Information for Victims in Large Cases
U.S. v. Warner Chilcott Sales (U.S.) L.L.C.
Pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott has agreed to plead guilty to health care fraud and pay $125 million to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of various drugs. A portion of the illegal conduct related to the manipulation of “prior authorizations” for the osteoporosis medications Actonel® and Atelvia®. Insurance companies who paid for Actonel® and/or Atelvia®, or individuals who paid co-payments for these drugs, based on manipulated prior authorizations between June 2010 and February 2012, may be eligible for restitution. Potentially affected insurance companies and individuals have until March 31, 2016 to submit the restitution claim form.
United States v. Neil Godfrey
This case involves a third-party data processor (Godfrey), who helped fraudulent merchants make small, unauthorized withdrawals from the bank accounts of hundreds of thousands of victims. Godfrey did this through his business, Check Site, which worked directly with banks that would not have worked with the fraudulent merchants directly. Godfrey also helped the fraudulent merchants to conceal their activity from the banks through various means.
United States v. Brian Howard
On September 26, 2014, Brian Howard set fire to the Chicago Air Traffic Control Center in Aurora, Illinois. The fire resulted in widespread cancellations and delays in air travel throughout the country.
United States v. Chad Klingman
Chad Kligman, 31, in the Philadelphia area was recently charged with running a multi-million dollar telemarketing scam. According to the information, the defendants duped more than 70,000 people into buying what they falsely marketed as a general-purpose credit card that customers could use to buy merchandise over the internet and improve their credit.
United States v. Adrian Rubin, et al
Adrian Rubin, in the Philadelphia area was recently charged with running a multi-million dollar telemarketing scam. According to the information, the defendants duped more than 70,000 people into buying what they falsely marketed as a general-purpose credit card that customers could use to buy merchandise over the internet and improve their credit.
U.S. v. Oladimeji Seun Ayelotan, et al. (AKA Scams R Us)
Operation Scams-R-Us involves a transnational organized crime enterprise operating numerous financial fraud schemes via the internet. This case involves mass marketing fraud over job and dating websites, including romance scams, re-shipping of merchandise purchased with stolen credit cards, using fraudulent U.S. postal and other carrier labels, counterfeit and fraudulent check scams, work-at-home and secret shopper scams. Victims believed they were conducting legitimate work such as at-home payroll services or remailing of electronic items for charities to South Africa and Nigeria. Victims were asked to withdraw money at ATMs using prepaid cards and forward money to others via MoneyGram and Western Union. U.S. citizens identities, personal information, bank and financial information were stolen and used to obtain credit cards that were used to take cash advances and purchase mobile phones and other electronic devices.
United States v. Kristi Louise Johnson et al
Troy Barnes and Kristi Johnson operated a fraudulent Pyramid/Ponzi scheme through Work With Troy BARNES, Inc. (WWTB), an entity they founded and which did business as “The Achieve Community” (TAC). They enticed victim-investors to buy “positions” and earn returns of 700 percent, generating more than $6.8 million. Victims bought $50 “positions” and were to receive $400 in return for each $50 position. Success depended on new investors to “retire” early investors positions.
United States v. Angela Santillano, et al
Beginning in and around October 25, 2014, and continuing through on or about April 26, 2015, the defendants stole mail which included checks. The defendants then attempted to cash stolen checks. This was accomplished through the production of counterfeit mail keys which enabled them to gain access. The purpose of this crime was for the conspirators to enrich and support themselves and their methamphetamine use.
United States v. Malcolm, Ross III, and Brantley
Between November 2012 and May 2013, MALCOLM, BRANTLEY, ROSS and others conspired to file false federal income tax returns in the names of individuals without the individuals’ knowledge. As part of the scheme, BRANTLEY, ROSS and others advertised to victims that they were eligible for “Obama stimulus money” or “government funding” through a prepaid debit card, and then obtained personal identifying information from the victims. MALCOLM, who operated a business in Arizona called “Biggest Refund Taxes,” used the victims’ names, dates of birth, and Social Security Numbers to prepare and file false federal income tax returns. MALCOLM then directed tax refunds totaling more than $2.5 million to be deposited partially into bank accounts controlled by MALCOLM, her family members, her employees, and ROSS, and partially into bank accounts linked to prepaid debit cards that were sent to the victims.
US v. Conagra Grocery Products Company, LLC
This case relates to a 2006-2007 nationwide outbreak of salmonella poisoning connected with tainted peanut butter.
United States v. Tulving Company, et al.
From in or about August 2013 through in or about January 2014, the defendants HANNES TULVING, JR. (“Tulving”) and THE TULVING COMPANY, INC, (“TULVING CO.”) executed a scheme to defraud individuals by inducing customers to place orders for gold and silver coins, among other things, and wire money for those goods knowing that those orders could not be fulfilled as advertised and promised, resulting in a loss of over $15,000,000 to over 400 victims.
U.S. v. Bernard L.Madoff and Related Cases
Criminal information was filed in Manhattan federal court chargin Bernard L. Madoff with eleven felony charges including securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, three counts of money laundering.