From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of theft of government funds, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The one-count Indictment named Patty Merlo, 65, as the sole defendant. According…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for his role in fraudulently obtaining over $2.1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Arlen…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage woman was sentenced to nine months in prison for stealing and misusing Social Security benefits. According to court documents, Jayel Jean Lane, 34, applied for Social Security benefits on behalf of a minor in 2013. She received benefits for the minor from…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Louis County, Missouri on Thursday admitted helping her son fake a mental disability for more than 13 years so he could receive government benefits. Zella Rives, 57, of Edmundson, admitted in a plea agreement and in court that she…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nebraska United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Steven M. Woodall, 64, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, was sentenced February 14, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for theft of government funds. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Woodall to four years of…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging brothers Dwayne and Wayne Henry, age 32 and 34, respectively, both of Landover Hills, Maryland, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in connection with a lottery scheme where victims believe that they have won…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York ALBANY, NEW YORK – AnnMarie Ditoro, age 41, of Schenectady, New York, was indicted earlier this month on charges of social security fraud.  United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Sharon B. MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Hampshire CONCORD – A Georgia man was sentencing today in federal court in Concord for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Lester Aceituno, 40, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Landya…

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Tamiko L. Williams (48, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to theft of government money. Williams faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been scheduled. As part of her…

From the U.S. Attorneys Office, Western District of Louisiana SHREVEPORT, La. – After a week-long trial and 15 hours of deliberating, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict late yesterday afternoon against Edward L. Angel, Sr., 70, of Shreveport, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. The jury found Angel guilty on three counts of making false…