Information for Victims in Large Cases
| Case Name | Familiar Names and Terms | District or Division | Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States v. Jeffrey Robert Bonner et al. | Jeffrey Robert Bonner, Nicholas Dover, Keith Forbes, Michael Forbes, Michael Miller, Ashley Clark and William Forbes, Cody Trevor Burgsteiner, Clinton Barnes, Everette Jones, Darra Lee Shephard, Nora Southerland, Donna Ramirez, sweepstakes, Costa Rica | Criminal Division |
Jeffrey Robert Bonner owned and operated “call centers”, located in San Jose, Costa Rica, which he and his co-defendants used to defraud United States residents, typically over the age of 55, by deceiving them into believing that they had won prizes in a “sweepstakes contest.” The indictment alleges that Jeffrey Robert Bonner, Cody Trevor Burgsteiner, Darra Lee Shephard, and their co-conspirators made calls to victims from Costa Rica. Victims were informed that to receive their “prize,” they were to wire, via Western Union, thousands of dollars for a purported “refundable insurance fee” to a so-called “insurance entity” in Costa Rica. When victims questioned the legitimacy of the operation, they were given phone numbers purportedly to United States government agents who falsely reassured the victims that they had, in fact, won a sweepstakes prize. The co-conspirators then allegedly continued to solicit victims to send more money until their victims’ funds were depleted. |
| U.S. v. Richard A. Blake, Jr. | Rick Blake, heir location services, estate, descendent, probate | Antitrust Division |
Richard A. Blake, Jr. was charged with engaging in a conspiracy to allocate customers of heir location services sold in the United States from approximately 1999 until January 29, 2014, which affected the prices of these services. |
| U.S. v. Warner Chilcott Sales (U.S.) L.L.C. | Warner Chilcott | USAO - Massachusetts |
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. Frank J. Morelli, III, et al. | USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern |
An indictment charging a market manipulation scheme was unsealed today against six defendants in connection with the trading of stock in Super Nova Resources, Inc. (“SNRR”), announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and securities fraud are: Carl Marciniak, 50, of California, Jeffrey Weinfurter, 46, of Yorba Linda, CA, James Wheeler, 54, of Corona, CA, Daniel Starczewski, 67, of Cornelius, NC, Danny Colon, 46, of Edgewater, NJ, and Louis Buonocore, 59, of Woburn, MA. According to the indictment, the defendants ran the scheme with the intent to cause approximately $150 million in losses to participants in the over-the-counter U.S. securities market. |
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| U.S. v. Jalel Aossey; Yahya Nasser Aossey; Midamar Corporation; Islamic Services of America; and ISA, Inc. d/b/a “Islamic Servi | William B. Aossey, Jalel Aossey, Yahya Nasswer Aossey, Midamar Corporation, ISA, Islamic Services of America | USAO - Iowa, Northern |
William B. Aossey was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring between about 2007 and 2010 to commit mail and wire fraud, sell misbranded meat, and related crimes. Aossey was also convicted of seven counts of making materially false statements on export certificates, and seven counts of wire fraud. In a related case, Midamar Corporation; Islamic Services of America; ISA, Inc.; and Jalel Aossey, pleaded guilty to conspiring between about 2007 and 2012 to commit mail and wire fraud, sell misbranded meat, and related crimes. Defendant Yahya Nasser Aossey pleaded guilty to two lesser counts relating to his responsibility for the sale of misbranded meat as a responsible corporate official. |
| United States v. William B. Aossey Jr. | USAO - Iowa, Northern |
William B. Aossey was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring between around 2007 and 2010 to commit mail and wire fraud, sell misbranded meat, and related crimes. Aossey was also convicted of seven counts of making materially false statements on export certificates, and seven counts of wire fraud. |
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| US v. William M. Apostelos and Connie M. Apostelos | USAO - Ohio, Southern |
William M. Apostelos and Connie M. Apostelos, along with others, purported to manage multiple investment/asset management companies within the Dayton, Ohio metropolitan area. Hundreds of individuals were fraudulently induced to collectively invest $70 million. Investors were falsely informed their funds would acquire stocks or securities such as through Ameritrade Stock Accounts, Land Deals, Short Term Bridge/Money Loans, Precious Metal Purchases, 401K Management, and/or to charter a bank. W.M. Apostelos purported to hold a mathematics degree from Wright State University and a license to sell securities. Investor funds were used to operate Coleman Capital and Silver Bridle - both owned by C.M. Apostelos, to supplement their household expenses and to further the ‘Ponzi’ scheme. Investors lost collectively over $30 million. |
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| United States v. Kenneth Jackson, et al. | Kenneth Jackson, William Schureck, Dennis Deciancio and Daryl Dane Donohue | USAO - Ohio, Northern |
Four Ohio men were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud investors out of more than $7 million by selling unregistered securities and making several misrepresentations to investors about the product they purported to develop, said law enforcement officials. Named in the 31-count federal indictment are: Kenneth Jackson, 58, of Glenmont; William Schureck, 80, of Lexington; Dennis Deciancio, 72, of Macedonia, and Daryl Dane Donohue, 66, of Mansfield. The counts include conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to launder money, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, making false statements and other charges. |
| United States v. Malcolm, Ross III, and Brantley | Income tax refund scheme, Obama Stimulus money, Biggest refund taxes | USAO - Connecticut |
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. |
| United States v. Angela Santillano, et al | Angelica Santillano, Frank Robert King, Alexander Saul King and Manuel Velasquez | USAO - Colorado |
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. |