Couple Accused Of Posing As Pro Sports Players To Make Millions
A couple allegedly had a bold game plan: pretend to be the next big thing in professional sports and let the money roll in.
Albert Paul Weber, 42, of Harvey, Louisiana, and Cyntrelle Lash, 39, of New Orleans, were indicted on Friday, April 24, on federal charges tied to a long-running scheme to impersonate professional athletes and pocket millions in fraudulent loans, the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana, announced.
According to court documents, Weber, Lash, and their coconspirators targeted athletes who were on the verge of being drafted by NBA and NFL teams and stood to…
Glen Rock Accountant Admits $10M Ponzi Scheme, Bank Fraud, Feds Say
A Bergen County accountant and tax preparer admitted in federal court Tuesday, Feb. 17, to running a Ponzi and bank fraud scheme that bilked victims out of more than $10 million, authorities said.
Evangelos Drosos, 51, of Glen Rock, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in federal court in Trenton to three counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of failure to file an individual income tax return, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello said.
Drosos was first charged by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office last April with stealing nearly half a m…
Bensalem Doctor Flooded Patients With 20K Oxycodone Pills In Health Care Fraud Scheme: DOJ
A physician forced patients into taking unwanted “Goody Bags” of drugs to get prescriptions, flooding them with oxycodone and defrauding health care plans out of millions, federal prosecutors said.
Neil K. Anand, M.D., 48, most recently of Bensalem, PA, but originally from Albany, NY, was convicted in April 2025 of conspiring to commit health care fraud, wire fraud, and the unlawful distribution of controlled substances. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Evidence at trial showed Anand and his conspirators require…
Ex-Eagles RB Wendell Smallwood Jr. Sentenced For Covid-19, Tax Fraud After Super Bowl Win
Wendell Smallwood Jr., a former Philadelphia Eagles running back and Super Bowl champion, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the IRS in Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday, Sept. 18, according to federal court documents obtained by Daily Voice.
U.S. District Senior Judge Richard G. Andrews also ordered Smallwood, 31, to repay the government $645,000. The punishment comes after Smallwood pleaded guilty in December 2024 to orchestrating schemes that defrauded COVID-19 relief programs and the IRS.
Smallwood earned about…
Lancaster Woman Defrauds Veterans Groups Out Of $1.4M, Sentenced To Prison: FBI
A Lancaster woman who defrauded two nonprofit veterans organizations out of more than $1.4 million has been sentenced to prison, federal prosecutors announced on Friday, Sept. 5.
Jessika L. Hiepler, 47, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, and restitution of $432,925.35, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Court records show Hiepler pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud last September after being charged in August 2024. She also agreed to a forfeiture money …
Duo Falsified Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Inspections Across Westchester, Feds Say
A Putnam County man and a North Carolina resident have been charged in a federal fraud case accusing them of falsifying hundreds of critical safety inspections on natural gas pipelines in Westchester County and New York City, prosecutors announced.
Michael Vasconcellos, 44, of Mahopac, and Liam Treibert, 30, of Wendell, North Carolina, were indicted on charges of wire fraud, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday, Aug. 28.
Both men were arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 27: Treibert in North Carolina, where he will appear before a federal judge i…
'Our Pesticides Kill COVID:' Cherry Hill Biotech Founder, Philly Firm Hit With Federal Charges
A New Jersey man and the Philadelphia-based biotech company he founded are accused of selling pesticides with false claims that they could kill the virus that causes COVID-19, federal prosecutors said.
James Young, 46, of Cherry Hill — founder of ViaClean Technologies, LLC — was charged by indictment with conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, mail fraud, and violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
Sean Storrie, 59, of Philadelphia, was also charged with FIFRA violations, prosecutors said.
The indictm…
$140K Fraud Committed By Former PA Senator's Aide Scamming Church, Supporters
A former aide to Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes admitted to stealing more than $140,000 from a North Philadelphia church where he was a deacon and from a city political ward he led, the FBI announced on Saturday, Aug. 2.
Willie Jordan, 68, of Upper Darby, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III to two counts of wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 30.
From 2020 to 2024, Jordan exploited his roles at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and Philadelphia’s 44th Ward for personal benefit, court d…
$1.4M Maryland Fraud: Couple Lived Large With Cruises, Exotic Birds, Home Renovations: Feds
A South Carolina husband and wife lived it up for more than a decade — jetting off on cruises, renovating their home, spoiling their pets, and racking up six figures at Walmart — all on the dime of a Maryland business they targeted in a $1.4 million fraud scheme, federal prosecutors said.
Robin Joseph, 64, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, was sentenced on Monday, July 28, to 39 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in the massive embezzlement and identity theft scheme, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Joseph …
George Santos Surrenders To NJ Prison: Inside His New Life Behind Bars
Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos is officially trading Cameo videos for commissary lines.
The ousted lawmaker, 37, surrendered to Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey on Friday, July 25, to begin serving his seven-year sentence for wire fraud and identity theft.
And, true to form, Santos did not go quietly: “Well, darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed,” Santos told his 211,000 followers on X the night before.
“From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news, what a ride it’s been! Was it messy? Always. Glamorous…
Fyre Festival Brand Sold On eBay, Price Disappoints Millburn Founder: 'This Sucks, It's So Low'
The name synonymous with a failed music festival, fraud, and bland cheese sandwiches has been sold on eBay.
A bidder purchased Fyre Festival's notorious brand, trademarks, and social media accounts for $245,300 on Tuesday, July 15. The eBay auction ended at 12:44 p.m., closing a chapter in one of the most infamous stories in music festival history.
According to the eBay listing, 42 bidders placed 175 bids in the auction. The brand's winning bidder hasn't been announced as of press time.
The listing claimed the winner would have access to "the most talked-about festival brand in t…
Franklin Lakes Wife Indicted In Notorious House-Flipper Husband's Federal Case
A New Jersey woman has been indicted in a federal case tied to her husband, a notorious house flipper, after she destroyed her cell phone as law enforcement tried to seize it during a fraud investigation, officials announced.
Jennifer Iturralde Pina, 43, of Franklin Lakes, was indicted on a charge of destruction of records in a federal investigation, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Thursday, July 3.
The case stems from a federal investigation involving her husband, Cesar Humberto Pina, 45 — a real estate influencer better known as “Flipping NJ.”
Pina gained national attention through r…
Perth Amboy Beauty Salon Owner Admits She Fraudulently Obtained Covid Loan: Feds
A 42-year-old Perth Amboy woman pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 25, to fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 loans and pandemic unemployment insurance benefits, authorities said.
Damaris Valerio, who owns and operates La Vogue House of Beauty, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said.
From April 2020 through December 2021, Valerio fraudulently obtained $194,212 in COVID-19 emergency relief funds, which were meant for distressed small businesses and pandemic unemployment insurance benefits for unemployed workers, by submitting false and fraudulent applica…
$5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ
A Pennsylvania man is accused of stealing over $5.6 million in pandemic aid using more than 1,000 stolen or fake identities, federal prosecutors announced on Monday, June 16.
Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 32, has been indicted in Colorado on multiple federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a nationwide COVID-19 benefits scam, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
Salako faces six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft, according to t…
Taylor Swift's Neighbor, Distinguished PA Educator-Turned-Art Dealer Pleads Guilty In Art Scam
A former Hill School admissions director and neighbor of pop icon Taylor Swift pleaded guilty to selling fake artwork he falsely claimed was created by some of the world’s most legendary artists, federal authorities announced on Tuesday, June 3.
Carter P. Reese, 77, of Reading, admitted in federal court on Thursday, May 29, to wire fraud and mail fraud for a two-year scheme that duped customers into buying forged works he said came from Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and others, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Once respect…
Police Officer From Accokeek Filed Fake Reports, Vandalized Cars For Insurance Payouts: Feds
Two former police officers in Maryland used their badges to file fake theft reports, vandalize cars, and collect payouts—with one even taking a $1,000 Cash App bribe, prosecutors said.
Now, they face justice.
Michael Anthony Owen Jr., 36, of Accokeek, and Jaron Earl Taylor, 31, of Fort Washington, pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a wide-ranging insurance fraud scheme, according to the US Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, June 3.
Owen admitted to falsifying records, while Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Both were working as officers—Owen with…
