crime – Page 3 – PhilaNet.com

Prohibition Protest at the 1st Amendment Monument

Posted on October 27, 2013October 27, 2013 by admin

PHILADELPHIA, PA — On a monthly basis, the Panic Hour and Philly Norml hold a protest at the Liberty Bell in Old City Philadelphia. Each time there is a varying degree of police presence with agencies, such as, the US Park Service, Fish and Wildlife, the Philadelphia Police Department, SEPTA Police, Homeland Security and ICE.

At the most recent protest, a disturbing development was observed — US Park Service Rangers wearing video and audio recording devices to surreptitiously monitor protesters.

The Outlaw Sheriff John Green

Posted on April 20, 2013April 20, 2013 by admin

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The City of Philadelphia filed suit Common Pleas Court against a former vendor of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office and former Sheriff’s employee, including former Sheriff John Green, in an action that seeks monetary damages and payments of money owed to the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW).

The filing was prompted by an action commenced by the City in October 2012. After an independent forensic audit of the Office of the Sheriff, City Controller Alan Butkovitz released a forensic investigation report prepared by Deloitte Financial Services, LLP in the Fall of 2011.

City Controller Butkovitz urged City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith to initiate civil action to recover from two primary service vendors, Reach Communication Specialists, Inc. (“Reach”) and RCS Searchers, Inc. (“RCS”), and others specified in the report for various apparent fiscal improprieties including: excessive fees and overcharges paid to Reach and RCS; unpaid amounts due PGW as a result of gas liabilities for properties sold at sheriff sale and other unpaid pass-through amounts; and improper, unauthorized or unsupported payments.

The Controller’s forensic report identified potential improper relationships, conflicts of interest and other alleged wrongdoing by and among former Sheriff John D. Green and other former Sheriff Office employees, as well as James R. Davis, Jr., his companies Reach and RCS, and others related to Davis and his companies. Moreover, the report noted that millions of dollars remained unaccounted for and millions of dollars in payments were unauthorized or unlawful.

With the assistance of attorneys at the law firm of Kaufman Coren & Ress, P.C., a prominent, well-regarded commercial litigation firm, the City initiated a lawsuit by writ of summons in October 2012 against the Reach entities and others. Today, the law firm has filed a complaint in that action on the City’s behalf.

In this action, the City seeks to recover for the wrongdoing of the Defendants named therein. The City asserts the following claims, among others: (a) an accounting with respect to the payment and disposition of more than $115 million that flowed from the Sheriff’s Office to Defendants Davis and his companies, and a judgment in favor of the City for the return of all ill-gotten gains established by that accounting, including any sums that may have been overcharged to the Sheriff’s Office in connection with the advertising of Sheriff sales, and $600,000 unpaid to the Philadelphia Gas Works; (b) treble damages for violations of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act; (c) treble damages for the submission of false claims in violation of The Philadelphia Code; (d) breach of fiduciary duty and fraud; (e) aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and fraud; (f) conversion; (g) unjust enrichment; and (h) civil conspiracy.

In addition to those named above, the Defendants include Sheila R. Davis; Karen Coursey; Crystal Stewart; Darrell Stewart; Tyrone Bynum; Processing Link; Rory Lane Gazaway; Yellow Rose Enterprises; 400 PTM, L.L.C.; and Jackiem Wright.

Philadelphia Counterfeit Check Ring

Posted on December 19, 2012 by admin

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Agents from the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Section have arrested 10 Philadelphia residents accused of participating in an organization allegedly responsible for producing and cashing approximately $40,000 worth of counterfeit business checks.

Kelly said the checking account details for at least four businesses were allegedly copied and stolen by a former teller at a Sovereign Bank branch located in Dresher, Montgomery County, identified as Latosha Mabry, 25, of 2119 Anchor St., Philadelphia.

According to the criminal complaint, Mabry provided the stolen information to an individual known only by the nickname, “Beans,” who allegedly operated a counterfeit check scheme.

Other participants in the scheme allegedly opened personal bank accounts, deposited counterfeit checks into those accounts and then used ATM machines to withdraw cash, or allowed their bank cards to be used for cash withdrawals, before the fraud was discovered. In most cases the forged checks, were for amounts ranging from $3,000 to $5,500.

Kelly said that in at least one instance, Christopher Canty allegedly served as a recruiter and intermediary for the organization – approaching August Pauline about participating in the scheme and then purportedly arranging a meeting between Pauline and “Beans” in order to transfer a counterfeit check to be deposited and cashed.

Pauline allegedly drew others into the operation – contacting Tyisha Nixon about making money cashing counterfeit checks.

Others accused of depositing counterfeit checks as part of this scheme include Salahudin McDowell, Katrina Love, Tyisha Nixon, Latasha Buie, Terrance Joyner, Michael Bullins and Jesse Warren, all of Philadelphia. All were allegedly approached by various unnamed members of the organization with solicitations to participate in the scheme.

According to the criminal complaint, many of the participants were paid $300 to $400 in order to open bank accounts, deposit the counterfeit checks and then turn over their debit cards so that stolen funds could be withdrawn.

Kelly said that investigators have identified approximately $40,000 in transactions involving counterfeit checks that were cashed by members of this organization. Efforts to identify other participants and organizers of this scheme are ongoing.

The defendants will be prosecuted in Montgomery County by Chief Deputy Attorney General Erik L. Olsen of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Section.

Kelly thanked the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and Sovereign Bank for their cooperation and assistance with this ongoing investigation.

All of the defendants were taken into custody on Tuesday, December 18th and preliminarily arraigned before Ambler Magisterial District Judge Patricia Zaffarano.

The following is a list of the defendants who have been charged:

Latosha Denise Mabry, 25, 2119 Anchor St., Philadelphia.

Christopher Canty, 30, 5427 Master St., Philadelphia.

August Pauline, 35, 4600 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia.

Tyisha Nixon, 19, 3820 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia.

Salahudin McDowell, 35, 1936 W. Ontario St., Philadelphia.

Katrina Love, 38, 1217 W. Cumberland St., Philadelphia.

Latasha Buie, 35, 2129 E. Birch St., Philadelphia.

Terrance Joyner, 19, 6223 Webster St., Philadelphia.

Michael Bullins, 35, 3744 N. Bouvier St., Philadelphia.

Jesse Warren, 26, 5313 Upland St., Philadelphia (currently incarcerated on unrelated charges).

Each of the defendants has been charged with forgery, which is a second-degree felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Additionally, the defendants are all charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, identify theft and criminal conspiracy, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

They are also charged with bad checks, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, along with securing documents by deception, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

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