Financial Fraud News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to Financial Fraud news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Seattle area resident indicted for laundering millions of dollars – alleged proceeds of wire fraud scheme 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Seattle – A 46-year-old resident of Newcastle, Washington was indicted today by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to commit money laundering, and nine counts of money laundering either by concealment or by spending, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Dark Web Vendor Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Through the Mail 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Ryan Scott Cochran, also known as "namedeclined," pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine through the United States mail.  Today's proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr.  As part of his guilty plea, Cochran agreed to forfeit more than $200,000 in cash, cryptocurrency and money in bank accounts already seized by law enforcement, and agreed to forfeit an additional $900,000 at a later date. When sentenced, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty years' imprisonment. Employee of Brooklyn Moving Company Sentenced for Defrauding Customers 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT "The defendant enticed victims to use the moving companies he worked for and then held their belongings hostage to substantially higher prices and the threat of auctioning them off unless they agreed to the fraudulent demands," stated United States Attorney Peace.  "For his crime of conviction, it is Prince who will be moving -- to a federal prison.  My Office is committed to protecting consumers from costly and fraudulent schemes in the moving industry." Albany Man Sentenced to Prison in Bank Fraud Conspiracy Targeting SEFCU 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT California Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding CARES Act Programs and Commercial Lenders 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT A California man pleaded guilty today in the Eastern District of Virginia to wire fraud for defrauding Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Main Street Lending Program (MSLP), of more than $10 million. 52 Members of a Violent Drug Trafficking Gang in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Charged in a Superseding Indictment 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment on August 21, 2024, charging 52 violent gang members from the municipality of Caguas with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, firearms violations, murder, and money laundering, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Texas Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Conspiring with Michael Mann to Defraud Lenders 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Spokane Resident Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining More than $360,000 in COVID- 19 Relief Funding 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Mastermind of $5 Million Unemployment Fraud Scheme and Accomplices Sentenced to Prison 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT SAN DIEGO – David Constantin, mastermind of a scheme to steal more than $5 million in California unemployment benefits intended to help workers affected by the pandemic, was sentenced in federal court today to five years in prison and was ordered to pay $ $5,178,276 in restitution to the state. Country Club To Pay Over $440,000 To Resolve Allegations It Received Paycheck Protection Program Loan As An Ineligible Nonprofit Organization 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Resolution Builds on a Steady Stream of Civil and Criminal Cases to Protect Taxpayer Dollars Spent as Pandemic-Related Assistance Former Church Office Manager Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Ordered to Repay more than $910k 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Katrenia Hartman, 55, of Sand Springs for Bank Fraud and Willfully Making and Subscribing a False Federal Income Tax Return. Former MPD Officer Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Scheme that Sold Personal Data of Traffic Crash Victims 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Vincent Forrest, 36, a former patrol officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 20 months in prison for his role in a bribery scheme in which he unlawfully provided non-public police information in exchange for cash payments. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office. Maryland Man Sentenced For Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $3.5 Million In Covid-19 Cares Act Loans 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Greenbelt, Maryland – On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the Honorable Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Rudolph Brooks, age 48, of Cheltenham, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison followed by 2 years of supervised release for fraudulently obtaining over $3.5 million in COVID-19 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans. The Court also ordered Brooks to forfeit all property and assets derived from or obtained as a result of his criminal activity, including a 2018 Tesla Model 3, property located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and at least $2,231,141.49 from 17 bank accounts controlled by Brooks. Richland Man Indicted for Stealing More than $339,000 in COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT Two Individuals Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Defraud Rideshare Customers, Drivers and Others 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT "As alleged, the defendants sought to enrich themselves by corrupting the rideshare market at the expense of unsuspecting passengers and hardworking drivers who play by the rules," stated United States Attorney Peace. "My Office remains steadfast in ensuring that, no matter how complex the scheme, individuals who violate the law will be caught and held accountable. The defendants learned an important lesson in these charges: there is no such thing as a free ride." Dallas Man Pleads Guilty in $27M Oil & Gas, Water Rights Fraud 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT A Dallas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding investors out of more than $27 million in various oil and gas and water rights scams.  Charlotte Man Is Sentenced To Prison For Stealing And Cashing Checks Valued At $300,000 08/28/2024 08:00 AM EDT You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the Offices of the United States Attorneys website. GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW · Washington, DC 20530 · 202-514-2000 and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes. Manage your Subscriptions | Department of Justice Privacy Policy  | GovDelivery Privacy Policy Follow the Offices of the United States Attorneys on Twitter: @USAttorneys