Fraud News November 2017: Public Corruption, Bribery & More

Fraud News November 2017: Public Corruption, Bribery & More

Stay up to date with recent cases involving alleged fraud or theft throughout the country, the FBI’s website, fbi.gov, provides a great source of information.

Below you can review the November 2017 fraud cases referenced on the FBI’s website and throughout the internet.

Public Corruption

Read Article: Blackfeet Head Start Employees Appear in Federal Court on Indictment for Embezzlement of over $230,000

November 8, 2017

GREAT FALLS – Ethyl Lee Grant, Allen Shane Goss, and Carol Hall Bird appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston on November 8, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., in Great Falls, Montana.  The defendants face charges of Theft from an Indian Tribal Government Receiving Federal Funding and Wire Fraud.  The charges stem from the defendants allegedly embezzling federal funds while working at the Blackfeet Head Start Program.  The maximum available penalties for these offenses include up to 30 years in prison, $500,000 in fines, full restitution, and forfeiture.

Bribery, Public Corruption

Read Article: Former FAA Aviation Safety Inspector and Owners of Miami Aviation Repair Company Charged in Bribery Scheme

November 3, 2017

A former FAA Aviation Safety Inspector and the co-owner of a South Florida aviation repair company, AVCOM Avionics and Instruments Inc., were charged with various offenses in connection with a bribery scheme during 2010-2013. To date, the other co-owner of AVCOM Avionics and Instruments Inc. has also been convicted and sentenced in connection with the ongoing investigation.

Financial Fraud

Read Article: Dallas Woman Sentenced for Role in Bank Fraud Conspiracy

November 9, 2017

TYLER, Texas – A 44-year-old Dallas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Rachelle Dashner pleaded guilty on May 18, 2017, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. Dashner was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,691,106.50.

Healthcare Fraud

Read Article: New Orleans Woman Convicted for Role in $3.2 Million Medicare Kickback Scheme

November 9, 2017

A federal jury found a New Orleans woman guilty today for her role in an approximately $3.2 million Medicare fraud and kickback scheme.

After a three-day trial, Sandra Parkman, 61, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, two counts of health care fraud and five counts of accepting kickbacks.  Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt of the Eastern District of Louisiana, who presided over the trial.

Identity Theft, Financial Fraud

Read Article: Akron women indicted for defrauding Department of Education out of $1.8 million through financial aid scheme

November 9, 2017

A 23-count indictment was filed charging three Akron women with defrauding the U.S. Department of Education out of $1.8 million through a scheme where they enrolled inmates and people whose identities they stole in an Arizona community college in order to obtain financial aid, law enforcement officials said.

Janice M. Shufford, 53, Bridgid D. Sommerville, 47, and Christine M. Robinson, 38, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Mortgage Fraud

Read Article: Three Defendants Convicted on All Counts for Mortgage Fraud Scheme Involving 14 Properties

November 8, 2017

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal jury in Sacramento convicted three Northern California residents today of crimes relating to their involvement in a mortgage fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

After a seven-day trial, the jury found Surjit Singh, 71, of Dublin, and his son, Rajeshwar Singh, 43, of Pleasanton, each guilty of four counts of mail fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and four counts of false statements on loan and credit applications. Anita Sharma, 55, of Gilroy, was found guilty of two counts of mail fraud, two counts of bank fraud, and two counts of false statements on loan and credit applications.

Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud

Read Article: Day Trader Indicted in Computer Hacking and Securities Fraud Scheme Targeting Online Brokerage Accounts

November 8, 2017

A four-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York, charging Joseph P. Willner, a self-described day trader, with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud and Computer Intrusions, Securities Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.  As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, between September 2014 and May 2017, Willner engaged in a computer intrusion and securities fraud scheme, illegally profiting from a series of coordinated trades involving more than 50 hacked online brokerage accounts.  The defendant laundered the proceeds of his crimes using Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency.  Willner was arrested on a criminal complaint on June 13, 2017 in Ambler, Pennsylvania.

Bid Rigging

Read Article: Three Real Estate Investors Indicted for Bid Rigging in Florida Online Foreclosure Auctions

November 3, 2017

A federal grand jury in West Palm Beach returned an indictment yesterday against three high-volume Florida real estate investors for conspiring to rig bids submitted through the online property foreclosure auction process, the Department of Justice announced.

The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, charges Avi Stern, Christopher Graeve, and Stuart Hankin with conspiring to rig bids during online auctions in Palm Beach County, Florida in order to obtain foreclosed properties at suppressed prices.  The indictment alleges that the conduct took place from at least January 2012 until June 2015.

Healthcare Fraud

Read Article: Doctor Sentenced in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Involving Sober Homes and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Centers

November 9, 2017

A doctor was sentenced to 48 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $2,198,520.37 for his participation in a multi-million-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme that involved the filing of fraudulent insurance claim forms and defrauded health care benefit programs.

Joaquin Mendez, 52, of Miramar, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347; all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.

Financial Fraud

Read Article: Former Investment Adviser Sentenced to More than 13 Years in Federal Prison for $8 Million Investment Fraud Scheme

November 2, 2017

Acting United States Attorney Corey Amundson announced that Senior U.S. District Judge James J. Brady sentenced Bryan Lee Addington, age 56, of Ethel, Louisiana, to serve 159 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining over $8 million from victim investors in an investment fraud scheme.  The Court also ordered Addington to make restitution payments to his victims in the amount of $5,393,346.63.  Addington will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison.

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