| _________::::___#469 - September 7, 2007________________ |
| #469 Updated: 9/7/07 11:51 a.m. BURBANK MAN ARRESTED IN $8.7 MILLION SCAM According to the 11-count indictment, Thomas Mitchell Johnson represented himself to his victim-investor as a successful businessman with experience negotiating sophisticated transactions that he called “high-yield interest opportunities.” Through his company, Zurich Capital Holdings, Inc., Johnson offered an investment opportunity to the victim-investor, promising to make investments only with the authorization of the victim-investor. In response to these promises, the victim-investor transferred $10 million to an account Johnson controlled. FBI press release. Two Sentenced in Investment Scam Thomas J. Whelan sentenced Kenneth Kempton to serve 87 months in custody, serve a three-year term of supervised release, forfeit $2.3 million, and to pay $20,282,532 in restitution to more than 50 victims. Judge Whelan sentenced Kenneth Hodgell to serve 120 months in custody, serve a three-year tem of supervised release, forfeit $2.3 million, and to pay $40,565,065 in restitution to more than 50 victims. FBI press release. Three metro women punished for mortgage fraud A Decatur, Ga., woman and two of her sisters-in-law have been sentenced to jail time and/or fined for their participation in a mortgage fraud scheme. Full story, bizjournals.com London revealed as hot spot for online credit card fraud By tracking the postal codes of addresses where fraudulently obtained goods are delivered, fraud information group Early Warning has created a map showing the worst-offending regions in the country. Card-not-present fraud has risen by 22 percent in the United Kingdom in the past year, according to Early Warning. Full story, news.com SEC Charges 26 Defendants in $428 Million Securities Fraud That Targeted Senior Citizens The investments were structured as timeshares in several hotels in Cancun, Mexico, coupled with a pre-arranged rental agreement that promised investors a high, fixed rate of return. The fraudulent Universal Lease scheme eventually collapsed, leaving investors with losses that exceed $300 million. SEC press release. Oak Bluffs School worker charged with embezzlement Oak Bluffs police last week filed charges in Edgartown District Court against an Oak Bluffs School secretary they said embezzled more than $15,000 from a school account under her control. Full story, mvtimes.com Tecumseh man charged with tax evasion From 1999 to 2004, $238,000 allegedly embezzled from home care company. Full story, cjonline.com Ex-treasurer of West Boynton Little League accused of embezzlement Dennis Walsh is charged with stealing $13,896.22 from the West Boynton Beach Little League through a series of checks he cashed as treasurer between March 2005 and July 2006, Detective William Griffin said. Full story, sun-sentinel.com __________ |