FBI Philadelphia Division #News Release:

Romanian Citizens Charged in Skimming Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeNovember 24, 2015

Eastern District of Pennsylvania(215) 861-8200

PHILADELPHIA—Aura Voicu, 24, and Silviu Serban, 30, both of Bucharest, Romania, were charged today by Indictment with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, attempted bank fraud, and aiding and abetting, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

According to the indictment, between at least May 25, 2015 and mid-June 2015, the defendants engaged in a skimming scheme involving Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) belonging to various banks that the defendants targeted. The defendants allegedly installed devices on various Philadelphia bank ATMs to capture Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) used by bank customers.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of 35 years in prison, a five year term of supervised release, a possible fine and a $200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Linwood C. Wright, Jr.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.

FBI Omaha Division #News Release:

Omaha Man Sentenced for Commercial Robbery

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeNovember 24, 2015

District of Nebraska(402) 661-3700

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Liban Hassan, age 23 of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced to two years, nine months’ imprisonment by the Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, for Interference With Commerce By Threats or Violence. On August 13, 2015, a federal jury found him guilty of robbing the Kum & Go at 13149 Fort Street, Omaha. He was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release and pay $455.53 in restitution.

On May 18, 2014, at approximately 4:15 a.m., four men entered the store and demanded money. One of the four acted as if he had a gun under his shirt. Two other suspects came behind the counter, grabbed the clerk asking where the cigarettes were. Hassan acted as a lookout both inside the store and then outside while the robbery was continuing inside. The four men left with $158.50 and approximately 5-6 cartons of cigarettes.

Yusuf Xasan was previously convicted in connection with the robbery and received 13 months in prison. The two other suspects remain at large.

The case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.

FBI Oklahoma City Division #News Release:

Jury Finds Sapulpa Businessman Guilty of Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, and Bankruptcy Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeNovember 24, 2015

Northern District of Oklahoma(918) 382-2700

TULSA, OK—Following a five-day jury trial, a Sapulpa businessman was convicted for mail fraud, money laundering, and bankruptcy fraud resulting in a $133,500 loss to the Frank and Barbara Broyles Legacy Foundation, a charitable organization and affiliate of the University of Arkansas Foundation. Frank Broyles is the noted former athletic director and football coach of the University of Arkansas.

United States Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr. of the Northern District of Oklahoma; Special Agent in Charge Scott Cruse of the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Damon Rowe of the IRS-Criminal Investigations Dallas division made the announcement.

Kelly Verd Nichols, 47, was charged by a superseding indictment on September 10, 2015, with two-counts of mail fraud; four-counts of unlawful monetary transactions and money laundering; and four-counts of bankruptcy fraud. At the time of the crimes, Nichols and his wife owned International Marketing Consultants, LLC, and International Marketing Consultants, Inc.

United States District Chief Judge Gregory K. Frizzell presided over the jury trial and will sentence Nichols on March 8, 2016.

According to evidence presented at trial, in 2007, Nichols convinced the Broyles Foundation that International Marketing Consultants could produce a booklet developed by Frank Broyles entitled “Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers,” commonly referred to as “the Playbook.”

From 2007 to 2009, the Broyles Foundation ordered and paid for approximately 1,100,000 copies of the Playbook which was distributed nationally. In 2009, an additional 500,000 copies were ordered and distributed.

The jury found that in May 2010, Nichols submitted a fraudulent invoice for shipping of the Playbooks to the Broyles Foundation when in fact the Playbooks were not printed or shipped as Nichols claimed. As a result, the Broyles Foundation and UofA Foundation sent payment to Nichols totaling $133,500.

At the time of sentencing, Nichols faces up to 20 years in prison. As part of his sentence, a criminal forfeiture money judgment will be entered in the amount of $133,500 representing proceeds obtained as a result of the mail fraud scheme.

The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI; and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin C. Leitch, Clemon D. Ashley, and Catherine Depew on behalf of the United States.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.

FBI Newark Division #News Release:

Four New York Men Each Sentenced to More Than Eight Years In Prison for Armed Robberies of New York and New Jersey Stores

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeNovember 24, 2015

District of New Jersey(973) 645-2888

TRENTON, NJ—Four New York men were sentenced to prison for participating in the armed robberies of New York and New Jersey electronics stores, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Carl Williams, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, and Leonard Arrington, 29, of Roslyn Heights, New York, were sentenced today to 168 months and 102 months in prison, respectively. Terrell McQueen, 31, and Kajuan Crawley, 28, both of Brooklyn, were sentenced yesterday to 168 and 150 months in prison, respectively. U.S. District Judge Anne Thompson imposed all four sentences in Trenton federal court.

Carl Williams previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Arrington pleaded guilty before Judge Pisano to an information containing the same charges. McQueen and Crawley pleaded guilty before Judge Joel Pisano to separate superseding informations charging them each with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From May 30, 2012, through Jan. 16, 2013, Carl Williams, Arrington, McQueen, Crawley and others conspired to commit a series of gunpoint electronic store robberies in New Jersey and New York. McQueen provided the firearms used in the New Jersey robberies, coordinated the resale of the stolen merchandise and distributed the profits from the robberies to the other perpetrators. During each robbery, conspirators would assign “look-outs” to remain outside while the rest of the group, armed with a gun, entered the store, locked the front doors, and tied-up employees and customers with zip ties.

Following the June 21, 2012, armed robbery of a Radio Shack in Rockville Center, New York, several conspirators, including Crawley, were apprehended by officers with the Nassau County Police Department, but Carl Williams, Arrington and others managed to escape. Afterwards, Carl Williams and Arrington robbed electronics stores in New Jersey.

On Sept. 20, 2012, Arrington, brandishing a firearm, walked into a T-Mobile store in Linden, New Jersey, with Carl Williams. Crawley, out on bail after his arrest following the June 21, 2012 robbery, served as a look-out. Arrington and Williams tied up the employees in the back of the store, stole approximately 50 to 60 cell phones and fled in a Land Rover. McQueen, Eric Williams, 34, of Brooklyn, and others then delivered the stolen phones to a cell phone store in Brooklyn.

On Oct. 2, 2012, Arrington, brandishing a firearm, entered a T-Mobile store in Woodbridge, New Jersey, with another man. After locking the front door, the men tied up the employees in the back of the store and stole approximately 40 cell phones. One of the robbers then called the getaway driver, who drove them away in a Land Rover. Afterwards, McQueen, Eric Williams and others delivered the stolen phones to the same Brooklyn store.

In addition to the prison terms, Judge Thompson sentenced Arrington to serve five years of supervised release. Carl Williams, McQueen and Crawley were each sentenced to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, with the investigation. He also thanked the Linden and Woodbridge Police Departments in New Jersey, as well as the New York City and Nassau County Police Departments and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in New York for their work in this case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Osmar J. Benvenuto of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.

Defense counsel:

• Williams: Mark Berman Esq., River Edge, New Jersey
• Arrington: Dennis Cleary Esq., Newark, New Jersey
• McQueen: Anthony J. Pope Esq., Newark
• Crawley: Maria Noto Esq., Matawan, New Jersey

This content has been reproduced from its original source.

FBI Newark Division #News Release:

Disbarred New York Attorney Found Guilty of Fraudulent Ticket Resale and Real Estate Investment Schemes, Money Laundering

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeNovember 24, 2015

District of New Jersey(973) 645-2888

NEWARK, NJ—A disbarred New York attorney was convicted today by a federal jury for his role in a ticket resale fraud scheme and a real estate investment fraud conspiracy that bilked multiple victims out of more than $3 million from 2011 to the present, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Pasquale Stiso, a/k/a “Pat Stiso,” 55, of New Rochelle, New York, was convicted of all ten counts of a superseding indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six substantive counts of wire fraud, and three counts of money laundering. He was convicted following a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court. The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning the verdict.

According to documents filed in this case and evidence at trial:

Since 2011, co-defendant Paul Mancuso, 49, of Glen Rock, New Jersey, held himself out as an investor, broker, and developer of various purported investments. Mancuso obtained from his victims substantial investments for various projects that, in fact, either did not exist at all or in which Mancuso had no actual involvement. Stiso held himself out as an individual who was working with Mancuso on various purported projects. Many of the victims of Stiso and Mancuso’s schemes lost all or substantially all of the money they invested with Mancuso and Stiso. Many even lost all or most of their life savings.

Stiso and Mancuso falsely represented to some victims that they would purchase event tickets, such as tickets to New York Giants football games, New York Yankees playoff games, the Super Bowl, and other sporting events and concerts, at a lower or wholesale rate, and then resell them to members of the public at an inflated rate, creating profits for their investors. In reality, Stiso and Mancuso did not buy tickets with their victims’ money.

In one of the real estate schemes, Stiso and Mancuso falsely represented to victims that they were investors in a real estate development project in Valley Cottage, New York, and that investor money would be used to purchase an interest in real property. The real property interest would then be resold at an increased price, creating profits for their investors. In reality, Stiso and Mancuso did not invest in any such real estate project with their victims’ money. Instead, they engaged in monetary transactions designed to funnel, and in many instances launder, the victims’ investments for their own benefit, including paying illegal gambling debts and money owed to loan sharks. Stiso and Mancuso were heavily involved in illegal gambling pursuits and both owed substantial sums of money to loan sharks and one of their bookmakers.

The charge of wire fraud conspiracy and the substantive counts of wire fraud each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss associated with the offense, whichever is greatest. Each money laundering count carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss associated with the offense, whichever is greatest. Stiso’s sentencing is scheduled for March 3, 2016.

Mancuso previously pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring with Stiso to commit wire fraud and is scheduled for sentencing on Jan 12, 2016.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; and criminal investigators of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the investigation leading to today’s verdict.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro and Anthony J. Mahajan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

• Defense counsel: Henry E. Klingeman Esq., Newark
• Ernesto Cerimele Esq., Newark

This content has been reproduced from its original source.

FBI New Haven Division #News Release:

Danbury Man Convicted of Defrauding Investors

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeNovember 25, 2015

District of Connecticut(203) 821-3700

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury in New Haven today found IAN PARKER BICK, 20, of Danbury, guilty of fraud and money laundering offenses stemming from his operation of Ponzi scheme. The trial before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer began on November 6.

“Mr. Bick repeatedly lied to victim investors, took their money and used it to take trips with friends, on shopping sprees, to purchase jet skis, and also to pay off previous investors who were promised unrealistic returns,” U.S. Attorney Daly said. “I thank the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Department of Banking and Danbury Police Department for their diligent investigation and prosecution of this matter.”

According to the evidence at trial, BICK was a principal and/or managing member of various Danbury-based entities, including This Is Where It’s At Entertainment, LLC, Planet Youth Entertainment, W&B Wholesale, LLC, and W&B Investments, LLC. Using these entities, BICK solicited investment funds from his friends, former classmates, acquaintances, and their parents by promising high investment returns over relatively short periods of time. BICK falsely represented to victim-investors that he could generate the high investment returns by using their funds to purchase electronics and electronic devices, such as iPhones, tablets and head phones, and by reselling the items for a substantial profit via the Internet. However, the electronic resale business never actually began in earnest and did not return any meaningful profit. BICK also falsely represented to certain victim-investors that he could generate high investment returns by using their funds to organize and promote concerts at various venues in Connecticut and Rhode Island. BICK falsely represented that he had made significant profits organizing and promoting concerts in the past.

BICK failed to invest the funds he received as he had represented and instead used invested funds for unrelated and unsuccessful businesses, and to pay personal expenses, including hotel stays and to purchase jet skis. BICK also used invested funds to issue payments, purportedly as “interest payments” and as “return of principal,” to certain victim-investors.

Through this scheme, BICK defrauded more than 15 investors out of a total of nearly $500,000.

BICK was charged in a 15-count indictment on January 8, 2015. The jury found BICK guilty on six counts of wire fraud, which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

The jury found BICK not guilty on two counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to federal law enforcement, and could not reach a verdict on three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. The government dismissed one count of money laundering prior to the trial.

Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for March 2, 2016. BICK is released on a $250,000 bond.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Banking and the Danbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. McGarry and Christopher W. Schmeisser.

Citizens are encouraged to report any financial fraud schemes by calling, toll free, 855-236-9740, or by sending an e-mail to ctsecuritiesfraud@ic.fbi.gov.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.

FBI New Haven Division #News Release:

Detroit Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Role in Smash-and-Grab Robbery of Stamford Jewelry Store

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeNovember 23, 2015

District of Connecticut(203) 821-3700

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRIAN MOORE, 26, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for organizing and carrying out a smash-and-grab robbery of a Stamford jewelry store in November 2014.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 26, 2014, three of MOORE’s accomplices, armed with hammers, entered Sidney Thomas Jewelers in the Stamford Town Center Mall during regular business hours. Soon after entering, the accomplices used the hammers to smash open a jewelry display case and removed more than $250,000 worth of Rolex watches. The three accomplices then fled with security guards in pursuit. One of MOORE’s accomplices, Richard Mathew Bailey, was caught and apprehended inside the mall while fleeing.

MOORE helped organize and carry out the robbery by soliciting others to participate and partially funding it. He also drove accomplices from Detroit to Stamford to carry out the robbery, and picked them up after the robbery in order to return to Detroit.

Judge Bolden also ordered MOORE to pay restitution to victims in an amount to be determined at a later date.

On August 31, 2015, MOORE pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with commerce by robbery.

Richard Mathew Bailey and a third defendant, Dajuhn Griffin, both from Detroit, have pleaded guilty to the same charge and await sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.