New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in PayPal Scam Targeting Elderly Seabrook Resident

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Date: February 02, 2026 

 

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Li Geng Lin, age 58, of Flushing, New York, has been sentenced in the Rockingham County Superior Court for his role in a PayPal scam that targeted an elderly Seabrook woman. 

The investigation revealed that on the afternoon of June 2, 2025, the victim was contacted by someone pretending to work for PayPal. The caller falsely claimed that the victim owed PayPal money and instructed her to withdraw $20,000 in cash from her bank. The caller told the victim to lie to anyone who asked what the money was for, warning that she would otherwise lose access to her financial accounts. After the victim obtained the cash, the caller told her that a PayPal representative would come to her home to collect it.

Later that evening, Mr. Lin and another individual, Didi Huang of Brooklyn, New York, traveled to the victim’s home. Before they arrived, one of the victim’s family members recognized the scam and alerted the Seabrook Police Department. Mr. Lin and Mr. Huang, neither of whom worked for PayPal, were arrested upon arrival and each charged with one class A felony count of attempted theft by deception.

On December 11, 2025, Mr. Lin pleaded guilty to one class A felony count of attempted theft by deception. On Friday, the court sentenced him to serve 2 to 5 years in the New Hampshire State Prison, stand committed. The court suspended six months of the minimum term for a period of four years following his release from incarceration. As a condition of the suspended sentence, Mr. Lin is prohibited from, among other things, working in any capacity with elderly, disabled, or impaired adults.

Mr. Huang’s case remains pending, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Seabrook Police Department investigated the case with assistance from Investigators Calice Couchman-Ducey and Robert Sullivan of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II, and Assistant Attorney General Nancy DeAngelis, of the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, prosecuted the case. Sunny Mulligan Shea and Ashley Taylor assisted as victim/witness advocates.

This scam was stopped because a family member of the victim recognized the signs of the scam and acted quickly. If you or someone you know may be a victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, contact your local police department or the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, at 1-800-949-0470.

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New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in PayPal Scam Targeting Elderly Seabrook Resident 

New York Man Sentenced in Richmond Scam That Targeted Elderly Resident

A New York man has been sentenced to prison for scamming an elderly Richmond resident in a bank impersonation scheme involving thousands of dollars.

By Nicole Colson

RICHMOND, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A 49-year-old man from New York has been sentenced to state prison for attempting to steal thousands of dollars from an elderly Richmond resident in what officials say was a bank impersonation scheme.

Wenhua Zhuo, of Flushing, N.Y., admitted in Cheshire County Superior Court to posing as a courier for a bank and deceiving the victim into handing over cash. Prosecutors said the scheme began in July 2024, when the man was tricked into believing his bank account had been compromised.

On July 15, 2024, Zhuo collected $20,900 from the victim’s home under the false pretense that it would keep the man’s funds safe. Investigators said Zhuo returned the next day, again attempting to retrieve another $20,000. The Cheshire County Sheriff’s Office arrested him during that second attempt.

Zhuo pleaded guilty to two felony charges: theft by deception and attempted theft by deception. A judge sentenced him to serve 1½ to 4 years in state prison on the attempted theft charge. On the theft charge, he received a 5- to 10-year sentence, which was suspended for 10 years after his release.

The court also ordered Zhuo to repay the $20,900 he stole, with $3,000 due immediately. Additional restrictions bar him from working with elderly or vulnerable adults or handling another person’s finances.

The investigation involved the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Cheshire County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities continue to urge residents to be alert to scams targeting older adults. Anyone who suspects elder abuse or financial exploitation is encouraged to contact local police or the state’s Bureau of Adult and Aging Services at 1-800-949-0470. 

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New York Man Sentenced in Richmond Scam That Targeted Elderly Resident 

Sentenced for exploitation of an eligible adult

by Charles Crane

A Minot man has been sentenced to serve 30 days of a 10 year sentence with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after pleading guilty to the financial exploitation of a family member. 

Todd Behm, 54, Minot, appeared before North Central District Judge Douglas Mattson on Thursday for his sentencing, after entering a change of plea to guilty to exploitation of an eligible adult-position of trust/business relationship-deception-over $50,000, a Class A felony.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Minot Police received a report on May 10, 2023, of the financial exploitation of a family member by Behm. At the time of the report, the victim was considered an eligible adult, suffered from dementia and resided in a memory care facility.

Behm was in a position of trust and confidence with the victim, according to the affidavit of probable cause, and was involved in a business relationship. The reporting party said Behm told him he had borrowed $150,000 from the victim’s bank account in order to pay his taxes. The reporting party became concerned over the victim’s finances which funded their long-term care, and found several questionable transactions. These transactions included the $150,000 check written to Behm in February 2023, and $171,000 worth of checks and electronic funds transferred to Behm, his children or his business between May 2018 and April 2023.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, some checks written to Behm had “owes me” written on the memo line, and that there were no reasonable explanations for the checks and transfers. When the report was filed, the $150,000 “borrowed” by Behm had not been repaid. It was noted in the affidavit that Behm made several extravagant personal purchases over that time period, including a new vehicle, custom paint jobs on a boat and jet skis, along with various trips and vacation experiences which Behm bragged about on social media. 

Mattson sentenced Behm to serve 10 years with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with all but 30 days suspended and credit for three days already served. Behm was ordered to complete three years of supervised probation upon release, and to have no dealings with the victim’s finances. Restitution has been reserved pending a hearing at a later date. 

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Sentenced for exploitation of an eligible adult 

Dubuque man sentenced to probation for financially exploiting mother

 by Telegraph Herald

A Dubuque man has been sentenced to five years of probation for financially exploiting his mother before her death.

Kenneth M. Dean, 56, recently received the sentence in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County after pleading guilty to one count of dependent adult abuse — financial exploitation.

As part of his sentence from District Court Judge Michael Shubatt, Dean must pay restitution to his mother’s estate. If he violates the terms of his probation, Dean faces up to five years in prison.

Court documents state that a family member reported to authorities in August 2022 that Dean was a caretaker for his mother from about October 2021 to June 2022 and that Dean exploited their mother out of property, assets and money.

Dean was made his mother’s power of attorney for medical and financial decisions in October 2021.

Between then and his mother’s death in June 2022, documents state that Dean withdrew cash from his mother’s savings and checking accounts in the amount of $104,400.

He also bought gold and silver using his mother’s checking information totaling about $90,782 and wrote two $15,000 checks to both his wife and son using his mother’s information, documents state. The misappropriated funds totaled $225,182, documents state.

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Dubuque man sentenced to probation for financially exploiting mother

Man sentenced to seven years for abusing disabled, elderly residents at Riverside care facility

 by Madeline Armstrong

(The Center Square) – One of the three individuals found guilty of abusing disabled and elderly residents at an unlicensed care facility in Riverside was sentenced to seven years in state prison. According to court documents, the six victims ranging from 32 to 66, were found malnourished, living in filth and without basic care.

The “care facility” - a house - did not have the proper staff, equipment or licensing necessary to care for the residents who lived there. The other two individuals - Joel Ombao and Nimfa Molina were sentenced earlier this year and late last year.

Ombao was sentenced in July 2024 to five years in state prison for six counts of elder abuse and Molina was sentenced to 122 days in Riverside County jail in October 2023 for one misdemeanor count of elder abuse. Now, Ronnel Tiburcio is the last to be sentenced and has been convicted of six counts of elder abuse likely to produce great bodily harm and death, all of which are felonies.

The victims were housed in Secure Hands Board and Care Facility, one of Ombao’s several hospice companies. Ombao, his assistant Tiburcio and the registered nurse Molina were responsible for operating the facility and caring for the residents living there.

The facility was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA), which investigates and prosecutes those responsible for abuse, neglect and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults in the state in addition to those who perpetrate fraud in the Medi-Cal program, and the Riverside Police Department. DMFEA then prosecuted the case.

Attorney General Rob Bonta helped secure the convictions and sentencing.

“Individuals entrusted with the care of elderly and dependent adults have the utmost responsibility for their well-being and safety,” Bonta said. “At the California Department of Justice, we will not tolerate any elder abuse or neglect and ensure that any exploitation or harm is met with swift accountability. I want to thank my team, along with the Riverside Police Department, for bringing justice to these victims.”

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Man sentenced to seven years for abusing disabled, elderly residents at Riverside care facility

St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison, Ordered to Pay More Than $1 Million for Elder Fraud and Disability Fraud

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis County, Missouri man who financially exploited two elderly women while committing disability fraud to 87 months in prison and ordered him to repay more than $1.1 million. 

Gino Rives, 36, of Edmundson, also agreed to return a house to one of the victims and will be ordered to return a total of six vehicles that he obtained from his two elderly victims. Judge Clark fined him $100,000.

Rives pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in January to five counts of theft of government funds in the disability fraud case. He pleaded guilty in October in the elder fraud case to one count of access device fraud and one count of fraudulently effecting transactions.

Rives admitted fraudulently receiving payments from the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Supplemental Security Income Program. Rives applied in 2010, claiming to have a mental health disorder. He repeatedly pretended to be incapable of answering basic questions during interviews and evaluations. He falsely claimed to have memory problems and difficulty concentrating, following instructions and completing tasks. He claimed he had never been employed, could not drive, was unable to handle his financial affairs and had no assets. 

Rives admitted concealing his employment in the construction and tree trimming industries, his 
participation in competitive mixed martial arts, his ownership of houses and vehicles, and his receipt of more than $721,692 since 2021. He now must pay the SSA $120,260.

Rives has also admitted financially exploiting two elderly women. He obtained four vehicles and checks totaling more than $855,000 from one woman for construction work on her house, most of which was never done. He also used her debit card for personal purchases for himself and his family. He executed a quit claim deed and transferred a house belonging to the other victim into his name. He moved her from her home and into a nursing home and permitted his mother to move into the home.

A nursing home administrator testified during the sentencing hearing that the victim was left at the facility with two sets of pajamas, two dresses, a pair of slippers, and a couple of sets of underwear. The victim received additional clothing purchased by the administrator and through donations obtained at the nursing home. The victim was left without “a single memento from her childhood or the international trips she made with her late husband,” a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry says. The memo says Rives was convicted in 2009 of another case involving the financial exploitation of the elderly and accused in a similar case in 2014.

Judge Clark ordered Rives to pay restitution of $1,042,848 in the elder fraud case.

Zella Rives, 57, admitted helping her son with the disability fraud. Austin James, a Jefferson County contractor, has also pleaded guilty and admitted aiding Rives with defrauding one of the victims. They have not yet been sentenced.

The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.

Anyone with information about disability fraud is asked to contact the SSA Office of Inspector General fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or submit a report online at oig.ssa.gov/ report. Concerns about suspected abuse or neglect of the elderly or disabled should be directed to Missouri’s Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 800-392-0210 or online at health.mo.gov/safety/abuse/.

Contact

Robert Patrick, Public Affairs Officer, robert.patrick@usdoj.gov.

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St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison, Ordered to Pay More Than $1 Million for Elder Fraud and Disability Fraud

Montgomery man sentenced on state charges of exploitation of the elderly, fraud

He was sentenced for related federal charges in February 2024

 

A Montgomery man who was sentenced on federal charges for fraud schemes targeting the elderly has now been sentenced on state charges.(MGN)

By WSFA 12 News Staff

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - A Montgomery man who was sentenced on federal charges for fraud schemes targeting the elderly has now been sentenced on state charges.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey and Alabama Securities Commission Director Amanda Senn announced Thursday that 36-year-old Nicholas Allen was sentenced to 64 months in prison for two counts of financial exploitation of the elderly, one count of securities fraud, and one count of theft of property.

Allen was sentenced for related federal charges in February. Prosecutors on both the federal and state levels say he solicited money from multiple elderly people and made a number of misrepresentations. He used the over $200,000 he received from the victims for personal gain.

“Nicholas Allen is a fraudster and a thief who preyed upon Alabama’s most vulnerable. Throughout the case proceedings, he failed to show even a hint of remorse,” said Senn in a statement.

The federal charges were prosecuted jointly by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama and the ASC. Officials say Allen’s state sentence will run concurrently with his federal sentence of 76 months.

A federal judge also ordered Allen to pay nearly $370,00 in restitution. He has been barred from participating in the securities industry in the state of Alabama.

“If someone thinks that they can cheat an Alabamian out of their hard-earned money without facing the consequences, they better think twice. Alabama is home to the ASC, and we won’t rest while fraudsters are preying upon our neighbors, friends, and community,” Senn added.

Allen will remain in federal custody and then serve a probationary term.

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Montgomery man sentenced on state charges of exploitation of the elderly, fraud

Florida Man Sentenced for Laundering Proceeds of Nigerian Romance Scams and Business Email Compromises

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A Florida man was sentenced today in federal court to 48 months in prison for his role in laundering the proceeds of scams against American consumers and businesses to co-conspirators located in Nigeria.

According to court documents, Niselio Barros Garcia Jr., 50, of Winter Garden, was part of a network of individuals who laundered proceeds of fraud from romance scams, business email compromises and other fraud schemes. Garcia supplied bank accounts to his co-conspirators for the purpose of receiving proceeds from the scams. After he received the proceeds, Garcia used a cryptocurrency exchange to conceal and transfer the funds in Bitcoin to co-conspirators in Nigeria.

Business email compromises involve criminals hacking or spoofing business email accounts to initiate fraudulent money transfers. Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake online personas to gain the trust and affection of victims, leading to financial exploitation. These schemes not only cause significant financial losses, but also deeply impact the lives of victims.

Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in the Southern District of Florida in January. According to Garcia’s plea agreement, Garcia personally laundered over $2.3 million of criminal proceeds. As part of his sentence, Garcia was ordered to forfeit $464,923.91 in proceeds that he personally received from the offense. Four additional defendants have been charged in this scheme but remain at large.

“This case demonstrates the department’s continued commitment to prosecuting transnational fraud and those who knowingly facilitate it,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “By facilitating the concealment of illicit profits, third-party money launderers enable large-scale transnational fraud schemes. This case underscores the department’s commitment to protecting consumers and disrupting the infrastructure that makes these crimes lucrative.”

The FBI Buffalo Field Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Lauren M. Elfner and Matthew Robinson of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with inappropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. 

More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

Updated April 23, 2024

 

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Florida Man Sentenced for Laundering Proceeds of Nigerian Romance Scams and Business Email Compromises

Kalamazoo man sentenced for embezzling more than $45K from elderly woman

By DeJanay Booth-Singleton

CBS DETROIT) - A 40-year-old man is sentenced to five months in jail for embezzling more than $42,000 from an elderly woman, the Michigan Attorney General's office announced Wednesday.

Craig Macauley, of Kalamazoo, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to three counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult, $1,000 to $20,000. He is ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution. 

He also waived all rights to a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, a 2017 Kawasaki all-terrain vehicle, a 2018 R&R trailer, a 2005 GMC Yukon Denali, and a 14-karat yellow gold diamond ring. Officials say the items, which were paid with the victim's money, were seized by the Department of Attorney General.

A home was also seized after investigators determined Macauley asked to put his name on the deed.

"This case illustrates the importance of the Financial Crimes Division of my office in securing restitution for elderly victims and ensuring that those who misuse their authority are held accountable," said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in a press release. "We will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who victimizes our state's seniors and will pursue similar outcomes in every instance of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults." 

State officials say between 2018 and 2019, Macauley embezzled $45,000 and property from the victim, who was 77 years old at the time and suffered from multiple medical conditions. 

Macauley used the money to purchase several items, maxed out the victim's credit cards, and caused her bank account to become overdrawn. 

Full Article & Source:
Kalamazoo man sentenced for embezzling more than $45K from elderly woman

Man Gets State Prison For Bilking Elderly Solebury Man Of More Than $650,000

A Warrington Township man was sentenced Wednesday for bilking an elderly Solebury Township man out of more than $650,000.

Robert R. Wootters
Credit: Bucks County District Attorney’s Office

Robert R. Wootters, 56, was sentenced before Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Charissa Liller at the Justice Center in Doylestown Borough to three to six years in state prison and a consecutive sentence of nine years of probation and ordered to pay half a million dollars in restitution to the victim.

Prior to being sentenced, Wootters entered a no contest plea to charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, financial exploitation of an older adult, access device fraud and deceptive business practices. He also pleaded guilty to theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received, receiving stolen property, tampering with public records or information, and tampering with records or identification on a Social Security disability claim in a second case.

For the other case, Wootters was sentenced to six years of probation and ordered to pay $45,759.50 in restitution to the Social Security Administration.

Wootters came to the attention of Solebury Township police in March 2021 when they received a tip from a concerned resident. The resident felt the 81-year-old man they knew was being swindled by Wootters.

Township Detective Cpl. Jonathan Koretzky and a representative of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging met with the 81-year-old man at his Solebury Township home a few days after the allegation was filed.

The older man lived alone and had no relatives who could take care of him, authorities said.

The 81-year-old man said Wootters had been his caretaker for the previous few years, handling routine home upkeep, authorities said.

The 81-year-old man explained to the detective that every time Wootters asked for money, he writes him checks for the tasks he completes. The man claimed he did not keep track of how many checks he had written to Wootters and that he was unaware of the value of any of them, authorities said.

The 81-year-old man claimed he also paid Wootters to take care of him, but stated that since Wootters is rarely around to help him, it is he who goes to the grocery, cooks, and cleans. The man continued that he took his own medicine when he needed it, and hasn’t seen a doctor in a while, authorities said.

The 81-year-old man was eventually determined to have a serious neurocognitive problem, leaving him vulnerable to abuse because he was unable to handle his affairs, according to authorities.

Investigators opened the 81-year-old man’s checkbook and found Wootters had been issued checks totaling $10,000 a few days apart.

When questioned by a detective about why he gave Wootters so much cash in such a short period of time, the individual replied that it was the amount Wootters requested.

At one point, the elderly man who lived alone said he felt he was “taken advantage of by Wootters,” authorities said.

The man reported being confused about how much he paid Wootters. He also said the Warrington Township man never provided him with statements or bills, authorities said.

“The investigation included the review of the victim’s financial records, which indicated he issued $633,075 in checks to Wootters from April 22, 2017, to April 1, 2021. Additionally, the financial review showed Wootters used the victim’s debit card to make between $2,000 to $3,000 in monthly debits between December 2019 and July 2021,” the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

The statement added: “The victim’s financial records showed Wootters obtained between $650,000 and $700,000 between April 2017 and July 2021, the investigation concluded.”

Amid the probe by police, the 81-year-old man expressed surprise by how much money had been provided to Wootters.

The Bucks County Orphans Court appointed a professional guardian to assist the 81-year-old man with his care following the investigation.

As Solebury Township police and the Bucks County Detectives were probing the case, they learned Wootters filed records with the Social Security Administration to receive disability benefit payments. It was uncovered he was paid $45,759.50 during the time he was working for the victim, authorities said.

The Bucks County Area Agency on Aging and Assistant District Attorney Jose A. Perez worked the case with township police and county detectives.

Full Article & Source:
Man Gets State Prison For Bilking Elderly Solebury Man Of More Than $650,000

Cleveland Heights Man Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay $177k in Restitution for Credit Card Fraud Scheme

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Ohio

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, September 16, 2022

Cleveland Heights Man Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay $177k in Restitution for Credit Card Fraud Scheme

CLEVELAND - Carlos Dashawn Brown, 28, of Bowling Green and Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, to 38 months in prison and ordered to pay $177,716.07 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. after Brown pleaded guilty to the unauthorized use of an access device, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

“This defendant preyed upon disadvantaged individuals and depleted the savings of an elderly victim, all in an effort to make a quick buck for himself,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “Law enforcement in this region will not stand for the targeting of vulnerable populations in our community.”

“Committing credit card fraud, bank fraud and identity theft against vulnerable populations is nothing short of a heartless crime,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen.  “Mr. Brown’s actions are appalling. This sentence underscores the commitment of the FBI to find and investigate predatory behavior by nefarious individuals.  The FBI is committed to protecting every American from fraudsters, whether one person or a network of criminals, through our work with federal, state and local partners.“

“This case is an example of the well-coordinated efforts of law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to protect vulnerable and older Americans from financial exploitation,” said Inspector In Charge Lesley Allison for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.   “The Inspection Service appreciates the steadfast dedication from our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing those who perpetrate these scams to justice.”

“This sentence demonstrates our commitment to hold accountable those who intentionally misuse the Social Security numbers of others for their own personal gain,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration.  “Mr. Brown’s criminal actions brought financial harm upon vulnerable individuals.  I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their investigative efforts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.” 

According to court documents, from April 2014 to January 2019, Brown perpetrated a credit card fraud scheme using the personal identifying information of multiple victims.  These victims were vulnerable due to their age and/or mental condition. 

As part of his scheme, Brown, without authorization, used the personal identifying information of these victims to open credit card accounts and make purchases, including travel, expensive goods and a vehicle.  Brown also stole more than $60,000 from one elder victim’s pension account and fraudulently caused multiple banks and creditors to issue Brown over $117,000 in refund checks to which he was not entitled.

In total, Brown caused an approximate loss of  $177,716.07 to all victims in the scheme.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI, United States Postal Service Inspection Service (USPIS), Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) and the Cleveland Heights Police Department.   This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.

Source:

Cleveland Heights Man Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay $177k in Restitution for Credit Card Fraud Scheme

 

Lincoln man sentenced to over 13 years for attacking an elder victim while on probation

Convicted felon sentenced in brutal attack

Roseville, Calif.- On July 7, 2022, the Honorable Judge Gini sentenced Anthony Pintarelli, age 25, to 13 years and eight months in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

On December 3, 2020, while on probation, Pintarelli assaulted an elderly man and took the victim’s personal items when he attempted to call 9-1-1 to report Pintarelli’s reckless driving. Even after being brutally attacked and injured, the victim was able to provide dispatch with his attacker’s license plate number. Using this information, the Lincoln Police Department was able to quickly arrest Pintarelli for the assault.

Vulnerable Victim

Due to the bravery of the victim, his ability to provide critical details about the assault, and the thorough investigation conducted by the Lincoln Police Department, the defendant entered a plea to robbery and admitted additional allegations that the offense was committed on a vulnerable victim over the age of 65. He also admitted that he has a prior strike conviction for felony residential burglary.

“While all violent crimes are abhorrent, crimes against our senior citizens are particularly heinous,” said Deputy District Attorney Shannon Quigley. “This defendant chose to brutally attack and rob a vulnerable elderly man. It is because of the victim’s bravery and composure in the wake of a violent attack that we were able to successfully prosecute this case and hold the defendant accountable for his actions. In Placer County, we will not tolerate any abuse committed against our elderly citizens.”

Placer County District Attorney’s Office has a dedicated task force comprised of county partners called Placer PROTECT. This multi-disciplinary task force team seeks to empower seniors in and out of the courtroom with dedicated elder abuse investigations, victim support, and community awareness.

Full Article & Source:

Lincoln man sentenced to over 13 years for attacking an elder victim while on probation

Oklahoma man sentenced to probation for misusing funds of woman living in Willmar care facility

By Mark Wasson

WILLMAR — An Oklahoma man was sentenced Jan. 10 in Kandiyohi County District Court to three years of probation for stealing thousands of dollars from a woman for whom he makes health care and financial decisions.

Kevin Wayne Jelley, 57, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was charged with felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult — breach of fiduciary obligation by failing to provide care. He pleaded guilty Monday and was given a stay of adjudication by District Judge David Mennis.

A stay of adjudication means that the charge will eventually be dismissed if the terms of the stay are met.

As part of his unsupervised probation, Jelley will owe a Willmar care facility $33,130.30 for unpaid services and he cannot act as a fiduciary, guardian or serve in a conservatorship role during the probationary period.

According to the criminal complaint, Jelley holds the legal power of attorney for a woman who is a resident of a care facility in Willmar. An administrator there told a Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services employee who works in adult protection that about $29,000 is owed on the woman's account.

She receives Medical Assistance funds, which are supposed to be used to pay the facility for services.

Jelley has a joint bank account with her where the funds are supposed to be deposited.

Jelley allegedly told the administrator, and later law enforcement, that he and his wife lost their jobs during the pandemic and he used the money meant for the woman's care to pay bills and "live on."

Jelley stopped making payments to the care facility in August 2019.

After being confronted by a facility administrator about the lack of payment and being told that further lack of payment would lead to the woman being discharged from the facility, Jelley did make a one-month payment in February 2021.

A law enforcement review of the bank accounts held by Jelley and the woman showed a recurring monthly credit to a joint checking account of between $1,600 and $1,800, which appears to be the Medical Assistance payments.

From August 2019, when Jelley stopped making payments to the care facility, through March 2021, there are multiple purchase transactions from Target, Walmart and Starbucks, money transfers to an account in Jelley's name and ATM cash withdrawals from the joint checking account. 

Full Article & Source:

Oklahoma man sentenced to probation for misusing funds of woman living in Willmar care facility 

Madison county man sentenced for financial exploitation of family member

(Source: MGN)(MGN)

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A 50-year-old Jackson man was sentenced in Madison County District Court on Tuesday for financially exploiting his father.

Judge Mark Johnson sentenced Doug Janssen to 90 days in jail and two years’ probation. He also ordered Janssen to pay more than $20,000 in restitution.

Janssen had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of Unauthorized Use of a Financial Transaction Device, a Class IV felony. Janssen faced a maximum of two years in prison. Janssen’s jail time could be waived if he successfully completes the terms of his probation.

Janssen had served as the conservator of his father’s property while his father had been a resident of the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home in Norfolk. Between September 2015 and December 2018, Janssen converted $20,252.94 of his father’s money and credit for his own use. Janssen has repaid the money, which will go toward his father’s last expenses.

The matter was investigated by the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Mark Collins.

Full Article & Source: 

Madison county man sentenced for financial exploitation of family member

Lewiston Men Sentenced for Million-Dollar Health Care Fraud

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Maine

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 16, 2021

 

Lewiston Men Sentenced for Million-Dollar Health Care Fraud

PORTLAND, Maine— Two Lewiston men were sentenced today in U.S District Court in Portland for health care fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.

U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Abdirashid Ahmed, 41, to two years in prison and three years of supervised release, and Garat Osman, 35, to three years of probation. Judge Levy also ordered Ahmed to pay $1,863,264.83 and Osman to pay $544,097.78 in restitution to MaineCare. Both men pleaded guilty in May 2019.

According to court records, Ahmed and Osman were interpreters who conspired with several Lewiston/Auburn mental health counseling services to defraud MaineCare. One of the counselors was Nancy Ludwig, who was the owner of Facing Change, a mental health and substance abuse counseling agency in Lewiston. From about November 2015 until May 2018, Ludwig and Ahmed led a conspiracy to commit health care fraud by submitting claims to MaineCare for services that were not rendered as billed.

Beginning in February 2015, Ludwig agreed to pay Ahmed a kickback in return for Ahmed bringing MaineCare beneficiaries to Facing Change. Ludwig, Ahmed and other employees at Facing Change then caused false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to MaineCare for both counseling and interpreter services. The false claims included claims for visits that never occurred and claims that inflated the level of service provided. In 2016, in response to a MaineCare regulatory change, Ludwig and Ahmed conspired to change the diagnosis of many of Ahmed’s clients to schizophrenia so they could remain eligible to receive MaineCare reimbursement for the services at Facing Change.

In the fall of 2016, auditors with the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit audited Facing Change. Ludwig and many of her employees conspired to manufacture false and fraudulent records in an attempt to deceive the auditor. Osman joined the fraud scheme in December 2016 and established an interpreter company that received all the fraudulent payments from that time until early May 2019. In May 2019, agents with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI and the Maine Attorney General’s Office executed search warrants at Facing Change and Ahmed’s business. Investigators eventually determined that MaineCare was defrauded of $1,863,264.83 in this fraud scheme.

“Healthcare fraud depletes funds intended to provide care for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for HHS-OIG. “Today’s sentencing is a strong reminder that we will spare no resources to bring to justice those that undermine the integrity of our federal health care system and those served by it. I appreciate the continued partnership with the Maine U.S Attorney’s Office to protect public funds.”

“Federal and state investigators did tremendous work in uncovering this fraud scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clark. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office was proud to be part of the team that brought these defendants to justice. We will always aggressively pursue those who attempt to defraud the public in this fashion.”

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

This prosecution was the result of a three-year collaborative investigation by HHS-OIG, the FBI and the Maine Attorney General’s HealthCare Crimes Unit. The investigation started because of the auditing work done by the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit.

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Lewiston Men Sentenced for Million-Dollar Health Care Fraud

Palmer man sentenced to 24 Months for wire fraud

By Jacob Mann

WASILLA — Faunus Michael Doney, 37, of Palmer, was sentenced to serve two years for committing wire fraud.

United States District Court Judge Joshua M. Kindred sentenced Doney to serve 24 months in prison with three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to wire fraud on Sept. 22, 2020, according to a recent press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Anchorage.

Doney was also ordered to pay over $377,000 in restitution to the victims of his fraudulent scheme that defrauded three victims from August 2018 to at least June 2019, according to the press release.

Doney was a licensed insurance broker in Alaska and worked for a life insurance and annuity company based in Iowa. He was was responsible for marketing life insurance and annuities to new and existing clients in Alaska. Many of these clients were elderly and purchased those products to secure income in retirement or for estate planning.

Doney made his way across the state hosting seminars that were setup to lure elderly Alaskans into investing in his products. He convinced the three identified victims to invest much of their retirement savings with him with the promise of substantial and guaranteed returns.

There were no investments. Doney just redirected the victims’ funds to his personal and business accounts, conjuring up fake balance sheets, account statements, and other doctored evidence and to allay his victims’ concerns.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Klugman served as the prosecutor for Doney’s case. The IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI conducted the investigation with additional assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the State of Alaska Division of Insurance. Their combined efforts eventually led to a successful prosecution.

According to the press release, Kindred stated that he hoped Doney’s sentence would “send a message to Doney and others that fraudulent conduct on this scale will be met with serious consequences.”

The press release also indicated that combating elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is one of the Department of Justice’s key priorities.

Physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse are the five subtypes of elder abuse. Elder abuse is said to affect at least 10 percent of senior citizens across the country each year.

To learn more about the Elder Abuse Financial Exploitation Resources, visit justice.gov/elderjustice/roadmap.

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Palmer man sentenced to 24 Months for wire fraud

Van Nuys Man Gets 2 Years for Sexually Assaulting Incapacitated Young Woman on International Flight

VAN NUYS, CA– A 43-year-old Van Nuys, California, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two years in prison for two federal felonies for his sexual assault of a young woman on a flight from London to Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  BABAK REZAPOUR was convicted on January 22, 2020, of abusive sexual contact in a special aircraft jurisdiction and abusive sexual contact with an incapacitated victim.  The jury deliberated about two and a half hours following a five-day jury trial.  At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said the crime was “an evil act…. An awful, horrible,  nightmare situation.”

“This defendant not only assaulted this young woman on the plane, his history shows escalating assaults on women even before this incident,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran.  “I commend this brave victim who has endured the pain of describing this crime to first responders, investigators, and ultimately to the jury.”

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, REZAPOUR sexually assaulted the 20-year-old victim while she was incapacitated from medication and alcohol on a Norwegian Air flight from London to Seattle on January 10, 2018.  The victim had taken prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medication and drank a glass of wine.  The victim then accepted a second glass of wine purchased for her by REZAPOUR.  After drinking the second glass, the victim became unusually sleepy.  She awoke to find REZAPOUR sexually assaulting her.  REZAPOUR used his jacket to shield the activity from other passengers.  The victim fled to the back of the plane and reported the assault to flight attendants.

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Van Nuys Man Gets 2 Years for Sexually Assaulting Incapacitated Young Woman on International Flight

Utah man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for defrauding elderly Utah woman of nearly $300k

Frank Gene Powell

by: Jennifer Gardiner

ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4 News) – A convicted murderer on parole who bilked an 80-year-old St. George woman out of nearly $300,000 will spend a minimum of 10 years behind bars.

Frank Gene Powell, 51, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, two counts of destruction of records in a federal investigation, concealment of a document or object in an attempt to impair the object’s integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding, and tampering with a witness.

Powell was sentenced Thursday morning in St. George in front of U.S. District Judge David Nuffer to 10 years in federal prison and to pay $273,849.20 in restitution. Additionally, Powell will also forfeit two vehicles and be on supervised release for three years following his release from federal prison.

At the time of the crimes, Powell had only been on parole since 2017 after spending 30-years behind bars for the 1987 murder of 20-year-old Glen Candland who Powell ran over with his truck after an argument at a party. While incarcerated, Powell was convicted of sexually assaulting an inmate.

Frank Powell admitted he conspired with several others, including his girlfriend, Faye Renteria, 42, of Hurricane, to come up with a plan to steal money from the woman. He also admitted he engaged in a fake romantic relationship with the victim as a part of this plan.

Powell also pleaded guilty to witness tampering after he attempted to stop the victim from communicating with law enforcement officers investigating the case.

“Powell is a career criminal who has fended off decades of rehabilitative attempts in the Utah state criminal justice system. He’s a convicted murderer and sexual predator, who has now turned his criminal efforts to elder fraud while on state parole,” U.S. Attorney for Utah John W. Huber said today. “With these guilty pleas, he stands convicted of unconscionable crimes against a senior member of the St. George community. A 10-year sentence is very appropriate in this case and will help ensure that Utah will not fall victim to his crimes again.”

Eight defendants in all were charged in a 10-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in January.

“This crime is especially heinous because Frank Powell not only deceived and defrauded the victim, he made it a family affair,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel of the Salt Lake City FBI. “As a society, we should be looking out for the elderly, not exploiting them. Crimes like this will be aggressively investigated, and we encourage the public to immediately report any fraud to law enforcement or the FBI.”

Frank Powell’s mother Gloria Jean Powell, 74, of St. George, was sentenced to time served on May 1, after pleading guilty to one count of concealment of a document or object, admitting she tried to hide the stolen money and she helped her son and her daughter, Angela McDuffie, 53, of Lehi, in the scheme.

Renteria, who is in custody, will be sentenced on July 15 after pleading guilty on May 7. She admitted she engaged in misleading the victim and attempted to stop her from communicating with law enforcement.

She faces up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 10 years for each count of money laundering, 20 years for each count of destruction of records or tangible objects in a federal investigation, and up to 10 years for the witness tampering conviction.

Bubby Mern Shepherd, 58, of Lodi, California, and Rocky James Powell Mott, 40, of Hurricane, both of whom are still in custody, both pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Their plea deal include a stipulated sentence of 21 months in prison.

Cases are pending against McDuffie, Terrence Quincy Powell, 24, of St. George, and Martell Taz Powell, 25, of Cedar City. Trial in those cases are scheduled for September.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah said combating elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority.

A statement issued in a press release by the U.S. Department of Justice reads:

“Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is committed to combating all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.”

For tips on how to prevent Elder Financial Abuse, the Department of Justice has created a prevention awareness campaign with valuable information.

You can view that document: Stopping-Elder-Financial-Abuse

Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Utah are prosecuting the case. The FBI is investigating the case. Agents with Utah Adult Probation and Parole have made signification contributions to the investigation.

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Utah man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for defrauding elderly Utah woman of nearly $300k

Man sentenced to prison after swindling elderly couples out of millions

FLINT, Mich. -- A Grand Blanc man was sentenced to serve up to a maximum of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of embezzlement over $100,000.

Jason Bescoe, 48, was sentenced Wednesday.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said Bescoe swindled at least 10 clients of more than $4 million in a fraudulent financial investment scheme.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint about Bescoe in 2017. There were allegations that he was embezzling money from clients who had trusted him to handle their financial investments.

“Embezzlement cases can be complex with thousands of documents and records to sort through, analyze, and piece together,” said Leyton. “I am pleased that with a lot of hard work by my staff and investigators from the Genesee County Sheriff Office’s Elder Abuse Task Force we were able to convict Jason Bescoe and hold him accountable for his actions while at the same time securing restitution for victims who had stood to lose a lot of their hard earned money."

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Man sentenced to prison after swindling elderly couples out of millions