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Wisconsin Couple Loses Life Savings in $14 Million Ponzi Scheme

Wisconsin Couple Loses Life Savings in $14 Million Ponzi Scheme

Brian and Jeanine Tesch, a Wisconsin couple, have reportedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, including their life savings, in a $14.25 million Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Stanley Pophal. Federal prosecutors state that Pophal defrauded 190 investors over six years. The Teschs initially invested $165,000, and Pophal later convinced them to sell their home and land, promising their investments would double in five years. The couple considered Pophal a close friend, describing him as being 'like a brother.' They received several checks from Pophal, including one for $35,000, which they now believe was a tactic to maintain their trust. The scheme came to light before Pophal could access their 401(k), when the Teschs saw his mug shot. They later discovered Pophal had spent investors' money on luxury items such as snowmobiles, bikes, and cars. IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kuszynski noted Pophal's skill in convincing people with false information.

Three Individuals Indicted for Alleged $20 Million Financial Aid Theft Leading to College Closure

Three Individuals Indicted for Alleged $20 Million Financial Aid Theft Leading to College Closure

Three individuals connected to Eastern Gateway Community College in eastern Ohio have been indicted for allegedly stealing approximately $20 million in student financial aid. The indictment names former college president and CFO Michael Geoghegan, along with Michael Perik and Nicole Rowe Colclasure, CEO and president respectively of the Student Resource Center, a private contractor managing financial aid and online enrollment for the college. Ohio Auditor Keith Faber stated that the alleged scheme involved falsely claiming scholarships for a free tuition online program, which was actually funded by Pell Grants for needy students and massive tuition write-offs. To sustain this operation, the Student Resource Center is accused of bribing public officials at Eastern Gateway, including top financial aid and admissions officers, and tampering with college records to conceal these arrangements from regulators and auditors. This alleged financial misconduct is believed to have directly led to the closure of Easte...

Minnesota Woman Convicted in $3.6 Million Medicaid Housing Services Fraud Scheme

Minnesota Woman Convicted in $3.6 Million Medicaid Housing Services Fraud Scheme

A federal jury in St. Paul has convicted a Minnesota woman for her involvement in a scheme to defraud the now-defunct Minnesota Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) Program. The woman was found guilty of stealing $3.6 million through this fraudulent operation. The conviction underscores ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat fraud within government-funded programs designed to assist vulnerable populations. The HSS Program, which is no longer active, aimed to provide housing-related support through Medicaid, making the fraudulent activities a direct misuse of funds intended for critical social services.

Long Island Tax Preparer Convicted for Defrauding Internal Revenue Service

Long Island Tax Preparer Convicted for Defrauding Internal Revenue Service

Frantzson Saintilien, a tax preparer from Long Island, has been convicted on all 18 counts of an indictment. The charges against Saintilien relate to his preparation of false tax returns. Specifically, the indictment accused him of including fictitious fuel expenses on these tax returns. This conviction highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat tax fraud and ensure the integrity of the U.S. tax system. The case underscores the serious legal consequences faced by individuals who engage in fraudulent activities related to tax preparation, impacting both the government's revenue collection and the financial well-being of their clients. The conviction was the result of a legal process that found Saintilien guilty of deliberately falsifying financial information to manipulate tax outcomes.

Attorney Stephen Girdwood Faces Disbarment Over Allegations of Stealing $500,000 in Client Funds

Attorney Stephen Girdwood Faces Disbarment Over Allegations of Stealing $500,000 in Client Funds

Lebanon attorney Stephen Girdwood is facing disbarment proceedings after New Hampshire’s Attorney Discipline Office accused him of misappropriating nearly $500,000 from client escrow accounts. The funds, primarily from the divorce settlement of Keith and Athena Nicholson, were allegedly diverted into an investment company called Frozen Lake Sports and Entertainment, in which Girdwood was an officer. An investigation by the discipline office found that Girdwood made unauthorized international wire transfers, including $200,000 of the Nicholsons’ funds, to HSBC Bank Hong Kong. He also made subsequent transfers to a Merrill Lynch account owned by Bruce Weissman, president of Frozen Lake. Girdwood confessed to Lebanon police, who referred the case to the FBI. During a recent hearing, a four-member panel ruled that there was 'clear and convincing' evidence supporting multiple misconduct allegations. Girdwood invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and called no witnesses. He was placed on interim suspension from pra...

Arizona Woman Loses $45,000 in Sophisticated Jury Duty Scam

Arizona Woman Loses $45,000 in Sophisticated Jury Duty Scam

An Arizona woman, identified only as Kristine, lost $45,000 in a jury duty scam that involved fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials. Kristine received a phone call from a man claiming she missed jury duty and was instructed to pay citations for 'failure to appear in court' and 'contempt of court' to avoid jail time. The scammers directed her to meet a bond agent and pay up to $16,000 in citations, along with an additional bond to remain out of jail. She was then told to visit four different banks to collect $35,000 for the supposed bond. The perpetrators tracked her movements and mileage, demanding constant updates on her location. Kristine realized something was wrong during this process, but the sophisticated nature of the scam, which included realistic-sounding threats and instructions, led her to comply with many of their demands. This incident highlights a growing trend of impostor scams in Arizona.

Arizona Republic

Ex-Arizona basketball player Kerr Kriisa pleads guilty to wire fraud

Ex-Arizona basketball player Kerr Kriisa pleads guilty to wire fraud

Kriisa, 25, was arrested in July and charged with defrauding victims of nearly $2.2 million since 2022. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

Former Bank Employee Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Dementia Patient of $126K in Rhode Island

Former Bank Employee Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Dementia Patient of $126K in Rhode Island

Carlos Bras, 41, of East Providence, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He is also ordered to pay $126,000 in restitution and a $200 special assessment. Bras pleaded guilty in May. While working as a 'relationship manager' at Santander Bank in Seekonk, Bras accessed the account of a 78-year-old dementia patient, conducting numerous unauthorized transactions starting around May 2023. These transactions included transferring money into his wife's account and obtaining a debit card in the victim's name for personal use. Prosecutors stated that Bras accessed the Milford man's account 88 times. The scheme was uncovered when Santander Bank's internal fraud detection unit flagged suspicious activity and alerted the Seekonk Police Department. Investigators later discovered that Bras fabricated a real estate contract in Portugal to make it appear as though the victim was purchasing land from Bras's wife, a contract ...

Central Coast Woman Sentenced for Real Estate and 'Tanda' Fraud Exceeding $1 Million

Central Coast Woman Sentenced for Real Estate and 'Tanda' Fraud Exceeding $1 Million

Esmeralda Hernandez Pulido, a 36-year-old woman from Salinas, California, has been sentenced to three years and four months in jail after being convicted of real estate fraud and scamming friends and acquaintances out of over $1 million. The Monterey County District Attorney's office announced that Hernandez Pulido was found guilty of four counts of felony theft. Prosecutors detailed that she defrauded at least five victims by soliciting cash for home down payments, falsely promising them first position on property deeds. She collected amounts far exceeding the value of the house and never delivered on her promises. Additionally, Hernandez Pulido stole money from tenants, friends, and acquaintances through an informal savings club known as a 'tanda,' pocketing the funds instead of making promised payouts.

Enforcement Directorate Probes Tayal Group for Alleged Rs 820.86 Crore Fraud and Money Laundering

Enforcement Directorate Probes Tayal Group for Alleged Rs 820.86 Crore Fraud and Money Laundering

Enforcement Directorate Probes Tayal Group for Alleged Rs 820.86 Crore Fraud and Money Laundering

Minnesota Woman Convicted in $3.6 Million Medicaid Housing Fraud Scheme

Minnesota Woman Convicted in $3.6 Million Medicaid Housing Fraud Scheme

A federal jury in St. Paul, Minnesota, has convicted Sharmaine Meadows, a 45-year-old woman from Lake Elmo, for her involvement in a $3.6 million scheme to defraud a Minnesota Medicaid program. Meadows operated a company that billed the now-defunct Minnesota Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services Program for housing transition and sustaining services that were never provided between 2020 and 2025. The program was designed to assist unhoused Minnesotans in securing and maintaining housing. Evidence presented at trial showed that Meadows pushed employees to 'maximize' billings to the 150-hour cap per recipient, even when services were not delivered. Her company billed for in-person hours supposedly provided by workers in other states and countries, and submitted claims for services that could not have been rendered, such as when beneficiaries were hospitalized.

Rideshare Services Exploited in Elder Fraud Schemes, Uber's Anti-Fraud Tech Aids Investigation

Rideshare Services Exploited in Elder Fraud Schemes, Uber's Anti-Fraud Tech Aids Investigation

Rideshare services, including Uber and Lyft, are being exploited by organized crime rings to facilitate elder fraud schemes across the United States. Scammers, often operating from call centers in countries like the Dominican Republic, convince elderly victims to send cash, then use unwitting rideshare drivers to pick up and deliver the money. These drivers are often told they are transporting 'university documents' or other innocuous items. Uber's Global Security and Investigations Team played a crucial role in uncovering one such transnational elder fraud scheme by flagging suspicious activity through its 'anti-fraud technology.' This led to an FBI investigation that identified over 400 victims and more than $5 million in losses. Despite arrests, some individuals involved in these schemes have continued their fraudulent activities, using rideshare accounts, often in others' names, to collect cash from victims. The fragmented nature of scam reporting across various jurisdictions makes it difficult for loc...