wire fraud

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Ex-CEO Found Dead After Missing Sentencing

Former S-Ray CEO Stephen Baird was to meet some of the investors he defrauded of $11M

(Newser) - The former CEO of medical device startup S-Ray has been found dead after missing a sentencing hearing for wire fraud over his misuse of investor money. Stephen Baird, 69, was expected to see many of the 200 investors he defrauded of a combined $10.75 million in US District Court...

Man Trained Skydivers Without Certification—Until 2 Died

California's Robert Pooley sentenced to 2 years in prison for wire fraud

(Newser) - A former California skydiving instructor who trained more than 100 skydivers after his instructor certification was suspended is headed to prison. Robert Pooley of Acampo obtained ratings as a "tandem examiner" with the US Parachute Association (USPA) and United Parachute Technologies (UPT) in 2010 but had his certification suspended...

Ex-Celebrity Lawyer Stole $15M From Clients

Tom Girardi found guilty of wire fraud

(Newser) - A lawyer once married to one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and who often appeared on the reality show himself, was convicted of wire fraud Tuesday in Los Angeles. The LA Times describes Tom Girardi as a onetime "legal titan," and ABC 7 goes with "...

Man Behind Decadeslong 'Psychic' Scam Learns His Fate

Patrice Runner was behind mailing of 56M letters promising personal fortunes, for a fee

(Newser) - The Canadian man who defrauded victims of $175 million via "a massive psychic mass-mailing fraud scheme" that spanned two decades was on Monday sentenced to 10 years behind bars, the Guardian reports. Patrice Runner, 57, was convicted in June after being extradited to the US to face charges. "...

SBF Will Learn His Fate Today
SBF Will Learn His Fate Today
THE RUNDOWN
Mar 28, 2024 6:52 AM CDT

SBF Will Learn His Fate Today

Prosecutors are seeking up to 50 years

(Newser) - Former cryptocurrency kingpin Sam Bankman-Fried will be sentenced Thursday for crimes including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. There's no question that the 32-year-old will face years in federal prison but there's a big gap between recommendations from prosecutors and those from his defense lawyers, the...

Ex-Jags Employee Ordered to Repay More Than $21M

Amit Patel sentenced to 6.5 years for stealing from virtual credit card system

(Newser) - Former Jacksonville Jaguars employee Amit Patel has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $22 million from the team. Patel, who could have faced up to 30 years, was also ordered to repay more than $21 million, CNN reports. Prosecutors said Patel,...

How Billions of Stolen Bitcoin Stayed Hidden—Until a Slipup

Jimmy Zhong stayed under the radar for nearly a decade, until he made a banking error

(Newser) - The 2012 mystery of who stole a bundle of bitcoin that eventually ballooned to $3 billion in worth puzzled authorities for the better part of a decade, but in 2019, Jimmy Zhong finally made an error that led them to his doorstep. CNBC's investigative report delves into how Zhong...

She Worked Her Way Up the Men's Wearhouse Ladder. Now, Jail

Gina Lonestar created phony invoices from a fake vendor to the tune of $1.7M, prosecutors say

(Newser) - A former Men's Wearhouse executive is going to prison for nearly two years after pleading guilty to embezzling $1.7 million from the clothing giant and its parent, Tailored Brands. CBS News reports that 52-year-old Gina Suzanne Lonestar was sentenced to 22 months behind bars on a wire fraud...

Man Who 'Repeatedly' Enabled Alex Murdaugh Gets 7 Years

Russell Laffitte was found guilty of wire and bank fraud in November

(Newser) - The man who once headed a highly respected bank in the South Carolina Lowcountry will spend seven years in federal prison for helping convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh steal nearly $2 million from clients' legal settlements. Russell Laffitte was sentenced Tuesday after a jury found him guilty of six charges related...

She Left a Holocaust Survivor 'Penniless and Betrayed'

Peaches Stergo, who stole $2.8M from him, is handed a 51-month sentence

(Newser) - The Florida woman who "deceived an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, maliciously draining his life savings so she could become a millionaire through fraud," will pay for her crime. Peaches Stergo, 36, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in April and was on Thursday sentenced to four years and three months...

Man Who Set Fire to Own Property Hears His Fate

Denis Molla, who initially blamed antifa for arson, gets 30 months in prison after Minnesota blaze

(Newser) - A Minnesota man was sentenced Thursday to 30 months behind bars after setting fire to his own property to claim insurance money, and initially blaming the September 2020 arson on antifa. Per court documents cited by CBS News , Denis Vladmirovich Molla, 29, who'd first claimed that someone had torched...

Feds: $100M Scheme Sought to License Untrained Nurses

More than 7.6K fake diplomas allegedly issued over 5 years in South Florida

(Newser) - "There are over 7,600 people around the country with fraudulent nursing credentials who are potentially in critical health care roles treating patients," FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough said this week. His warning came as the Justice Department announced charges related to three accredited nursing...

Former Rep. TJ Cox Arrested by the FBI

California Democrat faces dozens of fraud charges

(Newser) - Former Rep. TJ Cox served one term in the House, from Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2021. The California Democrat will be serving a lot more time than that in federal prison if he's convicted of all of the fraud charges he's facing. The FBI says Cox was arrested...

If You Get a Call From 'Elliot Stewart,' Be Wary

$13M has been stolen from the elderly in a rare-wine scam

(Newser) - The world of fine wine and whiskey continues to be a magnet for thieves and frauds . The Washington Post reports on allegations that three England-based companies claiming huge returns on investments in rare booze actually stole more than $13 million from at least 150 Americans—many of them elderly. Representatives...

Alleged PPP Fraudster Blew $2.5M on Cars, Crypto

Vinicius Santana of Florida allegedly bought 2 cars and a home with his $2.5M loan

(Newser) - Authorities say the former owner of a Massachusetts painting business fraudulently received $2.5 million in loans meant to assist small businesses during the pandemic before buying cars and a home and investing in cryptocurrency. Vinicius Santana, 34, was arrested Monday at Miami International Airport, not far from where he...

Prosecutors: Ex-Yale Worker Swiped $40M in Electronics

Jamie Petrone pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which could land her in jail for up to 20 years

(Newser) - For nearly a decade, Jamie Petrone had the ability, in her role as an administrator for the Yale School of Medicine, to place orders for computers and other electronics for the school's Department of Emergency Medicine. Prosecutors say that routine administrative task turned into a yearslong scheme that brought...

Scholarship Cash Used to Pay for Exec's Dating Sites: Prosecutors

Mary Wickersham is also accused of using pageant scholarship funds for maid services, meals out

(Newser) - The Miss Florida Scholarship Program was designed to distribute funds to young women coming up through the beauty pageant world, but prosecutors say that for Mary Wickersham, an ex-executive director for the nonprofit, it was a personal piggy bank used to buy an array of goods and services for herself....

Phony 'Hollywood Success Story' Sentenced to 20 Years

Actor Zachary Horwitz, aka Zach Avery, hears his fate after bilking investors in $650M Ponzi scheme

(Newser) - Update: A Hollywood actor accused of running a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme was sentenced Monday to 20 years behind bars in federal prison, reports CNN Business . Per a DOJ release , Zachary Horwitz (aka Zach Avery), 35, was ordered by Judge Mark C. Scarsi, of the US District Court for the Central...

Gambling Nun to Serve Year Behind Bars: 'I Have Sinned'

'I have no excuses,' says Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, who stole $835K from Catholic school

(Newser) - Update: A California nun and retired principal who embezzled $835,000 in donations, tuition, and fees from a Catholic elementary school will now have to pay it all back and serve a year behind bars. "I have sinned, I've broken the law, and I have no excuses,"...

Holmes Ends Her Testimony With Denials

Defense rests, but closing arguments won't take place till Dec. 16

(Newser) - The defense wrapped up its case in Elizabeth Holmes' trial Wednesday with her declaration that she didn't mislead investors in her blood tech startup—"Never," she said. "You understand they were entitled to truthful answers about Theranos' capabilities?" a prosecutor asked. "Of course," Holmes...

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