Maryland ‘Clown’ Who Scammed 80-Year-Old Virginia Woman Out Of $26K Busted In Sting: Sheriff
An 80-year-old Virginia woman was conned out of more than $26,000 by crooks posing as US Treasury agents — until detectives set a trap that ended with a Maryland man in cuffs, officials said.
The suspect, James Smith, 30, of Gaithersburg, was arrested after showing up to grab another $10,000 in cash from the victim, the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies were waiting.
Smith had already squeezed $26,000 from the woman over several days, investigators said.
He and others pretended to be Treasury agents, threatening the woman with “criminal charges” unless she handed…
Trump Says US Has Reached Trade Deal With China
President Trump has announced that the United States has reached a trade deal with China following two days of intense negotiations in London.
"Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me," Trump posted in all caps on Truth Social Wednesday morning, June 11. "Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China.
"Likewise, we will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!)
"We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getti…
Feds: Middlesex County ID Thief Forged, Cashed $211,887 US Treasury Check
A Middlesex County identity thief collected $211,887 by forging a stolen U.S. Treasury check, federal authorities said Tuesday.
Federal agents arrested Bernard Lopez, 40, of Sayreville, in Florida on Monday, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
They charged him with bank fraud, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft.
Lopez “used a victim’s Social Security number and business documents pertaining to a sham business that he had created to open a fraudulent bank account in that business’ name,” Carpenito said.
He then altered a stolen U.S. Treasury check to be made payable to…
Landlord In Connecticut, New York Sentenced For Tax Evasion
A landlord with properties in Connecticut and New York has been sentenced after admitting to failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes.
Anthony Valentino, of Palm City, Florida, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport district court earlier to one count of tax evasion after attempting to avoid paying more than $300,000 in income taxes, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. This week, he was sentenced to nine months in prison, followed by a year of supervised release. Valentino must also pay a $10,000 fine.
Durham said that Valentino, 76, is a real estate investor with properties in New Y…
