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Trio Ran $500K Luxury Car ID Theft Ring On LI, Dragged Cop While Fleeing: DOJ
Three men are accused of running a sophisticated identity theft ring that used stolen personal information of unsuspecting victims to buy luxury cars—some of which were stored on Long Island.
The defendants—Tiansi Gong, 26, of Manhattan; Kevin McCarthy, 31, of Selden; and Matthew Hibner, 36, of Huntington Station—are accused of conspiring to obtain high-end vehicles using stolen identities, then stashing the cars at a lot on Zorn Avenue in Yaphank.
Investigators determined that the scheme involved more than $500,000 in fraudulent vehicle loans tied to at least 35 identity theft victims, acc…
$1.1M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Bensalem Woman Forged Doctor Signatures, Took Kickbacks, DOJ Says
A Pennsylvania woman used patients who had moved overseas to help pull off a $1.1 million Medicaid scam involving fake home care services and kickbacks, federal prosecutors said in a sweeping national health care fraud takedown that uncovered more than $14.6 billion in schemes, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Saturday, July 5.
Hemal Patel, 59, of Bensalem (Bucks County), forged doctors’ signatures, stole personal identities, and pocketed kickbacks from a home care agency that billed Medicaid for fake services, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District …
Manager Created Fake IHOP Employee, Stole $12K In Ghost Paychecks: PA State Police
A Pennsylvania IHOP manager created a fake employee — and paid them thousands of dollars, pocketing the cash himself, state police said in a bombshell report released Tuesday, July 1.
Aldo Maya Garcia, 45, wasn’t just inflating hours or fudging a timesheet — he allegedly invented entire fake identities, logged dozens of bogus shifts, and deposited 21 fraudulent checks worth $12,804 directly into his own accounts while managing the Route 30 IHOP in Hempfield Township, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
The wild scheme unraveled last August when the restaurant’s regional director noticed…
Charles County Couple Stole $36K From Nonprofit Helping Blind, Deaf, Veterans: Sheriff
A Maryland couple is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a nonprofit that helps some of the state's most vulnerable residents.
Melissa Funkhouser, 40, and her husband, Ronald Funkhouser, 43, both of Ridge, schemed for a year to siphon more than $36,000 from Lions Camp Merrick in Nanjemoy, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday, July 2.
The camp is a nonprofit organization that serves the blind, deaf, diabetic, and veterans with PTSD.
Melissa Funkhouser was hired in May 2023 after volunteering with the organization and had sole access to the nonprofit…
Home Health Aide Steals From Ex-Patient At Oakdale Rehab Center, Police Say
A former home health care worker is accused of stealing and using the debit card of an elderly former patient on Long Island.
Lexus Stewart, 28, of Wyandanch, was arrested Wednesday, June 25, following an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit.
Investigators determined that Stewart had worked as a home health aide for an 82-year-old Bethpage woman before the woman was admitted to a rehabilitation center in Oakdale, police said.
On Monday, May 12, Stewart visited the woman at the center, stole her debit card, and withdrew $500 from her account, accord…
Woman Accused Of Stealing From Vulnerable Adults At Goshen Facility: Nysp
A Connecticut woman has been arrested in the Hudson Valley for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from two mentally disabled women under her care, police announced.
Fairfield County resident Natalie Taylor, age 37, of Stratford, was taken into custody on Tuesday, June 24, by the New York State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Monroe, Orange County, and charged with multiple felonies, including grand larceny, identity theft, and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, State Police announced on Tuesday, June 24.
The investigation began on Thursday, April 17, a…
Billions Of Google, Facebook, Apple Passwords Breached In Potentially Record Hack
A newly discovered trove of stolen login credentials may represent the largest data breach in history, with billions of usernames and passwords now circulating online.
Researchers with Cybernews uncovered more than 16 billion records spread across 30 databases, many of them tied to malware known as infostealers.
The findings, published Wednesday, June 18, reveal that the leaked data spans social media platforms, business services, VPNs, and developer tools.
The leaked datasets provide access to nearly every online service, including major platforms like Apple, Facebook, Google, GitHub, and…
2 Raritan Residents Indicted After Stealing Treasury Checks, Gun, Cockapoo: Prosecutor
A New Jersey couple was indicted on Thursday, June 19, on charges of running a high-level ID theft ring involving stolen treasury checks, guns, a skimmer, and a stolen dog, authorities said.
Peter Gittens, 37, and Chambreona J. Williams, 33, both Raritan Township residents, are charged with forgery, trafficking in personal identifying information, unlawful possession of a firearm, theft of movable property, and endangering the welfare of a child, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson said.
In January, Raritan Township police investigated a report of a stolen U-Haul van, Robeson said. W…
$5.6M Multi-State Fraud Scheme With 1K+ Stolen IDs Lands Pennsylvania Man Federal Charges: DOJ
A Pennsylvania man is accused of stealing over $5.6 million in pandemic aid using more than 1,000 stolen or fake identities, federal prosecutors announced on Monday, June 16.
Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 32, has been indicted in Colorado on multiple federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a nationwide COVID-19 benefits scam, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
Salako faces six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft, according to t…
$23.5K Immigration Scam Busted: Harrisburg Woman Accused Of Duping Local Family
A Harrisburg woman pocketed $23,500 from a man trying to bring his family from Vietnam to the U.S.—then vanished, Swatara Township police detailed in court documents obtained by Daily Voice on Thursday, June 5.
Gracie Deguia-Reed, 54, is accused of orchestrating an immigration sponsorship scheme that unraveled over five months. The victim told police he made several cash payments—$7,500, two installments of $3,000, and a final $10,000—in hopes of helping six relatives emigrate to the U.S.
Text messages and hand-written receipts provided by the victim show Deguia-Reed claimed she could spons…
Dad Tried Blowing Up Uniondale Gov't Building Over Custody Dispute, Led $600K Fraud Scheme: DA
A Long Island father who tried to blow up a government building in a custody-fueled revenge plot pleaded guilty to a laundry list of charges, including multiple bomb-related crimes, mortgage fraud, and identity theft.
James Luca, age 47, admitted in Nassau County Court Monday, June 2, to trying to ignite explosive devices outside the county’s Department of Social Services building in Uniondale in September 2024.
Upset and aggrieved, he blamed Nassau County Child Protective Services for revoking his visitation rights with his children, as Daily Voice previously reported.
Luca placed two pro…
Asian Mobster Stole $12K From NJ Resident's Bank Account: Fairfield PD
An organized crime member from Flushing was arrested and charged on Thursday, May 22, with stealing $12,000 from a Fairfield resident's bank account last November, authorities said.
Xuan Jin, 50, obtained personal banking information from a Fairfield resident and used that information for cash withdrawals, Fairfield police said. In total, over two days, $12,000 was withdrawn from the victim’s account, police said.
Fairfield police worked with law enforcement in New York City, Rockland County and Fort Lee to identify Jin as the suspect, officers said. Jin's organized crime ring is known to p…
$477K Scheme: Doorman From Yonkers Steals From Retired NYC Teacher, Husband, DA Says
A Westchester County man has admitted to stealing nearly $478,000 from a retired New York City schoolteacher and her husband while working as their building’s doorman, prosecutors announced.
Alfredo Mateo, 38, of Yonkers, pleaded guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to grand larceny and identity theft charges, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Wednesday, May 21.
According to Bragg, Mateo launched a calculated financial scheme against the couple after the husband died on September 1, 2022, and the wife, a retired schoolteacher, was living in a nursing home under co…
Kutztown Man Faked Landlord Role To Steal $14K From Opioid Housing Program: Berks DA
A Kutztown man posed as a landlord to steal thousands of dollars meant to help recovering addicts get housing, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams announced on Thursday, May 22.
Kody A. Kirkland, 32, forged documents, faked pay stubs, and filed phony applications to cash in on the State Opioid Response (SOR) Rental Assistance Program, according to county detectives. The taxpayer-funded program, managed by the Treatment Access and Services Center, Inc. (TASC), was created to help people struggling with addiction keep a roof over their heads.
Instead, investigators say Kirkland turne…
Woman Steals $12K+ From Coworkers At Oxford Retirement Home: Police
A Chester County woman is accused of stealing her coworkers’ credit card information while working at a retirement home, using it to make more than $12,000 in purchases, Oxford police announced in a release on Wednesday, May 21.
Faith Curry, 23, of Peach Bottom, was removed from Ware Presbyterian Village on Friday, March 7, after management reported she had been stealing from fellow employees. The facility is located at 7 East Locust Street in Oxford, police said.
Investigators say Curry entered breakrooms alone and accessed her coworkers’ personal belongings, stealing credit card details. …
Machine Gun Glock, Forged Checks, Fake IDs Found In BMW In Rochelle Park: Police
Four people were arrested in a routine traffic stop in Bergen County that led to a major bust involving a Glock modified into a machine gun, fraudulent checks, stolen identities, and pounds of drugs, police said.
On Friday, May 2, Rochelle Park Officer Chris Kiszka pulled over a 5 Series BMW on Rochelle Avenue for having a suspended New York registration, according to a release from the Rochelle Park Police Department, issued by Capt. James DePreta.
Inside the car were four people — all not wearing seatbelts, DePreta said. They were identified as Brandon Myers, 18, of Garfield (driver)…
Columbia Co. Victim Gave $100K In Gold, Cash To Scammer Posing As Federal Agent, Police Say
A Long Island man posing as a federal agent conned a Hudson Valley woman into handing over nearly $100,000 in cash and gold, police said.
Mykhaylo Mykhaylov, 39, of Copiague, was busted during an undercover operation in Columbia County on Wednesday, May 7 — just as the victim was about to deliver yet another payment, New York State Police said.
The 73-year-old victim first contacted police on Monday, May 5, after realizing she may have been targeted in a fraud scheme that began in March. She told troopers that people claiming to be agents with the Federal Trade Commission had convinced her …
