Post by UKIPA Holdings, LLC on Jan 24, 2015 19:29:16 GMT 4
Former Wilkes-Barre credit union member pleads guilty to bank fraud.
One of the five people targeted by the federal investigation into the Wilkes-Barre City Employees Federal Credit Union pleaded guilty Friday.
Jeffrey Serafin, 36, stood before U.S. District Judge Richard Caputo, of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, in federal court in Wilkes-Barre, accused of felony bank fraud.
Serafin and four others — a Wilkes-Barre police officer, a former city police officer, the city’s suspended towing contractor, and the credit union’s assistant manager — were indicted in August.
Investigators allege that Serafin, a credit union member, executed a scheme “to obtain moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities and other property” of the credit union under false pretenses by “unlawfully using the name of another individual to obtain a loan from the credit union for $10,000.”
Serafin was charged with a single count of bank fraud. There was no indication his crimes were related to the others indicted.
Also facing indictment on bank fraud charges are retired Wilkes-Barre police officer Tino Ninotti, suspended Wilkes-Barre police officer Jason Anthony, former credit union assistant manager Amanda Magda and suspended city towing contractor Leo Glodzik III. They are still awaiting trial.
The Wilkes-Barre City Employees Federal Credit Union serves employees of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Township and Plains Township and their families. The credit union is not part of city government, but several current and former city employees serve on its board of directors.
FBI agents wanted the credit union’s director, Jim Payne, to appear before a federal grand jury in Scranton, according to law enforcement officials, but Payne, who was Magda’s uncle, was found dead at his Bear Creek Township home March 10 — the day before his scheduled testimony. Luzerne County Coroner Bill Lisman ruled the death a suicide.
Serafin is scheduled for sentencing April 28 at 10 a.m. before Caputo. He remains free on his own recognizance.
citizensvoice.com/news/former-wilkes-barre-credit-union-member-pleads-guilty-to-bank-fraud-1.1821750
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Garrett County Attorney Charged in Bank Fraud Scheme.
GARRETT COUNTY, Md. - Angela Blythe, an attorney in Garrett County, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud, conspiracy and making a false statement to a bank.
According to the four-count indictment, Blythe, 51, was licensed to practice law both in Maryland and West Virginia, with an office in Oakland, Md. She is believed to have cooperated with Samuel VanSickle, 50, in a scheme to defraud financial institutions by preparing deeds, mortgages and notes for VanSickle in false identities. Then it's alleged that they recorded these fraudulent documents in the official land records of Garrett County and Preston County, W.Va., concealing VanSickle's ownership and control of the properties.
Blythe is also believed to have conducted property settlements where VanSickle was a buyer, seller or borrower through the use of false identities, she concealed from the lenders.
The indictment also seeks $1,725,000, which is the total amount of proceeds allegedly generated by the scheme.
Blythe is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the charges of bank fraud and conspiracy, as well as 30 years for each of the two counts of making a false statement to a bank.
VanSickle was previously indicted in this case, and is scheduled to go on trial March 16. Another real estate develop, Louis Strosnider III, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in August, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9.
www.your4state.com/story/d/story/garrett-county-attorney-charged-in-bank-fraud-sche/18138/nKLdAMBYnkiNgDRF8BdBVA
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Anderson, S.C., Woman Gets Prison for Extensive Bank Fraud Scam and Environmental Crime Nancy Stein operated American Screw and Rivet Corporation which was also sentenced
ATLANTA – United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated late yesterday that Nancy Marie Stein, age 62, of Anderson, South Carolina , was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong in federal court in Greenville, to a total of 73 months in prison for six counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, commonly referred to as bank fraud; and 60 months for one count of violating Title 42, United States Code, Section 6928(d)(2)(A), for storing hazardous wastes without a permit. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently for a total sentence of 73 months. Stein was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,692,974. Stein’s Company, American Screw and Rivet Corporation (ASR) of Anderson, was placed on probation for 5 years and ordered also to pay restitution for its involvement in the bank fraud and storing hazardous wastes without a permit.
Both Stein and ASR entered pleas of guilty to the charges on December 16, 2013. The case had originally been set for sentencing on July 15, 2014, but was continued due to issues raised by Stein.
During the guilty plea hearing in December of 2013, the factual presentation revealed that had the cases had gone to trial, the Government would have presented evidence indicating that from at least 2004 and continuing until in 2011, while operating ASR, Stein developed a scheme to defraud a number of financial institutions. As part of the ruse, Stein created a number of fictitious manufacturing companies, organizations and business associations with apparent legitimate addresses, bank accounts and telephone numbers in various locations throughout the Southeast and the Midwest including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The addresses were mail drops, Stein controlled the accounts, and the telephone numbers were answering services. One of the fictitious entities was an accounting firm which issued audits and financial statements attesting to the fiscal soundness of ASR.
Stein would then apply to various financial institutions for loans for ASR. Often she would present to the institutions false invoices indicating that ASR had purchased types of specialized machinery from the fictitious vendors which could be used as collateral for loans. Often, Stein would have the financial institutions forward the loan proceeds to the non-existent vendors’ accounts. The deception also involved removing legitimate identity plates on existing machinery at the ASR location and replacing them with false plates reflecting the serial numbers of the fictitious machines.
After a number of years of running the scheme, Stein’s and ASR’s debts continued to grow, and ultimately, ASR’s creditors forced the company into involuntary bankruptcy in 2011. Thereafter, the United States Secret Service was asked to investigate. At least twenty six victim financial institutions were identified with cumulative losses in excess of $16 million. When the investigation focused on Stein, in a statement to the Secret Service, she admitted what she had done and took full responsibility for the fraud.
Resident Agent in Charge of the Greenville, S.C. Office of the United States Secret Service, Thomas M. Griffin, stated: “Today's sentencing was the result of a criminal investigation which was initiated in 2010. The Secret Service utilized significant resources conducting interviews, reviewing bank records and other documents associated with the fraudulent loans obtained by these defendants. These investigative efforts have ensured that the defendants would be successfully brought to justice for the crimes which they committed.”
With respect to the environmental crime violation, the Government was prepared to show that some years prior to the involuntary bankruptcy, Stein and ASR had been informed that they needed a permit from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) or from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to store the large quantities of hazardous wastes generated by ASR’s manufacturing process. No permit to store hazardous waste was ever sought by Stein or ASR or issued by EPA or DHEC.
In June, 2011, as a result of a DHEC search of ASR’s property, a large quantity of hazardous waste was discovered on site. Thereafter, more than 24,000 gallons of waste were removed from the sight and disposed of by EPA at a cost of approximately $1,720,000.
“For a number of years, the defendants stockpiled thousands of gallons of unpermitted hazardous waste at ASR’s location in Anderson,” said Maureen O’Mara, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in South Carolina. “This waste consisted of uncontained flammable and highly corrosive materials which were exposed to the elements. Today’s sentencing shows that those who refuse to comply with the law, putting public health and the environment at risk, will face the consequences in court.”
The cases were investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William C. Lucius of Greenville. Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4
www.einnews.com/pr_news/245797177/anderson-s-c-woman-gets-prison-for-extensive-bank-fraud-scam-and-environmental-crime-nancy-stein-operated-american-screw-and-rivet-corporation
One of the five people targeted by the federal investigation into the Wilkes-Barre City Employees Federal Credit Union pleaded guilty Friday.
Jeffrey Serafin, 36, stood before U.S. District Judge Richard Caputo, of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, in federal court in Wilkes-Barre, accused of felony bank fraud.
Serafin and four others — a Wilkes-Barre police officer, a former city police officer, the city’s suspended towing contractor, and the credit union’s assistant manager — were indicted in August.
Investigators allege that Serafin, a credit union member, executed a scheme “to obtain moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities and other property” of the credit union under false pretenses by “unlawfully using the name of another individual to obtain a loan from the credit union for $10,000.”
Serafin was charged with a single count of bank fraud. There was no indication his crimes were related to the others indicted.
Also facing indictment on bank fraud charges are retired Wilkes-Barre police officer Tino Ninotti, suspended Wilkes-Barre police officer Jason Anthony, former credit union assistant manager Amanda Magda and suspended city towing contractor Leo Glodzik III. They are still awaiting trial.
The Wilkes-Barre City Employees Federal Credit Union serves employees of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Township and Plains Township and their families. The credit union is not part of city government, but several current and former city employees serve on its board of directors.
FBI agents wanted the credit union’s director, Jim Payne, to appear before a federal grand jury in Scranton, according to law enforcement officials, but Payne, who was Magda’s uncle, was found dead at his Bear Creek Township home March 10 — the day before his scheduled testimony. Luzerne County Coroner Bill Lisman ruled the death a suicide.
Serafin is scheduled for sentencing April 28 at 10 a.m. before Caputo. He remains free on his own recognizance.
citizensvoice.com/news/former-wilkes-barre-credit-union-member-pleads-guilty-to-bank-fraud-1.1821750
------------------------------------------------------------
Garrett County Attorney Charged in Bank Fraud Scheme.
GARRETT COUNTY, Md. - Angela Blythe, an attorney in Garrett County, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud, conspiracy and making a false statement to a bank.
According to the four-count indictment, Blythe, 51, was licensed to practice law both in Maryland and West Virginia, with an office in Oakland, Md. She is believed to have cooperated with Samuel VanSickle, 50, in a scheme to defraud financial institutions by preparing deeds, mortgages and notes for VanSickle in false identities. Then it's alleged that they recorded these fraudulent documents in the official land records of Garrett County and Preston County, W.Va., concealing VanSickle's ownership and control of the properties.
Blythe is also believed to have conducted property settlements where VanSickle was a buyer, seller or borrower through the use of false identities, she concealed from the lenders.
The indictment also seeks $1,725,000, which is the total amount of proceeds allegedly generated by the scheme.
Blythe is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the charges of bank fraud and conspiracy, as well as 30 years for each of the two counts of making a false statement to a bank.
VanSickle was previously indicted in this case, and is scheduled to go on trial March 16. Another real estate develop, Louis Strosnider III, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in August, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9.
www.your4state.com/story/d/story/garrett-county-attorney-charged-in-bank-fraud-sche/18138/nKLdAMBYnkiNgDRF8BdBVA
------------------------------------------------------------
Anderson, S.C., Woman Gets Prison for Extensive Bank Fraud Scam and Environmental Crime Nancy Stein operated American Screw and Rivet Corporation which was also sentenced
ATLANTA – United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated late yesterday that Nancy Marie Stein, age 62, of Anderson, South Carolina , was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong in federal court in Greenville, to a total of 73 months in prison for six counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, commonly referred to as bank fraud; and 60 months for one count of violating Title 42, United States Code, Section 6928(d)(2)(A), for storing hazardous wastes without a permit. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently for a total sentence of 73 months. Stein was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,692,974. Stein’s Company, American Screw and Rivet Corporation (ASR) of Anderson, was placed on probation for 5 years and ordered also to pay restitution for its involvement in the bank fraud and storing hazardous wastes without a permit.
Both Stein and ASR entered pleas of guilty to the charges on December 16, 2013. The case had originally been set for sentencing on July 15, 2014, but was continued due to issues raised by Stein.
During the guilty plea hearing in December of 2013, the factual presentation revealed that had the cases had gone to trial, the Government would have presented evidence indicating that from at least 2004 and continuing until in 2011, while operating ASR, Stein developed a scheme to defraud a number of financial institutions. As part of the ruse, Stein created a number of fictitious manufacturing companies, organizations and business associations with apparent legitimate addresses, bank accounts and telephone numbers in various locations throughout the Southeast and the Midwest including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The addresses were mail drops, Stein controlled the accounts, and the telephone numbers were answering services. One of the fictitious entities was an accounting firm which issued audits and financial statements attesting to the fiscal soundness of ASR.
Stein would then apply to various financial institutions for loans for ASR. Often she would present to the institutions false invoices indicating that ASR had purchased types of specialized machinery from the fictitious vendors which could be used as collateral for loans. Often, Stein would have the financial institutions forward the loan proceeds to the non-existent vendors’ accounts. The deception also involved removing legitimate identity plates on existing machinery at the ASR location and replacing them with false plates reflecting the serial numbers of the fictitious machines.
After a number of years of running the scheme, Stein’s and ASR’s debts continued to grow, and ultimately, ASR’s creditors forced the company into involuntary bankruptcy in 2011. Thereafter, the United States Secret Service was asked to investigate. At least twenty six victim financial institutions were identified with cumulative losses in excess of $16 million. When the investigation focused on Stein, in a statement to the Secret Service, she admitted what she had done and took full responsibility for the fraud.
Resident Agent in Charge of the Greenville, S.C. Office of the United States Secret Service, Thomas M. Griffin, stated: “Today's sentencing was the result of a criminal investigation which was initiated in 2010. The Secret Service utilized significant resources conducting interviews, reviewing bank records and other documents associated with the fraudulent loans obtained by these defendants. These investigative efforts have ensured that the defendants would be successfully brought to justice for the crimes which they committed.”
With respect to the environmental crime violation, the Government was prepared to show that some years prior to the involuntary bankruptcy, Stein and ASR had been informed that they needed a permit from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) or from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to store the large quantities of hazardous wastes generated by ASR’s manufacturing process. No permit to store hazardous waste was ever sought by Stein or ASR or issued by EPA or DHEC.
In June, 2011, as a result of a DHEC search of ASR’s property, a large quantity of hazardous waste was discovered on site. Thereafter, more than 24,000 gallons of waste were removed from the sight and disposed of by EPA at a cost of approximately $1,720,000.
“For a number of years, the defendants stockpiled thousands of gallons of unpermitted hazardous waste at ASR’s location in Anderson,” said Maureen O’Mara, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in South Carolina. “This waste consisted of uncontained flammable and highly corrosive materials which were exposed to the elements. Today’s sentencing shows that those who refuse to comply with the law, putting public health and the environment at risk, will face the consequences in court.”
The cases were investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William C. Lucius of Greenville. Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4
www.einnews.com/pr_news/245797177/anderson-s-c-woman-gets-prison-for-extensive-bank-fraud-scam-and-environmental-crime-nancy-stein-operated-american-screw-and-rivet-corporation