Tag:

Scheme to Defraud

Yonkers Woman Took $60K From Victims To Find Them Housing — But Never Delivered, DA Says Yonkers Woman Took $60K From Victims To Find Them Housing — But Never Delivered, DA Says
Yonkers Woman Took $60K From Victims To Find Them Housing — But Never Delivered, DA Says A Westchester County woman is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors said she scammed people out of tens of thousands of dollars by promising to help them secure affordable housing. Yonkers resident Norma Tirado, 52, was arraigned in Yonkers City Court on Thursday, April 30, on 10 counts of third-degree grand larceny and one count of first-degree scheme to defraud, according to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors allege Tirado accepted thousands of dollars from at least 10 victims, claiming she could help them obtain Section 8, rent-controlled, or other …
Baldwin Fraudster Made 110 Illegal Transactions In Chase Scam: Police Baldwin Fraudster Made 110 Illegal Transactions In Chase Scam: Police
Baldwin Fraudster Made 110 Illegal Transactions In Chase Scam: Police A Long Island fraudster made 110 illegal transactions from Chase Bank accounts to steal $55,000, police said Friday, April 3. Paras Javed, 26-year-old Baldwin man, was arrested Thursday, April 2 and hit with numerous charges, the Nassau County Police Department said. Javed contacted Chase customer service and claimed to be an account holder on multiple occasions, then changed the victims’ mailing addresses to his own and ordered debit cards, cops said. The scheme began in November 2025 and continued into January 2026, according to investigators. During those two months, he made all 110 una…
Babylon Boat Broker Pocketed Hundreds Of Thousands From Client Sales, DA Says Babylon Boat Broker Pocketed Hundreds Of Thousands From Client Sales, DA Says
Babylon Boat Broker Pocketed Hundreds Of Thousands From Client Sales, DA Says A Long Island boat broker is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from clients who trusted him to sell their vessels. Rory Hogan, 60, of Babylon, was indicted in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Sept. 5, on grand larceny and related charges. Hogan, the owner of Riteway Marine Solutions in Babylon, took boats from more than ten clients under the agreement that he would sell them and deliver the proceeds, between October 2023 and April 2025, prosecutors said. Instead, investigators allege Hogan sold the vessels and kept the money for himself while telling customers the sales h…
‘Government Agents’ Were Actually Rutherford Brothers In $400K Senior Scam, Prosecutors Say ‘Government Agents’ Were Actually Rutherford Brothers In $400K Senior Scam, Prosecutors Say
‘Government Agents’ Were Actually Rutherford Brothers In $400K Senior Scam, Prosecutors Say Two New Jersey brothers are accused of running a scam that stole nearly $400,000 from elderly victims in New York and Connecticut, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Monday, Aug. 25. Abhishek Barvalia, 31, and Tushar Barvalia, 32, of Rutherfo, were indicted on charges of second-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, and fourth-degree conspiracy, Gonzalez said. They were released without bail after being arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court and are due back Oct. 22. Prosecutors say the scam ran from June 2023 to January 2024, targeting women ages 76, 78, 83, and 90 i…
NYPD Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients In Rye For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA NYPD Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients In Rye For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA
Nypd Officer Steals $87K From Elderly Bank Clients In Rye For BMW, Aruba Trip: DA An NYPD officer who previously worked at a Westchester bank has been charged in a sweeping financial crimes case accusing him of stealing over $85,000 from elderly customers and using the funds to pay for personal expenses—including a Caribbean vacation, luxury car payments, and fitness program subscriptions. Yeison Rodriguez Acosta, age 27, of Manhattan, was arraigned Thursday, July 17, in Rye City Court on a 30-count felony complaint stemming from a months-long investigation by the City of Rye Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, both agencies announced.…
Syosset Attorney Admits Stealing $400K From Clients, Including Lottery Winner Syosset Attorney Admits Stealing $400K From Clients, Including Lottery Winner
Syosset Attorney Admits Stealing $400K From Clients, Including Lottery Winner A Long Island attorney formally confessed to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her clients, including a lottery winner. Daphna Zekaria, 54, of Syosset, pleaded guilty to grand larceny and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, May 21, in connection with a series of thefts committed while working as a partner at the Huntington law firm Sokolski and Zekaria, P.C. Zekaria admitted to using her position to siphon large sums from clients under the guise of holding funds for safekeeping or investing on their behalf, prosecutors said. In one case, she stole approximatel…
$20K RV, Ticket Scam Orchestrated By Nassau Man, Police Say $20K RV, Ticket Scam Orchestrated By Nassau Man, Police Say
$20K RV, Ticket Scam Orchestrated By Nassau Man, Police Say A 63-year-old man is behind bars after allegedly conning multiple people out of thousands of dollars in a months-long fraud scheme, police said. Rensselaer County resident Patrick Walsh, of Nassau, was arrested following a New York State Police investigation Monday, May 5. Troopers determined that Walsh targeted victims while in Schodack, collecting payments for high-value items like RVs and concert tickets he never provided, police said. In total, he is accused of stealing over $20,000 through the alleged scam. Walsh is charged with four counts of grand larceny and one count of scheme to…
Middletown Man Poses As Union Rep, Offers Fake Jobs In Exchange For Fees: Police Middletown Man Poses As Union Rep, Offers Fake Jobs In Exchange For Fees: Police
Middletown Man Poses As Union Rep, Offers Fake Jobs In Exchange For Fees: Police A 57-year-old Orange County man is facing felony charges after allegedly posing as a union representative and defrauding multiple people out of money by promising them jobs, police said.  Armando J. Alarcon of Middletown was arrested on Friday, April 4, following a months-long investigation, State Police announced on Saturday, April 5.  Investigators say Alarcon claimed to be affiliated with Ironworkers Local 580 and told victims he could secure them union membership in exchange for a fee. After collecting payments, he allegedly provided start dates for work—then disappeared and c…
$129K Scam: Contractor Tried Bilking Elderly Franklin Square Couple, DA Says $129K Scam: Contractor Tried Bilking Elderly Franklin Square Couple, DA Says
$129K Scam: Contractor Tried Bilking Elderly Franklin Square Couple, DA Says The president of a construction company tried scamming an elderly Long Island couple out of nearly $130,000 in a home repair scheme, prosecutors alleged. Clifford Whitaker, 43, was arraigned on insurance fraud and related charges in Nassau County Court on Thursday, April 3. An investigation found that Whitaker, president of the Jefferson-based New Dawn Construction, targeted an 80-year-old man and his 71-year-old wife at their Franklin Square home, claiming he noticed damage to their roof, prosecutors said. He allegedly offered to fix the issue for $2,500—then returned over the next severa…
Homeless Man Pretending To Be Masonry Worker Scammed Elderly Victims: Nassau County PD Homeless Man Pretending To Be Masonry Worker Scammed Elderly Victims: Nassau County PD
Homeless Man Pretending To Be Masonry Worker Scammed Elderly Victims: Nassau County PD A 25-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly scamming elderly homeowners across Nassau County by offering fraudulent masonry services, intentionally causing additional damage, and inflating repair costs, police said. Patrick Wall, who is homeless, targeted elderly victims from September 2023 to January 2025, offering to perform construction repairs on their homes, according to Nassau County Police. Wall convinced the victims to hire him, but during the work, he intentionally caused more damage to their properties and increased the costs of the repairs, police said. When the victim…
$188K+ Check Forgery Scheme Ends In Arrest After Months-Long Investigation: Nassau PD $188K+ Check Forgery Scheme Ends In Arrest After Months-Long Investigation: Nassau PD
$188K+ Check Forgery Scheme Ends In Arrest After Months-Long Investigation: Nassau PD A months-long investigation has culminated in the arrest of a 41-year-old Long Island man accused of orchestrating a sophisticated check forgery scheme that netted $188,320.55, police said. Adamantios Mathioudis, 41, of East Elmhurst, NY, became the center of the investigation on March 5, when the Fraud and Forgery Unit of the Major Case Squad received reports of two business checks intercepted after being mailed via the U.S. Postal Service, Nassau County police said. The payee sections on the checks were altered to reflect Mathioudis’ name, detectives said. The funds were then de…
Immigrants Defrauded Out Of $40K By Fake Ronkonkoma Attorney: DA Immigrants Defrauded Out Of $40K By Fake Ronkonkoma Attorney: DA
Immigrants Defrauded Out Of $40K By Fake Ronkonkoma Attorney: DA A Ronkonkoma woman will spend up to four years in prison after posing as an immigration attorney and defrauding undocumented immigrants of more than $40,000, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday, Dec. 18. Tania Gonzalez, 48, also known as Tania Ayala, pleaded guilty earlier this year to grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges. Between December 2015 and March 2020, Gonzalez falsely claimed to be an immigration lawyer, offering legal assistance to immigrants desperate for help, according to DA Anne T. Donnelly. The DA's investigation revealed that Gonzalez mi…
East Greenbush Tow Company Owner Charged With Stealing Cars From Parking Lots: AG Says East Greenbush Tow Company Owner Charged With Stealing Cars From Parking Lots: AG Says
East Greenbush Tow Company Owner Charged With Stealing Cars From Parking Lots: AG Says A Capital Region tow company owner has been charged with allegedly using his business to steal cars from parking lots and then sell them. John F. Rivers, age 43, of East Greenbush, was charged on Friday, Dec. 6, for using his towing company, Rivers Asset Recovery, to steal and sell vehicles towed from parking lots across the Capital Region, said New York Attorney General Letitia James. James said an investigation by the Attorney General's Office and the New York State Police revealed that Rivers used his contracts with local businesses to monitor parking lots and tow vehicles. Later, he ill…
Serial Scammer Cons Port Washington, Hewlett Harbor Women Out Of Combined $25K, Police Say Serial Scammer Cons Port Washington, Hewlett Harbor Women Out Of Combined $25K, Police Say
Serial Scammer Cons Port Washington, Hewlett Harbor Women Out Of Combined $25K, Police Say A man with a history of financial scams successfully conned two Long Island women out of thousands of dollars, police alleged. Jaime Castillo, age 36, of the Bronx, was arrested on multiple counts of grand larceny on Wednesday, Nov. 20, after carrying out so-called “grandparent scams,” Nassau County Police said. A 90-year-old Port Washington woman contacted police on June 2, 2023 saying she had received a phone call from someone claiming to be “Raymond Allen,” a lawyer representing her grandchildren. Earlier Report: Duo Nabbed After Scamming Couple Out Of $9K In Westchester: Police …
DMV Nabs Trio Running Unlicensed Used Car Dealership In Poughkeepsie DMV Nabs Trio Running Unlicensed Used Car Dealership In Poughkeepsie
DMV Nabs Trio Running Unlicensed Used Car Dealership In Poughkeepsie Following a two-year investigation, three men were nabbed running an alleged unlicensed used car dealership in the region. In Dutchess County, the trio -- Raed Nesheiwat, age 57; Lakeia Parker, age 41, and Marceise Livesay, age 26 -- were arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Poughkeepsie. According to Water McClure of the state Division of Motor Vehicles, the investigation found that the three sold more than 150 vehicles out of a building and parking lot at 20-22 Pershing Ave., in Poughkeepsie, without a legitimate dealer license. The Dutchess County Grand Jury has charged the men, who are a…
'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say 'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say
'Trusted' Unlicensed Contractors Defrauded Long Island Homeowners, Police Say They were hired to make repairs but ended up scamming Long Island homeowners instead, police allege. Nassau County Police arrested two men on suspicion of fraud and related charges Monday, July 22, for allegedly posing as construction contractors in order to con homeowners. Investigators said David Young, age 31, of Philadelphia, and Adam Turner, age 25, who is homeless, targeted elderly homeowners and offered to perform construction services through their unlicensed company, “Top Line Masonry.” The two then defrauded victims by falsely reporting damage that wasn’t there or by causing more…
Man Nabbed For $85K Roofing Scam On Long Island: Police Man Nabbed For $85K Roofing Scam On Long Island: Police
Man Nabbed For $85K Roofing Scam On Long Island: Police A New Jersey man was arrested on charges including grand larceny after he allegedly scammed a Long Islander into giving him money to fix her home’s roof. Danny Burton, age 26, was arrested on Monday, July 1 for the North New Hyde Park scheme, Nassau County Police said. Starting on Wednesday, June 26, Burton allegedly approached a 74-year-old woman at her North Fourth Street home. He told the woman he was a roof contractor and convinced her that her roof needed repairs. Burton reportedly told the woman to withdraw money from her bank account to pay him on multiple occasions. In total, …
Stock Swindler: Barred Long Island Broker Sentenced For Scheme Stock Swindler: Barred Long Island Broker Sentenced For Scheme
Stock Swindler: Barred Long Island Broker Sentenced For Scheme An investment broker who admitted to using his client’s money on luxury cars, plane tickets, and more has received his prison sentence. Peter Quartararo of Glen Cove was sentenced to two-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half years in prison on Friday, June 14, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. Quartararo, who is 57, was a stockbroker who had previously been barred from operating as such in 2013 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Original Report - Half-Million Dollar Scheme: Long Island Broker Admits Swindling Clients Despite that, starting in July 2018,…
NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced
NY Man Who 'Lived Large' Off $1 Million Ponzi Scheme Sentenced A former New York investment broker has received a lengthy stay in prison for running a million-dollar Ponzi scheme. Long Island resident Rand Heckler, age 67, of Glen Cove, was sentenced to up to seven-and-a-half years in prison on Wednesday, May 15, the Nassau County District Attorney (NCDA) announced. Heckler was an investment broker in 2015 when he began his scheme, recommending that his friend and his friend’s son that they invest in a hedge fund of stocks and securities that Heckler was managing. Original Story - $1 Million Ponzi Scheme: Glen Cove Investment Broker Pleads …
Man Scams $200K During Long Island Home Renovation Scheme, DA Says Man Scams $200K During Long Island Home Renovation Scheme, DA Says
Man Scams $200K During Long Island Home Renovation Scheme, DA Says A Long Island business owner has been arrested after he allegedly used customer’s funds for personal use, including eating out and child support payments, authorities said. Peter Ferrigan, age 56 of Amityville, faced his arraignment on Monday, Nov. 13 for the alleged scam, which lasted for three years, according to the Nassau County District Attorney. In July 2019, Ferrigan’s company, PBF Home Improvements, LLC., entered a contract with a customer for the demolition and new construction of their home, located on Arizona Avenue in Long Beach. Though the homeowners gave Ferrigan $852,095…
Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $20K In Stamps With Fake Checks: Police Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $20K In Stamps With Fake Checks: Police
Long Island Woman Scams Nearly $20K In Stamps With Fake Checks: Police A Long Island woman traveled to post offices across Long Island buying tens of thousands of stamps with false checks, police said. Stephany A. Moreira, age 27, was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 31 for charges including larceny and scheme to defraud, according to the Nassau County Police Department. From Tuesday, June 6 to Thursday, June 8, Moreira, a Lindenhurst resident, allegedly purchased 36,600 stamps throughout Nassau County using 21 insufficient checks. As a result, the US Postal Service lost $19,278, police said. Moreira is charged with: Grand larceny Scheme to defraud Issuing…
Long Island Woman Steals $4K From Residents Where She Was Employed, Police Say Long Island Woman Steals $4K From Residents Where She Was Employed, Police Say
Long Island Woman Steals $4K From Residents Where She Was Employed, Police Say A Long Island woman has been charged with grand larceny after allegedly stealing funds from resident's accounts where she was employed.  Nassau County resident Ashley Atkinson, age 22, of Freeport, was arrested on Thursday, June 29 for grand larceny in North Bellmore. According to the Nassau County Police detectives, Atkinson was employed as a staff member of the Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC), located at 1070 Bellmore Road who controlled the residents’ funds at the facility.  On numerous occasions, Atkinson made a total of 37 unauthorize…
Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands
Charity Prez Admits Defrauding Long Island Businesses Out Of Thousands The president of a local autism charity is now a convicted felon after admitting that he defrauded Long Island businesses out of thousands of dollars. Gregory Vasicek, age 60, of Queens, pleaded guilty to a charge of scheme to defraud in Suffolk County Court on Friday, May 12. According to the Suffolk County DA’s Office, between April and May 2022, Vasicek wrote numerous checks from the bank account of his charity, Play4Autism, knowing that the organization did not have the funds to pay for the services and property being purchased. Among the companies that fell victim to his scheme were a…
Man Charged With Fraud For Ripping Off LI Customers Who Paid For Snow Removal Services Man Charged With Fraud For Ripping Off LI Customers Who Paid For Snow Removal Services
Man Charged With Fraud For Ripping Off LI Customers Who Paid For Snow Removal Services A man has been charged with allegedly taking money from multiple Long Island residents for snow removal services he never performed. Nassau County police arrested Christopher Picone, age 32, of Queens, on Friday, March 25 following an investigation. The incident began in December 2021 when Picone began to contact people through cell phone and social media to offer snow removal services for the upcoming winter season, police said. Over the course of several weeks, police said Picone contacted at least 15 victims and offered his services, which they accepted and paid in advance. P…
Long Island Woman Accused Of Defrauding Undocumented Immigrants Long Island Woman Accused Of Defrauding Undocumented Immigrants
Long Island Woman Accused Of Defrauding Undocumented Immigrants A local and federal investigation into a Long Island woman who posed as an immigration attorney to undocumented immigrants and bilked them out of thousands is facing a host of charges, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office announced. Suffolk County resident Tania Gonzalez, age 44, of Ronkonkoma, was arrested after she allegedly misrepresented herself as an immigration attorney to undocumented immigrants seeking assistance with immigration matters and stole more than $30,000 from the victims. The arrest came following a joint investigation by the Nassau County District Attorney, US De…
Volunteer Ambulance Corps Captain In Rockland Charged With Four Felonies For Larceny, DA Says Volunteer Ambulance Corps Captain In Rockland Charged With Four Felonies For Larceny, DA Says
Volunteer Ambulance Corps Captain In Rockland Charged With Four Felonies For Larceny, DA Says A volunteer paramedic in the Hudson Valley is facing charges for allegedly misappropriating thousands of dollars from the Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Capt. Matthew Gannon was arraigned on Thursday, Aug. 13 on multiple larceny charges connected to the financial troubles that plagued the organization, the Rockland County District Attorney announced. Specifically, Gannon was charged with: Grand larceny; Falsifying business records; Offering a false statement for filing; Scheme to defraud. Each of the charges against Gannon, 53, was a felony. Gannon allegedly misappropriated $22,1…
Man Arraigned On 87-Count Indictment For Allegedly Scamming Immigrant Families In Westchester Man Arraigned On 87-Count Indictment For Allegedly Scamming Immigrant Families In Westchester
Man Arraigned On 87-Count Indictment For Allegedly Scamming Immigrant Families In Westchester A man who allegedly was involved in a scheme to steal money by taking advantage of undocumented immigrants in Westchester, claiming he could help them gain legal citizenship, has been arraigned on an 87 count indictment. Washington State resident Juan Cedillo, 64, was arrested in February after he allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from illegal immigrants. On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., announced that Cedillo was charged this week with individual counts of scheme to defraud with he intent to defraud more than 10 people and t…
Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients
Westchester Business Owner Sentenced For Stealing From Clients A Westchester County businessman will spend time behind bars after admitting to lining his own pockets with hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of a scheme to steal business taxes from clients that employed his services. Pleasantville resident Stefan Malgarinos, 48, has been sentenced to prison time after pleading guilty to grand larceny and scheme to defraud, both felonies, related to stealing withholding tax money from state and federal authorities collected from his clients. Westchester County District Attorney District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., said that Malgarinos was …
Long Island Man Charged In 54-Count Indictment For Stealing Credit, Debit Cards From Vehicles Long Island Man Charged In 54-Count Indictment For Stealing Credit, Debit Cards From Vehicles
Long Island Man Charged In 54-Count Indictment For Stealing Credit, Debit Cards From Vehicles A Long Island man is facing a host of charges after allegedly breaking into vehicles in Nassau County over the course of more than a year and stealing credit, debit and gift cards. Alex Hines, 47, of West Hempstead, was arraigned on Thursday, Sept. 12 and arraigned on a 54-count indictment for breaking into vehicles between February last year and August this year. Hines has been charged with: Two counts of third-degree grand larceny; Four counts of fourth-degree grand larceny; Twenty counts of criminal possession of stolen property; Three counts of criminal mischief; Scheme to defraud; Thr…
New Victims Say Area Car Salesman Stole From Them, Police Say New Victims Say Area Car Salesman Stole From Them, Police Say
New Victims Say Area Car Salesman Stole From Them, Police Say Several new victims have come forward with claims that a Middletown car salesman previously working as a realtor stole cash from them. Michael Edison Ramos, 34, of Middletown has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly stealing numerous cash down payments. State Police investigators are now looking for victims who may have dealt with Ramos while he acted as a realtor in the Middletown area. Further investigation has revealed many of the victims are Spanish speaking. State Police say they received a report that a salesman at Nissan-Kia Middletown dealership failed to credi…
Alert Issued For Driveway Paving Scam Alert Issued For Driveway Paving Scam
Alert Issued For Driveway Paving Scam Area residents are being warned of a driveway paving scam. Several incidents had been reported in the Rochester area last summer, resulting in the arrests of several persons on charges of “Scheme to Defraud.” Late last week, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a resident in Garrison reporting an incident. On Tuesday, April 2, two white men approached the homeowner at his residence and identified themselves as being from a paving company, Putnam County Sheriff Robert L. Langley Jr. said.  The men told the homeowner that they had extra asphalt that was alleged…