California Woman Admits To $800,000 Fraud: Morris County Prosecutor
A 63-year-old California woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 21 to defrauding a Hanover Township resident out of more than $800,000, authorities said.
In 2023, Anna Marie Bustamante posed as an authorized vendor when the victim sent her $806,727.92, via a bank account that was made to resemble the bank account of the authorized vendor, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.
As part of her plea agreement with prosecutors, Bustamante is expected to be sentenced to 364 days in the Morris County Correctional Center as a condition of probation, authorities said.
The victi…
Newark Man Avoids Prison After $10K Atlantic City Casino Robbery: Prosecutor
A 51-year-old Newark man was spared prison and accepted into recovery court over the objections of prosecutors after being convicted of robbing a victim of their casino winnings in Atlantic City in 2023, authorities said.
On Friday, Mach 3, 2023, the victim won $20,000 playing poker and was befriended by Robert Reed, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said. The next morning, Reed told the victim he missed his bus and asked for a ride, authorities said.
While walking to the victim's car in the parking garage, Reed struck the victim over the head with a glass bottle and took $10,000 in c…
George Santos Fights Sentencing Delay Over Fraud, DOJ Pushes Back In Central Islip Court
Former Congressman George Santos has asked a federal judge to delay his sentencing for wire fraud and identity theft by six months, citing financial difficulties in fulfilling restitution and forfeiture payments, according to court documents filed Tuesday, Jan. 7, in Central Islip, New York.
The U.S. Department of Justice opposed the request, calling it "unreasonable" and suggesting Santos’s claims are speculative. Santos, 36, pled guilty in August 2024 to fraud charges stemming from schemes that bilked donors and constituents of hundreds of thousands of dollars, prosecutors said.
His sente…
Virginia Nurse Admits To Distributing Videos Showing Rape, Sexual Abuse Of Minors: Feds
A Virginia nurse practitioner admitted to distributing child pornography, including videos depicting the rape and abuse of young boys, federal officials announced on Thursday.
Lucas Allen Fussell, 42, of Onley, entered his plea this, Dec. 18, in US District Court in DC, according to US Attorney Matthew Graves, pleading guilty to two counts of distributing child pornography.
Authorities said that between December 2023 and February 2024, Fussell used an encrypted messaging app to exchange explicit material with another person whose devices were later seized and searched by the FBI.
During th…