All posts by brucebecker

Corruption

FBI enlisting public help to uncover corruption in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, KY. — Federal crime-fighters started an outreach campaign Friday to recruit Kentuckians to help uncover government corruption and end the state’s “fairly sordid” history of scandals that rob trust in government, law enforcement officials said.

The FBI’s “End Corruption Now” campaign includes an anonymous, toll-free tip line and an email address to allow people to report suspicions of wrongdoing by public officials. A billboard campaign in several communities will publicize the effort.

Drugs, Organized Crime

Alleged leader of Israeli organized crime ring that moved drugs across globe gets 32 years

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles man who prosecutors say was a leader of an Israeli organized crime ring that moved drugs and money across the globe was sentenced Friday to 32 years in prison.

Moshe Matsri, 49, was sentenced in federal court in Los Angeles on a slew of money laundering, drug and extortion charges. Prosecutors recommended he be sentenced to 34 years in prison, while his own attorney argued for a 12-year term.

Prosecutors describe Matsri, also known as “Moshe the Religious,” as a well-known crime figure in the San Fernando Valley with significant ties to the Israel-based Abergil crime family. They say he laundered large amounts of money around the world that helped fuel the international drug trade, and in one instance, negotiated a deal involving “enough cocaine to get the entire city of Dallas high.”

Source

Fraud

Two East Side grocers plead guilty in $300,000 food stamp fraud scheme

Two East Side grocers admitted in federal court to misappropriating close to $300,000 in food stamp benefits at their family convenience store over a period of 13 months.

Bandar Alsaidi, 28, and his brother, Talal Alsaidi, 31, both of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of food stamp benefits this week before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Each man was convicted of exchanging nearly $148,000 in SNAP benefits for cash between April 2012 and May 2013, prosecutors said.

Source

Organized Crime

FBI: Associate of Lucchese Organized Crime Family Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Racketeering and Other Crimes

CAMDEN, NJ—An associate of the Lucchese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (LCN) was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for participating in a racketeering conspiracy and related offenses, United States Attorney Paul J Fishman announced. Salvatore Pelullo, 48, of Philadelphia, an associate of the Philadelphia and Lucchese LCN families, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert B Kugler to 360 months in prison. He was convicted in July 2014, along with Nicodemo S Scarfo, 50, of Galloway, New Jersey, a member of the Lucchese organized crime family; William Maxwell, 56, of Houston, a Texas attorney; and John Maxwell, 63, of Dallas, of racketeering conspiracy and related offenses, including securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, extortion, money laundering and obstruction of justice, after a six-month trial before Judge Kugler in Camden federal court. Scarfo was sentenced on July 28, 2015, to 30 years in prison.

Source

Racketeering

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, four associates charged in 29-count racketeering indictment

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah Sr. and four associates on Wednesday were charged with racketeering in a 29-count indictment for their alleged involvement in several schemes that misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal, charitable and campaign funds.

Fattah, 58, who represents the 2nd Congressional District in Philadelphia, was allegedly involved in a conspiracy that was intended to further his political and financial interests as well as those of others.

Source

Fraud

Audit: More Than 23K Potentially Fake Addresses Of Health Care Providers In Medicare Program

A recent audit from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) discovered more than 23,000 potentially fake or bad addresses of health care providers in the Medicare program.

The report sheds light on instances of Medicare providers registering addresses as vacant lots, mailboxes, and, in one case, a fast-food chain that has been located at the listed practice address for years–problems that make the program susceptible to greater fraud and abuse.

Source

Fraud

Michigan man convicted on 37 charges relating to fake charities, fraud and identity theft

ANCHORAGE –

A Michigan man has been convicted of using fake charitable organizations in an Alaska fraud and identity theft case.

On Monday, 46-year-old Alan Michael Bartlett, of Owosso, Mich., was convicted of two counts of mail fraud, 20 counts of bank fraud, five counts of wire fraud, five counts of false statements to the U.S. Postal Service and five counts of aggravated identity theft, according to a statement from the Alaska U.S. District Attorney’s office.

Bartlett reportedly established two businesses — United States Disabled Veterans, LLC, and United States Handicapped-Disadvantaged Services, LLC – whose missions were allegedly “to help provide real jobs for disabled and disadvantaged Americans,” according to the DA. Instead, Bartlett used them to obtain donations to benefit himself between July 2011 and January 2012.

Source

Theft

Son, daughter-in-law accused of stealing more than $1 million from late golf legend Charlie Sifford

CLEVELAND- The son and daughter-in-law of Charlie Sifford are accused of stealing from the late golf legend.

Craig and Sandra Sifford, both 48, were charged with three counts of theft, one count of money laundering and one count of unauthorized use of property. Sandra Sifford also faces one count of receiving stolen property.

Charles Sifford died on Feb. 3 at the age of 92. Court records indicated he had been diagnosed with dementia. Days after his death, the Fox 8 News I-Team learned the Ohio Bureau of Investigations launched an inquiry into his finances.

Source