Prosecutor: 27 carpenters ordered to repay $531K to union
Federal prosecutors say 27 carpenters have been ordered to repay more than $500,000 to their union after pleading guilty to health care theft.
Fraud
Articles
COA affirms denial of Kroger sales tax fraud claim
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the denial of a man’s fraud complaint against several grocery stores after finding his claims did not meet the specificity requirements of Indiana Trial Rule 9(B).
COA upholds dismissal of adoption petition after ‘fraud on the court’
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a trial court ruling setting aside a Lawrence County adoption, finding the child’s mother and grandfather committed fraud on the court by falsely claiming they did not know who the child’s biological father was in an effort to allow the grandfather to adopt the child.
West Virginia Supreme Court halts impeachment trials
West Virginia’s Supreme Court has effectively halted the legislature’s remaining efforts to impeach the state’s justices as a violation of the separation of powers doctrine.
COA affirms breach, fraud, unjust enrichment claims brought by bank
A bank that brought breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment claims against its loanee won each of those claims on appeal, but failed to state a claim that the loanee violated the “usual and customary practices” laid out in its participation agreement, according to a Friday opinion from the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Southern District renews warning against jury duty scam
Increasing jury duty scams have led the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to once again warn Hoosiers of potentially falling prey to an illegitimate summons. The court is reminding the public of tips to safeguard against scammers.
Manafort to be sentenced in February; appears in wheelchair
A judge has set a February sentencing date for Paul Manafort, who appeared in court Friday for a post-trial hearing in a wheelchair and green jail jumpsuit. The hearing in federal court in Alexandria was largely procedural but provided the first glimpse of the former Trump campaign chairman since he began cooperating with prosecutors in special counsel Robert Mueller’s office.
Appeals court reverses ruling for purchasers in rent-to-buy home case
Would-be homebuyers who won a fraud decision against a company that sells “rent-to-buy” fixer homes after they were evicted lost at the Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday. An appellate panel reversed a ruling against Indianapolis-based Rainbow Realty, ordering Marion Superior Court to rule in its favor instead.
Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen boasts of aiding Mueller investigation
President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer says he is providing “critical information” as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.
Muncie official, businessman indicted on fraud charges
Federal prosecutors say a Muncie city official and a Muncie businessman have been indicted on fraud-related charges connected to an FBI investigation of the city’s Sanitary District.
Company ordered to pay $31.9M to SEC for biofuel fraud
Evansville-based Imperial Petroleum Inc. has been ordered to pay nearly $32 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission after it failed to reply to the SEC’s court filings seeking damages in a biofuels fraud case that resulted in prison time for the former company president.
Disbarred attorney loses mail fraud conviction appeal
A disbarred Indiana attorney who was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to two years in federal prison after stealing more than $330,000 from a grocery store receivership has lost his appeal of both his conviction and sentence.
Ex-West Virginia Supreme Court justice pleads guilty
A retired West Virginia Supreme Court justice is now a convicted felon. Menis Ketchum pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to a felony count of fraud related to his personal use of a state vehicle and gas fuel card in a scandal that has led to upcoming impeachment trials for the remaining justices.
Prosecutors grant immunity to longtime Trump finance chief
President Donald Trump’s finance chief, a confidant who has worked for the family’s real estate business since the early 1970s, was granted immunity in the federal probe of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday.
IndyCar awarded $3.9M for scrubbed Boston races
A race organizer’s failure to bring promised IndyCar Boston Grand Prix Labor Day weekend races to the finish line has resulted in an award of nearly $4 million in damages to the Indianapolis-based open-wheel racing series, but it’s unclear how much IndyCar may be able to recoup from bankrupt promoters.
Michael Cohen sets up GoFundMe page for legal costs
Michael Cohen is sticking his hand out and asking the public for help paying for his legal defense, and one anonymous donor already has ponied up $50,000. The fund had raised nearly $150,000 as of early Friday.
Trump denies wrongdoing, says Cohen is making up stories
President Donald Trump, incensed over a deal his longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen cut with prosecutors, says it might be better if “flipping” were illegal because people “just make up lies.”
U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, wife indicted on corruption charges
U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife were charged Tuesday with using more than $250,000 in campaign funds to finance family trips to Italy and Hawaii, golf outings, school tuition, theater tickets — even fast food purchases — and attempting to disguise the illegal spending in federal records, prosecutors said.
Indictments? Impeachment? A look at Trump’s legal woes
A bad day in court for his former associates could foreshadow hard days ahead for President Donald Trump. But it’s unlikely he’ll find himself in a courtroom facing criminal charges, at least while he’s president.
Ex-Trump campaign chairman Manafort guilty of 8 charges
Paul Manafort, the longtime political operative who for months led Donald Trump’s winning presidential campaign, was found guilty of eight financial crimes Tuesday in the first trial victory of the special counsel investigation into the president’s associates. A judge declared a mistrial on 10 other counts the jury could not agree on.