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In a case that serves as a chilling reminder for small business owners everywhere, Jennifer L. Bengston Cook, a 56-year-old part-time bookkeeper from Greer, South Carolina, was sentenced to three years in federal prison. For more than a decade, she was a trusted figure in a small business in the nearby town of Duncan. During
NEW YORK, NY – October 26, 2023 – A significant federal indictment was unsealed today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, charging prominent international businessman Edward Carlos St. Mary III with multiple counts of wire fraud. The charges, brought under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, allege a complex scheme that
The Fall of a Greenwich Hedge Fund Operator The world of high finance, particularly the exclusive enclave of Greenwich, Connecticut hedge funds, often conjures images of sophisticated strategies and substantial returns. It was within this environment that Justin C. Murphy, a 50-year-old resident of nearby Stamford, operated Mara Investment Group. For years, Murphy cultivated an
Introduction In a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities businesses face from within, Valerie Joseph, 61, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, was recently sentenced to 53 months in federal prison, followed by 12 months of home detention. Her conviction stemmed from a meticulously executed embezzlement scheme spanning over a decade, during which she and her husband
1. Introduction: Anatomy of a Pandemic Fraud – The Fayetteville Case In a Fayetteville, Arkansas federal courtroom, the carefully constructed facade of a legitimate business couple crumbled. Fawaad Welch and Julia Youngblood, both 41 and formerly residents of Northwest Arkansas, pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme to defraud the very programs designed
I. Introduction: An Inside Job Shakes the Telecom Sector In a stark illustration of the vulnerabilities lurking within major corporations, a former employee of a multinational telecommunications company recently admitted to orchestrating a sophisticated, long-running fraud scheme. Richard Forrest Sherman, 46, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to wire fraud conspiracy, acknowledging his central role
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
WAXAHACHIE, TX (March 5, 2025) – Trivikram Reddy, a 43-year-old nurse practitioner from Waxahachie, Texas, has been ordered to forfeit over $40 million held in foreign bank accounts, the culmination of a years-long investigation into a sophisticated healthcare fraud scheme. Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham announced the forfeiture, which marks a significant victory for
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented economic challenges, prompting the US government to launch massive relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. These initiatives, designed to keep businesses afloat and protect jobs, were unfortunately also targeted by fraudsters. The case of Casie Hynes, a 39-year-old woman from
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a sweeping international operation, the U.S. Justice Department has unsealed charges against two Russian nationals accused of masterminding a global ransomware campaign that extorted over $16 million from victims, including hospitals, schools, and businesses. The operation, involving law enforcement agencies from over a dozen countries, marks a significant blow against the