Fraud

May 1, 2007 -- The following is a summary of some of the frauds and scams reported to New Mexico Attorney General Gary King’s office during April. This is not a comprehensive list, but rather an overview of what has been reported to the Attorney General’s Office since the beginning of the month.

The usual: Lotteries/Sweepstakes, Nigerian Scams, Business Opportunities and Phishing Scams    » read more »

April 2, 2007: (Baton Rouge, LA) — Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., announced today that the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has arrested five individuals in an alleged scheme to defraud the Louisiana Medicaid Program.

According to MFCU Special Agents, Kendall Williams, 1733 Blanchet Drive, was arrested on March 30, 2007 on seven counts of Medicaid Fraud and 29 counts of Filing or Maintaining False Public Records. Williams is the former owner/president of Fresh Start, Inc., a mental health rehabilitation provider, that closed its office in November 2006.    » read more »

April 25, 2007 -- Las Vegas – Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today that Las Vegan Vanxay Rasasak, age 67, was sentenced for Medicaid Fraud. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). MFCU Director, Tim Terry, said the investigations began in 2006, as a result of a citizen’s complaint. Medicaid has a personal care aid program to keep people living independently in their own homes by providing basic services, including bathing, dressing, cleaning and meal preparation.    » read more »

April 26, 2007 -- BOSTON - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley stated today that more effective oversight and regulation is necessary to mitigate the mortgage fraud epidemic in Massachusetts and to prevent future crises. AG Coakley's Office is committed to protecting consumers as the crisis in the subprime lending industry escalates, and as the number of foreclosures continues to rise in Massachusetts and nationwide.    » read more »

April 26, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Miami-Dade husband and wife were arrested on charges they defrauded the Florida Medicaid program out of more than $200,000. Steven Stuart Sanford and Michelle Hoyer-Sanford, both licensed occupational therapists, own and operate a company which provides physical, occupational and speech therapy to children.    » read more »

STOP FRAUD Act would protect homeowners against fraudulent and predatory lending practices, help insulate housing market

April 25, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- On the heels of reports that the housing market experienced its worst sales-month in 18 years and foreclosures are up 47% compared to last year, Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reintroduced the STOP FRAUD Act, legislation that combats mortgage fraud and abuse. In less than five years, there has been a 137 percent increase in the number of cases of mortgage fraud and abuse being investigated by the FBI.    » read more »

Plan focuses on criminalizing mortgage fraud; increasing consumer protection and assistance

April 25, 2007 -- BOSTON - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - Governor Deval L. Patrick announced today both immediate regulatory action and proposed legislation to assist families facing home foreclosures. The announcement of these proposals - based on the recommendations of the recent Mortgage Summit Group report - was made at the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations' (MACDC) Legislative Action Day.    » read more »

April 24, 2007 -- CROWN POINT - Lake County Indiana Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter and Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter announced Tuesday that a Hammond man was sentenced to one year probation and 30 hours community service for vote fraud.

Mario Delvalle, 32, pled guilty March 14 to Voting in Other Precinct, a Class D Felony. He was sentenced by Lake Superior Court Judge Thomas P. Stefaniak Jr. Stefaniak said Devalle is also barred from employment or contract with any government entity for 20 years.    » read more »

April 24, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced the arrest of a South Florida mental health case manager on charges that he defrauded the Florida Medicaid program out of more than $2,000. Hector Payares allegedly billed the Medicaid program for treatment provided to a Medicaid recipient even though the woman had been deceased for nearly two months.    » read more »

04/24/2007 -- (DENVER) – Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers today announced a forty-four count indictment returned by the statewide grand jury against the operators of a precious metal extraction business in Montrose County, Colorado. Joseph Casebolt and Steve Casebolt of Montrose, and Wayne Ratner of Maury County, Tennessee, have been indicted for alleged violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, securities fraud, attempt to influence a public servant, forgery, and twenty-eight violations of the Colorado Hazardous Waste Act.    » read more »

April 23, 2007 -- OLYMPIA -- Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed and Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna urge citizens to watch out for scam artists playing off legitimate charitable efforts following the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech.

"Following devastating tragedies such as this, scam artists often strike and mimic official charities that raise money for victims,” cautioned Reed. “Washingtonians are very generous - we just want to make sure citizens are careful who they give to.”    » read more »

April 23, 2007 -- (SANTA FE)— A Santa Fe County jury, late Friday, found white collar criminal Michael Soutar guilty on all charges. Soutar faced a total of 10 counts of 3rd degree Securities fraud, 3rd degree failure to register securities, 3rd degree sales of securities by an unlicensed broker and 2nd degree racketeering. Because of the method he used to defraud his female victims of their money in a prior case, Soutar was dubbed the “Casanova Con Man.”    » read more »

April 23, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says his office already has hundreds of complaints this year about home repair contractors, and he says that number will just keep growing. As spring and summer arrive and more Missourians have work done on their homes, Nixon is urging consumers to watch out for tell-tale signs of fraud.    » read more »

April 23, 2007 -- Chicago – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today is warning consumers about an unsolicited e-mail currently circulating claiming that the recipient has won the Illinois Lottery. The e-mail is part of a scam designed to defraud money and gain personal information from consumers. It is not authorized by the Illinois Lottery, which never notifies winners by e-mail.    » read more »

April 20, 2007 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that an Ocean County residential health care facility owner/operator was sentenced today for illegally receiving more than $88,000 in a pharmacy “kickback” scam.    » read more »