Tag: March 2015
Loan Shark Francisco Aletto Sentenced to 24 Months
MIAMI – A notorious loan shark, Francisco Aletto, Sr., has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for victimizing an undocumented worker with exorbitant interest rates. A former resident of Palm Beach County, Aletto was found guilty of charging an annual interest rate of 180% on a $10,000 loan. The charges were announced by United…
Francois Accused of Identity Theft Tax Fraud
GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Louis A. Francois, 44, of Margate, Florida, has been charged with three counts of wire fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft, according to a federal indictment unsealed today. Francois is accused of operating a tax preparation business called A&I Multi Services in Oakland Park, where he allegedly stole personal information…
Bacon Gets 6 Years for Mortgage Fraud Scheme
MIAMI, FL – Robert Bacon, 35, of West Newbury, Massachusetts, is headed to federal prison for six years after being sentenced to 72 months for his role in a predatory loan modification scheme that preyed on homeowners teetering on the brink of foreclosure. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra handed down the sentence today, followed by…
Booker Admits Role in $2.1M Tax Refund Scam
MIAMI, FL – Crystal Booker, 31, of Miami-Dade County, has confessed to her part in a brazen scheme to steal over $2.1 million in fraudulent income tax refunds, the Department of Justice announced today. Booker pled guilty to one count of filing a false claim with the IRS, a violation of Title 18, United States…
Iris Mira Probkevitz Accused in South Florida Immigration Fraud Scheme
GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Iris Mira Probkevitz, 57, and Jose Antonio Polledo Alfonso, 50, are facing federal charges in what authorities describe as a ruthless immigration fraud scheme targeting vulnerable undocumented aliens in South Florida. The duo is accused of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, along with numerous counts of actual fraud. They’re alleged…
Ex-Rothstein Firm Attorney Christina Kitterman Sentenced for Ponzi Scheme
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Christina M. Kitterman, a former attorney with Rothstein, Rosenfeldt and Adler, P.A., has been sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the notorious Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Scott Rothstein. Kitterman, 38, of Deerfield Beach, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term.…
Ex-Concert King Utsick Extradited in $300M Ponzi Scheme
MIAMI BEACH, FL – John P. (Jack) Utsick, 72, once a major player in the concert promotion industry, appeared in federal court today after being extradited from Brazil to face charges in a staggering $300 million securities fraud. Utsick, formerly of Miami Beach, allegedly orchestrated a Ponzi scheme that left over 3,300 investors empty-handed, believing…
Miami-Dade Felon Convicted of Gun Possession
MIAMI – A Miami-Dade County man has been convicted by a jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm, marking a significant victory in the ongoing battle against violent crime in the community. Jarod Montell Alonso, also known as “Rob Dough,” was found guilty after a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Beth…
Ingram and Marion Plead Guilty in Carjacking Spree & Homicide
BROWARD COUNTY, FL – In a grim turn of events, Tequilla Ingram, 33, and Jonathan Marion, 23, both from Ft. Lauderdale, have entered guilty pleas for their roles as accessories after the fact in a violent armed carjacking spree that culminated in a homicide. According to the Southern District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ingram…
Miami Clinic Owner Gets 9 Years for $20M Medicare Scam
MIAMI, FL – Isabel Medina, 49, of Miami, will spend the next nine years in federal prison after being sentenced today for her central role in a sprawling $20 million Medicare fraud scheme. The owner and operator of Merfi Corp., a Miami medical clinic, Medina was handed a 108-month sentence by U.S. District Judge Ursula…
