Prosecutor: Central Jersey Man Swindled $1.1M From Investors Prosecutor: Central Jersey Man Swindled $1.1M From Investors
Prosecutor: Central Jersey Man Swindled $1.1M From Investors A Central Jersey man is accused of stealing $1.1 million from investors, authorities said. Anthony Giordano of Freehold Township stole approximately $1,100,000 between January 2015 and July of 2018 from five victims through use of fraudulent stock purchase agreements and promissory notes, and used the funds for his own personal benefit, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. Giordano turned himself in to the Freehold Township Police Department on Thursday and was charged with second-degree theft by deception and second-degree misconduct …
Ex-LI Liquor Distributor Sentenced For Defrauding Investors In Product Featured On 'Shark Tank' Ex-LI Liquor Distributor Sentenced For Defrauding Investors In Product Featured On 'Shark Tank'
Ex-LI Liquor Distributor Sentenced For Defrauding Investors In Product Featured On 'Shark Tank' A former liquor distributor on Long Island whose product was featured on the TV show “Shark Tank” will spend time in prison after being sentenced for defrauding investors. Joseph Falcone, 60, who formerly operated a wine and liquor distribution business known as 3G’s Vino was sentenced to two years in prison for wire fraud in connection to his fraud scheme. In addition to his prison sentence, Falcone was also ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution to seven investigators following his guilty plea last June. Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said that in December 2012, Falcone establis…
Former Broker From Long Island Accused Of Swindling $1M From Friends, Neighbors Former Broker From Long Island Accused Of Swindling $1M From Friends, Neighbors
Former Broker From Long Island Accused Of Swindling $1M From Friends, Neighbors A former investment broker from Long Island has been accused of using a fake hedge fund to fleece friends and neighbors out of more than $1 million in a Ponzi scheme. Rand Heckler, 55, of Glen Head, allegedly used his clients’ money – more than $1 million – to pay for his mortgage, country club membership and other expenses, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. Heckler was arraigned on Wednesday, Sept. 30 in Mineola and charged with: three counts of grand larceny in the second degree (a Class C felony),  grand larceny in the third degree (a Class D felony), sc…
Long Island Man Charged With Stealing $45K In Investment Scheme Long Island Man Charged With Stealing $45K In Investment Scheme
Long Island Man Charged With Stealing $45K In Investment Scheme A Long Island man is facing charges for allegedly stealing more than $45,000 from a former family friend's widow that was earmarked for investment opportunities, the DA announced. Huntington resident Craig Stone, 64, was arraigned on Thursday, Sept. 24 on a grand larceny charge for allegedly stealing $45,450 as part of an investment scheme to defraud a former friend. Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said that between 2013 and 2015, Stone’s victim, a former family friend, gave him the money to invest in “real estate vehicles” that had a guaranteed return of between 10 and 11 p…
Bergen-Based Debt Reliever From Wayne Admits Scamming Victims Out Of $5 Million Bergen-Based Debt Reliever From Wayne Admits Scamming Victims Out Of $5 Million
Bergen-Based Debt Reliever From Wayne Admits Scamming Victims Out Of $5 Million A Bergen County lending company founder from Wayne who promised to help desperate, low-income customers pay off crushing loans admitted Thursday that he pushed them even further into debt while pocketing more than $5 million. Edward Espinal, 44, of Wayne, who pleaded guilty videoconference to securities fraud and conspiracy in exchange for leniency at sentencing, is “the quintessential con artist,” Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski said. “He played a shell game with other people’s hard-earned money, making promises he never intended to keep, and walking away with ill-gott…
Morristown Adviser In Investment Scams Fined $750,000, Loses Registration Morristown Adviser In Investment Scams Fined $750,000, Loses Registration
Morristown Adviser In Investment Scams Fined $750,000, Loses Registration A Morristown investment adviser was fined $750,000 and had his registration pulled for selling more than $12 million of unregistered securities in New Jersey, some of which were tied to Ponzi schemes and other scams, state authorities said Tuesday. Gary Scheer, managing member and sole investment adviser representative of Retirement Financial Advisors, LLC in Morristown, recommended and sold unregistered securities to at least 50 investors from 2010 through 2018, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. He made more than $600,000 in commissions on the sales, which involved franchises, …
Ex-Long Island Investment Advisor Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme Ex-Long Island Investment Advisor Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme
Ex-Long Island Investment Advisor Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme An investment advisor from Long Island will spend more than a decade behind bars for his role in defrauding his elderly victims in a multimillion-dollar scheme, U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue announced. East Setauket resident Steven Pagartanis, 60, was sentenced to a term of 170 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $6.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty in December to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for orchestrating a securities fraud scheme over the course of 18 years.   “Today’s sentence is a well-deserved reckoning for Pagartanis, who preyed on el…
Stamford Man Sentenced For $2M Investment Scheme Stamford Man Sentenced For $2M Investment Scheme
Stamford Man Sentenced For $2M Investment Scheme The former CEO of a Fairfield County business has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison after being convicted of defrauding investors of more than $2 million, including several women he met on an online dating website. Stamford resident Thomas Connerton, the founder, president, and CEO of Safety Technologies, LLC, which operated out of Westport, Stamford, Madison, and Simsbury, was found guilty in federal court for his role in a $2 million investment scheme. On Thursday, Dec. 19, Connerton was sentenced to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for hi…
CT Financial Advisor, Securities Broker Admits Misappropriating Client Funds CT Financial Advisor, Securities Broker Admits Misappropriating Client Funds
CT Financial Advisor, Securities Broker Admits Misappropriating Client Funds A Connecticut financial advisor and securities broker admitted to misappropriating $575,000 from investment clients during a seven-year scheme. Lester Burroughs, 60, of Torrington, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 4 in Bridgeport district court to one count of wire fraud while he was the owner of Burroughs Financial Group in Torrington. Between 2012 and November this year, Burroughs, who was a registered securities broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority misrepresented to clients that their money would be invested in legitimate, guaranteed investment contracts. Instead, Bu…
Milford Man Sentenced For Defrauding Elderly Person Milford Man Sentenced For Defrauding Elderly Person
Milford Man Sentenced For Defrauding Elderly Person A Connecticut ma is going to spend time behind bars after being sentenced for defrauding an elderly man out of $60,000 through a fraud and money laundering scheme. Milford resident Christopher Sakelarakis, 35, has been sentenced to a term of 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for an investment scheme that defrauded his elderly victim out of tens of thousands of dollars. Sakelarakis “held himself out as having the necessary qualifications, experience, and abilities to provide investment services to a victim-investor.” Sakelarakis claimed that he had multiple i…
Broker From Livingston Stole $270K From Elderly Couple Broker From Livingston Stole $270K From Elderly Couple
Broker From Livingston Stole $270K From Elderly Couple An investment broker must pay restitution to an elderly widow after admitting he stole more than a quarter of a million dollars from her and her husband, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Monday. Michael Alan Siegel, 62, of Livingston, who pleaded guilty to theft by deception in Essex County Superior Court, is scheduled to be sentenced in September. Prosecutors wilk ask for a three-year sentence. Siegel was friends with the couple when he suggested they transfer their investment accounts, which totaled more than $2 million, to the brokerage Siegel went to work for in 2013. The husband…
CT Investment Adviser Found Guilty Of $1.5M Ponzi-Like Fraud Scene CT Investment Adviser Found Guilty Of $1.5M Ponzi-Like Fraud Scene
CT Investment Adviser Found Guilty Of $1.5M Ponzi-Like Fraud Scene A Connecticut jury has found a former investment adviser guilty on all counts of a 21-count indictment accusing him of running a Ponzi-like scheme to the tune of $1.5 million. Leon Vaccarelli, 42, has been found guilty in New Haven district court of numerous fraud and money laundering charges stemming from an elaborate investment scheme that saw him defraud more than a dozen victim investors. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Vaccarelli, of Waterbury, was a registered representative of The Investment Center, and was an investment adviser with IC Advisory Services, Inc. He also was the own…