Investigative Press Releases
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
WASHINGTON – The United States has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against AECOM, an architecture and engineering firm based in Los Angeles, California, and certain disaster relief applicants, alleging that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the repair or replacement of certain facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina, the Justice Department announced today.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
BOSTON – The principal and co-founder of a North Andover mortgage short sale assistance company pleaded guilty today in connection with defrauding mortgage lenders and investors out of nearly $500,000 in proceeds from about 90 short sale transactions.
Gabriel T. Tavarez, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2020.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fort Pierre, South Dakota, woman convicted of Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds was sentenced on June 1, 2020, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Pamela Duncan, age 53, was sentenced to 1 year of probation, restitution in the amount of $4,000, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Duncan was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 17, 2019. She pled guilty on February 27, 2020.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County man today admitted his role in a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in government funds using fraudulently procured electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
BOSTON – A former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for stealing approximately $7,000 in government money.
Adam Lavertue, 37, of Dracut, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to two years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution to the USPS. In March 2020, Lavertue pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of public money, property or records.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEITH SANFORD, 33, of Litchfield, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez to one count of theft of government property stemming from his embezzlement of nearly $40,000 in postal money orders while working for the U.S. Postal Service.
Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Pharmacy Shut Down and Ordered to Pay $250,000 in Community Restitution and Forfeiture
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
NEWARK, N.J. – The owners of two clinical laboratories in Texas and Mississippi today admitted their roles in a scheme to pay kickbacks in exchange for referrals of patient DNA samples and genetic tests to the laboratories, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
TEXARKANA, Texas – A 43-year-old Little Rock, AR man has been sentenced to federal prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.
Antonio Otero pleaded guilty on Oct. 29, 2019 to charges of equity skimming and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III. Otero was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2 million to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
BOSTON – A California man pleaded guilty today to using fraud and bribery to facilitate his child’s acceptance to Georgetown University.
Peter Dameris, 60, of Pacific Palisades, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 5, 2020.