Stamford Exec Stole $28M from Major Candy Manufacturer In Years-Long Fraud Scheme: DOJ Stamford Exec Stole $28M from Major Candy Manufacturer In Years-Long Fraud Scheme: DOJ
Stamford Exec Stole $28M from Major Candy Manufacturer In Years-Long Fraud Scheme: DOJ A Connecticut man is facing federal charges after allegedly stealing more than $28 million from his employer in a years-long fraud scheme, federal authorities said.  Paul R. Steed, 58, of Stamford, was arrested after a federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment charging him with wire fraud and tax evasion, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. He pleaded not guilty during a court appearance in Bridgeport and is currently being held in custody. According to the indictment, Steed worked remotely from Stamford for Mars Wrigley, a division of Mars Inc., where he served as global p…
Ellington Bookkeeper At Law Firm Embezzled $830K Over Decade: Feds Ellington Bookkeeper At Law Firm Embezzled $830K Over Decade: Feds
Ellington Bookkeeper At Law Firm Embezzled $830K Over Decade: Feds A longtime bookkeeper at a Connecticut law firm is facing federal charges after prosecutors say she stole more than $835,000 from the company, authorities said.  Heather Murdock, 57, of Ellington, was indicted on 12 federal counts, including five counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. She pleaded not guilty in Hartford federal court and was released on a $40,000 bond, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  Federal officials say Murdock worked as the bookkeeper and office manager at a Hartford law firm identified in court papers only as “Firm A.” Over a 12-year span, in…
Montville's Teresa Giudice, Luis Ruelas Hit With $3M In Tax Liens, PEOPLE Reports Montville's Teresa Giudice, Luis Ruelas Hit With $3M In Tax Liens, PEOPLE Reports
Montville's Teresa Giudice, Luis Ruelas Hit With $3M In Tax Liens, People Reports Looks like the IRS might be flipping a table of its own. "Real Housewives of New Jersey" OG Teresa Giudice and her husband Luis Ruelas are facing a massive tax mess—to the tune of $3 million, according to a new PEOPLE report citing court records. Giudice, 51, reportedly owes $303,889.20. Her husband of two years? He's in deeper, with a jaw-dropping $2.6 million in unpaid taxes, PEOPLE reports. A lien for more than $163,500 was issued against Ruelas this past December, the outlet says, citing the New Jersey Courts website. This isn’t Teresa’s first round with Uncle Sam. She served 11 months…
East Meadow ‘Legal Assistant’ Scammed Desperate Families Out Of Thousands, Jury Finds East Meadow ‘Legal Assistant’ Scammed Desperate Families Out Of Thousands, Jury Finds
East Meadow ‘Legal Assistant’ Scammed Desperate Families Out Of Thousands, Jury Finds A New York man who posed as a legal expert in order to scam desperate families out of thousands of dollars was convicted of multiple federal crimes. Christopher Reese, 57, of East Meadow, was found guilty of fraud and related charges in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, March 20. Using an unlicensed legal operation, Reese defrauded criminal defendants and their families by promising to secure prison releases he had no authority to deliver, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District said. Reese, also known as “Christopher Eugene Thomas,” targeted inmates, friends, and family memb…
Office Manager Admits To Embezzling $350K From Scotch Plains Synagogue, Feds Say Office Manager Admits To Embezzling $350K From Scotch Plains Synagogue, Feds Say
Office Manager Admits To Embezzling $350K From Scotch Plains Synagogue, Feds Say A 52-year-old Scotch Plains woman pleaded guilty on Thursday, March 20, to embezzling more than $350,000 from a Union County synagogue she worked at, authorities said. In 2010, Stacy Margaritondo began working at Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains and was later promoted to bookkeeper and office manager in July 2020, U.S. Attorney John Giordano said. Margaritondo’s duties included accounting/bookkeeping, payroll, preparing checks for accounts payable, and reporting to the synagogue’s board of directors regarding the synagogue’s financial condition, Giordano said. From Dec. 2019 to Ma…
Freeport Tax Preparer Stole $2M Through False Returns, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, DOJ Says Freeport Tax Preparer Stole $2M Through False Returns, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, DOJ Says
Freeport Tax Preparer Stole $2M Through False Returns, Covid-19 Relief Fraud, DOJ Says A Long Island tax preparer is facing federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a massive $12 million fraud scheme.  Damaris Beltre, 57, of Freeport, was indicted on wire fraud and related charges in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, March 12, after filing hundreds of false tax returns and stealing COVID-19 relief funds, prosecutors alleged. Beltre ran multiple tax preparation businesses where she falsely inflated tax refunds for clients, claiming fake dependents, fraudulent sick leave, and fuel tax credits, according to prosecutors. She allegedly charged a percentage of …
Pennsylvania Man Helped Funnel $1.5M In Pandemic Fraud To Overseas Criminals: DOJ Pennsylvania Man Helped Funnel $1.5M In Pandemic Fraud To Overseas Criminals: DOJ
Pennsylvania Man Helped Funnel $1.5M In Pandemic Fraud To Overseas Criminals: DOJ A Pennsylvania man who acted as a "money mule" in a massive pandemic fraud scheme that funneled more than $1.5 million in stolen relief funds to overseas criminals will spend more than three years behind bars, federal officials announced. James G. Miller Jr., 53, of Scranton, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in the wire fraud operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said in a release on Monday, March 3. Investigators say Miller helped move stolen pandemic aid—including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Lost Wage Assistance Paymen…
$7.6M COVID Loan Fraud Scheme: Leader From Mount Vernon Gets Years In Prison $7.6M COVID Loan Fraud Scheme: Leader From Mount Vernon Gets Years In Prison
$7.6M COVID Loan Fraud Scheme: Leader From Mount Vernon Gets Years In Prison A Westchester native will spend more than a decade behind bars for orchestrating a massive COVID-19 relief fraud scheme that stole more than $7.6 million from the US Small Business Administration, federal prosecutors announced. Maryland resident Jacob Carter, 39, originally from Mount Vernon, was convicted along with three co-conspirators for wire fraud, conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to file over 1,000 fraudulent loan applications during the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday, Feb. 27…
Feds Crush NY-NJ iPhone Heist Ring That Hijacked Tracking Data, Bribed Employees Feds Crush NY-NJ iPhone Heist Ring That Hijacked Tracking Data, Bribed Employees
Feds Crush Ny-nj iPhone Heist Ring That Hijacked Tracking Data, Bribed Employees Thirteen members of an international crime ring that stole thousands of iPhones and electronics from FedEx and other carriers across the U.S. have been charged in New Jersey, authorities announced. The network, which operated from the Bronx to the Dominican Republic, used hacked tracking data, bribed store employees, and organized package theft to steal millions of dollars worth of devices, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna said. The crew used computer scripts to scrape tracking data from FedEx and a major U.S. cellular provider, court documents say. Bribed retail employees (including some …
$5M Fraud: Great Neck Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says $5M Fraud: Great Neck Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says
$5M Fraud: Great Neck Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says Twin financiers Adam and Daniel Kaplan, already charged with defrauding elderly and disabled clients out of millions, are now accused of threatening witnesses and fabricating evidence. The 35-year-old Kaplans, hailing from Long Island’s Great Neck, are named in a fresh superseding indictment that was filed in Central Islip federal court on Thursday, Feb. 20, charging them with an additional count of money laundering. Adam Kaplan was additionally charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and obstruction of justice, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District. The new charges pa…
Luxury Watches & Lies: NY Real Estate Mogul Admits to $63M Investor Fraud Scheme Luxury Watches & Lies: NY Real Estate Mogul Admits to $63M Investor Fraud Scheme
Luxury Watches & Lies: NY Real Estate Mogul Admits to $63M Investor Fraud Scheme A New York real estate mogul formally confessed to masterminding a multi-million dollar investment fraud scheme. Elchonon Schwartz, 46, of New York City, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a Georgia federal courtroom on Wednesday, Feb. 13, admitting that he swindled hundreds of investors through a crowdfunding platform meant for commercial real estate investments. Beginning in May 2022, Schwartz solicited funds for a large commercial real estate complex in Atlanta, Georgia, using the website Crowdstreet Marketplace. He raised around $54 million from 654 investors, prosecutors said. Later that…
Ex-VP Who Stole $1.4M From Farmington Insurance Firm Sentenced to Prison: Feds Ex-VP Who Stole $1.4M From Farmington Insurance Firm Sentenced to Prison: Feds
Ex-VP Who Stole $1.4M From Farmington Insurance Firm Sentenced to Prison: Feds A Pennsylvania man who exploited his role at a Connecticut insurance company to steal more than $1.4 million is heading to federal prison, authorities said.  James Keating, 52, of Paoli, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 20 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding Allied World Insurance Company out of more than a million dollars. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden also ordered him to pay back over $1.2 million in restitution. Prosecutors said Keating used his position as a surety bond claims handler at Allied World, which operates out of Farmingt…