wire fraud News

Feds: Florida Officials Bilked FEMA Out of Hurricane Money

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Two former officials of a Florida city are charged with conspiring with two businesses to bilk the federal government out of $5 million in Hurricane Michael cleanup money, the U.S. attorney’s office announced Tuesday. U.S. Attorney Lawrence …

Former Claims Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to Bank and Wire Fraud

The former owner of Worley Claims Services, who in 2014 sold a majority stake in the company that continues to bear his name, this week pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud charges. Michael Allen Worley of Zachary, Louisiana admitted …

Equine Insurance Agency Owner Sentenced for $1.3M Fraud

The owner of a Rhode Island insurance agency that specialized in insuring horses was sentenced Monday to 36 months in federal prison for operating various schemes to defraud customers, insurance companies, and finance companies of approximately $1.3 million, the U.S. …

Former Georgia Lawyer Accused of Using Client Names to Apply for Advances

Federal prosecutors in Atlanta, Ga., say a former lawyer used the identities of three dozen former clients without their knowledge to apply for fraudulent litigation advances. Prosecutors said in a news release Monday that Chalmer “Chuck” Detling II, was indicted …

Fraud News: Fake Fall, Stolen Art Scheme, Comp Auto Claim Fraud

Mississippi Woman Charged With Lying About Fall at Walmart A 59-year-old Mississippi woman has been indicted on criminal charges, with prosecutors saying she lied when she reported falling at a Walmart store. State Attorney General Jim Hood said Friday that …

West Virginia Man Charged in $500M Art Heist Fraud Scheme

A West Virginia man tried to fetch millions for two oil paintings he did not have access to and falsely claimed were stolen in the largest art heist in U.S. history, federal authorities said Monday. Todd Desper, of Beckley, West …

Fraud News Around the Nation

Former Postal Worker Faces 5 Year Prison Term for Working as a Personal Trainer While Receiving Workers’ Comp Less than one week before her trial was scheduled to begin in federal court in Dallas, a Grand Prairie, Texas, woman, Andria …

New York Art Gallery, Sotheby’s Chairman Settle Fake Rothko Painting Case

Knoedler & Co, which before closing in 2011 was New York City’s oldest art gallery, has agreed to settle a lawsuit over an $8.3 million sale of a fake Rothko painting, just as its ex-president was preparing to testify at …

Mississippi Man’s Oil Spill Fraud Trial Set

A South Mississippi man is scheduled for trial Feb. 18 on federal charges that he faked documents about his employment to receive $36,000 in oil-spill recovery money. The Sun Herald reports a federal grand jury in Gulfport indicted Elvis O’Neal …

Nebraska Man Convicted of Paying to Have Plant Burned Down

A Nebraska man has been convicted of hiring someone to set his struggling manufacturing business on fire in an effort to obtain $4 million in insurance money. A federal jury on Tuesday found 52-year-old Thomas Schropp guilty of arson, mail …