Public/Civil

All Latest Public/Civil News

Tech Support Fraudsters Targeting Elderly Busted

Sun Tong Lin, 37, and Xueliang Chen, 36, both from Staten Island, N.Y., were indicted on Dec. 17, 2024, on charges of conspiracy and wire fraud, according to a DOJ press release. The charges were related to a scheme to defraud at least nine people of $288,000.

Report Jessika Saunders | Feb 4, 2025

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Elder Fraud

Fraudster Real Estate Investor Who Stole From Elderly Sentenced to 181 Months

Brett Barber, 45, of Costa Mesa, Calif., was sentenced to 181 months in prison for running fraudulent investment schemes in which most of the victims were elderly citizens. Barber co-owned BNZ Capital One and National American Capital, both based in Newport Beach, Calif.

Report Strahinja Nikolić | Jan 21, 2025

Brett_Barber_of_Newport_Beach_Pleaded_Guilty_in_a_Southern_California_Hous_Flipping_Scandal

Embezzlement

Dirty Rotten Lawyer: Attorney Steals Bequeathments Intended for Charity

Brian Logan, 50, an attorney in Frankfort, Ky., pleaded guilty on Nov. 20 to aggravated identity theft, money laundering, wire fraud and bank fraud in a scheme to steal from charities, according to a DOJ press release.

Report Jessika Saunders | Dec 3, 2024

A Man in a Gray Business Suit Puts a Bundle of Money in His Jacket Pocket Representing Attorney Brian Logan Who Stole Money From His Client.

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Embezzlement

Virginia Woman Embezzles Money Donated to Former POWs

A Springfield, Va., has pleaded guilty to a heinous act– stealing money from former prisoners of war.

Report Strahinja Nikolić | Nov 21, 2024

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Teachers

Kentucky Teachers Assistant Groomed Girls by ‘Using Their Insecurities’– His Own Words

Shawn Riedesel, a 29-year-old man from Burnsville, Minnesota, has been sentenced to more than 36 years in prison, along with 25 years of supervised release after finishing his sentence.

Report Strahinja Nikolić | Nov 21, 2024

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Financial Gains

Man Sent to Prison after Trying to Defraud a Financial Auditor

Darren Barr, 39, from Philadelphia, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on Nov. 6 for his part in a scheme to defraud the Lucas County Auditor’s Office, according to a DOJ press release. Barr organized and collaborated with other co-conspirators, pretending to be county-approved vendors to get over $620,000.

Report Jessika Saunders | Nov 20, 2024

Darren Barr Has Been Sentenced for Defrauding the Lucas County Auditor for 620000 - The Daily Muck

Embezzlement

Lawyer Allegedly Steals Half a Million From His Own Client

On Oct. 12, Colby Parks, a 65-year-old former lawyer from Seattle, was indicted for twelve counts of wire fraud for allegedly embezzling from a client’s trust account.

Report Strahinja Nikolić | Nov 7, 2024

Colby Parks a 65-year-old former lawyer from Seattle was indicted for twelve counts of wire fraud for his embezzlement from a clients trust account

Bribery

Former Prosecutor Charged with Bribery

A prosecutor reducing the charges of a defendant based on facts and evidence is one thing. Accepting a bribe in exchange for minimizing charges is something else entirely.

Report Jessika Saunders | Oct 10, 2024

Former Warren County Assistant City Prosecutor Has Been Charged with Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Reducing Charges - The Daily Muck

Sex Abuse

DOJ to Crack Down on Illegal Guns Owned by Domestic Abusers

“Our homes should be the place where we feel most safe in the world. Unfortunately, domestic abusers use violence, and all too often firearms, to threaten and harm those closest to them and the first responders coming to render aid.”

Report Jessika Saunders | Oct 8, 2024

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Money Laundering

Smuggling Drug Money To The Dominican Republic: Four Flight Attendants, Four Guilty Pleas

Four flight attendants decided to use their security line privileges to smuggle the proceeds of trafficked narcotics from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic, according to federal prosecutors. They’ve all pleaded guilty.

Report Jessika Saunders | Sep 12, 2024