Money

Published on: December 11, 2020

Policing for Profit in Florida Out of Control, Says Institute for Justice

Stacy Jones of Tampa, Florida was stripped of more than $40,000 cash at a North Carolina airport in 2020 when TSA agents didn’t believe it was legally hers. Jones said she often travelled with cash on gambling trips, as there is no law limiting how much cash travelers can carry on flights in the US. This time, though, the cash was turned over to DEA agents with no one ever accusing Jones of doing anything illegal.

This law enforcement practice is called civil asset forfeiture. Using it, TSA and DEA agents can seize money or property from citizens without any reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Most of the confiscated money ends up in the coffers of state governments and is never returned to its owner.

Published on: December 7, 2020

New York Investment Manager Charged in Scheme to Defraud $34 Million from North Carolina Mutual

by Brian Silber

A former New York investment manager was charged this week for his alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud a North Carolina-based life insurance company out of over $34 million—putting it in danger of insolvency.

Bradley Reifler, 61, of Millbrook, NY, was charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of perjury in a North Carolina federal courtroom. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

Published on: December 4, 2020

Maryland Lawyer Charged in Scheme to Obtain Over $12.5 Million in Somali Government Funds

by Brian Silber

A Maryland lawyer faces charges for his alleged role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $12.5 million in Somali government assets.

Jeremy Wyeth Schulman, 47, of Bethesda, Maryland, was indicted Wednesday on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud; three counts of wire fraud; one count of mail fraud; one count of bank fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and four counts of money laundering. It is unclear if he has acquired an attorney.

Published on: December 2, 2020

Owner and Employees of Illinois Child Care Centers Accused of Defrauding $6.1 Million from State Program

by Brian Silber

The owner of five Illinois child care centers and several of her employees have been charged for their alleged involvement in a fraud scheme that pocketed millions of dollars from a state program meant to help low-income families afford child care.

Aleesha McDowell, 41, of Mokena, IL, is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Her employees, who are also charged with various counts of wire fraud in the same indictment, are: Nicole Lacey, 36, of Burnham, IL; Stacy Sims, 43, of Chicago, IL; Janelle Jordan, 40, of Chicago, IL; Lauren Coley, of Phoenix, AZ; Shavon Johnson, 47, of Country Club Hills, IL; and Sean Blunt, 44, of Matteson, IL. Attorney information was not available for any of the defendants.

Published on: November 30, 2020

14 Southern California Residents Charged in $22 Million Workers’ Compensation Fraud Scheme

by Brian Silber

The District Attorney’s Office for Riverside County has announced charges against 14 Southern California residents for their alleged roles in a workers’ compensation fraud scheme that cost insurance providers more than $22 million. The defendants are being charged in three separate cases with a variety of counts, including conspiracy, insurance fraud, receiving kickbacks, and capping.