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 …
Central Islip Dealer Sold Fentanyl To User Who OD'd, Had Enough To Kill 250K People, DA Says
A Central Islip man sold fentanyl to a user who later died from an overdose, prosecutors alleged.
Jeffrey Sloan, 62, was arraigned on more than 30 drug-related charges in Suffolk County Court on Monday, March 10, after an investigation turned up enough fentanyl to kill 250,000 people, Suffolk County prosecutors said.
An investigation found that Sloan sold heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and Xanax to a 25-year-old Brentwood man just two days before the man died from an overdose, according to prosecutors.
A search of the victim’s phone revealed he had sent text messages to Sloan ordering 13 bags …
Illegal Gambling Machines Make Manager ‘Unlucky’ At Shirley's Lucky Smoke Shop: Police
A Shirley smoke shop manager was arrested after police discovered illegal gambling machines inside the store, Suffolk County Police announced on Tuesday, March 4.
Seventh Precinct Crime Section officers responded to numerous community complaints and conducted an inspection at Lucky Smoke Shop and Beer, located at 20 Floyd Road, at approximately 4 p.m., authorities said.
During the inspection, officers found three electronic gambling machines in the rear of the business. The devices were seized, police said.
The store’s manager, Ankit Patel, 30, of Selden, was charged with Possession of a G…
Toddler Required Stitches After Massapequa Day Care Worker Shoves Face Into Cot: Police
A Long Island daycare worker is accused of forcing a toddler’s face into a cot so hard the child needed stitches, Suffolk County police announced.
Megan Marchena, 26, of Massapequa, allegedly shoved the 18-month-old girl’s face down at Tutor Time of Lindenhurst on Monday, Feb. 24, authorities said.
The child was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, where she received stitches for her injuries, police said.
Child Protective Services was alerted on Friday, Feb. 28, launching an investigation. That same day, Special Victims Section detectives arrested Marchena, charg…
$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…
