White Collar Crime

Feds say 2 of their agents in Silk Road probe laundered Bitcoins; one is accused of working as mole

In the course of investigating now-convicted mastermind Ross Ulbricht in the Silk Road case, the feds seized Bitcoins worth some $33 million. But the official probe wasn’t the only drain on the anonymous digital currency used by the online black-market bazaar, the government now alleges. In a criminal complaint unsealed…

Mar 30, 2015 3:55 PM CDT

AG: Former bar president charged with UPL after 10 years in practice never attended law school

A former partner at a Pennsylvania law firm who served at one point as president of her county bar association not only lacked a law license but never attended law school, according to the state attorney general. Kimberly Kitchen, 45, represented over 30 clients in estate-planning matters at the offices…

Mar 27, 2015 3:05 PM CDT

Retired judge could lose pension after pleading guilty to stealing cocaine evidence in his cases

A retired Pennsylvania judge accused of stealing cocaine from evidence in cases over which he presided pleaded guilty Friday to three misdemeanor charges. Paul Pozonsky, 59, served for 14 years on the common pleas court bench in the same Washington County courthouse where today’s hearing was held, reports the Tribune-Review.…

Mar 20, 2015 12:15 PM CDT

General counsel, 3 others federally convicted in conspiracy to fleece Las Vegas HOAs

A former general counsel for a condominium association and three other defendants were found guilty Tuesday by a federal jury in Las Vegas of participating in a massive fraud of area homeowner associations. Lawyers for attorney Keith Gregory and the other three individuals said they knew nothing of the scheme…

Mar 18, 2015 12:35 PM CDT

Defense rests in Las Vegas HOA criminal trial; says that GC didn’t know of the fraud

The defense has rested in a federal trial of the remaining four defendants, including a lawyer, in a massive criminal case over construction-related fraud at large condominium associations in the Las Vegas area. Following plea deals by the man portrayed by prosecutors as the mastermind of the scheme and dozens…

Mar 17, 2015 12:50 PM CDT

Disbarred attorney charged in claimed $44M foreclosure rescue scheme; bail is set at $17.8M

A disbarred California attorney has been indicted on dozens of felony charges concerning an alleged $44 million mortgage foreclosure rescue scheme and is being held in lieu of $17.8 million in bail Stephen Lyster Siringoringo, 34, was hit with double trouble on Thursday when he was both officially disbarred and…

Mar 13, 2015 1:25 PM CDT

Convicted judge is indicted again

Convicted last year on only one of the nine charges she faced concerning claimed misuse of her position, a suspended Ohio juvenile court judge is now facing a new indictment and trial concerning the charges on which the jury deadlocked. However, Judge Tracie Hunter has not been required to serve…

Mar 13, 2015 9:20 AM CDT

Utah to list white-collar criminals in first Internet registry for those convicted of fraud

Utah is poised to become the first state in the nation with a public registry listing convicted white-collar criminals, in an effort to help prevent affinity fraud among the state’s close-knit residents. A bill to require an Internet listing of those found guilty of certain financial crimes sailed through the…

Mar 12, 2015 12:00 PM CDT

Suspended lawyer gets 5 years in money-laundering case; man who gave him the money gets 30 months

A suspended Minnesota attorney was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison for using his law firm to launder money from a brother-in-law who sold marijuana. Robert Boedigheimer, 52, needed loans to fund his lavish lifestyle. So the personal injury lawyer gave his brother-in-law, Brandon Lusk, a no-show job…

Mar 10, 2015 9:35 AM CDT

After indicted lawmaker seeks dismissal, due to US attorney’s remarks, Bharara dials it down

Initially, after a longtime New York legislative leader was arrested on corruption charges, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara made a number of public comments about Assemblyman Sheldon Silver’s case. But since Silver challenged his federal indictment, contending that Bharara’s comments may have prejudiced grand jurors, the U.S. attorney has maintained a…

Mar 9, 2015 1:50 PM CDT

Top lawmaker says US attorney created ‘media firestorm,’ asks federal judge to nix indictment

Charged with misusing his government influence to obtain nearly $4 million in law firm payments, under the guise of legitimate legal work, a longtime New York lawmaker has come out swinging and put the U.S. Attorney in a defensive position. Accused by Assemblyman Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, of creating a “media…

Mar 6, 2015 11:20 AM CST

Lawyers who self-medicate to deal with stress sometimes steal from those they vowed to protect

At one point in his legal career, Dallas attorney Tom Corea had a fancy downtown office, a six-bedroom/six-bathroom house, a fleet of high-end cars, and his own indoor horse arena. He also had a wife, a girlfriend and a mistress.

Mar 1, 2015 6:10 AM CST

Former judge gets 26 months in federal case over $2.9M investment scheme

A former Nevada family court judge accused of using his position to help his ex brother-in-law and others bilk some 50 investors out of nearly $3 million was sentenced Wednesday to 26 months in federal prison. Steven Jones, 57, pleaded guilty last year to one count of wire fraud conspiracy…

Feb 27, 2015 10:43 AM CST

Former Mississippi prison chief pleads guilty in private-prisons bribe case

Former Mississippi corrections commissioner Christopher Epps pleaded guilty on Wednesday in a case alleging he accepted bribes to steer private-prison contracts to a lawmaker-turned-businessman. Epps and the businessman, Cecil McCrory, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy, report the New York Times, the Clarion-Ledger and Reuters. Epps also pleaded guilty to…

Feb 26, 2015 11:42 AM CST

Former general counsel is at forefront as last 4 defendants in massive Vegas HOA case head to trial

After seven years of investigation, 37 guilty pleas and the suicides of three key targets, four remaining defendants are headed to trial this week in a massive federal investigation of homeowner associations in the Las Vegas area. Foremost among the quartet is Keith Gregory, one of two lawyers indicted in…

Feb 23, 2015 12:20 PM CST