Jersey Shore's Golden Goose Store Owner Charged With Stealing $263,000 In Customers' Jewels The owner of Golden Goose jewelry store in Monmouth County was charged with theft on Thursday after failing to return jewelry worth at least $263,000, authorities said.  The fine jewelry was left at his store in Rumson on consignment or for redesign, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. Anthony Goltsch, of Manchester Township in Ocean County -- who owns The Golden Goose jewelry store at 7 West River Road in Rumson -- was charged with "theft by failure to make required disposition of property received," Gramiccioni said. If convic…
Bookkeeper From Paterson Charged With Embezzling $100,000 From Bergen Food Distributor Bookkeeper From Paterson Charged With Embezzling $100,000 From Bergen Food Distributor
Bookkeeper From Paterson Charged With Embezzling $100,000 From Bergen Food Distributor A bookkeeper from Paterson embezzled $100,000 from a Bergen County food distributor that she worked for, authorities charged. Stefany Carolina Urias “took customer payments via checks and money orders without her employer’s authorization,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. She then “altered and deposited” checks and money orders made payable to the wholesale food distribution company into her account, he said. Musella’s Financial Crimes Unit arrested Urias in Passaic on charges of theft, forgery, falsifying records and criminal computer activity, the prosecutor said. She was pro…
Feds Snatch Garfield Lawyer Charged With Swiping $100,000 From Client Feds Snatch Garfield Lawyer Charged With Swiping $100,000 From Client
Feds Snatch Garfield Lawyer Charged With Swiping $100,000 From Client A Garfield lawyer who authorities said pocketed $100,000 from a client was seized by federal agents at JFK Airport as he got off a flight from Colombia, authorities said. Then he smiled for his mugshot. Alfredo Ramos, 38, was extradited to New Jersey, booked into the Bergen County Jail on Friday and then ordered released by a judge the next day on charges of misapplication of entrusted property, records show. The self-employed, 6-foot, 300-pound Ramos “received the funds into his attorney trust account but, instead of forwarding them to the client, used them for his own purposes, Acting Ber…
Prosecutor: Cresskill 'Girl Friday' Embezzles $1 Million-Plus From Employer Prosecutor: Cresskill 'Girl Friday' Embezzles $1 Million-Plus From Employer
Prosecutor: Cresskill 'Girl Friday' Embezzles $1 Million-Plus From Employer A now-former administrative assistant from Cresskill embezzled more than $1 million from her Bergen County employer by writing and cashing checks and then cooking the books, authorities said. Tina Madison, 56, took the money over the course of nearly eight years, forging signatures and endorsements and then either cashing or depositing the checks in her own account, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo said. “To conceal the theft, Madison altered the victim’s bank statements, which she would then file for record-keeping purposes,” Calo said. Madison, of Poplar street, was charged wi…
Prosecutor: Bank Worker, BF Took $375G From Late Teaneck Resident's Estate Prosecutor: Bank Worker, BF Took $375G From Late Teaneck Resident's Estate
Prosecutor: Bank Worker, BF Took $375G From Late Teaneck Resident's Estate A bank employee and her boyfriend stole $375,000 from the estate of a recently deceased Teaneck resident, said authorities who busted them. Shannell Griggs of Syracuse, NY, “used the bank’s computerized account and customer service systems to access and take over the victim’s bank accounts,” Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo said Friday. She and Givonni Butler of Passaic then stole the deceased’s money “through a combination of illicit debit card purchases, cash withdrawals, wire transfers, and cashier check purchases,” Calo said. The executor alerted members of the prosecutor’s …
Prosecutor: Con Man Pocketed Passaic County Investor's $100,000 Prosecutor: Con Man Pocketed Passaic County Investor's $100,000
Prosecutor: Con Man Pocketed Passaic County Investor's $100,000 A con artist pocketed $100,000 that he'd promised to invest from a Passaic County victim, authorities charged. Joseph A. Tahmoosh, 50, of Budd Lake, created a shell company called SNL Management LLC, then told the victim in December 2013 that he would "invest and manage the money on the individual’s behalf through SNL Management LLC," Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said Friday. Tahmoosh converted the money over the next two years for his personal use, Valdes said investigators from her Financial Crimes Unit found. He then "provided the individual with fraudulent…