Identity theft can play a role in white-collar crimes ranging from money laundering to tax fraud. Perhaps most interesting are the schemes which share identity theft and money laundering as common elements, like the one mentioned at "A Tax Fraud & Identity Theft From Miami". Identity theft and money laundering are similarly
White-Collar Crime Generally
Bernard Madoff & The Badges Of Fraud
The Wall Street Journal article "Madoff Used U.K. Office in Cash Ploy, Filing Says", states that Bernard Madoff is expected to plead guilty today to 11 felony counts arising out of his alleged Ponzi scheme. That article also mentions that Mr. Madoff is accused of concealing assets by money laundering in the U.K…
Financial Fraud Via Shell Companies In Nevada, Delaware, Etc.
My post “Domestic Shell Companies & An Asset Search” explained that assets are sometimes concealed by shell companies used in a variety of financial frauds. In fact, states like Nevada and Delaware are especially prone to the formation of shell companies lacking transparency. Once such shell companies are established in Nevada, Delaware or…
Politically Exposed Persons & Money Laundering
My September 26, 2008 Asset Search News Roundup mentioned that public corruption crimes can involve concealing bribe payments or other illicit assets. This is perhaps why financial institutions sometimes check lists of “Politically Exposed Persons“, (i.e. individuals holding high foreign public office, a.k.a. “PEPs”), in an anti-money laundering program. These lists of “Politically…
Three African Heads of State Sued For Hiding Assets
A "Misappropriated Public Assets" civil petition in France claims that the presidents of Gabon, Congo Brazzaville and Equatorial Guinea are likely hiding assets. The "Misappropriated Public Assets" petition against the three heads of state was filed December 2, 2008 by both Transparency International (France) and the Sherpa Association.
The assets at issue in France…
Computer Intrusions That Violate Privacy Laws
By Fred Abrams on
My post "Pretexting During An Asset Search" explained that using false pretenses may violate privacy laws during an asset search. "Attorney Christensen’s Wiretap Conviction" additionally mentioned the case of a California attorney who violated privacy laws by conspiring to wiretap a divorcing spouse’s phone.
Privacy laws however, don’t just criminalize certain…
Mr. Madoff’s Offshore Money Trail
My father attended Far Rockaway High School at the same time as Mr. Bernard Madoff and in fact, they were in the same graduating class. He remembers from his high school yearbook "The Dolphin", that Mr. Madoff had lived in the Rockaways and was an ardent swimmer. My father even showed me "The Dolphin", which…
FBI Agent Faces Fraud Charges
By Fred Abrams on
Posted in Public Corruption, White-Collar Crime Generally
While Byron Murphy was serving a 15 year sentence for robbing a Mesa, Arizona Radio Shack, he filed a pro se prisoner’s civil rights complaint against the F.B.I. and Special Agent Joe Gordwin, Jr. Although the trial court issued its August 15, 2006 Order dismissing Mr. Murphy’s civil rights complaint, it permitted him to file…
A Doctor’s Health Insurance Fraud With Tax Evasion
By Fred Abrams on
Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, M.D., had practiced primary care medicine through the Okafor Group in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. He was however, sentenced in U.S.A. v. Okafor, to 65 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for health insurance fraud and tax evasion. He was also ordered to pay restitution in…
Second Army Major Guilty Of Bribery
In "Army Major Arrested For Money Laundering", I described how Major John Cockerham and his wife Melissa Cockerham were prosecuted for a bribery / money laundering scheme. According to their indictment, Major Cockerham had taken bribes as an Army Contracting Officer in Kuwait while awarding contracts for bottled water, etc. Since their indictment, …