Ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon charged in border wall scheme
Former White House adviser Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme “We Build The Wall.”
Wire Fraud
Articles
Scam callers using Southern District Court’s main phone number to intimidate residents
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is warning Hoosiers of scam phone calls being made by “spoofing” the federal district court’s main phone number to intimidate residents, the federal court alerted in a Wednesday announcement.
New York attorney general seeks to dissolve NRA
New York’s attorney general sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday, seeking to put the powerful gun advocacy organization out of business over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures.
GM alleges Fiat Chrysler spent millions to bribe UAW leaders
General Motors is asking a federal judge to reconsider his dismissal of a lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler based on new allegations that the company bribed union officials and GM employees with millions stashed in secret foreign bank accounts.
Prosecutor seeking Trump’s taxes cites probe of his business
A New York City prosecutor fighting to get President Donald Trump’s tax returns told a judge Monday he was justified in demanding them because of public reports of “extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.”
Indianapolis man gets 11-plus years in federal prison for leading fraud scheme
Indianapolis man Frank “Bread” Powell has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for leading a large-scale fraud ring that bilked Kroger and other retailers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Scams and schemes rising with spread of coronavirus
Schemes to con people out of their stimulus checks, to get money for face masks that are never delivered and to get payments for bogus COVID-19 treatments or cures have surged. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission has a special coronavirus page on its website devoted to advising consumers on how to identify real contact tracers and to ignore offers for home test kits.
Supreme Court rules SEC can recoup money in fraud cases
The Supreme Court on Monday preserved an important tool used by securities regulators to recoup ill-gotten gains in fraud cases.
Feds seek $225M fine for pair who made a billion robocalls
The U.S. communications regulator on Tuesday proposed a $225 million fine, its largest ever, against two health insurance telemarketers for spamming people with 1 billion robocalls using fake phone numbers.
Unanimous US Supreme Court throws out ‘Bridgegate’ convictions
A unanimous United States Supreme Court on Thursday threw out the convictions of two political insiders involved in the “Bridgegate” scandal that ultimately derailed the 2016 presidential bid of then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The justices found evidence of deception, corruption and abuse of power in the scheme, but said “not every corrupt act by state or local officials is a federal crime.”
Fair Finance bankruptcy trustee loses high-stakes jury trial against deep-pocketed lender
The bankruptcy trustee seeking to recover millions of dollars for victims of Indianapolis businessman Tim Durham’s Ponzi scheme has come up empty in a nearly decade-long lawsuit against a deep-pocketed lender he alleged was culpable in the fraud.
Carmel man indicted on 28 fraud charges related to scheme using PayPal, eBay
A Carmel man has been indicted on 28 federal offenses including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, credit card fraud and money laundering related to fraudulent PayPal and eBay accounts, Southern Indiana District U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler announced Friday.
Indiana casino approval delayed while state probes former Centaur execs
The Indiana Gaming Commission confirmed Friday that it is postponing approval of a new Indiana casino while it investigates allegations that top executives at former Indianapolis racino business Centaur Gaming were involved in directing illegal campaign contributions to an Indiana congressional candidate in 2015.
Feds say local gaming company conspired with GOP strategist to make illegal contributions
A Republican strategist who worked for an Annapolis, Maryland-based consulting firm has admitted to taking part in a scheme to funnel corporate contributions to political candidates — including former Indiana Sen. Brent Waltz when he ran for U.S. Congress in 2016 — in a case that is part of a federal crackdown on fraudulent political action committees.
Former Carmel insurance firm employee charged with embezzling $2.1M
A former employee of Carmel-based Seven Corners Inc. has been indicted on a wire fraud charge for what prosecutors describe as a multiyear scheme that embezzled $2.1 million from the travel insurance company.
Former employee pleads guilty in $4.5M Cummins fraud case
A former employee accused of defrauding Indiana-based Cummins Inc. and other companies out of more than $4.5 million has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Prosecutors: Deeply-in-debt Michael Avenatti sought payday
Prosecutors say high-profile California attorney Michael Avenatti was over $15 million in debt when he tried to extort up to $25 million from Nike, while Avenatti’s lawyers say the money he legally requested to conduct an internal probe of the sportswear giant was a bargain. Both sides made the assertions in court papers filed late Tuesday in advance of a Jan. 22 criminal trial in Manhattan.
Muncie mayor’s trial on federal charges delayed until May
A central Indiana mayor’s federal trial on charges of accepting a bribe has been pushed back for several months. Defense attorneys for Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler requested the delay on the trial that had been scheduled to start Jan. 21.
Former ‘America’s Most Wanted’ suspect can’t sue Mexican prison in US
A former fugitive arrested in Mexico after his case alleging a scheme to defraud the US military was profiled on the former Fox Network television series “America’s Most Wanted” cannot sue authorities at a Mexican prison where he claims he was tortured.
UPDATE: Former Celadon COO, CFO indicted on multiple fraud charges
The former chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Indianapolis-based trucking firm Celadon Group Inc. have been indicted for their alleged roles in what the U.S. Department of Justice describes as a “complex securities and accounting fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of more than $60 million in shareholder value.”