fraud

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DOJ Investigating Fraud at UnitedHealth

WSJ suggests company used questionable diagnoses to boost Medicare payments

(Newser) - The Justice Department is investigating Medicare billing practices at UnitedHealth Group, the $400 billion company that owns the largest US health insurer, whose CEO was gunned down in early December. According to the Wall Street Journal , a civil fraud investigation is examining whether the company recorded questionable diagnoses to trigger...

She Said Her Virgin Mary Wept Blood. Not So Fast

DNA tests suggest blood was actually from Italy's Gisella Cardia, not some sort of supernatural event

(Newser) - About a decade ago, Gisella Cardia purchased a statue of the Virgin Mary at Bosnia and Herzegovina's Medjugorje, where thousands of religious pilgrims flock annually. The Sicilian native created her own pilgrimage site in the town of Trevignano Romano, on the outskirts of Rome, using the statue as the...

Steve Bannon Pleads Guilty, Dodges Jail in Fraud Case

Trump ally says he's feeling 'like a million bucks' after deal

(Newser) - Steve Bannon pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a fraud charge related to duping donors who gave money to a private effort to build a wall along the US southern border—a case the conservative strategist has decried as a "political persecution." Bannon, a longtime ally of President Trump,...

Another Alleged Victim Emerges After Reporter's Death

Man argues Adan Manzano would still be alive if Danette Colbert had faced harsher penalties

(Newser) - A woman arrested in connection with the death of a TV sports reporter in New Orleans was accused of drugging another man before stealing his life savings. Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano might still be alive today if a judge had imposed a harsher sentence on Danette Colbert, victim David Butler...

Interpreter Gets Prison in Theft of $17M From MLB Star

Judge orders restitution to Shohei Ohtani and IRS

(Newser) - The former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani was sentenced Thursday to four years, nine months in prison and three years' supervised release for bank and tax fraud, after he stole nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers star's bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap...

Former Rep. TJ Cox to Take Plea Deal on Fraud Charges

24 of 26 charges against California Democrat will be dismissed, lawyer says

(Newser) - Former Rep. TJ Cox might be able to avoid jail time under a plea deal on fraud charges. Mark Coleman, an attorney for the California Democrat says 24 of 26 charges will be dismissed under the deal with federal prosecutors, the AP reports. Coleman says Cox, whose one term in...

Feds: Man on the Run for 8 Years Is Captured

Eric Pree, who vanished from California federal prison in 2017, is back in custody

(Newser) - The last time Eric Pree was seen behind bars was right after Donald Trump's first inauguration, in late January 2017. The California man vanished on the 29th of that month from US Penitentiary Atwater, and he remained on the run for almost eight years—until October, when he was...

To Escape Execution, She'll Need to Find $9B

Vietnamese tycoon Truong My Lan loses initial appeal of death sentence, but hope remains

(Newser) - One of Vietnam's richest women, sentenced to death over what the BBC calls "the world's biggest bank fraud," has lost her appeal. But real estate tycoon Truong My Lan, found to have embezzled $12.5 billion from Saigon Commercial Bank, could still avoid execution—if she...

We Still Write a Lot of Checks, and Fraudsters Love It
One Type of Bank Fraud
Is Surging
Nov 23, 2024 5:10 PM CST

One Type of Bank Fraud Is Surging

Check fraud is up 400%, and the Wall Street Journal explores why

(Newser) - Paper checks might eventually disappear altogether, but the Wall Street Journal reports that fraudsters are busy capitalizing on them in the meantime. Its exploration of the issue is illustrated in two stats:
  • Americans write an average of 30 checks per year, by far the most of any nation. No. 2
...

Another Forbes '30 Under 30' Pick Is Arrested

List has been called a 'pipeline to prison'

(Newser) - A tech entrepreneur featured on a Forbes "30 Under 30" list in 2021 could be facing more than 40 years in prison. Joanna Smith-Griffin, now 33, has been charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft, Quartz reports. Smith-Griffin founded the artificial intelligence start-up AllHere Education in 2016....

Someone Wanted to Watch Tom Brady Play a Bit Too Much

Stephanie Pratt gets 30 months in prison for using stolen funds to attend Patriots-Buccaneers game

(Newser) - The bloom may have worn off the Tom Brady rose for Gisele Bundchen some time ago, but a New Hampshire woman's infatuation for the former New England Patriot spurred her to fork over nearly $6,000 for tickets to watch him play against his old team—except the money...

$21M Found Stashed in Walls of Ex-Top Fraud Cop's Home

Spanish police say cash came from Oscar Sanchez Gil's alleged collaboration with gangs

(Newser) - Until recently, Oscar Sanchez Gil was head of the fraud and anti-money laundering division of Spain's national police force. Now, he's being held on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption, and membership in a criminal group, along with his romantic partner. During a probe into Spain's...

JPMorgan Sues Customers Who Exploited Viral ATM Glitch
After 'Infinite Money Glitch,'
It's Payback Time for JPMorgan
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Nov 3, 2024 11:00 AM CST

After 'Infinite Money Glitch,' It's Payback Time for JPMorgan

Bank sues, demanding return of $660K plus interest, lawyer fees, and damages

(Newser) - JPMorgan Chase has started suing customers who allegedly stole thousands of dollars from ATMs during the so-called "infinite money glitch" advertised on TikTok. In August, videos on TikTok and other social media sites highlighted a technical glitch that allowed customers to withdraw the value of a bad check deposited...

Ex-CEO Found Dead After Missing Sentencing

Former S-Ray CEO Stephen Baird was to meet some of the investors he defrauded of $11M

(Newser) - The former CEO of medical device startup S-Ray has been found dead after missing a sentencing hearing for wire fraud over his misuse of investor money. Stephen Baird, 69, was expected to see many of the 200 investors he defrauded of a combined $10.75 million in US District Court...

5 Arrested After Fake Brad Pitt Scams Fans
They Thought They Were
Talking to Brad Pitt, Lost $365K
in case you missed it
Sep 28, 2024 6:00 AM CDT

They Thought They Were Talking to Brad Pitt, Lost $365K

Police in Spain say 5 arrested in fraud scheme that bilked 2 women

(Newser) - Two Brad Pitt fans experienced the ultimate disappointment—and wallet buster—when it turns out the person online they thought was one of their favorite actors was actually a group of people scamming them, according to police in Spain. The Times of India reports on the arrest of five individuals...

SBF's Ex Could Get Years Behind Bars at Sentencing
Judge: SBF's Ex Can't
Avoid Prison Time
UPDATED
Sep 24, 2024 3:33 PM CDT

Judge: SBF's Ex Can't Avoid Prison Time

Caroline Ellison sentenced to 2 years

(Newser) - Caroline Ellison was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday after she apologized repeatedly to everyone hurt by the FTX fraud. US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said Ellison's cooperation in the case was "very, very substantial" and praised her testimony. But he said a prison sentence...

Convicted Felons Launch Lobbying Firm With Fake Names

Pair have tried to frame government officials, spread far-right conspiracy theories

(Newser) - Jay Klein and Bill Sanders founded a startup last year to meld artificial intelligence with Washington lobbying, quickly attracting big-name clients including Toyota. Along the way, several employees became suspicious of their bosses and discovered they're actually Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, a couple of convicted felons and far-right...

HP Isn't Halting Lawsuit After Billionaire Dies in Yacht Sinking

Mike Lynch's widow, who survived the accident, could be on the hook for $4B civil fraud complaint

(Newser) - As billionaire Mike Lynch's family continues to grieve his death, and that of six others, after his superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily on Aug. 19, they have another ongoing issue to contend with. People reports that Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which had sued Lynch for fraud after...

Duped Into Buying $6M in Fake Warhols, Family Sues

Florida family accuses Miami Fine Art Gallery, director Les Roberts of fraud

(Newser) - A family claims to have been duped by a Miami art gallery into paying more than $6 million for forged Andy Warhol works. "Les Roberts and Miami Fine Art Gallery are fraudsters," reads the lawsuit filed Thursday in state court in Miami, per the New York Times . Matthew,...

Army Employee Who Defrauded Gold Star Families Gets Prison

Financial counselor steered insurance payouts to a brokerage firm that paid him commissions

(Newser) - A former Army employee has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison in a scheme to defraud Gold Star families of millions of dollars in life insurance payouts. Caz Craffy, 42, was a civilian financial counselor who took advantage of his position to "prey upon families of...

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