Sandy Fraud Prosecutions Continue
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the arrest of Robert William Brower, Jr., 45, of Seaside Heights, NJ, after an eighteen month joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Economic Crimes Unit, the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Division of Criminal Justice Financial and Computer Crimes Bureau. As a result of this collaborative effort,...
Press release
Agosto 01, 2018
Staten Island Resident Pleads Guilty to Disaster Relief Fraud
Earlier today, Nagwa Elsilimy pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn to disaster relief fraud in connection with obtaining more than $750,000 in disaster relief from New York City’s Build It Back program and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Today’s proceeding took place before United States District Judge Raymond J. Dearie.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the...
Press release
Julio 25, 2018
Indictment Charges Man with Soliciting Bribes and Fictitious Fees from Victims of Superstorm Sandy While Employed at Housing Recovery Center
TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a man who worked at a state-operated housing recovery center in Newark after Superstorm Sandy has been indicted on charges that he demanded thousands of dollars in bribes and fictitious fees from storm victims, fraudulently representing to the victims that he could expedite and/or increase the federal relief funds they received.
The Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer...
Press release
Julio 22, 2018
Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Unlawful Loan Modification and Money Laundering After Defrauding Nearly $2.3 Million from 387 Homeowners
(Source: orangecountyda.org)
Case # 17CF2429
Date: July 17, 2018
MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR UNLAWFUL LOAN MODIFICATION AND MONEY LAUNDERING AFTER DEFRAUDING NEARLY $2.3 MILLION FROM 387 HOMEOWNERS
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted and sentenced on Friday to eight years in state prison for operating an unlawful loan modification and money laundering scam that defrauded nearly $2.3 million from 387 homeowners.
...
Article
Julio 19, 2018
Attorney General’s Office Charges Four More Individuals With Filing False Applications for Superstorm Sandy Relief Funds
TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today announced that the Attorney General’s Office and its state and federal partners have charged four new defendants with filing fraudulent applications for federal relief funds related to Superstorm Sandy, bringing the total number of defendants charged by the office in these cases to 116 since March 2014.
“Any fraud against public assistance programs is deplorable, but these thefts were especially...
Press release
Junio 28, 2018
Real Estate Attorney Sentenced for Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy
BOSTON – A real estate attorney was sentenced today in connection with a sweeping conspiracy to defraud banks and mortgage companies by engaging in sham “short” sales of residential properties in Merrimack Valley.
Jasmin Polanco, 37, of Methuen, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 15 months in prison, three year of supervised release and ordered to pay $1,224,489 in restitution. In March 2018, Polanco...
Press release
Junio 21, 2018
United States Customs and Border Protection Officer Convicted for Making False Statements for Personal Gain
LOS ANGELES – A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer for abusing a program that provided discounted homes to law enforcement officers and misleading an investigator during a background investigation for security clearance.
Kanit Kunnaragthai, 49, of Palmdale, was found guilty Thursday afternoon following a three-day trial in United States District Court.
The jury found Kunnaragthai guilty of...
Press release
Junio 11, 2018
Former President of Hartford Nonprofit Arrested for Stealing from HUD Programs
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEVEN F. HARVIN, 53, of New Haven, was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud and theft from programs receiving federal funds.
After his arrest, HARVIN appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was released on a $50,000 bond.
According to the complaint, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with...
Press release
Junio 11, 2018
Former Charity Executive Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Embezzlement Scheme
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former executive of a Springfield, Missouri charity, who was also an Arkansas lobbyist, pleaded guilty in federal court today to bribing Arkansas elected officials in a multi-million-dollar scheme, and then along with other charity executives, embezzling millions of dollars from the Springfield health care organization.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S....
Press release
Junio 07, 2018
Mortgage Loan Officer Sentenced for Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy
BOSTON – A mortgage loan officer was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a sweeping conspiracy to defraud banks and mortgage companies by engaging in sham “short” sales of residential properties in Merrimack Valley.
Vanessa Ricci, 41, of Methuen, a mortgage loan officer, was sentenced to six months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $963,730. In March 2018, Ricci pleaded...
Press release
Mayo 28, 2018
Former Loan Officer Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Role In $6 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
NEWARK, N.J. – A Jackson, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for his role in a large-scale mortgage fraud scheme that used phony documents and straw buyers to acquire more than $6 million in loans, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Joseph DiValli previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one...
Press release
Mayo 21, 2018
Community Renewal Team Pays $362,000 to Settle False Claims Acts Allegations
United States Attorney John H. Durham and Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen today announced that COMMUNITY RENEWAL TEAM and its president, LENA RODRIGUEZ, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States and the State of Connecticut and have paid $362,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.
Community Renewal Team (“CRT”) is a Hartford-based community action agency that...
Press release
Mayo 16, 2018
3 charged with theft for bogus Superstorm Sandy aid claims
(Source:News 12 New Jersey) TRENTON, N.J. - Three more New Jersey residents have been charged with filing fraudulent applications for Superstorm Sandy relief.
The new cases were announced Friday by the state Attorney General's Office.
Officials say that Fair Lawn resident Diane DiCosmo falsely claimed a home in Lavallette as a primary residence. She fraudulently collected $177,000, according to the attorney general.
Matawan couple Barry...
Article
Abril 30, 2018
Newark Non-Profit Director And Political Fundraiser Sentenced To 38 Months In Prison For Wire Fraud And Tax Evasion
NEWARK, N.J. – The former executive director of a Newark-based childcare and community program and a partner in a political fundraising and consulting company was sentenced today to 38 months in prison for wire fraud and tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Kiburi D. Tucker, 43, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and...
Article
Abril 17, 2018
Man Accused Of Defrauding Seniors Wants Out Of Jail
CHICAGO (CBS) — It’s back to jail, at least for now, for a man accused of defrauding more than 100 Chicago seniors.
CBS 2’s Jim Williams reports a federal judge hasn’t yet decided if Mark Diamond should be released on bond.
Barbara Bailey’s mother was a victim.
She says she wants the man responsible to stay in jail.
“If Mr. Diamond is out, he can still go into the neighborhood or contact people to still scheme and defraud people,” says Bailey....
Article
Abril 11, 2018
Bond hearing for man accused of scamming elderly out of homes
CHICAGO -- A man accused of scamming elderly Chicagoans out of their homes was in federal court Thursday for a bond hearing.
Prosecutors want the judge to deny bond for Mark Diamond.
He and an alleged accomplice, Cynthia Wallace, are charged with fraud.
Prosecutors say they conned people into fake reverse mortgages, swindling $10 million.
There are 120 victims, mostly black women on the South and West sides.
Some have died.
Article
Abril 11, 2018
Five Individuals Charged In Phony Debt Elimination Scheme
NEWARK, N.J. - Five individuals were arrested this morning and charged with using phony money orders, cashier’s checks, receipts and other fabricated documents to fraudulently discharge mortgages, student loans, and other financial obligations, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Melissa Reynolds, 42, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with three counts of conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud, two counts of bank fraud,...
Press release
Marzo 19, 2018
Deloitte & Touche Agrees to Pay $149.5 Million to Settle Claims Arising From Its Audits of Failed Mortgage Lender Taylor, Bean & Whitaker
The Justice Department announced today that Deloitte & Touche LLP has agreed to pay the United States $149.5 million to resolve potential False Claims Act liability arising from Deloitte’s role as the independent outside auditor of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp. (TBW), a failed originator of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“With taxpayer...
Press release
Febrero 28, 2018
Convicted ex-lender who defrauded taxpayers is skimping on victim payments while living large, feds say
Lonnie Brantley Jr. avoided prison by striking a plea deal for lying to federal housing regulators during an investigation into his troubled mortgage lending business.
But almost three years after his 2015 conviction, Brantley is facing the prospect of being locked up. That’s because he has repeatedly dodged his $3.3 million restitution obligation, prosecutors say, while living in a 5,300-square-foot Southlake home, driving luxury vehicles and...
Article
Febrero 28, 2018
Attorney General’s Office Charges Five More Individuals with Filing False Applications for Superstorm Sandy Relief Funds
TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today announced that the Attorney General’s Office and its state and federal partners have charged five new defendants with filing fraudulent applications for federal relief funds related to Superstorm Sandy, bringing the total number of defendants charged by the office in these cases to 109 since March 2014.
“Any fraud against public assistance programs is deplorable, but these thefts were especially...
Press release
Febrero 25, 2018