News from 2018


Mandeville Woman Charged With Tax Evasion

News Release: United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MARCIA DENISE JORDAN, age 45, a resident of Mandeville, was charged today in a one-count bill of information with tax evasion, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7201.


Secret Service Aims to Thwart Credit Card Skimming

News Release: Partnering With State and Local Law Enforcement, Usss Wants to Stop This Criminal Practice


Former Jewelry Store Manager Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

News Release: Frank Dunkow, 52, of Wellington, pled guilty before United States District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg, to bank fraud involving his repeated sales of jewelry to individuals using counterfeit credit cards in 2010-2011.


Statement on Palm Beach Firearm Incident

News Release: (Washington, D.C.) The Secret Service can confirm that an individual serving as a staff contracted driver was briefly detained by U.S. Secret Service personnel and other law enforcement officials today. The individual was found to be in lawful possession of a prohibited item (firearm) outside the secure ...


Stratford Woman Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Role in 2 Fraud Schemes

News Release: John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on Feb. 16, 2018, RACHAEL ALEXANDER, also known as Rachael Vierling, 40, of Stratford, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in two fraud schemes.


Statement on False Reporting Regarding China Incident

News Release: (Washington, D.C.) In November, 2017, during a Presidential visit to China, an individual, not part of the official delegation, attempted to prevent one of our protectees from entering a room. A U.S. Secret Service agent quickly intervened and a short scuffle ensued. The individual complied with the agents directions and no further action was necessary. At no time did anyone involved fall to the ground. The event continued without incident.


Turtle Creek Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing a Pistol and Ammunition

News Release: PITTSBURGH An Allegheny County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating the federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.


Minnesota Tax Return Preparer Indicted for Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

News Release: A federal grand jury sitting in the District of Minnesota returned an indictment today charging a Rochester-based tax return preparer with conspiring to file false claims for tax refunds, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Departments Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Brooker for the District of Minnesota.


Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $1.5 Million From Former Employer and Committing Tax Fraud

News Release: CHARLOTTE, N.C. The former bookkeeper of a company located in Watauga Co. admitted in federal court today to embezzling more than $1.5 million from her employer and committing tax fraud, announced R. Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Connie S. Franklin, 58, of Boone, N.C. appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler and pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of filing false tax returns.


Romanian Man Facing Fraud Charges for ATM Skimmer Scheme

News Release: PITTSBURGH A Texas resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.


Rochester Tax Return Preparer Indicted For Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

News Release: A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Rochester-based tax return preparer with conspiring to file false claims for tax refunds, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Departments Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Brooker for the District of Minnesota.


Louisville Financial Planner Charged During Nationwide Elder Fraud Sweep of More Than 250 Defendants

News Release: Justice Department Coordinates Largest Nationwide Elder Fraud Sweep More Than One Million Victims


Mi Salud Program Technician Sentenced to Four Years in Prison in Bribery and Health Care Fraud Case

News Release: SAN JUAN, P.R. On Feb. 22, 2018, defendant Karen Curet-Nieves was sentenced to a term of 48 months (four years) of imprisonment, and two years of supervised release term by District Judge Pedro A. Delgado for her participation in a bribery and health care fraud scheme that occurred from approximately ...


Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced for Stealing Funds Which Resulted in Closing of Credit Union

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Norma Gold, 57, of Eldred, PA, who was convicted of making false entries in federal credit union reports, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $179,939.21.


New York Woman Admits to Embezzling $1.1 Million From Darien Auto Dealership

News Release: John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that VANESSA VENCE-SMALL, 50, of New Windsor, New York, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to one count of wire fraud arising from an embezzlement scheme.


Pittsburgh Man Passed Counterfeit $100 Bills at Western Pennsylvania Target Stores

News Release: PITTSBURGH A resident of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of passing and uttering counterfeit money, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.


L.A. Man Convicted of ATM Shoulder Surfing That Allowed Him to Withdraw Cash After Bank Customers Left ATMs

News Release: SANTA ANA, California A federal judge has convicted a Los Angeles man of three counts of aggravated identity theft for using the secret codes of elderly Bank of America customers to make fraudulent withdrawals at ATMs in Los Angeles and Orange County.


Twenty Charged in Southern District of Florida as Part of Largest Elder Fraud Sweep in Department of Justice History

News Release: Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida announced the largest ever coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in the Department of Justices history involving more than 250 charged defendants around the globe who victimized more than a million ...


Tennessee Woman Arrested for Intentionally Driving Vehicle into White House Barrier

News Release: Today, Friday, February 23rd at 2:53 pm, Jessica Ford, a 35-year-old white female from LaVergne, Tennessee, intentionally drove a white van into a security barrier near the White House at 17th and E Street.


Secret Service Investigation Leads to a Grand Jury Indictment Against Four Brazillian Men in ATM Skimming Conspiracy

News Release: DAYTON, ohio A Secret Service investigation has led to a federal grand jury indictment against four men from Brazil in an ATM skimming conspiracy to defraud the United States. ATM skimming is a process that allows thieves to obtain cardholders personal identification information.