Investigative Press Releases
Upshur County Individuals Guilty of Conspiring to Commit ID Theft for COVID Economic Impact Payments
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
TYLER, Texas – Two individuals from Gilmer, Texas have pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit identity theft in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Emilee Fenton, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully transfer, possess, and use a means of identification today before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell. Dalton Brewer, also 24, pleaded guilty to the same charge on March 4, 2021.
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment this afternoon against Jeremie Saintvil of Delray Beach, Florida, for fraudulently obtaining or attempting to obtain over $1,500,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Saintvil, 46, is charged with bank fraud, making false statements to a federally insured institution, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements. Jason R. Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the indictment.
Monday, March 22, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – March 22, 2021 – Laziza Abdullaeva and Aziz Ashurov of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, agreed to pay $200,000 to settle False Claims Act allegations involving misrepresentations in their purchases of certain properties from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Mary Jane Stewart, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, announced today.
Monday, March 22, 2021
A federal grand jury in East St. Louis, Illinois, has returned a 21-count indictment charging
Melissa D. Wasylak, 48, of East Alton, with stealing Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) funds
that were intended for her disabled daughter. The indictment also charges Wasylak with wire fraud
and making false statements on forms submitted to the Social Security Administration (“SSA”).
The SSA administers the SSI program, which provides a minimum level of income to aged, blind, and
Monday, March 22, 2021
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Shaneesha White, 25, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with theft of government funds, fraud associated with disaster relief, and wire fraud. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Monday, March 22, 2021
Miami, Florida – Today, the last of six South Florida family members was sentenced to a term of imprisonment, and ordered to pay a total of $1,342,928.77 in restitution, following her conviction by way of guilty plea in August 2020, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Ana Cummings, 61 years old of Davie, Florida, was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment.
Monday, March 22, 2021
Jackson, Miss. – Megan Mariah Patrick, 36, of Terry, Mississippi, has been charged in a federal indictment with unauthorized representation of claims against the government and false statements to a federal agency, announced Acting United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Special Agent in Charge Dax Robertson with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and Special Agent in Charge Rodregas Owens of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General - Atlanta Field Division.
Monday, March 22, 2021
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BETTY ARRINGTON a/k/a “Betty Callie Arrington,” a/k/a “Betty Francis C Miller,” a/k/a “Betty Miller” (“ARRINGTON”), age 72, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on March 19, 2021 with theft of government funds.