Hizballah Money Laundering Review: Is It Legit?

Quick Answer: This is not a review of a legitimate service, but rather a Department of Justice civil forfeiture complaint alleging Hizballah-linked institutions used U.S. car purchases to launder money. The scheme involved Lebanese Canadian Bank and two exchange houses funneling narcotics proceeds through used car sales in West Africa back to the designated terrorist …

Read more

Credit Card Fraud Ringleader Gets 12 Years

Quick Answer: Jonathan Oliveras received a 12-year prison sentence for managing an East Coast credit card fraud ring that caused over $750,000 in losses. He must also serve three years supervised release and forfeit $770,646 after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges.An identity thief was sentenced earlier this month to 12 …

Read more

World Trade Center Cleanup Fraud: What to Know

Quick Answer: Trucking company owners Gerardo P. Fusella and Vincent J. Fusella Jr. were indicted on 31 counts of embezzlement, mail fraud, and tax evasion related to World Trade Center cleanup contracts. The defendants allegedly bribed union officials and hid drivers’ work hours to avoid paying required wages and benefit contributions between 2007-2009.A trucking company’s …

Read more

NJ Fake Hedge Fund Scam: Are Charges Legit?

Quick Answer: The charges against George Sepero and Carmelo Provenzano appear legitimate based on FBI arrests and detailed criminal complaints alleging wire fraud conspiracy. The men allegedly defrauded investors of $3.5 million through fake hedge funds, spending money on luxury items instead of promised foreign currency trading.Two men running a fake hedge fund scheme have …

Read more

Skimming Scam: When It Helps and When It Hurts

Quick Answer: Three New York residents were charged with operating an ATM skimming scheme across 11 banks and one credit union in southern New England between February-July 2011. The defendants used hidden devices and pinhole cameras to steal card data and PINs, then created counterfeit cards to withdraw funds from victims’ accounts.Three New York residents …

Read more

Posterscope Execs Face $20M Fraud Complaints

Quick Answer: Former Posterscope USA executives Todd Hansen and James Buckley face federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a $19.75 million accounting fraud over five years to inflate performance targets and receive higher bonuses. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office says the scheme deceived the outdoor advertising company’s parent corporation Carat and its shareholders about the firm’s …

Read more

$78M Mortgage Fraud Scheme: Owner Convicted

Quick Answer: Andrew Hamilton Williams, Jr., was convicted of running a $78 million mortgage fraud scheme called “Metro Dream Homes” that promised to pay off homeowners’ mortgages in exchange for $50,000+ investments. Instead of fulfilling promises, the scheme used luxury hotel presentations to defraud victims while laundering money through fake ATM and kiosk investments.Andrew Hamilton …

Read more