Investigative Press Releases
Thursday, May 27, 2021
PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Paul Dignam, 59, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 13 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $3,500 fine by United States District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno for a scheme to defraud the City of Philadelphia of approximately $119,000 over the course of several years.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
NEWARK, N.J. – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier from Hudson County today admitted he discarded mail, including 99 general election ballots sent from the Essex County Board of Elections to West Orange, New Jersey, residents, from his assigned routes in Orange and West Orange, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that the former information technology director of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (SRST) and a contractor were each charged with their respective roles in a bribery scheme. Sven Schreiber, age 52, of Florida and North Dakota, and Arnaldo Piccinelli, age 43 of Florida, were each charged with three counts of Bribery Concerning a Program Receiving Federal Funds.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a former contracting company owner pleaded guilty for his role in a bribery scheme. Kevin Michael Trio, age 58, of Maple Plain, Minnesota, entered his plea of guilty to Making a Materially False Statement to two federal agents with the Department of Justice. U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann presided over the hearing, and his sentencing hearing will be held on August 2, 2021, in the federal courthouse in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former contractor working for the U.S. Postal Service pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to steal gift cards from the mail.
Tyrone V. Read Jr., 27, of Warrensburg, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to one count of conspiracy to possess stolen mail matter.-
Read was employed as a driver for the trucking company that held the contract to transport mail to and from post offices in Grain Valley, Oak Grove, Odessa, and Concordia, Mo.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
WASHINGTON – A licensed insurance broker and the owner of Benefits Consulting Associates LLC was sentenced to 70 months in prison Wednesday for his role in a scheme to defraud CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of more than $3.8 million.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury brought a six-count indictment against Cecilia Aquino, 34, of Fresno, today charging her with mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft for submitting unemployment insurance claims applications for Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury and Disaster Loans using stolen identities, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Deborah Shannell Hollimon, 44, of West Memphis, Arkansas, pleaded guilty today to committing mail fraud in connection with California state unemployment insurance benefits, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
FORT SMITH – Fort Smith physician and Rogers physician were sentenced today on one count each of Distribution of a Controlled Substance without an Effective Prescription. The Honorable Judge P. K. Holmes III presided over the sentencing hearings in the U.S. District Court in Fort Smith.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
BOSTON – A California insurance and private equity executive was sentenced today in connection with using fraud and bribery to cheat on the ACT exam on behalf of his daughter.
Mark Hauser, 60, of Los Angeles, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to two months in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and 300 hours of community service. In September 2020, Hauser pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.