Tag: criminal

bookmark_borderInsurance Fraud Scheme

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Agents from the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section have filed criminal charges against the former president of a defunct Allegheny County insurance agency who is accused of stealing in excess of $150,000 in insurance premiums paid by various restaurants and bars.

Attorney General Linda Kelly identified the defendant as Carol A. Hughes, 56, of 161 Oak St. Monroeville.

Hughes allegedly used her position as president of the Morry Hoffman Insurance Agency (MHA), located at 1821 Golden Mile Highway, Pittsburgh, to orchestrate a theft scheme which stretched from 2007 through 2011, victimizing numerous businesses, insurance companies and premium financing companies.

Kelly said the Morry Hoffman Agency specialized in obtaining liquor liability and commercial liability insurance for restaurants and taverns until its license was terminated by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance in February 2011.

According to the criminal complaint, Hughes misappropriated premium funds that had been paid to MHA by various clients, depositing the money in one large account and failing to forward those payments to the appropriate insurance companies.

Additionally, Hughes and MHA are accused of submitting applications to premium financing companies in the names of various businesses, without their knowledge or consent, in order to obtain funds that would purportedly be used to purchase insurance policies on behalf of those businesses.

Kelly noted that in some of these instances the businesses that were named on the financing applications had already paid the full insurance premiums that were due.

According to the criminal charges, the insurance premium money paid by various clients, along with funds from the premium financing companies were deposited into a single business account which was allegedly used to pay personal expenses for Hughes, along with food, travel and business expenses.

Hughes is charged with one count of participating in a corrupt organization, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Additionally, she is charged with one count of insurance fraud, three counts of theft by deception, two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and three counts of forgery, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Hughes is also charged with two counts of misapplication of entrusted property, second-degree misdemeanors which are each punishable by up to two years in prison and $5,000 fines.

Hughes was preliminarily arraigned today before Plum Magisterial District Judge Linda Zucco. Hughes was released on unsecured bail pending a preliminary hearing on September 19th, at 9 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Zucco.

The case is being prosecuted in Allegheny County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Dennis A. Kistler of the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty)

bookmark_borderFamilies Cautioned About Internet Safety as New School Year Begins

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HARRISBURG, PA — Agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have made two arrests, including a Bucks County man who allegedly propositioned an undercover agent who was using the online identity of a teenage girl and traveled to meet the “girl” for sex, along with an Allegheny County man accused of sending sexually graphic webcam videos to what he believed was a 14-year old girl.

Attorney General Linda Kelly identified the defendants as Amitkumar P. Manvar, age 28, of 3241 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, Bucks County and Robert Adam Kaduck II, age 27, of 991 Thompson Run Road, Harwick, Allegheny County.

Kelly cautioned parents to regularly discuss Internet safety with their children, especially as a new school year begins. She noted that these two most recent arrests highlight the types of dangers children can face online, including a suspect who allegedly arranged a meeting for sex less than a day after making initial online contact, along with another man accused of sending extremely graphic webcam videos of various sex acts soon after approaching an undercover agent who was using the profile of a 14-year old girl.

“Predators will take advantage of any available opportunity to identify and communicate with potential victims,” Kelly said. “The start of a new school year results in new activities, new friends and new schedules for young teens, and may extend the amount of time they are left unsupervised, either before or after school.”
Amitkumar P. Manvar

Kelly said that Manvar allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit on August 22nd, identifying himself as a 27-year old from the Bensalem area. During that initial conversation Manvar asked the “girl” if her mother was home and if she had a boyfriend.

According to the criminal complaint, Manvar contacted the agent again the following morning, stating, “I am coming to your area,” and explained the sex acts he wished to perform if they could meet.

A short time after that online chat, Manvar allegedly arrived at a predetermined meeting location in Montgomery County, driving a car that matched the description he provided online.  When he arrived at the meeting location Manvar allegedly exited his vehicle and waved to a female undercover agent who was waiting nearby.

Manvar is charged with one count of unlawful contact with a minor (related to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Additionally, Manvar is charged with one count of criminal use of a communications facility, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Manvar was preliminarily arraigned before Collegeville Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar and lodged in the Montgomery County Prison in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.  He was also ordered to surrender his Indian passport and is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 29th, at 1:30 p.m., before Magisterial District Judge Rebar.

Kelly thanked the Lower Providence Township Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Manvar will be prosecuted in Montgomery County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Robert Adam Kaduck II

Kelly said that Kaduck allegedly used an online chat service to approach an undercover agent on July 16th, initially identifying himself as a 20-year old.  During their initial online conversation Kaduck allegedly requested photos of the undercover agent and sent pictures of himself in what Kaduck described as “girly slutt outfits.”

According to the criminal complaint, Kaduck engaged in a series of sexually graphic online chats over the next several days and also sent a number of explicit webcam videos which showed him engaging in various sex acts.  Kaduck also allegedly proposed traveling to Harrisburg, where he believed the undercover agent lived.

Kaduck was arrested in Allegheny County on August 23rd by agents from the Child Predator Unit and transported to Harrisburg after waiving extradition.

Kaduck is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene and sexual materials or performances) and one count of criminal use of a communications facility, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Kaduck was preliminarily arraigned in Dauphin County Night Court and lodged in the Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 31st before Magisterial district Judge Steven M. Semic.

Kaduck will be prosecuted in Dauphin County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Internet Safety

Kelly noted that the Child Predator Unit has made 311 arrests since it was created in 2005.

Kelly urged parents to regularly discuss Internet safety and security issues with their children, including the importance of telling a trusted adult if someone engages in inappropriate online activity, such as:

  • Sexual discussions.
  • Sending or requesting nude photos or explicit videos.
  • Sharing links to pornography.
  • Trying to arrange face-to-face meetings.

Additionally, Kelly said parents and other caregivers should also monitor how kids are using the Internet, including:

  • Checking the websites they use frequently.
  • Searching the social networking sites they visit.
  • Asking them to show you their online profiles on Facebook and other websites.
  • Discussing the items they may be posting online.

Kelly also encouraged parents to stress the importance of not sharing personal information online, like full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and added that children should always be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.

Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by clicking on the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty)

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Editors’ Note:
Photos of the defendants are attached below.
Click here to view the criminal complaint for Amitkumar P. Manvar.
Click here to view the criminal complaint for Robert A. Kaduck II.
If you have trouble viewing these items contact the Attorney General’s Press Office at 717-787-5211.

bookmark_borderInternet Security and Your Children

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HARRISBURG, PA — Agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested a Lancaster County man accused of sending nude and sexually explicit webcam videos to what he believed was a 14-year old girl.

Kelly identified the defendant as Jeffrey Lee Mentzer, 46, of 146 East Franklin St., New Holland.

According to the criminal complaint, Mentzer used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit, who was using the online profile of a 14-year old girl.

Kelly said that during their initial online chat, Mentzer allegedly asked the girl to send a nude photo herself, commenting, “when I was with AOL I had a lot of girls your age send me nude pics.”  Mentzer also allegedly sent a digital photograph of himself and later transmitted a webcam video that showed him engaging in a sex act in front of his computer.

During later online chats Mentzer allegedly sent a second sexually explicit webcam video, repeated his request for nude photos of the “girl” and discussed meeting her for sex.

“Internet predators will often send sexual materials during their first online contact with children,” Kelly said. “It is essential for parents to regularly discuss online safety issues with their teens and to stress the importance of immediately reporting any inappropriate contact.”

Mentzer is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene and other sexual materials and performances) and one count of criminal use of a communications facility, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Kelly said that Mentzer was located in Vendergrift, Westmoreland County, on June 8, 2012, by agents from the Child Predator Unit, assisted by officers from the Vandergrift Police Department.

Mentzer was initially held in Westmoreland County on a parole detainer, awaiting county extradition and transportation back to Lancaster County to face these criminal charges. He is currently being held in the Lancaster County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 28th, at 3:15 p.m., before New Holland Magisterial District Judge Rodney H. Hartman.

The case will be prosecuted in Lancaster County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher J. Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.

Attorney General Kelly thanked the police departments from New Holland, Lancaster County, and Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Internet Safety

Kelly explained that the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit has made 305 arrests involving individuals from across Pennsylvania and numerous other states – conducting proactive investigations and also assisting local law enforcement with cases involving the attempted sexual exploitation of children.

Kelly encouraged parents to stress the importance of not sharing personal information with adults – either online or in person – including full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and added that children should always be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.

Additionally, Kelly urged parents to regularly discuss Internet safety and security issues with their children, including the importance of telling a trusted adult if someone engages in inappropriate activity, such as:

  • Sexual discussions.
  • Sending or requesting nude photos or explicit videos.
  • Sharing links to pornography.
  • Trying to arrange face-to-face meetings.

Incidents involving child predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit by using the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, at www.attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at 800-385-1044.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty)