Failing Area Restaurateur, Family Member, Facing Life In Prison For Arson, Insurance Fraud
A failing restaurateur who conspired with members of his family to burn down his Hudson Valley business as part of an insurance fraud scheme is facing a host of charges, authorities announced.
Orange County resident Zef Gjurashaj, age 59, of Newburgh, and his nephew’s wife, Yonkers resident Marina Gjurashaj, age 37, were indicted and charged with a series of crimes for allegedly conspiring to burn down his restaurant in 2017.
Specifically, the two were charged by an Orange County grand jury with:
First-degree arson;
Conspiracy;
Insurance fraud;
Tax fraud;
Various other offenses.
Orange C…
NJ Man Stole Nearly $57K From Hackettstown Livestock Auction, Prosecutor Says
A New Jersey man was charged after stealing nearly $57,000 from Hackettstown Livestock Auction Cooperative, authorities said.
Howard Hoffman, 66, of Annandale, was charged with theft by unlawful taking and filing a false tax return on Wednesday, according to the Warren County Prosector's Office.
The prosecutor's office launched an investigation after cooperative members told them that they were missing approximately $57,000 in cash payments due from customers for livestock purchased at auction between 2016 and 2017.
Hoffman, the cooperative's auction master, was responsible for t…
Jersey Shore Contractor Admits Ducking $609,668 In Employment, Personal Income Taxes
The owner of a Jersey Shore construction and demolition company admitted in federal court Wednesday that he ducked employment and personal income taxes.
Peter Alvarez, 54, of Atlantic Highlands didn’t report income from clients’ checks that he cashed and then used, in part, to pay employees at Mr. Demo, a construction and demolition business that he owned and operated in Leonardo, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said.
Rather than face a trial, Alvarez took a deal from federal prosecutors.
In exchange for leniency, the Middletown native pleaded guilty to evading employment and person…
PA Restaurant Owner Arrested By Feds For PPP Scam Could Get 90 Years In Prison, $2.6 Mil. Fine
A restaurant owner has been arrested for bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with federal loans he obtained, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Scott Levy, 58, of Harrisburg, applied for PPP loans on behalf of his business, Hershey Road Family Restaurant, and received $227,500 in loans from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the DOJ.
The restaurant closed in July of 2020.
Levy is accused of spending the majority of those funds on his personal expenses.
The case alleges Levy transferred the…
