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$42K Phone Scam: Duo Impersonated Government Agents To Steal In Port Jervis, Police Say
Two men were apprehended after allegedly running a telephone scam that tricked an Orange County woman into handing over $42,000, authorities said.
New York City residents Nian Lin, 40, and Zhen Chen, 25, were taken into custody on Friday, March 14, after a sting operation led by Port Jervis Police with assistance from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Orange County Drug Task Force, and the US Department of Homeland Security, authorities announced on Wednesday, March 19.
According to police, the duo pretended to be government officials and told the victim her iden…
Baldwin Man Ran $40K Home Depot Theft Ring, DA Says
A Baldwin man is accused of orchestrating a retail theft operation that targeted Home Depot stores across Long Island and New York City.
Manooj Heeralall, 55, was indicted on grand larceny and related charges in Nassau County Court on Thursday, March 13, after investigators recovered nearly $40,000 in stolen merchandise from his home and garage, according to the DA’s office.
An investigation found that Heeralall recruited several individuals to steal items like circuit breakers, light switches, and power tools between October 2021 and December 2023, prosecutors alleged.
The stolen goods ca…
$200K Scheme: Man Accused of Embezzling From Civic Organizations In Garrison, Police Say
A Putnam County resident entrusted as the treasurer for two local civic organizations has been arrested for allegedly embezzling more than $200,000 over several years, authorities announced.
Mark A. Kenny, age 61, was arrested on Wednesday, March 12, on grand larceny charges following an investigation that began in December, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday, March 13.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the investigation began when board members from a civic organization in Garrison contacted authorities, suspecting that their treasurer was stealing funds.…
Man Steals Gun, Hides In Abandoned Property Before K9 Tracks Him Down: Police
A man who stole a firearm from a Virginia business thought he could ditch the evidence and hide in an abandoned building, but a police K9 had other plans, officials said.
Arlington police were called to the 2600 block of Wilson Boulevard around 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11 after reports of a gun theft, authorities said.
The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Ricky Smith, who has no known address, allegedly walked into the business, stole an unloaded firearm, and took off on foot.
Officers set up a perimeter and brought in a K9 unit to track him down.
The search led them to …
Scammers Stole Taylor Swift Eras Tour Tickets In $600K+ Ny-based Scheme, Prosecutors Say
Taylor Swift fans are hoping "Karma" comes to whoever scammed them out of expensive tickets to The Eras Tour.
Two people were accused of stealing nearly 1,000 tickets to high-demand events, including the popstar's record-breaking concert tour. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced arrests in the case in a news release on Monday, Mar. 3.
Tyrone Rose, 20, of Kingston, Jamaica, and Shamara Simmons, 31, of Queens, NY, were facing charges including grand larceny, conspiracy, and computer tampering.
"These defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swift…
Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Kingston Dodges Prison
A father and daughter who scammed a 92-year-old woman out of more than $230,000 in Ulster County won’t spend a day in prison.
Frank Whittaker, 56, of Kingston, and his daughter, Christine Ellsworth, 39, of Accord, were sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution in Ulster County Court on Tuesday, March 4.
The daddy-daughter duo gained the victim’s trust by helping with yard work and household tasks, according to the New York Attorney General’s office. Over time, Whittaker convinced the woman to grant him Power of Attorney over her finances.
But instead of managing her money resp…
Car Theft Ring: 13 Gang Members Stole Dozens Of Cars, Credit Cards In Suffolk County, DA Says
Thirteen alleged gang members have been indicted in Suffolk County for their involvement in a massive vehicle theft and fraud ring, prosecutors announced Tuesday, March 4.
The group, associated with the Hempstead/Freeport-based gang “5-L” or “CC Boyz,” targeted cars across Suffolk County between February 2023 and August 2024, stealing 15 vehicles, breaking into 52 more, and taking 75 credit cards, which they used to make more than $40,000 in fraudulent purchases, prosecutors alleged.
The suspects traveled from Nassau County to Suffolk County late at night or early in the morning, looking fo…
$13K Fraud: Ex-Husband Accused In Car Blaze Gets Larceny Charges In Croton, Police Say
A man already accused of setting fire to his ex-wife's car has now been charged with bank fraud and grand larceny in Westchester, authorities said.
Hari Valdez, 34, was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 25, after Croton-on-Hudson Police linked him to unauthorized bank transactions totaling $13,000, the department said on Friday, Feb. 28.
The case began earlier in February, when a Croton resident reported two fraudulent withdrawals totaling $4,000 from their bank account. As detectives investigated, they uncovered four additional fraudulent transactions connected to businesses in New Roc…
$64K In Gift Cards Stolen From ShopRite By Former Employee In Croton-On-Hudson: Police
A former ShopRite employee from Dutchess County has been charged after allegedly stealing $64,100 worth of gift cards from a Westchester store, police announced.
Laura Picozzi, 33, of Fishkill, was taken into custody on Thursday, Jan. 30, following an investigation by Croton-on-Hudson Police into the theft of 151 gift cards from the ShopRite located at 460 South Riverside Ave., the department announced on Monday, March 3.
According to authorities, ShopRite loss prevention officers first alerted police to the theft in January. After reviewing the case, detectives identified Picozzi—a f…
Second International Fugitive Extradited To Westchester In Week, Police Say
For the second time in a week, Westchester County Police detectives have taken custody of an international fugitive wanted for committing serious crimes in the county, authorities announced.
Just days after 52-year-old Galo Herrera was extradited from Mexico to face rape and sexual assault charges, law enforcement officials successfully returned another wanted fugitive to Westchester—this time from Colombia, Westchester County Police announced on Friday, Feb. 28.
On Thursday, Feb. 27, law enforcement officials extradited Juan Cuartos Bustos, 25, from Colombia, bringing him back to the Unite…
Vehicle Break-In Spree: 2 More Teens Charged In Haverstraw, Police Say (Update)
Two 19-year-olds have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a string of vehicle break-ins in Rockland County, marking the latest development in a case that first led to the arrest of a teenage girl, police announced.
Miciah Cozart and Rinoe Mitchell, both 19, were arrested on Thursday evening, Feb. 27, in connection with larcenies from vehicles in the Garnerville area, Haverstraw Police announced on Friday, Feb. 28.
The arrests come just days after police first arrested a 17-year-old girl on Feb. 21, who was also charged with grand larceny and petit larceny befor…
Siblings Brutally Beat Sister’s Ex-Boyfriend In Stafford Attack, Sheriff Says
A Stafford County man was ambushed and beaten by his ex-girlfriend’s two brothers after a breakup turned violent, authorities said.
Keily Mazariegos Calderon, 18, and her brothers, Roy Mazariegos, 19, and Ander Mazariegos Calderon, 30, were all arrested after an attack in the Olde Forge neighborhood on Wednesday, Feb. 26, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to Olde Forge Drive around 7:15 p.m. for reports of a disturbance after two different 911 calls described a situation that had turned “kind of physical.”
Investigators say Keily Mazariegos Calderon was …
Man Stole Car With Victim's Mother Inside, Struck Her In Chester: DA (Update)
A man accused of stealing a car from an Orange County shopping center allegedly did so with the victim's mother still inside the vehicle, whom he struck repeatedly, prosecutors said.
Chester resident Edward Keegan, 34, was arraigned on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Orange County Court on an indictment charging him with two counts of second-degree robbery, second-degree assault, fourth-degree grand larceny, and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
According to Hoovler's office and the Town and Village of Che…
$127K Scheme: Woman Steals From Wallkill Employer, Buys Luxury Car In Its Name, DA Says
A 46-year-old woman has admitted to embezzling more than $127,000 from her Orange County employer and even going as far as to forge a contract that showed she owned the company, prosecutors said.
Meghan Henesy, 46, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty on Monday, Feb. 24, in Orange County Court to second-degree grand larceny, according to Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler.
Henesy worked as a bookkeeper and office manager for a Wallkill-based title insurance company from 2020 through 2022, during which she carried out a series of fraudulent schemes to steal company funds for…
Dunkin' Donuts Manager Steals Thousands In After-Hour Heists In Ballston Spa: Police
A Dunkin’ Donuts manager is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from her store.
Heidi Howe, 46, of Ballston Spa, was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 10, following an investigation into multiple thefts reported at a Ballston Spa Dunkin’ store, New York State Police said.
Troopers concluded that Howe, who managed the location, entered the store after hours without authorization on several occasions in December 2024 and January 2025, police said. Altogether, she stole more than $3,000 in cash, according to police.
Howe was located by Washington County Sheriff’s deputies and turned over to St…
Hershey Outlet Burglar Caught In Lebanon With $10K In Stolen Jackets, Stolen Car: Police
A Philadelphia man accused of a multi-state smash-and-grab spree spanning Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey has been arrested after allegedly burglarizing multiple outlet stores, stealing tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise, and driving a stolen car, authorities announced on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Timothy Eugene Root, 58, was charged with felony burglary, felony theft, felony retail theft, misdemeanor criminal mischief, misdemeanor possession of an instrument of crime, and receiving stolen property, police said.
Derry Township officers responded to the Polo Ralph Lauren…
Nassau Co. Corrections Officer Steals Over $100K In Benefits Meant For Estranged Wife, DA Says
A former corrections officer on Long Island stole more than $100,000 in health insurance benefits meant for his ailing wife, prosecutors said.
Christopher Kowalewski, 49, of Merrick, was indicted for grand larceny in Nassau County Court on Monday, Feb. 10, after prosecutors said he deposited and cashed 11 checks worth $110,000 that were issued for his estranged wife’s back surgery.
Kowalewski, a Nassau County corrections officer, received the checks from United Healthcare between December 2021 and December 2023, according to the DA’s office. The payments were issued under the New York …
