Matthew C. Browndorf, a 54-year-old California lawyer, has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for a brazen scheme that saw him siphon over $2.4 million from his clients’ trust accounts. The funds, meant to be held securely, were instead used to fuel a lavish lifestyle, including payments on a Ferrari, a
The financial services industry is under siege. In an era defined by rapid digital transformation, financial institution groups – encompassing banks, credit unions, brokerage firms, insurance companies, and fintech startups – face an unprecedented wave of sophisticated fraud and scams. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that global losses from financial fraud exceeded
MEMPHIS, TN – A Mississippi woman has admitted to masterminding a sophisticated scheme that defrauded the U.S. government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of over $5 million. Lisa Evans, 42, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on February 20, 2025, before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker. The case
Fake Tax Docs & Kickbacks: Inside a $5 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud Case Read More »
Learn how to identify and avoid cryptocurrency scams in 2024. This comprehensive guide covers the latest scam types, red flags, prevention strategies, and what to do if you’ve been victimized. Stay safe in the crypto world! The world of cryptocurrency is exciting, offering the potential for significant financial gains and technological innovation. However, this decentralized
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Santa Ana, California – October 2024 – In a shocking case of betrayal and financial fraud, Ippei Mizuhara, the former Japanese-language interpreter for Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar Shohei Ohtani, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. Mizuhara, 40, of Newport Beach, California, was found guilty of illegally transferring nearly 17millionfromOhtani’sbankaccounttopayoffhisgamblingdebtsandforsigningafalsetaxreturn.Thesentencing,handeddownbyUnitedStatesDistrictJudgeJohnW.Holcomb,alsorequiresMizuharatopay17millionfromOhtani’sbankaccounttopayoffhisgamblingdebtsandforsigningafalsetaxreturn.Thesentencing,handeddownbyUnitedStatesDistrictJudgeJohnW.Holcomb,alsorequiresMizuharatopay16,975,010 in restitution to Ohtani
NEW YORK, NY – In a significant victory for law enforcement against complex international financial crimes, Erick Jason Victoria-Brito, a 30-year-old resident of Hollywood, Florida, has been extradited from the Dominican Republic to the United States to face charges related to a sprawling bank fraud and money laundering operation that has caused over $60 million
The cryptocurrency landscape was rocked to its core on Monday, January 27, 2025 as PEKEN GLOBAL LIMITED (“PEKEN”), the Seychelles-based entity operating the globally renowned cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin, pleaded guilty to a charge of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. This landmark case, brought forth by Danielle Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern
Crypto Reckoning: KuCoin’s Guilty Plea Exposes Dark Side of Unregulated Exchanges Read More »
This article provides a comprehensive look at advance fee fraud, a deceptive scheme that continues to thrive in 2025 and beyond. We’ll explore the latest trends, emerging threats, and sophisticated tactics employed by fraudsters, offering valuable insights and actionable strategies to protect yourself from becoming a victim. Recognizing the Red Flags: How to Spot Advance
Advance Fee Fraud in 2025 and Beyond: Trends, Threats, and Tactics Read More »
From Campaign Finance Violations to Medicare Fraud: The Case of Reginald Fullwood, Jr. JACKSON, Mississippi – The saga of Reginald Fullwood Jr., a former Florida State Representative, took another dramatic turn this week as the 59-year-old was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for his involvement in a complex conspiracy to defraud the United
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 25, 2025) – In a shocking development that has sent ripples through Silicon Valley, Alexander Charles Beckman, founder and former CEO of chatbot startup GameOn Technology (also known as GameOn or ON Platform), and his wife, attorney Valerie Lau Beckman, have been indicted on a sweeping 25-count indictment alleging a multi-year
