Former California State Senator Leland Yee Pleads Not Guilty to 2 New Money Laundering Federal Charges After his arrest last spring, former Democratic California state Senator Leland Yee has pleaded not guilty to barrage of federal charges, including bribery and gun running, with the assistance of notorious San Francisco mobster “Shrimp Boy” Chow. On February 4th, Yee’s indictment saw two new money laundering federal charges, for which the former Senator has also pleaded not guilty. The revised indictment features a total of 230 federal … [Read more...]
Leland Yee Pleads Not Guilty to New Money Laundering Federal Charges
March 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Texas Man Faces Federal Charges for Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme
March 11, 2020 by Leave a Comment
First Ever Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme Lands Texas Resident with Federal Charges On Thursday, November 6th, a Texas man was charged for a Bitcoin Ponzi scheme created to defraud his investors in the First Pirate Savings and Trust. This will be the first federal criminal securities fraud involving Bitcoin, a completely internet-based currency with no central governing body. Trendon Shavers, 32, faces federal charges including misappropriating 146,000 of the 764,000 bitcoin, which was worth $4.5 million between September 2011 and September 2012, … [Read more...]
Sweepstakes Operators Plead Guilty to Illegal Gambling Operation
March 11, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Sweepstakes Ring Owners Plead Guilty to Federal Charges for Multistate Illegal Gambling Operation A South Carolina-based sweepstakes ring run by a father and son team, which sold sweepstakes machines to over 600 internet cafes across the country, has been busted by federal authorities, and the operators have pleaded guilty to illegal gambling charges. Bobby G. Moseley, from Townville, SC, and his son-in-law, J. Michael Caldwell of Williamston, SC, pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the illegal gambling operation, which spanned … [Read more...]
Woman Sentenced for Embezzling from Homeless Charity
March 10, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Former CFO Sentenced for Embezzling $440,000 from Charleston Homeless Charity On Tuesday, September 30th, the former CFO of a Charleston-area homeless charity, Crisis Ministries, was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison after being found guilty of embezzling money from the group for almost a decade. Carol Libby, 56 years old, was found guilty of embezzling $440,000 from Crisis Ministries over a period of 7 years. The nonprofit was the largest homeless charity in South Carolina, but has since changed its name to One-Eighty Place, and still … [Read more...]
BitCoin Entrepreneurs Plead Guilty to Federal Charges for Illegal Money Transfer Business
March 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Two BitCoin Operators Plead Guilty to Federal Charges for Illegal Money Transfer Business Two major players in the BitCoin craze – a NYC-based BitCoin company, and a Florida-based BitCoin exchanger – have pleaded guilty to federal charges for operating unlicensed money transfer businesses, which allowed the internet currency to be funneled back into the black market website, the Silk Road. Charlie Shrem, 24, pleaded guilty to federal charges for aiding and abetting the operations of an unlicensed money transfer business, and Robert Faiella, … [Read more...]
3 Men Guilty of Federal Fraud Charges for Defrauding Shaw Air Force Base
March 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Three Men Plead Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges for Defrauding Shaw Air Force On Wednesday, October 1st, three men who had construction contracts with Shaw Air Force Base pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges that they committed contractor fraud. James Autry "Audi" Clemens, 60, of Johnston; Larry Baker, 64, of Cameron; and Steven Crandall, 59, of Salisbury, N.C., pleaded guilty to charges of theft of government funds, and one count of money laundering, in connection with the fraud scheme. Reportedly, the men inflated the costs of … [Read more...]
Myrtle Beach Man Faces Federal Child Pornography Charges
March 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment
SC “Sextortionist” Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Child Pornography Charges An allegedly sextortionist from Myrtle Beach, SC pleaded not guilty to three federal child pornography charges on Thursday, August 28th, in a federal court in Florence. Mark Robert Reynolds stands accused of pressuring a 14-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photos through social media sites, like Facebook and Instagram. Magistrate Judge Kaymani West gave Reynolds a $100,000 bond for the federal child pornography charges, but stipulated that before the trial, … [Read more...]
Silk Road Pirate Leader Convicted in Federal Criminal Trial
February 10, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Dread Pirate Roberts, Leader of the Silk Road, Convicted on All Federal Charges in Federal Criminal Trial In a first-of-its-kind federal lawsuit, the former Dread Pirate Roberts, creator of the illegal trafficking website The Silk Road, has been convicted on all seven federal charges in a federal criminal trial. Ross Ulbricht, 30, went by the online handle “Dread Pirate Roberts,” and created the notorious Deep Web trading site, The Silk Road, which also spawned the radical online-only currency, BitCoin. The Silk Road, which Ulbricht called … [Read more...]
Former Union Boss Begins Racketeering and Conspiracy Trial
January 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Trial Begins for Former Ironworkers Union Leader for Racketeering and Conspiracy On Monday, January 5th, a former Union boss for the Ironworkers Local 401 in Philadelphia went to trial for federal charges including intimidation, racketeering and conspiracy. Other defendants in the case opted to a plea deal, so “the Don” will stand trial alone. According to federal prosecutors, 73-year-old Joseph Dougherty created “goon squads” within the ironworkers’ union, which he used to threaten builders, smash beams, and burn down jobsites if potential … [Read more...]
“Real Housewives” Star Heads to Prison for Mail Fraud Conviction
January 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Mail Fraud, Tax Fraud Land “Real Housewives of New Jersey” Star in Prison After being convicted on mail fraud, tax fraud, and other fraud charges in a New Jersey state court, a former star of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” has reported to federal prison. Teresa Giudice, a cast member of Bravo’s hugely popular reality television show, reported to a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut around 3 AM on Monday, January 5th. She and her husband, Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice pleaded guilty to several fraud charges, including mail fraud and tax fraud, … [Read more...]
