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Gautam Adani, India’s second-richest person, has been charged by U.S. federal prosecutors with fraud on accusations that he and several alleged co-conspirators sought to pay $250 million in alleged bribes to Indian officials. The defendants then “lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from U.S. and international investors.”The scheme, according to prosecutors, occurred between 2020 and 2024. Gautam Adani, worth approximately $70 billion according to Forbes, heads the Adani Group, an industrial conglomerate that holds stakes in logistics and energy units. The findings from the short-seller, Hindenburg Research, caused Adani Group shares to tumble — but they ended up recovering following a favorable ruling related to the allegations by India’s Supreme Court. Adani has also received direct support from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, something India’s opposition party has highlighted.

Persons: Gautam Adani, India’s, Attorney Breon Peace, “, Adani’s, Sagar, Forbes, Adani, Narendra Modi, ” Hindenburg, ” Organizations: Attorney’s, “, Attorney, Securities, Exchange Commission, Group, Adani, SEC, Green Energy Ltd, Hindenburg, Adani Group, India’s, Indian Locations: U.S, Brooklyn, United States

☆ US Charges Gautam Adani With Fraud Over Bribery Scheme
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Nico Grant | More About Nico Grant | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Federal prosecutors in New York charged the Indian mogul Gautam Adani, one of the world’s richest people, with multiple counts of fraud, accusing him and associates of bribing Indian officials and later lying to investors about the scheme. The charges stem from accusations that the defendants paid more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials to obtain lucrative solar energy contracts with the government for a business called Adani Green Energy. Mr. Adani personally met with officials to discuss the scheme in person, prosecutors said. Adani Green Energy then tried to raise money from U.S. and international investors on the basis of false and misleading statements, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Mr. Adani and his associates “lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from U.S. and international investors.”

Persons: Gautam Adani, Adani, “, ” Organizations: U.S, Attorney’s, Eastern, of, Energy Locations: New York, of New York, U.S

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and an alleged accomplice pleaded not guilty on Friday to sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges. Jeffries’ romantic partner, Matthew Smith, who was also arrested on Tuesday on sex trafficking charges, wasn’t at the arraignment. Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson have each been hit with a single count of sex trafficking, as well as 15 counts of interstate prostitution tied to 15 alleged victims. They organized “sex events” in England, France, Italy, Morocco, St. Barts, New York City and the Hamptons for Jeffries, Smith and “others,” according to the indictment. Afterward, it was either Jacobson or the staff members who paid the men for attending the sex events, it says.

Persons: Mike Jeffries, Jeffries, James Jacobson, Jacobson, Brian H, Bieber, Jeffries ’, Matthew Smith, wasn’t, Smith, ” Jeffries, Peace, “, Prosecutors, ”, Fitch, Abercrombie Organizations: Abercrombie, Fitch, West Palm Beach, Eastern, of, Hamptons, Jeffries, BBC, NBC News, CNBC Locations: Central Islip , New York, West Palm Beach , Florida, Florida , New York City, Long, Rice Lake , Wisconsin, West Palm, of New York, England, France, Italy, Morocco, St, Barts , New York City, U.S

☆ Former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries arraigned on sex trafficking charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Mark Morales | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries pleaded not guilty to a 16-count indictment at his arraignment in a New York federal court on Friday. Jacobson was employed by Jeffries and Smith to recruit, interview and hire men to perform commercial sex acts for Jeffries and Smith, according to the indictment. His attorneys did not comment as they left the courtroom, and Jeffries is due back in court on December 12. Jefferies stepped down as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch in December 2014, having run the company since 1992. “As we shared when the accusations were first made public in October 2023, we are appalled and disgusted by the alleged behavior of Mr. Jeffries, whose employment with Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ended nearly ten years ago,” Abercrombie & Fitch said in a statement Wednesday.

Persons: Michael Jeffries, Jeffries, He’s, Matthew Smith, ”, Smith, James Jacobson, Jacobson, Jefferies, ” Abercrombie, Fitch, Gingras, Kara Scannell, Laura Dolan, John Towfighi Organizations: CNN, Abercrombie, Fitch, ”, Eastern, of, Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie & Fitch Co Locations: New York, New York City, Long, Florida, Peace, of New York, West Palm Beach , Florida, Rice Lake , Wisconsin

☆ Years of controversy preceded the arrest of the ex-CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was charged with sex trafficking on Tuesday. AdvertisementLong before federal charges hit, there were concerns about former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries — and lawsuits that attacked the way he ran his company. Attorneys for Jeffries and Smith told Business Insider in statements that they would respond "in the courthouse." "This is very much a military operation," Jeffries told The Wall Street Journal in 1997. The pilot accused the CEO of enacting similar standards on board as in Abercrombie stores and firing him due to his age.

Persons: Mike Jeffries, Jeffries, Abercrombie, —, Mike Jeffries —, Matthew Smith, Smith, Fitch, Les Wexner, Jeffrey Epstein, Paul Harris, Bruce Weber, Weber, Barts, Tig Ol, Erik Gordon, Jeffries shouldn't Organizations: Abercrombie, Fitch, Service, Prosecutors, Wall Street, Revenue, CNN, Hamptons, Employees, Supreme, University of, BBC, Eastern, of Locations: Midwest, New York City, St, Oklahoma, Assam, Darjeeling, of New York

☆ Abercrombie’s worst nightmare is back. But its customers have moved on
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“We are a positive, inclusive brand, with a nice sensibility, very different from what they encountered in the past,” Fran Horowitz, now Abercrombie’s CEO, said in 2016. Today, Abercrombie’s stores are lighter than they once were and its clothes are looser. Abercrombie’s sales have grown and its stock has increased more than 400% since Jeffries stepped down as CEO. But retail analysts say that Abercrombie’s brand won’t be hurt by the indictment because of how much separation Abercrombie has been able to create from its former CEO. Older Abercrombie customers who remember the brand’s sexualized marketing have accepted Abercrombie’s rebrand, while a new generation of customers are too young to remember the old era.

Persons: Fitch, Mike Jeffries, Jeffries, Abercrombie, “, ” Fran Horowitz, Jeffries ’, ”, ” Jeffries, Fran, Marni Shapiro, Neil Saunders, Shapiro, Papa John’s, Shaq, John Schnatter, Chip Wilson, Wilson, Lululemon, CNN’s Brynn Gingras, Kara Scannell, John Towfighi Organizations: New, New York CNN, Abercrombie, Attorney, Eastern, of, XXL, Netflix, Fitch, Penske Media, GlobalData, CNN Locations: New York, Peace, U.S, of New York

☆ George Santos pleads guilty, avoiding a looming criminal trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-19 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewSerial liar and former US congressman George Santos pleaded guilty to criminal charges in court Monday, avoiding a criminal trial. Santos ultimately pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts — one count of wire fraud and one count of identity theft — as part of a plea agreement. Advertisement"You trusted me to represent you with honor and to uphold the values that are central to our democracy," Santos told reporters outside court after the hearing. Related storiesCourt filings previously indicated Santos was in talks for a plea deal as early as December. Two associates of Santos — Nancy Marks and Sam Miele — have previously pleaded guilty to fraud charges against them and would have likely testified in Santos' trial.

Persons: —, George Santos, Santos, Joann Seybert, Seybert, Breon, I've, Goldman Sachs, Hannah Montana, Zack, Cody, Tom Williams, Ferragamo, Santos — Nancy Marks, Sam Miele —, Tom Suozzi, Jimmy Kimmel Organizations: Service, Business, Eastern, of, Republican, The New York Times, Citigroup, Baruch College, New York University, Disney Channel, U.S . Capitol, Inc, Getty, Congress Locations: of New York, New York, Long, Queens, The, Brazil, Eastern, OnlyFans, Hermes, United States, New

☆ Man dubbed ‘pirate of the unknown’ is extradited to US on alleged cocaine trafficking conspiracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Milos Radonjic, 34, arrived in Brooklyn on Friday and is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court Monday, according to federal prosecutors and officials with the Department of Homeland Security and FBI. A federal grand jury indicted him and several other people last year on charges of conspiracy and attempt to violate the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. Ship crew members knowingly took part in the alleged trafficking, court documents say. Radonjic was arrested in October after traveling to Italy to captain a yacht in an international race, authorities said. US authorities have not released the names of other people who were indicted and said they were not in US custody.

Persons: ”, Milos Radonjic, Radonjic Organizations: CNN, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Maritime Drug, Ship, Eastern, of Locations: Montenegro, New York City, Italy, Brooklyn, South America, Europe, Balkans, Colombia, Ecuador, Radonjic, United States, Peace, of New York

☆ Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada: US operation to capture Sinaloa cartel leaders had the help of one of the captured men: a son of ‘El Chapo,’ official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Emma Tucker | Polo Sandoval | Evan Perez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, 76, the alleged co-founder and leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, was arrested in El Paso, Texas, Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Another alleged cartel leader, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, 38, was also arrested, he said. But Zambada didn’t know US investigators had exploited a rift in the Sinaloa cartel and Guzman Lopez was helping with Zambada’s capture, the official said. Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, left, and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of another infamous cartel leader, after they were arrested by US authorities in Texas, the US Justice Department said Thursday. “Ismael Mario Zambada Garcia is the long-time leader of the Zambada Garcia faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Persons: CNN —, Ismael “ El, General Merrick Garland, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Guzman, Joaquin “ El Chapo ” Guzman, Zambada, Guzman Lopez, Ismael “ El Mayo ” Zambada, Guzmán, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, “, ” Rodriguez, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s, Rodriguez, Rodriquez, ” Garland, extraditions, “ Ismael Mario Zambada Garcia, Zambada Garcia, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, Anne Milgram, El, ”, Vicente Zambada Niebla, Chapo, “ El, “ El Mayo ” Zambada Organizations: CNN, Ismael “ El Mayo ” Zambada, FBI, Reuters, Ismael “ El Mayo ”, US Justice Department, US Department of State, AP, Mexico’s National Immigration Institute, Cessna, Justice Department, US State Department, Drug, Administration, ”, Sinaloa Cartel, Eastern, of, ” CNN, “ El Mayo ”, Police, Border Patrol Locations: Mexican, United States, Sinaloa, El Paso , Texas, Mexico, El Paso, Santa Teresa, “, Mexico’s Sinaloa, Texas, Hermosillo, Illinois, Chicago, Guatemala, Brooklyn, of New York, Ciudad Juarez, American, Juarez, Columbus , New Mexico

☆ Prosecutors say neo-Nazi ‘murder cult’ leader plotted to give poison candy to Jewish kids in NYC
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old man from the Republic of Georgia, was indicted on four charges, including soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence, according to a statement from the US Department of Justice. In November 2023, Chkhikvishvili began planning a “mass casualty event” for New York City on New Year’s Eve, prosecutors said. “The scheme involved an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities and children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn,” the Department of Justice statement said. He “drafted step-by-step instructions to carry out the scheme” and shared with the undercover officer “detailed manuals on creating and mixing lethal poisons and gases,” the statement said. “For example, and among other things, the handbook encourages its readers to commit school shootings and to use children to perpetrate suicide bombings and other mass killings targeting racial minorities,” the Justice Department statement said.

Persons: Santa Claus, Michail, Chkhikvishvili, Butcher, ‘, ’, Matthew G, Olsen, Breon, Robert R, Wells, Eve, “, Prosecutors, ” Chkhikvishvili Organizations: Nazi, US Department of Justice, Justice Department’s National Security Division, Eastern, of, FBI’s National Security Branch, New York, Jewish, Department of Locations: Europe, New York City, Republic of Georgia, Nazi, of New York, New, Brooklyn, United States

☆ Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson convicted in New York fraud trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ozy Media and founder Carlos Watson were convicted of fraud by a Brooklyn federal jury on Tuesday, in a case accusing them of lying to investors about the now-defunct startup’s finances and sham deals with Google and Oprah Winfrey. Watson, a former cable news anchor and investment banker, and Ozy were each convicted of securities fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, while Watson was also convicted of identity theft. The verdict follows a six-week trial that featured testimony by two former Watson deputies, who pleaded guilty to fraud. Ozy folded shortly after The New York Times reported on former chief operating officer Samir Rao’s impersonation of the YouTube executive. He said prosecutors’ view of Ozy’s finances was simplistic and failed to appreciate the nuances of media industry dealmaking.

Persons: Carlos Watson, Oprah Winfrey, Watson, Ozy, Goldman Sachs, Prosecutors, “, Breon Peace, Samir Rao’s, Rao, Alex Piper, Sundar Pichai, Watson’s, “ That’s, that’s, ” Organizations: Ozy Media, Google, “ Ozy Media, New York Times, YouTube, Ozy Locations: Brooklyn, California

☆ Betting is the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of US sports. Are leagues doing enough?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“But matters affecting the integrity of the game have a chilling effect across the board and governing bodies know this is their Achilles heel,” he warned. Fast forward to 2024 and the gambling industry is engrained in US sports culture with leagues, franchises, players and networks now partnering with betting organizations. “We need legislation to do things like prevent sports betting advertising, and to prevent prop betting. However, it can be often in leagues’ financial interest for betting to increase in popularity. “The sports leagues have turned to sports betting because it increases fan avidity.

Persons: Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani, Tucupita Marcano, Jontay Porter, ” David Carter, ”, Paul Sancya, – it’s, Andrew Zimbalist, Zimbalist, ’ ”, “, William Hill, Mike Segar, Porter, Long Phi Pham, Pham, Breon Peace, Victor Matheson, Matheson, Adam Silver, Robert D, Manfred , Jr, Wayne Gretzky, Bruce Bennett, ’ Zimbalist, LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, Connor McDavid’s, ” Matheson, ” Carter, ” Zimbalist, CNN’s Thomas Schlachter Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, San Diego Padres, National Basketball Association, Toronto Raptors, NBA, USC Marshall School of Business, MGM Grand Detroit, DC, Super, American Gaming, Smith College, Monmouth, Reuters, Authorities, Supreme, College of, NFL, MLB, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Madison, Garden, “, NCAA, National Council Locations: Brooklyn, Michigan, Detroit, Washington, Oceanport , New Jersey, U.S, Porter , Brooklyn, New York City

☆ Brooklyn man arrested in connection with illegal betting scheme involving former NBA player Jontay Porter, authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Rob Frehse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The complaint refers to the player as “Player 1,” though after a review of court documents, CNN has determined the player is former Toronto Raptors big man Jontay Porter, who two months ago was banned for life from the NBA. As alleged, the defendant and his co-conspirators, as well as an NBA player, participated in a brazen, illegal betting scheme that had a corrupting influence on two games and numerous bets,” US Attorney Breon Peace said. Porter was banned by the NBA in mid-April, with the league saying an investigation found Porter had violated betting rules. NBA said it investigated unusual betting patterns around PorterThe NBA announced in March it had opened an investigation into anomalies involving bets pertaining to Porter after unusual betting patterns around the player emerged. Porter had “violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games,” NBA officials said.

Persons: Long Phi Pham, Pham, Jontay Porter, Pham –, Australia –, Michael Soshnick, Porter, Breon Peace, “, rico ”, Adam Silver, ” Silver Organizations: CNN, NBA, Toronto Raptors, of, rico, FBI Locations: Brooklyn, New York, Australia, Eastern, of New York

☆ Cecilia Gentili death: 2 men charged with distributing drugs that caused death of transgender activist, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Michelle Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Two men in New York have been charged with distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that allegedly caused the death of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili in February, prosecutors announced Monday. “Cecilia Gentili, a prominent activist and leader of the New York transgender community was tragically poisoned in her Brooklyn home from fentanyl-laced heroin. Medical examiners determined she died from “acute intoxication caused by the combined effects of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine, and cocaine. Prosecutors accuse Venti of selling the laced heroin, allegedly supplied by Kuilan, to Gentili on February 5, citing text messages, cell site data, and other evidence. Venti’s attorney, Joseph Turco, referred to Gentili’s death as an “accident” in a statement and said, “We’re sorry for Cecilia’s death.”“Our hearts and prayers go to the activist’s family.

Persons: Cecilia Gentili, “ Cecilia Gentili, ”, Michael Kuilan, Antonio Venti, Kuilan, Gentili, Venti, Joseph Turco, “, ” Turco, Howard Greenberg, ” Greenberg, CNN’s Elizabeth Wolfe Organizations: CNN, New, Eastern, of, Patrick’s, Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Prosecutors, US, Office Locations: New York, Brooklyn, of New York, St, Gentili, America, “

☆ Former New York cop charged with swindling investors in foreign exchange trading fund
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Peace's office said that as Rodriguez, who was arrested Wednesday, lost an increasing amount of money in trading in foreign exchange, he used money from new investors to pay prior investors their promised investment returns. Ex-cop Jason Rodriguez, 37, is accused of falsely promising investors in his fund, Technical Trading Team, that there would be guardrails to protect the trading risks for their money. That included a vow to never put a maximum of 1% of investors' funds at risk at any given time, the indictment says. A former New York City police officer was indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud after he allegedly lied to investors and lost most of the $4.8 million they put into his foreign exchange -focused investment fund, prosecutors said Wednesday. The suit says the defendants lost more than $3 million in trading forex on a leveraged basis, and "misappropriated participant funds for personal use."

Persons: Peace, cryptocurrency, Rodriguez, Attorney Breon, Jason Rodriguez, Benjamin Yaster, Edwin Carrion, Carrion, Danielle Hass, TTT, Defendants Organizations: Attorney, Eastern, of, U.S . Justice, Washington , D.C, Brooklyn U.S, Trading, New York Police Department, NYPD, Attorney's, U.S, Futures Trading Commission, Commodity, CFTC, Investments, CNBC PRO Locations: of New York, Washington ,, New York City, Bellerose , Queens, U.S, Brooklyn, Florida, Colombia, TTT

☆ Jam Master Jay killing: 2 men found guilty of murder in 2002 killing of Run-DMC’s DJ
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Eric Levenson | Jeff Winter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Two men were found guilty of murder Tuesday in the 2002 killing of Jam Master Jay, the pioneering DJ of the groundbreaking hip hop trio Run-DMC, in a case that for decades frustrated detectives and music fans alike. Ronald Washington, Jay’s childhood friend, and Karl Jordan Jr., Jay’s godson, were convicted of murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder. G. Paul Burnett/APThe verdict comes more than 20 years after Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell, was fatally shot at a recording studio in Jamaica, Queens, on October 30, 2002. They know who killed Jam Master Jay. How Jam Master Jay pioneered a new soundThe trial comes four decades after Jam Master Jay teamed up with Queens friends Run (Joseph Simmons) and DMC (Darryl McDaniels) to form the hip hop group Run-DMC.

Persons: Jay, Ronald Washington, Karl Jordan Jr, Jay’s, “ Y’all, ” Washington, Jordan, “, ”, Carlis Thompson, “ It’s, “ Jason, I’m, ” Jordan, Jason Mizell, Paul Burnett, Jay Bryant, Bryant, Breon Peace, Uriel Rincon, Artie McConnell, “ Jay Bryant, Michael Hueston, Susan Kellman, Washington’s, they’d, Mizell, Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, Aerosmith, Tricky, “ King Organizations: CNN, Garden, Eastern, of, WABC, Queens, Adidas, Stone, Duo, Hall of Fame, MTV, of Fame Locations: Washington, New, Jamaica, Queens, of New York, Jay

☆ A man accused of stealing missile-tracking secrets had applied to 'talent programs' run by the Chinese government, DOJ says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A man in California was charged with stealing trade secrets from a defense contractor. The Justice Department said the secrets involved information on missile-tracking technology. The man had previously applied to serve the Chinese government, prosecutors said. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Gong, a native of China, is a resident of San Jose and has been a US citizen since 2011, the DOJ said.

Persons: —, Chenguang Gong, Gong, Martin Estrada, Breon Organizations: Justice Department, Service, DOJ, US Department of Defense, Central, Central District of, FBI, Eastern, of, Department of Justice Locations: California, China, San Jose, Malibu , California, Central District, Central District of California, People's Republic of China, Iran, of New York, of Iran

☆ Man pleads guilty in $1 billion scheme to dodge money laundering rules in New York
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A man described as an "experienced anti-money laundering specialist" pleaded guilty on Wednesday to illegally funneling more than $1 billion in lucrative, high-risk transactions through small financial institutions, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The man, 56-year-old Gyanendra Asre of Greenwich, Connecticut, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to one count of failing to maintain an anti-money laundering program in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, meanwhile, on Wednesday assessed a $100,000 civil penalty on Asre and banned him from participating in any financial institution's affairs for five years. He had previously been employed as a senior vice president at a domestic bank, and was "experienced in international banking and trained in anti-money laundering compliance and procedures," the DOJ said. Asre "represented to the NYSEFCU that he and his businesses would conduct appropriate anti-money laundering oversight as required by the Bank Secrecy Act," according to the DOJ.

Persons: Asre, Attorney Breon Peace Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, DOJ, U.S . Department, Network, U.S, Attorney, New York, Employees Federal Credit Union, Bank Locations: Greenwich , Connecticut, Brooklyn

☆ Pornhub’s parent company admits it profited from sex trafficking
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Aylo, Pornhub’s parent company, will pay a $1.8 million fine and compensate the sex trafficking victims as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. The company pleaded not guilty to the government’s charge of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions involving sex trafficking proceeds, although it acknowledged the illegal material was posted on its site and said it regrets that fact. The government did not accuse Aylo itself of violating any federal sex trafficking laws, but said the company should have known it was doing business with a group that was engaging in sex trafficking. And Aylo became aware of a federal lawsuit against the production company in 2017, court documents show. In a statement, Aylo, which is under new management since the alleged incidents occurred, said it “deeply regrets” that Pornhub hosted the content.

Persons: Pornhub, Aylo, “, ”, James Smith, Solomon Friedman, ” Friedman Organizations: Washington CNN, Eastern, of, FBI, Aylo Holdings, CNN, Ethical Capital Partners Locations: Peace, of New York, Canada

A former fundraiser for U.S. Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal wire fraud charge, admitting he impersonated a high-ranking congressional aide while raising campaign cash for the embattled New York Republican. Miele is the second campaign aide to Santos who took a plea deal in a federal probe. Federal prosecutors say Santos wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers. Santos has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has vowed to clear his name. Santos also recounted what he believed was an attempt by Miele last summer to try to rejoin Santos' campaign.

Persons: George Santos, Sam Miele, Dan Meyer, Kevin McCarthy, Meyer, Miele, Santos, “, Kevin Marino, Marino, ” Miele, Nancy Marks, Marks, ” Santos, Prosecutors Organizations: U.S . Rep, New York Republican, Republican, Federal, U.S, Eastern, of, Federal Elections Commission, Republican Party, Associated Press Locations: Santos, Peace, U.S, of New York, Queens, Long, —

☆ Three charged with sending Russia over $7 million in electronics to aid war on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Three people were arrested in New York City on Tuesday on charges of illegally smuggling millions of dollars' worth of electronics to Russia in order to aid the country's invasion of Ukraine. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn accused Nikolay Goltsev, Salimdzhon Nasriddinov and Kristina Puzyreva of evading sanctions in order to send Russia equipment used in their precision-guided missile systems. The defendants allegedly dispatched hundreds of shipments of restricted items, worth nearly $7.2 million, to Russia over the course of a year. The complaint alleges that the defendants used two corporate entities to source and purchase dual-use electronics from U.S. manufacturers and distributors, and then secretly export them to Russia. Some of the same types of components were found in Russian weapons platforms and signals intelligence equipment that were seized in Ukraine, prosecutors alleged.

Persons: Nikolay Goltsev, Salimdzhon Nasriddinov, Kristina Puzyreva, Nick Stevens, Matthew Olsen Organizations: Attorney, Eastern, of, Prosecutors, United Arab, Justice Department's National Security Division Locations: Brooklyn, New York City, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, of New York, Tajikistan, Goltsev, Montreal, Manhattan, Russian, Turkey, Hong Kong, India, China, United Arab Emirates, Vitebsk

☆ George Santos accused of stealing campaign donors' credit card information and paying his own campaign in new superseding indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Erin Snodgrass | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Federal prosecutors say the New York Republican stole donor credit card information to pay his own campaign. AdvertisementAdvertisementRep. George Santos on Tuesday was hit with 23 new charges of conspiracy, wire and credit card fraud, falsification of records, and aggravated identity theft. In the superseding indictment, officials for the US Attorney's Office Eastern District of New York said the New York Republican stole donor credit card information to pay his own campaign. Officials in the indictment detailed two different schemes they allege Santos used to present his campaign as more financially viable than it actually was then later steal credit card information from donors to pay for his campaign. "On one occasion, Santos charged $12,000 to the Contributor's credit card, ultimately transferring the vast majority of that money into his personal bank account."

Persons: George Santos, Santos, —, Breon Peace, Nancy Marks Organizations: New York Republican, Service, US Attorney's, of, United Locations: Eastern, of New York

Rep. George Santos, the embattled freshman Republican known for fabricating large portions of his resume, was charged Tuesday on 10 new criminal counts, including conspiracy, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud. Federal prosecutors filed a 23-count superseding indictment that comes after Santos pleaded not guilty to 13 charges from the Justice Department in May, which included fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and false statements. Although Santos has repeatedly rebuked the calls for his resignation from the chamber, he stepped down from his committee assignments earlier this year. Still, Santos announced he would seek reelection to represent New York's 3rd Congressional District in 2024. And although McCarthy had pledged to remove Santos should the committee determine he had broken a law, after his ouster as speaker, the future is uncertain.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, “, ”, “ Santos, he’s, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy Organizations: Republican, Justice Department, Eastern, of, New York Republican, New, Congressional District Locations: of New York

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Rep. George Santos stole the identities of donors to his campaign and then used their credit cards to ring up tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges, according to a new indictment filed Tuesday. In the updated indictment, prosecutors accuse Santos of charging more than $44,000 to his campaign over a period of months using cards belonging to contributors without their knowledge. Santos’ personal and professional biography as a wealthy businessman began to unravel soon after winning election to represent parts of Long Island and Queens last year, revealing a tangled web of deception. Santos was not initially charged in the criminal complaint against Marks, but was identified in court papers as a “co-conspirator." Because the unauthorized charges exceeded contribution limits under federal law, Santos listed the additional payments as coming from his own unwitting relatives, prosecutors allege.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, Attorney Breon Peace, “, ”, Santos ’, — Santos, Nancy Marks, Marks, Long, Sam Miele, Miele, Kevin McCarthy, Kevin Marino, Farnoush Amiri Organizations: — U.S . Rep, New York Republican, Federal Elections Commission, Republican Party, Attorney, U.S Capitol, Queens, Republican, Prosecutors, GOP Rep, Press Locations: ” U.S, Long Island, Santos, Washington

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., arrives to the U.S. Capitol for a procedural vote on a motion to vacate against Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. Federal prosecutors hit Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., with 23 additional charges Tuesday, including allegations of identity theft and that he charged a supporter's credit card in excess of their contribution and then transferred the money to his personal bank account. He's also alleged to have been involved in a credit card scheme where the campaign would charge contributors' credit cards repeatedly and above FEC individual contribution limits. On another occasion, he allegedly "charged $12,000 to the Contributor's credit card, ultimately transferring the vast majority of that money into his personal bank account." Marks pleaded guilty last week to some of the same conduct involving false FEC filings that Santos was charged with Tuesday.

Persons: George Santos, Kevin McCarthy, Prosecutors, Santos, Nancy Marks, Marks, He's, texted Santos Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Federal, Commission, United, Eastern, of, Republican Party, Santos, Prosecutors, United States House, Representatives, NBC News Locations: United States, of New York

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