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Taylor Swift's Neighbor, Distinguished PA Educator-Turned-Art Dealer Pleads Guilty In Art Scam
A former Hill School admissions director and neighbor of pop icon Taylor Swift pleaded guilty to selling fake artwork he falsely claimed was created by some of the world’s most legendary artists, federal authorities announced on Tuesday, June 3.
Carter P. Reese, 77, of Reading, admitted in federal court on Thursday, May 29, to wire fraud and mail fraud for a two-year scheme that duped customers into buying forged works he said came from Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and others, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Once respect…
Melville Exec Stole $1.6M To Fund Lavish Wedding, Failed Restaurant, DOJ Says
A former Long Island credit supervisor is accused of stealing over $1 million from customer refund accounts to pay for his wedding, luxury travel, and launch a failed restaurant venture, prosecutors said.
Tony Ream, 33, of Greenville, South Carolina, was arraigned on wire fraud and money laundering charges in Central Islip federal court on Friday, May 30.
During his time as a credit supervisor for a Melville-based medical and dental supply company, Ream used his position to secretly divert corporate funds into a personal bank account he controlled, prosecutors alleged.
As supervisor, he ha…
'Wolf In Sheep's Clothing': Eastchester Coach Used Snapchat To Get Nudes From Minors, Feds Say
A football coach and athletic director at a Westchester County high school faces federal child pornography charges after allegedly using Snapchat and other apps to coerce young victims into sending sexually explicit photos of themselves, prosecutors said.
Eastchester resident Thomas Puccini, age 28, was arrested on Wednesday, May 21, and appeared the same day in White Plains federal court, where he was ordered detained, according to US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton.
Puccini was employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and …
Ex-Suffolk Tutor Who 'Catfished' Minor Into Sex, Abused Second Teen Gets 65 Years In Prison
A former tutor from Long Island will spend decades behind bars for blackmailing an underage teen into having sex with him, and abusing a second victim.
Steven Cipkin, 38, of Suffolk County, was sentenced to 65 years in prison in Louisiana federal court on Wednesday, May 21, after admitting to online enticement of minors.
Cipkin admitted that from January to April 2022, he used online platforms to pose as an adolescent girl and contacted a minor in Louisiana, gaining her trust. After revealing his true identity, Cipkin continued the communication, asking her to send sexually explicit photos …
'Gladly Go To Prison:' Morris County Man Admits Threats After Commentator’s Rabbi Remarks
A Morris County man admitted to threatening to kill a political commentator in an online video and group message, federal officials said.
Haim Braverman, 47, of Morris Plains, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to transmitting threats in interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Tuesday, May 6. He entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin. Sentencing is set for Sept. 15, 2025.
According to court documents, Braverman posted a video on or about Sept. 10, 2024, in which he threatened a political commentator while holding a bat.
“You’ll get what’s coming to yo…
Ex-Library Staffer From Hawthorne Admits Embezzling $3.2M From Couple Who Trusted Him, Feds Say
A Passaic County man and former tech administrator at a Bergen County library admitted to embezzling more than $3.2 million from a local couple who had hired him as a part-time personal assistant, federal prosecutors said.
Charles Gallo, 34, of Hawthorne, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said Friday, May 2.
Gallo began working for the victims in 2018, helping manage their bills, banking, emails, and tech issues, court documents say. From March 2022 to March 2023, Gallo used his access to steal millions, including making ATM withdra…
Greenwich Hedge Fund Owner Admits To Stealing $3.4M From Investors: DOJ
A Connecticut businessman who ran a hedge fund based in Greenwich has admitted to stealing millions from investors in a years-long scam.
Justin C. Murphy, 50, of Stamford, pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and money laundering, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. He faces up to 30 years in prison.
Prosecutors say he misled clients, faked financial statements, and used their money to fund his lifestyle, including investing in a relative’s startup.
Murphy owned and operated Mara Investment Group, also known by similar names, claiming it was a hedge fund that used a smart,…
Colombian National Broke ICE Officer’s Nose, Left Her With Concussion In NJ Assault: Feds
A Colombian national has been indicted for assaulting a U.S. immigration officer during a violent arrest attempt in New Jersey, federal prosecutors said.
Hector Villegas-Alvarez, 27, was identified by ICE deportation officers on Feb. 23, as being in the United States without legal immigration status, according to U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
When officers attempted to arrest him, Villegas-Alvarez physically resisted and “forcefully elbowed one of the ICE deportation officers in the face,” according to court documents.
The officer, a woman, suffered a broken nose and a concussion, and continu…
Lake George Inventor Defrauded Investors, Dodged Taxes While Living Large, Jury Finds
A New York man who promised big returns on patented inventions defrauded investors and failed to file tax returns, a federal jury found.
Michael Conner, 56, of Lake George, was convicted on 22 counts of wire fraud and related charges following an eight-day trial in Albany federal court on Thursday, April 10.
Conner portrayed himself as a successful inventor of household products such as a heated-blade knife, a paint bucket called the “Paint Caddy,” and a rotatable refrigerator shelf. But in reality, he never sold a single patent and hadn’t earned a dime in revenue from any of them, accordin…
Climate Protester Who Defaced 'Priceless Work Of Art' In DC Museum Learns Fate In Court
A North Carolina climate activist has been convicted in the shocking 2023 defacement of a world-famous sculpture at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
Timothy Martin, 55, of Raleigh, was found guilty on Monday, April 7, by a federal jury following a four-day trial in DC’s US District Court.
Specifically, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit, federal prosecutors said.
The charges stem from an April 27, 2023, protest in which Martin and another activist smeared red paint on the case and…
Ellington Bookkeeper At Law Firm Embezzled $830K Over Decade: Feds
A longtime bookkeeper at a Connecticut law firm is facing federal charges after prosecutors say she stole more than $835,000 from the company, authorities said.
Heather Murdock, 57, of Ellington, was indicted on 12 federal counts, including five counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. She pleaded not guilty in Hartford federal court and was released on a $40,000 bond, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.
Federal officials say Murdock worked as the bookkeeper and office manager at a Hartford law firm identified in court papers only as “Firm A.” Over a 12-year span, in…
Trump Taps His Former Lawyer As Interim Attorney For New Jersey
President Donald Trump has tapped Alina Habba, his longtime attorney and current Counselor to the President, as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey—effective immediately.
Habba, 40, who was born and raised in Summit, was the lead attorney for Trump in the E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump trial, which began in January 2024. She is a managing partner at Habba Madaio & Associates, LLP, a law firm with an office in Bedminster and does not appear to have any experience in federal court.
Earlier this year, Habba came under fire for telling Andrew Tate, who is accused of…
Ex-Yale New Haven Hospital Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Patients' Meds: Feds
A nurse in Connecticut has pleaded guilty to tampering with medications at a prominent hospital, putting patient safety at risk in a disturbing case of drug theft, authorities said.
Sean Falzarano, 38, admitted in federal court to stealing and altering vials of Lorazepam while working at Yale New Haven Hospital, according to the US Attorney for Connecticut.
Lorazepam is the generic version of Ativan, a sedative used to treat anxiety,
Prosecutors said Falzarano used his access to an area where the drugs were stored on Jan. 31, 2022, stole one vial of the drug, and siphoned…
Four Robberies, Two Shootings: Jersey City Man Pleads Guilty To Wild Night
A 32-year-old Jersey City man pleaded guilty in Newark federal court on Monday, Dec. 9 to committing four robberies and two shootings, all in the same evening, authorities said.
On Nov. 14, 2021, Rodney Williams robbed a store in Jersey City at gunpoint, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Soon after, Williams, accompanied by Siobhan Chandler, demanded money from a gas station, Sellinger said. When the attendants did not immediately comply, Williams shot one of the attendants in the chest before fleeing the scene, Sellinger said.
Williams and Chandler then robbed a third store at gunpoint, …
