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Tag: Fraud

  • NYC Real Estate Agent and Three Accomplices Allegedly Falsified Documents and Forged Signatures to Seize Homes Without Owners’ Knowledge

    NYC Real Estate Agent and Three Accomplices Allegedly Falsified Documents and Forged Signatures to Seize Homes Without Owners’ Knowledge

    Four individuals are accused of stealing three valuable homes in Queens, New York, through a fraudulent deed scheme, according to prosecutors per the NY Post.

    Autumn Valeri, 41, a real estate agent from Commack, New York, who maintains a lavish presence on Instagram, along with her accomplices, allegedly forged signatures and submitted false documents to the City Register’s office two years ago. They are accused of unlawfully acquiring properties valued at over $3 million, stated Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

    Elderly Homeowners Targeted by Criminals

    Carl Avinger, 42, and Lawrence T. Ray, 38, both from Queens, along with Torey Guice of Roselle, New Jersey, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday. A grand jury has issued a 47-count indictment outlining their extensive crimes, which include charges of grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, conspiracy, identify theft, falsifying business records, and other offenses, the DA’s office said. They each pleaded not guilty during their arraignments in Queens County Supreme Court.

    Authorities report that their scheme began on April 10, 2023, when they submitted a fraudulent document to the city’s finance department. They claimed a 76-year-old woman transferred her Jamaica Estates property to a company owned by Ray. They allegedly forged the signature of the woman’s deceased sister and a notary. Weeks later they allegedly targeted a mother and daughter in Kew Garden Hills, fabricating documents to sell the property for $600,000. They reportedly wired about $442,000 to Ray’s bank account, which is now involved in a civil lawsuit on hold due to the investigation.

    On May 4, the defendants tried to acquire another Jamaica Estates home owned by an 82-year-old woman. After hearings, Supreme Court Justice Leigh Cheng released them on supervised release, requiring Avinger to wear an electronic monitor due to his criminal history. If convicted, they face prison sentences of five to 25 years.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Patient Experiences Partial Facial Paralysis from Unlicensed Dentist Operating from Home, Police Say

    Patient Experiences Partial Facial Paralysis from Unlicensed Dentist Operating from Home, Police Say

    A New York woman was taken into custody on Friday and is facing allegations of performing dental procedures without a license at a dental office located in her Long Island home, according to Suffolk County Police per Huff Post. 

    Yolany Y. Mejia Carranza, 55, has been charged with three felony counts of unauthorized practice of a profession after several individuals who sought her dental services reported suffering injuries due to her practices. Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina stated at a press conference that at least one individual experienced severe nerve damage that resulted in partial facial paralysis. 

    Mejia Carranza was “operating as a dentist without actually being a dentist,” Catalina said. Catalina told reporters that the woman had previously run another illegal dental practice in Huntington Station, but relocated her operation to her home in Bay Shore when she believed she was at risk of being caught, as reported by KGNS-TV. A search of her residence uncovered a “fully functioning dentist’s office,” according to the announcement.

    According to Catalina, Mejia Carranza’s patients were only given local anesthesia and were not provided with the proper anesthesia required for the “complex dental procedures she was performing,” as reported by WABC-TV. Authorities also discovered antibiotics that had been imported from overseas. Police believe there are additional victims. Catalina said during the press conference that Mejia Carranza specifically targeted the Hispanic community, particularly those without health insurance and many who were undocumented.

    Mejia Carranza has pleaded not guilty and is currently out of jail on supervised release, according to KGNS-TV.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Fraud Rings Targeting Online Education Programs Steal Millions in Federal Student Aid, Warns U.S. Inspector General

    Fraud Rings Targeting Online Education Programs Steal Millions in Federal Student Aid, Warns U.S. Inspector General

    The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Education is ramping up efforts to combat student aid fraud, focusing on organized schemes that undermine federal student assistance programs. 

    As part of this initiative, the OIG is working to raise public awareness and encourage people to report fraudulent activities related to student financial aid, WLBT reports.

    Student aid fraud can take many forms, including stealing identities, falsifying financial aid applications, misrepresenting academic credentials, and enrolling in schools without the intention to attend. 

    These actions defraud the federal government and divert resources away from legitimate students in need of assistance. However, an emerging concern is the rise of student fraud rings.

    Student fraud rings involve groups of organized criminals who fraudulently obtain federal student aid, according to reports. These criminal networks exploit the growing number of online education opportunities by enrolling in virtual courses and using stolen identities or false information to apply for financial aid. 

    Because these fraud rings are often spread across multiple states or even countries, they can be difficult to track and shut down, posing a significant challenge to authorities.

    The OIG urges students, parents, and faculty members to report any suspected fraud, waste, or abuse involving federal education programs. 

    Students and their families are also encouraged to remain vigilant against fraud and scams. 

  • Two Women Arrested For Allegedly Running Romance Scam That Deceived Over A Dozen Elderly Men Out Of $7 Million

    Two Women Arrested For Allegedly Running Romance Scam That Deceived Over A Dozen Elderly Men Out Of $7 Million

    Two women fooled at least 16 vulnerable elderly men and stole over $7 million in a

    “romance scam”

    that lasted for several years, reports the NY Post. Rosanna Lisa Stanley and Gina Guy allegedly used deceptive stories about medical procedures and fake business opportunities to manipulate their victims. 

    The scam finally came to an end when the two culprits were arrested last month. The con women reeled their victims in through

    “in-person meetings, phone calls, text messages, and an online dating platform,”

    according to court documents. 

    Stanley, 48, deceived a man by pretending to be a fortune teller. She convinced him that his money was contaminated and promised to cleanse it. The victim believed her and sent her money transfers and checks for over a decade. He thought she could help him achieve his desired life. 

    Another victim fell in love with Stanley during a meeting in February 2023. He believed they were in an exclusive romantic relationship. As a result, he paid her rent and living expenses and gave her access to his online banking and credit card. Stanley changed his password, refused to share it, and spent thousands of dollars on his behalf. She also tricked him into investing in a fake catering business in Florida. 

    In total, Stanley swindled at least $555,000 from the senior, using some of the money to pay off loans for a boat and luxury car. Guy, aged 37, conned four men out of over $900,000 by claiming she needed money for kidney transplants. Stanley was arrested in Miami Beach, while Guy was apprehended in New York City. Both women are facing charges of money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy. They have been released on a $250,000 bond each, and the case is currently ongoing.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Florida Social Worker Terminated Following An Investigation That Discovered Her Wife Impersonated Her and Provided Patient Care

    Florida Social Worker Terminated Following An Investigation That Discovered Her Wife Impersonated Her and Provided Patient Care

    A social worker in Florida gave up her license after her wife pretended to be her and provided therapy to patients through an online mental health platform. The investigation was conducted by the Florida Department of Health, per USA Today. 

    Records show that Peggy A. Randolph was a licensed clinical social worker in Ellenton. According to online records and documents filed with the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure, Randolph was also licensed as a social worker in Tennessee. During her employment at Brightside Health, an online mental health platform, from January 2021 to February 2023, Randolph offered therapy services to numerous clients through video calls. 

    After the passing of her wife, Tammy G. Heath-Randolph, Randolph took bereavement leave. It was during this period that a patient reported being treated by Randolph’s deceased wife instead of Randolph herself. The patient provided evidence, including a photo of herself interacting with Randolph’s wife during a session. When confronted by Brightside Health during their investigation, Randolph denied that her wife had treated the patient.

    Eventually, Randolph confessed that the person in the photo treating the patient was indeed her wife. She explained that her wife had an

    “uncontrolled bipolar condition”

    which may have caused her to see patients without Randolph’s knowledge. 

    However, during  Brightside Health’s investigation, they discovered that Randolph’s wife had been seeing patients for quite some time.

    “This was a coordinated effort so Randolph could provide services to patients in person while (her wife) provided services over the phone,”

    the report read. Randolph’s contract with the company has since been terminated and her access to the company’s systems has been revoked.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Attorney Claims Julie Chrisley’s Resentencing Could Reduce Prison Term by 1-2 Years, ‘Its A Big Deal’

    Attorney Claims Julie Chrisley’s Resentencing Could Reduce Prison Term by 1-2 Years, ‘Its A Big Deal’

    Reality star, Julie Chrisley of Chrisley Knows Best, may avoid serving a lengthy prison term. As previously reported, a panel of three judges from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned Chrisley’s sentence for tax evasion and bank fraud. The judges determined that the original judge in her 2022 case made errors in the decision-making process.

    PEOPLE, who obtained the court documents, reports that the judges concluded that while Chrisley was

    “indeed connected”

    to the bank fraud scheme, there was insufficient evidence to prove her involvement before 2007. As a result, Chrisley will now face resentencing by a lower court.

    Although an official ruling has yet to be made, her lawyer, Jay Surgent, has hope that Julie’s sentence may be

    “significantly knocked off by 1-2 years”

    and she could even be home as early as “next spring or summer.”

    In June 2022, Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley, her husband, were convicted of engaging in fraudulent activities. They were found guilty of artificially inflating their net worth and obtaining loans from smaller banks with less stringent vetting processes. They managed to acquire over $30 million in fraudulent funds, reports note. Additionally, Julie was also convicted of obstruction of justice and wire fraud. Their former accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also found guilty of filing false tax returns.

    “We’re pleased that the Court agreed that Julie’s sentence was improper, but we’re obviously disappointed that it rejected Todd’s appeal,”

    Alex Little, the Chrisleys’ other attorney, told EW in a statement.

    “With this step behind us, we can now challenge the couple’s convictions based on the illegal search that started the case.”

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

    https://twitter.com/people/status/1804687862224294078
  • Man Accused Of Marrying Steve Harvey’s Radio Co-Host In Scheme To Defraud 25 Victims, Primarily Women, Of Over $750K

    Man Accused Of Marrying Steve Harvey’s Radio Co-Host In Scheme To Defraud 25 Victims, Primarily Women, Of Over $750K

    A Georgia man is accused of tricking Steve Harvey‘s radio show co-host, Shirley Strawberry, into marrying him and then using her fame to cheat at least 25 people out of over $750,000. On April 23, a Fulton County Grand Jury charged Earnest Williams, 57, with 39 counts of fraud, according to court documents per the NY Post. 

    Williams presented himself as a successful businessman, stealing hundreds of thousands from his victims, including

    “personal vehicles, motorcycles, coach buses, trailers, automotive parts, and other various services and property.”

    Williams would target primarily women, and

    “often used the illusion of romantic or close personal relationships with those victims to manipulate them and to steal from them,”

    according to the documents.

    The documents allege he

    “knowingly entered into a fraudulent marriage with Shirley Strawberry,”

    — the co-host of

    “The Steve Harvey Morning Show”

    and used her

    “high-profile celebrity”

    to convince his victims of his legitimacy as a businessman. The couple got married in January 2015.

    Shirley Strawberry / Facebook

    “We believe she met a man, fell in love, and married him, and the truth is, at the time, he was already married to someone else,”

    Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told WSBTV. 

    The well-known radio host filed for divorce on April 17th. However, according to court documents, they had been living apart since March 2022. Williams is also accused of recruiting multiple

    “co-conspirators,”

    his main accomplice being Erica King. Williams allegedly

    “solicited King to fraudulently assume the identities of multiple attorneys licensed to practice law in Georgia to deceive law enforcement and the courts, including by appearing in court and by falsely and fraudulently representing Williams in hearings.” 

    Williams and King were arrested in October 2023. He has been indicted on multiple charges and his public defender has filed a plea agreement on his behalf. If found guilty, Williams could face a prison sentence ranging from one to 20 years. Additionally, if he is found guilty of filing a false marriage license in Georgia, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Florida Man Purchases Porsche 911 Turbo Using Homemade Check, Police Say

    Florida Man Purchases Porsche 911 Turbo Using Homemade Check, Police Say

    A Florida man named Casey William Kelley is facing serious charges after allegedly using a fake banknote to buy a Porsche worth $140,000 from a dealership, as reported by Yahoo News.

    The 42-year-old reportedly used his own computer and printer to create a very realistic-looking cashier’s check. However, his plan didn’t go as expected.

    The dealership in Destin, Florida initially had no idea that the check Kelley provided was fake. He happily drove away with the car and title in hand, thinking he had successfully pulled off the fraud. But when the dealership discovered the truth, they immediately contacted the police.

    Kelley felt so confident about his scheme that he went to a jeweler in Miramar Beach and tried to use another fake check, this time for $61,521, to buy three Rolex watches. Luckily, the jeweler was suspicious and decided to keep the watches until the check cleared. It turned out to be worthless, and the police were able to track down Kelley and arrest him.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Airbnb Host Sent Fake Police Report To Scam Money For ‘Deep Cleaning Service,’ Police Say

    Airbnb Host Sent Fake Police Report To Scam Money For ‘Deep Cleaning Service,’ Police Say

    Airbnb host Katherine Jensen is facing serious charges after allegedly filing a false police report, per WSBTV. According to the Newnan Police, Jensen owned the property at 11 Melson Street. 

    The police department received an email from one of Jensen’s Airbnb guests, accusing Jensen of attempting to deceive Airbnb by submitting a fake complaint along with a fabricated police report. 

    In addition, she allegedly sent a bogus cleaning invoice to the platform to obtain reimbursement for a deep clean from another guest. 

    Jensen was arrested on June 6, 2023, and has been charged with two counts of forgery in the second degree, theft by deception, and criminal attempt at theft by deception. She has since been released on bail after being booked into the Coweta County Jail. 

    The Newnan officials have stated that this is an ongoing investigation, and more charges may be filed as the detectives work to gather information from Airbnb to identify any other potential victims.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Boyfriend Arrested After He Was Caught Cross-Dressing To Take Girlfriend’s Career Exam

    Boyfriend Arrested After He Was Caught Cross-Dressing To Take Girlfriend’s Career Exam

    A 26-year-old man named Angrez Singh was arrested for reportedly posing as his girlfriend to take an exam on her behalf, reports the NY Post. This incident gained viral attention after photos of the incident were circulated on the internet.

    “He tried to enter the examination hall by changing his appearance,”

    police spokesperson, Manoj Kumar, told Jam Press. 

    Singh took a recruitment test on behalf of his girlfriend, Paramjit Kaur, at the DAV Public School in Kotkapura Punjab. Kaur had previously failed the exam, which was a crucial step in her becoming a healthcare worker. To fool the test officials, Singh shaved his facial hair, wore makeup, and dressed in women’s clothing to resemble Kaur. 

    He even went as far as forging Kaur’s voter card, ID card, and Aadhaar card – a 12-digit unique identity number – to make the scheme foolproof. However, Singh’s was caught by exam officials who noticed that his face did not match Kaur’s photo on the application form.

    Sadly, Singh did not pass the exam.

    The fraudster was arrested. Police also accused Kaur of working with her boyfriend because he couldn’t have done it without her help, they said. The couple are now facing many charges and the police are investigating how Singh faked the documents.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?