Elderly Ponzi Scheme Runners Face 80 Years in Prison Two elderly San Fernando Valley residents have been convicted for running a Ponzi scheme for 13 years, which netted them $100 million, and now potentially 80 years in prison. Joel Barry Gillis, 74, and Edward Wishner, 76, face up to 80 years in prison each for the Ponzi scheme charges. Both men pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, and conspiracy charges related to their long-running and very successful Ponzi scheme. Investors in the … [Read more...]
Former Georgia Tech Professor Faces Racketeering Charges
April 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Former Professor at Georgia Tech Indicted on Racketeering Charges for Funneling $1 Million Into His Company On December 30th, a former professor at Georgia Tech was indicted on racketeering charges for using the college’s funds to funnel $1 million in equipment into his personal business. Joy Laskar faces two counts of racketeering for allegedly stealing $1 million from Georgia Tech. He was indicted by a Fulton County Grand Jury. Laskar worked as the director of the Georgia Electronic Design Center (GEDC) at Georgia Tech, and began … [Read more...]
Former Charlotte Mayor Guilty Plea to One Charge of Wire Fraud, Sentenced to Federal Prison
March 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Former Charlotte, NC Mayor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Pleading Guilty to One Charge of Wire Fraud In June, former Charlotte, NC mayor Patrick Cannon pleaded guilty to one charge of wire fraud, which stemmed from numerous bribery, extortion, and other federal charges that cropped up during his tenure as mayor. On Tuesday, October 14th, Cannon was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison. Cannon was also sentenced to 2 years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. Federal prosecutors wanted Cannon in jail for 37 months, or just over 3 … [Read more...]
Silk Road Federal Criminal Trial Begins
March 16, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Silk Road Owner’s Federal Criminal Trial for Trafficking and Other Charges Has Begun The notorious Deep Web trafficking website, the Silk Road, was seized by federal investigators in October 2013, after the 29-year-old founder was arrested on serious federal criminal charges for murder-for-hire, drug trafficking, and others. After more than a year of waiting, the Silk Road founder’s trial began on January 13th. Ross William Ulbricht, 30, stands accused of operating the “Deep Web” site, the Silk Road, an online bazaar that sold everything … [Read more...]
Leland Yee Pleads Not Guilty to New Money Laundering Federal Charges
March 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment
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...]
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...]
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...]
Beauty Queen Faces Fraud Charges Again
December 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Beauty Queen’s Acquittal Overturned and Fraud Charges Trail Continues The 9th Circuit overturned a lower court judge’s ruling on a beauty queen’s acquittal on insurance and mail fraud charges, which claim the woman defrauded her insurance company of $123,000 while her mansion was undergoing repairs. Former Miss Montana Christin Didier was convicted by a jury in 2013 on insurance and mail fraud charges, as well as conspiracy, for collecting $123,000 from her home insurers, the Chubb Group, while her 110-year-old mansion underwent repairs for … [Read more...]
Judge Fast-Tracks Leland Yee Corruption Trial to Early 2015
November 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Leland Yee’s Federal Corruption Trial Fast-Tracked for Early Next Year A federal judge has “fast-tracked” Leland Yee’s federal corruption trial, involving numerous racketeering charges, to begin early next year. Yee, a former California state senator, has been charged with fraud, corruption, racketeering, and bribery, among other charges, with at least 28 other defendants. The federal racketeering charge stems from a federal investigation that lasted 3 years. When Yee, campaign consultant Keith Jackson, and an undercover agent met again … [Read more...]
ZeekRewards Founder Indicted on Federal Charges for Ponzi Scheme
November 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
ZeekRewards Founder Faces Federal Charges in North Carolina for Ponzi Scheme The president and founder of ZeekRewards, a penny exchange website, has been indicted by a grand jury in North Carolina for several federal charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, and tax fraud, for creating the internet Ponzi scheme. Paul Burks, 67, is a resident of Lexington, NC. On Friday, October 24th, a federal grand jury indicted Burks on charges of wire and mail fraud conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, and tax fraud conspiracy. According to the federal … [Read more...]
